Exhibit 10.21
1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION CONTRACT
THIS NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION CONTRACT, entered into
as of the September 17, 1997 between MICROFRAME, INC., a corporation organized
and existing under laws of the State of New Jersey (the "Corporation"), with its
principal place of business at ________ and ________(the "Optionee").
W I T N E S S E T H
1. The Corporation, in accordance with the consent of the
Compensation/Stock Option Committee (the "Committee") of the board of Directors,
subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, grants as of the date
hereof to the Optionee an option to purchase an aggregate of _________ shares of
common stock, $.001 par value of the Corporation ("Common Stock") at an exercise
price of $_____ per share, being at least equal to the fair market value of such
shares of Common Stock on the date hereof. Shares of Common Stock to be issued
upon the exercise of this option may, at the election of the Corporation, be
either authorized and unissued shares or shares previously issued and reacquired
by the Corporation. This option shall not be treated as an "incentive stock
option" under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the
"Code") and shall not be considered an option issued under the Corporation's
1994 Stock Option Plan.
2. The term of this option shall be 5 years from the date hereof,
subject to earlier termination as provided in the Plan. However, this option
shall not be exercisable until three months from the date hereof, at which time
it shall become exercisable as to one-quarter of the total number of shares of
Common Stock subject hereto, and as to an additional one-quarter of such shares
on each of the next three three-month anniversaries of the date of grant,
provided that the Optionee continues to serve as a Non-Employee Director (as
defined in the Plan) on such dates. The right to purchase shares of Common Stock
under this option shall be cumulative, so that if the full number of shares
purchasable in a period shall not be purchased, the balance may be purchased at
any time or from time to time thereafter, but not after the expiration of the
option. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, in no event may a fraction of a
share of Common Stock be exercised or purchased under this option.
3. This option shall be exercised by the delivery by the Optionee
(or his personal representative, as the case may be) of written notice to the
Corporation at its principal office, presently located at ________ Attention:
Stock Option Committee, stating that the Optionee is exercising this
non-qualified stock option, specifying the number of shares being purchased and
accompanied by payment in full of the aggregate purchase price therefor (a) in
cash or by certified check, (b) with previously acquired shares of Common Stock
having a fair market value equal on the exercise date equal to the aggregate
exercise price, or (c) a combination of the foregoing. For this purpose, the
"Fair Market value" of a share of Common Stock on any day shall mean (a) if the
principal market for the Common Stock is a national securities exchange, the
average of the highest and lowest sales process per share of the Common Stock on
such day as reported by such exchange or on a composite tape reflecting
transactions on such exchange, (b) if the principal market for the Common Stock
is not a national securities exchange and the Common Stock is quoted on the
National Association of Securities Dealers automated Quotations System
("NASDAQ"), and (i) if actual sales price information is available with respect
to the Common Stock, the average of the highest and lowest sales prices per
share of the Common Stock on such day on NASDAQ, or (ii) if such information is
not available, the average between the highest bid and the lowest asked prices
per share of Common Stock on such day on NASDAQ, or (c) if the principle market
for the Common Stock is not a national securities exchange and the Common
Stock is not quoted on NASDAQ, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked
prices per share for the Common Stock on such day as reported on the NASDAQ OTC
Bulletin Board Service or by National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or a
comparable service; provided that if clauses (a), (b), and (c) of this paragraph
are all inapplicable, or is no trades have been made or no quotes are available
for such day, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock shall be
determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation by any method consistent
with applicable regulations adopted by the Treasury Department relating to stock
options.
5. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this option shall not be
exercisable by the Optionee unless (a) a Registration Statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") with respect to the
shares of Common Stock to be received upon the exercise of the option shall be
effective and current at the time of exercise or (b) there is an exemption from
registration under the Securities Act for the issuance of the shares of Common
Stock upon exercise. The Optionee hereby represents and warrants to the
Corporation that, unless a Registration Statement is effective and current at
the time of exercise of this option, the shares of Common Stock to be issued to
upon the exercise of this option will be acquired by the Optionee for his own
account, for investment only and not with a view to the resale or distribution
thereof. In any event, the Optionee shall notify the Corporation of any proposed
resale of the shares of Common Stock issued to him upon exercise of this option.
Any resale or distribution of such shares of Common Stock by him may be made
only pursuant to (i) a Registration Statement under the Securities Act which is
effective and current with respect to the shares of Common Stock being sold, or
(ii) a specific exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act, but in claiming such exemption, the Optionee shall prior to any offer of
sale or sale of such shares of Common Stock provide the Company with a favorable
written opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company,
as to the applicability of such exemption to the proposed sale or distribution.
Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring the Company to register shares
subject to this option under the Securities Act.
6. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time
the Corporation shall determine in its discretion that the listing or
qualification of the shares of Common Stock subject to this option on any
securities exchange or under any applicable law, or the consent or approval of
any governmental agency or regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a
condition of, or in connection with, the granting of an option, or the issue of
shares of Common Stock thereunder, this option may not be exercised in whole or
in part unless such listing, qualification, consent or approval shall have been
effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Corporation.
7. Nothing herein shall confer upon the Optionee any right to
continue as an employee of the Corporation, its parent, or any of its
subsidiaries, or interfere in any way with any right of the Corporation, its
parent or its subsidiaries to terminate such employment at any time for any
reason whatsoever without liability to the Corporation, its parent or any of its
subsidiaries. Neither the Optionee nor his legal representatives shall have any
of the rights or privileges of a shareholder of the Corporation I respect of any
of the shares issuable upon the exercise of this option, unless and until
certificates representing such shares shall have been issued and delivered;
provided, however that until such certificates are issued, the Optionee shall be
treated as owning any previously acquired shares of Common Stock used to
exercise such option.
8. The Corporation may withhold cash and/or shares of Common Stock
in the amount, if any, necessary to satisfy its obligation to withhold taxes or
other amounts by reason of the grant, exercise or disposition of the option or
the shares of Common Stock underlying the option, or may require the Optionee to
pay the Corporation such amount. The Optionee agrees to pay any such amount to
the Corporation in cash upon demand.
9. The Company may affix appropriate legends upon the certificates
for shares and may issue such "stop transfer" instructions to its transfer agent
in respect of such shares as it determines, in its discretion, to be necessary
or appropriate to (a) prevent a violation of, or to perfect an exemption from,
the registration requirements of the Securities Act, (b) implement the
provisions of any agreement between the Corporation and the Optionee with
respect to such shares.
10. The Optionee represents and agrees that he will comply with
all applicable laws relating to the Plan and the grant and exercise of the
option and the disposition of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise
of the option, including without limitation, Federal and state securities and
"blue sky" laws.
11. This option is not transferable by the Optionee other than by
will or the laws of descent and distribution and may be exercisable during the
lifetime of the Optionee, only by him or his legal representatives. Neither this
option nor any of the rights and privileges conferred hereby shall be
transferred, assigned, pledged (as collateral for a loan, or as security for the
performance of an obligation, or for any other purpose), or hypothecated in any
way (whether voluntarily, by operation of law or otherwise) or be subject to
execution, attachment, or similar process. Any attempted transfer, assignment,
pledge (as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of any
obligation, or for any other purpose), hypothecation, execution, attachment or
similar process shall be null and void and of no force or effect.
12. In the event that, prior to the issuance by the Corporation of
all the shares pursuant to this option, there shall be any change in the
outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation by reason of a stock dividend, stock
split, spin-off, stock combination, recapitalization, merger in which the
Corporation is the surviving corporation or the like, the remaining number of
shares still subject to this option and the exercise price therefor shall be
proportionally adjusted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation to reflect
such change. Such adjustment may provide for the elimination of fractional
shares which might otherwise be subject to options, without payment therefor.
The determination of the Board of Directors with respect thereto shall be
conclusive and binding on the parties. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, in the event of (a) the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation
or (b) a merger in which the Corporation is not the surviving corporation or a
consolidation involving the Corporation, this option shall terminate, unless
other provision is made therefor in the transaction.
13. The invalidity, unenforceability, or illegality of any
provision herein shall not affect the validity, enforceability, or legality of
any other provision.
14. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of any successor or assign of the Corporation and to any heir, distributee,
executor, administrator or legal representative entitled by law to the
Optionee's rights hereunder. This Agreement may not be amended except in writing
signed by the parties.
15. Whenever notice is required to be given under the terms of
this Agreement, such notice shall be in writing and shall be deemed delivered:
(a) if to the Corporation, upon receipt by the Corporation, at
the Corporation's address set forth above, Attention: Compensation/Stock Option
Committee, or such other address as the Corporation may designate by notice to
the Optionee, effective upon receipt of such notice by the Optionee.
(b) if to the Optionee, as of the day it is personally
delivered, or 5 days after mailing, by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, at the Optionee's address set forth above,
or such other address as the Optionee may designate by notice to the
Corporation. Effective upon receipt of such notice by the Corporation.
16. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to conflict
of law provisions.
17. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior
agreements with respect thereto.
18. The Corporation shall pay all issuance taxes with respect to
the shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this option, as we!1 as all expenses
incurred by the Corporation in connection therewith.
19. This option shall not be construed or interpreted with any
presumption against the Corporation by reason of the Corporation causing this
Agreement to be drafted.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Contract as
of the day and year first above written.
MICROFRAME, INC.
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By:
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Optionee
