Exhibit10.1 PANSOFTCOMPANY LIMITED FORM OF STOCK OPTIONAGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

A. The Board has adopted the Plan for the purpose of retaining the services of selected Employees, non-employee members of the Board or of the board of directors of any Parent or Subsidiary and consultants and other independent advisors who provide services to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

 

B. Optionee is to render valuable services to the Corporation (or a Parent or Subsidiary), and this Agreement is executed pursuant to, and is intended to carry out the purposes of, the Plan in connection with the Corporation’s grant of an option to Optionee.

 

C. All capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to them in the attached Appendix.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:

 

1. Grant of Option.  The Corporation hereby grants to Optionee, as of the Grant Date, an option to purchase up to the number of Option Shares specified in the Grant Notice.  The Option Shares shall be purchasable from time to time during the option term specified in Paragraph 3 at the Exercise Price.

 

2. Shareholder Approval.  This option shall not become exercisable with respect to any Option Shares unless shareholder approval of the Plan is obtained on or before July 21, 2009.  In the event shareholder approval of the Plan is not obtained on or before July 21, 2009, this option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding.

 

3. Option Term.  This option shall have a maximum term of five (5) years measured from the Grant Date and shall accordingly expire at the close of business on the Expiration Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with Paragraph 6 or 7.

 

4. Limited Transferability.  This option shall be neither transferable nor assignable by Optionee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution following Optionee’s death and may be exercised, during Optionee’s lifetime, only by Optionee.  However, if this option is designated a Non-Statutory Option in the Grant Notice, then this option may, in connection with the Optionee’s estate plan, be assigned in whole or in part during Optionee’s lifetime to one or more members of the Optionee’s immediate family or to a trust established for the exclusive benefit of Optionee and/or one or more such family members.  The assigned portion shall be exercisable only by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the option pursuant to such assignment.  The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for this option immediately prior to such assignment.

 

5. Dates of Exercise.  Subject to Paragraphs 2 and 11, this option shall become exercisable for the Option Shares in one or more installments as specified in the Grant Notice.  As the option becomes exercisable for such installments, those installments shall accumulate, and the option shall remain exercisable for the accumulated installments until the Expiration Date or sooner termination of the option term under Paragraph 6 or 7.

 

6. Cessation of Service/Termination of Option.  The option term specified in Paragraph 2 shall terminate (and this option shall cease to be outstanding) prior to the Expiration Date should any of the following provisions become applicable:

 

            (a) Should Optionee cease to remain in Service for any reason (other than death, Permanent Disability or Misconduct) while holding this option, then Optionee shall have a period of three (3) months (commencing with the date of such cessation of Service) during which to exercise this option, but in no event shall this option be exercisable at any time after the Expiration Date.

 

            (b) Should Optionee die while holding this option, then the personal representative of Optionee’s estate or the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to Optionee’s will or in accordance with the laws of inheritance shall have the right to exercise this option.  Such right shall lapse, and this option shall cease to be outstanding, upon the earlier of (i) the expiration of the twelve (12)-month period measured from the date of Optionee’s death or (ii) the Expiration Date.

 

            (c) Should Optionee cease Service by reason of Permanent Disability while holding this option, then Optionee shall have a period of twelve (12) months (commencing with the date of such cessation of Service) during which to exercise this option.  In no event shall this option be exercisable at any time after the Expiration Date.

 

            (d) The applicable post-Service exercise period in effect for this option pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Paragraph 6 shall automatically be extended by an additional period of time equal in duration to any interval within that otherwise applicable post-Service exercise period during which the exercise of this option or the immediate sale of the Option Shares acquired hereunder cannot be effected in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, but in no event shall such an extension result in the continuation of this option beyond the Expiration Date.

            (e) During the limited period of post-Service exercisability, this option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the number of vested Option Shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of Optionee’s cessation of Service.  Upon the expiration of such limited exercise period or (if earlier) upon the Expiration Date, this option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding for any vested Option Shares for which the option has not been exercised.  However, this option shall, immediately upon Optionee’s cessation of Service for any reason, terminate and cease to be outstanding with respect to any Option Shares in which Optionee is not otherwise at that time vested or for which this option is not otherwise at that time exercisable.

 

            (f) Should Optionee’s Service be terminated for Misconduct, or should Optionee engage in Misconduct at any time Optionee holds this option, then this option shall terminate immediately and cease to remain outstanding.

 

7. Special Acceleration of Option.

 

            (a) This option to the extent outstanding at the time of a Change in Control but not otherwise fully exercisable, shall not become exercisable on an accelerated basis if and to the extent: (i) this option is, in connection with the Change in Control, to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction or (ii) this option is to be replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the spread existing at the time of the Change in Control on the Option Shares for which this option is not otherwise at that time exercisable (the excess of the Fair Market Value of those Option Shares over the aggregate Exercise Price payable for such shares) and provides for subsequent payout of that spread in accordance with the same option exercise/vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice.  However, if none of the foregoing conditions apply to this option at the time of Change in Control, then this option shall automatically accelerate so that such option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of that Change in Control, become exercisable for all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to this option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock.

 

            (b) Immediately following the Change in Control, this option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent this option is assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) in connection with the Change in Control or is otherwise to continue in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction.

 

            (c) If this option is assumed in connection with a Change in Control or is otherwise to continue in full force and effect, then this option shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Change in Control, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have been issuable to Optionee in consummation of such Change in Control had the option been exercised immediately prior to such Change in Control, and appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the Exercise Price, provided the aggregate Exercise Price shall remain the same. To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control transaction, the successor corporation may, in connection with the assumption or continuation of this option, substitute one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in such Change in Control transaction.

 

            (d) This Agreement shall not in any way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

8. Adjustment in Option Shares.  Should any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be made to (i) the total number and/or class of securities subject to this option and (ii) the Exercise Price in order to reflect such change and thereby preclude a dilution or enlargement of benefits hereunder.

 

9. Shareholder Rights. The holder of this option shall not have any shareholder rights by reason of this option.

 

10. Manner of Exercising Option.

 

            (a) In order to exercise this option with respect to all or any part of the Option Shares for which this option is at the time exercisable, Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising the option) must take the following actions:

 

                (i) Execute and deliver to the Corporation a Notice of Exercise for the Option Shares for which the option is exercised.

 

                (ii) Provide irrevocable instructions (I) to a Corporation-designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of all the purchased shares and (II) to the Corporation to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale transaction.  The broker shall remit to the Corporation sufficient funds to cover the aggregate Exercise Price payable for the purchased shares plus all applicable income tax, social insurance, payroll tax, contributions, payment on account obligations or other payments (“Taxes”) required to be withheld by the Corporation by reason of such exercise.  All remaining proceeds shall be paid in cash to Optionee in accordance with the Corporation’s procedures and applicable law and regulations.  The sale of the purchased shares shall be effected in accordance with the procedures established by the Corporation and the brokerage firm.

 

                (iii) Furnish to the Corporation appropriate documentation that the person or persons exercising the option (if other than Optionee) have the right to exercise this option.

 

            (b) In no event may this option be exercised for any fractional shares.

11. Compliance with Laws and Regulations.

 

            (a) The exercise of this option and the issuance of the Option Shares to the broker upon such exercise shall be subject to compliance by the Corporation and Optionee with all applicable requirements of law (including without limitation, approval of the Plan by the China State Administration of Foreign Exchange and other local laws in the countries of Optionee’s employment and residence) relating thereto and with all applicable regulations of any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq Capital Market, if applicable) on which the Common Stock may be listed for trading at the time of such exercise and issuance.

 

            (b) The inability of the Corporation to obtain approval from any regulatory body having authority deemed by the Corporation to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Common Stock pursuant to this option shall relieve the Corporation of any liability with respect to the non-issuance or sale of the Common Stock as to which such approval shall not have been obtained.  The Corporation, however, shall use its best efforts to obtain all such approvals.

 

12. Successors and Assigns.  Except to the extent otherwise provided in Paragraphs 4 and 7, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Corporation and its successors and assigns and Optionee, Optionee’s assigns and the legal representatives, heirs and legatees of Optionee’s estate.

 

13. Notices.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Corporation under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporation at its principal corporate offices.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to Optionee shall be in writing and addressed to Optionee at the address indicated below Optionee’s signature line on the Grant Notice.  All notices shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the party to be notified.

 

14. Construction.  This Agreement and the option evidenced hereby are made and granted pursuant to the Plan and are in all respects limited by and subject to the terms of the Plan.  The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to interpret and construe any term or provision of the Plan or this Agreement, and such interpretation shall be binding on all persons having an interest in this option.

 

15. Governing Law; Translated Documents.  The interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the British Virgin Islands without resort to that State’s conflict-of-laws rules.  If Optionee has received this or any other document related to the Plan translated into a language other than English, and if the translated version is different from the English version, the English version shall control.

 

16. Additional Terms Applicable to an Incentive Option.  In the event this option is designated an Incentive Option in the Grant Notice, the following terms and conditions shall also apply to the grant:

 

            (a) This option shall cease to qualify for favorable tax treatment as an Incentive Option if (and to the extent) this option is exercised for one or more Option Shares: (A) more than three (3) months after the date Optionee ceases to be an Employee for any reason other than death or Permanent Disability or (B) more than twelve (12) months after the date Optionee ceases to be an Employee by reason of Permanent Disability.

 

            (b) No installment under this option shall qualify for favorable tax treatment as an Incentive Option if (and to the extent) the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the Grant Date) of the Common Stock for which such installment first becomes exercisable hereunder would, when added to the aggregate value (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) of the Common Stock or other securities for which this option or any other Incentive Options granted to Optionee prior to the Grant Date (whether under the Plan or any other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) first become exercisable during the same calendar year, exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) in the aggregate.  Should such One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limitation be exceeded in any calendar year, this option shall nevertheless become exercisable for the excess shares in such calendar year as a Non-Statutory Option.

 

            (c) Should the exercisability of this option be accelerated upon a Change in Control, then this option shall qualify for favorable tax treatment as an Incentive Option only to the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the Grant Date) of the Common Stock for which this option first becomes exercisable in the calendar year in which the Change in Control occurs does not, when added to the aggregate value (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) of the Common Stock or other securities for which this option or one or more other Incentive Options granted to Optionee prior to the Grant Date (whether under the Plan or any other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) first become exercisable during the same calendar year, exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) in the aggregate.  Should the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limitation be exceeded in the calendar year of such Change in Control, the option may nevertheless be exercised for the excess shares in such calendar year as a Non-Statutory Option.

 

            (d) Should Optionee hold, in addition to this option, one or more other options to purchase Common Stock which become exercisable for the first time in the same calendar year as this option, then for purposes of the foregoing limitations on the exercisability of such options as Incentive Options, this option and each of those other options shall be deemed to become first exercisable in that calendar year on the basis of the chronological order in which they were granted, except to the extent otherwise provided under applicable law or regulation.

 

17. Severability.  The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if any one or more provisions may be determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

 

18. Electronic Delivery.  The Corporation may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any document related to the option, the Plan or future options that may be granted under the Plan by electronic means, and Optionee hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery.

I hereby notify Pansoft Company Limited (the “Corporation”) that I elect to exercise that certain option (the “Option”) granted to me under the Corporation’s 2008 Stock Incentive Plan on ___________________, 20___ for ______________ shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock (the “Purchased Shares”) at the option exercise price of $________ per share (the “Exercise Price”).

 

Concurrently with the delivery of this Exercise Notice to the Corporation, I shall utilize the special broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure specified in my agreement to effect payment of the Exercise Price and any additional amounts for which I am liable or which are required to be withheld by my employer and shall deliver whatever additional documents may be required by such agreement as a condition for exercise.

       The following definitions shall be in effect under the Agreement:

 

A. Agreement shall mean this Stock Option Agreement.

 

B. Board shall mean the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

 

C. Change in Control shall mean a change in ownership or control of the Corporation effected through any of the following transactions:

 

(i) a shareholder-approved merger or consolidation in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from the persons holding those securities immediately prior to such transaction,

 

(ii) a shareholder-approved sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets in complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation, or

 

(iii) the acquisition, directly or indirectly by any person or related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Corporation), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Corporation’s shareholders.

 

D. Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

E. Common Stock shall mean shares of the Corporation’s common stock.

 

F. Corporation shall mean Pansoft Company Limited, a British Virgin Islands corporation, and any corporate successor to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock of Pansoft Company Limited, which shall by appropriate action adopt the Plan.

 

G. Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance.

 

H. Exercise Date shall mean the date on which the option shall have been exercised in accordance with Paragraph 10 of the Agreement.

 

I. Exercise Price shall mean the exercise price per Option Share as specified in the Grant Notice.

 

J. Expiration Date shall mean the date on which the option expires as specified in the Grant Notice.

 

K. Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

 

            (i) If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock at the close of regular hours trading (i.e., before after- hours trading begins) on the NASDAQ Capital Market on the date in question, as such price is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

 

            (ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock at the close of regular hours trading (i.e., before after-hours trading begins) on the date in question on the Stock Exchange determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

 

L. Grant Date shall mean the date of grant of the option as specified in the Grant Notice.

M. Grant Notice shall mean the Notice of Grant of Stock Option, in written or electronic format, accompanying the Agreement, pursuant to which Optionee has been informed of the basic terms of the option evidenced hereby.

 

N. Incentive Option shall mean an option that satisfies the requirements of Code Section 422.

 

O. Misconduct shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by the Optionee, any unauthorized use or disclosure by such person of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct by such person adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a material manner. The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or restrict the right of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) to discharge or dismiss the Optionee or any other person in the Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for any other acts or omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for purposes of the Plan or this Agreement, to constitute grounds for termination for Misconduct.

 

P. Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.

 

Q. Notice of Exercise shall mean the notice of exercise in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I.

 

R. Option Shares shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the option as specified in the Grant Notice.

 

S. Optionee shall mean the person to whom the option is granted as specified in the Grant Notice.

 

T. Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

U. Permanent Disability shall mean the inability of Optionee to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which is expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of twelve (12) months or more.

 

V. Plan shall mean the Corporation’s 2008 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

W. Plan Administrator shall mean either the Board or a committee of the Board acting in its capacity as administrator of the Plan.

 

X. Service shall mean the Optionee’s performance of services for the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary, whether now existing or subsequently established) by a person in the capacity of an Employee, a non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or independent advisor.  However, the Optionee shall be deemed to cease Service immediately upon the occurrence of the either of the following events:  (i) the Optionee no longer performs services in any of the foregoing capacities for the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary or (ii) the entity for which the Optionee is performing such services ceases to remain a Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation, even though the Optionee may subsequently continue to perform services for that entity.  Service shall not be deemed to cease during a period of military leave, sick leave or other personal leave approved by the Corporation; provided, however, that should such leave of absence exceed three (3) months, then for purposes of determining the period within which the option may be exercised as an Incentive Stock Option under the federal tax laws (if the option is designated as such in the Grant Notice), the Optionee’s Service shall be deemed to cease on the first day immediately following the expiration of such three (3)-month period, unless Optionee is provided, either by statute or by written contract, with the right to return to Service following such leave.  Except to the extent otherwise required by law or expressly authorized by the Plan Administrator or by the Corporation’s written policy on leaves of absence, no Service credit shall be given for vesting purposes for any period the Optionee is on a leave of absence.

 

Y. Stock Exchange shall mean either the American Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange (or the Nasdaq Capital Market, if applicable).

 

Z. Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.