WAVETECH INC
S-8, 1997-03-14
COMPUTER INTEGRATED SYSTEMS DESIGN
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     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 1997
                                                           Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                                 WAVETECH, INC.
                                 --------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         New Jersey                                              22-2726569
         ----------                                              ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of                             (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)


           5210 E. Williams Circle, Suite 200, Tucson, Arizona 85711
           ---------------------------------------------------------
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                            1997 Stock Incentive Plan
                            -------------------------
                            (Full title of the plan)


                           Gerald I. Quinn, President
                                 Wavetech, Inc.
                       5210 E. Williams Circle, Suite 200
                              Tucson, Arizona 85711
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (520) 750-9093
                                 --------------
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                  With copy to:

                          Christopher D. Johnson, Esq.
                        Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.
                            40 N. Central, Suite 2700
                             Phoenix, Arizona 85004
                                 (602) 528-4000

APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE: As soon as practicable  after
the Registration Statement becomes effective.

<PAGE>

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


================================================================================
 PROPOSED              PROPOSED
 TITLE OF              MAXIMUM        MAXIMUM
SECURITIES             AMOUNT         OFFERING       AGGREGATE        AMOUNT OF
  TO BE                 TO BE          PRICE         OFFERING       REGISTRATION
REGISTERED            REGISTERED     PER SHARE *      PRICE *            FEE
- ----------            ----------     -----------     ----------      -----------
Common Stock          4,600,000        $ 0.675       $3,105,000         $ 941
$.001 par value
================================================================================

*     Estimated  solely  for  the  purpose  of  calculating  the  amount  of the
      registration  fee,  pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) of the  Securities
      Act of 1933,  on the basis of the  average  of the high and low prices for
      shares of Common Stock on March 12, 1997










                                        2
<PAGE>

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS


          The documents containing the information  specified in Part I, Items 1
and 2, will be delivered to participants in accordance with the  requirements of
Form S-8 and Securities Act Rule 428.






                                        3

<PAGE>
                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3.   INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

          The  following  documents  have been filed with the  Commission by the
Company and are hereby  incorporated by reference into this Prospectus:  (a) the
Company's  Annual  Report on Form  10-KSB for the fiscal  year ended  August 31,
1996, Commission File No. 000-15482,  as amended; (b) all reports filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to Section 13(a),  13(c),  14, or
15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to August 31, 1996; and
(c) the  description  of the Company's  Common Stock  contained in the Company's
Registration  Statement on Form 8-A,  Commission File No. 33-8353 filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.

          All  documents  subsequently  filed  by  the  Registrant  pursuant  to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior
to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement 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 this  Registration  Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing such documents.

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  XV  of  the  Company's  Bylaws,   provides  as  follows:  The
corporation  shall  indemnify each of its directors and officers 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 (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason
of the fact that he is or was a director  or officer of the Company or is or was
serving at the request of the Company as a director,  officer, employee or agent
of another corporation,  partnership,  joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,  fines and amounts paid
in settlement  actually and reasonably  incurred by him in connection  with such
action,  suit or  proceeding  if he  acted  in good  faith  and in a  manner  he
reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed  to  the  best  interests  of the
Company,  and  with  respect  to  any  criminal  action  or  proceeding,  had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

          Except as provided  herein below,  any such  indemnification  shall be
made by the Company only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination
that  indemnification  of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances
because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth

                                        4
<PAGE>

above.  Such  determination  shall be made:  (a) by the Board of  Directors by a
majority  vote of a quorum  of  directors  who were or are not  parties  to such
action, suit or proceeding, or (b) by the shareholders.

          Expenses (including  attorneys' fees) incurred in defending a civil or
criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Company in advance of the
final  disposition of such action or  proceeding,  if authorized by the Board of
Directors and upon receipt of an  undertaking by or on behalf of the director or
officer to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is
entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

          To the extent that a director or officer  has been  successful  on the
merits or otherwise  in defense of any action,  suit or  proceeding  referred to
above,  or in  defense  of any  claim,  issue  or  matter  therein,  he shall be
indemnified  against  expenses   (including   attorneys'  fees  )  actually  and
reasonably  incurred  by  him  in  connection  therewith,  without  any  further
determination  that he has met the  applicable  standard  of  conduct  set forth
above.

Item 7.    EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED. Not applicable.

Item 8.    EXHIBITS.

           Exhibit Index located at Page 10.

Item 9.    UNDERTAKINGS.

     (a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1) To file, during any period in which it offers or sells securities,
a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

               (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
          the Securities Act of 1933;

               (ii) To reflect  in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising
          after the effective  date of the  registration  statement (or the most
          recent  post-effective  amendment  thereof)  which,   individually  or
          together, represents a fundamental change in the information set forth
          in the registration statement.

               (iii) To include any additional or changed  material  information
          with respect to the plan of distribution;

provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if the registration
statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8 and the information required to be included
in a  post-effective  amendment  by those  paragraphs  is  contained in periodic
reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section

                                        5
<PAGE>

15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference
in the registration statement.

          (2) That,  for the 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.

          (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) 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 Section 15(d) of the
Securities  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.

     (c) 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
offered,  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  of 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.






                                        6
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES


          Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  the
Registrant 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
authorized, in the City of Tucson, and the State of Arizona, on March 12, 1997.

                                     WAVETECH, INC.
                            a New Jersey Corporation


                             By: /s/ Gerald I. Quinn
                                         -----------------------------------
                                              Gerald I. Quinn
                                              President, Chief Executive Officer
                                              and Director

                            SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW  ALL  MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that  each  of  the  undersigned,
constitutes and appoints Gerald I. Quinn and Lydia M. Montoya, and each of them,
his or her true  and  lawful  attorney-in-fact  and  agent  with  full  power of
substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him or her and in his or her 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 Securities and Exchange Commission, granting such 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 and  about  the
premises,  as fully and to all intents and  purposes as he or she might or could
do in person,  hereby  ratifying and confirming all that such  attorneys-in-fact
and  agents,  or each of them,  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 below by the  following  persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.


     Signature                      Title                             Date
     ---------                      -----                             ----

/s/ Terence E. Belsham        Chairman of the Board               March 12, 1997
- --------------------------
Terence E. Belsham




                                        7

<PAGE>

     Signature                      Title                             Date
     ---------                      -----                             ----

/s/ Gerald I. Quinn          President, Chief Executive           March 12, 1997
- --------------------------   Officer and Director
Gerald I. Quinn


/s/ Richard P. Freeman       Vice President Investor              March 12, 1997
- --------------------------   Relations & Product Development
Richard P. Freeman           and Director



/s/ Lydia M. Montoya         Chief Financial Officer and          March 12, 1997
- --------------------------   Treasurer (Principal financial
Lydia M. Montoya             and accounting officer)





                                        8
<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT                                                         PAGE OR
NUMBER          DESCRIPTION                                 METHOD OF FILING
- ------          -----------                                 ----------------

  4.1      1997 Stock Incentive Plan                               *

  4.2      Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement                *

  4.3      Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement            *

  4.4      Form of Directors Stock Option Agreement                *

   5       Opinion of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. as          *
           to valid issuance of shares.

  24.1     Consent of Addison, Roberts & Ludwig, P.C.              *

  24.2     Consent of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.        See Exhibit 5

   25      Powers of Attorney                               See Signature Page

- ------------------

*   Filed herewith.



                                        9

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1
                                 WAVETECH, INC.

                            1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

                            -------------------------

          1.  Purposes  of the Plan.  The  purposes of this Plan are to attract,
retain and motivate  officers,  other key  employees and  nonemployee  directors
(including  any  nonemployee  Chairman  of  the  Board)  of and  consultants  to
Wavetech,  Inc. and its subsidiaries and to provide such persons with incentives
and rewards for superior  performance more directly linked to the  profitability
of the Corporation's business and increases in shareholder value.

              Options granted hereunder may be either "Incentive Stock Options,"
as defined in Section 422 of the Code, or "Non-Statutory  Stock Options," at the
discretion  of the Board and as  reflected  in the terms of the  written  option
agreement.

          2.   Definitions.  As used herein,  the  following  definitions  shall
apply:

               (a)  "Award"  shall  mean the  grant of any  Options,  Restricted
          Shares or Deferred Shares pursuant to this Plan and in accordance with
          its terms and conditions.

               (b) "Board"  shall mean the Board of  Directors of the Company or
          the Committee, if one has been appointed.

               (c) "Change of Control" means a change in ownership or control of
          the Company effected through either of the following transactions:

                    (i) the  direct or  indirect  acquisition  by any  person or
               related  group of persons  (other than by the Company or a person
               that directly or  indirectly  controls,  is controlled  by, or is
               under common control with,  the Company) of beneficial  ownership
               (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of  securities
               possessing  more than 50% of the total  combined  voting power of
               the  Company's  outstanding  securities  pursuant  to a tender or
               exchange  offer made directly to the Company's  shareholders,  or
               other transaction; or

                    (ii) a change in the  composition of the Board over a period
               of 36  consecutive  months or less such  that a  majority  of the
               Board members  (rounded up to the next whole number)  ceases,  by
               reason of one or more contested  elections for Board  membership,
               to be  comprised  of  individuals  who either (i) have been Board
               members  continuously  since the beginning of such period or (ii)
               have been  elected or  nominated  for  election as Board  members
               during such  period by at least a majority  of the Board  members
               described in clause (i) who were still in office at the time such
               election or nomination was approved by the Board.
<PAGE>

               (d)  "Code"  shall mean the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as
          amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

               (e)  "Common  Stock"  shall mean the common  stock of the Company
          described in the Company's Articles of Incorporation, as amended.

               (f)   "Company"   shall  mean   Wavetech,   Inc.,  a  New  Jersey
          corporation, and shall include any parent or subsidiary corporation of
          the Company as defined in Sections  424(e) and (f),  respectively,  of
          the Code.

               (g) "Committee"  shall mean the Committee  appointed by the Board
          in accordance  with  paragraph (a) of Section 4 of the Plan, if one is
          appointed.

               (h)  "Consultant"  shall  mean  any  person,   including  without
          limitation independent contractors and financial advisors, who perform
          services on behalf of the Company from time to time.

               (i)   "Corporate   Transaction"   means  any  of  the   following
          shareholderapproved transactions to which the Company is a party:

                    (i) a merger or  consolidation  in which the  Company is not
               the  surviving  entity,  except for a  transaction  the principal
               purpose of which is to change  the state in which the  Company is
               incorporated;

                    (ii)  the  sale,  transfer  or other  disposition  of all or
               substantially  all  of the  assets  of the  Company  in  complete
               liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

                    (iii)  any  reverse  merger  in  which  the  Company  is the
               surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than 50%
               of the total combined  voting power of the Company's  outstanding
               securities are transferred to a person or persons  different from
               the persons holding those  securities  immediately  prior to such
               merger.

                    (j) "Deferral  Period" means the period of time during which
               Deferred Shares are subject to deferral limitations under Section
               12 of this Plan.

                    (k) "Deferred  Shares" means an Award pursuant to Section 12
               of this Plan of the right to receive  Common Shares at the end of
               a specified Deferral Period.

                    (l) "Director" shall mean a member of the Board.

                    (m) "Employee" shall mean any person, including officers and
               Directors,  employed by the Company.  The payment of a director's
               fee  by  the  Company  shall  not  be  sufficient  to  constitute
               "employment" by the Company.

                                        2
<PAGE>
                    (n) "Exchange  Act" shall mean the  Securities  and Exchange
               Act  of  1934,  as  amended,   and  the  rules  and   regulations
               promulgated thereunder.

                    (o) "Fair Market Value" shall mean, with respect to the date
               a given Option is granted or  exercised,  the value of the Common
               Stock  determined  by the  Board  in such  manner  as it may deem
               equitable  for Plan  purposes  but,  in the case of an  Incentive
               Stock  Option,  no less than is  required by  applicable  laws or
               regulations;  provided,  however,  that  where  there is a public
               market  for the Common  Stock,  the Fair  Market  Value per Share
               shall be the mean of the bid and asked prices of the Common Stock
               on the date of grant, as reported in the Wall Street Journal (or,
               if not so  reported,  as  otherwise  reported by the Nasdaq Stock
               Market,  Inc.  or, in the event the Common Stock is listed on the
               New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange,  the Fair
               Market  Value  per  Share  shall  be the  closing  price  on such
               exchange on the date of grant of the  Option,  as reported in the
               Wall Street Journal.

                    (p)  "Incentive  Stock Option" shall mean an Option which is
               intended  to  qualify as an  incentive  stock  option  within the
               meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

                    (q)  "Management   Objectives"   means  the  achievement  of
               performance  objectives  established  pursuant  to this  Plan for
               participants who have received grants of Restricted Shares.

                    (r) "Non-Statutory  Option" shall mean all Options which are
               not Incentive Stock Options.

                    (s)  "Option"  shall mean a stock option  granted  under the
               Plan.

                    (t) "Optioned  Stock" shall mean the Common Stock subject to
               an Option.

                    (u)   "Optionee"   shall  mean  an  Employee,   Director  or
               Consultant  of the  Company  who  has  been  granted  one or more
               Options.

                    (v) "Parent" shall mean a "parent  corporation," whether now
               or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

                    (w)  "Participant"  means a person  who is  selected  by the
               Board to receive benefits under this Plan and (i) is at that time
               an officer,  including without limitation an officer who may also
               be a  member  of  the  Board,  or  other  key  employee  of  or a
               consultant to the Company or any Subsidiary or (ii) has agreed to
               commence serving in any such capacity.

                    (x) "Plan" shall mean this Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.

                                        3
<PAGE>
                    (y)  "Restricted  Shares" means Common Stock granted or sold
               pursuant  to  Section  11 of this  Plan as to which  neither  the
               substantial  risk of forfeiture nor the  restrictions on transfer
               referred to in Section 11 hereof has expired.

                    (z)  "Share"  shall  mean a share of the  Common  Stock,  as
               adjusted in accordance with Section 13 of the Plan.

                    (aa)  "Subsidiary"  shall mean a  "subsidiary  corporation,"
               whether now or hereafter  existing,  as defined in Section 424(f)
               of the Code.

                    (bb) "Tax Date"  shall mean the date an Optionee is required
               to pay the  Company an amount  with  respect  to tax  withholding
               obligations in connection with the exercise of an Option.

              3. Common Stock Subject to the Plan.  Subject to the provisions of
Section 13 of the Plan,  the  maximum  aggregate  number of Shares  which may be
awarded  under the Plan shall be 4,600,000  Shares of Common  Stock.  The Shares
which  may be  awarded  under  the  Plan may be  authorized,  but  unissued,  or
previously  issued Shares  acquired or to be acquired by the Company and held in
treasury.  Any Common  Shares  available for grants and Awards at the end of any
calendar year shall be carried over and shall be available for grants and Awards
in the subsequent calendar year. Notwithstanding the above, the aggregate number
of Restricted  Shares and Deferred Shares  available for grants and Awards under
the Plan shall in no event exceed  500,000 of the total number of Common  Shares
available for grants and Awards.

                 (a) Upon  expiration  or  cancellation  of any  Award or option
granted under this Plan, any Common Shares that were covered by such Award shall
again be available for issuance or transfer hereunder.

                 (b) Common Shares  covered by any Award granted under this Plan
shall be deemed  to have  been  issued  or  transferred,  and shall  cease to be
available for future  issuance or transfer in respect of any other Award granted
hereunder,  at the  earlier  of the  time  when  they  are  actually  issued  or
transferred or the time when dividends or dividend equivalents are paid thereon;
provided, however, that Restricted Shares shall be deemed to have been issued or
transferred  at the  earlier  of the time when  they  cease to be  subject  to a
substantial risk of forfeiture or the time when dividends are paid thereon.

          4. Administration of the Plan.

            (a) Procedure.

              (i) The Board shall administer the Plan; provided,  however,  that
the  Board  may  appoint  a  Committee  consisting  solely  of two  (2) or  more
"Non-Employee  Directors"  to  administer  the Plan on behalf of the  Board,  in
accordance with Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.


                                        4
<PAGE>

              (ii) Once  appointed,  the Committee shall continue to serve until
otherwise  directed by the Board.  From time to time the Board may  increase the
size of the Committee and appoint  additional  members  thereof,  remove members
(with or without  cause),  and appoint new members in  substitution  therefor or
fill vacancies however caused; provided, however, that at no time may any person
serve on the Committee if that person's membership would cause the Committee not
to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.

              Any  reference  herein  to the  Board  shall,  where  appropriate,
encompass a Committee  appointed to administer the Plan in accordance  with this
Section 4.

          (b) Powers of the Board.  Subject to the  provisions of the Plan,  the
Board shall have the authority, in its discretion:  (i) to grant Incentive Stock
Options,  in accordance with Section 422 of the Code, and to grant Non-Statutory
Stock  Options;  (ii) to make Awards of Restricted  Shares and Deferred  Shares;
(iii) to determine,  upon review of relevant  information and in accordance with
Section  2(j) of the Plan,  the Fair Market Value of the Common  Stock;  (iv) to
determine the exercise price per Share of Options to be granted,  which exercise
price shall be determined in  accordance  with Section 8(a) of the Plan;  (v) to
determine the  Directors,  Employees and  Consultants  to whom,  and the time or
times  at  which,  Awards  shall be  granted  and the  number  of  Shares  to be
represented by each Award; (vi) to interpret the Plan; (vii) to prescribe, amend
and rescind rules and regulations  relating to the Plan; (viii) to determine the
terms and  provisions of each Award granted  (which need not be identical)  and,
with the consent of the Optionee or  Participant  thereof,  modify or amend each
Award;  (ix) to  accelerate or defer (with the consent of the  Participant)  the
exercise date of any Award,  the Deferral  Period of any Deferred  Shares or the
Management  Objectives applicable to any Restricted Shares; (x) to authorize any
person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effectuate
the grant of an Award previously  granted by the Board; (xi) to accept or reject
the election made by an Optionee  pursuant to Section 17 of the Plan;  and (xii)
to  make  all  other  determinations  deemed  necessary  or  advisable  for  the
administration of the Plan.

           (c) Effect of Board's  Decision.  All decisions,  determinations  and
interpretations  of the  Board  shall be final  and  binding  on all  Optionees,
Participants and any other holders of any Options, Restricted Shares or Deferred
Shares granted under the Plan.

        5. Eligibility.

           (a) Consistent with the Plan's purposes,  Options,  Restricted Shares
or Deferred  Shares may be granted only to Directors,  Employees and Consultants
of the Company as determined by the Board.  An Optionee or  Participant  who has
been granted an Option,  Restricted  Shares or Deferred Shares may, if he or she
is otherwise  eligible,  be granted an additional Option, or Award of Restricted
Shares or Deferred Shares.  Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to those
Employees who meet the requirements applicable under Section 422 of the Code.

           (b) With respect to Incentive  Stock Options  granted under the Plan,
the aggregate  fair market value  (determined  at the time the  Incentive  Stock
Option is granted) of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive

                                        5
<PAGE>

Stock  Options are  exercisable  for the first time by the  Employee  during any
calendar  year  (under all plans of the  Company  and its parent and  subsidiary
corporations) shall not exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000).

              The Plan shall not confer  upon any  Optionee or  Participant  any
right with respect to continuation of employment with the Company,  nor shall it
interfere in any way with his or her right or the  Company's  right to terminate
his or her employment at any time.

         6. Board  Approval and  Effective  Date.  The Plan shall take effect on
January 31, 1997, the date on which the Board had approved as the effective date
of the Plan and fifteen (15) days after the Company filed applicable  notices of
the  adoption  of the Plan  with The  Nasdaq  Stock  Market,  Inc.  No Awards of
Options,  Restricted  Shares or Deferred Shares may be granted after January 30,
2007 (ten (10) years from the effective  date of the Plan);  provided,  however,
that the Plan and all  outstanding  Awards  shall  remain in effect  until  such
Awards have expired or until such Awards are canceled.

         7. Term of  Option.  Unless  otherwise  provided  in the  Stock  Option
Agreement,  the term of each  Option  shall be ten (10)  years  from the date of
grant  thereof.  In no case shall the term of any Incentive  Stock Option exceed
ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. Notwithstanding the above, in the
case of an Incentive  Stock Option  granted to an Employee  who, at the time the
Incentive Stock Option is granted,  owns ten percent (10%) or more of the Common
Stock as such amount is  calculated  under  Section  422(b)(6) of the Code ("Ten
Percent Shareholder"),  the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be five (5)
years from the date of grant  thereof or such shorter time as may be provided in
the Stock Option Agreement.

          8.  Exercise Price and Payment.

              (a) Exercise Price. The per Share exercise price for the Shares to
be issued  pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be  determined  by the Board,
but in the case of an  Incentive  Stock Option shall be no less than one hundred
percent  (100%)  of the Fair  Market  Value  per  share  on the  date of  grant;
provided,  further,  that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an
Employee who, at the time of the grant of such Incentive Stock Option,  is a Ten
Percent  Shareholder,  the per Share  exercise  price  shall be no less than one
hundred  ten percent  (110%) of the Fair  Market  Value per Share on the date of
grant.

              (b)  Payment.  The  price of an  exercised  Option  and any  taxes
attributable to the delivery of Common Stock under the Plan, or portion thereof,
shall be paid:

                    (i) In United States dollars in cash or by check, bank draft
               or money order payable to the order of the Company; or

                    (ii) At the discretion of the Board, through the delivery of
               shares of Common  Stock,  with an  aggregate  Fair Market  Value,
               equal to the option price; or


                                        6
<PAGE>

                    (iii) By a combination of (i) and (ii) above; or

                    (iv) In the manner provided in subsection (c) below.

              The Board shall determine  acceptable methods for tendering Common
Stock as payment upon exercise of an Option and may impose such  limitations and
prohibitions  on the use of  Common  Stock to  exercise  an  Option  as it deems
appropriate.  With  respect to  NonStatutory  Options,  at the  election  of the
Optionee  pursuant  to Section  21, the  Company  may  satisfy  its  withholding
obligations  by retaining  such number of shares of Common Stock  subject to the
exercised  Option which have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the exercise date
equal  to  the  Company's  aggregate  federal,  state,  local  and  foreign  tax
withholding and FICA and FUTA  obligations  with respect to income  generated by
the exercise of the Option by Optionee.

              (c)  Financial  Assistance  to  Optionees.  The Board  may  assist
Optionees in paying the exercise price of Options granted under this Plan in the
following manner:

                    (i) The  extension of a loan to the Optionee by the Company;
               or

                    (ii) A guaranty  by the  Company of a loan  obtained  by the
               Optionee from a third party.

              The  terms  of any  loans,  installment  payments  or  guarantees,
including the interest rate and terms of repayment, and collateral requirements,
if any,  shall be determined by the Board,  in its sole  discretion.  Subject to
applicable margin  requirements,  any loans,  installment payments or guarantees
authorized by the Board  pursuant to the Plan may be granted  without  security,
but the maximum  credit  available  shall not exceed the exercise  price for the
Shares  for which the  Option is to be  exercised,  plus any  federal  and state
income tax liability incurred in connection with the exercise of the Option.

         9.  Exercise of Option.

              (a) Procedure for Exercise;  Rights as a  Shareholder.  Any Option
granted  hereunder  shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions
as determined by the Board,  including  performance criteria with respect to the
Company and/or the Optionee,  and as shall be permissible under the terms of the
Plan.  Unless otherwise  determined by the Board at the time of grant, an Option
may be  exercised  in whole or in part.  An Option  may not be  exercised  for a
fraction of a Share.

              An Option shall be deemed to be exercised  when written  notice of
such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance  with the terms of the
Option by the person  entitled to exercise  the Option and full  payment for the
Shares with  respect to which the Option is exercised  has been  received by the
Company.  Full  payment  may,  as  authorized  by  the  Board,  consist  of  any
consideration  and method of payment  allowable  under Section 8(b) of the Plan.
Until the issuance (as  evidenced by the  appropriate  entry on the books of the
Company or of a duly  authorized  transfer  agent of the  Company)  of the stock
certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any
other rights as a  shareholder  shall exist with respect to the Optioned  Stock,
notwithstanding  the exercise of the Option.  No  adjustment  will be made for a
dividend or other right

                                        7
<PAGE>

for which the record date is prior to the date the stock  certificate is issued,
except as provided in Section 11 of the Plan.

              Exercise of an Option in any manner  shall result in a decrease in
the number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the
Plan and for sale  under  the  Option,  by the  number of Shares as to which the
Option is exercised.

              (b)  Termination  of  Status  as  an  Employee.  Unless  otherwise
provided  in a Stock  Option  Agreement  relating  to an  Option  that is not an
Incentive  Stock  Option,  if  an  Employee's   employment  by  the  Company  is
terminated,  except if such termination is voluntary or occurs due to retirement
with the consent of the Board,  death or  disability,  then the  Option,  to the
extent not exercised,  shall cease on the date on which Employee's employment by
the Company is terminated.  If an Employee's  termination is voluntary or occurs
due to retirement with the consent of the Board, then the Employee may, but only
within  thirty (30) days (or such other period of time not  exceeding  three (3)
months as is  determined  by the Board) after the date he or she ceases to be an
Employee of the Company, exercise his or her Option to the extent that he or she
was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination.  To the extent that
he or she  was  not  entitled  to  exercise  the  Option  at the  date  of  such
termination,  or if he or she does not exercise such Option (which he or she was
entitled  to  exercise)  within the time  specified  herein,  the  Option  shall
terminate.

              (c) Disability.  Unless otherwise  provided in an Option Agreement
relating to an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option, notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 8(b) above, in the event an Employee is unable to continue
his or her  employment  with the Company as a result of his or her permanent and
total  disability (as defined in Section  22(e)(3) of the Code),  he or she may,
but only  within  three (3) months (or such other  period of time not  exceeding
twelve  (12)  months  as it is  determined  by  the  Board)  from  the  date  of
termination,  exercise his or her Option to the extent he or she was entitled to
exercise  it at the date of such  termination.  To the extent that he or she was
not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination,  or if he or she
does not exercise such Option (which he or she was entitled to exercise)  within
the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

              (d) Death of  Optionee.  Unless  otherwise  provided  in an Option
Agreement  relating to an Option, if Optionee dies during the term of the Option
and is at the time of his or her death an Employee of the Company who shall have
been in continuous  status as an Employee since the date of grant of the Option,
the Option may be exercised,  at any time within one (1) year following the date
of death (or such other period of time as is  determined  by the Board),  by the
Optionee's  estate or by a person who  acquired the right to exercise the Option
by bequest or inheritance,  but only to the extent that Optionee was entitled to
exercise  the Option on the date of death.  To the extent that  Optionee was not
entitled  to  exercise  the  Option on the date of death,  or if the  Optionee's
estate,  or person who  acquired  the right to exercise the Option by bequest or
inheritance,  does not  exercise  such Option  (which he or she was  entitled to
exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

                                        8
<PAGE>

         10. Non-transferability of Options. An Option may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated,  transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent or  distribution,  or, to the extent permitted by
Code ss.422,  pursuant to a "qualified  domestic relations order" under the Code
and ERISA,  and may be exercised,  during the lifetime of the Optionee,  only by
the Optionee.

         11.   Restricted Shares. The Committee may authorize grants or sales
to  Participants  of  Restricted  Shares upon such terms and  conditions  as the
Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions:

              (a) Each grant or sale shall  constitute an immediate  transfer of
the  ownership  of Common  Shares to the  Participant  in  consideration  of the
performance  of services,  entitling such  Participant  to dividend,  voting and
other  ownership   rights,   subject  to  substantial  risk  of  forfeiture  and
restrictions on transfer referred to hereinafter.

              (b)  Each   grant  or  sale   may  be  made   without   additional
consideration  from the  Participant  or in  consideration  of a payment  by the
Participant  that is less  than the Fair  Market  Value per Share on the Date of
Grant.

              (c) Each grant or sale shall  provide that the  Restricted  Shares
covered  thereby shall be subject to a "substantial  risk of forfeiture"  within
the meaning of Section 83 of the Code for a period to be determined by the Board
on the Date of Grant.

              (d) Each grant or sale shall provide  that,  during the period for
which substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue,  the transferability of the
Restricted  Shares shall be  prohibited  or  restricted in the manner and to the
extent  prescribed  by the Board on the Date of  Grant.  Such  restrictions  may
include,  without  limitation,  rights of  repurchase  or first  refusal  in the
Company  or  provisions   subjecting  the  Restricted  Shares  to  a  continuing
substantial risk of forfeiture in the hands of any transferee.

              (e) Any grant or sale may  require  that any or all  dividends  or
other  distributions  paid on the  Restricted  Shares  during the period of such
restrictions  be  automatically  sequestered  and  reinvested on an immediate or
deferred  basis in additional  Common  Shares,  which may be subject to the same
restrictions as the underlying Award or such other restrictions as the Board may
determine.

              (f) Successive grants or sales may be made to the same Participant
regardless  of whether any  Restricted  Shares  previously  granted or sold to a
Participant remain restricted.

              (g) Each grant or sale shall be evidenced by an  agreement,  which
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any officer  thereof and delivered
to and accepted by the  Participant  and shall contain such terms and provisions
as the Board may determine  consistent with this Plan. Unless otherwise directed
by the Board, all certificates  representing  Restricted Shares, together with a
stock power that shall be endorsed in blank by the  Participant  with respect to
the  Restricted  Shares,  shall be held in  custody  by the  Company  until  all
restrictions thereon lapse.

                                        9
<PAGE>

         12.   Deferred  Shares.  The Committee may authorize grants or sales
of  Deferred  Shares to  Participants  upon such  terms  and  conditions  as the
Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions:

              (a) Each  grant or sale  shall  constitute  the  agreement  by the
Company to issue or transfer  Common Shares to the  Participant in the future in
consideration of the performance of services,  subject to the fulfillment during
the Deferral Period of such conditions as the Committee may specify.

              (b)  Each   grant  or  sale   may  be  made   without   additional
consideration  from the  Participant  or in  consideration  of a payment  by the
Participant  that is less  than the Fair  Market  Value per Share on the Date of
Grant.

              (c) Each  grant or sale shall  provide  that the  Deferred  Shares
covered thereby shall be subject to a Deferral  Period,  which shall be fixed by
the Committee on the Date of Grant.

              (d) During the Deferral Period, the Participant shall not have any
right to transfer any rights under the subject Award,  shall not have any rights
of  ownership  in the  Deferred  Shares and shall not have any right to vote the
Deferred  Shares,  but the Committee may on or after the Date of Grant authorize
the payment of dividend equivalents on the Deferred Shares in cash or additional
Common Shares on a current, deferred or contingent basis.

              (e) Successive grants or sales may be made to the same Participant
regardless  of  whether  any  Deferred  Shares  previously  granted or sold to a
Participant have vested.

              (f) Each grant or sale shall be evidenced by an  agreement,  which
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any officer  thereof and delivered
to and accepted by the  Participant  and shall contain such terms and provisions
as the Committee may determine consistent with this Plan.

         13.  Adjustments upon Changes in Capitalization  or Merger.  Subject to
any required  action by the  shareholders  of the Company,  the number of Shares
covered by each  outstanding  Option,  and the number of Shares  which have been
authorized  for issuance  under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been
granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon  cancellation or expiration
of an Award, as well as the price per Share covered by each outstanding  Option,
Restricted Shares and Deferred Shares, shall be proportionately adjusted for any
increase  or  decrease  in the number of issued  Shares  resulting  from a stock
split,  reverse stock split, stock dividend,  combination or reclassification of
the Common  Stock,  or any other  increase  or  decrease in the number of issued
shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company;
provided,  however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company
shall not be deemed to have been "effected  without  receipt of  consideration."
Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose  determination in that respect
shall be final, binding and conclusive.  Except as expressly provided herein, no
issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class,

                                       10
<PAGE>

or securities  convertible into shares of stock of any class,  shall affect, and
no  adjustment  by reason  thereof,  shall be made with respect to the number or
price of Shares subject to an Option.

              In the event of the proposed  dissolution  or  liquidation  of the
Company,  any  outstanding  Option  will  terminate  immediately  prior  to  the
consummation of such proposed action,  unless  otherwise  provided by the Board.
The Board may, in the exercise of its sole discretion in such instances, declare
that any Option  shall  terminate  as of a date fixed by the Board and give each
Optionee  the right to  exercise  his or her Option as to all or any part of the
Optioned Stock,  including  Shares as to which the Option would not otherwise be
exercisable.  In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the
assets  of the  Company,  or the  merger  of the  Company  with or into  another
corporation,  the  Option  shall be  assumed or an  equivalent  option  shall be
substituted  by such  successor  corporation  or a parent or  subsidiary of such
successor corporation,  unless the Board determines, in the exercise of its sole
discretion  and in lieu of such  assumption or  substitution,  that the Optionee
shall have the right to  exercise  the Option as to all of the  Optioned  Stock,
including  Shares as to which the Option would not otherwise be exercisable.  If
the  Board  makes  an  Option  fully   exercisable  in  lieu  of  assumption  or
substitution in the event of a merger or sale of assets,  the Board shall notify
the Optionee that the Option shall be fully  exercisable  for a period of thirty
(30) days from the date of such notice (but not later than the expiration of the
term of the Option under the Option  Agreement),  and the Option will  terminate
upon the expiration of such period.

         14.  Corporate  Transaction or Change of Control.  The Board shall have
the right in its sole discretion to include with respect to any Award granted to
a Participant hereunder provisions accelerating the benefits of the Award in the
event of a Corporate Transaction or Change of Control, which acceleration rights
may be granted in connection with an Award pursuant to the agreement  evidencing
the same or at any time after an Award has been granted to a Participant.

         15.  Nonemployee Directors Automatic Stock Option Grants.

              (a) The individuals  eligible to receive  automatic  option grants
pursuant to the  provisions  of this  Section 15 (the  "Automatic  Option  Grant
Program")  shall  be  limited  to (i)  those  individuals  who  are  serving  as
nonemployee  members  of the  Board  on  the  Effective  Date,  and  (ii)  those
individuals  who are first  elected or appointed as  nonemployee  Board  members
after  the date  that this Plan is first  approved  by the  shareholders  of the
Company,  whether through  appointment by the Board or election by the Company's
shareholders.  A  nonemployee  Board  member shall not be eligible to receive an
automatic  option grant under clause (i) or clause (ii) above if such individual
has  previously  been  in the  employ  of the  Company  or any  Subsidiary.  Any
nonemployee  Board member eligible to participate in the Automatic  Option Grant
Program  pursuant to the  foregoing  criteria  shall be  designated an "Eligible
Director" for purposes of this Section 15.


                                       11
<PAGE>

              (b)  Except  for the  Option  grants  to be made  pursuant  to the
provisions of this Automatic  Option Grant Program,  an Eligible  Director shall
not be entitled to receive any additional Option grants or stock issuances under
this Plan or any other stock plan of the Company or its subsidiaries  during his
or her period of Board service.

              (c) Option grants shall be made under this Section 15 on the dates
specified below:

                    (i) Each  individual who first becomes an Eligible  Director
               after  the  date  that  this  Plan  is  first   approved  by  the
               shareholders  of the  Company,  whether  through  election by the
               shareholders or appointment by the Board, shall  automatically be
               granted,  at the time of such initial election or appointment,  a
               Non-Statutory  Option to purchase  10,000  Common Shares upon the
               terms and conditions of this Section 15.

                    (ii) On the date of which is five  days  after  the  Company
               publicly announces its annual operating  results,  beginning with
               the fiscal 1998 annual operating results,  each individual who is
               at that time serving as an Eligible Director, whether or not such
               individual is standing for  re-election  as a Board member at the
               next election of Board members,  shall automatically be granted a
               Non-Statutory  Option to purchase  10,000  Common Shares upon the
               terms and conditions of this Section 15, provided such individual
               has  attended  at  least  75% of all  meetings  of the  Board  of
               Directors held during the most recently completed fiscal year.

              (d)  There  shall be no limit on the  number of  automatic  option
grants  any  Eligible  Director  may  receive  over his or her  period  of Board
service.  The number of shares for which the  automatic  option grants are to be
made to each newly elected or continuing  Eligible  Director shall be subject to
periodic adjustment pursuant to the applicable provisions of Section 13.

              (e) The exercise  price per Common Share subject to each automatic
Option  grant  made  under  this  Section  15 shall be equal to 100% of the Fair
Market Value per Share on the applicable automatic grant date.

              (f) Each  automatic  grant  under  this  Section  15 shall  have a
maximum term of 10 years measured from the automatic grant date.

              (g) Each  automatic  grant  shall  vest one year  from the date of
grant,  provided  that the  Director  continues  to serve  until the next annual
meeting of shareholders following such grant.

              (h) During the lifetime of the Eligible  Director,  each automatic
Option grant shall be exercisable only by the Eligible Director and shall not be
assignable or  transferable  by the Eligible  Director  other than by a transfer
effected  by will or by the  laws of  descent  and  distribution  following  the
Eligible Director's death.

                                       12
<PAGE>
                    (i) Should the Eligible  Director  cease to serve as a Board
               member for any reason (other than death or permanent  disability)
               while  holding one or more  automatic  option  grants  under this
               Section 15, then such  individual  shall have a six-month  period
               following the date of such cessation of Board service in which to
               exercise  each such Option for any or all of the Option Shares in
               which  the  Eligible  Director  is  vested  at the  time  of such
               cessation of Board  service.  Each such Option shall  immediately
               terminate  and cease to remain  outstanding,  at the time of such
               cessation of Board service,  with respect to any Option Shares in
               which the Eligible Director is not otherwise at that time vested.

                    (ii)  Should  the  Eligible  Director  die within six months
               after cessation of Board service, then any automatic Option grant
               held  by  the  Eligible   Director  at  the  time  of  death  may
               subsequently be exercised, for any or all of the Option Shares in
               which the  Eligible  Director is vested at the time of his or her
               cessation of Board service  (less any Option Shares  subsequently
               purchased  by the  Eligible  Director  prior  to  death),  by the
               personal  representative of the Eligible  Director's estate or by
               the person or persons to whom the Option is transferred  pursuant
               to the Eligible Director's will or in accordance with the laws of
               descent and distribution.  The right to exercise each such Option
               shall lapse upon the expiration of the 12-month  period  measured
               from the date of the Eligible Director's death.

                    (iii) Should the Eligible Director die or become permanently
               disabled  while serving as a Board member,  then the Common Stock
               at the time subject to each  automatic  Option grant held by such
               Eligible Director under this Section 15 shall immediately vest in
               full,  and the Eligible  Director (or the  representative  of the
               Eligible  Director's  estate or the person or persons to whom the
               option is transferred upon the Eligible  Director's  death) shall
               have a  12-month  period  following  the  date  of  the  Eligible
               Director's  cessation of Board  service in which to exercise such
               Option for any or all of those vested Common Stock.

                    (iv) In no  event  shall  any  automatic  grant  under  this
               Section 15 remain  exercisable  after the expiration  date of the
               10-year  option  term.  Upon  the  expiration  of the  applicable
               post-service  exercise  period  under  subparagraphs  (i) through
               (iii) above or (if earlier)  upon the  expiration  of the 10-year
               Option term, the automatic  grant shall terminate and cease to be
               outstanding for any Option Shares in which the Eligible  Director
               was vested at the time of his or her  cessation of Board  service
               but for which such Option was not otherwise exercised.

              (j) In the event of any Corporate Transaction or Change of Control
of the Company,  the Common Stock at the time subject to each outstanding Option
under this Section 15 but not otherwise vested shall automatically vest in full,
so that each such Option shall,  immediately prior to the effective date of such
Corporate Transaction or Change of Control,  become fully exercisable for all of
the Common  Shares at the time subject to that Option and may be  exercised  for
all or any portion of those shares as fully vested Common Stock. Each such

                                       13
<PAGE>

Option shall  remain so  exercisable  for all the Option  Shares  following  the
Corporate  Transaction  or Change of  Control  until  the  expiration  or sooner
termination of the Option term.  Immediately  following the  consummation of the
Corporate  Transaction or Change of Control,  all automatic  Option grants under
this Section 15 shall terminate.  Nothing in this Section 15(j) shall in any way
affect  the  right  of the  Company  to  adjust,  reclassify,  reorganize  or to
otherwise  change its capital or business  structure  or to merge,  consolidate,
dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or a part of its business or assets.


              (k) The holder of an automatic  Option grant under this Section 15
shall  have none of the  rights of a  shareholder  with  respect  to any  shares
subject to such option until such individual shall have exercised the option and
paid the exercise price for the purchased shares.

         16. Time of Granting  Awards.  The date of grant of an Award shall, for
all purposes,  be the date on which the Board makes the  determination  granting
such  Award.  Notice of the  determination  shall be given to each  Optionee  or
Participant  to whom an Award is so granted  within a reasonable  time after the
date of such grant.

         17.  Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

              (a)  Amendment and  Termination.  The Board may amend or terminate
the Plan from  time to time in such  respects  as the  Board may deem  advisable
without any approval or consent of the persons  eligible to  participate  in the
Plan, Participants or the holders of any Options to acquire Shares.

              (b) Effect of  Amendment  or  Termination.  Any such  amendment or
termination of the Plan shall not affect Awards already  granted and such Awards
shall  remain in full force and  effect as if this Plan had not been  amended or
terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee or Participant
and the Board,  which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee or
Participant and the Company.

         18.  Conditions  Upon  Issuance of Shares.  Shares  shall not be issued
pursuant to the exercise of an Option or grant of Restricted or Deferred  Shares
unless the  exercise of such Option and the issuance and delivery of such Shares
pursuant  thereto shall comply with all relevant  provisions of law,  including,
without  limitation,  the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  the Exchange Act,
the  rules  and  regulations  promulgated  thereunder,   respectively,  and  the
requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed, and
shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect
to such compliance.

              As a condition to the exercise of an Option or grant of Restricted
or Deferred  Shares,  the Company may  require the  Optionee or  Participant  to
represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being
purchased  only for  investment  and without any  present  intention  to sell or
distribute  such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel  for the  Company,  such a
representation is required by any of the aforementioned  relevant  provisions of
law.


                                       14
<PAGE>

              In the  case  of an  Incentive  Stock  Option,  any  Optionee  who
disposes of Shares of Common Stock acquired on the exercise of an Option by sale
or exchange  (a) either  within two (2) years after the date of the grant of the
Option  under  which the Common  Stock was  acquired  or (b) within one (1) year
after the acquisition of such Shares of Common Stock shall notify the Company of
such disposition and of the amount realized upon such disposition.

         19.  Reservation of Shares.  The Company,  during the term of this
Plan,  will at all times  reserve  and keep  available  such number of Shares as
shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

              Inability of the Company to obtain  authority  from any regulatory
body having jurisdiction,  which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to
be necessary  to the lawful  issuance  and sale of any Shares  hereunder,  shall
relieve the Company of any  liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell
such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

         20.  Plan  Agreements.   Awards  shall  be  evidenced  by  written
Agreements in such form as the Board shall approve.

         21. Withholding Taxes. Subject to Section 4(b)(x) of the Plan and prior
to the Tax Date,  the  Optionee  may make an  irrevocable  election  to have the
Company  withhold  from those Shares that would  otherwise be received  upon the
exercise of any  Non-Statutory  Stock  Option,  a number of Shares having a Fair
Market  Value equal to the minimum  amount  necessary  to satisfy the  Company's
federal,  state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations and FICA and FUTA
obligations with respect to the exercise of such Option by the Optionee.

         22.  Miscellaneous Provisions.

              (a) Plan Expense. Any expenses of administering this Plan shall be
borne by the Company.

              (b) Use of Exercise Proceeds.  The payment received from Optionees
from the exercise of Options shall be used for the general corporate purposes of
the Company.

              (c)   Construction   of   Plan.   The   validity,    construction,
interpretation,  administration  and  effect  of the Plan and of its  rules  and
regulations,  and rights relating to the Plan, shall be determined in accordance
with the laws of the State of Arizona and where  applicable,  in accordance with
the Code.

              (d) Taxes. The Company shall be entitled if necessary or desirable
to pay or withhold the amount of any tax  attributable to the delivery of Common
Stock under the Plan from other amounts payable to the Employee after giving the
person  entitled  to  receive  such  Common  Stock  notice as far in  advance as
practical, and the Company may defer making delivery of such Common Stock if any
such tax may be pending unless and until indemnified to its satisfaction.

                                       15
<PAGE>

              (e)   Indemnification.   In  addition  to  such  other  rights  of
indemnification  as they may have as members of the  Board,  the  members of the
Board  shall be  indemnified  by the  Company  against  all costs  and  expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with any action, suit or proceeding to
which they or any of them may be party by reason of any action  taken or failure
to act  under or in  connection  with the Plan or any  Award,  and  against  all
amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved
by  independent  legal  counsel  selected  by the  Company)  or  paid by them in
satisfaction  of a judgment in any such  action,  suit or  proceeding,  except a
judgment based upon a finding of bad faith;  provided that upon the  institution
of any such action,  suit or proceeding a Board member shall,  in writing,  give
the Company notice thereof and an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and
defend the same before such Board member  undertakes  to handle and defend it on
her or his or her own behalf.

              (f) Gender. For purposes of this Plan, words used in the masculine
gender shall include the feminine and neuter, and the singular shall include the
plural and vice versa, as appropriate.


                                       16

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2
                        INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


           BY THIS  INCENTIVE  STOCK  OPTION  AGREEMENT  ("Agreement")  made and
entered into this ____ day of  ____________________,  19___ (the "Grant  Date"),
WAVETECH,    INC.,   a   New   Jersey    corporation   (the   "Company"),    and
_______________________,  a key employee of the Company (the "Optionee")  hereby
state, confirm, represent, warrant and agree as follows:

                                        I

                                    RECITALS

          1.1 The Company,  through its Board of Directors  (the  "Board"),  has
determined  that in order to attract and retain key  personnel  for positions of
substantial responsibility,  to provide additional incentive to employees of the
Company and to promote the success of the  Company's  business,  it must offer a
compensation  package  that  provides  key  employees of the Company a chance to
participate  financially  in the success of the Company by  developing an equity
interest in it.

          1.2 The Company has adopted,  effective  as of January 31,  1997,  the
1997 Stock  Incentive  Plan (the "Plan")  pursuant to resolution of the Board of
Directors.

          1.3 By  this  Agreement,  the  Company  and  the  Optionee  desire  to
establish  the terms upon which the Company is willing to grant to the Optionee,
and upon which the  Optionee  is willing to accept from the Company an option to
purchase shares of the Company's common stock $.001 par value("Common Stock").

                                       II

                                   AGREEMENTS

          2.1  Grant  Of  Incentive  Stock  Option.  Subject  to the  terms  and
conditions  hereinafter set forth,  the Company grants to the Optionee the right
and option (the  "Option")  to  purchase  from the Company all or any part of an
aggregate number of ____________ shares of Common Stock, authorized but unissued
or, at the option of the Company,  treasury  stock if available  (the  "Optioned
Shares").  The Option granted  hereunder shall be an incentive stock option,  as
defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.

          2.2 Exercise Of Option.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement,  the Option may be exercised only by completing and signing a written
notice in substantially the following form:

          I hereby  exercise the Option  granted to me pursuant to the Incentive
          Stock Option Agreement dated the ____ day of  _______________,  19____
          (the "Agreement"),  and elect to purchase ____ shares of the $.001 par
          value Common Stock of Wavetech,  Inc. I hereby  tender  $____________,
          pursuant to the Agreement, in exercise of ______ Optioned Shares.
<PAGE>

          2.3  Provisions Of Incentive  Stock Option Plan. The provisions of the
Plan are  expressly  incorporated  herein and made an  integral  part  hereof as
though set forth herein.  Capitalized  terms not otherwise  defined herein shall
have the same meaning as ascribed to them in the Plan.

          2.4 Purchase Price.  The price to be paid for the Optioned Shares (the
"Purchase  Price")  shall be  $__________  per share which was not less than the
Fair Market  Value (as defined  under  Section 2(o) of the Plan) of the Optioned
Shares as determined by the Board or a Committee of the Board (the  "Committee")
on the Grant Date,  or, in the case of an option  granted to an employee who, on
the Grant Date,  owns ten  percent  (10%) or more of the Common  Stock,  as such
amount is calculated  under Section  422A(b)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code, as
amended  ("Code"),  not less than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair
Market Value of the Optioned Stock.

          2.5 Payment Of Purchase  Price.  Payment of the Purchase  Price may be
made as follows:

               (a) In United States  dollars in cash or by check,  bank draft or
          money order payable to the Company; or

               (b) At the  discretion  of the Board,  through  the  delivery  of
          shares of Common Stock with an aggregate fair market value at the date
          of such delivery, equal to the Purchase Price; or

               (c) By a combination of both (a) and (b) above; or

               (d) Pursuant to financial assistance which may be provided by the
          Company upon Board approval as set forth in Section 8(c) of the Plan.

The Board or a  Committee  appointed  by the Board  shall  determine  acceptable
methods for tendering Common Stock as payment upon exercise of an Option and may
impose such limitations and conditions on the use of Common Stock to exercise an
Option as it deems  appropriate.  At the  election of the  Optionee  pursuant to
Section 17 of the Plan,  and subject to the  acceptance  of such election by the
Board  or  a  Committee  appointed  by  the  Board,  to  satisfy  the  Company's
withholding  obligations,  it may retain such  number of shares of Common  Stock
subject to the  exercised  Option which have an aggregate  Fair Market Value (as
defined in the Plan) on the date of exercise  equal to the  Company's  aggregate
federal,  state, local and foreign tax withholding and FICA and FUTA obligations
with respect to the exercise of the Option by the Optionee.

          2.6  Reduction in Optioned  Shares.  The number of Optioned  Shares to
which an Optionee is entitled shall be reduced by the number of Optioned  Shares
purchased by Optionee.

                                       2
<PAGE>

          2.7 Vesting Of Option. Optionee's right to acquire the Optioned Shares
pursuant  to  the   exercise  of  an  Option  as  provided   herein  shall  vest
_________________________________.  As  provided  in  the  Plan,  the  Board  of
Directors or the Committee,  as the case may be, may waive the foregoing vesting
provisions in whole or in part at any time based on such factors as the Board or
the Committee determines in its sole discretion.

          2.8 Termination Of Option.  Except as otherwise  provided herein,  the
Option, to the extent not heretofore  exercised,  shall terminate upon the first
to occur of the following:

               (a) The date on which the Optionee's employment by the Company is
          terminated,  except  if  such  termination  is  voluntary  or  due  to
          retirement, death or disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3)
          of the Code;

               (b) Thirty (30) days after  voluntary  termination or termination
          due to retirement;

               (c) Three (3) months after  termination due to disability  within
          the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code;

               (d) One (1) year after the Optionee's death (or such other period
          of time as determined by the Board); or

               (e) As otherwise provided in the Plan.

          2.9 Adjustments. In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split,
stock divided,  combination or reclassification of shares of Common Stock or any
other  increase  or  decrease  in the  number of issued  shares of Common  Stock
effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, the number and kind of
Optioned  Shares   (including  any  Option   outstanding  after  termination  of
employment or death) and the Purchase  Price per share shall be  proportionately
and appropriately adjusted without any change in the aggregate Purchase Price to
be paid therefor upon exercise of the Option.  The determination by the Board as
to the  terms  of any of the  foregoing  adjustments  shall  be  conclusive  and
binding.

          2.10 Liquidation, Sale of Assets or Merger. In the event of a proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Option will terminate immediately
prior to the consummation of such proposed action,  unless otherwise provided by
the Board.  In the event of a proposed sale of all or  substantially  all of the
assets  of the  Company,  or the  merger  of the  Company  with or into  another
corporation,  the  Option  shall be  assumed or an  equivalent  option  shall be
substituted by such successor corporation,  unless the Board determines that the
Optionee  shall  have the right to  exercise  the Option as to all of the Common
Stock subject to the Option,  including  shares as to which the Option would not
otherwise be exercisable.  If the Board makes an Option fully  exercisable,  the
Board shall notify the Optionee that the Option shall be fully exercisable for a
period of thirty  (30) days from the date of such notice (but not later than the
expiration of the Option term under Paragraph 2.7,  above),  and the Option will
terminate upon the expiration of such period.

                                       3
<PAGE>

          2.11 Notices.  Any notice to be given under the terms of the Agreement
("Notice")  shall be  addressed  to the  Company in care of its Chief  Financial
Officer at 5210 East Williams Circle,  Suite 200,  Tucson,  Arizona 85700, or at
its then  current  corporate  headquarters.  Notice to be given to the  Optionee
shall  be  addressed  to him or at  his  then  current  residential  address  as
appearing on the payroll records.

          Notice shall be deemed duly given when  enclosed in a properly  sealed
envelope and deposited by certified mail,  return receipt  requested,  in a post
office  or  branch  post  office  regularly  maintained  by  the  United  States
Government.

          2.12  Notification  Of  Disposition  Of Shares.  The  Optionee  hereby
acknowledges  that a  disposition  of shares of Common Stock  acquired  upon the
exercise  of the  Option  within two (2) years from the Grant Date or within one
(1) year after the  transfer of such shares of Common  Stock to him would result
in detrimental  income tax  consequences  to the Optionee.  The Optionee  hereby
agrees to  promptly  notify the Company of any  disposition  of shares of Common
Stock within either of the above time limitations.

          2.13 Modification Of Agreement.  The Board or the Committee may at any
time  and from  time to time  direct  that the  Agreement  be  modified  in such
respects deemed advisable in order that the Option shall constitute an incentive
stock option pursuant to Section 422A of the Code.

          2.14  Transferability  of Option. The Option shall not be transferable
by the  Optionee  otherwise  than  by  the  will  or the  laws  of  descent  and
distribution,  or to the extent  permitted  by Code ss.422 and may be  exercised
during the life of the Optionee only by the Optionee.

          2.15 Optionee Not A Shareholder.  The Optionee shall not be deemed for
any  purposes  to be a  shareholder  of the Company  with  respect to any of the
Optioned  Shares except to the extent that the Option herein  granted shall have
been exercised with respect thereto and a stock certificate issued therefor.

          2.16 Not a Contract of Employment. Nothing contained in the Plan or in
any Option  Agreement  executed  pursuant  to the Plan shall be deemed to confer
upon any  individual  to whom an Option  may be granted  hereunder  any right to
remain in the  employ  or  service  of the  Company  or a parent  or  subsidiary
corporation of the Company.

          2.17 Disputes Or Disagreements.  As a condition of the granting of the
Option  herein  granted,  the  Optionee  agrees,  for  him/herself,  and his/her
personal  representative,  that any  disputes or  disagreements  which may arise
under or as a result of or pursuant to this Agreement shall be determined by the
Board or the Committee in its sole discretion,  and that any  interpretation  by
the  Board or the  Committee  of the  terms of this  Agreement  shall be  final,
binding and conclusive.

          2.18  Shareholder  Approval.  If  the  Plan  is  not  approved  by the
stockholders  of the  Company  within  one  year of its  date of  adoption,  the

                                       4
<PAGE>

Optionee  acknowledges that the Option granted hereunder shall,  without further
action on behalf of the Company, become a nonstatutory option under the Plan.

          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Company has caused  this  instrument  to be
executed by its duly authorized  officer,  and the Optionee has hereunto affixed
his signature.

                                         WAVETECH, INC.




                                      By
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Gerald I. Quinn, President

                                                               "COMPANY"

                                      ----------------------------------
                                                               "OPTIONEE"



                                       5


                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3
                      NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


          BY THIS STOCK  OPTION  AGREEMENT  ("Agreement")  made and entered into
this _____ day of ________________,  19___ ("Grant Date"), WAVETECH, INC., a New
Jersey    corporation   (the    "Company"),    and    ____________________,    a
_________________________ of the Company (the "Optionee") hereby state, confirm,
represent, warrant and agree as follows:

                                        I

                                    RECITALS

          1.1 The Company,  through its Board of Directors  (the  "Board"),  has
determined that in order to attract and retain the best available  personnel for
positions of substantial  responsibility to provide successful management of the
Company's  business,  it must offer a  compensation  package  that  provides key
employees and consultants of the Company a chance to participate  financially in
the success of the Company by developing an equity interest in it.

          1.2 As part of the compensation  package,  the Company had adopted the
Wavetech,  Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") pursuant to resolution of
the Board, effective January 31, 1997.

          1.3 By  this  Agreement,  the  Company  and  the  Optionee  desire  to
establish  the terms upon which the Company is willing to grant to the Optionee,
and upon which the  Optionee  is willing to accept from the Company an option to
purchase shares of the Company's common stock $.001 par value ("Common Stock").

                                       II

                                   AGREEMENTS

          2.1 Grant of  Non-Statutory  Stock  Option.  Subject  to the terms and
conditions  hereinafter  set  forth  and  those  provisions  set forth and those
contained in the Plan,  the Company  grants to the Optionee the right and option
(the  "Option")  to purchase  from the  Company all or any part of an  aggregate
number of __________  (_______)  shares of the Company's  $.001 par value Common
Stock (the  "Common  Stock"),  authorized  but unissued or, at the option of the
Company, treasury stock if available (the "Optioned Shares").

          2.2 Exercise of Option.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement and those of the Plan,  the Option may be exercised only by completing
and signing a written notice in substantially the following form:

          I hereby exercise the Option granted to me by Wavetech, Inc. and elect
to purchase  _______________ shares of $.001 par value Common Stock of Wavetech,
Inc. for the purchase price to be determined  under  Paragraph 2.3 of this Stock
Option Agreement.

<PAGE>

          2.3 Purchase Price.  The price to be paid for the Optioned Shares (the
"Purchase Price") shall be $__________ per share.

          2.4 Payment of Purchase  Price.  Payment of the Purchase  Price may be
made as follows:

               (a) In United States  dollars in cash or by check,  bank draft or
          money order payable to the Company, or

               (b) At the  discretion  of the Board,  through  the  delivery  of
          shares of Common Stock with an aggregate fair market value at the date
          of such delivery, equal to the Purchase Price, or

               (c) By a combination of both (a) and (b) above, or

               (d) Pursuant to financial assistance which may be provided by the
          Company upon Board approval as set forth in Section 8(b) of the Plan.

The Board shall  determine  acceptable  methods for  rendering  Common  Stock as
payment  upon  exercise  of an  Option  and  may  impose  such  limitations  and
conditions  on the use of  Common  Stock  to  exercise  an  Option  as it  deems
appropriate.  At the irrevocable election of the Optionee pursuant to Section 21
of the Plan,  and subject to the  acceptance of such  election by the Board,  to
satisfy  the  Company's  withholding  obligations,  it may retain such number of
shares of Common Stock subject to the  exercised  Option which have an aggregate
Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) on the date of exercise  equal to the
Company's  aggregate federal,  state, local and foreign tax withholding and FICA
and FUTA  obligations  with  respect to income  generated by the exercise of the
Option by Optionee.

          2.5  Exercisability of Option.  Subject to the provisions of Paragraph
2.6, and except as otherwise  provided in Paragraphs 2.8 and 2.9, the Option may
be exercised by the Optionee while providing services to the Company which shall
include any parent  ("Parent") or subsidiary  ("Subsidiary")  corporation of the
Company as defined in Sections  425(e) and (f),  respectively,  of the  Internal
Revenue  Code of 1986,  as  amended  ("Code"),  in whole or in part from time to
time, but only in accordance with the following schedule:


                                          Cumulative Percentage of
Elapsed Number of Years                Shares Subject To Options As To
   After Grant Date                     Which Option May be Exercised
   ----------------                     -----------------------------




An option may not be  exercised  for a fraction of a share.  For purposes of the
foregoing schedule, a year is measured from the grant date to the anniversary of
the grant date and between anniversary dates thereof.

                                        2
<PAGE>

          2.6 Termination of Option.  Except as otherwise  provided herein,  the
Option, to the extent not heretofore exercised, shall terminate upon .

          2.7 Adjustments. In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split,
stock divided,  combination or reclassification of shares of Common Stock or any
other  increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock,  the
number and kind of  Optioned  Shares  (including  any Option  outstanding  after
termination  of employment  or death) and the Purchase  Price per share shall be
proportionately  and appropriately  adjusted without any change in the aggregate
Purchase   Price  to  be  paid  therefor  upon  exercise  of  the  Option.   The
determination  by the Board as to the terms of any of the foregoing  adjustments
shall be conclusive and binding.

          2.8 Liquidation,  Sale of Assets or Merger. In the event of a proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Option will terminate immediately
prior to the consummation of such proposed action,  unless otherwise provided by
the Board.  In the event of a proposed sale of all or  substantially  all of the
assets  of the  Company,  or the  merger  of the  Company  with or into  another
corporation,  the  option  shall be  assumed or an  equivalent  option  shall be
substituted by such successor corporation,  unless the Board determines that the
Optionee  shall  have the right to  exercise  the Option as to all of the Common
Stock subject to the Option. If the Board makes an Option fully exercisable, the
Board shall notify the Optionee that the Option shall be fully exercisable for a
period of thirty  (30) days from the date of such notice (but not later than the
expiration  of the  Option  term  under  Paragraph  2.6),  and the  Option  will
terminate upon the expiration of such period.  In the event the thirtieth (30th)
day  referred  to in this  Paragraph  shall fall on a day that is not a business
day, then the thirtieth (30th) day shall be the next following business day.

          2.9 Corporate  Transaction or Change of Control.  The Board shall have
the right in its sole  discretion  to  accelerate  the schedule for vesting with
respect to the Option granted hereby in the event of a Corporate  Transaction or
Change of Control.

          2.10 Notices.  Any notice to be given under the terms of the Agreement
("Notice")  shall be  addressed  to the  Company in care of its Chief  Financial
Officer at 5210 East Williams Circle,  Suite 200,  Tucson,  Arizona 85700, or at
its then  current  corporate  headquarters.  Notice to be given to the  Optionee
shall be addressed to him or her at his or her then current  residential address
as appearing on the payroll records.

          Notice shall be deemed duly given when  enclosed in a properly  sealed
envelope and deposited by certified mail,  return receipt  requested,  in a post
office  or  branch  post  office  regularly  maintained  by  the  United  States
Government.

          2.11  Transferability  of Option. The Option shall not be transferable
by the  Optionee  otherwise  than  by  the  will  or the  laws  of  descent  and
distribution,  and may be exercised  during the life of the Optionee only by the
Optionee.

          2.12 Optionee Not A Shareholder.  The Optionee shall not be deemed for
any  purposes  to be a  shareholder  of the Company  with  respect to any of the
Optioned  Shares except to the extent that the Option herein  granted shall have
been exercised with respect thereto and a stock certificate issued therefor.

                                        3
<PAGE>

          2.13 Disputes or Disagreements.  As a condition of the granting of the
Option  herein  granted,  the  Optionee  agrees,  for himself  and his  personal
representatives, that any disputes or disagreement which may arise under or as a
result of or pursuant to this Agreement  shall be determined by the Board in its
sole discretion,  and that any  interpretation by the Board of the terms of this
Agreement shall be final, binding and conclusive.

          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Company has caused  this  instrument  to be
executed by its duly authorized  officer,  and the Optionee has hereunto affixed
his or her signature.

                                  WAVETECH, INC.,
                                  a New Jersey corporation


                                 By
                                   -------------------------------
                                        Gerald I. Quinn, President
                                                         "COMPANY"



                                   -------------------------------
                                                        "OPTIONEE"

                                        4

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.4
                  NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


          BY THIS STOCK  OPTION  AGREEMENT  ("Agreement")  made and entered into
this _____ day of ________________,  199_ ("Grant Date"),  WAVETECH, INC., a New
Jersey  corporation  (the  "Company"),  and  __________________,  a non-employee
director of the Company  (the  "Optionee")  hereby  state,  confirm,  represent,
warrant and agree as follows:

                                        I

                                    RECITALS

          1.1 The Company,  through its Board of Directors  (the  "Board"),  has
determined  that in order to attract and retain the best available  personnel to
serve as members of the Board of  Directors,  it must  offer  compensation  that
provides  Directors of the Company an opportunity to participate  financially in
the success of the Company by developing an equity interest in the Company.

          1.2 The Company  adopted the 1997 Stock  Incentive  Plan (the "Plan"),
effective on January 31, 1997.

          1.3 By  this  Agreement,  the  Company  and  the  Optionee  desire  to
establish  the terms upon which the Company is willing to grant to the Optionee,
and upon which the Optionee is willing to accept from the Company,  an option to
purchase  shares of common  stock,  $.001 par  value,  of the  Company  ("Common
Stock").

                                       II

                                   AGREEMENTS

          2.1 Grant of  Non-Statutory  Stock  Option.  Subject  to the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth and those provisions set forth in the Plan, the
Company  grants as of the date set  forth  above to the  Optionee  the right and
option  (the  "Option")  to  purchase  from  the  Company  all or any part of an
aggregate number of ten thousand (10,000) shares of Common Stock, authorized but
unissued or, at the option of the  Company,  treasury  stock if  available  (the
"Optioned Shares").

          2.2 Exercise of Option.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement and those of the Plan,  the Option may be exercised only by completing
and signing a written notice in substantially the following form:

               I hereby exercise the Option granted to me by WAVETECH,  Inc. and
               elect to  purchase  _______________  shares  of  Common  Stock of
               WAVETECH,  Inc. for the  purchase  price to be  determined  under
               Paragraph 2.3 of this Stock Option Agreement.
<PAGE>

          2.3 Purchase Price.  The price to be paid for the Optioned Shares (the
"Purchase  Price") shall be a $__________ per share.


          2.4 Payment of Purchase  Price.  Payment of the Purchase  Price may be
made as follows:

               (a) In United States  dollars in cash or by check,  bank draft or
          money order payable to the Company; or

               (b) At the  discretion  of the Board,  through  the  delivery  of
          shares of Common Stock with an aggregate fair market value at the date
          of such delivery, equal to the Purchase Price; or

               (c) By a combination of both (a) and (b) above; or

               (d) Pursuant to financial assistance which may be provided by the
          Company upon Board approval as set forth in Section 8(c) of the Plan.

               The Board shall determine acceptable methods for tendering Common
               Stock as payment  upon  exercise of an Option and may impose such
               limitations and conditions on the use of Common Stock to exercise
               an Option as it deems appropriate.

          2.5  Exercisability of Option.  Subject to the provisions of Paragraph
2.6,  and except as  otherwise  provided  in  Paragraph  2.8,  the Option may be
exercised  by the  Optionee  in whole or in part from time to time,  but only in
accordance with the following schedule:

                                           Cumulative Percentage of
Elapsed Number of Years                 Shares Subject To Options As To
   After Grant Date                      Which Option May be Exercised
   ----------------                      -----------------------------
     One (1) year                                    100%

An Option may not be  exercised  for a fraction of a share.  For purposes of the
foregoing schedule, a year is measured from the grant date to the anniversary of
the grant  date;  provided,  however,  that the Option will vest as set forth in
this Section 2.5 only if the Optionee continues to serve as a Director until the
next annual meeting of shareholders following the grant of the Option.

          2.6 Termination of Option. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.8
hereof,  the Option,  to the extent not heretofore  exercised,  shall  terminate
sixty (60) days after the Optionee  ceases to serve as a Director for any reason
(other than death or disability),  provided,  that the Optionee may exercise the
Option  during  such  sixty (60) day period  only as to such  shares  which were
exercisable  in  accordance  with Section 2.5 hereof on or prior to 5:00 p.m. on
the last date which the Optionee served as a Director.

                                        2
<PAGE>
               (a) Should the Optionee  cease to serve as a Board member for any
          reason (other than death or permanent disability) while holding one or
          more Options  under this  Agreement,  then the  Optionee  shall have a
          sixmonth period  following the date of such cessation of Board service
          in which to  exercise  each such  Option  for any or all of the Option
          Shares in which the  Optionee is vested at the time of such  cessation
          of Board  service.  Each such Option shall  immediately  terminate and
          cease to remain  outstanding,  at the time of such  cessation of Board
          service,  with  respect to any  Options in which the  Optionee  is not
          otherwise at that time vested.

               (b) Should the Optionee die within six months after  cessation of
          Board  service,  then any Option  held by the  Optionee at the time of
          death may subsequently be exercised,  for any or all of the underlying
          shares  in which  the  Optionee  is  vested  at the time of his or her
          cessation  of Board  service  (less  any  Option  Shares  subsequently
          purchased   by  the  Optionee   prior  to  death),   by  the  personal
          representative of the Optionee's estate or by the person or persons to
          whom the Option is transferred  pursuant to the Optionee's  will or in
          accordance  with the laws of descent  and  distribution.  The right to
          exercise  each such  Option  shall  lapse upon the  expiration  of the
          12 month period measured from the date of the Optionee's death.

               (c) Should the Optionee die or become permanently  disabled while
          serving as a Board  member,  then the Common Stock at the time subject
          to the Option shall immediately vest in full, and the Optionee (or the
          representative  of the  Optionee's  estate or the person or persons to
          whom the option is transferred upon the Optionee's death) shall have a
          12 month  period  following  the date of the  Optionee's  cessation of
          Board service in which to exercise such Option for any or all of those
          vested Common Stock.

          2.7 Adjustments. In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split,
stock divided,  combination or reclassification of shares of Common Stock or any
other  increase  or  decrease  in the  number of issued  shares of Common  Stock
effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, the number and kind of
Optioned  Shares   (including  any  Option   outstanding  after  termination  of
employment or death) and the Purchase  Price per share shall be  proportionately
and appropriately adjusted without any change in the aggregate Purchase Price to
be paid therefor upon exercise of the Option.  The determination by the Board as
to the  terms  of any of the  foregoing  adjustments  shall  be  conclusive  and
binding.

          2.8  Transferability  of Option.  During the lifetime of the Optionee,
each Option  grant shall be  exercisable  only by the  Optionee and shall not be
assignable or transferable by the Optionee other than by a transfer  effected by
will or by the laws of descent and distribution following the Optionee's death.

          2.9 Acceleration of Vesting. In the event of any Corporate Transaction
or Change of Control of the  Company  (each as defined in the Plan),  the Common
Stock at the time subject to each  outstanding  Option but not otherwise  vested
shall  automatically  vest in full, so that each such Option shall,  immediately

                                       3
<PAGE>

prior to the effective date of such Corporate  Transaction or Change of Control,
become  fully  exercisable  for all of the Common  Shares at the time subject to
that Option and may be exercised for all or any portion of those shares as fully
vested Common Stock.  Each such Option shall remain so  exercisable  for all the
Option Shares following the Corporate Transaction or Change of Control until the
expiration or sooner termination of the Option term. Nothing in this Section 2.9
shall  in any way  affect  the  right  of the  Company  to  adjust,  reclassify,
reorganize or to otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge,
consolidate,  dissolve,  liquidate  or  sell  or  transfer  all or a part of its
business or assets.

          2.10 Notices.  Any notice to be given under the terms of the Agreement
("Notice")  shall be  addressed  to the  Company in care of its Chief  Financial
Officer at 5210 East Wiliams Circle, Suite 200, Tucson,  Arizona 85711 or at its
then current corporate headquarters. Notice to be given to the Optionee shall be
addressed  to him or her at his  or her  then  current  residential  address  as
appearing on the payroll records or as otherwise provided to the Company. Notice
shall be deemed  duly given when  enclosed  in a properly  sealed  envelope  and
deposited by  certified  mail,  return  receipt  requested,  in a post office or
branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Government.

          2.11 Optionee Not A Shareholder.  The Optionee shall not be deemed for
any  purposes  to be a  shareholder  of the Company  with  respect to any of the
Optioned  Shares except to the extent that the Option herein  granted shall have
been exercised with respect thereto and a stock certificate issued therefor.

          2.12 Disputes or Disagreements.  As a condition of the granting of the
Option  herein  granted,  the  Optionee  agrees,  for himself  and his  personal
representatives, that any disputes or disagreement which may arise under or as a
result of or pursuant to this Agreement  shall be determined by the Board in its
sole discretion,  and that any  interpretation by the Board of the terms of this
Agreement shall be final, binding and conclusive.

          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Company has caused  this  instrument  to be
executed by its duly authorized  officer,  and the Optionee has hereunto affixed
his or her signature.

                                            WAVETECH, INC.,
                                            a New Jersey corporation


                                            By
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Gerald I. Quinn, President

                                              ----------------------------------
                                                                       "COMPANY"


                                              ----------------------------------
                                               *                      "OPTIONEE"


                                        4

                                                                       EXHIBIT 5



                                                                  (602) 528-4000


                                 March 13, 1997


Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

           RE:       WAVETECH, INC.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          This firm is counsel for Wavetech, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the
"Company"),  with respect to the sale of up to 4,600,000 shares of the Company's
$.001 par value  Common Stock (the "Common  Stock"),  pursuant to the  Wavetech,
Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), which are the subject of a Form S-8
Registration  Statement  filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  In
such capacity,  we are familiar with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
of the  Company,  as well as  resolutions  adopted  by its  Board  of  Directors
authorizing  the Plan and the issuance  and sale of Common  Stock in  accordance
therewith.  In addition,  we have examined such  documents and  undertaken  such
further  inquiry as we consider  necessary  for rendering the opinions set forth
below:

          Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that:

          1.   The Company is a corporation  duly organized and validly existing
               under the laws of the State of New Jersey.

          2.   The Common  Stock when issued,  will be duly and validly  issued,
               fully paid and nonassessable.

<PAGE>

Securities and Exchange Commission
March 13, 1997
Page 2



          We hereby  consent  to filing of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Company's  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 and any amendments  thereto which
may be filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and to filing with
state  regulatory  agencies  in  such  states  as may  require  such  filing  in
connection with the  registration of the Common Stock for offer and sale in such
states.

                             Very truly yours,

                             /s/  SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY L.L.P.
                             ---------------------------------------------------
                                  SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY L.L.P.


                                                                      EXHIBIT 23


                    Consent of Addison, Roberts & Ludwig P.C.

          We  hereby  consent  to  the   incorporation   by  reference  in  this
Registration  Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated  November 1, 1996 to the
Shareholders of Wavetech,  Inc. and  Subsidiaries,  and to the references to our
firm under the caption "Experts" in the Prospectus.

                                              /s/ Addison, Roberts & Ludwig P.C.

                                              Addison, Roberts & Ludwig P.C.



Tucson, Arizona
March 12, 1997


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