<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 4.12

    The options granted pursuant to this Agreement are not transferrable except
    to the estate of the holder upon his death in accordance with the terms of
    this Agreement. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of any
    such options may not be transferred, nor will any assignee or endorsee of
    such shares of Common Stock be recognized as an owner thereof by the issuer
    for any purpose, unless a registration statement under the Securities Act of
    1933, as amended, with respect to such shares shall then be in effect or
    unless the availability of an exemption from registration with respect to
    any proposed transfer or disposition of such shares shall be established to
    the satisfaction of the issuer. No shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
    exercise of any such options may be sold or transferred except pursuant to
    an effective registration statement or similar qualification under
    applicable State securities laws, or unless it is established to the
    satisfaction of the issuer that such sale or transfer is in a transaction
    which is exempt under, or otherwise in compliance with, such laws. No shares
    of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of any such options may be sold,
    transferred, assigned or otherwise disposed of, nor will any assignee or
    endorsee of such shares of Common Stock be recognized as an owner thereof by
    the issuer for any purpose, except in accordance with the terms and
    conditions of a certain Stockholders' Agreement dated as of December 21,
    1990, as same may be amended from time to time, by and among the issuer and
    the stockholders named in such Stockholders' Agreement.


                               CVC HOLDINGS, INC.
                             c/o CVC Products, Inc.
                                  525 Lee Road
                              Rochester, N.Y. 14603

To:  Ahmad Kermani

         1.   OPTION GRANT. CVC Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") hereby grants to
you, effective as of October 15, 1993 (the "Date of Grant"), as a matter of
separate inducement and not in lieu of any salary or other compensation for your
services, the option (this "Option") to purchase, in accordance with and subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein, an aggregate of 500 shares (the
"Shares") of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share ("Common Stock"), of the
Company, at the exercise price of $25 per Share, subject to adjustment as
hereinafter provided (the "Option Price"), such Option Price being, in the
judgment of the Company, not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the fair
market value of each such Share on the Date of Grant. Subject to the provisions
and limitations set forth herein, this Option shall vest, and may be exercised
by you, on a cumulative basis, in the amounts and for the periods set forth in
TABLE A, beginning on October 15, 1994; provided, however, that if your
employment terminates for any reason, the currently exercisable portion of this
Option will be exercisable through the end of the applicable period set forth in
clauses (a) through (c) below and the unvested portion of this Option will
automatically and without notice terminate and become null and void.

         2.   TERMINATION OF OPTION. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
unexercised portion of this Option will automatically and without notice
terminate and become null and void on the tenth


<PAGE>


anniversary of the effective date hereof, subject to earlier termination as
hereinafter provided (the date on which the earliest of such events shall occur
being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date"). If, however, your employment
with the Company or any subsidiary thereof terminates for any reason before the
Expiration Date, this Option will terminate on the applicable date as described
below; provided, however, that none of the events described below shall extend
the period of exercisability of this Option beyond the Expiration Date:

              (a)  immediately upon the termination of your employment in the
case of a voluntary termination or a termination for "cause" (as hereafter
defined);

              (b)  the expiration of three (3) months after your death if your
death occurs during your employment or within the three-month period after the
termination of your employment specified in clause (c) below, except that your
Option will be exercisable during such three-month period only to the extent
that it would have been exercisable on the date of your death; and

              (c)  the expiration of three (3) months from the date of
termination of your employment by reason of your retirement (in accordance with
the applicable company policy respecting retirement), dismissal other than for
"cause" or your "disability" (as hereafter defined), except that your Option
will be exercisable during such three-month period only to the extent that it
would have been exercisable immediately prior to the termination of your
employment.

For purposes hereof, (i) the term "cause" is defined as (A) the commission by
you of a felony, your engaging in theft, embezzlement, fraud, obtaining funds or
property under false pretenses, or similar acts of misconduct with respect to
the property of the Company and/or its subsidiaries or its employees,
stockholders, affiliates, customers or suppliers, (B) your material breach of
Company or subsidiary written policies or terms and conditions of employment, or
(C) your material failure to successfully fulfill your duties or obligations of
employment; and (ii) you shall be deemed "disabled" if, at the Company's option,
it gives notice to you or your representative that due to a disabling mental or
physical condition, you have been prevented, for a continuous period of 90 days
or for an aggregate of 120 days during any six month period, from substantially
performing those duties which you were required to perform prior to incurring
such disability. The existence of a disabling mental or physical condition shall
be confirmed by a medical doctor selected by the Company.

         3.   OPTION EXERCISE. The currently exercisable portion of this Option
may be exercised by you from time to time, in part or in full (but subject to
the provisions of subsection 3(b) and of Section 4 below), at any time on or
after the date hereof.

              (a)  This Option can be exercised only with respect to full Shares
and only with respect to a minimum of 100 Shares at the time of any exercise.

              (b)  Any exercise of this Option must be in writing addressed to
the Board of Directors of the Company at the principal place of business of the
Company and delivered at least ten (10) business days prior to the proposed date
of exercise, which writing shall indicate the number


                                        2

<PAGE>


of Shares as to which this Option is being exercised and shall be accompanied by
a certified or bank cashier's check payable to the order of the Company in the
full amount of the aggregate Option Price of the Shares covered by such
exercise.

         4.   CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO EXERCISE. (a) This Option may be exercised
by you only if on the date of exercise you satisfy the Company in such manner as
the Company shall reasonably specify, that the Shares issuable upon such
exercise may be issued to you pursuant to an exemption from the registration
requirements of applicable federal and state securities laws.

              (b)  This Option may not be exercised if and so long as such
exercise would subject the Company or any of its subsidiaries to any substantial
risk under contracts or programs restricting ownership or control or similar
requirements or would subject the Company or any of its subsidiaries to other
regulatory problems, in each case, as determined by the Company's Board of
Directors.

              (c)  This Option may not be exercised unless and until you or,
upon your death, the person to whom this Option is transferred in accordance
with Section 8 hereof, shall have executed and delivered: (i) a written consent
in the form of EXHIBIT A hereto, to be bound by all of the terms of the
Stockholders' Agreement (the "Stockholders' Agreement") dated as of December 21,
1990, as amended and as the same may be amended from time to time, among the
Company and the holders of shares of capital stock of the Company named therein;
and (ii) such subscription documents as the Company shall require, including,
without limitation, a subscription agreement and a prospective purchaser's
questionnaire. You acknowledge your receipt of a copy of the Stockholders'
Agreement, as amended, through the date hereof. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be deemed to require the Company to deliver to you copies of, or to seek your
approval for, any amendments made to such Stockholders' Agreement. You further
agree that any time period for you to exercise rights under the Stockholders'
Agreement shall be deemed to have commenced for you on the same date as such
time period commenced to run for the other Stockholders having the same rights
thereunder regardless of the date on which you first acquire Shares.

         5.   SHARE REPURCHASE RIGHT. At any time prior to the expiration of six
(6) months from termination of your employment with the Company for any reason,
the Company shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to repurchase any
Shares (and/or any securities acquired in connection with or exchange for the
Shares) acquired pursuant to the terms of this Option (the "Repurchase Right")
by giving you or the holder of such Shares written notice of the Company's
intention to exercise such Repurchase Right prior to the expiration of such
six-month period (the "Notice"). The per-share purchase price for the Shares
shall be determined as follows:

              (a)  in the event your employment with the Company terminates for
any of the reasons specified in Section 2(a) above, the per-share purchase price
for the Shares shall be equal to the lesser of (i) your Option Price; or (ii)
the applicable NATI Multiple Price, as determined below; and


                                        3

<PAGE>


              (b)  in the event your employment with the Company terminates for
any of the reasons specified in Section 2(b) or 2(c) above, the per-share
purchase price for the Shares shall be equal to the applicable "NATI Multiple
Price." The "NATI Multiple Price" per Share shall be (A) the average of the
Annualized Net After-Tax Income per Share for each of the eight most recently
completed fiscal quarters of the Company prior to the date of the termination of
such employment multiplied by (B) seven (7). For purposes hereof, the
"Annualized Net After-Tax Income" of the Company for any fiscal period shall be
the consolidated income after taxes of the Company for such period on an
annualized basis, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, consistently applied. The calculations required by this Section 5(b)
shall be made on a fully-diluted, as-converted basis by the independent
certified public accountants for the Company, whose determination shall be final
and binding on all parties hereto.

              (c)  The closing for all purchases and sales of Shares provided
for in this Section 5 shall be held at the office of the Company at 10:00
o'clock a. m. on the 90th day after the giving of the Notice or such earlier
date as the Company shall specify. If the aforesaid closing date falls on a
Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, then the closing shall be held on the next
succeeding business day.

              (d)  Except as hereinafter provided, the purchase price for the
purchase and sale of Shares determined pursuant to the provisions of Section 5
hereof shall be paid in eight equal quarterly installments, the first such
payment to be made on the date of the closing under Section 5(c) hereof and the
remaining seven installments, to be made on the last day of each of the seven
immediately succeeding 90-day periods. Such installment obligations shall bear
interest on the outstanding balance at a rate equal to the prime rate announced
from time to time by the Company's principal lending bank (or, in the absence of
any such bank, Citibank, N.A.), payable together with each principal
installment. Contemporaneously with the receipt of the first installment as
aforesaid, you or the seller(s) shall duly endorse to the Company and deliver to
the Company for cancellation the certificate or certificates representing the
Shares sold hereunder, together with all necessary documentary transfer stamps,
if any. The Company, at its option, may pre-pay any or all amounts without
penalty or premium.

         6.   RESERVATION OF SHARES. The Company will at all times through the
close of business on the Expiration Date reserve and keep available free from
preemptive rights, out of the aggregate of its authorized but unissued or
treasury shares of Common Stock, for the purpose of enabling it to satisfy any
obligation to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Option, the
number of Shares deliverable upon the exercise of this Option. The Company
covenants that all Shares issued upon exercise of this Option shall, upon
issuance in accordance with the terms of this Option, be fully paid and
nonassessable.


                                        4

<PAGE>


         7.   CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS; MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, ETC.

              (a)  Notwithstanding any other provisions contained in this
Agreement, in the event of the merger or consolidation of the Company, or
reorganization or recapitalization of, stock dividend on, stock split, split-up,
split-off, spin-off or combination of, shares of Common Stock, appropriate
adjustments shall be made by the Board of Directors of the Company as to the
number of Shares and/or the exercise price per Share subject to this Option, as
shall be equitable to prevent reduction or enlargement of rights under this
Option, and the determination of the Board of Directors as to such matters shall
be conclusive and binding. References in this Agreement to Shares shall include
any such securities or other property (including cash) into which Shares of
Common Stock may be changed pursuant to or in accordance with the preceding
sentence through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock
dividend, stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, or combination of shares.

              (b)  If (i) the Board of Directors of the Company approves a
consolidation or merger of the Company or any substantial subsidiary of the
Company with another corporation and a change in control in the Company is
effected in connection therewith, or (ii) the Board of Directors approves the
sale of all or substantially all of the property or assets of the Company or of
any substantial subsidiary of the Company, or (iii) more than fifty percent
(50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company
or any substantial subsidiary of the Company normally entitled to vote for the
election of directors of the Company or such subsidiary is acquired by a person,
firm or corporation or cooperating group of such individuals or entities, other
than the Initial Stockholders or their Groups (as such terms are defined in the
Stockholder's Agreement), or, in the case of such subsidiary other than the
Company, then the Board of Directors shall have the right to terminate this
Option (in which event such Option shall not be subject to the above described
adjustments in subsection (a)) by causing written notice of such termination to
be given to you at least fifteen (15) days prior to the earlier of (A) the date
on which such consolidation, merger or acquisition of assets or stock is
expected to become effective, or (B) if different from the date specified in
subclause (A) above, the date as of which a record will be taken to determine
the holders of shares of Common Stock who shall be entitled to exchange such
shares for securities or other property (including cash) deliverable upon such
consolidation, merger or acquisition of assets or stock, provided, however, that
any such Options as to which notice of termination has been sent by the Company
as aforesaid in respect of any of the events described above, which are not
otherwise exercisable during the aforesaid fifteen (15) day period solely
because they are not then vested and which have not otherwise lapsed or expired,
shall be either assumed by the acquiror or surviving entity upon the
consummation of such event or shall have the vesting period thereof accelerated
to permit the exercise thereof subject to the consummation of such transactions
during the aforesaid fifteen (15) day period if all other conditions to exercise
(other than vesting) are met. Such notice shall be deemed duly given when given
as provided below, and failure to give such notice, or a defect therein, shall
not affect the termination of this Option.

              (c)  If the Board of Directors shall determine to cause the
termination of this Option pursuant to subsection (b) above upon the occurrence
of an event described in said subsection (b), and shall not provide a period
during which this Option will be exercisable in full


                                        5

<PAGE>


prior to such termination of this Option or in the event the restrictions set
forth in subsections 4(a) and/or 4(b) shall apply to the Options to be
terminated, then, upon the occurrence of such event and the actual consummation
of the applicable consolidation, merger or sale, this Option shall terminate and
you shall receive, with respect to each Share subject to this Option (including
those Shares as to which vesting has been accelerated pursuant to subsection (b)
above), an amount per Share equal to the excess of the fair market value of each
such Share immediately prior to the occurrence of such transaction over the
exercise Option Price per Share; such amount to be payable in cash, in one or
more of the kinds of property payable in such transaction, or in a combination
thereof, as the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, shall determine.

         8.   RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS. (a) This Option is not transferable by
you, and is exercisable only by you, and may not be sold, assigned, transferred,
pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise)
except that upon your death this Option may be transferred subject to all of the
terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, (A) to your then-current
spouse, parents or lineal descendants, or to trusts or custodianships
established for any such person, (B) by operation of the laws of descent and
distribution, (C) by disposition pursuant to the terms of your last will and
testament, to such spouse, parent or lineal descendant or (D) otherwise to your
estate. This Option shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar
proceeding. Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other
disposition of this Option or any interest herein, and the levy of any
attachment or similar proceeding upon this Option or any interest herein, shall
be null and void and without effect except as provided in the preceding
sentence.

              (b)  The Company may postpone the time of delivery of certificates
for the shares issuable upon the exercise of this Option for such additional
time as the Company shall deem necessary or desirable to enable it to comply
with the listing requirements of any securities exchange or the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. upon which shares of the Company may
then or are then contemplated to be listed or quoted, or the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or any rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
promulgated thereunder or the requirements of applicable state laws relating to
the authorization, issuance or sale of securities.

              (c)  (i) You hereby represent and warrant to the Company that (A)
this Option and all Shares hereafter purchased or otherwise acquired by you have
been and are being acquired by you for your own account for investment, without
any intention of selling or further distributing the same, (B) you do not
presently have any reason to anticipate any change in circumstances or any other
particular occasion or event which would cause you to sell the Option or any of
such Shares, and (C) you are fully aware that in agreeing to grant the Option
and/or sell or issue such Shares to you, and in entering into this Agreement,
the Company has relied and is relying upon the truth and accuracy of these
representations and warranties.

                   (ii)      Each instrument, agreement or certificate the
Company has issued or will issue to represent this Option shall prominently bear
a legend making reference to this


                                        6

<PAGE>


Agreement and securities laws applicable to the Shares acquired upon exercise
hereof and to the Stockholders' Agreement.

         9.   NOT A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT. NOTHING IN OPTION AGREEMENT SHALL
CONFER ANY RIGHT TO CONTINUE IN THE EMPLOY OF THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS
SUBSIDIARIES, OR AFFECT ANY RIGHT WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES
MAY HAVE TO TERMINATE YOUR EMPLOYMENT.

         10.  MISCELLANEOUS. (a) You shall not have any rights to dividends or
any other rights of a stockholder with respect to any shares subject to this
Option, except to the extent that you have paid for such shares and a
certificate for such shares shall have been actually issued in your name upon
the due, proper and timely exercise of this Option as provided for herein.

              (b)  Each notice relating to this Option shall be in writing and
delivered in person or by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
proper address. All notices to you shall be addressed to you at your address
below specified. All notices to the Company shall be addressed to the Company at
the address set forth on the first page of this Agreement with a copy to
Golenbock, Eiseman, Assor & Bell, 437 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022,
Attention: A.C. Peskoe, Esq. Anyone to whom a notice may be given under this
Agreement may designate a new address by notice to that effect given to the
other party in accordance with this subsection (b). Each such notice shall be
deemed given upon the receipt thereof when delivered in person and on the second
business day after the mailing when sent by mail as aforesaid.

              (c)  You understand that, upon exercise of this Option, you may
recognize income for tax purposes in an amount equal to the excess of the then
fair market value of the Shares purchased over the Option Price for such Shares.
Your employer may withhold tax from your current compensation with respect to
such income or any other income which it deems you to have received in
connection therewith; to the extent that your then current compensation is
insufficient to satisfy the withholding tax liability, you will be required to
make a cash payment to cover such liability as a condition of exercise of this
Option.

              (d)  If this Option shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed,
the Company shall issue in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation
of the mutilated Option, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Option lost,
stolen or destroyed, a new Option of like tenor and denomination, but only upon
receipt of evidence satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or
destruction of such Option and such indemnity and, if requested by the Company,
such bond, as shall in each case be satisfactory to the Company. You must also
comply with such other reasonable requirements and pay such other reasonable
charges as the Company may prescribe in connection with such issuance.

              (e)  This Option shall be governed and construed in accordance
with the substantive laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts
executed, delivered and to be fully


                                        7

<PAGE>


performed in the State of New York, without giving effect to contrary provisions
regarding conflict of laws.

              (f)  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be
binding upon your heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives,
and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its
successors and assigns. You may not assign, transfer, pledge, encumber,
hypothecate or otherwise dispose of this Agreement, or any of your rights
hereunder except if and to the extent expressly permitted by Section 8 of this
Agreement, and any such attempted prohibited delegation or disposition shall be
null and void and without effect.

              (g)  This Agreement constitutes the complete understanding between
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and no statement,
representation, warranty or covenant has been made by either party with respect
thereto except as expressly set forth herein. This Agreement shall not be
altered, modified, amended or terminated except by written instrument signed by
each of the parties hereto.

              (h)  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one
and the same instrument.

              (i)  The section headings contained herein are for the purposes of
convenience only, are not intended to define or limit the contents of said
sections and are not part of this Agreement.

              (j)  By signing below, you hereby accept this Option subject to
all of the terms and provisions hereof and acknowledge all of the
representations, warranties and agreements set forth above. This Option shall
not be effective until you have signed this Option and delivered it to the
Company.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, CVC Holdings, Inc. has caused this Option to be
executed as of the date first above set forth.


                                  CVC HOLDINGS, INC.

                                  By: /s/ Christine B. Whitman

ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:

/s/ Ahmad Kermani
-----------------------
    Ahmad Kermani

186 BELGIAN DR.
-----------------------
DANVILLE, CA 94526
-----------------------
[Address]


                                        8

<PAGE>


                                                                         TABLE A

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Number of Shares                        Vesting Pursuant and
Subject to options                   subject to this option on:
------------------                   --------------------------
<S>                                       <C>
  167                                      October 15, 1994
  167                                      October 15, 1995
  166                                      October 15, 1996

</TABLE>


                                        9

<PAGE>


                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                                   CONSENT TO

                            BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF

                            A STOCKHOLDERS' AGREEMENT

         Upon the consummation of his acquisition of any shares of capital stock
of CVC Holdings, Inc. (the "Corporation") pursuant to the Option Agreement
between the undersigned and the Corporation dated as of _______, 1994, the
undersigned agrees to be bound by all of the terms, conditions, limitations and
provisions of the Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of December 21, 1990, as the
same may be amended from time to time, among the Corporation and the
stockholders of the Corporation named therein as a (i) signatory, (ii)
"Stockholder," (iii)* ["Initial Stockholder", and (vi) "Management
Stockholder"]* for the purposes of such agreement as if he had been an original
signatory thereto.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has subscribed his name below as of
the ___ day of ______, 19__.


                                  /s/ Ahmad Kermani
                                  -----------------
                                  Ahmad Kermani


                                       10