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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.8

                           EUROPA CENTER OFFICE LEASE

                          CONTENTS OF LEASE BY SECTION

SECTION NUMBER AND SUBJECT                                          PAGE NUMBER
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1.       Definitions                                                         3
2.       Demise                                                              3
3.       Term                                                                4
4.       Rent                                                                4
5.       Late Payment                                                        5
6.       Security Deposit                                                    5
7.       Use of Leased Premises                                              5
8.       Signs                                                               5
9.       Care and Maintenance                                                5
10.      Alterations by Tenant                                               6
11.      Acceptance of Leased Premises                                       6
12.      Delay in Commencement                                               7
13.      Subleasing and Assignment                                           7
14.      Default                                                             9
15.      Holding Over                                                        9
16.      Surrender of Rented Space                                           9
17.      Damage to Rented Space or Building                                 10
18.      Tenant's Indemnity and Tenant's Insurance                          10
19.      Tenant's Waiver of Claim; Mutual Releases                          11
20.      Eminent Domain                                                     11
21.      Utilities and Other Services                                       12
22.      Covenants of Title and Quiet Enjoyment                             12
23.      Common Areas                                                       12
24.      Use of Parking Facilities                                          13
25.      Information Concerning Tenant                                      13
26.      Authority of Tenant                                                13
27.      Estoppel                                                           13
28.      Right to Relocate                                                  14
29.      Landlord's Access to Rented Space                                  14
30.      Managing Agent                                                     14
31.      Subordination                                                      14
32.      Reservation of Rights                                              15
33.      Notices                                                            15
34.      Entire Agreement; Modification                                     15
35.      Riders and Exhibits                                                15
36.      Section Headings                                                   15
37.      Number and Gender                                                  15
38.      Governing Law                                                      15

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39.      Severability                                                       16
40.      Modification by Mortgage                                           16
41.      Binding Effect                                                     16
42.      Limitation on Right of Recovery                                    16
43.      Brokerage                                                          16
44.      Confidentiality                                                 [sic]

EXHIBITS
         EXHIBIT A.
               Site of Europa Center                                        18
         EXHIBIT B.
               Sketch of Rented Space                                       19
         EXHIBIT C.
               Rules and Regulations                                        20

This lease is made as of July 2, 2001 by and between Europa Center, LLC
(collectively, "Landlord") and MoliChem R&D, Inc., a Delaware Corporation [sic].
Both parties acknowledge that Graham Associates, Ltd., a North Carolina
corporation, is the authorized agent of Landlord, with full power and authority
to execute this Lease on behalf of Landlord and to bind the Landlord to its
terms. In consideration of the reciprocal obligations stated herein, Landlord
and Tenant agree as follows:

1.   DEFINITIONS.    When used in this Lease, the terms listed below shall have
the meanings stated in this Section 1.

     (a) "Building": the five-story office building in which the Rented Space is
located.

     (b) "Commencement Date": the actual date on which the initial term of this
Lease commences, as provided in Section 3 below.

     (c) "Common Areas": Any existing or future equipment, improvements, areas
or spaces intended for the joint use of Landlord, Tenant and other tenants,
occupants or users of the Europa Center. Common Areas include but are not
limited to sidewalks, driveways, stairways, halls, lobbies, elevators, passages
and parking facilities.

     (d) "CPI" shall mean the Consumer Price Index - U.S. City Averages for
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers - All Items (base year 1982-84=100),
published by the United State Bureau of Labor Statistics.

     (e) "Europa Center": that tract of land located in Chapel Hill Township,
Orange County, North Carolina, described in Exhibit A attached hereto and
incorporated herein, and all improvements situated thereon.

     (f) "Lease Year": each twelve (12) month period of the Term beginning with
August 15, 2001 and ending on August 14, 2004. The first Lease Year shall begin
on August 15, 2001 and shall end August 14, 2002.

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     (g) "Leased Premises": the Rented Space, together with the nonexclusive
right to use the Common Areas as provided in Sections 23 and 24 of this Lease.

     (h) "Rentable Square Feet": the useable square feet of any area multiplied
by a core factor of 1.14.

     (i) "Rented Space": that office space area shown as the cross-hatched area
on Exhibit B attached hereto and incorporated herein, which is designated Suite
421 of the Europa Center and which consists of approximately 3312 Rentable
Square Feet.

     (j) "Term": the initial term of this Lease, and if the term is extended
pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 3 below, the extension term.

2.   DEMISE.         Subject to the terms and conditions stated in this Lease,
Landlord hereby leases the Leased Premises to Tenant, and Tenant hereby leases
the Leased Premises from Landlord.

3.   TERM.

     (a) Initial Term. The initial term of this Lease shall commence on the
earlier of: (1) the date that Tenant takes possession of any part of the Rented
Space, or (2) August 15, 2001. The initial term shall terminate at 11:59 P.M. on
August 14, 2004, if not sooner terminated by Landlord pursuant to the terms of
this Lease.

     (b) Extension Term. Provided that Tenant is not in default hereunder,
Tenant shall have the option to extend the term of this Lease for an extension
term of three (3) years, commencing August 15, 204 and ending August 14, 2007 at
11:59 P.M., if not sooner terminated by Landlord pursuant to the terms of this
Lease. Tenant's option to extend the term of this Lease shall automatically
expire if Tenant does not give Landlord written notice of its intention to
exercise the option on or before January 31, 2004.

     (c) No Reinstatement. No receipt of money by Landlord from Tenant or any
other party after the termination of this Lease shall reinstate, continue or
extend the Term or affect any notice of termination served on Tenant by
Landlord.

4.   RENT.

     (a) Initial Annual Base Rent. For the First Lease Year, Tenant shall pay to
Landlord annual base rent in the amount of $76,176.00, payable in equal monthly
installments of $6,348.00 each, commencing August 15, 2001. For each succeeding
Lease Year of the Term, Tenant shall pay to Landlord annual base rent as
determined pursuant to subsection (b) below, payable in equal monthly
installments commencing on the first day of each Lease Year. All monthly base
rent payments shall be due on the first day of each month in advance, without
notice or demand. All rent payments shall be made to Landlord at its address
shown in Section 33 below, or at such other place as Landlord may designate from
time to time in writing.

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     (b) Adjustments to Annual Base Rent. At the end of each Lease Year of the
Term, the annual base rent to be paid to Landlord by Tenant for th upcoming
Lease Year will increase to four (4%) percent per Lease Year.

     (c) Base Rent for Partial Month. Base rent due for any partial month at the
beginning of the Term shall be $211.60 per day, payable in advance on the
Commencement Date. Base rent due for any partial month at the end of the Term
shall be determined on a per diem basis, using the then applicable annual base
rent.

     (d) Additional Rent. All other charges, costs and sums required to be paid
by Tenant to Landlord under this Lease shall be deemed to be additional rent,
and shall be collectable by Landlord as such.

     (e) Independent Covenant. The obligation to pay any and all rent hereunder
is a separate and independent covenant of Tenant, and no breach or alleged
breach by Landlord of the terms hereof shall give Tenant any right to withhold
or escrow any rental payments when due.

5.   LATE PAYMENT.   Tenant recognizes and acknowledges that if rent payments
are not received when due, Landlord will suffer damages and additional expense.
Tenant therefore agrees that a late fee equal to five (5%) percent of the rent
which is late may be assessed by Landlord as additional rent if the Landlord has
not received any monthly installment of annual rent or other rent or additional
rent due pursuant to this Lease within five (5) days of its due date. If any
check given in payment of rent is not honored when due, Landlord may assess the
late fee and may also require that subsequent rent payments be made by certified
or cashier's check. Landlord's rights under this Section 5 are in addition to
and may be exercised cumulatively with Landlord's rights and remedies under
Section 14 below.

6.   SECURITY DEPOSIT. Landlord acknowledges receipt from Tenant of the sum of
$6,348.00 which sum Landlord shall retain as security for the performance by
Tenant of each of its obligations under this Lease. The security deposit will be
placed in a non-interest bearing trust account with interest earned accruing to
LANDLORD. If Tenant fails at any time to perform its obligations, Landlord may
at its option apply the deposit, or so much thereof as is required, to cure
Tenant's default. If at any time prior to the termination of this Lease Landlord
depletes the deposit in whole or in part, Tenant shall immediately restore the
amount so used by Landlord. Unless Landlord uses the deposit to cure a default
of Tenant, or to restore the Leased Premises to the condition that Tenant is
required to leave them at the conclusion of the Term, Landlord shall within
thirty (30) days of the termination of the Lease refund so much of the deposit
as it continues to hold to Tenant, less any interest earned.

7.   USE OF LEASED PREMISES AND COMPLIANCE WITH LAW. The Leased
Premises shall be used only for general office purposes, and for no other
purposes without the Landlord's prior written consent. Tenant shall not use the
Leased Premises for any unlawful purpose or in any manner that might constitute
a nuisance. Tenant shall comply with all land use covenants and Rules and
Regulations (see Exhibit C) pertaining to the Leased Premises, and all
ordinances and regulations of governmental authorities applicable to the Leased
Premises.

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8.   SIGNS. Landlord shall furnish, install and maintain a sign at the entry to
Tenant's office, and a Building directory at a convenient location in the
Building, listing the name of the Tenant and the suite number of Tenant's
entrance office. No other signage shall be installed by Tenant anywhere at the
Europa Center without Landlord's written consent, which may be withheld in
Landlord's sole discretion. Any other sign requested by the Tenant and approved
by Landlord which is of greater cost than the sign ordinarily furnished by the
Landlord shall be paid for by the Tenant, and shall be installed by the Landlord
at Tenant's expense

9.   CARE AND MAINTENANCE. Subject to the provisions of Section 29, Tenant
shall, at the Tenant's own expense, keep the Rented Space in good condition and
shall pay for the repair of any damages caused by the Tenant, its agents,
employees, invitees or contractors. Tenant shall make at its sole cost and
expense, replacements or restorations, in quality equivalent to or better than
the original work, as may be required to maintain the Rented Space in good
repair and condition, ordinary wear excepted. With respect to repairs requested
by Tenant to be performed by Landlord, the Tenant shall pay the Landlord for any
expense incurred by the Landlord, including overtime, in the event repairs,
alterations, decorating or other work in the Rented Space are not made during
ordinary business hours.

10.  ALTERATIONS BY TENANT.

     (a) Requirements. Tenant shall not do any painting or decorating, or erect
any partitions, make any alterations in or additions to the Rented Space or do
any nailing, boring or screwing into the ceilings, walls or floors (collectively
and individually, "Alterations") without the Landlord's prior written general
and specific consent in each and every instance, with the exception of picture
hanging and limited installation of shelving. Landlord may withhold its consent,
in its sole discretion. Unless otherwise agreed by Landlord and Tenant in
writing, the work on all such Alterations shall be performed either by or under
the direction of Landlord, but at the cost of Tenant. If the Landlord gives its
preliminary consent to any such Alterations, the Tenant shall furnish to the
Landlord for approval before commencement of the work or delivery of any
materials to the Europa Center all of the following:
         (i)   all plans and specifications;
         (ii)  names and addresses of all contractors;
         (iii) copies of all contracts;
         (iv)  all necessary permits;
         (v)   an indemnification of Landlord by all contractors in form and
               amount satisfactory to Landlord; and
         (vi)  certificates of insurance from all contractors performing labor
               or furnishing materials, insuring against any and all claims,
               costs, damages, liabilities and expenses which may arise in
               connection with such Alterations.

Within ten (10) business days of receiving all of the items specified in (i)
through (v) above, in full and complete form, Landlord shall specifically
approve or disapprove in writing each of the items. Tenant shall modify,
supplement or substitute such items as Landlord disapproves, pursuant to
Landlord's written instructions, and resubmit such items to Landlord for its
approval. Landlord shall respond in writing to each resubmission within ten (10)
business days. Tenant

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shall not commence any work or have any supplies or materials delivered to the
Europa Center until it has received Landlord's specific written approval of all
such items.

     (b) No Interference or Disruption. The Alterations and all related
construction activities shall not interfere with the normal operations of the
Europa Center. The Landlord reserves the right to determine whether the
Alterations or any portion of them must be made after normal business hours.

     (c) Liability. Regardless of who performs any Alterations and
notwithstanding Landlord's consent thereto, Tenant shall hold the Landlord, its
agents and employees forever harmless from any and all liabilities of every kind
and description which may arise out of or be connected in any way with the
Alterations, unless as a direct result of willful misconduct or negligence. Any
mechanic's lien filed against the Rented Space or the Europa Center for work or
materials claimed to have been furnished to the Tenant shall be discharged of
record by the Tenant within ten (10) days after filing, at the Tenant's expense.
Upon completing any Alterations, the Tenant shall furnish the Landlord with
contractors' affidavits, full and final waivers of lien and receipted bills
covering all labor and materials expended and used. All Alterations shall comply
with all insurance requirements and with all ordinances and regulations of any
applicable public authority. All Alterations shall be performed in a good and
workmanlike manner, using first class materials.

     (d) Ownership. All Alterations, made by either party, including without
limitation all paneling, decorations, partitions, railings, mezzanine floors,
carpets, galleries, heating or air conditioning equipment, plumbing, electrical
machinery and equipment, shall become the property of Landlord and shall remain
upon and be surrendered with the Rented Space as a part of the Rented Space at
the end of the Term; provided that if requested by Landlord on termination of
this Lease, Tenant shall restore the Rented Space to the same condition as at
the Commencement Date. Furniture and movable trade fixtures which are installed
by Tenant at its expense, except for those referred to above, shall remain
Tenant's property and may be removed at any time prior to the termination of the
Term provided Tenant is not then in Default and further provided Tenant promptly
repairs any damage caused by such removal. Any such trade fixtures which Tenant
has the right to remove under the above provisions, or personal property
belonging to Tenant or to any invitee, assignee or subtenant, shall be deemed
abandoned by Tenant if not removed prior to termination of the Term, and shall
become the property of the Landlord without any payment or offset for the
property, if Landlord so elects. If the Landlord does not so elect, the Landlord
may remove any fixtures or property from the Leased Premises and store them at
the Tenant's sole risk and expense or dispose of them in any manner, including
the sale, scrapping or destruction thereof, and to the extent permitted by law
Tenant waives all claims against Landlord therefor. The Tenant shall repair and
restore, and save the Landlord forever harmless from, any and all damage to the
Leased Premises caused by such removal, whether by the Tenant or by the
Landlord.

11.  ACCEPTANCE OF LEASED PREMISES. Occupation of the Rented Space by Tenant
shall constitute acceptance of the Leased Premises AS IS, except for latent
defects and deficiencies specified in writing by Tenant to Landlord within ten
(10) days after Tenant's occupancy. Landlord makes no representation or
warranty, oral or written, as to the condition of

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the Leased Premises nor as to the use or fitness of the Leased Premises for any
particular purpose except for general office use. Landlord shall not be
responsible for obtaining any governmental approvals or permits necessary to
enable Tenant to occupy or use the Leased Premises (other than the certificates
of occupancy or other approvals related to work done by Landlord to upfit the
Rented Space). Obtaining such approvals and certificates shall be the sole
responsibility of the Tenant. The Landlord shall not be responsible for
obtaining any certificate of occupancy or other approvals required in connection
with construction work done by the Tenant or contractors engaged by the Tenant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, MoliChem shall have the right to terminate this
Lease without further obligation to Landlord in the event that Landlord fails to
tender complete and exclusive possession of the Rented Space by September 1,
2001, unless said delays are a direct result of tenant's [sic] scope of work or
interferrance [sic].

12.  DELAY IN COMMENCEMENT.  Landlord shall not be liable to Tenant or any third
party for failure to deliver possession of the Rented Space to Tenant on or
before the Commencement Date, if such failure is due to any of the following:
     (i)   labor disputes and/or material shortages;
     (ii)  force majeure or acts of God, including but not limited to abnormal
           weather conditions;
     (iii) the hold over or retention of possession of any other tenant,
           tenants, or occupants; or
     (iv)  any other circumstances beyond Landlord's reasonable control.

Under such circumstances, the Base Rent shall be abated until the Rented Space
is available for occupancy by Tenant, and no such failure to give possession on
the Commencement Date shall affect the validity of this Lease or the obligation
of the Tenant under this Lease. At the option of Landlord, to be exercised
within thirty (30) days of the Commencement Date, the Lease may be amended so
that the Term is extended by the period of time possession by Tenant is delayed.
The Rented Space shall not be deemed to be unready for Tenant's occupancy or
incomplete if:
     (i)   only minor or insubstantial details of construction, decoration or
           mechanical adjustment remain to be done in the Rented Space or any
           part of the Rented Space;
     (ii)  the delay in the availability of the Rented Space for occupancy shall
           be due to special work, changes, alterations or additions required or
           made by Tenant in the layout or finish of the Rented Space or any
           part thereof;
     (iii) the delay is caused in whole or in part by the delay of Tenant in
           submitting plans, supplying information, approving plans,
           specifications or estimates, giving authorizations or otherwise; or
     (iv)  the delay is caused in whole or in part by delay and/or default on
           the part of Tenant and/or its subtenant or subtenants.

In the event of any dispute as to whether the Rented Space are ready for
Tenant's occupancy, the decision of the Landlord's architect shall be final and
binding on the parties.

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13.  ASSIGNMENT OR SUBLEASE.

     (a) Assignment. Tenant may not assign this Lease. If Tenant is not a
publicly owned corporation whose outstanding voting stock is listed on a
national securities exchange, then any transfer of any interest in Tenant that
results in a change of the controlling ownership of Tenant shall be deemed an
assignment of this Lease a default by Tenant hereunder; provided that nothing
herein shall be deemed to prohibit (i) a public offering of the stock of Tenant
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 and/or Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended; or (ii) a transfer of ownership between the current owners of Tenant
and their spouses, children, or grandchildren by inter vivos or testamentary
transfer. Any involuntary transfer of any interest in Tenant or Tenant's
interest in this Lease shall be deemed an assignment of this Lease and a default
hereunder. Should Tenant be involved in a merger or sale of substantially all
the assets, said assignment can occur following proper notification in writing
to the Landlord.

     (b) Subletting. Tenant may not sublet the Leased Premises or any part
thereof without the prior written consent of Landlord, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld. In any event, Tenant shall not advertise or publicize the
Leased Premises for subletting whether through a broker, agent, representative
or otherwise at a rental rate less than that for which space in the Europa
Center is being offered for rent by Landlord. If Tenant seeks to sublet all or
any part of the Leased Premises, then the following shall apply:
         (1) Prior to entering into any sublease, Tenant shall notify Landlord
in writing of its intent to sublet all or a portion of the Leased Premises, such
notice to include a copy of the proposed sublease. At any time within fifteen
(15) business days afer service of said notice, Landlord shall notify Tenant
that:
         (i)   it consents to the sublease; or
         (ii)  it refuses to consent to the sublease; or
         (iii) with respect to a proposed sublease of the entire Rented Space,
               that it terminates this Lease effective as of the beginning of
               the proposed sublease term, which Landlord shall be fully
               empowered to do, at Landlord's option, if Tenant seeks to sublet
               the entire Rented Space; or
         (iv)  with respect to a proposed sublease of part of the Rented Space,
               that, effective as of the beginning of the sublease term, it
               amends the Lease to reduce the Rented Space by the portion of the
               Rented Space proposed to be sublet and further amends the Lease
               because of the reduction of the Rented Space so that all
               calculated items are reduced proportionately to the reduction in
               the Rentable Square Feet of the Rented Space.

         (2) If the Landlord refuses to consent to the proposed sublease, it
shall state the reason(s) why the proposed sublease is unacceptable; however,
Landlord's refusal shall be final and controlling. If Landlord consents to the
proposed sublease, then the following shall apply:
         (i)   if Tenant shall sublet the Leased Premises at a rental or other
               economic benefit in excess of the then current Base Rent, Fifty
               percent (50%) of such excess shall be for benefit of Landlord and
               shall be paid to Landlord in cash promptly when due under any
               such sublease as additional rent due under this Lease

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         (ii)  Tenant agrees to pay to Landlord, on demand, all reasonable costs
               incurred by Landlord in connection with any request by Tenant for
               Landlord's consent to any sublease, including but not limited to
               reasonable attorney's fees and recording fees.
         (iii) any sublease shall not release Tenant from its liability under
               this Lease, or be deemed to permit any subsequent sublease.

14.  DEFAULT BY TENANT AND LANDLORD'S REMEDIES.

     (A) Events of Default. In addition to the other occurrences listed
elsewhere in this Lease, the occurrence of any one or more of the following
shall constitute a default hereunder:

         (1) If Tenant fails to pay any rent or other monetary payments as and
     when provided in this Lease;

         (2) If Tenant breaches any other agreement or obligation herein set
     forth and fails to cure such breach within ten (10) days after notice
     thereof; or if cure of the breach would require more than ten (10) days to
     effect, if Tenant fails to initiate action necessary to cure such breach
     within the ten (10) day period and to pursue such action diligently
     thereafter until the breach is cured;

         (3) If there is a levy, execution, attachment or taking of property,
     assets or the leasehold interest of Tenant by process of law or otherwise
     or in satisfaction of any judgment, debt or claim; or

         (4) If Tenant files, or has filed against it, any petition or action
     for relief under any debtor's relief law (including bankruptcy,
     reorganization or similar actions or proceedings) either in state or
     federal court.

     (b) Landlord's Rights and Remedies. In the event of any default,
Landlord may at any time thereafter, with thirty (30) day written notice or
demand and without limiting Landlord in the exercise of any right or remedy
which Landlord may have by reason of default:

         (1) Terminate this Lease.

         (2) Without terminating this Lease, terminate Tenant's right to
     possession of the Leased Premises, enter upon and take possession of the
     Leased Premises and rent the Leased Premises for a reasonable rental for
     the account of Tenant, and after paying from rents collected the reasonable
     costs of such entry, reletting and collection and the costs of any
     necessary repairs made by Landlord which Tenant is obligated to make
     hereunder, apply the remainder of the rent collected to the amounts due and
     to become due from Tenant hereunder;

         (3) Pursue any other remedy now or hereafter available to Landlord
     under this Lease or under the laws of the state of North Carolina.

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All rights and remedies of Landlord pursuant to this Section shall be
cumulative, and may be exercised singly, successively or, if appropriate,
concurrently. In the event Landlord terminates this Lease or terminates Tenant's
right to possession of the Leased Premises, then Tenant shall surrender
possession of the Premises to Landlord, and Landlord shall have the full and
free right to enter into and upon the Rented Space with or without process of
law, to repossess the Rented Space, to expel or remove the Tenant and any others
who may be occupying or be within the Rented Space, to remove any and all
property from the Rented Space and to the [sic] change the locks on the Rented
Space, without being deemed in any manner guilty of trespass, eviction or
forcible entry or detainer. In any event of default by Tenant, Landlord shall be
entitled to recover from Tenant all damage incurred by Landlord by reason of
Tenant's default, including but not limited to: any unpaid rent; the cost of
recovering possession of the Premises, including reasonable attorney's fees;
expenses of reletting, including necessary renovation and alteration of the
Premises, reasonable attorney's fees, and any real estate commission actually
paid; any loss of future rental; and a pro rata portion of any leasing
commission paid by Landlord based on the number of days of any period for which
a commission was paid that remain after the date of Tenant's default. Any rent
unpaid when due, including additional rent not paid upon demand, shall bear
interest from the date due at the rate of twelve percent (12.00%) per annum.

     (c) Treatment of Tenant's Property. Any and all property which may be
removed from the Rented Space by the Landlord pursuant to the authority of the
Lease or law, to which the Tenant is or may be entitled, may be handled, removed
or stored by the Landlord at the risk, cost and expense of the Tenant, and
except strictly as required by law the Landlord shall in no event be responsible
for the value, preservation or safekeeping thereof. The Tenant shall pay to the
Landlord, upon demand, any and all expenses incurred in such removal and all
storage charges for such property so long as the property shall be in the
Landlord's possession or under the Landlord's control. Any such property of the
Tenant not retaken from storage by the Tenant within thirty (30) days after the
end of the term, however terminated, may be disposed of by Landlord in any
manner whatsoever, including without limitation, the sale, scrapping and/or
destruction of the property without any further obligation to the Tenant, and
Tenant shall pay to Landlord promptly on demand the reasonable expenses of such
disposal.

     (d) Landlord's Lien on Tenant's Interest. Tenant hereby grants to Landlord
a first lien upon the interest of Tenant under this Lease to secure the payment
of moneys due under this Lease, which lien may be enforced in equity.

     (e) Landlord's Lien on Tenants' [sic] Property. Tenant hereby grants to
Landlord a lien for the payment of rent, additional rent and all other moneys to
be paid by Tenant to Landlord hereunder, upon all of the goods, wares, chattels,
fixtures, furniture, equipment and other property of Tenant which may be in or
upon the Rented Space or the Europa Center. Such lien may be enforced in any
lawful manner by of [sic] the Landlord.

     (f) Landlord's Option to Cure. If Tenant defaults in the performance of any
of its obligations under this Lease, including without limitation, its
obligations under Section 9 hereof, then Landlord or any mortgagee or ground
lessee of Landlord may, at its option, cure such default, and Tenant shall pay
to Landlord or such mortgagee or ground lessor, as the case may be, the cost of
such cure immediately upon being billed for same.

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     (g) No Waiver. The failure of Landlord to declare Tenant to be in default
at any time or to exercise any of its rights or remedies upon default any [sic]
by Tenant shall not be deemed to be a waiver by Landlord of any of its rights or
remedies hereunder.

15.  HOLDING OVER. In the event the Tenant remains in possession of the Rented
Space after the expiration of the Term without the written consent of Landlord,
then the Tenant shall be a tenant at sufferance from month to month only, and
the Tenant shall then be obligated to pay one hundred and fifty percent (150%)
of the then current Base Rent and all other sums then payable hereunder
("Holding Over Rent"), in equal installments on the first day of each calendar
month for so long as Landlord is kept out of possession of the Rented Space.
Neither such payment nor the acceptance of such payment shall in any way
constitute a waiver of the rights of Landlord to dispossess the Tenant and
recover possession of the Rented Space and the just and former estate of the
Landlord and to bring any action for damages suffered by Landlord on account of
Tenant's failure to vacate the Rented Space.

16.  SURRENDER OF RENTED SPACE. Upon the expiration or other termination of the
Term, Tenant shall quit and surrender to Landlord the Rented Space, broom clean,
in good order and condition, ordinary wear accepted [sic], and Tenant shall
remove all of its property except as otherwise provided in Section 10.

17.  DAMAGE TO RENTED SPACE OR BUILDING.

     (a) Landlord's Insurance. Landlord shall maintain standard fire and
extended coverage insurance covering the Building in an amount not less than 80%
(or such greater percentage as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of
any co-insurance clauses of the policy) of the "replacement cost" thereof as
such term is defined in the Replacement Cost Endorsement to be attached thereto,
insuring against special causes of loss (including the perils of fire and
lighting [sic]), such coverages and endorsements to be as defined, provided and
limited in the standard bureau forms prescribed by the insurance regulatory
authority for the State of North Carolina. Subject to the provisions of Section
19 below, such insurance shall be for the sole benefit of Landlord and under its
sole control.

     (b) Notice by Tenant. If the Rented Space is damaged or destroyed by any
peril covered by the insurance to be provided by Landlord under subparagraph (a)
above, Tenant shall give immediate written notice thereof to Landlord.

     (c) Extensive Damage. If the Rented Space is so damaged by any peril
covered by the insurance to be provided by Landlord under subparagraph (a) above
that rebuilding or repairs cannot in Landlord's estimation be completed within
sixty (60) days after the date upon which Landlord is notified by Tenant of such
damage, this Lease shall terminate, and the rent shall be abated during the
unexpired portion of this Lease, effective upon the date of the occurrence of
such damage.

     (d) Repairable Damage. If the Rented Space is damaged by any peril covered
by the insurance to be provided by Landlord under subparagraph (a) above, but
only to such extent that rebuilding or repairs can, in Landlord's estimation, be
completed within one hundred fifty (150)

                                     E-156
<PAGE>

days after the date upon which Landlord is notified by Tenant of such damage,
this Lease shall not terminate, and Landlord shall, at its sole cost and
expense, thereupon proceed with reasonable diligence to rebuild and repair the
Rented Space to substantially the condition in which it existed prior to such
damage, except that Landlord shall not be required to rebuild, repair or replace
any part of the partitions, fixtures, additions and other improvements which may
have been placed in, on or about the Rented Space by Tenant. There shall be
abatement of rent during any such period of rebuilding and repair, should Tenant
be unable to occupy said space.

     (e) Options to Terminate:

         (1) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event the
holder of any indebtedness secured by a mortgage or deed of trust covering the
Building requires that the insurance proceeds be applied to such indebtedness,
then Landlord or Tenant shall have the right to terminate this Lease by
delivering written notice of termination to Tenant within fifteen (15) days
after such requirement is made by any such holder, whereupon all rights and
obligations hereunder thereafter accruing shall cease and terminate.

         (2) Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if any portion of the
Rented Space is damaged or destroyed during the final Lease Year of the initial
term or any extension term of this Lease, then Landlord and/or Tenant shall have
the option to terminate this Lease upon written notice to Tenant and/or Landlord
within thirty (30) days of the date of such damage.

         (e) Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if any portion of the
Building other than the Rented Space is destroyed by fire or other destructive
force and Landlord, in its sole discretion, elects to cease operation of the
Europa Center as a result of such damage, then Landlord shall have the option to
terminate this Lease upon written notice to Tenant within thirty (30) days of
the date of such damage.

18.  TENANT'S INDEMNITY OF LANDLORD AND TENANT'S INSURANCE.

     (a) Tenant's Indemnity of Landlord. Tenant shall indemnify and save the
Landlord, Graham Associates, Ltd., and their respective agents and employees
harmless against any and all claims, demands, costs, and expenses, including
reasonable attorney's fees for the defense thereof, arising directly or
indirectly out of or in connection with Tenant's occupancy at the Europa Center
or from any breach or default on the part of Tenant in the performance of any
covenant or agreement on the part of Tenant to be performed pursuant to the
terms of this Lease, or from any act or negligence of Tenant, its agents,
servants, employees or invitees, in or about the Europa Center. Furthermore,
Tenant covenants to arrange defense of Landlord, Graham Associates, Ltd. and
their respective agents and employees from any such claim, demand or action by
counsel reasonably acceptable to Landlord.

     (b) Tenant's Commercial General Liability Insurance. Tenant shall at all
times during the Term, at its sole cost and expense, procure and maintain in
force and effect a policy or policies of commercial general liability insurance
issued by a company or companies from time to time approved by Landlord, which
companies must be authorized to transact business in North Carolina. Such policy
or policies shall insure against loss, damage or liability for injury to or

                                     E-157
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death of persons and loss or damage to property occurring from any cause
whatsoever in, upon or about the Europa Center. Such policies of public
liability insurance shall name Landlord as an additional insured and shall be in
amounts and afford coverage against perils as reasonably required from time to
time by Landlord. Coverage shall initially be in the single limit amount of one
million dollars ($1,000,000.00). Such policy or policies shall include
affirmative coverage of Tenant's indemnity of Landlord pursuant to subsection
(a) above.

     (c) Tenant's Property Insurance. Tenant shall obtain and maintain property
insurance upon its furniture, equipment, trade fixtures and any other personal
property of Tenant or of any third parties which may from time to time be
located in, on or around the Europa Center. Such insurance shall be maintained
in the amount of the full replacement cost of such property. All such policies
shall include a waiver of subrogation of any and all claims against the Landlord
and name the Landlord as an additional insured. Tenant shall look solely to its
insurance policy for recovery of any loss for any such property, and in no event
shall it make any claim against the Landlord for any loss to any such property,
unless such loss is a direct result of willful misconduct on the part of the
Landlord. The Tenant hereby releases Landlord from any such liability, and
Tenant shall indemnify and hold the Landlord harmless from and against any claim
of Tenant's insurance carrier or arising out of Tenant's failure to maintain
such insurance.

     (d) Tenant's Business Interruption Insurance. Tenant shall at all times
during the Term maintain business interruption insurance, insuring Tenant from
loss, damage, cost or expense from any disruption to or interruption of its
business resulting from damage to or malfunction of the Rented Space or the
Building or any components thereof or any of the systems (heating, plumbing,
mechanical or otherwise) or utilities serving them. Such insurance shall cover a
continuous period of disruption or interruption of not less than one hundred
eighty (180) days per occurrence.

     (e) Policies or Certificates of Insurance. At the request of Landlord, the
Tenant shall furnish certified copies of policies or certificates of insurance
in the form or on ACORD 27 bearing notations evidencing the payment of premiums
and evidencing the insurance coverage required to be carried by Tenant
hereunder. Each policy and certificate shall contain an endorsement or provision
requiring not fewer than thirty (30) days written notice to Landlord prior to
the cancellation, diminution in the perils insured against or reduction of the
amount of coverage of the particular policy in question.

19.  TENANT'S WAIVER OF CLAIMS; MUTUAL RELEASES.

     (a) Tenant's Waiver of Claims. Except with respect to any act or omission
of Landlord or its employees, agents or contractors to the extent permitted by
law, the Tenant releases the Landlord and Graham Associates, Ltd. and their
respective agents and servants from, and waives all claims for damage or injury
to person or property or disruption to business sustained by Tenant or any
occupant of the Europa Center, the Building or the Rented Space, or any part or
any of them, resulting from any accident, mishap or other occurrence in or about
the Europa Center, whatever the cause. This shall include but not be limited to,
the flooding of basements or other subsurface areas, and damage caused by
refrigerators, sprinkling devices, air conditioning and/or electrical equipment,
water, snow, frost, steam, excessive heat or cold,

                                     E-158
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falling plaster, broken glass, sewage, gas, odors or noise or the bursting or
leaking of pipes or plumbing fixtures, and shall apply equally whether any such
damage results from the act or neglect of the Landlord, Graham Associates, Ltd.,
other tenants, occupants or servants in the Building or any other person, and
whether such damage be caused or result from any thing or circumstance above
mentioned or referred to, or any other ting or circumstance whether of a like
nature or of a wholly different nature.

     (b) Landlord's Release. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
in this Lease, Landlord hereby releases Tenant from any and all liability for
loss or damage caused by fire or any of the extended coverage perils coverable
by the insurance required to be carried by Landlord in subsection 17(a) above,
even if the insured peril shall be brought about by the default, negligence or
other action of the Tenant, its agents, employees, invitees or any of them.

     (c) Tenant's Release. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Lease, Tenant hereby releases Landlord from any and all liability for loss
or damage coverable by the insurance required to be carried by Tenant in Section
18 above, even if the insured peril shall be brought about by the default,
negligence or other action of the Landlord, its agents, employees, tenants,
invitees or any of them.

20. EMINENT DOMAIN. If all of the Rented Space, or such part thereof as will
make the same unusable for the purposes contemplated by this Lease, be taken
under the power of eminent domain (or a conveyance in lieu thereof), then this
Lease shall terminate as of the date possession is taken by the condemner, and
rent shall be adjusted between Landlord and Tenant as of that date. If only a
portion of the Rented Space is taken and Tenant can continue use of the
remainder, then the Lease will not terminate, but rent shall abate in a just and
proportionate amount to the loss of use occasioned by the taking. Tenant shall
have no right or claim to any part of any award made to or received by Landlord
for any taking and no right or claim for any alleged value of the unexpired
portion of this Lease; provided, however, that Tenant shall not be prevented
from making a claim against the condemning party (but not against Landlord) for
any moving expenses, loss of profits, or taking of Tenant's personal property
(other than its leasehold estate) to which Tenant may be entitled. In the event
of a temporary taking of ninety (90) days or less, this Lease shall not
terminate, but the term of this Lease shall be extended by the period of the
taking and the rent shall abate in proportion to the area taken for th period of
such taking.

21.  UTILITIES AND OTHER SERVICES.

     (a) Standard Services. Landlord shall furnish:
         -----------------
         (1) Heat and/or air conditioning to maintain the Rented Space at a
reasonably comfortable temperature from 6:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on Monday
through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00
p.m. on Sundays, except New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor
Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
         (2) During the times specified in Subsection (a) above, Landlord shall
furnish the Rented Space, at no cost to Tenant, with electricity and maintenance
of building standard fluorescent lighting, composed of 2' x 4' fixtures.
Incandescent fixtures, table lamps, all lighting other than the building
standard fluorescent lighting, dimmers and all lighting controls other than
controls for the aforesaid building standard fluorescent lighting shall be
serviced and

                                     E-159
<PAGE>

maintained by Tenant at Tenant's expense. Landlord shall also furnish the Rented
Space, at no additional cost, with electricity for lighting other than the
building standard fluorescent lighting and for the operation of general office
machines, such as personal computers, electric typewriters, dictating equipment,
adding machines and calculators, and general service non- production type office
copy machines. Landlord shall have the right to enter and inspect the Rented
Space and all electrical devices therein from time to time with reasonable
notice.
         (3) Elevator service in the Building.
         (4) Janitorial and cleaning services Monday through Friday of each
week, except the holidays listed above. Landlord's cleaning service shall
include emptying of normal office trash cans and disposing of their contents.
Tenant shall dispose of all other refuse, boxes, cans, books, abandoned
furniture and all other large, unusual or heavy items at Tenant's sole cost and
expense and shall not permit the accumulation thereof in the Rented Space or
elsewhere in the Building or at the Europa Center. It is understood that
employees of Landlord are prohibited as such from receiving any packages or
other articles delivered to the Building for Tenant and that, should any such
employee receive any such packages or articles, he or she in doing so shall be
the agent of Tenant and not of Landlord. Landlord shall not be liable in anyway
for any damage or inconvenience caused by the cessation or interruption of such
heating, air conditioning, electricity, elevator, or janitor or cleaning service
occasioned by fire, accident, strikes, break down, necessary maintenance,
alterations, repairs, replacements, conduct of other tenants, requirements of
public authority or causes beyond Landlord's control.

     (b) Extended Services. In the event that Tenant desires to utilize any of
Landlord's services specified in this Section beyond the hours or permitted use,
Tenant shall, prior to such use, request permission from the Landlord and
obtain, in writing, signed by Landlord and Tenant, an agreement specifying the
charge for such use to be paid by Tenant to Landlord and the time of such
payment. In the event that Tenant makes any such use without such request and
mutual agreement, then, and in such event, Tenant covenants and agrees to pay to
Landlord for such use an amount determined by Landlord's selected engineer, upon
demand.

     (c) Special Equipment of Tenant. For computers and all other equipment
requiring heavier than the normal office use of electricity, Tenant shall
separately meter (or submeter, if approved by Landlord in writing), at its
expense, the electricity serving such equipment and shall pay upon demand all
costs to Landlord for such utility consumption; or, in the alternative, Tenant
shall, prior to utilizing any such equipment, enter into a written agreement
with Landlord specifying the charge for such use to be paid by Tenant to
Landlord, the time of such payment and the method of determining increases from
time to time as rates change or such use by Tenant is changed. In the event that
Tenant makes any such use without such request and mutual agreement, then, and
in such event, Tenant covenants and agrees to pay to Landlord for such in an
amount determined by Landlord's selected engineer, upon demand. Landlord may
cause an electric check meter to be installed in the Leased Premises or cause a
reputable independent electrical engineering or consulting firm to survey and
determine the value of the electric service furnished for such excess electric
current, the cost of either of which shall be paid by Tenant. Tenant shall be
responsible for all repairs, maintenance, replacements and service to all
equipment serving Tenant's computers and other special equipment, including
without limitation HVAC equipment. Tenant covenants to pay for its electrical
consumption referred to in this

                                     E-160
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paragraph in a timely fashion, which covenant shall survive the expiration or
earlier termination of this Lease as hereinafter provided.

22.  COVENANT OF TITLE AND QUIET ENJOYMENT. Landlord covenants that it has full
right and power to execute this Lease and to grant the estate demised in this
Lease. The Landlord's title is and always shall be paramount to the title of the
Tenant, and nothing herein contained shall empower the Tenant to do any act
which can, shall or may encumber such title. Landlord also covenants that if
Tenant promptly and punctually complies with each of its obligations hereunder,
it shall peacefully have and enjoy the possession of the Leased Premises during
the term of this Lease, provided that no action of Landlord in repairing or
restoring the Rented Space or in working in other space in the Building, shall
be deemed a breach of this covenant.

23.  COMMON AREAS.

     (a) Nonexclusive Right of Use. Tenant shall have the right together with
other tenants and occupants and invitees to the non-exclusive use of the
sidewalks, driveways, stairways, halls, lobbies, elevators and passages in the
Building and at the Europa Center for reasonable ingress to and egress from the
Rented Space, and for no other purpose, subject to the other provisions of this
Lease, including without limitation the Rules and Regulations in Exhibit C.

     (b) Controlled Access. The Common Areas and roof are not for the use of the
general public, and Landlord shall in all cases retain the right to control and
prevent access thereto by all persons whose presence, in the judgment of
Landlord, shall be prejudicial to the safety, character, reputation and
interests of the the [sic] Europa Center and its tenants.

     (c) Landlord's Right to Close or Alter. The Landlord reserves the right
to use any portion of the Common Areas from time to time and/or to deny access
to the same temporarily in order to repair, maintain or restore such facilities
or to construct improvements under, over, along, across and upon the same, and
to relocate such Common Areas, for the benefit of the Europa Center and its
tenants.

24.  USE OF PARKING FACILITIES. Subject to the other provisions of this Lease,
Tenant shall have free non-exclusive use of parking facilities, driveways and
islands for Tenant, Tenant's employees, Tenant's business invitees and Tenant's
agents, from 6:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. each day of the week. Such areas for
non-exclusive parking spaces shall serve all tenants, their employees, business
invitees and agents; provided, however, that at no time during any day of the
original or extended term of this Lease shall the aggregate number of
non-exclusive parking spaces actually occupied by Tenant, Tenant's employees,
business invitees and agents exceed 10 of the parking spaces on the site (which
figure is a maximum number of spaces to be utilized by or for the Tenant at any
one time, but Landlord in no respect guarantees that such number of spaces will
in fact be available at any one time for the Tenant). Tenant shall upon written
notice from Landlord, within five (5) days, furnish Landlord, or its authorized
agent, the state motor vehicle license number assigned to each of its motor
vehicles to be parked on the site and the motor vehicles of all of its employees
employed in the Rented Space. Tenant shall not at any

                                     E-161
<PAGE>

time park any trucks or any delivery vehicles in the parking areas or driveways,
except as specifically designated by Landlord from time to time, and shall
confine all truck parking, loading and unloading to times and locations
specifically designated by Landlord from time to time. Tenant shall require all
trucks servicing Tenant to be promptly loaded or unloaded and removed from the
site. Landlord hereby reserves the exclusive right with respect to the use of
parking facilities, roadways, sidewalks, driveways, islands and walkways for
advertising purposes. Tenant covenants and agrees to enforce the provisions of
this Lease against Tenant's employees and business invitees. Landlord may from
time to time circulate free parking stickers for the purpose of identifying
motor vehicles of Tenant and Tenant's employees and/or circulate free validation
tickets for the purpose of identifying Tenant's business invitees. Landlord
shall have the right, but not the obligation: (a) to police said parking
facilities, (b) to provide parking attendants, (c) to cause unauthorized and/or
unstickered motor vehicles to be towed away at the sole risk and expense of the
owner of such motor vehicles, (d) to designate certain parking spaces to be for
the exclusive use of the handicapped, for the exclusive use of certain tenants
and/or for the exclusive use of visitors, (e) to use any portion of the parking
facilities from time to time and/or to deny access to the same temporarily in
order to repair, maintain or restore such facilities or to construct
improvements, under, over, along, across and upon the same for the benefit of
the site and to grant easements in the Parking facilities to public and
quasi-public authorities and, (f) to adopt and modify from time to time rules
and regulations for parking and vehicular ingress and egress, for traffic speed
and flow and for times and places for move-ins, move-outs and deliveries.

25.  INFORMATION CONCERNING TENANT. Tenant shall furnish within fifteen (15)
days afer request from Landlord such current information concerning the
financial condition of Tenant as Landlord may reasonably require. Such financial
information shall include (but is not necessarily limited to) a financial
statement dated not more than twelve (12) months prior to Landlord's request.
Such financial statement shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles and certified by a certified public accountant. A general
partner or officer or manager of Tenant shall furnish a certification to
Landlord to the effect that there either has or has not been any material
adverse change in the financial condition of Tenant since the date of the
financial statement submitted, and if such certification states that there has
been a material adverse change, furnishing such details concerning same as
landlord [sic] may request. If Tenant does not execute and return such
certificate as required above, Tenant hereby irrevocably appoints Landlord as
its attorney in fact to execute such certificate on behalf of Tenant.

26.  AUTHORITY OF TENANT. Tenant shall furnish to Landlord within fifteen (15)
days after request from Landlord such corporate or company resolutions,
certificates of incumbency, partnership resolutions, partnership agreements,
operating agreements, bylaws or legal opinions or other information as Landlord
may reasonably request in order to confirm that the execution and delivery of
this Lease has been duly authorized by Tenant and that the person(s) executing
this Lease on behalf of Tenant were duly authorized to do so. All such company,
corporate or partnership resolutions, certificates or agreements shall be
certified as being duly adopted and/or in full force and effect, without
amendment, by an appropriate officer, manager or partner of Tenant.

                                     E-162
<PAGE>

27.  ESTOPPEL. Within ten (10) days after request therefore [sic] by Landlord,
Tenant agrees to execute and deliver to Landlord a certificate prepared by
Landlord to any proposed mortgagee, ground lessee or purchaser of the Europa
Center or to Landlord certifying (if such is the case) that this Lease is in
full force and effect, that there are no defenses or offsets thereto, or stating
those claimed by Tenant, and such other facts related to this Lease, the Leased
Premises or Tenant as Landlord may request, if and only to the extent that the
statements contained therein are at that time true. If Tenant does not execute
and return such certificate as required above, Tenant hereby irrevocably
appoints Landlord as its attorney in fact to execute such certificate on behalf
of Tenant.

28.  RIGHT TO RELOCATE.

     (a) Substitute Premises. Landlord, at its option, may substitute for the
Rented Space other space(hereafter called "Substitute Space") within the
Building before the Commencement Date or at any time during the Term. As far as
is reasonably possible, the Substitute Space shall have comparable Rentable
Square Feet and a configuration substantially similar to the Rented Space.
Landlord shall pay Tenant's reasonable cost of moving Tenant's furnishings,
trade fixtures, inventory, and existing telephone system to the Substitute
Space. Except as provided in this Section, Landlord shall not be liable or
responsible in any way for damages or injuries suffered by Tenant pursuant to
the relocation in accordance with this Section, including, but not limited to,
loss of goodwill, business or profits.

     (b) Notice. Landlord shall give Tenant at least sixty (60) days notice of
its intention to relocate Tenant to the Substitute Space. This notice will be
accompanied by a floor plan of the Substitute Space. After such notice, Tenant
shall have seven (7) calendar days within which to accept in writing the
proposed Substitute Space. If Tenant does not accept the Substitute Space within
such period of time, this Lease shall terminate at the end of sixty (60) days
following the service of notice on the Tenant.

     (c) Alteration of Substitute Space. Landlord agrees to construct or alter,
at its own expense, the Substitute Space as expeditiously as possible so that it
is in substantially the same condition that the Rented Space was in immediately
prior to the relocation. Landlord shall have the right to reuse the fixtures,
improvements, and alterations used in the Rented Space. Tenant agrees to occupy
the Substitute Space as soon as Landlord's work is substantially completed.
Landlord shall be responsible for all expenses related to the relocation such as
stationary, business cards, marketing literature, telephone and computer
networks.

     (d) Rent During and After Relocation. Except as provided above, all of
Tenant's obligations under this Lease, including the payment of rent, will
continue despite Tenant's relocation to the Substitute Space. Upon substantial
completion of the Substitute Space, this Lease will apply to the Substitute
Space as if it had been the Rented Space originally described in the Lease,
Tenant shall use all reasonable efforts to open for business in the Substitute
Space as quickly as is reasonably possible under the circumstances.

29.  LANDLORD'S ACCESS TO RENTED SPACE. The Tenant shall permit the Landlord to
erect, use and maintain pipes, ducts, wiring and conduits in and through the
Rented Space. The

                                     E-163
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Landlord or Landlord's agent shall have the right to enter upon the Rented
Space, to inspect them, to perform janitorial and cleaning services and to make
such repairs or alterations to the Rented Space or the Building as the Landlord
may deem necessary or desirable, and the Landlord shall be allowed to take all
material into and upon the Rented Space that may be required for repairs and
alterations without the same constituting an eviction of the Tenant in whole or
in part, and the rent reserved shall in no wise abate(except [sic] as provided
in Section 17) while repairs and alterations are being made, by reason of loss
or interruption of business of the Tenant, or otherwise. If the Tenant shall not
be personally present to open and permit an entry into the Rented Space at any
time when for any reason an entry into the Rented Space shall be necessary or
permissible, the Landlord or Landlord's agents may enter the same by a master
key, or may forcibly enter the same, without rendering the Landlord or such
agents liable therefore [sic] (if during such entry Landlord or Landlord's
agents shall accord reasonable care to Tenant's property) and without in any
manner affecting the obligations and covenants of this Lease. Nothing herein
contained, however, shall be deemed or construed to impose upon the Landlord any
obligations, responsibility or liability whatsoever, for the care, supervision
or repair of the Building or any part thereof, other than as provided in this
Lease. The Landlord shall also have the right at any time without the same
constituting an actual or constructive eviction and without incurring any
liability to the Tenant therefor, to change the arrangement and/or locations of
entrances and passageways, doors and doorways, and corridors, elevators,
toilets, parking areas and other Common Areas. The Landlord shall have the right
to show the Rented Space to prospective new tenants during the last 120 days of
the Term. The Landlord shall not be liable to the Tenant for any expense,
injury, loss or damage resulting from work done in or upon, or the use of, any
adjacent or nearby building, land, street or alley.

30.  MANAGING AGENT. Landlord reserves the right to designate a Managing Agent
and to delegate any or all of Landlord's powers, duties, obligations, or rights
under this Lease to the Managing Agent. To the extent Landlord's duties or
obligations under this Lease are assumed in writing by the Managing Agent,
Landlord shall not be responsible for the assumed duties or obligations.
Tenant's rights and obligations under this Lease shall not be affected by
designation of a Managing Agent by the Landlord.

31.  SUBORDINATION. This Lease is subject and subordinate to all security liens,
mortgages, deeds of trust and related financing instruments which may now or
hereafter affect the Europa Center or any part thereof, and to all renewals,
modifications, consolidations, replacements, amendments and extension thereof,
unless Landlord or any lender secured by a mortgage, deed of trust or similar
security instrument elects to make this Lease superior to same, which it may do
at its option. Tenant shall execute within ten (10) days after request any
certificate, subordination agreement, priority agreement or other form of
instrument in confirmation of such subordinate or superior status that Landlord
may request, including an agreement to attorn. Tenant hereby irrevocably
appoints Landlord its attorney in fact to execute and deliver any such
instrument on behalf of Tenant if Tenant fails or refuses to execute or deliver
same as required by this Lease. Tenant shall also execute within ten (10) days
after request an agreement with any lender pursuant to which Tenant agrees to
give such lender a minimum period of sixty (60) days after Tenant's notice to
such lender for the lender to cure Landlord's default prior to Tenant's
terminating this Lease due to Landlord's default.

                                     E-164
<PAGE>

32.  RESERVATION OF RIGHTS. Landlord hereby reserves to itself and its
successors and assigns the following rights (all of which are hereby consented
to by Tenant):

     (a) to change the street address and/or name of the Building and/or the
         arrangement and/or location of entrances, passageways, doors, doorways,
         corridors, elevators, stairs, toilets or other public parts of the
         Building;

     (b) to grant to anyone the exclusive right to conduct any particular
         business or undertaking in the Building; and

     (c) to construct future phases of the Europa Center attached to the
         Building.

Landlord may exercise any or all of the foregoing rights without being deemed to
be guilty of an eviction, actual or constructive, or a disturbance or
interruption of the business of Tenant or Tenant's use or occupancy of the
Leased Premises.

33.  NOTICES.  Any notices which Landlord or Tenant requires or desires to give
to the other relating to this Lease or the Leased Premises must be in writing
and shall be deemed sufficiently given and delivered if:

     (a) Hand-delivered to the following addresses:

         If to Landlord:          Europa Center LLC
                                  c/o Graham Associates, Ltd.
                                  100 Europa Drive, Suite 190
                                  Chapel Hill, NC  27514

         If to Tenant:            MoliChem R&D, Inc.
                                  100 EUROPA DRIVE
                                  SUITE 421
                                  CHAPEL HILL, NC, 27514

                                      -OR-

     (b) Sent by facsimile transmission to the following facsimile numbers:

         If to Landlord:          The Trustees of the Frank H. Kenan 1988 Trust
                                  c/o Graham Associates, Ltd.
                                  Facsimile No. (919) 929-7913

         If to Tenant:            ----------------------------------------------
                                  ----------------------------------------------

Either party may change its designated facsimile number for receipt of notice by
written notice to the other party pursuant to this Section 33.

                                     E-165
<PAGE>

34.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT; MODIFICATION. This Lease contains the entire agreement of
the parties in regard to the Leased Premises. There are no oral agreements
existing between them and there shall be no oral changes. Neither Landlord nor
any agent of Landlord has made any representations, warranties or promises with
respect to the Rented Space, the Building or the Europa Center, or the use of
any amenities or facilities, except as expressly set forth in this Lease. Any
agreement made after this Lease is signed shall be ineffective to change, waive,
modify, discharge, or terminate it in whole or in part unless such agreement is
in writing and executed by both Landlord and Tenant.

35.  RIDERS AND EXHIBITS. All riders and exhibits attached to this Lease and
initialed by the Landlord and Tenant are hereby made a part of this Lease as
though inserted in this Lease. The following Exhibits are attached hereto and
incorporated herein:

                     Exhibit A        Site of Europa Center
                     Exhibit B        Sketch of Rented Space
                     Exhibit C        Rules and Regulations

36.  SECTION HEADINGS. The headings of sections are for convenience only and do
not limit or alter the contents of the sections.

37.  NUMBER AND GENDER. The words "Landlord" and "Tenant" wherever used in the
Lease shall be construed to mean plural where necessary, and th necessary
grammatical changes required to make the provisions hereof apply either to
corporations, partnerships or individuals, men or women, shall in all cases be
assumed as though in each case fully expressed.

38.  GOVERNING LAW. This Lease shall be governed and construed pursuant to the
laws of North Carolina.

39.  SEVERABILITY. If any term, covenant or condition of this Lease or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance shall, to any extent, be
invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Lease shall not be affected
thereby; and each term, covenant or condition of this Lease shall be valid and
be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.

40.  MODIFICATION BY MORTGAGEE. Should any mortgagee or ground lessee of
Landlord require a modification or modifications of this Lease, which
modification or modifications will not bring about any increased cost or expense
to Tenant or in any other way substantially change the rights and obligations of
Tenant hereunder, then Tenant shall execute a written modification to such
effect within ten (10) business days of request by Landlord.

41.  BINDING EFFECT.  Each provision of this Lease shall extend to and shall
bind and inure to the benefit of the Landlord and the Tenant and their
respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

42.  LIMITATION ON RIGHT OF RECOVERY AGAINST LANDLORD. Tenant acknowledges and
agrees that the liability of Landlord under this Lease shall be limited to its
interest in the Europa Center and any judgments rendered against Landlord shall
be satisfied

                                     E-166
<PAGE>

solely out of the proceeds of the sale of its interest in the Europa Center. No
personal judgment shall lie against Landlord upon extinguishment of its rights
in the Europa Center and any judgment so rendered shall not give rise to any
right of execution or levy against Landlord's assets. The provisions hereof
shall inure to Landlord's successors and assigns, including any Mortgagee. The
foregoing provisions are not intended to relieve Landlord from the performance
of any of Landlord's obligations under this Lease, but only to limit the
personal liability of Landlord in case of recovery of a judgment against
Landlord; nor shall the foregoing be deemed to limit Tenant's rights to obtain
injunctive relief or specific performance or to avail itself of any other right
or remedy which may be awarded Tenant by law or under this Lease.

43.  BROKERAGE. The Tenant and Landlord each represents to the other that it has
dealt directly with and only with GRAHAM ASSOCIATES, LTD. and GRUBB & ELLIS
THOMAS LINDERA are the brokers in connection with this Lease, and that no other
broker procured this Lease or is entitled to any commission in connection with
the Lease and in the event either party has hired another broker such hiring
party shall indemnify, defend and hold forever harmless the other party from and
against any claim by such hired broker and from and against any and all costs
directly or indirectly arising out of any such hiring.

44.  CONFIDENTIALITY. The terms of this Lease are confidential. Neither Landlord
nor Tenant shall disclose any term of this Lease, including but not limited to
any rental provision, to any third party; provided that Landlord shall have the
right to disclose terms to a prospective or existing investor, mortgagee, ground
lessee or purchaser, and Tenant shall have the right to disclose terms to
Tenant's bank, Tenant's accountants, Tenant's attorneys and other professional
[sic] bound by an obligation of confidentiality to Tenant. Both parties shall
require any third parties to whom they disclose information regarding this Lease
to keep the information confidential. It is understood that Tenant may divulge
contents of this lease to it [sic] Shareholders, Board Members, Potential
Investors and Advisors.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have duly executed this Lease, to be
effective as of the date first stated above.

                                LANDLORD: Europa Center, LLC

                                BY: Graham Associates, Ltd., Agent

Attest:                                   /s/ John P. Graham
       ---------------------    ------------------------------------------------
         , ____ Secretary                John P. Graham, President

                                TENANT:    Education Foundation Inc.
[sic]

Attest:                         By:      /s/ Luis Molina
       ---------------------    ------------------------------------------------
         ,_____Secretary        Luis Molina, President & Chief Executive Officer

                                     E-167
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                            SITE OF THE EUROPA CENTER

                          Attached to and Made Part of

                            Lease MoliChem R&D, Inc.

Beginning at a point in the western right of way line of Europa Drive where said
point intersects with the southern right of way line of U.S. Highway 15-501
Service Road; thence along said western right of way line of Europa Drive in a
southeasterly direction four (4) calls as follows: (1) South 13 20=51@ East
70.68 feet to a point; (2) South 05 11=27@ East 121.49 feet to a point; (3)
along a curve to the left having a radius of 755.00 feet, a total arc distance
of 468.67 feet to a point; (4) South 41 42=17@ East 121.01 feet to a point where
the western right of way line of Europa Drive intersects with the northern right
of way line of Legion Road; thence along the northern right of way line of
Legion Road in a southwesterly direction two (2) calls as follows: (1) along a
curve to the left having a radius of 4,492.86 feet, an arc distance of 278.96
feet to a point; (2) along a curve to the left having a radius of 1,236.05 feet,
an arc distance of 225.42 feet to a point in the property line of now or
formerly GDJ Coggin Partnership; thence along said Coggin line two (2) calls as
follows: (1) North 61 10=20@ West 223.32 feet to a point; (2) North 00 59=15@
East 596.46 feet to a point in the property line of now or formerly McDonald's
Corporation; thence along said McDonald=s line two (2) calls as follows: (1)
North 51 01=45@ East 209.48 feet to a point; (2) North 01 00-52- East 181.55
feet to a point in the southern right of way line of U.S. Highway 15.501 Service
Road; thence along said right of way line three (3) calls as follows: (1) North
50 36=56@ East 4.54 feet to a point; (2) along a curve to the right having a
radius of 120.0 feet, an arc distance of 71.30 feet to a point; (3) North 84
52=22@ East 29.97 feet to a Point and Place of Beginning and being all of Europa
Center according to survey entitled AAs Built Survey of Europa Center, Chapel
Hill, Orange Co., North Carolina@ dated 15 December 1988 and prepared by Murphy
Yello Associates Registered Land Surveyors, Raleigh N.C., and being the same
property conveyed to North Carolina Office Company by deed November 12, 1984
recorded in Book 491, Page 173, Orange County Registry.

                                     E-168
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                             Sketch of Rented Space

                          Attached to and Made Part of

                            Lease MoliChem R&D, Inc.

                             Drawing of Rented Space

                                     E-169
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C

                              RULES AND REGULATIONS

                           Attached to and Mad Part of

                            Lease MoliChem R&D, Inc.

1. The Tenant shall not use the name of the Building, the Europa Center, or any
future designation of any of these, for any purpose other than that of business
address of the Tenant, and shall never use any picture or likeness of the
Building or the Europa Center in any circulars, notices, advertisements or
correspondence without the Landlord's express consent in writing. Tenant shall
not use the name of the Landlord for any reason without the Landlord's written
consent.

2. The entrances, lobbies and other Common Areas shall be under the exclusive
control of Landlord and shall not be obstructed or used for any purpose other
than ingress and egress.

3. Tenant shall not bring into the Building or operate therein any engine,
boiler, dynamo or machinery of any kind, or carry on any mechanical operations
in the Premises, or place any explosive therein, or use any kerosene, oils or
burning fluids therein, without first obtaining in each and every instance the
prior written consent of Landlord.

4. The Rented Space shall not be used for the purpose of lodging or sleeping
rooms, nor in any way to damage the reputation of the Building; and Tenant shall
not disturb or permit the disturbance of other tenants of the Building by the
use of musical instruments or other noises, odors, canvassing of any occupant of
the Building, failing to maintain order in the Building, or by any other
interference whatsoever.

5. The Tenant shall not install any musical instrument or equipment in the
Building or any antennae, aerial wires or other equipment inside or outside the
Building, without, in each and every instance, prior written approval by
Landlord. The use thereof, if permitted, shall be subject to control by the
Landlord so that others shall not be disturbed or annoyed.

6. Landlord shall reserve the right to exclude or eject from the Building
animals of every kind, bicycles, and all canvassers and other persons who
conduct themselves in such a manner as to be, in the judgment of Landlord, an
annoyance to the Tenants or a detriment to the Rented Space.

7. The toilet rooms, water closets and other water apparatus shall not be used
for any purpose other than those for which they are intended. Tenant shall not
waste water in any manner whatsoever, including without limitation the [sic]
tying, wedging or otherwise fastening open

                                     E-170
<PAGE>

any faucet. The cost of repair of any damage resulting from misuse or abuse by
Tenant, its employees or guests, shall be borne by Tenant.

8. The Tenant shall not place or allow anything to be against or near the glass
of partitions, doors, or windows of the Rented Space which may diminish the
light in, or be unsightly from, the exterior of the Building or any Common
Areas. If there are any glass entry doors to the Rented Space, Tenant must
obtain Landlord's prior written approval, which Landlord may give or withhold in
its sole discretion, of all furniture, interior finishes and other objects
visible through such glass door(s). Shades, draperies or other forms of inside
window covering, if not so provided by Landlord, must be of such shape, color,
and materials as are approved by Landlord in writing prior to installation.

9. If Tenant desires a safe for depositing of valuables or securities, Landlord
shall have the right to prescribe its weight, size and proper position. Nothing
whatsoever shall be brought into the Building by Tenant, its agents, employees,
or visitors which has a weight of more than 200 pounds per square foot, unless
Landlord approves same and its proper positions.

10. If Tenant desires telegraphic, telephonic, burglar alarm or signal service,
the Landlord will, upon request, direct where and how connections and all wiring
for such service shall be introduced and run. Without such direction, no boring,
cutting or installation of wires or cables is permitted.

11. Two keys to the front door of the Building will be provided at no cost. A
reasonable number of additional keys will be provided upon payment of fees
therefore [sic]. No locks shall be placed upon any doors of the Rented Space
without first obtaining the written consent of Landlord and furnishing Landlord
with keys to same. Tenant will not permit any duplicate keys to be made (all
necessary keys to be furnished by Landlord). Upon termination of this Lease,
Tenant shall surrender to Landlord all keys. Tenant shall notify Landlord
immediately if Tenant loses any keys to any entry door of the Building. Tenant
shall pay all costs incurred by Landlord as a result of such loss, including but
not limited to the cost of re-keying any door(s) and providing new keys to
existing Tenants of the Building.

12. The Tenant shall be responsible for the locking of doors in and to the
Rented space. Any damage resulting from neglect of this obligation shall be paid
by Tenant.

13. All persons entering or leaving the Building may be required to identify
themselves to watchman by registration or otherwise, and to establish their
right to enter or leave the Building.

14. No person or persons, other than employees of the Building, shall be
employed by Tenant for the purpose of cleaning or taking care of the Rented
Space without the written consent of Landlord. Any person or person so employed
by Tenant (with the written consent of Landlord) shall be subject to and under
the control and direction of, Landlord in the use of the Building and its
facilities.

                                     E-171
<PAGE>

15. Landlord reserves all vending rights.

16. No part of the Building shall be used or in any way appropriated for
gambling, immoral or other unlawful practices, and no intoxicating beverages or
liquors shall be sold in Building.

17. The Tenant shall not do or permit to be done in the Rented Space or at the
Europa Center, or bring or keep anything in or on the Rented Space of the
Building, which shall in any way increase the rate of fire insurance on the
Building, or on the property kept in the Building, or obstruct or interfere with
the rights of other Tenants or in any way injure or annoy them, or conflict with
the laws relating to fires, or with the regulations of the Fire Department, or
any part of these laws, or conflict with any rules and ordinances of the Board
of Health.

18. Tenant shall not, without Landlord's prior written consent, after full
disclosure, keep, use, store, or dispose of, substances designated as or
containing components designated as hazardous, dangerous, toxic or harmful
and/or subject to regulation under any federal, state or local law, regulation
or ordinance, on or around the Rented Space.

19. Concealed weapons are strictly prohibited.

20. Security access cards remain the property of the Landlord, and shall be used
as prescribed by Landlord.

                                     E-172
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT D

                              RULES AND REGULATIONS

                          Attached to and Made Part of

                             Lease MoliChem R&D, Inc

Tenant Improvements

Landlord agrees to contribute up to $15,000.00 (Fifteen Thousand) Dollars toward
the renovation and repairs to be done by a contractor chosen by the building
management. Construction costs will include but will not be limited to
architectural drawings, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC costs. Landlord's
contribution shall be used for tenant improvements only and in no way shall this
contribution be construed to be available as rent credit, security deposit or
other tenant obligation. Should construction costs be less than Landlord
allowance, difference in payment will not be credited to the tenant in lieu of
rental obligation or be dispensed as a cash option. Any alterations done in the
space will come under the Alterations section of the lease.

Work Letter

See Attachment A

                                     E-173
<PAGE>

ATTACHMENT A

                               Luis Molina, Ph.D.
                                  MoliChem R&D
                           100 Europa Drive, Suite 421
                              Chapel Hill, NC 27514
                                PH: 919 960-0217

                                     COLORS

PAINT
Minimal White                 SW1011

TARKETT (Hard tile)
Burgandy                      2079

CARPET
Scarlet (red):                Corridors (hallways)  Borders (edges of floor)
Riverbed (grey):              Corridors (hallways)  Center between borders

Scarlet (red);                Offices (no borders)

FLEXCO (molding)
Black Dahlia                  WF01

COUNTERTOPS
Black Lodestone LD-6-IT       Kitchen and Reception Area

                                     E-174<PAGE>

                                     EX-10.1
                                STOCK OPTION PLAN

                         DREXLER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
                                STOCK OPTION PLAN

     1. PURPOSES. Drexler Technology Corporation (hereinafter called the
"Company") has adopted this Stock Option Plan (this "Plan") to enhance the
concern of the Company's key employees, officers, directors, and consultants in
the success of the Company by giving them an ownership interest in the Company,
and to give them an incentive to continue their service to the Company.

     2. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN. The Company shall reserve 3,750,000 shares of its
$0.01 par value Common Stock (hereinafter called the "Shares") to be issued upon
exercise of the options which may be granted from time to time under this Plan.
As it may from time to time determine, the Board of Directors of the Company
(hereinafter called the "Board") may authorize that the Shares may be comprised,
in whole or in part, of authorized but unissued shares of the Common Stock of
the Company or of issued shares which have been reacquired. If options granted
under this Plan terminate or expire before being exercised in whole or in part,
the Shares subject to those options which have not been issued may be subjected
to subsequent options granted under this Plan.

         The number of shares covered by options granted to any person during
any twelve month period shall not exceed 100,000 shares, subject to adjustment
in accordance with Section 5a. However, in connection with such person's initial
service to the Company, he or she may be granted options to purchase up to an
additional 100,000 shares.

     3. ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PLAN. The Board shall appoint a Stock Option
Committee (hereinafter called the "Committee") to administer this Plan which
Committee shall consist of not less than two (2) members of the Board, each of
whom shall be a "Non-Employee Director" as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Subject to the express provisions
of this Plan and guidelines which may be adopted from time to time by the Board,
the Committee shall have plenary authority in its discretion (a) to determine
the individuals to whom, and the time at which, options are granted, and the
number and purchase price of the Shares subject to each option; (b) to determine
whether the options granted shall be "incentive stock options" within the
meaning of Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(hereinafter called the "Code"), or non-statutory stock options, or both; (c) to
interpret this Plan and prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations
relating to it; (d) to determine the terms and provisions (and amendments
thereof) of the respective option agreements subject to Section 6 of this Plan,
which need not be identical, including, if the Committee shall determine that a
particular option is to be an incentive stock option, such terms and provisions
(and amendments thereof) as the Committee deems necessary to provide for an
incentive stock option or to conform to any change in any law, regulation,
ruling or interpretation applicable to incentive stock options; and (e) to make
any and all determinations which the Committee deems necessary or advisable in
administering this Plan. The Committee's determination on the foregoing matters
shall be conclusive. The Committee may delegate any of the foregoing authority
to the Chief Executive Officer with respect to options granted to or which are
held by persons who are neither officers nor directors of the Company.

     4. PERSONS ELIGIBLE. The Committee may grant incentive stock options to key
employees of the Company or its subsidiaries (including officers and directors)

                                      -1-
<PAGE>

and non-statutory stock options to key employees or consultants (including
officers and directors) of the Company or its subsidiaries. For this purpose,
"employee" shall conform to the requirements of Section 422A of the Code, and
"subsidiary" means subsidiary corporations as defined in Section 425 of the
Code.

         The aggregate fair market value (determined as of the time the option
is granted) of the Shares with respect to which incentive stock options are
exercisable by an optionee for the first time during any calendar year (under
all incentive stock option plans of the Company or its parent or subsidiaries)
shall not exceed $100,000.

     5.  CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE.

         a. Effect on this Plan. In the event of changes in the outstanding
capital stock of the Company by reason of any stock dividend, stock split or
reverse split, reclassification, recapitalization, merger or consolidation,
acquisition of 80% or more of its gross assets or stock, reorganization or
liquidation, the Committee and/or the Board shall make such adjustments in the
aggregate number and class of shares available under this Plan as it deems
appropriate, and such determination shall be final, binding, and conclusive.

         b. In Outstanding Options. Should a stock dividend, stock split,
reverse stock split, reclassification, or recapitalization occur, then the
Committee and/or the Board shall make such adjustments in (i) the number and
class of shares to which optionees will thereafter be entitled upon exercise of
their options and (ii) the price which optionees shall be required to pay upon
such exercise as it in its sole discretion in good faith deems appropriate, and
such determination shall be final, binding, and conclusive. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, such adjustment shall have the result that an optionee exercising an
option subsequent to such occurrence would pay the same aggregate exercise price
to exercise the entire option and would then hold the same class and aggregate
number of shares as if such optionee would have exercised the outstanding option
immediately prior to such occurrence.

         c. In the event of any merger or consolidation of the Company (except
with a subsidiary) or any acquisition of 80% or more of its gross assets or
stock, or any reorganization or liquidation of the Company (an "Event"), the
Board shall make arrangements (the "Arrangements") which shall be binding upon
the holders of unexpired options then outstanding under this Plan as the Board,
in its sole discretion, in good faith determines to be in the best interests of
the Company, which determination shall be final, binding, and conclusive. The
possible Arrangements include, but are not limited to, the substitution of new
options for any portion of such unexpired options, the assumption of any portion
of such unexpired options by any successor to the Company, the acceleration of
the expiration date of any portion of such unexpired options to a date not
earlier than thirty (30) days after notice to the optionee, or the cancellation
of such portion in exchange for the payment by any successor to the Corporation
of deferred compensation to the optionee, in an amount equal to the difference
between the fair market value of the Shares subject to such unexpired portion
and the aggregate exercise price of the Shares under the terms of such unexpired
portion on the date of the Event, in installments which correspond to the
vesting schedule of the unexpired option. The Board shall not be obligated to
arrange such substitution or assumption to comply with Section 425(a) of the
Code or to accelerate the exercisability of a portion of an option when it
accelerates the expiration date of such portion. The Board or Committee may from
time to time issue guidelines as to what Arrangements it deems appropriate
should an Event occur. The guidelines currently issued by the Board of Directors
are attached hereto as Attachment A. These guidelines may be changed at any time
without notice. Accordingly, optionees

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

have no vested right with respect to the Arrangements which may be made upon the
occurrence of an Event.

     6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS. Each option granted under this Plan
shall be evidenced by a stock option agreement (hereinafter called "Agreement")
which is not inconsistent with this Plan, and the form of which the Committee
and/or Board may from time to time determine, provided that the Agreement shall
contain the substance of the following:

         a. Option Price. The option price shall be not less than 100% of the
fair market value of the Shares at the time the option is granted, which shall
be the date the Committee and/or Board, or its delegate, awards the grant. If
the optionee, at the time the option is granted, owns stock possessing more than
10% of the total combined voting power of all the classes of stock of the
Company or of its parent or subsidiaries (a "Principal Shareholder"), the option
price of incentive stock options granted such Principal Shareholder shall be not
less than 110% of the fair market value of the Shares at the time the option is
granted. The fair market value of the Shares shall be determined and the option
price of the Shares set by the Committee and/or Board or its delegate in
accordance with the valuation methods described in Section 20.2031-2 of the
Treasury Regulations.

         b. Method of Exercise. At the time of purchase, Shares purchased under
options shall be paid for in full either (i) in cash, (ii) at the discretion of
the Board, with a full-recourse promissory note secured by the Shares purchased,
(iii) at the discretion of the Committee and/or Board, with outstanding stock of
the Company at such value as the Board shall determine in its sole discretion to
be the fair market value of such stock on the date of exercise in accordance
with the valuation methods discussed in Section 20.2031-2 of the Treasury
Regulations, or (iv) a combination of promissory note (if permitted pursuant to
(ii) above), stock (if permitted pursuant to (iii) above), and/or cash. If
outstanding stock is used as payment and such stock was acquired upon prior
exercise of an option granted under this Plan, then such stock must have been
held by the optionee for at least one year subsequent to such prior exercise and
two years subsequent to the grant of the prior exercised option. To the extent
that the right to purchase Shares has accrued under an option, the optionee may
exercise said option from time to time by giving written notice to the Company
stating the number of Shares with respect to which the optionee is exercising
the option, and submitting with said notice payment of the full purchase price
of said Shares either in cash or, at the discretion of the Board and/or
Committee as described above, with a promissory note, outstanding stock of the
Company, or a combination of cash, promissory note, and/or such stock. As soon
as practicable after receiving such notice and payment, the Company shall issue,
without transfer or issue tax to the optionee (or other person entitled to
exercise the option), and at the main office of the Company or such other place
as shall be mutually acceptable, a certificate or certificates representing such
Shares out of authorized but unissued Shares or reacquired Shares of its capital
stock, as the Board and/or Committee, or its delegate, may elect, for the number
of Shares to be delivered. The time of such delivery may be postponed by the
Company for such period as may be required for it with reasonable diligence to
comply with such procedures as may, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, be
desirable in view of federal and state laws, including corporate securities laws
and revenue and taxation laws. If the optionee (or other person entitled to
exercise the option) fails to accept delivery of any or all of the number of
Shares specified in such notice upon tender of delivery of the certificates
representing them, the right to exercise the option with respect to such
undelivered Shares may be terminated.

         c. Option Term. The Committee and/or Board or its delegate may grant
options for any term, but shall not grant any options for a term longer than ten
(10) years from the date the option is granted (except in the case of an
incentive stock

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

option granted to a Principal Shareholder in which case the term shall be no
longer than five (5) years from the date the option is granted). Each option
shall be subject to earlier termination as provided in this Section 6 of this
Plan.

         d. Exercise of Options. Each option granted under this Plan shall be
exercisable on such date or dates, upon or after the occurrence of certain
events, or upon or after the achievement of certain performance milestones
(which dates may be accelerated or which occurrences or achievements may be
waived in whole or in part or extended at the discretion of the Committee and/or
Board or its delegate) and during such period and for such number of Shares as
shall be determined by the Committee and/or Board or its delegate. An incentive
option granted to a non-officer may not be exercised at any time unless the
optionee shall have continuously served, to the extent determined by the
Committee and/or Board or its delegate, as an employee of the Company or its
subsidiary throughout a period commencing at the date an option is granted and
ending no more than three (3) months and no less than thirty (30) days before an
attempted exercise of the option, and, if applicable, unless the Committee
and/or Board or its delegate shall determine and notify the optionee in writing
that certain events have occurred or certain performance milestones have been
achieved.

         e.  Nonassignability of Option Rights. No option shall be assignable or
transferable by the optionee except by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution. During the life of an optionee, the option shall be exercisable
only by the optionee.

         f. Effect of Termination of Employment or Death or Disability. In the
event the optionee's employment with the Company and/or its subsidiaries ceases,
as determined by the Committee, during the optionee's lifetime for any reason,
including retirement, any option or unexercised portion thereof which is
otherwise exercisable shall terminate unless exercised within a period not to
exceed three (3) months nor to be less than thirty (30) days of the date on
which such employment ceased but not later than the date of expiration of the
option period. In the event of the death or disability (as defined in Code
Section 22(e)(3)) of the optionee while employed or within a period not to
exceed three months nor to be less than thirty (30) days of the date on which
such employment ceases, any option or unexercised portion thereof granted to the
optionee, if otherwise exercisable by the optionee at the date of death or
disability, may be exercised by the optionee (or by the optionee's personal
representatives, heirs or legatees) at any time prior to the expiration of one
(1) year from the date of termination of optionee's employment due to death or
disability of the optionee but not later than ten (10) years from the date of
grant of such option except that, in the case of an incentive option granted to
a Principal Shareholder, not later than five (5) years from the date of grant of
such option.

         g. Rights of Optionee. The optionees shall have no rights as a
stockholder with respect to any Shares subject to an option until the date of
issuance of a stock certificate to the optionee for such Shares. No adjustment
shall be made for dividends or other rights of which the record date is prior to
the date such stock certificate is issued. Neither this Plan, nor any action or
agreement thereunder, shall confer any rights of employment, any rights to
election or retention as an officer or director, or any rights to serve as a
consultant.

     7.  USE OF PROCEEDS. The proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to
options granted under this Plan shall constitute general funds of the Company.

     8. AMENDMENT OF PLAN. The Board of Directors may at any time amend this
Plan, provided that no amendment may affect any then outstanding options or any
unexercised portions thereof absent the optionee's consent, and provided further
that any such amendment materially increasing the number of Shares reserved
under

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

this Plan, materially altering the persons or class of persons eligible to
be granted stock options under this Plan, causing options granted to employees
and intended to be incentive options under this Plan not to qualify as
"incentive stock options" under Section 422A of the Code, or amending this
Section 8 shall be subject to shareholder approval. Any amendment to this Plan
which would cause the acquisition or disposition of an option granted under this
Plan by an officer or director of the Company not to be exempt from the
operation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 pursuant to
rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to such Section, case law or SEC
releases or no-action letters interpreting such Section, or new Federal statute
or amendments to such Section, shall also be subject to shareholder approval.

     9. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION OF PLAN. This Plan was adopted by the
Board of Directors on November 30, 1990, and was approved by the shareholders on
March 1, 1991. This Plan has been amended from time as permitted hereunder, most
recently on April 27, 2001. The Board may terminate this Plan at any time. If
not earlier terminated, this Plan shall terminate May 16, 2010. Termination of
this Plan will not affect rights and obligations theretofore granted and then in
effect.

         This Plan, the granting of any option hereunder, and the issuance of
stock upon the exercise of any option, shall be subject to such approval or
other conditions as may be required or imposed by any regulatory authority
having jurisdiction to issue regulations or rules with respect thereto,
including the securities laws of various governmental entities.

     10. AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANTS TO DIRECTORS. Subject to registration and
qualification under federal and state securities laws as is advised by counsel,
the Company's current and future directors are hereby granted options under this
Plan as follows: (i) on the date of the Company's Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, each of the Company's Non-Employee Directors (as defined in Rule
16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, but whether or not
such director serves as a member of the Stock Option Committee), who is
re-elected at such meeting to another term as a director, and who has served the
Company as a director for the immediately preceding six-month period, shall
automatically and without any further action by the Board be granted a
Non-Statutory Stock Option to purchase 6,000 shares of the Company's Common
Stock; and (ii) on the date any person first becomes a director, whether through
election by the Company's shareholders or appointment by the Board of Directors
to fill a vacancy, each such person shall automatically and without further
action by the Board be granted a Non-Statutory Stock Option to purchase 15,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock.

         The exercise price for such options shall be equal to the trading price
for the Company's stock on the date of grant in the over-the counter market
calculated pursuant to subparagraphs (b) and (c) of Section 20.2031-2 of the
Treasury Regulations. The date of grant of an option shall, for all purposes, be
the date determined in accordance with the terms of this Section 10. The
foregoing options shall be for a term of ten (10) years and are to be
exercisable as follows: (i) the 6,000 option share grants to re-elected
directors shall be immediately exercisable in full; and (ii) the 15,000 option
share grants to newly elected or appointed directors shall be exercisable in
cumulative increments of one-fourth each at the end of 12 months, 24 months, 36
months, and 48 months if the optionee is still a director of the Company or its
subsidiaries. Upon the occurrence of an event described in Section 5(b) of this
Plan, the number of option shares which a director shall be granted pursuant to
the foregoing formula, and the class of stock which is the subject of such
option grant, shall be automatically adjusted such that directors receiving an
automatic option grant subsequent to the occurrence of such event shall receive
the same aggregate number of option shares, and would then hold the same class
of stock, as if such director had been granted the option prior to the
occurrence of such event.

<PAGE>

         In the event an automatic option grant(s) pursuant to this Section 10
would result in option shares having been granted in excess of the number of
option shares then remaining available for grant under this Plan, then such
option grant(s) shall be made contingent upon a proper amendment to this Plan to
accommodate such grants.

         Notwithstanding Section 8 of this Plan, the foregoing automatic option
grant formula may not be amended more than once every six months, other than to
comport with changes to the Internal Revenue Code, the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act, or the rules thereunder.

     11. LIMITED AUTHORITY TO ALTER TERMS OF OPTIONS. Within the parameters of
Section 6 of this Plan, the Board of Directors may, at their discretion, alter
the terms of options to be granted pursuant to Section 10 hereof, or which were
previously granted pursuant to Section 10 hereof.

4/27/01 Rev. Stock Option Plan

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

                                      ATTACHMENT A
               TO DREXLER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION STOCK OPTION PLAN

                Drexler Technology Corporation Board of Directors
                POLICY GUIDELINES FOR ADJUSTMENT OF STOCK OPTIONS
                           IN THE EVENT OF AN ACQUISITION
                             [Adopted November 30, 1990]

   The Company's Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") presently provides that in the
event of a merger or other recapitalization, the Board of Directors shall make
appropriate adjustments to the terms of the outstanding options. The Plan gives
only minor guidance as to what adjustments would be considered "appropriate."

Policy

   (1) In the event of the acquisition of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets or capital stock, adjustments are deemed "appropriate" if:

         (a) the vested portion of options may be exercised prior to the
acquisition on not less than 30 days' notice; and

         (b) arrangements are made so that subject to continued employment of
the optionee with the successor corporation, the unvested portion of options
will receive one of the following benefits:

              (i) a replacement option that can be exercised on the same vesting
schedule at the same total exercise price to purchase the stock or other
securities of the successor corporation that would have been received had the
unvested option shares been outstanding at the time of the acquisition; or

             (ii) a cash payment made with respect to each option share at the
time of vesting equal to the excess of the per-share value paid for the
acquisition (whether in cash or in securities of the successor corporation) over
the option exercise price.

   (2) In the event the employment relationship between the employee and the
successor corporation is terminated within one year of the date of the sale of
the Company, it is intended that 100% of the remaining unvested portion of all
options held by such employee on the date of the sale of the Company would vest
and remain exercisable for at least 90 days after the termination, provided
that:

<PAGE>

         (a) the employee had been employed by the Company continuously (except
for approved leaves of absence) for at least two years prior to the date of the
sale of the Company; and

         (b) the employment relationship of the successor corporation and the
employee was NOT  terminated by either:

              (i) resignation by the employee; or

             (ii) by the successor corporation due to acts of moral turpitude on
the part of the employee such as theft, embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty,
misappropriation or conversion of funds committed against the Company or
successor corporation, or due to the employee's material breach of an agreement
with the Company or successor corporation concerning disclosure and ownership of
inventions, conflict of interest, or confidentiality of information.

   In the event the successor corporation had not assumed outstanding Company
options but rather was paying deferred compensation whenever Company options
vested, then the successor corporation would pay the employee the amount
corresponding to such accelerated vesting.

Effect

   This policy guideline may be changed at any time by the Stock Option
Committee or the Company's Board of Directors. It does not constitute a part of
this Plan. The right of the Company or its successors to terminate the
employment of an optionee, with or without cause, shall not be affected by this
guideline.

Stock Option Plan Attachment A

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