As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 24, 1998
Registration No. 333-__________
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
----------------------
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
BASE TEN SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
NEW JERSEY 22-1804206
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)
ONE ELECTRONICS DRIVE
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08619
(Address, including Zip Code, of Principal Executive Offices)
1998 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
(Full Title of the Plan)
THOMAS E. GARDNER
PRESIDENT, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD,
and CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
BASE TEN SYSTEMS, INC.
ONE ELECTRONICS DRIVE
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08619
(609) 586-7010
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)
----------------------
With a copy to:
WARREN J. CASEY, ESQ.
PITNEY, HARDIN, KIPP & SZUCH
P.O. BOX 1945
MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY 07962
(973) 966-6300
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- ----------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Title of Amount Proposed Maximum Proposed Maximum Amount of
Securities to to be Offering Price Aggregate Registration
be Registered Registered(1) Per Share(2) Offering Price Fee
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A Common Stock, $1.00 300,000 $3.09375 $928,125 $273.80
Par Value
Total Registration Fee
$273.80
- ----------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
</TABLE>
(1) In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of shares of
Class A Common Stock that may be issuable pursuant to anti-dilution
provisions contained in the 1998 Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. Such
estimate has been computed in accordance with Rule 457 (c) and Rule
457(h)(1) based on the average high and low prices of the Registrant's Class
A Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ National Market on July 22, 1998.
<PAGE>
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
ITEM 1. Plan Information
Not filed with this Registration Statement.
ITEM 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information
Not filed with this Registration Statement.
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents filed by Base Ten Systems, Inc. ("Base Ten" or
the "Registrant") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:
1. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October, 31,
1997 filed on February 11, 1998.
2. Amendment to Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended
October 31, 1997 filed on February 27, 1998.
3. The Description of the Registrant's Capital Stock contained in
the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 23, 1998.
4. Form 8-K, filed on November 12, 1997, reporting the sale of
all the assets, subject to certain liabilities, of the
Registrant's Government Technology Division.
5. Form 8-K, filed on December 18, 1997, reporting the sale of
the first installment of the sale of $19 million of
Convertible Preferred Shares.
6. Form 8-K, filed on January 9, 1998, reporting the completion
of the sale of the Government Technology Division and the
second and final installment of the sale of $19 million of
Convertible Preferred Shares.
7. Form 8-K, filed on February 2, 1998, reporting the
Registrant's change in fiscal year.
8. Form 8-K, filed on March 6, 1998, reporting the Registrant's
execution of a Definitive Purchase Agreement with Consilium,
Inc. under which the Registrant purchased the assets of
Consilium's Health Care and Process business unit for a cash
consideration of $1.5 million and the assumption of certain
maintenance and warranty obligations.
9. Form 8-K, filed on March 9, 1998, reporting the dismissal of
Deloitte & Touche LLP as the principal accountant to audit the
Registrant's financial statements.
10. Form 8-K, filed on March 16, 1998, reporting the appointment
of Price Waterhouse LLP as the principal accountant to audit
the Registrant's financial statements.
11. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the transition period from
November 1, 1997 to December 31, 1997, filed on March 16,
1998.
12. Amendment No. 1 to Form 8-K, filed on May 5, 1998, amending
the Form 8-K filed on March 6, 1998.
13. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
1998, filed on May 15, 1998.
14. Amendment No. 2 to Form 8-K, filed on May 11, 1998, amending
the Form 8-K filed on March 6, 1998.
All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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, hereby are incorporated herein by reference and shall be deemed a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement
to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently
filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
ITEM 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Article 9 of the Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended, provides as follows:
Any present or future Director or Officer of the Corporation, and any
present or future director or officer of any other corporation serving
as such at the request of the Corporation, or the legal representative
of any such Director or Officer, shall be indemnified by the
Corporation against reasonable costs, expenses (exclusive of any amount
paid to the Corporation in settlement) and counsel fees paid or
incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding to which any
such Director or Officer or his legal representative may be made a
party by reason of his being or having been such Director or Officer;
provided that, (1) said action, suit or proceeding shall be prosecuted
against such Director or Officer or against his legal representative to
final determination, and it shall not be finally adjudged in said
action, suit or proceeding that he had been derelict in the performance
of his duties as such Director or Officer, or (2) said action, suit or
proceeding shall be settled or otherwise terminated as against such
Director or Officer or his legal representative without a final
determination on the merits and it shall be determined by a majority of
the members of the Board of Directors who are not parties to said
action, suit or proceeding, or by a person or persons specially
appointed by the Board of Directors to determine the same that said
Director or Officer has not in any substantial way been derelict in the
performance o his duties as charged in such action, suit or proceeding.
The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of other
rights to which such Director or Officer or legal representative may be
entitled by law, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors
or administrators of such Director or Officer.
Article 10 of the Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended, provides as follows:
No director or officer of the corporation shall be personally liable to
the corporation or its shareholders for damages for breach of any duty
owed to the corporation or its shareholders, except for liability for
any breach of duty based upon an act or omission (a) in breach of such
director's or officer's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its
shareholders, (b) not in good faith or involving a knowing violation of
law, or (c) resulting in receipt by such director or officer of an
improper personal benefit. As used in this Article, an act or omission
in breach of a director's or officer's duty of loyalty means an act or
omission which such director or officer knows or believes to be
contrary to the best interests of the corporation or its shareholders
in connection with a matter in which such director or officer has a
material conflict of interest.
The provisions of this Article shall be effective as and to the fullest
extent that, in whole or in part, they shall be authorized or permitted
by the laws of the State of New Jersey. No repeal or modification of
the provisions of this Article nor, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, any modification of law shall adversely affect any right or
protection of a director or officer of the corporation which exists at
the time of such repeal or modification.
Article X of the Registrant's By-Laws, as amended, entitled "Indemnification:
Insurance," provides as follow:
Section 1. The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
contemplated action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (including an action by or in the right
of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director
or officer of the Corporation against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the maximum
extent permitted by law, and shall advance expenses incurred by such
person in any such action to the maximum extent permitted by law in
accordance with the procedures provided by applicable law.
Section 2. To the extent, according to standards and in such manner as
the Board of Directors may direct pursuant to and in accordance with
applicable law in the particular case, the Corporation shall indemnify
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to
any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including an
action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact
that he is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation, as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, against expense (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement.
Section 3. The indemnification provided by this Article X shall not be
deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification may be entitled under any agreement, vote of
stockholder or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action
in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while
holding such office and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to
be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the
benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
Section 4. The Corporation, acting by its Board of Directors, shall
have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as
a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any
liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such
capacity, or 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 this Article X. Nothing in this
Section 4 shall obligate the Corporation to indemnify any person to any
extent other than as provided in Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this Article
X.
Statutory authority for indemnification of and insurance for Base Ten's
directors and officers is contained in the New Jersey Business Corporation
Act ("the Act"), in particular, Section 14A:3-5 of the Act, the material
provisions of which may be summarized as follows:
Directors and officers may be indemnified in non-derivative proceedings
against settlement, judgments, fines and penalties and against
reasonable expenses (including counsel fees) where the person acted in
good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation and also, in a
criminal proceeding, he must have had no reasonable cause to believe
that his conduct was unlawful. In derivative proceedings such persons
may be indemnified against reasonable expenses (including counsel fees)
were the person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, but not against settlements, judgments, fines or penalties
except that, without a court determination as to entitlement to
indemnity, no indemnity may be provided to a person who has been
adjudged liable to the corporation In all cases, the Act provides that
indemnification may only be made by the corporation (unless order by a
court) only as authorized in a specific case upon a determination that
indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the person has
met the applicable standard of conduct required of the person, requires
a person to be indemnified for reasonable expenses (including counsel
fees) to the extent he has been successful in any proceeding and
permits a corporation to advance expenses upon an undertaking for
repayment if it shall be ultimately determined that the director or
officer is not entitled to indemnification. The indemnification and
advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to the Act is
not exclusive of other rights of indemnification to which a corporate
agent may be entitled under a certificate of incorporation, by-law,
agreement, vote of shareholders or otherwise. However, no
indemnification may be made to or on behalf of a director or officer if
a final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes
that the director's or officer's acts or omissions were in breach of
his duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders, were not in
good faith or involved a knowing violation of law, or resulted in
receipt by the director or officer an improper personal benefit. A
corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any
directors and officers against expenses incurred in any proceeding and
liabilities asserted against them by reason of being or having been a
director or officer, whether or not the corporation would have the
power to indemnify the directors or officers against such expenses and
liabilities under the statute.
Each of the officers and directors of Base Ten is insured against
certain liabilities which he might incur in his capacity as an officer
or director of Base Ten or its subsidiaries pursuant to a Directors and
Officers Insurance and Company Reimbursement Policy issued by National
Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA, Zurich Insurance
Company of Philadelphia, PA and Genesis Insurance Company of Stamford,
CT. The general effect of the policy is that if any claims are made
against officers or directors of Base Ten or its subsidiaries or any of
them for a Wrongful Act (as defined in the policy) while acting in
their individual or collective capacities as directors or officers, to
the extent Base Ten or its subsidiary has property indemnified such
officers and directors, the insurer will, subject to the retention
amount, reimburse Base Ten or its subsidiary for 100% of any Loss (as
defined in the policy). In addition, to the extent that Base Ten or its
subsidiary has not indemnified an officer or director, the insurer
will, subject to the retention amount, pay on behalf of such officer or
director 100% of the Loss. Defense Costs (as defined in the Policy) are
part of Loss and are subject to the limits of the policy.
The retention amount under the policy is $250,000. The retention amount
is first applied to Base Ten or its subsidiary. The retention amount is
not applicable to officers or directors if Base Ten or its subsidiary
is not permitted or required to indemnify the officers or directors.
If, however, Base Ten or its subsidiary is permitted or required to
indemnify the officers or directors, then the retention amount does
apply to them.
Under the policy, the term "Wrongful Act" means any actual or alleged
error, or misstatement, or misleading statement, or act, or omission,
or neglect or breach of duty by the directors or officers in their
capacities as such, individually or collectively, or any matter claimed
against them solely by reason of their being directors or officers of
Base Ten or its subsidiaries, except that certain claims are excluded
by the terms and conditions of the policy. The term "Loss" means
damages, judgments, settlements and Defense Costs. The term "Defense
Costs" means reasonable and necessary fees, costs and expenses
consented to by the insurer resulting solely from the investigation,
adjustment, defense and appeal of any claim against any director or
officer, but excluding salaries of officers or employees of Base Ten or
its subsidiaries.
ITEM 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. Exhibits.
4(c) 1998 Directors' Stock Option Plan
5 Opinion of Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch, as to the legality of
the securities being registered.
23(a) Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23(b) Consent of Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch (included in Exhibit 5
hereto).
24 Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).
ITEM 9. Undertakings.
1. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration
Statement 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.
(b) That, for purposes 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.
(c) 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.
2. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes 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 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference
in this 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.
3. 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.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all 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 authorized, in the City of Trenton, State of New Jersey, on this 24th day
of July, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BASE TEN SYSTEMS, INC.
<S> <C> <C>
THOMAS E. GARDNER WILLIAM F. HACKETT WILLIAM F. HACKETT
By:__________________ By:_____________________ By:___________________
Thomas E. Gardner William F. Hackett William F. Hackett
Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer
(Principal Executive Officer) and Principal Financial Officer)
</TABLE>
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature
appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Thomas E. Gardner and William F.
Hackett, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents,
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 to this Registration
Statement (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same with all
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming what said attorneys-in-fact and agents or their
substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
<S> <C> <C>
THOMAS E. GARDNER
__________________________ July 24, 1998
Thomas E. Gardner Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of
the Board, President, and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
ALEXANDER M. ADELSON
__________________________ July 24, 1998
Alexander M. Adelson Director
DAVID C. BATTEN
__________________________ July 24, 1998
David C. Batten Director
__________________________ July , 1998
Alan S. Poole Director
WILLIAM SWORD
__________________________ July 24, 1998
William Sword Director
__________________________ July , 1998
Carl W. Schafer Director
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. Description
4(c) 1998 Directors' Stock Option Plan.
5 Opinion of Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch.
23(a) Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23(b) Consent of Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch (included in Exhibit 5
hereto).
24 Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).
Exhibit 4(c)
1998 Directors' Stock Option Plan
EXHIBIT C
BASE TEN SYSTEMS, INC.
DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. Purpose
The purpose of the Base Ten Systems, Inc. Directors' Stock Option Plan
(the "Plan") is to encourage non-employee directors who are not employees of
Base Ten Systems, Inc. (the "Company") to acquire a proprietary interest in the
future of the Company through the ownership of the Class A Common Stock of the
Company ("Common Stock"). It is also expected that the Plan will encourage
qualified persons to serve as directors of the Company.
2. Administration of the Plan
The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee (the
"Committee") of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"). In
administering the Plan, the Committee may adopt rules and regulations for
carrying out the Plan. The interpretation and decision with regard to any
question arising under the Plan made by the Committee shall be final and
conclusive on all directors participating or eligible to participate in the
Plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the determination of the directors to
whom, and the time or times at which, options shall be granted and the number of
shares of Common Stock to be included in the grants shall be made by the Board.
3. Shares of Stock Subject to the Plan
The total number of shares that may be issued pursuant to options
granted under the Plan is 300,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment
as provided in Paragraph 7. Any shares subject to an option which for any reason
expires or is terminated unexercised may again be subject to an option under the
Plan.
4. Eligibility
Directors who are not employees of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (including members of the Committee) are eligible to be granted
options under the Plan. The directors who shall receive options under the Plan
shall be selected from time to time by the Board and the Board shall determine
the number of shares to be covered by the option granted to each such director.
5. Duration of the Plan
The Plan shall become effective as of January 1, 1998, subject to its
approval by the stockholders of the Company. The Plan shall terminate upon the
earliest of the following to occur: (a) the adoption of a resolution by the
Board terminating the Plan, provided, however, that options then outstanding
shall extend beyond such termination date; or (b) the date all shares of Common
Stock subject to options are purchased or all unexercised options have expired.
6. Terms and Conditions of Stock Options
All options granted under this Plan shall be evidenced by an agreement
between the Company and the optionee and shall be subject to all the applicable
provisions of the Plan, including the following terms and conditions, and such
other terms and conditions not inconsistent therewith as the Committee shall
determine.
(a) The option price per share shall be determined by the
Committee, but shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share
of Common Stock on the date the option is granted. The fair market value shall
be the price for the Common Stock as reported for the day on which the option is
granted. In the event that the method for determining the fair market value of
the Common Stock provided for in this Paragraph 6 (a) shall not be practicable,
then the fair market value per share shall be determined by such other
reasonable method as the Committee shall, in its discretion, select and apply at
the time of grant of the option concerned.
(b) Each option shall be exercisable during and over such
period ending not later than ten years from the date it was granted, as may be
determined by the Board and stated in the option grant agreement.
(c) Options shall be immediately exercisable.
(d) Each option may be exercised by giving written notice to
the Company specifying the number of shares to be purchased, which shall be
accompanied by payment in full including applicable taxes, if any. Payment shall
be (i) in cash, or (ii) in shares of Common Stock already owned by the optionee
(the value of such Common Stock shall be its fair market value on the date of
exercise as determined under Paragraph 6 (a)), or (iii) by a combination of cash
and shares of Common Stock. No option shall be exercised for less than the
lesser of 50 shares or the full number of shares for which the option is then
exercisable. No optionee shall have any rights to dividends or other rights of a
shareholder with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to his option until
he has given written notice of exercise of his option and paid in full for such
shares.
(e) Each option may provide, or be amended to provide, that
the optionee may exercise the option without payment of the option price by
delivery to the Company of an exercise notice and irrevocable instructions to
deliver shares of Common Stock directly to the brokerage firm named therein in
exchange for payment of the option price by such brokerage firm to the Company.
(f) Upon an optionee's death, his option may thereafter be
immediately exercised by the legal representative of his estate or by the
legatee of the optionee under his last will until the expiration of the option.
(g) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (g) of
Section 6, the option by its terms shall be personal and shall not be
transferable by the optionee otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution. During the lifetime of an optionee, the option shall be
exercisable only by him. The Committee may, in is discretion, authorize any
option to be on terms which permit transfer of all or a portion of such option
to members of the optionee's immediate family or a trust or partnership, or
similar vehicle, established solely for the benefit of, or the partners or
members of which are solely, such family members, provided that the option grant
agreement expressly permits such transferability and any transfer of such option
shall be in accordance with any other terms, conditions, rules and limitations
prescribed by the Committee and/or set forth in the applicable option grant
agreement. Following the valid transfer of any such option, the transferred
option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were
applicable to such option immediately prior to such transfer, provided that the
transferee of such option shall be treated under the Plan and the applicable
agreement as the optionee.
7. Changes in Capital/Change in Control
Upon changes in the Common Stock by a stock dividend, stock split,
reverse split, subdivision, recapitalization, merger, consolidation (whether or
not the Company is a surviving corporation), combination or exchange of shares,
separation, reorganization or liquidation, the number and class of shares
available under the Plan as to which options may be granted, the number and
class of shares under each option and the option price per share shall be
correspondingly adjusted by the Committee, such adjustments to be made in the
case of outstanding options without change in the total price applicable to such
options; provided, however, no such adjustments shall be made in the case of
stock dividends aggregating in any fiscal year of the Company not more than 5%
of the Common Stock issued and outstanding at the beginning of such year or in
the case of one or more splits, subdivisions or combinations of the Common Stock
during any fiscal year of the Company resulting in an increase or decrease of
not more than 5% of the Common Stock issued and outstanding at the beginning of
such year.
8. Use of Proceeds
Proceeds from the sale of shares pursuant to options granted under this
Plan shall constitute general funds of the Company.
9. Amendments
The Board may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, including without
limitation any amendment considered to be advisable by reason of changes to the
Internal Revenue Code, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be
made which would impair the rights of any holder of an option theretofore
granted, without his consent, or which, without the approval of the
shareholders, would:
(a) Except as is provided in Paragraph 7 of the Plan, increase
the total number of shares reserved for the purpose of the Plan.
(b) Decrease the option price to less than 100% of the fair
market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of the granting of the
option.
The Committee may amend the terms of any option heretofore granted,
retroactively or prospectively, but no such amendment shall impair the rights of
any holder without his consent.
<PAGE>
10. Governing Law
The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of New Jersey.
PITNEY, HARDIN, KIPP & SZUCH
(MAIL TO)
P.O. BOX 1945
MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY 07962-1945
------
(DELIVERY TO)
200 CAMPUS DRIVE
FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY 07932-0950
(973) 966-6300
FACSIMILE (973) 966-1550
July 24, 1998
Base Ten Systems, Inc.
One Electronics Drive
Trenton, New Jersey 08619
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8
1998 Directors' Stock Option Plan
We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") to be filed by Base Ten Systems, Inc. (the "Company")
with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of 300,000 shares of
Class A Common Stock of the Company, $1.00 par value (the "Shares") issuable
pursuant to awards granted under the 1998 Directors' Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan").
We have also examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction, of the Plan, the Certificate of Incorporation
and By-laws of the Company, as currently in effect, and relevant resolutions of
the Board of Directors of the Company; and we have examined such other documents
as we deemed necessary in order to express the opinion hereinafter set forth.
In our examination of such documents and records, we have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us
as originals, and conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us
as copies.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, when the
Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, and the Shares shall
have been duly issued in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement
and the Plan, the Shares will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
The foregoing opinion is limited to the federal laws of the United
States and the laws of the State of New Jersey, and we are expressing no opinion
as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to use of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we
come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Act, or the Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder.
Very truly yours,
PITNEY, HARDIN, KIPP & SZUCH
Exhibit 23(a)
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of
Base Ten Systems, Inc. on Form S-8 of our report dated February 6, 1998,
appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Base Ten Systems, Inc. for the
year ended October 31, 1997.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Parsippany, New Jersey
July 24, 1998
