EXHIBIT 10.18

                                    LEASE



          RREEF MIDAMERICA/EAST-V NINE, INC., a Delaware corporation




                                   Landlord




                VICON INDUSTRIES, INC., a New York corporation




                                    Tenant


























                              TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE                                                                    PAGE
- -------                                                                    ----
1.    USE AND RESTRJCTIONS ON USE                                            1
2.    TERM                                                                   1
3.    RENT                                                                   2
4.    TAXES                                                                  2
5.    SECURITY DEPOSIT                                                       3
6.    ALTERATIONS                                                            3
7.    REPAIR                                                                 5
8.    LIENS                                                                  6
9.    ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLETTING                                              6
10.   INDEMNIFICATION                                                        8
11.   INSURANCE                                                              9
12.   WAIVER OF SUBROGATION                                                 10
13.   SERVICES AND UTILITIES                                                10
14.   HOLDING OVER                                                          10
15.   SUBORDINATION                                                         10
16.   REENTRY BY LANDLORD                                                   10
17.   DEFAULT                                                               11
18.   REMEDIES                                                              11
19.   TENANT'S BANKRUPTCY OR INSOLVENCY                                     14
20.   QUIET ENJOYMENT                                                       15
21.   DAMAGE BY FIRE,ETC                                                    15
22.   EMINENT DOMAIN                                                        16
23.   SALE BY LANDLORD                                                      16
24.   ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATES                                                 16
25.   SURRENDER OF PREMISES                                                 17
26.   NOTICES                                                               17
27.   TAXES PAYABLE BY TENANT                                               18
28.   DEFINED TERMS AND HEADINGS                                            18
29.   TENANT'S AUTHORITY                                                    18
30.   COMMISSIONS                                                           18



                                     -i-










ARTICLE                                                                    PAGE
- -------                                                                    ----
3l.   TIME AND APPLICABLE LAW                                               19
32.   SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS                                                19
33.   ENTIRE AGREEMENT                                                      19
34.   EXAMINATION NOT OPTION                                                19
35.   RECORDATION                                                           19
36.   LIMITATION OF LANDLORD'S LIABILITY                                    19
37.   OPTION TO EXTEND                                                      19
38.   MISCELLANEOUS                                                         21

       EXHIBIT A - PREMISES
       EXHIBIT B - INITIAL ALTERATIONS
       EXHIBIT C - WARRANTY


















































                                    - ii -







                                REFERENCE PAGE

PREMISES:                               The land, building (the "Building") and
                                        improvements thereon located at:
                                        89 Arkay Drive
                                        Hauppauge, New York
                                        (as more particularly described on
                                        Exhibit A annexed hereto)

LANDLORD:                               RREEF MIDAMERICA/EAST-V NINE,
                                        INC., a Delaware corporation

LANDLORD'S ADDRESS:                     125 Maiden Lane
                                        New York, New York 10038

LEASE REFERENCE DATE:                   December 24, 1996

TENANT:                                 VICON INDUSTRIES, INC., a New York
                                        corporation

TENANT'S ADDRESS:
(a) As of beginning of Term:            89 Arkay Drive
                                        Hauppauge, New York 11788


(b) Prior to beginning of Term          525 Broad Hollow Road
(if different):                         Melville, New York  11747

BUILDING RENTABLE AREA:                 56,000 square feet (which the parties
                                        agree shall be the rentable square
                                        footage of the Building for all purposes
                                        of this Lease)

USE:                                    General office use and light assembly of
                                        closed circuit security television
                                        equipment and systems

COMMENCEMENT DATE:                      Date of execution and delivery of this
                                        Lease by Landlord and Tenant.

TERMINATION DATE:                       The last day of the month in which the
                                        fifth (5th)anniversary of the
                                        Commencement Date occurs.

TERM OF LEASE:                          5 years beginning on the Commencement
                                        Date and ending on the Termination Date
                                        (unless sooner terminated pursuant to
                                        this Lease), subject to one five (5)
                                        year renewal option as set forth in
                                        Article 37.












                                     -i-







INITIAL ANNUAL RENT (Article 3):        From the Commencement Date through the
                                        date immediately preceding the first
                                        anniversary of the Commencement Date:
                                        $364,000.00

                                        From  the  first   anniversary   of  the
                                        Commencement   Date   through  the  date
                                        immediately    preceding    the   second
                                        anniversary of the Commencement Date:
                                        $371,280.00

                                        From the second anniversary of the
                                        Commencement Date through the date
                                        immediately preceding the third
                                        anniversary of the Commencement
                                        Date: $378,560.00

                                        From  the  third   anniversary   of  the
                                        Commencement   Date   through  the  date
                                        immediately    preceding    the   fourth
                                        anniversary of the Commencement Date:
                                        $386,400.00

                                        From the fourth anniversary of the
                                        Commencement Date through the
                                        Termination Date: $394,240.00

INITIAL MONTHLY INSTALLMENT OF          From the Commencement Date through
ANNAUL RENT (Article 3):                the date immediately preceding the
                                        first anniversary of the Commencement
                                        Date: $30,333.33

                                        From the  first anniversary of the
                                        Commencement Date through the date
                                        immediately preceding the second
                                        anniversary of the Commencement Date:
                                        $30,940.00

                                        From the second anniversary of the
                                        Commencement Date through the date
                                        immediately preceding the third
                                        anniversary of the Commencement Date:
                                        $31,546.67

                                        From  the  third   anniversary   of  the
                                        Commencement   Date   through  the  date
                                        immediately    preceding    the   fourth
                                        anniversary of the Commencement Date:
                                        $32,200.00

                                        From the fourth anniversary of the
                                        Commencement Date through the
                                        Termination Date: $32,853.33

ASSIGNMENT/SUBLETTING FEE:              N/A

SECURITY DEPOSIT:                       $63,093.33 (subject to reduction as set
                                        forth in Article 5).

TENANT IMPROVEMENT ALLOWANCE:           $125,000

REAL ESTATE BROKERS DUE                 Island Realty Group, Inc.
COMMISSION:                             James Mounce, Inc

  .

                                    - ii -







     The Reference Page information is incorporated  into and made a part of the
Lease. In the event of any conflict  between any Reference Page  information and
the Lease,  the Lease shall  control.  This Lease  includes  Exhibits A, B and C
which are made a part of this Lease.


LANDLORD:    RREEF                        TENANT: VICON INDUSTRIES, INC., a
MIDAMERICA/EAST-V NINE, INC., a                 New York Corporation
Delaware corporation

By: RREEF Management Company, a
California Corporation

By:    Alane Berkowitz                    By:    Kenneth M. Darby

Title: District Manager                   Title: President

Dated: 12-24-96                           Dated: 12-24-96















































                                   - iii -






                                    LEASE

             By this Lease  Landlord  leases to Tenant and  Tenant  leases  from
Landlord the  Premises as set forth and  described on the  Reference  Page.  The
Reference Page,  including all terms defined thereon, is incorporated as part of
this Lease.

1.           USE AND RESTRICTIONS ON USE.

             1.1 The Premises  are to be used solely for the purposes  stated on
the  Reference  Page.  Tenant  shall not allow the  Premises  to be used for any
improper,  immoral,  unlawful,  or objectionable  purpose.  Tenant shall not do,
permit or suffer in, on, or about the Premises the sale of any alcoholic  liquor
without the written consent of Landlord first obtained, or the commission of any
waste.   Tenant  shall  comply  with  all  governmental  laws,   ordinances  and
regulations  applicable  to the use of the Premises and its  occupancy and shall
promptly comply with all governmental  orders and directions for the correction,
prevention  and abatement of any  violations in or upon, or in connection  with,
the  Premises,  all at  Tenant's  sole  expense.  Tenant  shall not do or permit
anything to be done on or about the Premises or bring or keep  anything into the
Premises  which will in any way increase the rate of,  invalidate or prevent the
procuring of any insurance  protecting against loss or damage to the Building or
any of its contents by fire or other casualty or against liability for damage to
property or injury to persons in or about the Building or any part thereof.

             1.2 Tenant shall not, and shall not direct, suffer or permit any of
its agents, contractors, employees, licensees or invitees to at any time handle,
use,  manufacture,  store or dispose of in or about the Premises or the Building
any (collectively  "Hazardous Materials")  flammables,  explosives,  radioactive
materials,  hazardous wastes or materials,  toxic wastes or materials,  or other
similar  substances,  petroleum products or derivatives or any substance subject
to  regulation  by or under any  federal,  state and local  laws and  ordinances
relating to the protection of the environment or the keeping, use or disposition
of environmentally  hazardous  materials,  substances,  or wastes,  presently in
effect or hereafter  adopted,  all  amendments to any of them, and all rules and
regulations  issued  pursuant  to any of such laws or  ordinances  (collectively
"Environmental Laws"), nor shall Tenant suffer or permit any Hazardous Materials
to be used in any manner not fully in compliance with all Environmental Laws, in
the Premises or the Building and  appurtenant  land or allow the  environment to
become contaminated with any Hazardous Materials. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
and  subject to  Landlord's  prior  consent,  Tenant may handle,  store,  use or
dispose of products  containing small quantities of Hazardous Materials (such as
aerosol cans containing  insecticides,  toner for copiers, paints, paint remover
and the like) to the extent  customary and necessary for the use of the Premises
for general office  purposes;  provided that Tenant shall always handle,  store,
use, and dispose of any such Hazardous Materials in a safe and lawful manner and
never allow such Hazardous  Materials to contaminate the Premises,  Building and
appurtenant land or the environment. Tenant shall protect, defend, indemnify and
hold each and all of the  Landlord  Entities (as defined in Article 28) harmless
from and against any and all loss,  claims,  liability or costs (including court
costs and  reasonable  attorney's  fees)  incurred  by  reason of any  actual or
asserted  failure of Tenant to fully  comply with all  applicable  Environmental
Laws, or the presence,  handling,  use or disposition in or from the Premises of
any  Hazardous   Materials  (even  though   permissible   under  all  applicable
Environmental  Laws or the provisions of this Lease), or by reason of any actual
or asserted failure of Tenant to keep, observe, or perform any provision of this
Section 1.2.

2.           TERM.

             2.1 The Term of this Lease shall begin on the Commencement  Date as
shown on the Reference  Page.  Tenant shall accept the Premises in their "as is"
condition  and  Landlord  shall not be  required to perform any work or make any
contribution  (except  as set  forth in  Exhibit  B to this  Lease) to ready the
Premises for Tenant's occupancy.  Landlord and Tenant shall execute a memorandum
setting  forth the actual  Commencement  Date,  the Rent  Commencement  Date (as
hereinafter defined) and the Termination Date.

             2.2 In the  event  Landlord  shall  permit  Tenant  to  occupy  the
Premises prior to the Commencement  Date, such occupancy shall be subject to all
the  provisions  of this  Lease.  Said early  possession  shall not  advance the
Termination Date.


                                     -1-






3.           RENT.

             3.1 Tenant agrees to pay to Landlord the Annual Rent in effect from
time to time by  paying  the  Monthly  Installment  of Rent then in effect on or
before the first day of each full  calendar  month during the Term,  except that
the first  month's  rent shall be paid upon the  execution  of this  Lease.  The
Monthly  Installment  of Rent in effect at any time shall be  one-twelfth of the
Annual Rent in effect at such time. Rent for any period during the Term which is
less than a full month shall be a prorated portion of the Monthly Installment of
Rent based upon a thirty  (30) day month.  Said rent shall be paid to  Landlord,
without  deduction  or offset and without  notice or demand,  at the  Landlord's
address,  as set forth on the Reference Page, or to such other person or at such
other place as Landlord may from time to time designate in writing.

             3.2 Notwithstanding anything contained in the immediately preceding
paragraph,  provided  that no Event of  Default  occurs at any time prior to the
date that is ninety (90) days following the date hereof,  no Annual Rent will be
payable for the period prior to the date that is ninety (90) days  following the
date hereof (the "Rent Commencement  Date");  provided,  however,  that the Rent
Commencement Date shall be postponed by one day for each day that Landlord fails
to comply with the time periods  provided  for the review of Tenant's  Plans and
Specifications  (as  hereinafter   defined)  for  the  Initial  Alterations  (as
hereinafter  defined) set forth in Paragraph 2 of the section  titled  "Tenant's
Initial Alterations" in Exhibit B annexed hereto.

             3.4 Tenant  recognizes  that late  payment of any rent or other sum
due under this Lease will  result in  administrative  expense to  Landlord,  the
extent of which  additional  expense is  extremely  difficult  and  economically
impractical to ascertain.  Tenant therefore agrees that if rent or any other sum
is not paid within  five (5) days after it becomes  due and payable  pursuant to
this Lease a late charge shall be imposed  once on each such unpaid  installment
of rent or other payment in an amount equal to the greater of: (a) Fifty Dollars
($50.00) and (b) a sum equal to five percent (5%) of the unpaid  installment  of
rent or other payment.  In addition to the foregoing late charge, if any rent or
other sum due under this Lease is not paid by Tenant to Landlord  when due,  the
same  shall  bear  interest  at the rate of 15% per  annum or the  maximum  rate
permitted by law,  whichever is less,  from the due date thereof until paid, and
the amount of such interest shall be due Landlord as additional  rent hereunder.
The provisions of this Section 3.4 in no way relieve Tenant of the obligation to
pay rent or other  payments on or before the date on which they are due,  nor do
the terms of this Section 3.4 in any way affect Landlord's  remedies pursuant to
Article 18 in the event said rent or other payment is unpaid after the date due.

 4.          TAXES.

             4.1 Tenant shall pay as additional  rent all Taxes  incurred on the
Building  during the Term.  Taxes shall be defined as real estate  taxes and any
other taxes,  assessments and governmental charges (excluding  penalties,  fines
and charges  resulting from violations of law), which are levied with respect to
the Building or the land  appurtenant  to the  Building,  or with respect to any
improvements,  fixtures  and  equipment or other  property of Landlord,  real or
personal,  located in the Building and used in connection  with the operation of
the Building and said land,  any payments to any ground lessor in  reimbursement
of taxes  paid by such  lessor;  and all  reasonable  fees,  expenses  and costs
incurred by Landlord in investigating,  protesting,  contesting or in seeking to
reduce or avoid increase in any  assessments,  levies or the tax rate pertaining
to any Taxes to be paid by Landlord  in any Lease Year.  Taxes shall not include
any  corporate  franchise,  or estate,  inheritance  or net income  tax,  or tax
imposed  upon any  transfer  by  Landlord  of its  interest in this Lease or the
Building.

             4.2  Throughout  the  term  of  this  Lease,  Tenant  shall  pay to
Landlord,  as additional  rent,  all Taxes and other taxes payable under Section
4.1, Article 6 and Article 27 within thirty (30) days after Landlord's  delivery
of each bill therefor.  Landlord shall furnish to Tenant, promptly upon Tenant's
request,  copies of the  applicable tax bills.  If any assessment  payable under
Section 4.1 may be paid in  installments,  such assessment  shall be included in
Taxes for any year only to the extent that the  corresponding  installment would
be payable in such year.




                                     -2-








4.3 If Landlord shall actually receive a refund of any portion of the Taxes paid
by Tenant with  respect to any lease year (or portion  thereof) as a result of a
reduction in such taxes by final determination of legal proceedings,  settlement
or otherwise,  Landlord  shall promptly give notice of such refund to tenant and
promptly  after  receiving such refund,  pay Tenant the refund (after  deducting
from such  refund  the costs and  expenses  of  obtaining  the same,  including,
without  limitation,  appraisal,  accounting  and legal fees, to the extent that
such fees were not  previously  included  in "Taxes"  pursuant to Section 4.1 of
this Lease).

             4.4 Landlord shall, within 30 days following an inquiry from Tenant
specifically  referring to this Section,  notify  Tenant as to whether  Landlord
intends to contest a particular tax  assessment,  levy or tax rate pertaining to
any Taxes levied with  respect to any lease year.  If Landlord  notifies  Tenant
that Landlord is not  intending to make any such contest,  Tenant shall have the
right to make such contest by  appropriate  proceedings  diligently  prosecuted,
provided that if Landlord  notifies  Tenant that it is not contesting  Taxes for
such year as a result of or in connection  with a settlement with the applicable
taxing authority,  then Tenant shall have no right to make such contest.  Tenant
shall  provide  Landlord  with copies of any  applications,  petitions  or other
pleadings  filed  by  Tenant  in  connection  with a tax  reduction  proceeding.
Landlord shall not be subjected to any liability for the payment of any costs or
expenses  in  connection  with any  proceeding  commenced  by Tenant  under this
Section 4.4,

             4.5 If the  Commencement  Date is other  than  January  1 or if the
Termination Date is other than December 31, Tenant's liability for Taxes for the
year in which said Date  occurs  shall be  prorated  based upon a three  hundred
sixty-five (365) day year.

             4.6 Even  though the Term has  expired  and Tenant has  vacated the
premises,  when the final  determination is made of Tenant's liability for Taxes
for the year in which the Lease terminated,  Tenant shall pay any unpaid portion
of Tenant's prorated share of the Taxes.

5.                SECURITY DEPOSIT.

             5.1 Tenant shall  deposit the Security  Deposit with  Landlord upon
the execution of this Lease.  Said sum shall be held by Landlord as security for
the faithful performance by Tenant of all the terms, covenants and conditions of
this  Lease to be kept and  performed  by Tenant  and not as an  advance  rental
deposit or as a measure of  Landlord's  damage in case of Tenant's  default.  If
Tenant  defaults with respect to any  provision of this Lease,  Landlord may use
any part of the Security Deposit for the payment of any rent or any other sum in
default,  or for the payment of any amount  which  Landlord  may spend or become
obligated to spend by reason of Tenant's default,  or to compensate Landlord for
any other  loss or  damage  which  Landlord  may  suffer  by reason of  Tenant's
default.  If any  portion is so used,  Tenant  shall  within five (5) days after
written demand therefor,  deposit with Landlord an amount  sufficient to restore
the Security  Deposit to its original amount and Tenant's failure to do so shall
be a material breach of this Lease.  Except to such extent,  if any, as shall be
required by law,  Landlord  shall not be required to keep the  Security  Deposit
separate from its general funds, and Tenant shall not be entitled to interest on
such deposit.  If Tenant shall fully and faithfully  perform every  provision of
this Lease to be performed by it, the  Security  Deposit or any balance  thereof
shall be  returned to Tenant at such time after  termination  of this Lease when
Landlord shall have determined that all of Tenant's obligations under this Lease
have been fulfilled.

             5.2  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained in Section
5.1, provided that (a) as of the first anniversary of the Rent Commencement Date
Tenant  is  not in  default  under  this  Lease  beyond  the  expiration  of any
applicable  notice and cure period and (b) Landlord  shall not have  theretofore
drawn down any portion of the Security  Deposit,  Landlord,  within  thirty (30)
days after receipt of a request from Tenant therefor, shall pay Tenant an amount
equal to the amount required to reduce the Security Deposit to $31,546.67.

6.           ALTERATIONS.

             6.1 Except for those, if any,  specifically provided for in Exhibit
B to this  Lease,  Tenant  shall not make or suffer to be made any  alterations,
additions, or improvements, including, but not limited to, the attachment of any
fixtures or  equipment  in, on, or to the  Premises  or any part  thereof or the
making of any improvements as required by Article 7,

                                     -3-





(collectively,   "Alterations")   without  the  prior  written  consent  of
Landlord.  When  applying  for such  consent,  Tenant  shall,  if  requested  by
Landlord,   furnish  complete  plans  and   specifications  for  the  applicable
Alterations,

             6.2  In  the  event   Landlord   consents  to  the  making  of  any
Alterations,  the same shall be made using contractors selected by Tenant (which
shall be subject to Landlord's reasonable  approval),  at Tenant's sole cost and
expense.  If Tenant  shall  employ any  contractor  and such  contractor  or any
subcontractor  of such contractor  shall employ any non-union labor or supplier,
Tenant shall be  responsible  for and hold  Landlord  harmless  from any and all
delays,  damages and extra costs suffered by Landlord as a result of any dispute
with any labor unions  concerning  the wage,  hours,  terms or conditions of the
employment  of any such  labor.  In any event  Landlord  may  charge  Tenant for
Landlord's out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with any Alterations.

             6.3 All  Alterations  proposed by Tenant  shall be  constructed  in
accordance  with all government  laws,  ordinances,  rules and  regulations  and
Tenant shall, prior to construction,  provide the additional  insurance required
under  Article  11 in such  case,  and also all such  reasonable  assurances  to
Landlord,  including  but not  limited  to,  waivers of lien and surety  company
performance  bonds as  Landlord  shall  require  to assure  payment of the costs
thereof and to protect  Landlord and the Building and  appurtenant  land against
any loss from any mechanic's,  materialmen's or other liens. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Tenant shall not be required to post surety company bonds for (i) the
Initial Alterations (as hereinafter defined),  (ii) Alterations having a cost of
less than $50,000.00 or (iii)  Alterations that are solely  decorative in nature
(such as carpeting, wallpaper, cabinetry and shelving).

             6.4 If Tenant shall  request  Landlord's  approval of the plans and
specifications for any Alteration(s)  (other than the Initial  Alterations which
shall be governed by the  provisions of Exhibit B annexed  hereto) then Landlord
shall either  approve or disapprove  (and in the case of  disapproval,  Landlord
shall  specify  the  reasons  therefor  in  reasonable  detail)  such  plans and
specifications  on or prior to date that is 10 business  days (Or in the case of
resubmittals  of plans and  specifications,  5 business  days) after  Landlord's
receipt of Tenant's request for such approval. If Landlord fails to respond to a
request for approval of plans and specifications or if Landlord disapproves such
request  and fails to specify  the  reasons  therefor,  in either case within 10
business days after  Landlord's  receipt of Tenant's  request for such approval,
then Tenant may notify  Landlord of such failure  (which  notice (the  "Reminder
Notice") shall refer  specifically  to this Section 6.4), and if, in such event,
Landlord  does not,  within a period of 3 business days after its receipt of the
Reminder  Notice,  either approve or disapprove (and in the case of disapproval,
specify  the  reasons  therefor)  the plans and  specifications  at issue,  then
Landlord  shall be  deemed  to have  granted  its  approval  to such  plans  and
specifications  (but  Tenant  shall  still be  required to comply with the other
provisions of this Article 6).

             6.5 All Alterations in, on, or to the Premises made or installed by
Tenant,  including carpeting,  shall be and remain the property of Tenant during
the Term but, excepting furniture,  furnishings, movable partitions of less than
full height from floor to ceiling and other trade fixtures,  shall become a part
of the realty and belong to  Landlord  without  compensation  to Tenant upon the
expiration or sooner  termination of the Term, at which time title shall pass to
Landlord  under  this  Lease  as by a  bill  of  sale,  unless  Landlord  elects
otherwise. Upon such election by Landlord, Tenant shall upon demand by Landlord,
at Tenant's sole cost and expense,  forthwith and with all due diligence  remove
any such Alterations which are designated by Landlord to be removed,  and Tenant
shall forthwith and with all due diligence, at its sole cost and expense, repair
and restore the Premises to their original  condition,  reasonable wear and tear
and damage by fire or other casualty and condemnation excepted.

             6.6  Tenant  shall  pay in  addition  to any sums due  pursuant  to
Article 4, any increase in real estate taxes attributable to any such Alteration
for so long,  during the Term,  as such  increase is billed;  said sums shall be
paid in the same way as sums due under Article 4.

             6.7  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary  contained  in this
Lease,  including  but not limited to this  Article 6 and Exhibit B,  Landlord's
consent  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld  or  delayed  with  respect to any
repairs  (including  replacements),  or Alterations which are (a) non-structural
and do not affect the strength of any structural

                                     -4-






component of the Building, (b) do not adversely affect the proper functioning of
the Building's mechanical, gas, electrical,  sanitary,  plumbing, heating or air
conditioning  or other service  systems  (beyond a de minimis extent) and do not
overload the capacity of such systems  (unless Tenant  increases the capacity of
such  systems  in  connection  with such  Alterations),  (c) do not  affect  the
exterior of the Building or are visible from outside of the Premises, and (d) do
not affect the certificate of occupancy for the Building (except with respect to
those Alterations affecting the Building's HVAC or electrical systems).

             6.8  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary  contained  in this
Lease, including but not limited to this Article 6, Landlord's consent shall not
be required with respect to: (a) minor cosmetic  Alterations  (such as painting,
installation   of  carpeting,   and   installation  of  shelves  and  cabinetry)
("Decorations");  provided the aggregate  cost of such  Decorations  do not with
respect to any  particular  project  exceed  $2.00 per square  foot of  Building
Rentable  Area;  and (b) the  installation  of equipment  consisting of ordinary
office furnishings and equipment.

             6.9 Landlord shall reasonably  cooperate with Tenant (at no cost to
Landlord)  with  respect to all aspects of  Alterations  approved  by  Landlord,
including  signing  any  necessary  applications  required  to be filed with the
buildings  department or other governmental  agency having jurisdiction over the
Premises.

7.           REPAIR.

             7.1 Landlord shall have no obligation to alter,  remodel,  improve,
repair,  decorate or paint the Premises,  except as specified in Section 7.2 and
Exhibit C attached to this Lease. By taking  possession of the Premises,  Tenant
accepts them as being in good order,  condition  and repair and in the condition
in which  Landlord  is  obligated  to  deliver  them,  subject  to the  Landlord
warranties  expressly  set  forth in  Exhibit  C  annexed  hereto.  It is hereby
understood  and agreed that no  representations  respecting the condition of the
Premises  or the  Building  have  been made by  Landlord  to  Tenant,  except as
specifically  set forth in this  Lease.  Landlord  shall  not be liable  for any
failure to make any repairs or to perform any  maintenance  unless such  failure
shall persist for an unreasonable  time after written notice of the need of such
repairs or maintenance is given to Landlord by Tenant.

             7.2  Landlord  shall  at its own cost and  expense  keep the  roof,
exterior walls, structural columns and foundation of the Building (collectively,
the "Landlord  Repair Items") in good  condition,  promptly making all necessary
repairs and replacements,  with materials and workmanship of the same character,
kind and quality as the original,  except that Tenant shall be  responsible  for
such repairs or replacements to the extent the same are required due to the acts
or the  negligent or wrongful  omissions  of Tenant or its agents,  employees or
contractors.  ~ addition to the foregoing  Landlord shall be responsible for the
replacement of the parking lot only to the extent that a complete resurfacing is
necessary (as determined in Landlord's reasonable discretion).

             7.3 Tenant  shall at its own cost and expense keep and maintain all
parts of the Premises  (excluding the Landlord Repair Items other than those for
which Tenant is responsible pursuant to Section 7.2) in good condition, promptly
making  all  necessary   repairs  and   replacements,   whether   structural  or
non-structural, ordinary or extraordinary, with materials and workmanship of the
same character, kind and quality as the original (including, but not limited to,
repair and  replacement  of all  fixtures  installed  by Tenant,  water  heaters
serving the Premises,  windows,  glass and plate glass. doors,  exterior stairs,
skylights,  any special office entries,  interior walls and finish work,  floors
and floor coverings,  heating and air conditioning  systems,  electrical systems
and fixtures, sprinkler systems, dock boards, truck doors, dock bumpers, parking
lots  (excluding  the  complete  resurfacing  as  set  forth  in  Section  7.2),
driveways,  landscaping,  plumbing work and fixtures, and performance of regular
removal of trash and debris).  Tenant as part of its obligations hereunder shall
keep the Premises in a clean and sanitary  condition.  Upon  termination of this
Lease in any way Tenant  will yield up the  Premises  to Landlord in at least as
good  condition as the Premises  were in at the  Commencement  Date,  subject to
ordinary wear and tear, loss by fire or other casualty or condemnation excepted.

             7.3 Except as provided in Article 21,  there shall be no  abatement
of rent and no liability of Landlord by reason of any injury to or  interference
with Tenant's business arising


                                     -5-






from the making of any repairs, alterations or improvements in or to any portion
of the Building or the Premises or to fixtures,  appurtenances  and equipment in
the Building.

             7.4  Tenant  shall,  at its own  cost  and  expense,  enter  into a
regularly scheduled preventive  maintenance/service  contract with a maintenance
contractor  approved  by  Landlord,  which  approval  shall not be  unreasonably
withheld or delayed,  for servicing all heating and air conditioning systems and
equipment  serving  the  Premises  (and a copy  thereof  shall be  furnished  to
Landlord).  The service  contract  must  include all  services  suggested by the
equipment manufacturer in the operation/maintenance  manual provided by Landlord
to Tenant and must become  effective  within thirty (30) days of the date Tenant
takes  possession  of the  Premises.  Landlord  may,  if Tenant  defaults in its
obligations  to maintain  such  service  contract and fails To cure such default
within 10 days after notice  thereof from Landlord to Tenant,  enter into such a
maintenance/service  contract  on behalf of Tenant,  or perform  the work and in
either case,  charge Tenant the cost thereof along with a reasonable  amount for
Landlord's overhead.

8.           LIENS.

Tenant shall keep the Premises,  the Building and appurtenant  land and Tenant's
leasehold  interest  in the  Premises  free  from any liens  arising  out of any
services,  work or materials performed,  furnished, or contracted for by Tenant,
or obligations  incurred by Tenant.  In the event that Tenant shall not,  within
forty-five  (45) days following the imposition of any such lien,  cause the same
to be released of record,  Landlord shall have the right to cause the same to be
released by such means as it shall deem proper,  including  payment of the claim
giving  rise to such lien.  All such sums paid by  Landlord  and all  reasonable
expenses incurred by it in connection  therewith shall be considered  additional
rent and shall be payable to it by Tenant on demand.

9.           ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLETTING.

             9.1 Tenant  shall not have the right to assign or pledge this Lease
or to sublet the whole or any part of the  Premises  whether  voluntarily  or by
operation of law, or permit the use or occupancy of the Premises by anyone other
than Tenant, and shall not make, suffer or permit such assignment, subleasing or
occupancy  without the prior written consent of Landlord,  and said restrictions
shall be binding upon any and all  assignees of the Lease and  subtenants of the
Premises.  In the event Tenant  desires to sublet,  or permit such occupancy of,
the Premises,  or any portion thereof,  or assign this Lease,  Tenant shall give
written  notice  thereof to Landlord at least  thirty (30) days but no more than
one hundred  eighty (180) days prior to the proposed  commencement  date of such
subletting or assignment, which notice shall set forth: (i) the name and address
of the proposed assignee or sublessee,  (ii) a duly executed  counterpart of the
proposed  agreement  of  assignment  or  sublease  and all  ancillary  documents
executed or to be executed by Tenant and such  proposed  assignee or  sublessee,
(iii)  information  as to the nature and  character  of the  business and of the
proposed  use for the  Premises,  and (iv)  banking,  financial  or other credit
information relating to the proposed assignee or sublessee reasonably sufficient
to enable  Landlord to determine the financial  responsibility  and character of
the proposed assignee or sublessee.

             9.2 Landlord will not unreasonably withhold its consent to Tenant's
request for consent to such specific assignment or subletting, provided that:

                    (i) Tenant pays Landlord's reasonable costs in reviewing the
proposed assignment or sublease in connection with the requested consent,
including any reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by Landlord;

                    (ii) The proposed assignee or sublessee is not (A) a school,
college, university or educational institution, or (B) a government or any
subdivision or agency thereof;

                    (iii) In the case of a subletting of a portion of the
Premises, the portion sublet is regular in shape and suitable for normal renting
purposes;

                    (iv) The proposed assignment or sublease specifically
provides that (A) Tenant has complied with the requirements of Section 9.1,
(B) the sublessee or assignee,


                                     -6-





as the case may be,  will not have the right to further  assign or sublet all or
part of the Premises or to allow same to be used by others,  without the consent
of Landlord in each instance in accordance with this Article 9, (C) a consent by
Landlord thereto shall not be deemed or construed to modify, amend or affect the
terms and provisions of this Lease, or Tenant's obligations  hereunder,  and (D)
the receipt by Landlord of any amounts from an assignee or  sublessee,  or other
occupant  of any part of the  Premises  shall  not be  deemed  or  construed  as
releasing Tenant from Tenant's  obligations under the lease or the acceptance of
that party as a direct tenant;

                    (v) Tenant has provided Landlord with all of the information
specified  in  Section  9.1  and on  the  basis  of  such  information  Landlord
reasonably determines that (A) the proposed sublessee or assignee is a reputable
party  whose  financial  net worth,  credit  and  financial  responsibility  is,
considering the responsibilities involved,  satisfactory to Landlord and (B) the
nature and  character  of the proposed  sublessee  or assignee,  its business or
activities  and the proposed use of the space are in keeping with the  standards
that would be acceptable to prudent landlords of comparable buildings located in
the area in which the Premises are located; and

                   (vi) the Premises shall not be used by the proposed assignee
or sublessee in a manner  which would (x) involve  increased  wear upon the
Building;  (b) require any  addition to or  modification  of the Premises or the
Building  in  order  to  comply  with  building   code  or  other   governmental
requirements; or (c) involve a violation of Section 1.2.

                 (b) Any such consent of Landlord  shall be subject to the terms
of this Article 9 and  conditioned  upon there being no default by Tenant beyond
any grace period under any of the terms,  covenants and conditions of this Lease
at the time that  Landlord's  consent to any such  subletting  or  assignment is
requested and on the date of the  commencement  of the term of any such proposed
sublease or the effective date of any such proposed assignment.

             9.3  Notwithstanding  any  assignment or  subletting,  permitted or
otherwise,  Tenant  shall at all  times  remain  directly,  primarily  and fully
responsible  and liable for the payment of the rent  specified in this Lease and
for compliance with all of its other obligations under the terms, provisions and
covenants  of this Lease.  Upon the  occurrence  of an Event of Default,  if the
Premises or any part of them are then assigned or sublet,  Landlord, in addition
to any other  remedies  provided in this Lease or  provided by law,  may, at its
option,  collect  directly  from such  assignee or  subtenant  all rents due and
becoming  due to Tenant  under such  assignment  or sublease and apply such rent
against any sums due to  Landlord  from  Tenant  under this  Lease,  and no such
collection shall be construed to constitute a novation or release of Tenant from
the further performance of Tenant's obligations under this Lease.

             9.4 In addition to Landlord's  right to approve of any subtenant or
assignee,  Landlord shall have the option, in its sole discretion,  in the event
of a proposed  assignment  or a subletting  of all or  substantially  all of the
Premises for at least 90% of the then remaining term of this Lease, to terminate
this Lease. The option shall be exercised,  if at all, by Landlord giving Tenant
written notice given by Landlord to Tenant within 30 days  following  Landlord's
receipt of Tenant's  written  notice as required  above.  If this Lease shall be
terminated  with respect to the entire  Premises  pursuant to this Section,  the
Term of this  Lease  shall  end on the date  stated  in  Tenant's  notice as the
effective date of the sublease or assignment as if that date had been originally
fixed in this Lease for the  expiration of the Term.  This Section 9.4 shall not
apply to any assignments or sublettings  permitted  without  Landlord's  consent
pursuant to Section 9.8 and Section 9.9 of this Lease.

             9.5 In the event that Tenant sells,  sublets,  assigns or transfers
this Lease,  Tenant shall pay to Landlord as additional  rent an amount equal to
one hundred  percent (100%) of any Increased Rent (as defined below) when and as
such Increased Rent is received by Tenant.  As used in this Section,  "Increased
Rent" shall mean the excess of (i) all rent and other consideration which Tenant
is  entitled  to receive by reason of any sale,  sublease,  assignment  or other
transfer of this Lease,  over (ii) the rent  otherwise  payable by Tenant  under
this Lease at such time less (iii) Tenant's reasonable  out-of-pocket  sublet or
assignment expenses.  For purposes of the foregoing,  any consideration received
by Tenant in form other than cash  shall be valued at its fair  market  value as
determined by Landlord in good faith. This Section 9.5 shall


                                     -7-





not apply to any assignments or sublettings permitted without Landlord's consent
pursuant to Section 9.8 and Section 9.9 of this Lease.

             9.6 Upon any  request  to  assign  or  sublet,  Tenant  will pay to
Landlord,  on  demand,  a sum equal to all of  Landlord's  out-of-pocket  costs,
including reasonable  attorney's fees, incurred in investigating and considering
any proposed or purported  assignment or pledge of this Lease or sublease of any
of the  Premises,  regardless  of whether  Landlord  shall  consent  to,  refuse
consent,  or  determine  that  Landlord's  consent  is not  required  for,  such
assignment,  pledge or  sublease.  Any  purported  sale,  assignment,  mortgage,
transfer of this Lease or subletting  which does not comply with the  provisions
of this Article 9 shall be void.

             9.7 If Tenant is a corporation,  partnership or trust, any transfer
or  transfers  of or change or changes  within any  twelve  month  period in the
number  of the  outstanding  voting  shares  of  the  corporation,  the  general
partnership  interests  in the  partnership  or the  identity  of the persons or
entities  controlling  the activities of such  partnership or trust resulting in
the  persons  or  entities  owning or  controlling  a majority  of such  shares,
partnership  interests  or  activities  of  such  partnership  or  trust  at the
beginning of such period no longer  having such  ownership  or control  shall be
regarded as equivalent to an assignment of this Lease to the persons or entities
acquiring  such  ownership or control and shall be subject to all the provisions
of this  Article 9 to the same extent and for all intents and purposes as though
such an  assignment.  This Section 9.7 shall not apply to any corporate  tenant,
subtenant  or  assignee  whose  shares are  publicly  traded on any  national or
regional stock exchange or in the "over-the-counter" market.

             9.8  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained in Section
9.1,  without  the  consent of  Landlord,  this Lease may be  assigned to (1) an
entity created by the merger,  consolidation or reorganization of or with Tenant
or (ii) a purchaser of all or substantially all of Tenant's assets; provided, in
the case of both  clause  (i) and  clause  (ii),  that (A)  Landlord  shall have
received a notice of such assignment from Tenant,  (B) the assignee  assumes all
of  Tenant's  obligations  under  this  Lease  pursuant  to  an  assignment  and
assumption  agreement which shall be reasonably  satisfactory  to Landlord,  (C)
such  assignment  is  for a  valid  business  purpose  and  not  principally  to
circumvent the provisions of this Article 9, and (D) the assignee is a reputable
entity of good character and shall have, immediately after giving effect to such
assignment,  an aggregate  net worth  (computed  in  accordance  with  generally
accepted accounting principles  consistently applied) at least equal to the
aggregate net worth (as so computed) of Tenant immediately prior to such
assignment.

             9.9  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained in Section
9.1, without the consent of Landlord, Tenant may assign this Lease or sublet all
or any part of the Premises to an Affiliate (as hereinafter  defined) of Tenant;
provided,  that (i) Landlord shall have received a notice of such  assignment or
sublease  from  Tenant;  and (ii) in the case of any  such  assignment,  (A) the
assignment is for a valid business  purpose and not to circumvent the provisions
of this  Article 9, and (B) the  assignee  assumes all of  Tenant's  obligations
under this Lease  pursuant an assignment  and  assumption  agreement  reasonably
satisfactory  to Landlord,  "Affiliate"  means,  as to any designated  person or
entity, any other person or entity which controls, is controlled by, or is under
common  control with,  such  designated  person or entity.  "Control"  (and with
correlative  meaning,  "controlled  by" and "under common  control  with") means
either (x) ownership or voting control,  directly or indirectly,  of 50% or more
of the  voting  stock,  partnership  interests  or  other  beneficial  ownership
interests  of the entity in question  or (y) the power to direct the  management
and policies of such entity.

10.          INDEMNIFICATION.

     10.1 None of the Landlord Entities shall be liable and Tenant hereby waives
all  claims  against  them for any damage to any  property  or any injury to any
person  in or about the  Premises  by or from any  cause  whatsoever  (including
without limiting the foregoing,  rain or water leakage of any character from the
roof,  windows,  walls,  basement,  pipes,  plumbing  works or  appliances,  the
Premises not being in good condition or repair,  gas, fire, oil,  electricity or
theft),  except to the extent caused by or arising from the gross  negligence or
willful misconduct of Landlord or its agents,  employees or contractors.  Tenant
shall  protect,  indemnify  and hold the  Landlord  Entities  harmless  from and
against any and all loss, claims,  liability or costs (including court costs and
reasonable  attorney's  fees)  incurred  by  reason  of (a)  any  damage  to any
property

                                        -8-






(including  but not limited to property  of any  Landlord  Entity) or any injury
(including but not limited to death) to any person occurring in, on or about the
Premises to the extent  that such  injury or damage  shall be caused by or arise
from any act, neglect, fault, or omission by or of Tenant, its agents, servants,
employees,  invitees, or visitors to meet any standards imposed by any duty with
respect to the injury or damage;  (b) the conduct or  management  of any work or
thing  whatsoever  done  by  the  Tenant  in  or  about  the  Premises  or  from
transactions  of the Tenant  concerning  the Premises;  (c) Tenant's  failure to
comply with any and all governmental laws,  ordinances and regulations for which
Tenant is responsible to comply with pursuant to the terms of this Lease; or (d)
any breach or default on the part of Tenant in the  performance  of any covenant
or agreement  on the part of the Tenant to be performed  pursuant to this Lease.
The provisions of this Article shall survive the  termination of this Lease with
respect to any  claims or  liability  accruing  prior to such  termination.  The
indemnification  obligations  set forth in this  Article  10 are  subject to the
release and waiver of subrogation provisions set forth in Article 12.

             10.2  Tenant may, at its option,  defend  Landlord  against  claims
described in this  Article 10 by counsel  approved by Landlord  (which  approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed),  and in such event, Tenant shall
have no obligation to reimburse  Landlord for attorneys' fees and  disbursements
incurred by Landlord in connection with such claims unless  Landlord  reasonably
believes  that a conflict of interest  exists and that it would be in Landlord's
best interests to retain separate counsel.  Landlord hereby approves any counsel
engaged  by  Tenant's  insurance  carrier  in any  matters  for which  Tenant is
defending Landlord that are fully covered by Tenant's insurance,

11.          INSURANCE.

             11.1  Tenant  shall  keep  in  force  throughout  the  Term;  (a) a
Commercial  General  Liability  insurance  policy or  policies  to  protect  the
Landlord,  Landlord's  managing  agent,  the  general  partners  of  Landlord if
Landlord is a partnership,  the holders of any mortgages or ground or underlying
leases encumbering the Premises,  Landlord's trustees and Landlord's  investment
manager  against  any  liability  to the public or to any invitee of Tenant or a
Landlord  Entity  incidental  to  the  use of or  resulting  from  any  accident
occurring  in or upon the Premises  with a limit of not less than  $1,000,000.00
per occurrence and not less than $2,000,000.00 in the annual aggregate,  or such
larger amount as Landlord shall  reasonably  require that is consistent with the
then  requirements of prudent  landlords of comparable  buildings in the area in
which the Premises is located, such increases to be made no more often than once
every three years,  covering bodily injury and property  damage  liability and ~
1,000,000  products/completed  operations aggregate; (b) Business Auto Liability
covering  owned,  non-owned  and  hired  vehicles  with a limit of not less than
$1,000,000  per  accident;  (c) insurance  protecting  against  liability  under
Worker's  Compensation  Laws with limits at least as  required  by statute;  (d)
Employers  Liability  with limits of $500,000 each  accident,  $500~000  disease
policy limit,  $500,000  disease - each  employee;  (e) All Risk or Special Form
coverage  protecting  Tenant against loss of or damage to Tenant's  Alterations,
carpeting,  floor coverings,  panelings,  decorations,  fixtures,  inventory and
other business  personal  property situated in or about the Premises to the full
replacement  value of the property so insured;  and,  (f) Business  interruption
Insurance with limit of liability  representing  loss of at least  approximately
six months of income.

             11.2  Each of the  aforesaid  policies  shall  (a) be  provided  at
Tenant's expense; (b) with respect to the Commercial General Liability insurance
policy,  name the  Landlord  and the  building  management  company,  if any, as
additional insureds; (c) be issued by an insurance company with a minimum Best's
rating of "A/VIJ" during the Term; and (d) provide that said insurance shall not
be  cancelled  unless  thirty  (30)  days  prior  written  notice  (ten days for
nonpayment  of premium)  shall have been given to  Landlord;  and said policy or
policies or  certificates  thereof shall be delivered to Landlord by Tenant upon
the  Commencement  Date and at least  thirty (30) days prior to each  renewal of
said insurance.

             11.3  Whenever  Tenant shall  undertake any  Alterations  in, to or
about the  Premises,  the  aforesaid  insurance  protection  must  extend to and
include  injuries to persons and damage to property  arising in connection  with
such Alterations,  without limitation  including  liability under any applicable
structural  work act,  and such other  insurance  as Landlord  shall  reasonably
require  that is  consistent  with the  requirements  of  prudent  landlords  of
comparable


                                     -9-





buildings in the area in which the  Premises is located;  and the policies of or
certificates  evidencing  such  insurance must be delivered to Landlord prior to
the commencement of any such Work.

12.          WAIVER OF SUBROGATION.

So long as their  respective  insurers  so permit,  Tenant and  Landlord  hereby
mutually waive their  respective  rights of recovery  against each other for any
loss insured by fire,  extended  coverage,  All Risks or other  insurance now or
hereafter  existing  for the  benefit  of the  respective  party but only to the
extent of the net insurance  proceeds  payable under such  policies.  Each party
shall  obtain any special  endorsements  required  by their  insurer to evidence
compliance with the aforementioned waiver.

13.          SERVICES AND UTILITIES.

Tenant shall pay for all water,  gas,  heat.  light,  power,  telephone,  sewer,
sprinkler  system  charges and other  utilities and services used on or from the
Premises,  including  without  limitation,  the  cost  of  any  central  station
signaling system installed in the Premises  together with any taxes,  penalties,
and surcharges or the like pertaining  thereto and any  maintenance  charges for
utilities,  Any such charges paid by Landlord and assessed  against Tenant shall
be  immediately  payable  to  Landlord  on demand and shall be  additional  rent
hereunder.  Landlord shall in no event be liable for any interruption or failure
of utility services on or to the Premises unless such interruption or failure to
act is due to the gross  negligence  or  willful  misconduct  of  Landlord,  its
employees, agents or contractors..

14.          HOLDING OVER.

Tenant shall pay Landlord not as rent, but for use and  occupancy,  for each day
Tenant retains  possession of the Premises or part of them after  termination of
this Lease by lapse of time or  otherwise  at the rate  ("Holdover  Rate") which
shall be 150% of the  greater of: (a) the amount of the Annual Rent for the last
period prior to the date of such  termination  plus all Rent  Adjustments  under
Article 4; and, (b) the then market rental value of the Premises  assuming a new
lease of the Premises of the then usual duration and other terms, in either case
prorated on a daily  basis,  and also pay all damages  sustained  by Landlord by
reason of such retention.  ~ any event, no provision of this Article 14 shall be
deemed to waive  Landlord's right of reentry or any other right under this Lease
or at law.

15.          SUBORDINATION.

Without the necessity of any  additional  document  being executed by Tenant for
the  purpose of  effecting  a  subordination,  this Lease  shall be subject  and
subordinate  at all times to ground or underlying  leases and to the lien of any
mortgages or deeds of trust now or hereafter placed on, against or affecting the
Building,  Landlord's  interest  or estate  in the  Building,  or any  ground or
underlying lease; provided, however, that if the lessor, mortgagee,  trustee, or
holder of any such mortgage or deed of trust elects to have Tenant's interest in
this Lease be superior to any such instrument,  then, by notice to Tenant,  this
Lease shall be deemed superior,  whether this Lease was executed before or after
said instrument.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  Tenant covenants and agrees to
execute  and  deliver  upon  demand such  further  instruments  evidencing  such
subordination  or  superiority  of this Lease as may be  reasonably  required by
Landlord.

16.          REENTRY BY LANDLORD.

             16.1  Landlord  reserves  and shall at all times  have the right to
re-enter the Premises to inspect the same, to show said Premises to  prospective
purchasers,  mortgagees or, in the last 12 months of the Lease term, tenants, to
cure any default of Tenant (after the  expiration of any  applicable  notice and
cure period) and to alter, improve or repair the Premises and any portion of the
Building,  without  abatement of rent, and may for that purpose  erect,  use and
maintain  scaffolding,  pipes,  conduits and other necessary structures and open
any wall,  ceiling or floor in and  through  the  Building  and  Premises  where
reasonably  required  by the  character  of the work to be  performed,  provided
entrance to the Premises shall not be blocked thereby and the




                                    - 10 -







parking lot shall be  substantially  usable,  and further provided that the
business of Tenant shall not be interfered with unreasonably

             16.2 Tenant  hereby  waives any claim for damages for any injury or
inconvenience to or interference with Tenant's  business,  any loss of occupancy
or quiet enjoyment of the Premises,  and any other loss occasioned by any action
of landlord  authorized by this Article 16. Tenant agrees to reimburse Landlord,
on demand,  as additional  rent, for any reasonable  expenses which Landlord may
incur in thus effecting compliance with Tenant's obligations under this Lease.

             16.3  For each of the  aforesaid  purposes,  Landlord  shall at all
times  have and  retain  a key with  which  to  unlock  all of the  doors in the
Premises,  excluding  Tenant's  vaults  and  safes  or  special  security  areas
(designated  in advance),  and Landlord  shall have the right to use any and all
means  which  Landlord  may deem  proper to open said doors in an  emergency  to
obtain entry to any portion of the  Premises.  As to any portion to which access
can not be had by means of a key or keys in Landlord's  possession,  Landlord is
authorized to gain access by such means as Landlord  shall elect and the cost of
repairing any damage  occurring in doing so shall be borne by Tenant and paid to
Landlord as additional rent upon demand.

17.          DEFAULT.

             17.1 Except as  otherwise  provided  in Article  19, the  following
events shall be deemed to be Events of Default under this Lease:

                    17.1.1  Tenant  shall  fail to pay when due any sum of money
becoming  due to be paid to Landlord  under this Lease,  whether such sum be any
installment  of the rent  reserved by this Lease,  any other  amount  treated as
additional  rent under this  Lease,  or any other  payment or  reimbursement  to
Landlord required by this Lease, whether or not treated as additional rent under
this Lease,  and such failure shall continue for a period of five (5) days after
written  notice that such  payment was not made when due, but if any such notice
shall be given,  for the twelve  month period  commencing  with the date of such
notice,  the failure to pay within five (5) days after due any additional sum of
money  becoming due to be paid to  Landlord-under  this Lease during such period
shall be an Event of Default, without notice.

                   17.1.2  Tenant shall fail to comply with any term,  provision
or covenant of this Lease which is not provided  for in another  Section of this
Article and shall not cure such failure within twenty (20) days  (forthwith,  if
the failure involves a hazardous condition) after written notice of such failure
to  Tenant,  or if  such  default  is of such a  nature  that  it  cannot,  with
reasonable  diligence,  be cured in such twenty (20) day period, if Tenant shall
fail to  commence  to cure such  default  within such twenty (20) day period and
thereafter to diligently prosecute such cure to completion.

                   17.1.3  Tenant shall fail to vacate the Premises  immediately
upon  termination  of  this  Lease,  by  lapse  of time  or  otherwise,  or upon
termination of Tenant's right to possession only.

                   17.1.4  Tenant shall become  insolvent,  admit in writing its
inability  to pay its debts  generally  as they become  due,  file a petition in
bankruptcy or a petition to take  advantage of any insolvency  statute,  make an
assignment for the benefit of creditors,  make a transfer in fraud of creditors,
apply for or consent to the  appointment of a receiver of itself or of the whole
or any  substantial  part of its property,  or file a petition or answer seeking
reorganization  or  arrangement  under the federal  bankruptcy  laws,  as now in
effect or  hereafter  amended,  or any other  applicable  law or  statute of the
United States or any state thereof.

                   17.1.5  A court  of  competent  jurisdiction  shall  enter an
order, judgment or decree adjudicating Tenant bankrupt, or appointing a receiver
of Tenant, or of the whole or any substantial part of its property,  without the
consent  of Tenant,  or  approving  a  petition  filed  against  Tenant  seeking
reorganization  or arrangement of Tenant under the bankruptcy laws of the United
States, as now in effect or hereafter  amended,  or any state thereof,  and such
order,  judgment  or decree  shall not be vacated or set aside or stayed  within
sixty (60) days from the date of entry thereof.


                                    -11 -







18.          REMEDIES.

             18.1  Except  as  otherwise   provided  in  Article  19,  upon  the
occurrence  of any of the Events of Default  described or referred to in Article
17,  Landlord  shall have the option to pursue any one or more of the  following
remedies without any notice or demand whatsoever,  concurrently or consecutively
and not alternatively:

                   18.1.1 Landlord may, at its election, terminate this Lease or
terminate Tenant's right to possession only, without terminating the Lease.

                   18.1.2 Upon any  termination of this Lease,  whether by lapse
of time or otherwise,  or upon any  Termination  of Tenant's right to possession
without termination of the Lease,  Tenant shall surrender  possession and vacate
the Premises immediately, and deliver possession thereof to Landlord, and Tenant
hereby  grants to  Landlord  full and free  license  to enter  into and upon the
Premises  in  such  event  and  to  repossess  Landlord  of the  Premises  as of
Landlord's former estate and to expel or remove Tenant and any others who may be
occupying  or be within  the  Premises  and to remove  Tenant's  signs and other
evidence of tenancy and all other  property of Tenant  therefrom  without  being
deemed in any manner guilty of trespass, eviction or forcible entry or detainer,
and without incurring any liability for any damage resulting  therefrom,  Tenant
waiving any right to claim damages for such re-entry and expulsion,  and without
relinquishing  Landlord's  right to rent or any other  right  given to  Landlord
under this Lease or by operation of law.

                    18.1.3 Upon any termination of this Lease,  whether by lapse
of time or  otherwise,  Landlord  shall be entitled  to recover as damages,  all
rent,  including any amounts  treated as additional  rent under this Lease,  and
other  sums  due and  payable  by  Tenant  on the date of  termination,  plus as
liquidated  damages and not as a penalty,  an amount equal to the sum of: (a) an
amount  equal to the then present  value of (i) the rent  reserved in this Lease
for the residue of the stated Term of this Lease  including any amounts  treated
as  additional  rent under this Lease,  minus (ii) the fair rental  value of the
Premises for such  residue;  and (b) the expenses  then  incurred by Landlord to
obtain a replacement  tenant or tenants and the estimated  expenses described in
Section 18.1.4  relating to recovery of the Premises,  preparation for reletting
and for reletting itself.

                   18.1.4 Upon any  termination  of Tenant's right to possession
only without termination of the Lease:

                      18.1.4.1        Neither such termination of Tenant's right
to  possession  nor  Landlord's  taking and holding  possession  thereof as
provided in Section 18.1.2 shall terminate the Lease or release Tenant, in whole
or in part, from any obligation,  including Tenant's obligation to pay the rent,
including any amounts treated as additional  rent, under this Lease for the full
Term.  and if Landlord so elects  Tenant shall pay forthwith to Landlord the sum
equal to the  entire  amount of the  rent,  including  any  amounts  treated  as
additional  rent under this  Lease,  for the  remainder  of the Term as the same
shall  become due and payable  plus any other sums  provided in this Lease to be
paid by Tenant for the remainder of the Term.

                      18.1.4.2    Landlord may, but need not, relet the Premises
or any part thereof for such rent and upon such terms as  Landlord,  in its
sole discretion,  shall determine (including the right to relet the premises for
a greater or lesser  term than that  remaining  under this  Lease,  the right to
relet the  Premises  as a part of a larger  area,  and the  right to change  the
character or use made of the Premises). In connection with or in preparation for
any  reletting,  Landlord  may,  but shall not be  required  to,  make  repairs,
alterations  and additions in or to the Premises and  redecorate the same to the
extent Landlord deems necessary or desirable, and Tenant shall, upon demand, pay
the cost thereof,  together with  Landlord's  expenses of reletting,  including,
without limitation,  any broker's  commission incurred by Landlord.  If Landlord
decides to relet the  Premises  or a duty to relet is imposed  upon  Landlord by
law,  Landlord  and Tenant  agree that  nevertheless  Landlord  shall at most be
required to use only the same efforts  Landlord  then uses to lease  premises in
the Building  gener~1y and that in any case that Landlord  shall not be required
to give any  preference  or priority  to the showing or leasing of the  Premises
over any other  space that  Landlord  may be leasing or have  available  and may
place a suitable  prospective  tenant in any such other space regardless of when
such other


                                    - 12 -






space  becomes  available.  Landlord  shall  not  be  required  to  observe  any
instruction  given by Tenant about any reletting or accept any tenant offered by
Tenant unless such offered tenant has a credit-worthiness acceptable to Landlord
and leases the entire  Premises  upon terms and  conditions  including a rate of
rent  (after  giving  effect  to  all   expenditures   by  Landlord  for  tenant
improvements,  broker's  commissions  and  other  leasing  costs)  all  no  less
favorable to Landlord  than as called for in this Lease,  nor shall  Landlord be
required to make or permit any  assignment or sublease for more than the current
term or which  Landlord  would not be required to permit under the provisions of
Article 9.

                      18.1.4.3        Until such time as Landlord shall elect to
terminate the Lease and shall  thereupon be entitled to recover the amounts
specified  in such case in Section  18.1.3,  Tenant  shall pay to Landlord  upon
demand the full amount of all rent as it becomes due and payable,  including any
amounts  treated as additional  rent under this Lease and other sums reserved in
this  Lease  for the  remaining  Term,  together  with  the  costs  of  repairs,
alterations,  additions,  redecorating and Landlord's  expenses of reletting and
the collection of the rent accruing therefrom (including  reasonable  attorney's
fees and broker's commissions), as the same shall then be due or become due from
time to time,  less only such  consideration  as Landlord may have received from
any  reletting of the  Premises;  and Tenant agrees that Landlord may file suits
from time to time to recover any sums  falling due under this Article 18 as they
become due.  Any  proceeds of reletting by Landlord in excess of the amount then
owed by Tenant to Landlord from time to time shall be credited  against Tenant's
future  obligations  under this Lease but shall not  otherwise  be  refunded  to
Tenant or inure to Tenant's benefit.

             18.2 Landlord may, at  Landlord's  option,  enter into and upon the
Premises  if Tenant  fails to  maintain,  repair or replace  anything  for which
Tenant is responsible  under this Lease and Tenant,  after notice (provided that
no notice  shall be due in the case of  emergency),  fails to cure such  default
within the applicable  cure period,  and Landlord may correct the same,  without
being deemed in any manner  guilty of trespass,  eviction or forcible  entry and
detainer and without  incurring any liability for any damage or  interruption of
Tenant's  business  resulting  therefrom.  If  Tenant  shall  have  vacated  the
Premises,  Landlord may at Landlord's  option  re-enter the Premises at any time
during  the last month of the then  current  Term of this Lease and make any and
all such  changes,  alterations,  revisions,  additions  and  tenant  and  other
improvements  in or about the Premises as Landlord shall elect,  all without any
abatement of any of the rent otherwise to be paid by Tenant under this Lease.

             18.3 If, on account of any breach or default by either  Landlord or
Tenant in such party's obligations under the terms and conditions of this Lease,
it shall  become  necessary  or  appropriate  for the  other  party to employ or
consult  with an  attorney  concerning  or to enforce or defend any of the other
party's rights or remedies arising under this Lease, the non-prevailing party in
any action or proceeding agrees to pay all of the prevailing  party's reasonable
attorney's fees so incurred.  Tenant expressly waives any right to: (a) trial by
jury;  and (b)  service of any notice  required  by any present or future law or
ordinance  applicable  to  landlords or tenants but not required by the terms of
this Lease.

             18.4 Pursuit of any of the  foregoing  remedies  shall not preclude
pursuit  of any of the  other  remedies  provided  in this  Lease  or any  other
remedies provided by law (all such remedies being cumulative), nor shall pursuit
of any remedy  provided in this Lease  constitute a forfeiture  or waiver of any
rent due to Landlord under this Lease or of any damages  accruing to Landlord by
reason of the violation of any of the terms,  provisions and covenants contained
in this Lease.

             18.5 No act or thing done by Landlord or its agents during the Term
shall be deemed a termination of this Lease or an acceptance of the surrender of
the Premises,  and no agreement to terminate this Lease or accept a surrender of
said Premises shall be valid, unless in writing signed by Landlord. No waiver by
either  party of any  violation  or breach of any of the terms,  provisions  and
covenants  contained in this Lease shall be deemed or construed to  constitute a
waiver of any other  violation  or breach of any of the  terms,  provisions  and
covenants  contained  in this  Lease.  Landlord's  acceptance  of the payment of
rental or other  payments  after the occurrence of an Event of Default shall not
be construed as a waiver of such Default,  unless Landlord so notifies Tenant in
writing. Forbearance by Landlord in enforcing one or more of the



                                    - 13 -






remedies  provided in this Lease upon an Event of Default shall not be deemed or
construed  to  constitute  a waiver of such  Default or of  Landlord's  right to
enforce  any such  remedies  with  respect  to such  Default  or any  subsequent
Default.

             18.6 To secure the  payment of all  rentals and other sums of money
becoming due from Tenant under this Lease, Landlord shall have and Tenant grants
to Landlord a first lien upon the leasehold interest of Tenant under this Lease,
which lien may be enforced in equity.

             18.7 Any and all property which may be removed from the Premises by
Landlord  pursuant to the  authority of this Lease or of law, to which Tenant is
or may be entitled,  may be handled,  removed and/or stored, as the case may be,
by or at the direction of Landlord but at the risk,  cost and expense of Tenant.
and Landlord shall in no event be  responsible  for the value,  preservation  or
safekeeping  thereof.  Tenant  shall pay to Landlord,  upon demand,  any and all
expenses  incurred in such removal and all storage charges against such property
so long as the  same  shall be in  Landlord's  possession  or  under  Landlord's
control.  Any such property of Tenant not retaken by Tenant from storage  within
thirty (30) days after removal from the Premises shall, at Landlord's option, be
deemed  conveyed  by Tenant to  Landlord  under  this Lease as by a bill of sale
without further payment or credit by Landlord to Tenant.

19.          TENANT'S BANKRUPTCY OR INSOLVENCY.

             19.1 If at any time and for so long as Tenant shall be subjected to
the provisions of the United States  Bankruptcy  Code or other law of the United
States or any state  thereof for the  protection of debtors as in effect at such
time (each a "Debtor's Law"):

                   19.1.1  Tenant,  Tenant  as  debtor-in-possession,   and  any
trustee or receiver of Tenant's assets (each a "Tenant's  Representative") shall
have no greater  right to assume or assign  this Lease or any  interest  in this
Lease,  or to sublease any of the Premises than accorded to Tenant in Article 9,
except to the extent  Landlord  shall be  required  to permit  such  assumption,
assignment  or  sublease  by  the  provisions  of  such  Debtor's  Law.  Without
limitation  of the  generality  of the  foregoing,  any  right  of any  Tenant's
Representative to assume or assign this Lease or to sublease any of the Premises
shall be subject to the conditions that:

                      19.1.1.1        Such Debtor's Law shall provide to
Tenant's  Representative a right of assumption of this Lease which Tenant's
Representative  shall have timely  exercised and Tenant's  Representative  shall
have fully cured any default of Tenant under this Lease.

                      19.1.1.2        Tenant's Representative or the proposed
assignee,  as the case shall be,  shall have  deposited  with  Landlord  as
security  for the timely  payment of rent an amount  equal to the larger of: (a)
three months' Rent and other monetary charges accruing under this Lease; and (b)
any sum specified in Article 5; and shall have  provided  Landlord with adequate
other assurance of the future performance of the obligations of the Tenant under
this Lease. Without limitation,  such assurances shall include, at least, in the
case of  assumption  of this Lease,  demonstration  to the  satisfaction  of the
Landlord that Tenant's  Representative  has and will continue to have sufficient
unencumbered   assets  after  the  payment  of  all  secured   obligations   and
administrative  expenses to assure  Landlord that Tenant's  Representative  will
have  sufficient  funds to fulfill the  obligations  of Tenant under this Lease;
and, in the case of assignment,  submission of current  financial  statements of
the proposed  assignee,  audited by an independent  certified public  accountant
reasonably acceptable to Landlord and showing a net worth and working capital in
amounts determined by Landlord to be sufficient to assure the future performance
by such assignee of all of the Tenant's obligations under this Lease.

                      19.1.1.3        The assumption or any contemplated
assignment of this Lease or subleasing  any part of the Premises,  as shall
be the  case,  will not  breach  any  provision  in any other  lease,  mortgage,
financing agreement or other agreement by which Landlord is bound.

                      19.1.1.4        Landlord shall have, or would have had
absent the Debtor's Law, no right under Article 9 to refuse  consent to the
proposed assignment or sublease



                                     - 14 -





by reason of the identity or nature of the  proposed  assignee or sublessee
or the proposed use of the Premises concerned.

20.          QUIET ENJOYMENT.

Landlord  represents  and warrants that it has full right and authority to enter
into this Lease and that  Tenant,  while  paying the rental and  performing  its
other  covenants and  agreements  contained in this Lease.  shall  peaceably and
quietly  have,  hold and enjoy the Premises  for the Term  without  hindrance or
molestation  from  Landlord  subject to the terms and  provisions of this Lease.
Landlord  shall not be  liable  for any  interference  or  disturbance  by other
tenants  or  third  persons,  nor  shall  Tenant  be  released  from  any of the
obligations of this Lease because of such interference or disturbance.

21.          DAMAGE BY FIRE, ETC.

             21.1 Landlord  shall maintain  standard fire and extended  coverage
insurance  covering the Premises in an amount not less than ninety percent (90%)
of the  replacement  cost  thereof  insuring  against  the  perils  of fire  and
lightning and including  extended  coverage or, at Landlord's  option,  all risk
coverage  and, if Landlord  so elects,  and such  coverage is carried by prudent
landlords of comparable  buildings  located in the area in which the Premises is
located,  earthquake,  flood  and  wind  coverages  and  Tenant  shall  pay,  as
additional  rent,  the cost of such  policies  upon  demand  by  Landlord.  Such
insurance  shall be for the sole benefit of Landlord and under its sole control.
Tenant shall not take out separate insurance  concurrent in form or contributing
in the event of loss with that required to be  maintained by Landlord  hereunder
unless  Landlord is included as a loss payee thereon.  Tenant shall  immediately
notify  Landlord  whenever  any such  separate  insurance is taken out and shall
promptly deliver to Landlord the policy or policies of such insurance.

             21.2 In the event the  Premises or the Building are damaged by fire
or other  cause and in  Landlord's  reasonable  estimation  such  damage  can be
materially  restored  within  six (6)  months  of the date of such fire or other
cause,  Landlord shall forthwith  repair the same and this Lease shall remain in
full force and effect,  except that Tenant shall be entitled to a  proportionate
abatement in rent from the date of such damage.  Such abatement of rent shall be
made pro rata in  accordance  with the extent to which the damage and the making
of such  repairs  shall  interfere  with the use and  occupancy by Tenant of the
Premises from time to time.  Within  forty-five  (45) days from the date of such
damage,  Landlord shall notify Tenant, in writing, of the reasonable  estimation
of the length of time within which material restoration can be completed,  which
estimation  shall be made by an  independent  third party  architect or engineer
chosen by  Landlord,  and such  determination  shall be binding  on Tenant.  For
purposes of this Lease,  the Building or Premises  shall be deemed  '1materially
restored" if they are restored to the condition  existing  immediately  prior to
such fire or other casualty.

             21.3 If such repairs cannot, in Landlord's  reasonable  estimation,
be made within six (6) months, Landlord and Tenant shall each have the option of
giving the other,  at any time within sixty (60) days after such damage,  notice
terminating this Lease as of the date of such damage. In the event of the giving
of such  notice,  this Lease shall  expire and all interest of the Tenant in the
Premises shall  terminate as of the date of such damage as if such date had been
originally fixed in this Lease for the expiration of the Term. In the event that
neither Landlord nor Tenant  exercises its option to terminate this Lease,  then
Landlord  shall  repair or restore such damage,  this Lease  continuing  in full
force and effect,  and the rent  hereunder  shall be  proportionately  abated as
provided in Section 21.2.

             21.4 Landlord shall not be required to repair or replace any damage
or  loss  by or  from  fire  or  other  cause  to  any  panelings,  decorations,
partitions,  additions,  railings, ceilings, floor coverings, office fixtures or
any other  property or  improvements  installed  on the Premises or belonging to
Tenant. Any insurance which may be carried by Landlord or Tenant against loss or
damage to the  Building or Premises  shall be for the sole  benefit of the party
carrying such insurance and under its sole control.

             21.5 In the  event  that  Landlord  should  fail to  complete  such
repairs  and  restoration  within  sixty (60) days after the date  estimated  by
Landlord therefor as extended by


                                    - 15 -





this  Section  21.5,  Tenant may at its option and as its sole remedy  terminate
this Lease by delivering  written  notice to Landlord,  within fifteen (15) days
after the  expiration  of said period of time,  whereupon the Lease shall end on
the date of such  notice or such later date fixed in such  notice as if the date
of such notice was the date originally fixed in this Lease for the expiration of
the Term; provided, however, that if construction is delayed because of changes,
deletions or additions in construction requested by Tenant,  strikes.  lockouts,
casualties, Acts of God, war, material or labor shortages, government regulation
or control or other causes beyond the reasonable control of Landlord, the period
for  restoration,  repair or rebuilding shall be extended for the amount of time
Landlord is so delayed;  provided,  however,  such  extension,  shall not exceed
three (3) months with respect to force majeure delays.

             21.6  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary  contained in this
Article, if the Building is damaged by fire or other casualty in the last twelve
(12)  months of the Term (or in the last  twelve  (12)  months of any  extension
thereof),  and if such damage shall render more than twenty percent (20%) of the
Premises untenantable or shall be reasonably estimated to require more than four
(4) months to repair,  either  Landlord  or Tenant may  terminate  this Lease by
notice to the other party given within thirty (30) days of the date of such fire
or casualty.  If Landlord or Tenant  gives such notice,  this Lease shall end on
the date of such  damage as if the date of such  damage was the date  originally
fixed in this Lease for the expiration of the Term.

             21.7 In the event of any damage or  destruction  to the Building or
Premises by any peril covered by the  provisions of this Article 21, it shall be
Tenant's  responsibility  to properly  secure the  Premises and upon notice from
Landlord to remove forthwith,  at its sole cost and expense, such portion of all
of the property belonging to Tenant or its licensees from such portion or all of
the Building or Premises as Landlord shall request.

22.          EMINENT DOMAIN.

If more than twenty percent (20%) of the Building or if more than twenty percent
(20%) of the portion of the Premises then being used as the parking lot shall be
taken or appropriated by any public or quasi-public authority under the power of
eminent  domain,  or conveyance in lieu of such  appropriation,  either party to
this Lease shall have the right, at its option, of giving the other, at any time
within thirty (30) days after such taking,  notice  terminating  this Lease.  If
neither party to this Lease shall so elect to terminate  this Lease,  the rental
thereafter to be paid shall be adjusted on a fair and equitable  basis under the
circumstances.  In addition to the rights of Landlord  above, if any substantial
part  of  the  Building  shall  be  taken  or  appropriated  by  any  public  or
quasi-public  authority  under the power of eminent domain or conveyance in lieu
thereof, and regardless of whether the Premises or any part thereof are so taken
or appropriated, Landlord shall have the right, at its sole option, to terminate
this Lease.  Landlord shall be entitled to any and all income,  rent,  award, or
any interest  whatsoever  in or upon any such sum,  which may be paid or made in
connection  with any such  public or  quasi-public  use or  purpose,  and Tenant
hereby  assigns to Landlord  any  interest it may have in or claim to all or any
part of such sums,  other than any separate award which may be made with respect
to Tenant's trade fixtures and moving  expenses;  Tenant shall make no claim for
the value of any unexpired Term.

23.          SALE BY LANDLORD.

In event of a sale or  conveyance  by Landlord of the  Building,  the same shall
operate to release  Landlord from any future liability upon any of the covenants
or  conditions,  expressed  or  implied,  contained  in this Lease in  favo1/2of
Tenant,  and in such event Tenant agrees to look solely to the responsibility of
the successor in interest of Landlord in and to this Lease.  Except as set forth
in this Article 23, this Lease shall not be affected by any such sale and Tenant
agrees to attorn to the purchaser or assignee. If any security has been given by
Tenant to secure the faithful performance of any of the covenants of this Lease,
Landlord  shall  transfer  or deliver  said  security,  as such,  to  Landlord's
successor  in interest  and  thereupon  Landlord  shall be  discharged  from any
further liability with regard to said security.

24.          ESTOPPEL CERTIFICATES.

             24.1 Within fifteen (15) days  following any written  request which
Landlord  may make  from time to time,  Tenant  shall  execute  and  deliver  to
Landlord or mortgagee or


                                    - 16 -





prospective mortgagee a sworn statement certifying: (a) the date of commencement
of this Lease; (b) whether this Lease is unmodified and in full force and effect
(or, if there have been  modifications  to this Lease,  whether this Lease is in
full force and  effect,  as  modified,  and  stating the date and nature of such
modifications); (c) the date to which the rent and other sums payable under this
Lease have been paid; (d) to the best of Tenant's knowledge, the fact that there
are no current  defaults under this Lease by either Landlord or Tenant except as
specified in Tenant's statement; and (e) such other matters as may be reasonably
requested by Landlord.  Landlord and Tenant intend that any statement  delivered
pursuant to this Article 24 may be relied upon by any mortgagee,  beneficiary or
purchaser  and Tenant  shall be liable for all loss,  cost or expense  resulting
from the  failure  of any sale or  funding  of any loan  caused by any  material
misstatement  contained in such estoppel certificate.  Tenant irrevocably agrees
that if Tenant fails to execute and deliver such certificate within such fifteen
(15) day period  Landlord  or  Landlord's  beneficiary  or agent may execute and
deliver such certificate on Tenant's behalf,  and that such certificate shall be
fully binding on Tenant.

             24.2 Within fifteen (15) days  following any written  request which
Tenant may make from time to time,  Landlord shall execute and deliver to Tenant
a sworn statement  certifying:  (a) the date of commencement of this Lease;  (b)
whether this Lease is unmodified and in full force and effect (or, if there have
been  modifications  to this  Lease,  whether  this  Lease is in full  force and
effect, as modified, and stating the date and nature of such modifications); (c)
the date to which the rent and other  sums  payable  under  this Lease have been
paid;  (d) to the best of  Landlord's  knowledge,  the fact  that  there  are no
current  defaults  under  this  Lease by either  Landlord  or  Tenant  except as
specified  in  Landlord's  statement;  and  (e)  such  other  matters  as may be
reasonably requested by Tenant.

25.          SURRENDER OF PREMISES.

             25.1 Tenant shall, at Landlord's request, not more than thirty (30)
days  before  the last day of the Term,  arrange  to meet  Landlord  for a joint
inspection  of the  Premises.  In the event of Tenant's  refusal to arrange such
joint  inspection  at  Landlord's  request  to be held  prior  to  vacating  the
Premises, Landlord's inspection at or after Tenant's vacating the Premises shall
be   conclusively   deemed   correct  for  purposes  of   determining   Tenant's
responsibility for repairs and restoration.

             25.2 At the end of the  Term or any  renewal  of the  Term or other
sooner  termination of this Lease,  Tenant will peaceably deliver up to Landlord
possession of the Premises,  together with all improvements or additions upon or
belonging to the same, by whomsoever  made, in the same  conditions  received or
first  installed,  broom clean and free of all debris,  excepting  only ordinary
wear and tear and damage by fire or other casualty or condemnation.  Tenant may,
and at Landlord's  request shall, at Tenant's sole cost, remove upon termination
of this Lease, any and all furniture,  furnishings,  movable  partitions of less
than full  height  from floor to  ceiling,  trade  fixtures  and other  property
installed  by Tenant,  title to which shall not be in or pass  automatically  to
Landlord  upon such  termination,  repairing  all damage caused by such removal.
Property  not so  removed  shall,  unless  requested  to be  removed,  be deemed
abandoned by the Tenant and title to the same shall  thereupon  pass to Landlord
under this Lease as by a bill of sale.  All other  Alterations  in. on or to the
Premises shall be dealt with and disposed of as provided in Article 6.

             25.3 All  obligations  of Tenant and Landlord  under this Lease not
fully  performed as of the  expiration or earlier  termination of the Term shall
survive the expiration or earlier  termination of the Term.  Upon the expiration
or earlier  termination of the Term, Tenant shall pay to Landlord the amount, as
reasonably  estimated by Landlord,  necessary to repair and restore the Premises
as provided in this Lease and/or to  discharge  Tenant's  obligation  for unpaid
amounts due or to become due to  Landlord.  All such  amounts  shall be used and
held by Landlord for payment of such  obligations  of Tenant,  with Tenant being
liable for any additional  costs upon demand by Landlord,  or with any excess to
be  returned  to Tenant  after all such  obligations  have been  determined  and
satisfied.  Any otherwise  unused Security Deposit shall be credited against the
amount payable by Tenant under this Lease.



                                    - 17 -






26.          NOTICES.

Any notice or document  required or permitted  to be delivered  under this Lease
shall be addressed to the intended recipient,  shall be transmitted  personally,
by fully  prepaid  registered  or certified  United  States Mail return  receipt
requested or by Federal Express or other reputable  overnight  delivery  service
furnishing a written record of attempted or actual delivery, and shall be deemed
to be delivered  when  tendered for delivery to the addressee at its address set
forth on the  Reference  Page,  or at such  other  address  as it has then  last
specified by written notice  delivered in accordance with this Article 26, or if
to Tenant at either its aforesaid  address or its last known office,  whether or
not actually accepted or received by the addressee.

27.         TAXES PAYABLE BY TENANT.

In  addition  to rent and other  charges to be paid by Tenant  under this Lease,
Tenant shall  reimburse to Landlord,  upon demand,  any and all taxes payable by
Landlord  (other than income  taxes)  whether or not now customary or within the
contemplation of the parties to this Lease: (a) upon,  allocable to, or measured
by or on the gross or net rent  payable  under  this  Lease,  including  without
limitation any tax or excise tax levied by the State, any political  subdivision
thereof,  or the Federal  Government  solely with respect to the receipt of such
rent;  (b) any  sales,  use or service  tax  imposed on  Landlord  for  services
provided  by Landlord to Tenant;  (c) upon or  measured  by the  Tenant's  gross
receipts or payroll or the value of Tenant's equipment,  furniture, fixtures and
other personal property of Tenant or leasehold improvements, Alterations located
in the Premises; or (d) upon this transaction or any document to which Tenant is
a party  creating or  transferring  any  interest of Tenant in this Lease or the
Premises.   In  addition  to  the  foregoing,   Tenant  agrees  to  pay,  before
delinquency,  any and all taxes  levied or  assessed  against  Tenant  and which
become  payable  during the Term  hereof  upon  Tenant's  equipment,  furniture,
fixtures and other personal property of Tenant located in the Premises.

28.          DEFINED TERMS AND HEADINGS.

The Article  headings  shown in this Lease are for  convenience of reference and
shall in no way define,  increase,  limit or describe the scope or intent of any
provision of this Lease.  Any  indemnification  or  insurance of Landlord  shall
apply to and inure to the  benefit  of all the  following  "Landlord  Entities",
being  Landlord,  Landlord's  investment  manager,  and the trustees,  boards of
directors,   officers,  general  partners,   beneficiaries,   stockholders,
employees and agents of each of them.  Any option granted to Landlord shall also
include  or be  exercisable  by  Landlord's  trustee,  beneficiary,  agents  and
employees,  as the case may be. In any case  where  this Lease is signed by more
than one person,  the  obligations  under this Lease shall be joint and several.
The terms  "Tenant" and  "Landlord"  or any pronoun used in place  thereof shall
indicate and include the masculine or feminine,  the singular or plural  number,
individuals,  firms or corporations,  and each of their  respective  successors,
executors,  administrators  and  permitted  assigns,  according  to the  context
hereof. The term "rentable area" shall mean the rentable area of the Premises or
the Building as specified  on the  Reference  Page.  Tenant  hereby  accepts and
agrees to be bound by the figures for the rentable space footage of the Premises
and Tenant's Proportionate Share shown on the Reference Page.

29.          TENANT'S AUTHORITY.

If Tenant signs as a  corporation  each of the persons  executing  this Lease on
behalf of Tenant  represents  and warrants that Tenant has been and is qualified
to do  business  in the  state  in  which  the  Building  is  located,  that the
corporation has full right and authority to enter into this Lease,  and that all
persons  signing  on  behalf  of the  corporation  were  authorized  to do so by
appropriate corporate actions. If Tenant signs as a partnership,  trust or other
legal  entity,  each of the  persons  executing  this  Lease on behalf of Tenant
represents and warrants that Tenant has complied with all applicable laws, rules
and governmental  regulations  relative to its right to do business in the state
and that such entity on behalf of the Tenant was  authorized to do so by any and
all appropriate  partnership,  trust or other actions.  Tenant agrees to furnish
promptly  upon request a corporate  resolution,  proof of due  authorization  by
partners, or other appropriate documentation evidencing the due authorization of
Tenant to enter into this Lease.



                                    - 18 -





30.         COMMISSIONS.

Each of the parties  represents  and warrants to the other that it has not dealt
with any broker or finder in connection with this Lease,  except as described on
the Reference Page.

31.          TIME AND APPLICABLE LAW.

Time is of the essence of this Lease and all of its provisions. This Lease shall
in all  respects be  governed by the laws of the state in which the  Building is
located.

32.          SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

Subject to the  provisions  of Article 9, the Terms,  covenants  and  conditions
contained  in this Lease  shall be binding  upon and inure to the benefit of the
heirs, successors, executors,  administrators and assigns of the parties to this
Lease.

33.          ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

This Lease,  together with its exhibits,  contains all agreements of the parties
to this  Lease and  supersedes  any  previous  negotiations.  There have been no
representations  made by the Landlord or understandings made between the parties
other than those set forth in this Lease and its exhibits. This Lease may not be
modified  except by a written  instrument  duly  executed by the parties to this
Lease.

34.          EXAMINATION NOT OPTION.


Submission  of  this  Lease  shall  not be  deemed  to be a  reservation  of the
Premises. Landlord shall not be bound by this Lease until it has received a copy
of this Lease duly executed by Tenant and has delivered to Tenant a copy of this
Lease duly executed by Landlord,  and until such delivery  Landlord reserves the
right  to  exhibit  and  lease  the  Premises  to  other  prospective   tenants.
Notwithstanding  anything contained in this Lease to the contrary,  Landlord may
withhold  delivery of  possession of the Premises from Tenant until such time as
Tenant has paid to  Landlord  any  security  deposit  required by Article 5. the
first  month's rent as set forth in Article 3 and any sum owed  pursuant to this
Lease.

35.          RECORDATION.


Tenant shall not record or register this Lease or a short form memorandum hereof
without the prior  written  consent of Landlord,  and then shall pay all charges
and taxes incident to such recording or registration.

36.          LIMITATION OF LANDLORD'S LIABILITY.

             36.1 Tenant  shall look only to  Landlord's  estate and property in
the Land and the Building for the  satisfaction  of any claim against  Landlord,
and  no  other   property  or  assets  of  Landlord  or  its   trustees,   trust
beneficiaries,  stockholders  or board of directors and officers,  or investment
manager, its partners or principals,  disclosed or undisclosed,  as the case may
be, or any  employees or agents of Landlord or the  investment  manager shall be
subject to levy,  execution or other enforcement  procedure for the satisfaction
of Tenant's  remedies under or with respect to this lease,  the  relationship of
Landlord and Tenant hereunder or Tenant's use or occupancy of the Premises

37.          OPTION TO EXTEND.

             37.1 (a) Tenant  shall have an option (the  "Option") to extend the
term of this lease for one (1)  additional  term of five (5) years (the "Renewal
Term")  commencing on the first day next  succeeding  the  Termination  Date and
terminating  on the last day of the month in which the tenth  anniversary of the
Commencement  Date occurs upon the same terms,  conditions and provisions as are
provided  for in this lease  except  that (i) the Annual  Rent  payable  for the
Renewal  Term  shall  be the  fair  market  rent  for  the  Premises  as of such
Termination  Date  determined in the manner  hereinafter  provided and (ii) this
Article 37 shall be deleted therefrom.


                                    - 19 -





     (b) The Option may be exercised  only by Tenant  giving  written  notice to
Landlord of Tenant's  exercise of said Option by certified mail,  return receipt
requested,  not more than  eighteen  (18) months nor less than one year prior to
the  Termination  Date (the  'Exercise  Notice").  Upon  Tenant's  giving of the
Exercise Notice. the term of this Lease shall be extended automatically upon the
terms and  conditions  herein  specified  without the  execution of an extension
agreement or other instrument. It is expressly agreed that Tenant shall not have
an option to extend the term of this Lease beyond the  expiration of the Renewal
Term. If Tenant shall not give  Landlord the Exercise  Notice at the time and in
the manner set forth above,  the Option shall  terminate and be deemed waived by
Tenant.  Time is of the  essence as to the date for the  giving of the  Exercise
Notice.

                   (c) After Landlord  receives the Exercise  Notice,  and if in
Landlord's  opinion an  increase  in the  Annual  Rent for the  Renewal  Term is
warranted because the fair market rent for the Premises has increased,  Landlord
shall send Tenant a notice (the "Revised Rent Notice") stating the amount which,
in Landlord's opinion, shall constitute the fair market rent for the Premises as
of the Termination  Date. Such notice shall be given to Tenant no later than six
(6) months prior to the Termination Date. The increased Annual Rent set forth in
the Revised  Rent Notice  shall be  effective as of the first day of the Renewal
Term, subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided.

             37.2 (a) If Landlord gives a Revised Rent Notice,  then at any time
within thirty (30) days after the giving of such Revised Rent Notice, Tenant may
dispute  the fair  market rent for the  Premises  as  determined  by Landlord by
giving notice to Landlord that it is initiating the appraisal  process  provided
for herein and  specifying in such Notice the name and address of the arbitrator
designated by Tenant to act on its behalf.  Within 15 days after the designation
of Tenant's arbitrator, Landlord shall give notice to Tenant specifying the name
and address of Landlord's  arbitrator.  The two arbitrators so chosen shall meet
within 10 days after the second  arbitrator  is appointed and if, within 20 days
after the second  arbitrator is appointed,  the two arbitrators  shall not agree
upon a determination  in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section 37.2 they
shall together appoint a third arbitrator.  If said two arbitrators cannot agree
upon the appointment of a third  arbitrator  within 10 days after the expiration
of such 20 day period,  then either party,  on behalf of both,  and on notice to
the other, may request such appointment by the American Arbitration  Association
(or any successor organization) in accordance with its then prevailing rules. If
the American Arbitration Association shall fail to appoint said third arbitrator
within sixty (60) days after such request is made,  then either party may apply,
on notice to the other, to the Supreme Court, New York County,  New York (or any
other court having  jurisdiction and exercising  functions  similar to those now
exercised by the foregoing court) for the appointment of such third arbitrator.

                    (b) Each of the  arbitrators  selected  as  herein  provided
shall have at least five years  experience in the leasing or management of space
in office parks in Suffolk  County,  New York. Each party shall pay the fees and
expenses of the  arbitrator  selected by it. The fees and  expenses of the third
arbitrator and all other expenses (not including  attorney's fees,  witness fees
and similar  expenses of the parties which shall be borne  separately by each of
the parties) of the arbitration shall be borne equally by the parties hereto.

                   (c) Within five (5) days after the  appointment  of the third
arbitrator,  Landlord's  arbitrator and Tenant's arbitrator shall submit to such
third arbitrator their respective  determinations of fair market rent and within
twenty (20) days thereafter, the third arbitrator shall select the determination
of either rate which is either the rate  submitted  to the third  arbitrator  by
Landlord1s  arbitrator or Tenant's  arbitrator.  In rendering  such decision and
award,  the arbitrators  shall assume or take into  consideration as appropriate
all of the  following:  (i) the Landlord and  prospective  tenant are  typically
motivated;  (ii) the Landlord and prospective  tenant are well informed and well
advised and each is acting in what it considers its own best  interest;  (iii) a
reasonable time under then-existing market conditions is allowed for exposure of
the  Premises  on the  open  market;  (iv)  the rent is  unaffected  by  special
financing amounts and/or terms, or unusual  services,  fees, costs or credits in
connection  with the leasing  transaction;  (v) the effect on rent of  customary
rent concessions and/or work allowances; (vi) the Premises are fit for immediate
occupancy and use "as is" and require no additional work by Landlord and that no
work has been  carried  out  thereon  by the  Tenant,  its  subtenant,  or their
predecessors in interest during the term


                                    - 20 -





which has  diminished  the rental value of the Premises;  (vii) in the event the
Premises  have been  destroyed or damaged by fire or other  casualty,  they have
been  fully  restored;  (viii)  that  the  Premises  are to be let  with  vacant
possession and subject to the provisions of this lease for a five (5) year term;
and (ix) market rents then being charged for  comparable  space in other similar
office  parks in the same area.  In  rendering  such  decision  and  award,  the
arbitrators  shall not modify the  provisions  of this lease.  The  decision and
award of the third arbitrator shall be in writing and be final and conclusive on
all parties and  counterpart  copies  thereof shall be delivered to each of said
parties.  Judgment may be had on the decision and award of the third  arbitrator
(or if Landlord's  arbitrator and Tenants  arbitrator  reach agreement on a fair
market rent  without the  appointment  of a third  arbitrator,  the decision and
award of  Landlord's  and  Tenant's  arbitrators)  so  rendered  in any court of
competent jurisdiction.

                   (d) Prior to the  determination  of the  arbitrators,  Tenant
shall pay as the Annual Rent it is  obligated to pay under this lease the amount
set forth in the Revised Rent Notice and in the event the arbitrators  determine
that the Annual Rent  payable  pursuant to this Article 37 is less than that set
forth in the Revised Rent  Notice,  then Tenant shall be entitled to a credit in
the  amount  of its  overpayment  for the  period  commencing  on the  first day
following the  Expiration  Date against  subsequent  payments of Annual Rent due
hereunder.  In the event that the  arbitrators  determine  that the Annual  Rent
payable  pursuant to this  Article 37 is more than that set forth in the Revised
Rent  Notice,  then Tenant  shall  promptly  pay to  Landlord  the amount of its
underpayment for the period commencing on the day following the Expiration Date.

             37.3 (a) Notwithstanding  the foregoing  provisions of this Article
37, if on the date that Tenant exercises the Option or if on any subsequent date
up to and including the Expiration Date, Tenant is in default in the performance
of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of this lease and such default has
continued beyond the applicable  grace and notice period herein  provided,  then
Tenant's  exercise  of the  Option and the  extension  of the term of this lease
contemplated  thereby  shall,  at the option of  Landlord  exercised  by written
notice to Tenant,  be rendered null and void and shall be of no further force or
effect. Tenant shall have no further or additional right to exercise the Option,
which shall be deemed waived by Tenant.

                   (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing  provisions of this Article
37, if Tenant shall assign the lease or sublet the Premises in whole or in part,
other than  pursuant to Section  9.8 or Section  9.9 of this  Lease,  the Option
shall  automatically  be rendered null and void and shall be of no further force
or effect.  Tenant  shall have no further or  additional  right to exercise  the
Option,  which shall be automatically deemed waived by Tenant upon an assignment
or subletting.

             37.4 If Tenant exercises the Option,  then, at Landlord's  request,
Tenant  agrees  within  fifteen (15) business days after such request is made to
execute, acknowledge and deliver to Landlord an instrument in form and substance
satisfactory  to Landlord,  confirming  (i) the Annual Rent  payable  under this
Lease and (ii) the expiration  date of the Renewal Term, but no such  instrument
shall be required to make the terms of this Article 37 effective.

             37.5  Nothing  contained  in this Article 37 shall be deemed in any
way to modify the provisions of Article 4 hereunder.

38.          MISCELLANEOUS.

             38.1  Nothing  contained  in Article 4,  Article 6 or Article 27 of
this Lease shall  require  Tenant to pay (a) any general  income tax,  franchise
tax, corporate  transfer tax, estate or gift tax imposed on Landlord  generally,
rather than solely as an owner of the Premises, or (b) any mortgage,  recording,
stamp, encumbrancing or transfer tax on the sale or lease of the Premises or the
Building  or any stock of or  interest in  Landlord,  or any portion  thereof or
interest therein.

             38.2 Except as provided below,  Landlord shall remove,  but only if
and to the extent required by  Environmental  Laws or other  applicable laws, in
compliance  with all  Environmental  Laws, all Hazardous  Materials (i) that are
present  in or on the  Premises  as of the date  hereof  or that  are  hereafter
present in or on the Premises due to the acts or negligent or wrongful omissions
of Landlord or Landlord's  agents,  employees or  contractors,  or (ii) that are
present in or on the Premises due to the migration of such  Hazardous  Materials
from other

                                    - 21 -






properties that does not result from the acts or negligent or wrongful  omission
of Tenant.  Tenant  shall be  responsible  for the removal  (whether or not such
removal  is  required  by  Environmental  Laws  or  other  applicable  laws)  in
compliance with all Environmental  Laws of all Hazardous  Materials in or on the
Premises due to all other causes,  including but not limited to, illegal dumping
in or on the  Premises.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained in
this  Section  38.2,  Landlord  shall  not be  responsible  for the  removal  or
encapsulation  of the  asbestos-containing  materials  contained  in the  mastic
located  under or behind the vinyl cove base in the  Building  ("Mastic  ACMs").
provided,  that if the  Initial  Alterations  necessitate  the removal of Mastic
ACM's in order to comply  with law,  Landlord  shall  remove  the  Mastic  ACM's
provided that Tenant shall pay to Landlord, as additional,  rent, $7,500 towards
the cost of such removal (which sum shall be paid by Tenant within 10 days after
demand therefor from Landlord).

             38.3  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary  contained in this
Lease,  including but not limited to Section 25.2. Tenant shall only be required
to remove from the Premises at the end of the Term such  Alterations made to the
Premises (including, without limitation, the Initial Alterations) which Landlord
specifies at the time Landlord  approves the plans and  specifications  for such
Alterations;  provided that Tenant,  at the time Tenant submitted such plans and
specifications   to  Landlord   for  its   review,   requested   that   Landlord
specifications  those items that Landlord  shall require Tenant to remove at the
end of the Term.

             38.4 Subject to Landlord's  approval  (which  approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld), Tenant may install (a) one monument sign on the Premises
identifying  Tenant by name and/or logo and (b) one sign on the  Building by the
Building entrance  identifying Tenant by name and/or logo, provided that in each
case (i) such signs comply with all applicable legal  requirements and insurance
requirements,  and (b)  Tenant  removes  such  signs  at the end of the Term and
repairs all damage caused by such removal and restores the affected areas of the
Premises to the condition that existed prior to the installation of such signs.

             38.5  It is  agreed  that  Tenant  shall  not  be  responsible  for
complying  with any present or future  laws,  orders,  rules or  regulations  of
federal,   state,  county,   municipal  or  other  governments  or  governmental
authorities or any of their  departments,  commissions,  boards,  or agencies or
with any direction or  recommendation of any public officer or officers pursuant
to law or with any orders or notices of the National Board of Fire  Underwriters
or any  requirements  of any insurer of the  Building or any part  thereof,  (a)
which Landlord or any affiliate,  predecessor in interest,  servant, employee or
agent of Landlord  has  violated or (b) where a notice of violation or order was
issued  prior  to  the  Commencement   Date  or  (c)  which  require  any  work,
investigation(s),  or  certification(s)  to be made with regard to the  Landlord
Repair  Items  under a law  enacted  after the date of this  Lease  unless  such
compliance  is required by reason of  Tenant's  particular  manner of use of the
demised  premises,  any  Alterations  performed  by Tenant  (including,  without
limitation, the Initial Alterations) or method of operation therein, unless such
violations shall be cured by Tenant's performance of the Initial Alterations.

             38.6  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary  contained in this
Lease,  this Lease shall be subject and  subordinate to any ground or underlying
lease,  deed of trust or  mortgage  which may affect the  Premises  (or any part
thereof). Landlord shall request a non-disturbance agreement on behalf of Tenant
from the holder of each ground or  underlying  lease,  deed of trust or mortgage
that may now or hereafter  encumber  the  Premises,  and Landlord  shall use its
reasonable efforts to obtain same (it being acknowledged that reasonable efforts
shall not be deemed to require the payment of any money or the  commencement  of
any judicial or non-judicial  action or  proceeding),  but  notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  this Lease and 'Tenant's obligations hereunder shall not be affected
or impaired in any respect  should any such holder  decline to enter into such a
non-disturbance agreement.










                                    - 22 -










LANDLORD:                                    TENANT:
RREEF MIDAMERICA/EAST-V NINE,                VICON INDUSTRIES, INC., a
INC., a Delaware corporation                 New York corporation

By: RREEF Management Company, a
California Corporation

By:    Alane Berkowitz                        By:    Kenneth M. Darby

Title: District Manager                       Title: President

Dated: 12/24/96                               Dated: 12/24/96



















































                                    - 23 -







                                  EXHIBIT A

             attached to and made apart of Lease bearing the
            Lease Reference Date of December 24, 1996 between
         RREEF MIDAMERICA/EAST-V NINE, INC., as Landlord and
                   VICON INDUSTRIES INC. as Tenant

                              PREMISES





ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land situate, lying and being at
Hauppauge in the Town of Smithtown, County of Suffolk and State of New York,
being part of Lot 6 on a certain map entitled, "Map of Suffolk County Business
Center Section No. 2" filed in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Suffolk
on August 31, 1978 as Map No. 6715 bounded and described as follows:

BEGINNING at a point on the southerly side of Arkay Drive, said point or place
of beginning being 98.42 feet easterly, as measured along the southerly side of
Arkay Drive from the easterly end of a 40 foot radius curve which connects the
southerly side of Arkay Drive with the easterly side of Adams Avenue;

RUNNING THENCE easterly from said point or place of beginning, along the 
southerly side of Arkay Drive north 86 degrees 44 minutes 08 seconds East, a
distance of 519.37 feet to a point;

RUNNING THENCE southerly south 3 degrees 15 minutes 52 seconds East, a distance
of 425.00 feet to a point;

RUNNING THENCE westerly south 86 degrees 44 minutes 08 seconds West, a distance
of 519.37 feet to a point;

RUNNING THENCE northerly north 3 degrees 15 minutes 52 seconds West a distance
of 425.00 feet to the southerly side of Arkay Drive and the point or place of
BEGINNING.


























                                 Ex. A - 1







                                  EXHIBIT B

               attached to and made a part of Lease bearing the
              Lease Reference Date of December 24, l996 between
             RREEF MIDAMERICA/EAST-V NINE, INC., as Landlord and
                      VICON INDUSTRIES, INC., as Tenant

                             INITIAL ALTERATIONS

The purpose of this  Exhibit B is to describe  those items of work  constituting
the  Initial  Alterations.  The same shall be done (i) as shown on the  approved
Plans and Specifications,  (ii) in accordance with the Lease, including, without
limitation.  Article  6  thereof  and  this  Exhibit  B  thereto,  and  (iii) in
compliance with all applicable Insurance requirements, Legal requirements, rules
and  codes  and such  reasonable  rules  and  regulations  as  Landlord  and its
architects  and  engineers may make.  The  provisions of this Exhibit B shall be
supplemental  to and shall be an  integral  part of the Lease.  Any  capitalized
terms  used in this  Exhibit  B shall be  construed  in  accordance  with  their
definitions in the Lease, unless otherwise defined in this Exhibit B.

TENANT'S INITIAL ALTERATIONS:

             All  Alterations  to be performed  in order to furnish,  finish and
prepare the Premises for Tenant's initial  occupancy  thereof shall be performed
by Tenant (the  "Initial  Alterations),  at Tenant's  sole cost and expense,  as
hereinabove and hereinbelow set forth.

             The Initial  Alterations may include,  but shall not be limited to,
the  installation  of fixtures and equipment for heating,  ventilating,  and air
conditioning  the demised  premises,  sprinklerization,  plumbing and electrical
work and interior partitions.

             The Initial Alterations shall be performed as follows:

             1. On or before  the date that is sixty (60) days after the date of
this Lease ("Plan Submission  Date"),  Tenant shall submit to Landlord,  working
drawings,  specifications and information  describing the Initial Alterations in
reasonable detail (collectively, "Plans and Specifications").

             2. The Plans and Specifications shall be fully detailed, shall show
complete  dimensions,  shall have designated  thereon all points of location and
other matters, including the finish schedules, reasonably requested by Landlord,
and  shall  consist  of  the  final  Plans  and  Specifications  (including  air
conditioning,  ventilating, electrical, plumbing and engineering design drawings
and  specifications,  which shall be prepared by an engineer  employed by Tenant
and reasonably  approved by Landlord)  prepared by Tenant's  licensed  engineer,
interior  architect or designer to describe  the manner in which Tenant  desires
the demised  premises to be finished by Tenant,  including  any changes  thereto
from time to time requested by Tenant or made to obtain the approvals or permits
referred to in Paragraph 3 of this Exhibit B. The Plans and Specifications shall
comply  with all Legal  requirements  and  Insurance  requirements  relating  to
construction  of  the  Building  and/or  the  demised  premises.  Prior  to  the
commencement of any Initial Alterations, the Plans and Specifications shall have
been approved in writing by Landlord,  but such  approval  shall be as to layout
only,  shall not be deemed to be an approval of the  legality or the cost of the
Initial   Alterations   or  the   Plans  and   Specifications.   The  Plans  and
Specifications shall not be changed or modified by Tenant after such approval by
Landlord  without the approval in writing of Landlord.  Landlord  shall approve,
conditionally   approve  or  disapprove   the  Plans  and   Specifications,   or
modifications thereof,  within ten (10) business days after the receipt thereof,
or with respect to any resubmissions of the Plans and  Specifications,  within 5
business days after the receipt thereof. Any disapproval or conditional approval
of such plans and specifications shall set forth in reasonable detail Landlord's
objections thereto.

             3.  Upon   written   approval   by   Landlord   of  the  Plans  and
Specifications, Tenant shall, with reasonable speed and diligence. file with the
appropriate  governmental  authority or authorities the Plans and Specifications
and any plans for air conditioning, ventilating, heating, mechanical, electrical
and plumbing work, and shall take whatever action shall be necessary  (including
modifications approved by Landlord of Plans and Specifications) to


                              Ex. B - 1






obtain and maintain all  governmental  permits and  authorizations  which may be
required in connection with the Initial Alterations. Tenant shall pay all filing
fees and other costs in connection therewith. Tenant shall deliver copies of all
such permits and  authorizations to Landlord pursuant to the commencement of the
Initial Alterations. Landlord shall cooperate with Tenant in connection with the
aforesaid.  Tenant will  promptly  furnish to Landlord  copies of all  Buildings
Department approved drawings.

LANDLORD'S CONTRIBUTION:

                   1.  Landlord  shall  reimburse  Tenant  for  the  cost of the
Eligible Tenant Work (as defined below) in an amount (the "Work  Allowance") not
to exceed $125,000.00 upon the following terms and conditions:

                   (a)  The  Work  Allowance  shall  be  payable  to  Tenant  in
        installments  as Eligible Tenant Work  progresses,  but in no event more
        frequently than monthly.

                   (b) Landlord  shall make  payments  within  thirty (30) days
after receipt of all of the following from Tenant:  (A) a certificate  signed by
Tenant1s  architect and an officer of Tenant certifying that the Eligible Tenant
Work for which  payment is being  sought has been  satisfactorily  completed  in
accordance with the plans and specifications  therefor approved by Landlord, (B)
such  evidence  of payment  of the cost of the  Eligible  Tenant  Work for which
payment is being sought that Landlord may reasonably request,  (C) a lien waiver
from all  contractors,  subcontractors  and materialmen  performing the Eligible
Tenant Work, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Landlord, provided
that if any contractor shall refuse to deliver any such lien waiver by reason of
a dispute over the amount due such  contractor,  Landlord shall not withhold the
entire Work  Allowance,  but shall only hold back 110% of the  disputed  portion
until Tenant  delivers to Landlord a lien waiver or obtains the discharge of any
lien filed by such contractor or delivers to Landlord proof of payment of amount
due such contractor as finally determined by a court of competent  jurisdiction,
and (D)  with  regard  to the  final  disbursement  of the Work  Allowance,  all
necessary  licenses,   approvals,   permits  and  signoffs  required  under  all
applicable  laws that are  necessary  for Tenant to occupy the  Premises for the
conduct of its business; and

                   (c)   No Event of Default shall have occurred and be
        continuing under the Lease.

                   (d)   The right to receive reimbursement for the cost of the
        Initial Alterations as set forth in this Exhibit B shall be for the
        exclusive benefit of Tenant, it being the express intent of the  parties
        hereto that in no event shall such right be conferred upon or for the
        benefit of any third  party, including, without limitation, any
        contractor, subcontractor, materialman, laborer, architect, engineer,
        attorney or any other person, firm or entity.

             2. "Eligible Tenant Work" means the Initial Alterations,  including
demolition,  and shall not include  so-called soft costs or movable  partitions,
business and trade fixtures, machinery,  equipment,  furniture,  furnishings and
other articles of personal property.

                   The  right  to  receive  reimbursement  for  the  cost of the
Eligible  Tenant Work as set forth herein shall be for the exclusive  benefit of
Tenant, it being the express intent of the parties hereto that in no event shall
such right be conferred  upon or for the benefit of any third party,  including,
without  limitation,  any  contractor,   subcontractor,   materialman,  laborer,
architect, engineer, attorney or any other person, firm or entity.

             4 If Landlord  shall default in its obligation to pay to Tenant the
Work Allowance pursuant to this Exhibit B, and such default shall continue for a
period of thirty (30) days after  notice from Tenant shall be given to Landlord,
which  notice shall state that the failure to cure such  default  shall  entitle
Tenant to offset such  amounts  from the rent  payable  under this  Lease,  then
unless Landlord shall be disputing Tenant's right to such payment,  Tenant shall
have the right to offset the unpaid portion of the Work  Allowance,  against the
next succeeding  payments of rent payable under this Lease. If the parties shall
be disputing Tenant's right to such

                                   Ex. B -2










payment,  the right of Tenant to offset any amounts  pursuant to this  Exhibit B
shall be deferred until the resolution of such dispute.


























































                                   Ex. B -3










                                  EXHIBIT C

               attached to and made a part of Lease bearing the
              Lease Reference Date of December 24, 1996 between
             RREEF MIDAMERICA/EAST-V NINE. INC., as Landlord and
                      VICON INDUSTRIES, INC., as Tenant

                                   WARRANTY

             Landlord  represents and warrants that the Building shall be in the
following condition (the "Minimum Acceptable  Condition") as of the Commencement
Date,  and shall,  promptly  after  receiving  notice from Tenant,  perform such
repairs, replacements,  improvements,  changes, and alterations as are necessary
to assure that the Building is in Minimum Acceptable Condition:

             1.    The Building shall be served by 2,000 amps of 3 phase
                   electricity.

             2.    The sprinkler and fire protection systems shall be in good
                   working order.

             3.    The HVAC system shall be in good working order.

             4.    The plumbing system shall be in good working order.

             5.    The outdoor sprinkler system shall be in good working order.

             Any claim  with  respect  to items 1, 2, 3 and 4 above must be made
within  thirty  (30)  days of the date  hereof,  with the  exception  of  claims
regarding  the air  conditioning  system under item 3. If Tenant fails to make a
claim to Landlord by such date,  Landlord  shall have no further  obligation  to
Tenant under this Exhibit C.

             Any  claim  with  respect  to item 5 above or the air  conditioning
system  under item 3 above must be made no later than June 30,  1997.  If Tenant
fails to make a claim to Landlord by such date,  Landlord  shall have no further
obligation to Tenant under this Exhibit C. Upon Tenant's request, Landlord shall
assign the warranty for the Building boiler to Tenant, without representation or
recourse, for the term of this Lease. Upon the expiration or earlier termination
of this Lease,  Tenant shall  assign the  warranty  for the  Building  boiler to
Landlord without  representation  or recourse.  Notwithstanding  anything to the
contrary  contained  in this Exhibit C,  Landlord  shall have no  obligation  to
Tenant under this Exhibit C for any claims  resulting from the acts or negligent
or wrongful omissions of Tenant or its agents, employees and contractors.

             Landlord  is  currently  replacing  the  existing  boilers  in  the
Building,  which  replacement is anticipated to be completed by January 31, 1997
(subject to force  majeure).  Landlord shall use reasonable  efforts to complete
such  replacement by January 31, 1997. The  replacement  boilers will have a BTU
capacity  at least  equal to the BTU  capacity  of the  existing  boiler  at the
Premises.















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