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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

     This agreement, dated as of the 25th day of April 2000 by and between MRV
Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"),
party of the first part, and ___________________________ (hereinafter called
"optionee"), a party of the second part;

                                   WITNESSETH

     Whereas, the Company has adopted the "The 2000 MRV Communications, Inc.
Stock Option Plan for Employees of Fiber Optic Communications, Inc." (the
"Plan") to permit options to be granted to certain employees of the Company and
its subsidiaries, including Fiber Optic Communications, Inc. ("FOCI") to
purchase common shares of the Company; and

     Whereas, the optionee is employed by the employer corporation in a key
capacity, and the Company desires him or her to remain in such employ, to secure
or increase his or her stock ownership in the Company in order to increase his
or her incentive and personal interest in the welfare of the employer
corporation and to replace options such employee had or may have had with FOCI
prior to its acquisition by the Company;

     Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants and
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby mutually covenant and agree as
follows:

     1. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company grants
to the optionee the option to purchase from the Company all or any part of an
aggregate amount of _________ common shares of the Company authorized and
unissued or, at the option of the Company, treasury stock if available
(hereinafter, the "optioned shares").

     2. The price per share (the "option price") to be paid for the optioned
shares shall be three United States dollars (US$3.00) per share. The Option
Price shall be paid in United States dollars.

     3. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs four (4) and six (6) hereof, the
option granted hereby may be exercised by the optionee in installments of 25% of
the optioned shares per year beginning on April 25, 2001 and ending as provided
in paragraph 6 below. Optionee acknowledges that he or she understands he or she
has no right whatsoever to exercise the option granted hereunder with respect to
any optioned shares covered by any installment until such installment accrues as
provided above and that all unaccrued installments shall cease to accrue on the
date of termination of optionee's employment, consulting or other arrangement
with FOCI, the Company or its affiliated companies (the "employer corporation").

     4. The option herein granted may be exercised only by written notice of
intent to exercise the option, served upon the secretary of the Company at its
offices at 20415 Nordhoff Street, Chatsworth, California 91311 specifying the
number of shares in respect of which the option is being exercised, accompanied
by payment for such shares in cash or by certified check or bank draft to the
order of the Company. Such shares, upon payment of the purchase price, shall be
fully paid and nonassessable.

     5. The option herein granted shall not be transferable by the optionee
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and may be
exercised during the life of the optionee only by the optionee.

     6. The option granted hereunder shall expire and become unexercisable on or
before the earliest of the following dates, whichever is applicable: (i) April
25, 2005; (ii) voluntary termination of employment from the employer corporation
by the optionee (iii) ninety days after the date of the optionee's termination
of employment from the employer corporation for cause by the employer
corporation; or (iii) the date that is one year following the optionee's
termination of employment from the employer corporation by reason of his or her
death, or by reason of his or her disability, whichever is applicable.

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     7. If any of the events specified in paragraph 14 of the Plan occur, the
adjustments in optioned shares and option price therein provided shall be made.

     8. As to all optioned shares (or any stock issued as a stock dividend
thereon or any securities issued in lieu thereof or in substitution therefor),
purchased by the optionee or his personal representative upon the exercise of
any portion of the option herein granted, the Board or Compensation Committee,
in its sole discretion, may require that the optionee or his or her personal
representative, as the case may be, agree to any of the following conditions:

          (a) That they sign an investment letter to the effect that they are
taking said shares for investment and not for resale.

          (b) That they will comply with such restrictions as may be necessary
to satisfy the requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933.

     9. 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. Optionee acknowledges and agrees that this
option supersedes and replaces any options optionee had or may have had with
FOCI or any of its affiliated corporations prior to FOCI's acquisition by the
Company.

     10. The existence of the option evidence hereby shall not affect in any way
the right or power of the Company or its shareholders to make or authorize any
or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the
Company's capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of
the Company, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference
stock ahead of or affecting the common stock of the Company or the rights
thereof, or dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer
of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or
proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

     11. As a condition of the granting of the option herein granted, the
optionee agrees, for himself or herself and his or her personal representatives,
that any dispute or disagreement which may arise under or as a result of or
pursuant to this agreement shall be resolved by the Board of Directors of the
Company or the Compensation Committee thereof in its sole discretion, and that
any interpretation by the Board or committee of any term of this agreement shall
be final, binding and conclusive.

     12. If, at any time, the Board or Compensation Committee shall determine,
in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares
covered by the option upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal
law is necessary or desirable as a condition of or in connection with the
purchase of shares thereunder, the option may not be exercised, in whole or in
part, unless and until such listing, registration or qualification shall have
been effected free of any conditions not acceptable to the Board or Compensation
Committee.

     13. Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to confer upon the
optionee any right to continued employment with the employer corporation or to
restrict in any way the right of the employer corporation to terminate his or
her employment. Optionee acknowledges that in the absence of an express written
employment agreement to the contrary, the employer corporation may terminate
optionee's employment with the employer corporation at any time, with or without
cause. Optonee acknowledges that the option evidenced hereby is being granted to
encourage such optionee to secure or increase on reasonable terms his or her
stock ownership in the Company.

     14. This Agreement hereby incorporates by reference the Plan and all of the
terms and conditions of the Plan as heretofore amended and as the same may be
amended from time to time hereafter in accordance with the terms thereof, but no
such subsequent amendment shall adversely affect the Optionee's rights under
this Agreement and the Plan except as may be required by applicable law.

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be exercised
by its duly authorized officers, the optionee has hereunto affixed his or her
hand.

                                          MRV COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                          By:
                                              -------------------------------
                                          Its:
                                               ------------------------------

                                          ------------------------
                                                   Optionee

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                 2000 MRV COMMUNICATIONS, INC. STOCK OPTION PLAN
                                FOR EMPLOYEES OF
                              QUANTUM OPTECH, INC.
                               (AN MRV SUBSIDIARY)

     1. PURPOSE. The purpose of the 2000 MRV Communications, Inc. Stock Option
Plan for Employees of Quantum Optech, Inc. (the "Plan") is to induce key
employees of Quantum Optech, Inc. ("QOI"), a majority owned subsidiary of MRV
Communications, Inc. (the "Company"), to remain in the employ of the Company or
of any subsidiary of the Company, to encourage such employees to secure or
increase on reasonable terms their stock ownership in the Company and to replace
options such employees had or may have had with QOI prior to its acquisition by
the Company. The board of directors of the Company believes the Plan will
promote continuity of management and increased incentive and personal interest
in the welfare of the Company by those who are primarily responsible for shaping
and carrying out the long-range plans of QOI and securing its continued growth
and financial success.

     2. EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall become effective on April 26,
2000, the date QOI was acquired by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

     3. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN. The maximum number of common shares that may be
issued pursuant to the exercise of options granted under the Plan ("Options") is
one hundred fifty seven thousand two hundred and forty nine (157,249) subject to
the adjustments provided in paragraph 13 below. One hundred fifty seven thousand
two hundred and forty nine (157,249) of the authorized but unissued common
shares of the Company will be reserved for issue upon exercise of Options
subject to the adjustments provided in paragraph 13 below; provided, however,
that the number of such authorized but unissued shares so reserved may from time
to time be reduced to the extent that a corresponding amount of issued and
outstanding shares have been purchased by the Company and set aside for issue
upon the exercise of Options. If any Options shall expire or terminate for any
reason without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased shares subject
thereto shall again be available for further grants under the Plan.

     4. ADMINISTRATION. The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors
(the "Board") or the Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Compensation
Committee") of the Company. The Board or Compensation Committee shall have the
sole authority, in its absolute discretion, to determine which of the eligible
persons of QOI shall receive Options ("Optionees"), and, subject to the express
provisions and restrictions of this Plan, shall have sole authority, in its
absolute discretion, to determine the time when Options shall be granted, the
terms and conditions of an Option other than those terms and conditions fixed
under this Plan, the number of shares which may be issued upon exercise of an
Option and the means of payment for such shares, and shall have authority to do
everything necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan. All decisions,
determinations and interpretations of the Board or Compensation Committee shall
be final and binding on all Optionees.

     5. ELIGIBILITY. The Board or Compensation Committee, may, in its
discretion, grant one or more Options under the Plan to any employee of QOI who
is not an officer of the Company or member of the Board or any person who is not
an officer of the Company or member of the Board and who performs consulting or
other services for QOI, the Company or its affiliated companies and who is
designated by the Board as eligible to participate in the Plan. Such Options may
be granted to one or more such persons without being granted to other eligible
persons, as the Board or Compensation Committee may deem fit. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section, the Board or Compensation Committee may, in its
discretion, grant one or more Options under the Plan to any person not
previously employed by QOI as an inducement essential to the individual's
entering into an employment contract with QOI. As used in this Plan, "officer of
the Company" means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial
officer, chief accounting officer, any vice president in charge of a principal
business function (such as sales, administration, or finance) and any other
person who performs similar policy-making functions for the Company.

     6. OPTION PRICE. The option price will be determined by the Board or
Compensation Committee at the time the option is granted and may be granted at
less than the fair market value of the common shares on the date of grant as
shall reasonably be determined by the Board or Compensation Committee.

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     7. DATE OF OPTION GRANT. An option shall be considered granted on the date
the Board or Compensation Committee acts to grant the option, or such date
thereafter as the Board or Compensation Committee shall specify.

     8. TERM OF PLAN. The board of directors, without approval of the
shareholders may terminate the Plan at any time, but no termination shall,
without the participant's consent, alter or impair any of the rights under any
option theretofore granted to him under the Plan.

     9. TERM OF OPTIONS. The term of each option granted under the Plan will be
for such period (hereinafter referred to as the "option period") not exceeding
five (5) years as the Board or Compensation Committee shall determine. Each
option shall be subject to earlier termination as described under "exercise of
options."

     10. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS. Each option granted under the Plan will be
exercisable on such date or dates and during such period and for such number of
shares as shall be determined pursuant to the provisions of the option agreement
evidencing such option. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Board
or Compensation Committee shall have complete authority, in its discretion, to
determine the extent, if any, and the conditions under which an option may be
exercised in the event of the death of the participant or in the event the
participant leaves the employ of the Company or has his or her employment
terminated by the Company. An option may be exercised, by (a) written notice of
intent to exercise the option with respect to a specified number of shares of
stock, and (b) payment to the Company of the amount of the option purchase price
for the number of shares of stock with respect to which the option is then
exercised.

     11. NONTRANSFERABILITY. Options under the Plan are not transferable
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent or distribution, and may be
exercised during the lifetime of a participant only by such participant.

     12. AGREEMENTS. Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by
stock option agreements in such form as the Board or Compensation Committee
shall from time to time adopt.

     13. SALE OR REORGANIZATION OF COMPANY. Upon the consummation of a
transaction: (i) that by its terms offers to all or substantially all of the
stockholders of the Company an opportunity to receive cash or securities
(whether debt, equity or other and whether issued by the Company or a third
party) in exchange for all or a portion of their shares of common stock of the
Company, provided, however, a sale of the Company shall not be considered to
have occurred as a result of the pro rata distribution by the Company to its
stockholders of capital stock of any of its subsidiaries; (ii) in which the
stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete dissolution or
liquidation of the Company; or (iii) that involves the sale of all or
substantially all of the Company's property or a sale of more than eighty
percent (80%) of the then outstanding stock of the Company to another
corporation (each transaction a "Sale"), the Board may, without limitation and
in its sole and absolute discretion, do any, or any combination, of the
following:

          a. declare that the time period relating to the exercise of any Stock
Option shall accelerate and become exercisable;

          b. declare that the value of all or some of the outstanding Options
shall, to the extent determined by the Board at or after grant, be cashed out by
a payment of cash or other property, as the Board may determine, on the basis of
the "Sale Price" (as defined in below) as of the date the Sale occurs or such
other date as the Board may determine prior to the Sale;

          c. permit a successor corporation, if applicable, pursuant to a
written agreement signed by the parties, to substitute equivalent Options or
provide substantially similar consideration to Optionees as was or will be
provided to stockholders of the Company after making any appropriate adjustment
as such parties deem necessary or appropriate for restrictions attaching to such
Options, including, but not limited to, vesting and exercise

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price;  or

          d. declare that any unexercised Options issued hereunder (or any
unexercised portion thereof) shall terminate and cease to be effective.

     For purposes of this Section 13, "Sale Price" means the higher of (i) the
highest price per share paid in any transaction related to a Sale of the Company
or (ii) the highest price per share paid in any transaction reported on the
exchange or national market system on which the Common Stock is listed, at any
time during the preceding sixty (60) day period as determined by the Board.

     An Optionee's individual stock option agreement may, but is not required
to, provide what occurs upon a Sale. To the extent an Optionee's individual
stock option agreement determines what occurs upon a Sale, the terms of such
stock option agreement shall be dispositive in the event of a Sale; provided
that if the terms of such Optionee's individual stock option agreement, together
with the terms of any other stock option agreement granted hereunder, pertaining
to what occurs upon a Sale would materially impair an acquiror's ability to use
the "pooling of interests" accounting method to account for the acquisition, as
described in the immediately preceding paragraph, then the Board shall have, in
its sole and absolute discretion, the right to modify (to the least extent
possible and still permit the acquiror to use "pooling of interests") the terms
of the stock option agreement, solely with respect to those terms pertaining to
what occurs upon a Sale.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any such agreement shall
be terminated without consummating the disposition of said stock or assets:

          (i) any unexercised non-vested installments that had become
exercisable solely by reason of the provision of Section 13 shall again become
non-vested and unexercisable as of said termination of such agreement, and

          (ii) the exercise of any option that had become exercisable solely by
reason of this Section 8(b) shall be deemed ineffective and such installments
shall again become non-vested and unexercisable as of said agreement of such
agreement

     14. ADJUSTMENT OF NUMBER OF SHARES. In the event that a dividend shall be
declared upon the common shares of the Company payable in common shares of the
Company the number of common shares then subject to any such option and the
number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan but not yet covered
by an option, shall be adjusted by adding to each such share the number of
shares which would be distributable thereon if such share had been outstanding
on the date fixed for determining the shareholders entitled to receive such
stock dividend. In the event that the outstanding common shares of the Company
shall be changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares of
stock or other securities of the Company or of another corporation, whether
through reorganization, recapitalization, stock split-up, combination of shares,
merger or consolidation, then there shall be substituted for each common share
reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan, the number and kind of shares of
stock or other securities into which each outstanding common share shall be so
changed or for which each such share shall be exchanged. In the event there
shall be any change, other than as specified above in this paragraph in the
number or kind of outstanding common shares of the Company or of any stock or
other securities into which such common shares shall have been changed or for
which it shall have been exchanged, then if the Board or Compensation Committee
shall in sole discretion determine that such change equitably requires an
adjustment in the number or kind of shares theretofore reserved for issuance
pursuant to the Plan, but not yet covered by an option and of the shares then
subject to an option or options, such adjustment may be made by the Board or
Compensation Committee and shall be effective and binding for all purposes of
the Plan and of each stock option agreement. The option price in each stock
option agreement for each share of stock or other securities substituted or
adjusted as provided for in this paragraph shall be determined by dividing the
option price in such agreement for each share prior to such substitution or
adjustment by the number of shares or the fraction of a share substituted for
such share or to which such share shall have been adjusted. No adjustment or
substitution provided for in

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this paragraph shall require the Company in any stock option agreement to sell a
fractional share, and the total substitution or adjustment with respect to each
stock option agreement shall be limited accordingly.

     15. AMENDMENTS. The board of directors, without approval of the
shareholders, may from time to time amend the Plan in such respects as the board
may deem advisable. No amendment shall, without the participant's consent, alter
or impair any of the rights or obligations under any option theretofore granted
to him under the Plan.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Board of Directors of the Company has adopted this
Plan as of the 26th day of April, 2000.

                                     MRV COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                     By: /s/ Edmund Glazer
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                           Edmund Glazer
                                     Its: Vice President of Finance and
                                     Administration and Chief Financial Officer

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