Exhibit 10.22
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
THIS NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGEEMENT, entered into as of the
25th day of September, 1996, 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 a nonqualified stock 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. This option shall expire at the close of business on
September 25, 2006 (the "Expiration Date")
3. 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 the foregoing, in no event may a fraction of a share of Common
Stock be purchased under this option.
4. 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: Compensation/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 which have
been held by the Optionee for at least six months having a Fair Market Value 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
prices 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 principal 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 if 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 this 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
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 Corporation with a
favorable written opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Corporation, in form
and substance satisfactory to the Corporation, as to the applicability of such
exemption to the proposed sale or distribution. Such representations and
warranties shall also be deemed to be made by the Optionee upon each exercise of
this option. Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring the Corporation to
register shares subject ot 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 any subsidiary to terminate such relationship at any time for any
reason without liability to the Corporation, its parent or subsidiaries. Neither
the Optionee nor his legal representatives shall have any of the rights or
privileges of a shareholder of the Corporation in 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 obligations 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 Corporation 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, or (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 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
Optionee's lifetime 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 well 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
Agreement as of the date first above set forth.
MICROFRAME, INC.
By
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Name:
Title:
Address:
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