CHINA CLEAN ENERGY INC. FORM OF NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
2008
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
FORM
OF
This
NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the “Option Agreement”), dated as of the
_
day of
______, 20__ (the “Grant Date”), is between China Clean Energy Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), and
(the
“Optionee”), a [choose
one]
[key
employee, director, advisor and/or consultant] of the Company or of a Subsidiary
of the Company (a “Related Corporation”), pursuant to the China Clean Energy
Inc. 2008 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN (the “Plan”).
WHEREAS,
the Company desires to give the Optionee the opportunity to purchase shares
of
common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 (“Common Shares”) in accordance
with the provisions of the Plan, a copy of which is attached
hereto;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth
and
for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto, intending
to be
legally bound hereby, agree as follows:
1. Grant
of Option.
The
Company hereby grants to the Optionee the right and option (the “Option”) to
purchase all or any part of an aggregate of ________ Common Shares. The Option
is in all respects limited and conditioned as hereinafter provided, and is
subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Plan now in effect
and as it may be amended from time to time (but only to the extent that such
amendments apply to outstanding options). Such terms and conditions are
incorporated herein by reference, made a part hereof, and shall control in
the
event of any conflict with any other terms of this Option Agreement. The
Option
granted hereunder is intended to be a nonqualified stock option (“NQSO”) and
not
an
incentive stock option (“ISO”) as such term is defined in section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
2. Exercise
Price.
The
exercise price of the Common Shares covered by this Option shall be $1.00
per
share. It is the determination of the committee administering the Plan (the
“Committee”) that on the Grant Date the exercise price was not less than the
greater of (i) 100% of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined in the Plan) of a
Common Share, or (ii) the par value of a Common Share.
3. Term.
Unless
earlier terminated pursuant to any provision of the Plan or of this Option
Agreement, this Option shall expire on __________ __, 20__ (the “Expiration
Date”). This Option shall not be exercisable on or after the Expiration
Date.
4.
Exercise
of Option.
The
Optionee shall have the right to purchase from the Company, on and after
the
following dates, the following number of Common Shares, provided the Optionee
has not terminated his or her service as of the applicable vesting
date:
|
Date
Installment Becomes
Exercisable
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Number
of Option Shares
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________
Shares
|
|
|
|
an
additional ________ Shares
|
|
|
|
an
additional ________ Shares
|
|
|
|
an
additional ________ Shares
|
The
Committee may accelerate any exercise date of the Option, in its discretion,
if
it deems such acceleration to be desirable. Once the Option becomes exercisable,
it will remain exercisable until it is exercised or until it
terminates.
5. Method
of Exercising Option.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Option Agreement and the Plan, the Option
may be exercised by written notice to the Company at its principal office.
The
form of such notice is attached hereto and shall state the election to exercise
the Option and the number of whole shares with respect to which it is being
exercised; shall be signed by the person or persons so exercising the Option;
and shall be accompanied by payment of the full exercise price of such shares.
Only full shares will be issued.
[The
Committee should select which of the following methods of payment will be
permitted:]
The
exercise price shall be paid to the Company -
(a) in
cash,
or by certified check, bank draft, or postal or express money
order;
(b) through
the delivery of Common Shares;
(c) by
delivering a properly executed notice of exercise of the Option to the Company
and a broker, with irrevocable instructions to the broker promptly to deliver
to
the Company the amount necessary to pay the exercise price of the
Option;
(d) in
Common
Shares newly acquired by the Optionee upon the exercise of the Option;
or
(e) in
any
combination of (a), (b), (c), or (d) above.
[In
the
event the exercise price is paid, in whole or in part, with Common Shares,
the
portion of the exercise price so paid shall be equal to the Fair Market Value
of
the Common Shares surrendered on the date of exercise.]
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Upon
receipt of notice of exercise and payment, the Company shall deliver a
certificate or certificates representing the Common Shares with respect to
which
the Option is so exercised. The Optionee shall obtain the rights of a
shareholder upon receipt of a certificate(s) representing such Common
Shares.
Such
certificate(s) shall be registered in the name of the person so exercising
the
Option (or, if the Option is exercised by the Optionee and if the Optionee
so
requests in the notice exercising the Option, shall be registered in the
name of
the Optionee and the Optionee’s spouse, jointly, with right of survivorship) and
shall be delivered as provided above to, or upon the written order of, the
person exercising the Option. In the event the Option is exercised by any
person
or persons after the death or disability (as determined in accordance with
section 22(e)(3) of the Code) of the Optionee, the notice shall be accompanied
by appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the
Option. All Common Shares that are purchased upon exercise of the Option
as
provided herein shall be fully paid and non-assessable.
Upon
exercise of the Option, Optionee shall be responsible for all employment
and
income taxes then or thereafter due (whether Federal, State or local), and
if
the Optionee does not remit to the Company sufficient cash (or, with the
consent
of the Committee, Common Shares to satisfy all applicable withholding
requirements, the Company shall be entitled to satisfy any withholding
requirements for any such tax by disposing of Common Shares at exercise,
withholding cash from Optionee’s salary or other compensation or such other
means as the Committee considers appropriate to the fullest extent permitted
by
applicable law. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall impair or limit the
Company’s rights with respect to satisfying withholding obligations under
Section 10 of the Plan.
6. Transferability
of Option.
This
Option is not assignable or transferable, in whole or in part, by the Optionee
other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During the
lifetime of the Optionee, the Option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee
or, in the event of his or her disability, by his or her guardian or legal
representative.
7. Termination
of Service by Optionee.
If the
Optionee’s service with the Company and all Related Corporations is terminated
by the Optionee for any reason other than death or disability prior to the
Expiration Date, this Option may be exercised, to the extent of the number
of
Common Shares with respect to which the Optionee could have exercised it
on the
date of such termination of service by the Optionee at any time prior to
the
earlier of (i) the Expiration Date or (ii) ninety (90) days after the date
of
such termination of service. [The
Plan provides for this period as a default. The Committee may provide for
different exercise periods in any particular NQSO.]
Any part
of the Option that was not exercisable immediately before the Optionee’s
termination of service shall terminate at that time.
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8. Disability.
If the
Optionee becomes disabled (as determined in accordance with section 22(e)(3)
of
the Code) during his or her service and, prior to the Expiration Date, the
Optionee’s service is terminated as a consequence of such disability, this
Option may be exercised, to the extent of the number of Common Shares with
respect to which the Optionee could have exercised it on the date of such
termination of service by the Optionee or by the optionee’s legal
representative, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Expiration Date
or
(ii) ninety (90) days after such termination of service. Any part of the
Option
that was not exercisable immediately before the Optionee’s termination of
service shall terminate at that time.
9. Termination
of Service by Company without Cause or by Optionee with Good
Reason.
If the
Optionee’s service with the Company and all Related Corporations is terminated
by the Company for any reason other than Cause (or is terminated by the Optionee
for Good Reason) prior to the Expiration Date, this Option may be exercised,
to
the extent of the number of Common Shares with respect to which the Optionee
could have exercised it on the date of such termination of employment by
the
Optionee at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Expiration Date, or
(ii)
one year after such termination of service. Any part of the Option that was
not
exercisable immediately before the Optionee’s termination of employment shall
terminate at that time.
10. Death.
If the
Optionee dies during his or her service and prior to the Expiration Date,
or if
the Optionee’s service is terminated for any reason (as described in Paragraphs
7, 8 and 9) and the Optionee dies following his or her termination of service
but prior to the earlier of the Expiration Date or the expiration of the
period
determined under Paragraph 7, 8 or 9 (as applicable to the Optionee), this
Option may be exercised, to the extent of the number of Common Shares with
respect to which the Optionee could have exercised it on the date of his
or her
death by the Optionee’s estate, personal representative or beneficiary who
acquired the right to exercise this Option by bequest or inheritance or by
reason of the Optionee’s death, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the
Expiration Date or (ii) one year after the date of the Optionee’s death. Any
part of the Option that was not exercisable immediately before the Optionee’s
death shall terminate at that time.
11. Termination
for Cause.
If the
Optionee’s service with the Company and all Related Corporations is terminated
by the Company for Cause prior to the Expiration Date, any unexercised portion
of this Option shall immediately terminate at that time.
12. Securities
Matters.
(a) If,
at any time, counsel to the Company shall determine that the listing,
registration or qualification of the Common Shares subject to the Option
upon
any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent
or
approval of any governmental or regulatory body, or that the disclosure of
non-public information or the satisfaction of any other condition is necessary
as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance or purchase of Common
Shares hereunder, such Option may not be exercised, in whole or in part,
unless
such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval, or satisfaction
of such condition shall have been effected or obtained on conditions acceptable
to the Board of Directors. The Company shall be under no obligation to apply
for
or to obtain such listing, registration or qualification, or to satisfy such
condition. The Committee shall inform the Optionee in writing of any decision
to
defer or prohibit the exercise of an Option. During the period that the
effectiveness of the exercise of an Option has been deferred or prohibited,
the
Optionee may, by written notice, withdraw the Optionee’s decision to exercise
and obtain a refund of any amount paid with respect thereto.
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(b) The
Company may require: (i) the Optionee (or any other person exercising the
Option
in the case of the Optionee’s death or Disability) as a condition of exercising
the Option, to give written assurances, in substance and form satisfactory
to
the Company, to the effect that such person is acquiring the Common Shares
subject to the Option for his or her own account for investment and not with
any
present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the same, and to make
such other representations or covenants; and (ii) that any certificates for
Common Shares delivered in connection with the exercise of the Option bear
such
legends, in each case as the Company deems necessary or appropriate, in order
to
comply with federal and applicable state securities laws, to comply with
covenants or representations made by the Company in connection with any public
offering of its Common Shares or otherwise. The Optionee specifically
understands and agrees that the Common Shares, if and when issued upon exercise
of the Option, may be “restricted securities,” as that term is defined in Rule
144 under the Securities Act of 1933 and, accordingly, the Optionee may be
required to hold the shares indefinitely unless they are registered under
such
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption from such registration
is
available.
(c) The
Optionee shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any Common
Shares
covered by the Option (including, without limitation, any rights to receive
dividends or non-cash distributions with respect to such shares) until the
date
of issue of a stock certificate to the Optionee for such Common Shares. No
adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record
date
is prior to the date such stock certificate is issued.
13. Governing
Law.
This
Option Agreement shall be governed by the applicable Code provisions to the
maximum extent possible. Otherwise, the laws of the State of Delaware (without
reference to the principles of conflict of laws) shall govern the operation
of,
and the rights of the Optionee under, the Plan and Options granted
thereunder.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement
to be duly executed by its duly authorized officer, and the Optionee has
hereunto set his or her hand and seal, all as of the ____ day of __________,
200_.
| China Clean Energy Inc. | ||
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| By: | ||
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Name:
Title:
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Optionee
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2008
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Notice
of
Exercise of Nonqualified Stock Option
I
hereby
exercise the nonqualified stock option granted to me pursuant to the
Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of _________ __, 200_, by China
Clean Energy Inc. (the “Company”), with respect to the following number of
shares of the Company’s common stock (“Shares”), par value $0.001 per Share,
covered by said option:
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Number
of Shares to be purchased:
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_______
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Purchase
price per Share:
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$_______
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Total
purchase price:
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$_______
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|
o
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A.
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Enclosed
is cash or my certified check, bank draft, or postal or express
money
order in the amount of $__________ in full/partial [circle
one]
payment for such Shares;
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and/or
|
o
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B.
|
Enclosed
is/are
Share(s)
with a total fair market value of $
on
the date hereof in full/partial [circle
one]
payment for such Shares;
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and/or
|
o
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C.
|
I
have provided notice to
[insert
name of broker],
a
broker, who will render full/partial [circle
one]
payment for such Shares.
[Optionee should attach to the notice of exercise provided
to such broker
a copy of this Notice of Exercise and irrevocable instructions
to pay to
the Company the full exercise
price.]
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and/or
|
o
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D.
|
I
elect to satisfy the payment for Shares purchased hereunder
by having the
Company withhold newly acquired Shares pursuant to the exercise
of the
Option.
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Please
have the certificate or certificates representing the purchased Shares
registered in the following name or names* :
;
and
sent to .
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DATED: ___,
20__
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Optionee’s
Signature
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*Certificates may be registered in the name of the Optionee alone or in the joint names (with right of survivorship) of the Optionee and his or her spouse.
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