EXHIBIT B
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Consolidated Technology Group Ltd., a New York corporation (the
"Company"), hereby grants to Benchmark Equity Group, Inc. ("Optionee") certain
options, as more particularly described in Schedule A which is attached hereto
and incorporated herein by reference, which are exercisable to purchase that
number of shares of the Company's common stock ("Stock") as set forth in
Schedule A. Unless express reference is made to the type of option, any
Incentive Stock Option ("ISO") and/or Nonqualified Stock Option ("NQSO") granted
are herein referred to as "Options" (the option to purchase any one share of
Stock, hereinafter referred to as an "Option"). The Options granted hereunder
are subject to all of the terms, conditions and limitations of the 1999
Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") adopted by the Company, which is
incorporated herein by reference and the terms and conditions of this Stock
Option Agreement ("Agreement"). Unless otherwise indicated herein, defined terms
in this Agreement shall have the meaning indicated in the Plan.
1. Option Price. The Option price for each share of stock subject to
an ISO or NQSO granted hereunder is specified in Schedule A.
2. Description of Options. The Optionee is granted an ISO and/or a NQSO
to purchase the number of shares of Stock of the Company as set forth in
Schedule A. This 400,000 Option Award shall not be adjusted in terms of number
of shares issuable upon exercise in the event of a reverse stock split of up to
1 for 30 effected within one year of the date hereof, but the exercise price
will be adjusted.
3. Exercise of Options.
A. Schedule of Rights to Exercise. The Options shall vest and
become exercisable when, as and after the date that the Company's market
capitalization (the total number of outstanding shares of common stock and
common stock equivalents, i.e., debt and preferred stock convertible into common
stock, computed on an as converted basis, multiplied by the transaction price
reported by a stock exchange, an automated quotation system such as the Nasdaq
Stock Market or the OTC Bulletin Board, or a market maker) first equals or
exceeds $25,000,000; and the Options shall have such other terms and conditions
as set forth in the Stock Option Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B. To the
extent that the Options become exercisable, they shall be called "Vested
Options."
B. Continuous Employment. Except as set forth below, the
Optionee may exercise the Vested Options granted hereunder only during the
period the Optionee is an employee of the Company. Except in the event of a
termination for Good Reason, all vesting shall cease and no further Options
shall become Vested Options after the Optionee ceases employment with the
Company.
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Upon the Optionee's termination of employment with the
Company, without "Good Reason," as that term is defined in the Employee's
employment agreement with the Company, all of the Options that have not then
become Vested Options shall expire. Following Optionee's termination of
employment with the Company, Vested Options may be exercised only during the
following time periods. If Optionee's employment terminates on account of a
disability (as defined in the Plan), the Vested Options may be exercised for a
period of twelve (12) months following such termination and thereafter shall
expire. If Optionee's employment terminates on account of death, the Vested
Options may be exercised for a period of six (6) months following such
termination and thereafter shall expire. If the Optionee's employment terminates
for any other reason, the Vested Options may be exercised for a period of three
(3) months following such termination and thereafter shall expire.
Notwithstanding the exercise periods set forth above, all Options, which have
not already expired, shall expire on the Expiration Date as set forth in
Schedule A. Once exercised, a Vested Option shall be canceled and no longer
available for exercise.
Bona fide leaves of absence, military leave, and sick leave
shall not for this purpose be considered a termination of employment if the
Optionee is placed on such leave by the Company.
C. Method of Exercise. Vested Options may be exercised, in
whole or in part , by the Optionee providing the Company a written notice which
shall:
(1) state the election to exercise all or part of
the Vested Options granted hereunder, identify the number of Vested Option(s)
being exercised, the legal name of the Optionee in whose name the stock
certificate or certificates for such shares of Stock is to be registered, and
his address and Social Security Number;
(2) contain such representations and agreements as to
the Optionee's investment intent with respect to such shares of Stock as may be
satisfactory to the Committee and it's counsel;
(3) be signed by the Optionee entitled to exercise
such Options; and
(4) be in writing and delivered in person or by
certified mail to the Secretary of the Company at its executive offices.
D. Payment. Payment of the Option exercise price for shares of
Stock acquired upon exercise of an Option shall be in the manner provided in
Section 8 of the Plan. Unless otherwise stated in the written exercise notice to
the Company, the certificate or certificates for shares of the Stock acquired
upon the exercise of Options granted hereunder shall be registered in the name
of the person exercising such Options. A partial exercise of the Vested Options
granted hereunder does not waive an Optionee's right to a later exercise of some
or all of the remaining Vested Options.
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E. Compliance with Law. The obligation of the Company to issue
shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of Options shall be subject to all
applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by governmental
agencies as may be required. Notwithstanding any of the provisions hereof, the
Optionee hereby agrees that the Optionee will not exercise the Options, and that
the Company will be under no obligation to offer to sell or to sell and shall be
prohibited from offering to sell or selling any shares of Stock pursuant to the
exercise of any Option unless such exercise, offer or sale shall be properly
registered pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 (as now in effect or as
hereafter amended) (the "Securities Act") with the Securities and Exchange
Commission or unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel,
satisfactory to the Company, that such shares may be offered or sold without
such registration pursuant to an available exemption therefrom and the terms and
conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with. Any determination in
this connection by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive. The
Company shall register the offer or sale of shares of Stock underlying any
Option pursuant to the Securities Act within six months of the date hereof. The
Company shall not be obligated to take any other affirmative action in order to
cause the exercise of the Options or the issuance or transfer of shares pursuant
thereto to comply with any law or regulation of any governmental authority. If
the shares of Stock offered for sale or sold under any Option are offered or
sold pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, the
Company may restrict the transfer of such shares and any legend the Stock
certificates representing such shares in such manner as it deems advisable to
ensure the availability of any such exemption.
The Company is relieved from any liability for the non-issuance or
non-transfer or any delay in issuance or transfer of any shares of Stock subject
to Options which results from the inability of the Company to obtain or in any
delay in obtaining from any regulatory body having jurisdiction all requisite
authority to issue or transfer shares of Stock of the Company either upon
exercise of the Options or shares of Stock issued as a result of such exercise
if counsel for the Company deems such authority necessary for lawful issuance or
transfer of any such shares.
4. Non-Transferability of Options. The Options granted hereunder may
not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution and (other than in the event of the Optionee's death or
incapacity) may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by
him/her. The terms of the Options granted hereunder shall be binding upon the
executors, administrators, heirs and successors of the Optionee.
5. Term of Option. The Options granted shall terminate on the
Expiration Date as set forth on Schedule A and may be exercised only in
accordance with the Plan, the terms of this Agreement and any and all applicable
Securities Laws and Regulations.
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6. Estoppel Provision: Additional Provisions.
(A) Optionee shall not have any rights to dividends or any
other rights of a shareholder with respect to any shares of Stock subject to the
Options until such shares have been issued to him (as evidenced by the
appropriate entry on the books of a duly authorized transfer agent of the
Company) upon the purchase of such shares following exercise.
(B) The Company shall not be liable or bound in any manner by
any oral or written statement, representation, or other information pertaining
to the Stock, the Company or any affiliate of the Company unless the same are
specifically set forth herein. The Optionee's acceptance hereof represents his
agreement and acknowledgment that the Company has not made and is not making any
representation or warranty either express or implied, concerning the Stock or
any matter or thing relating to or affecting the Company or any of its
affiliates except as specifically set forth in this Agreement.
(C) Optionee specifically acknowledges his understanding that
sales or other dispositions of any shares of Stock made in reliance upon Rule
144 under the Securities Act of 1993, as amended (the "Act") can be made only in
limited amounts in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Rule.
(D) To the extent that any of the Options are ISO's, the
Optionee agrees to notify the Company in writing, within 30 days of any
disposition (whether by sale exchange, gift or otherwise) of shares of Stock
pursuant to such ISO's purchased under this Agreement, within two (2) years from
the Grant Date, as set forth on Schedule A, or within one year of the transfer
of such shares of Stock to the Employee upon exercise of a Vested Option.
7. Plan. This Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between discretionary terms and
provisions of the Plan and the express provisions of this Agreement, this
Agreement shall govern and control. In all other instances of conflicts or
inconsistencies or omissions, the terms and provisions of the Plan shall govern
and control. The Committee shall have sole authority, in its absolute
discretion, to construe and interpret this Agreement and to make all other
determinations it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement.
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CONSOLIDATED TECHNOLOGY GROUP LTD.
ATTEST:
CHAIRMAN, EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
OPTIONEE DATE
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Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan, a copy of which is
annexed hereto, and represents that he is familiar with the terms and provisions
thereof, and hereby accept this Option subject to all the terms and provisions
thereof. Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all
decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under
the Plan.
DATE:_________________
OPTIONEE
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SCHEDULE A
Xxxxx XxXxxx April 21, 1999
(Optionee) (Grant date)
April 21, 2004
(Expiration Date)
Incentive Stock Option ("ISO")
Number of shares subject ISO 0____
Option price for each share $_____N/A__
subject to an ISO
Non-qualified Stock Option ("NQSO")
Number of shares subject NQSO 400,000 (subject to anti-dilution
protection in the event that the Company effects a reverse stock split
of up to 1 for 30, such that the number of shares will not be reduced)
Option price for each share subject to a NQSO $0.14 (subject to price
adjustment in the event of a reverse stock split of up to 1 for 30)
TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES SUBJECT TO OPTIONS 400,000
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