U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 FORCE PROTECTION, INC. (formerly known as Sonic Jet Performance, Inc.) (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) Colorado 84-1383888 (State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer ID No.) 2031 Avenue B, Building 44, North Charleston, South Carolina 29405 (Address of principal executive offices) Directors and Consultants Retainer Stock Plan (Full title of the Plan) Madhava Rao Mankal, President Force Protection, Inc., 2031 Avenue B, Building 44, North Charleston, South Carolina 29405 (843) 740-7015 (Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service) With a copy to: Brian F. Faulkner A Professional Law Corporation, 27127 Calle Arroyo, Suite 1923, San Juan Capistrano, California 92675 (949) 240-1361 CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE Title of Amount to be Proposed Proposed Amount of Securities Registered Maximum Aggregate Registration to be Offering Offering Fee Registered Price Price Common Stock 5,000,000 $0.001 (1) $5,000 $0.46 (1) This offering price per share is calculated under Rule 457(h)(1) pursuant to the deemed issuance price as set forth in this plan (see Exhibit 4 to this Form S-8). PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS ITEM 1. PLAN INFORMATION. See Item 2 below. ITEM 2. REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION. The documents containing the information specified in Part I, Items 1 and 2 will be delivered to each of the participants in accordance with Form S-8 and Rule 428 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933. The participants shall be provided a written statement notifying them that upon written or oral request they will be provided, without charge, (a) the documents incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of the registration statement, and (b) other documents required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 428(b). The statement will inform the participants that these documents are incorporated by reference in the Section 10(a) prospectus, and shall include the address (giving title or department) and telephone number to which the request is to be directed. PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE. The following are hereby incorporated by reference: (a) The Registrant's latest annual report on Form 10-KSB/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, filed on April 21, 2003. (b) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the financial statements contained in the Form 10-KSB referred to in (a) above, which consists of a Form 10-QSB's filed on May 16, 2003 and August 19, 2003, and a Form 8-K/A filed on October 23, 2003. (c) A description of the securities of the Registrant is contained in a Form SB-2 filed on May 9, 2002. All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the registration statement and to be part thereof from the date of filing of such documents. ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES. Not applicable. ITEM 5. INTEREST OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL. Other than as set forth below, no named expert or counsel was hired on a contingent basis, will receive a direct or indirect interest in the small business issuer, or was a promoter, underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer, or employee of the Registrant. Brian F. Faulkner, A Professional Law Corporation, counsel for the Registrant as giving an opinion on the validity of the securities being registered, will be receiving 446,525 shares of common stock of the Registrant. These shares will be paid pursuant to the Registrant's Non- Employee Directors and Consultants Retainer Stock Plan under this Form S-8 in exchange for legal services previously rendered, or to be rendered, under an attorney-client contract. These legal services consist of advice and preparation work in connection with reports of the Registrant under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and other general corporate and securities work for the company. ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Limitation of Liability. (a) Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. The articles of incorporation of the Registrant contain the following provisions with respect to liability of directors and officers: (d) Limitation on Director's Liability. No director of this corporation shall have any personal liability for monetary damages to the corporation or its shareholders for breach of his fiduciary duty as a director, except that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for: (i) any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders; (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) voting for or assenting to a distribution in violation of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 7-106-401 or the articles of incorporation if it is established that the director did not perform his duties in compliance with Colorado Revised Statutes Section 7-108- 401, provided that the personal liability of a director in this circumstance shall be limited to the amount of the distribution which exceeds what could have been distributed without violation of Colorado Revised Statutes Section 7-106-401 or the articles of incorporation; or (iv) any transaction from which the director directly or indirectly derives an improper personal benefit. Nothing contained herein will be construed to deprive any director of his right to all defenses ordinarily available to a director nor will anything herein be construed to deprive any director of any right he may have for contribution from any other director or other person." (b) Colorado Statutes. "7-108-402. Limitation of certain liabilities of directors and officers. Statute text (1) If so provided in the articles of incorporation, the corporation shall eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or to its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director; except that any such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director to the corporation or to its shareholders for monetary damages for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or to its shareholders, acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, acts specified in section 7-108-403, or any transaction from which the director directly or indirectly derived an improper personal benefit. No such provision shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director to the corporation or to its shareholders for monetary damages for any act or omission occurring before the date when such provision becomes effective. (2) No director or officer shall be personally liable for any injury to person or property arising out of a tort committed by an employee unless such director or officer was personally involved in the situation giving rise to the litigation or unless such director or officer committed a criminal offense in connection with such situation. The protection afforded in this subsection (2) shall not restrict other common-law protections and rights that a director or officer may have. This subsection (2) shall not restrict the corporation's right to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or to its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director as provided in subsection (1) of this section." Indemnification. (a) Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. The articles of incorporation of the Registrant contain the following provisions with respect to indemnification: "c) Indemnification. The corporation shall indemnify, to the maximum extent permitted by law, any person who is or was a director, officer, agent, fiduciary or employee of the corporation against any claim, liability or expenses arising against or incurred by such person made party to a proceeding because he is or was a director, officer, agent, fiduciary or employee of the corporation or because he was a director, officer, agent, fiduciary or employee of the corporation or because he is or was serving another entity as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, fiduciary or agent at the corporation's request. The corporation shall further have the authority to the maximum extent permitted by law to purchase and maintain insurance providing such indemnification." The bylaws of the Registrant contain the following provisions with respect to indemnification: "ARTICLE VI Indemnification of Certain Persons Section 1. Indemnification. For purposes of Article VI, a "Proper Person" means any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or complete action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, fiduciary or agent of any foreign or domestic profit or nonprofit corporation or of any partnership, joint venture, trust, profit or nonprofit incorporated association, limited liability company, or other enterprise or employee benefit plan. The corporation shall indemnify any Proper Person against reasonably incurred expenses (including any attorneys' fees), judgments, penalties, fines (including any excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan) and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if it is determined by the groups set forth in Section 4 of this Article that he conducted himself in good faith and that he reasonably believed (i) in the case of conduct in his official capacity with the corporation, that his conduct was in the corporation's best interests, or (ii) in all other cases (except criminal cases), that his conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation's best interests, or (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, that he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. A Proper Person will be deemed to be acting in his official capacity while acting as a director, officer, employee or agent on behalf of this corporation and not while acting on this corporation's behalf for some other entity. No indemnification shall be made under this Article VI to a Proper Person with respect to any claim, issue or matter in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of a corporation in which the Proper Person was adjudged liable to the corporation or in connection with any proceeding charging that the Proper Person derived an improper personal benefit, whether or not involving action in an official capacity, in which he was adjudged liable on the basis that he derived an improper personal benefit. Further, indemnification under this Section in connection with a proceeding brought by or in the right of the corporation shall be limited to reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred in connection with the proceeding. Section 2. Right to Indemnification. The corporation shall indemnify any Proper Person who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding as to which he was entitled to indemnification under Section 1 of this Article VI against expenses (including attorneys' fees) reasonably incurred by him in connection with the proceeding without the necessity of any action by the corporation other than the determination in good faith that the defense has been wholly successful. Section 3. Effect of Termination of Action. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not of itself create a presumption that the person seeking indemnification did not meet the standards of conduct described in Section 1 of this Article VI. Entry of a judgment by consent as part of a settlement shall not be deemed an adjudication of liability, as described in Section 2 of this Article VI. Section 4. Groups Authorized to Make Indemnification Determination. Except where there is a right to indemnification as set forth in Sections 1 or 2 of this Article or where indemnification is ordered by a court in Section 5, any indemnification shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination by a proper group that indemnification of the Proper Person is permissible under the circumstances because he has met the applicable standards of conduct set forth in Section 1 of this Article. This determination shall be made by the board of directors by a majority vote of those present at a meeting at which a quorum is present, which quorum shall consist of directors not parties to the proceeding ("Quorum"). If a Quorum cannot be obtained, the determination shall be made by a majority vote of a committee of the board of directors designated by the board, which committee shall consist of two or more directors not parties to the proceeding, except that directors who are parties to the proceeding may participate in the designation of directors for the committee. If a Quorum of the board of directors cannot be obtained and the committee cannot be established, or even if a Quorum is obtained or the committee is designated and a majority of the directors constituting such Quorum or committee so directs, the determination shall be made by (i) independent legal counsel selected by a vote of the board of directors or the committee in the manner specified in this Section 4, or, if a Quorum of the full board of directors cannot be obtained and a committee cannot be established, by independent legal counsel selected by a majority vote of the full board (including directors who are parties to the action) or (ii) a vote of the shareholders. Section 5. Court-Ordered Indemnification. Any Proper Person may apply for indemnification to the court conducting the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction for mandatory indemnification under Section 2 of this Article, including indemnification for reasonable expenses incurred to obtain court- ordered indemnification. If the court determines that such Proper Person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not he met the standards of conduct set forth in Section 1 of this Article or was adjudged liable in the proceeding, the court may order such indemnification as the court deems proper except that if the Proper Person has been adjudged liable, indemnification shall be limited to reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding and reasonable expenses incurred to obtain court-ordered indemnification. Section 6. Advance of Expenses. Reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in defending an action, suit or proceeding as described in Section 1 may be paid by the corporation to any Proper Person in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of (i) a written affirmation of such Proper Person's good faith belief that he has met the standards of conduct prescribed by Section 1 of this Article VI, (ii) a written undertaking, executed personally or on the Proper Person's behalf, to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that he did not meet the prescribed standards of conduct (the undertaking shall be an unlimited general obligation of the Proper Person but need not be secured and may be accepted without reference to financial ability to make repayment), and (iii) a determination is made by the proper group (as described in Section 3 of this Article VI) that the facts as then known to the group would not preclude indemnification. Determination and authorization of payments shall be made in the same manner specified in Section 4 of this Article VI. Section 7. Witness Expenses. The sections of this Article VI do not limit the corporation's authority to pay or reimburse expenses incurred by a director in connection with an appearance as a witness in a proceeding at a time when he has not been a named defendant or respondent in the proceeding. Section 8. Report to Shareholders. Any indemnification of or advance of expenses to a director in accordance with this Article VI, if arising out of a proceeding by or on behalf of the corporation, shall be reported in writing to the shareholders with or before the notice of the next shareholders' meeting. If the next shareholder action is taken without a meeting at the instigation of the board of directors, such notice shall be given to the shareholders at or before the time the first shareholder signs a writing consenting to such action. ARTICLE VII Provision of Insurance By action of the board of directors, notwithstanding any interest of the directors in the action, the corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, in such scope and amounts as the board of directors deems appropriate on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the corporation, or who, while a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, fiduciary or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation or of any partnership, joint venture, trust, profit or nonprofit unincorporated association, limited liability company or other enterprise or employee benefit plan, against any liability asserted against, or incurred by, him in that capacity arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of Article VI or applicable law. Any such insurance may be procured from any insurance company designated by the board of directors of the corporation, whether such insurance company is formed under the laws of Colorado or any other jurisdiction of the United States or elsewhere, including any insurance company in which the corporation has an equity interest or any other interest, through stock ownership or otherwise." (b) Colorado Statutes. "7-109-102. Authority to indemnify directors. Statute text (1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, a corporation may indemnify a person made a party to a proceeding because the person is or was a director against liability incurred in the proceeding if: (a) The person conducted himself or herself in good faith; and (b) The person reasonably believed: (I) In the case of conduct in an official capacity with the corporation, that his or her conduct was in the corporation's best interests; and (II) In all other cases, that his or her conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation's best interests; and (c) In the case of any criminal proceeding, the person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. (2) A director's conduct with respect to an employee benefit plan for a purpose the director reasonably believed to be in the interests of the participants in or beneficiaries of the plan is conduct that satisfies the requirement of subparagraph (II) of paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section. A director's conduct with respect to an employee benefit plan for a purpose that the director did not reasonably believe to be in the interests of the participants in or beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed not to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section. (3) The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent is not, of itself, determinative that the director did not meet the standard of conduct described in this section. (4) A corporation may not indemnify a director under this section: (a) In connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the director was adjudged liable to the corporation; or (b) In connection with any other proceeding charging that the director derived an improper personal benefit, whether or not involving action in an official capacity, in which proceeding the director was adjudged liable on the basis that he or she derived an improper personal benefit. (5) Indemnification permitted under this section in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation is limited to reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding. 7-109-103. Mandatory indemnification of directors. Statute text Unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation shall indemnify a person who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which the person was a party because the person is or was a director, against reasonable expenses incurred by him or her in connection with the proceeding. 7-109-104. Advance of expenses to directors. Statute text (1) A corporation may pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director who is a party to a proceeding in advance of final disposition of the proceeding if: (a) The director furnishes to the corporation a written affirmation of the director's good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct described in section 7-109-102; (b) The director furnishes to the corporation a written undertaking, executed personally or on the director's behalf, to repay the advance if it is ultimately determined that he or she did not meet the standard of conduct; and (c) A determination is made that the facts then known to those making the determination would not preclude indemnification under this article. (2) The undertaking required by paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section shall be an unlimited general obligation of the director but need not be secured and may be accepted without reference to financial ability to make repayment. (3) Determinations and authorizations of payments under this section shall be made in the manner specified in section 7-109-106. 7-109-105. Court-ordered indemnification of directors. Statute text (1) Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, a director who is or was a party to a proceeding may apply for indemnification to the court conducting the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction. On receipt of an application, the court, after giving any notice the court considers necessary, may order indemnification in the following manner: (a) If it determines that the director is entitled to mandatory indemnification under section 7-109-103, the court shall order indemnification, in which case the court shall also order the corporation to pay the director's reasonable expenses incurred to obtain court-ordered indemnification. (b) If it determines that the director is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not the director met the standard of conduct set forth in section 7-109-102 (1) or was adjudged liable in the circumstances described in section 7- 109-102 (4), the court may order such indemnification as the court deems proper; except that the indemnification with respect to any proceeding in which liability shall have been adjudged in the circumstances described in section 7-109-102 (4) is limited to reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding and reasonable expenses incurred to obtain court-ordered indemnification. 7-109-106. Determination and authorization of indemnification of directors. Statute text (1) A corporation may not indemnify a director under section 7-109-102 unless authorized in the specific case after a determination has been made that indemnification of the director is permissible in the circumstances because the director has met the standard of conduct set forth in section 7-109-102. A corporation shall not advance expenses to a director under section 7-109-104 unless authorized in the specific case after the written affirmation and undertaking required by section 7-109-104 (1) (a) and (1) (b) are received and the determination required by section 7-109-104 (1) (c) has been made. (2) The determinations required by subsection (1) of this section shall be made: (a) By the board of directors by a majority vote of those present at a meeting at which a quorum is present, and only those directors not parties to the proceeding shall be counted in satisfying the quorum; or (b) If a quorum cannot be obtained, by a majority vote of a committee of the board of directors designated by the board of directors, which committee shall consist of two or more directors not parties to the proceeding; except that directors who are parties to the proceeding may participate in the designation of directors for the committee. (3) If a quorum cannot be obtained as contemplated in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of this section, and a committee cannot be established under paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of this section, or, even if a quorum is obtained or a committee is designated, if a majority of the directors constituting such quorum or such committee so directs, the determination required to be made by subsection (1) of this section shall be made: (a) By independent legal counsel selected by a vote of the board of directors or the committee in the manner specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (2) of this section or, if a quorum of the full board cannot be obtained and a committee cannot be established, by independent legal counsel selected by a majority vote of the full board of directors; or (b) By the shareholders. (4) Authorization of indemnification and advance of expenses shall be made in the same manner as the determination that indemnification or advance of expenses is permissible; except that, if the determination that indemnification or advance of expenses is permissible is made by independent legal counsel, authorization of indemnification and advance of expenses shall be made by the body that selected such counsel. 7-109-107. Indemnification of officers, employees, fiduciaries, and agents. Statute text (1) Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation: (a) An officer is entitled to mandatory indemnification under section 7-109-103, and is entitled to apply for court-ordered indemnification under section 7-109-105, in each case to the same extent as a director; (b) A corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of the corporation to the same extent as to a director; and (c) A corporation may also indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent who is not a director to a greater extent, if not inconsistent with public policy, and if provided for by its bylaws, general or specific action of its board of directors or shareholders, or contract. 7-109-108. Insurance. Statute text A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of the corporation, or who, while a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, fiduciary, or agent of another domestic or foreign corporation or other person or of an employee benefit plan, against liability asserted against or incurred by the person in that capacity or arising from his or her status as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, or agent, whether or not the corporation would have power to indemnify the person against the same liability under section 7-109-102, 7-109-103, or 7-109- 107. Any such insurance may be procured from any insurance company designated by the board of directors, whether such insurance company is formed under the laws of this state or any other jurisdiction of the United States or elsewhere, including any insurance company in which the corporation has an equity or any other interest through stock ownership or otherwise. 7-109-109. Limitation of indemnification of directors. Statute text (1) A provision treating a corporation's indemnification of, or advance of expenses to, directors that is contained in its articles of incorporation or bylaws, in a resolution of its shareholders or board of directors, or in a contract, except an insurance policy, or otherwise, is valid only to the extent the provision is not inconsistent with sections 7-109-101 to 7-109-108. If the articles of incorporation limit indemnification or advance of expenses, indemnification and advance of expenses are valid only to the extent not inconsistent with the articles of incorporation. (2) Sections 7-109-101 to 7-109-108 do not limit a corporation's power to pay or reimburse expenses incurred by a director in connection with an appearance as a witness in a proceeding at a time when he or she has not been made a named defendant or respondent in the proceeding. 7-109-110. Notice to shareholders of indemnification of director. Statute text If a corporation indemnifies or advances expenses to a director under this article in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, the corporation shall give written notice of the indemnification or advance to the shareholders with or before the notice of the next shareholders' meeting. If the next shareholder action is taken without a meeting at the instigation of the board of directors, such notice shall be given to the shareholders at or before the time the first shareholder signs a writing consenting to such action." ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED. Not applicable. ITEM 8. EXHIBITS. The Exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-B, and an index thereto, are attached. ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (a) (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. (b) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (e) To deliver or cause to be delivered with the prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest annual report to security holders that is incorporated by reference in the prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the requirements of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and, where interim financial information required to be presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X are not set forth in the prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly report that is specifically incorporated by reference in the prospectus to provide such interim financial information (h) That insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorize, in the City of Stanton, State of California, on November 5, 2003. Force Protection, Inc. By: /s/ Madhava Rao Mankal Madhava Rao Mankal, President Special Power of Attorney The undersigned constitute and appoint Madhava Rao Mankal their true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Form S-8 Registration Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting such attorney-in-fact the full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated: Signature Title Date /s/ Michael Watts Chief Executive November 5, 2003 Michael Watts Officer/Director /s/ Madhava Rao Mankal President/Chief Financial November 5, 2003 Madhava Rao Mankal Officer (principal financial and accounting officer)/Director /s/ R. Scott Ervin Director November 5, 2003 R. Scott Ervin EXHIBIT INDEX Number Description 4 Directors and Consultants Retainer Stock Plan, dated September 30, 2003 (see below). 5 Opinion Re: Legality (see below). 23.1 Consent of Accountants (see below). 23.2 Consent of Counsel (see below). 24 Special Power of Attorney (see signature page).