SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
TEDA TRAVEL GROUP INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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11-3177042 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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Chinachem Century Tower, Suite 406
178 Gloucester Road
Wanchai, Hong Kong, China
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Zip Code)
2004 Stock Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Corporation Trust Company
1209 Orange Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
(Name and address of agent for service)
(302) 658-4205
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Securities to be registered |
Amount to be registered(1) |
Proposed maximum offering price per share(2) |
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price(2) |
Amount of registration fee |
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Common Stock, $.001 par value |
2,000,000 |
$1.75 |
$3,500,000 |
$443.45 |
(1)
Includes an indeterminate number of additional shares that may be issued to adjust the number of shares issued pursuant to the stock incentive plan described herein as the result of any future stock split, stock dividend or similar adjustment of the registrants outstanding common stock.
(2)
Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) solely for purposes of calculating amount of registration fee, based upon the average of the high and low prices reported on April 15, 2004, as reported on the OTC Electronic Bulletin Board.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.
Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
Teda Travel Group Inc. (the Company) hereby incorporates by reference into this registration statement the following documents previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission):
(a)
The Annual Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003, filed by the Company with the Commission on Form 10KSB on September 30, 2003, which contains audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal year for which such statements have been filed.
(b)
The Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, filed by the Company with the Commission on November 14, 2003, as amended on November 21, 2003 and for the quarter ended December 31, 2003, filed by the Company with the Commission on February 17, 2004. The Current Reports filed by the Company with the Commission on Form 8-K on January 28, 2004 and March 19, 2004.
(c)
A description of the Registrants securities contained in the General Form of Registration of Securities Form 10-SB filed with the Commission on September 3, 1999, as amended on January 24, 2000, March 16, 2000 and April 10, 2000.
(d)
In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Item 4.
Description of Securities.
Not applicable. The class of securities to be offered is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
Item 5.
Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Richardson & Patel LLP has given an opinion on the validity of the securities being registered hereunder. Erick Richardson and Nimish Patel, partners of the law firm, are eligible to receive shares of the Companys common stock pursuant to this Form S-8 registration statement.
Item 6.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
a)
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that:
(1) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such actions suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(2) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(3) To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
(4) Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b). Such determination shall be made (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such
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action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders.
(5) Expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this Section. Such expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the board of directors deems appropriate.
(6) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
(7) A corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this section.
(8) For purposes of this Section, references to the corporation shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(9) For purposes of this Section, references to other enterprises shall include employee benefit plans; references to fines shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to serving at the request of the corporation shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner not opposed to the best interests of the corporation as referred to in this Section.
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(10) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(11) The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporations obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys fees).
(b)
Article Seven of Registrants Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides:
A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except: (A) for any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (B) for acts or omissions that are not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (C) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or (D) for any transaction from which the director derived any improper personal benefit. If the General Corporation law of the State of Delaware is amended after the date of filing of this Restated Certificate to further eliminate or limit the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as so amended.
(c)
Securities-related indemnification
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Company has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore unenforceable.
Item 7.
Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8.
Exhibits.
4.1
2004 Stock Incentive Plan
5.
Opinion regarding legality
23.1
Consent of Harper & Pearson Company PC
23.2
Consent of Richardson & Patel LLP (included in Exhibit 5)
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Item 9.
Undertakings.
(a)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement (1) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; (2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and (3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrants annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Wanchai, Hong Kong, China, on this 16th day of April, 2004.
TEDA TRAVEL GROUP INC. |
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A Delaware corporation |
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/s/ G ODFREY C HIN - TONG H UI |
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By: Godfrey Chin-tong Hui |
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Its: Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Form S-8 registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Dated: April 16, 2004 |
/s/ Z HI Y ING C HANG |
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Zhi-ying Chang, Chairwoman |
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Dated: April 16, 2004 |
/s/ G ODFREY C HIN - TONG H UI |
Godfrey Chin-tong Hui, Director |
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Dated: April 16, 2004 |
/s/ H ON -M ING W ONG |
Hon-Ming Wong, Director |
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number
Description
2004 Stock Incentive Plan
Opinion regarding legality
Consent of Harper & Pearson Company PC
Consent of Richardson & Patel LLP (included in Exhibit 5)
Exhibit 4.1
TEDA TRAVEL GROUP INC.
2004 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1.
PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Plan is to provide incentives to attract, retain and motivate eligible persons whose present and potential contributions are important to the success of the Company, its Parent and Subsidiaries, by offering them an opportunity to participate in the Companys future performance through awards of Options, Restricted Stock and Stock Awards. Capitalized terms not defined in the text are defined in Section 2.
2.
DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Plan, the following terms will have the following meanings:
AWARD means any award under this Plan, including any Option, Restricted Stock or Stock Award.
AWARD AGREEMENT means, with respect to each Award, the signed written agreement between the Company and the Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award.
BOARD means the Board of Directors of the Company.
CAUSE means any cause, as defined by applicable law, for the termination of a Participants employment with the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
CODE means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
COMMITTEE means the Compensation Committee of the Board.
COMPANY means Teda Travel Group Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor corporation.
DISABILITY means a disability, whether temporary or permanent, partial or total, as determined by the Committee.
EXCHANGE ACT means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXERCISE PRICE means the price at which a holder of an Option may purchase the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Option.
FAIR MARKET VALUE means, as of any date, the value of a share of the Companys Common Stock determined as follows:
(a)
if such Common Stock is publicly traded and is then listed on a national securities exchange, its closing price on the date of determination on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading as reported in The Wall Street Journal ;
(b)
if such Common Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ National Market, its closing price on the NASDAQ National Market on the date of determination as reported in The Wall Street Journal ;
(c)
if such Common Stock is publicly traded but is not listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on the date of determination as reported in The Wall Street Journal ;
(d)
in the case of an Award made on the Effective Date, the price per share at which shares of the Companys Common Stock are initially offered for sale to the public by the Companys underwriters in the initial public offering of the Companys Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act; or
(e)
if none of the foregoing is applicable, by the Committee in good faith.
INSIDER means an officer or director of the Company or any other person whose transactions in the Companys Common Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
OPTION means an award of an option to purchase Shares pursuant to Section 6.
PARENT means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if each of such corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
PARTICIPANT means a person who receives an Award under this Plan.
PERFORMANCE FACTORS means the factors selected by the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, from among the following measures to determine whether the performance goals applicable to Awards have been satisfied:
(a)
Net revenue and/or net revenue growth;
(b)
Earnings before income taxes and amortization and/or earnings before income taxes and amortization growth;
(c)
Operating income and/or operating income growth;
(d)
Net income and/or net income growth;
(e)
Earnings per share and/or earnings per share growth;
(f)
Total stockholder return and/or total stockholder return growth;
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(g)
Return on equity;
(h)
Operating cash flow return on income;
(i)
Adjusted operating cash flow return on income;
(j)
Economic value added; and
(k)
Individual confidential business objectives.
PERFORMANCE PERIOD means the period of service determined by the Committee, not to exceed five years, during which years of service or performance is to be measured for Restricted Stock Awards or Stock Awards.
PLAN means this Teda Travel Group, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD means an award of Shares pursuant to Section 7.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SECURITIES ACT means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
SHARES means shares of the Companys Common Stock reserved for issuance under this Plan, as adjusted pursuant to Sections 3 and 19, and any successor security.
STOCK AWARD means an award of Shares, or cash in lieu of Shares, pursuant to Section 8.
SUBSIDIARY means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
TERMINATION or TERMINATED means, for purposes of this Plan with respect to a Participant, that the Participant has for any reason ceased to provide services as an employee, officer, director, consultant, independent contractor, or advisor to the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. An employee will not be deemed to have ceased to provide services in the case of (i) sick leave, (ii) military leave, or (iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Company, provided that such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute or unless provided otherwise pursuant to a formal policy adopted from time to time by the Company and issued and promulgated to employees in writing. In the case of any employee on an approved leave of absence, the Committee may make such provisions respecting suspension of vesting of the Award while on leave from the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary as it may deem appropriate, except that in no event may an Option be exercised after the expiration of the term set forth in the Option agreement. The Committee will have sole discretion to determine whether a Participant has ceased to provide services and the effective date on which the Participant ceased to provide services (the TERMINATION DATE).
UNVESTED SHARES means Unvested Shares as defined in the Award Agreement.
VESTED SHARES means Vested Shares as defined in the Award Agreement.
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3.
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
3.1
Number of Shares Available . Subject to Sections 3.2 and 19, the total aggregate number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to this Plan will be 3,000,000 plus Shares that are subject to: (a) issuance upon exercise of an Option but cease to be subject to such Option for any reason other than exercise of such Option; (b) an Award granted hereunder but forfeited or repurchased by the Company at the original issue price; and (c) an Award that otherwise terminates without Shares being issued. At all times the Company shall reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Shares as shall be required to satisfy the requirements of all outstanding Options granted under this Plan and all other outstanding but unvested Awards granted under this Plan.
3.2
Adjustment of Shares . In the event that the number of outstanding shares is changed by a stock dividend, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision, combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the Company without consideration, then (a) the number of Shares reserved for issuance under this Plan, (b) the Exercise Prices of and number of Shares subject to outstanding Options, and (c) the number of Shares subject to other outstanding Awards will be proportionately adjusted, subject to any required action by the Board or the stockholders of the Company and compliance with applicable securities laws; provided, however, that fractions of a Share will not be issued but will either be replaced by a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of such fraction of a Share or will be rounded up to the nearest whole Share, as determined by the Committee.
4.
ELIGIBILITY.
ISOs (as defined in Section 6 below) may be granted only to employees (including officers and directors who are also employees) of the Company or of a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. All other Awards may be granted to employees, officers, directors, consultants, independent contractors and advisors of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company; provided such consultants, contractors and advisors render bona fide services not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction.
5.
ADMINISTRATION.
5.1
Committee Authority . This Plan will be administered by the Committee or by the Board acting as the Committee. Subject to the general purposes, terms and conditions of this Plan, and to the direction of the Board, the Committee will have full power to implement and carry out this Plan. Without limitation, the Committee will have the authority to:
(a)
construe and interpret this Plan, any Award Agreement and any other agreement or document executed pursuant to this Plan;
(b)
prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to this Plan or any Award;
(c)
select persons to receive Awards;
(d)
determine the form and terms of Awards;
(e)
determine the number of Shares or other consideration subject to Awards;
(f)
determine whether Awards will be granted singly, in combination with, in tandem with, in replacement of, or as alternatives to, other Awards under this Plan or any other incentive or compensation plan of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company;
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(g)
grant waivers of Plan or Award conditions;
(h)
determine the vesting, ability to exercise and payment of Awards;
(i)
correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement;
(j)
determine whether an Award has been earned; and
(k)
make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan.
5.2
Committee Discretion . Any determination made by the Committee with respect to any Award will be made at the time of grant of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of this Plan or Award, at any later time, and such determination will be final and binding on the Company and on all persons having an interest in any Award under this Plan. The Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant an Award under this Plan to Participants who are not Insiders of the Company.
6.
OPTIONS.
The Committee may grant Options to eligible persons and will determine whether such Options will be Incentive Stock Options within the meaning of the Code (ISO) or Nonqualified Stock Options (NQSOS), the number of Shares subject to the Option, the Exercise Price of the Option, the period during which the Option may be exercised, and all other terms and conditions of the Option, subject to the following:
6.1
Form of Option Grant . Each Option granted under this Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will expressly identify the Option as an ISO or an NQSO (hereinafter referred to as the STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT), and will be in such form and contain such provisions (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee may from time to time approve, and which will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.
6.2
Date of Grant . The date of grant of an Option will be the date on which the Committee makes the determination to grant such Option, unless otherwise specified by the Committee. The Stock Option Agreement and a copy of this Plan will be delivered to the Participant within a reasonable time after the granting of the Option.
6.3
Exercise Period . Options may be exercisable within the times or upon the events determined by the Committee as set forth in the Stock Option Agreement governing such Option; provided, however, that no Option will be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted; and provided further that no ISO granted to a person who directly or by attribution owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company (TEN PERCENT STOCKHOLDER) will be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date the ISO is granted. The Committee also may provide for Options to become exercisable at one time or from time to time, periodically or otherwise, in such number of Shares or percentage of Shares as the Committee determines.
6.4
Exercise Price . The Exercise Price of an Option will be determined by the Committee when the Option is granted and may be not less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant; provided that: (a) the Exercise Price of an ISO will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant; and (b) the Exercise Price of any ISO granted to a Ten Percent
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Stockholder will not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant. Payment for the Shares purchased may be made in accordance with Section 9 of this Plan.
6.5
Method of Exercise . Options may be exercised only by delivery to the Company of a written stock option exercise agreement (the EXERCISE AGREEMENT) in a form approved by the Committee, (which need not be the same for each Participant), stating the number of Shares being purchased, the restrictions imposed on the Shares purchased under such Exercise Agreement, if any, and such representations and agreements regarding Participants investment intent and access to information and other matters, if any, as may be required or desirable by the Company to comply with applicable securities laws, together with payment in full of the Exercise Price for the number of Shares being purchased.
6.6
Termination . Notwithstanding the exercise periods set forth in the Stock Option Agreement, exercise of an Option will always be subject to the following:
(a)
If the Participants service is Terminated for any reason except death or Disability, then the Participant may exercise such Participants Options only to the extent that such Options would have been exercisable upon the Termination Date no later than three (3) months after the Termination Date (or such shorter or longer time period not exceeding five (5) years as may be determined by the Committee, with any exercise beyond three (3) months after the Termination Date deemed to be an NQSO), but in any event, no later than the expiration date of the Options.
(b)
If the Participants service is Terminated because of Participants death or Disability (or the Participant dies within three (3) months after a Termination other than for Cause or because of Participants Disability), then Participants Options may be exercised only to the extent that such Options would have been exercisable by Participant on the Termination Date and must be exercised by Participant (or Participants legal representative or authorized assignee) no later than twelve (12) months after the Termination Date (or such shorter or longer time period not exceeding five (5) years as may be determined by the Committee, with any such exercise beyond (i) three (3) months after the Termination Date when the Termination is for any reason other than the Participants death or Disability, or (ii) twelve (12) months after the Termination Date when the Termination is for Participants death or Disability, deemed to be an NQSO), but in any event no later than the expiration date of the Options.
(c)
Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph 6.6(a) above, if a Participants service is Terminated for Cause, neither the Participant, the Participants estate nor such other person who may then hold the Option shall be entitled to exercise any Option with respect to any Shares whatsoever, after Termination, whether or not after Termination the Participant may receive payment from the Company or Subsidiary for vacation pay, for services rendered prior to Termination, for services rendered for the day on which Termination occurs, for salary in lieu of notice, or for any other benefits. For the purpose of this paragraph, Termination shall be deemed to occur on the date when the Company dispatches notice or advice to the Participant that his service is Terminated.
6.7
Limitations on Exercise . The Committee may specify a reasonable minimum number of Shares that may be purchased on any exercise of an Option, provided that such minimum number will not prevent Participant from exercising the Option for the full number of Shares for which it is then exercisable.
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6.8
Limitations on ISO . The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of grant) of Shares with respect to which ISO are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under this Plan or under any other incentive stock option plan of the Company, Parent or Subsidiary of the Company) will not exceed $100,000. If the Fair Market Value of Shares on the date of grant with respect to which ISO are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, then the Options for the first $100,000 worth of Shares to become exercisable in such calendar year will be ISO and the Options for the amount in excess of $100,000 that become exercisable in that calendar year will be NQSOs. In the event that the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder are amended after the Effective Date of this Plan to provide for a different limit on the Fair Market Value of Shares permitted to be subject to ISO, such different limit will be automatically incorporated herein and will apply to any Options granted after the effective date of such amendment.
6.9
Modification, Extension or Renewal . The Committee may modify, extend or renew outstanding Options and authorize the grant of new Options in substitution therefor, provided that any such action may not, without the written consent of a Participant, impair any of such Participants rights under any Option previously granted. Any outstanding ISO that is modified, extended, renewed or otherwise altered will be treated in accordance with Section 424(h) of the Code. The Committee may reduce the Exercise Price of outstanding Options without the consent of Participants affected by a written notice to them; provided, however, that the Exercise Price may not be reduced below the minimum Exercise Price that would be permitted under Section 6.4 of this Plan for Options granted on the date the action is taken to reduce the Exercise Price.
6.10
No Disqualification . Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, no term of this Plan relating to ISO will be interpreted, amended or altered, nor will any discretion or authority granted under this Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify this Plan under Section 422 of the Code or, without the consent of the Participant affected, to disqualify any ISO under Section 422 of the Code.
7.
RESTRICTED STOCK.
A Restricted Stock Award is an offer by the Company to sell to an eligible person Shares that are subject to restrictions. The Committee will determine to whom an offer will be made, the number of Shares the person may purchase, the price to be paid (the PURCHASE PRICE), the restrictions to which the Shares will be subject, and all other terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Award, subject to the following:
7.1
Form of Restricted Stock Award . All purchases under a Restricted Stock Award made pursuant to this Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement (the RESTRICTED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT) that will be in such form (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee will from time to time approve, and will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan. The offer of Restricted Stock will be accepted by the Participants execution and delivery of the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement and full payment for the Shares to the Company within thirty (30) days from the date the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement is delivered to the person. If such person does not execute and deliver the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement along with full payment for the Shares to the Company within thirty (30) days, then the offer will terminate, unless otherwise extended by the Committee.
7.2
Purchase Price . The Purchase Price of Shares sold pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award will be determined by the Committee on the date the Restricted Stock Award is granted, except in the case of a sale to a Ten Percent Stockholder, in which case the Purchase Price will be 100% of the Fair Market Value. Payment of the Purchase Price must be made in accordance with Section 9 of this Plan.
7.3
Terms of Restricted Stock Awards . Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose. These restrictions may be based upon completion of a
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specified number of years of service with the Company or upon completion of the performance goals as set out in advance in the Participants individual Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement. Restricted Stock Awards may vary from Participant to Participant and between groups of Participants. Prior to the grant of a Restricted Stock Award, the Committee shall: (a) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period for the Restricted Stock Award; (b) select from among the Performance Factors to be used to measure performance goals, if any; and (c) determine the number of Shares that may be awarded to the Participant. Prior to the payment of any Restricted Stock Award, the Committee shall determine the extent to which such Restricted Stock Award has been earned. Performance Periods may overlap and Participants may participate simultaneously with respect to Restricted Stock Awards that are subject to different Performance Periods and have different performance goals and other criteria.
7.4
Termination During Performance Period . If a Participant is Terminated during a Performance Period for any reason, then such Participant will be entitled to payment (whether in Shares, cash or otherwise) with respect to the Restricted Stock Award only to the extent earned as of the date of Termination in accordance with the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement, unless the Committee determines otherwise.
8.
STOCK AWARDS.
8.1
Stock Awards . A Stock Award is an award of Shares (which may consist of Restricted Stock) for services rendered to the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. A Stock Award may be awarded pursuant to an Award Agreement (the STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT) that will be in such form (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee will from time to time approve, and will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan. A Stock Award may be awarded upon satisfaction of such performance goals as are set out in advance in the Participants individual Award Agreement (the PERFORMANCE STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT) that will be in such form (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee will from time to time approve, and will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan. Stock Awards may vary from Participant to Participant and between groups of Participants, and may be based upon the achievement of the Company, Parent or Subsidiary and/or individual performance factors or upon such other criteria as the Committee may determine.
8.2
Terms of Stock Awards . The Committee will determine the number of Shares to be awarded to the Participant. If the Stock Award is being earned upon the satisfaction of performance goals pursuant to a Performance Stock Award Agreement, then the Committee will: (a) determine the nature, length and starting date of any Performance Period for each Stock Award; (b) select from among the Performance Factors to be used to measure the performance, if any; and (c) determine the number of Shares that may be awarded to the Participant. Prior to the payment of any Stock Award, the Committee shall determine the extent to which such Stock Awards have been earned. Performance Periods may overlap and Participants may participate simultaneously with respect to Stock Awards that are subject to different Performance Periods and different performance goals and other criteria. The number of Shares may be fixed or may vary in accordance with such performance goals and criteria as may be determined by the Committee. The Committee may adjust the performance goals applicable to the Stock Awards to take into account changes in law and accounting or tax rules and to make such adjustments as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to reflect the impact of extraordinary or unusual items, events or circumstances to avoid windfalls or hardships.
8.3
Form of Payment . The earned portion of a Stock Award may be paid to the Participant by the Company either currently or on a deferred basis, with such interest or dividend equivalent, if any, as the Committee may determine. Payment may be made in the form of cash or whole Shares or a combination thereof, either in a lump sum payment or in installments, all as the Committee will determine.
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9.
PAYMENT FOR SHARE PURCHASES.
9.1
Payment . Payment for Shares purchased pursuant to this Plan may be made in cash (by check) or, where expressly approved for the Participant by the Committee and where permitted by law:
(a)
by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the Participant;
(b)
by surrender of shares that either: (1) have been owned by Participant for more than one year and have been paid for within the meaning of Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933 (and, if such shares were purchased from the Company by use of a promissory note, such note has been fully paid with respect to such shares); or (2) were obtained by Participant in the public market;
(c)
by tender of a full recourse promissory note having such terms as may be approved by the Committee and bearing interest at a rate sufficient to avoid imputation of income under Sections 483 and 1274 of the Code; provided, however, that Participants who are not employees or directors of the Company will not be entitled to purchase Shares with a promissory note unless the note is adequately secured by collateral other than the Shares;
(d)
by waiver of compensation due or accrued to the Participant for services rendered;
(e)
with respect only to purchases upon exercise of an Option, and provided that a public market for the Companys stock exists:
(1)
through a same day sale commitment from the Participant and a broker-dealer that is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers (an NASD DEALER) whereby the Participant irrevocably elects to exercise the Option and to sell a portion of the Shares so purchased to pay for the Exercise Price, and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of such Shares to forward the Exercise Price directly to the Company; or
(2)
through a margin commitment from the Participant and a NASD Dealer whereby the Participant irrevocably elects to exercise the Option and to pledge the Shares so purchased to the NASD Dealer in a margin account as security for a loan from the NASD Dealer in the amount of the Exercise Price, and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of such Shares to forward the Exercise Price directly to the Company; or
(f)
by any combination of the foregoing.
9.2
Loan Guarantees . The Committee may help the Participant pay for Shares purchased under this Plan by authorizing a guarantee by the Company of a third-party loan to the Participant.
10.
WITHHOLDING TAXES.
10.1
Withholding Generally . Whenever Shares are to be issued in satisfaction of Awards granted under this Plan, the Company may require the Participant to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state and local withholding tax requirements prior to the delivery of any certificate or certificates for such Shares. Whenever, under this Plan, payments in satisfaction of Awards
9
are to be made in cash, such payment will be net of an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local withholding tax requirements.
10.2
Stock Withholding . When, under applicable tax laws, a participant incurs tax liability in connection with the exercise or vesting of any Award that is subject to tax withholding and the Participant is obligated to pay the Company the amount required to be withheld, the Committee may allow the Participant to satisfy the minimum withholding tax obligation by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld, determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. All elections by a Participant to have Shares withheld for this purpose will be made in accordance with the requirements established by the Committee and be in writing in a form acceptable to the Committee.
11.
PRIVILEGES OF STOCK OWNERSHIP.
11.1
Voting and Dividends . No Participant will have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any Shares until the Shares are issued to the Participant. After Shares are issued to the Participant, the Participant will be a stockholder and will have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote and receive all dividends or other distributions made or paid with respect to such Shares; provided, that if such Shares are Restricted Stock, then any new, additional or different securities the Participant may become entitled to receive with respect to such Shares by virtue of a stock dividend, stock split or any other change in the corporate or capital structure of the Company will be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Stock; provided, further, that the Participant will have no right to retain such stock dividends or stock distributions with respect to Shares that are repurchased at the Participants Purchase Price or Exercise Price pursuant to Section 12.
11.2
Financial Statements . In the event the Company is subject to applicable law, rules or regulations requiring it to provide financial statements to Participants, the Company will provide financial statements to each Participant prior to such Participants purchase of Shares under this Plan, and to each Participant annually during the period such Participant has Awards outstanding; provided, however, the Company will not be required to provide such financial statements to Participants whose services in connection with the Company assure them access to equivalent information.
12.
TRANSFERABILITY.
Awards granted under this Plan, and any interest therein, will not be transferable or assignable by Participant, and may not be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During the lifetime of the Participant an Award will be exercisable only by the Participant. During the lifetime of the Participant, any elections with respect to an Award may be made only by the Participant unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement with respect to Awards that are not ISOs.
13.
RESTRICTIONS ON SHARES.
At the discretion of the Committee, the Company may reserve to itself and/or its assignee(s) in the Award Agreement a right to repurchase a portion of or all Unvested Shares held by a Participant following such Participants Termination at any time within ninety (90) days after the later of (a) Participants Termination Date, or (b) the date Participant purchases Shares under this Plan. Such repurchase by the Company shall be for cash and/or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness, and the price per share shall be the Participants Exercise Price or the Purchase Price, as applicable.
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14.
CERTIFICATES.
All certificates for Shares or other securities delivered under this Plan will be subject to such stock transfer orders, legends and other restrictions as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable, including restrictions under any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law, or any rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC or any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may be listed or quoted.
15.
ESCROW; PLEDGE OF SHARES.
To enforce any restrictions on a Participants Shares, the Committee may require the Participant to deposit all certificates representing Shares, together with stock powers or other instruments of transfer approved by the Committee appropriately endorsed in blank, with the Company or an agent designated by the Company to hold in escrow until such restrictions have lapsed or terminated, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends referencing such restrictions to be placed on the certificates. Any Participant who is permitted to execute a promissory note as partial or full consideration for the purchase of Shares under this Plan will be required to pledge and deposit with the Company all or part of the Shares so purchased as collateral to secure the payment of Participants obligation to the Company under the promissory note; provided, however, that the Committee may require or accept other or additional forms of collateral to secure the payment of such obligation and, in any event, the Company will have full recourse against the Participant under the promissory note notwithstanding any pledge of the Participants Shares or other collateral. In connection with any pledge of the Shares, Participant will be required to execute and deliver a written pledge agreement in such form as the Committee will from time to time approve. The Shares purchased with the promissory note may be released from the pledge on a pro rata basis as the promissory note is paid.
16.
EXCHANGE AND BUYOUT OF AWARDS.
The Committee may, at any time or from time to time, authorize the Company, with the consent of the respective Participants, to issue new Awards in exchange for the surrender and cancellation of any or all outstanding Awards. The Committee may at any time buy from a Participant an Award previously granted with payment in cash, Shares (including Restricted Stock) or other consideration, based on such terms and conditions as the Committee and the Participant may agree.
17.
SECURITIES LAW AND OTHER REGULATORY COMPLIANCE.
An Award will not be effective unless such Award is in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations of any governmental body, and the requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, as they are in effect on the date of grant of the Award and also on the date of exercise or other issuance. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, the Company will have no obligation to issue or deliver certificates for Shares under this Plan prior to: (a) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and/or (b) completion of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable. The Company will be under no obligation to register the Shares with the SEC or to effect compliance with the registration, qualification or listing requirements of any state securities laws, stock exchange or automated quotation system, and the Company will have no liability for any inability or failure to do so.
18.
NO OBLIGATION TO EMPLOY.
Nothing in this Plan or any Award granted under this Plan will confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant any right to continue in the employ of, or to continue any other relationship with, the
11
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company to terminate Participants employment or other relationship at any time, with or without cause.
19.
CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.
19.1
Assumption or Replacement of Awards by Successor . In the event of (a) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (b) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than a merger or consolidation with a wholly-owned subsidiary, a reincorporation of the Company in a different jurisdiction, or other transaction in which there is no substantial change in the stockholders of the Company or their relative stock holdings and the Awards granted under this Plan are assumed, converted or replaced by the successor corporation, which assumption will be binding on all Participants), (c) a merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation but after which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger (other than any stockholder that merges, or which owns or controls another corporation that merges, with the Company in such merger) cease to own their shares or other equity interest in the Company, (d) the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (e) the acquisition, sale, or transfer of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company by tender offer or similar transaction, any or all outstanding Awards may be assumed, converted or replaced by the successor corporation (if any), which assumption, conversion or replacement will be binding on all Participants. In the alternative, the successor corporation may substitute equivalent Awards or provide substantially similar consideration to Participants as was provided to stockholders (after taking into account the existing provisions of the Awards). The successor corporation may also issue, in place of outstanding Shares of the Company held by the Participant, substantially similar shares or other property subject to repurchase restrictions no less favorable to the Participant. In the event such successor corporation (if any) refuses to assume or substitute Awards, as provided above, pursuant to a transaction described in this Subsection 19.1, such Awards will expire on such transaction at such time and on such conditions as the Committee will determine. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, the Committee may provide that the vesting of any or all Awards granted pursuant to this Plan will accelerate upon a transaction described in this Section 19. If the Committee exercises such discretion with respect to Options, such Options will become exercisable in full prior to the consummation of such event at such time and on such conditions as the Committee determines, and if such Options are not exercised prior to the consummation of the corporate transaction, they shall terminate at such time as determined by the Committee.
19.2
Other Treatment of Awards . Subject to any greater rights granted to Participants under the foregoing provisions of this Section 19, in the event of the occurrence of any transaction described in Section 19.1, any outstanding Awards will be treated as provided in the applicable agreement or plan of merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, or sale of assets.
19.3
Assumption of Awards by the Company . The Company, from time to time, also may substitute or assume outstanding awards granted by another company, whether in connection with an acquisition of such other company or otherwise, by either: (a) granting an Award under this Plan in substitution of such other companys award; or (b) assuming such award as if it had been granted under this Plan if the terms of such assumed award could be applied to an Award granted under this Plan. Such substitution or assumption will be permissible if the holder of the substituted or assumed award would have been eligible to be granted an Award under this Plan if the other company had applied the rules of this Plan to such grant. In the event the Company assumes an award granted by another company, the terms and conditions of such award will remain unchanged (except that the exercise price and the number and nature of Shares issuable upon exercise of any such option will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code). In the event the Company elects to grant a new Option rather than assuming an existing option, such new Option may be granted with a similarly adjusted Exercise Price.
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20.
ADOPTION AND STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL.
This Plan will become effective on the date on which it is adopted by the Board (the EFFECTIVE DATE). This Plan shall be approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date this Plan is adopted by the Board. Upon the Effective Date, the Committee may grant Awards pursuant to this Plan. In the event that stockholder approval of this Plan is not obtained within the time period provided herein, all Awards granted hereunder shall be cancelled, any Shares issued pursuant to any Awards shall be cancelled and any purchase of Shares issued hereunder shall be rescinded.
21.
TERM OF PLAN/GOVERNING LAW.
Unless earlier terminated as provided herein, this Plan will terminate ten (10) years from the date this Plan is adopted by the Board or, if earlier, the date of stockholder approval. This Plan and all agreements thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
22.
AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN.
The Board may at any time terminate or amend this Plan in any respect, including without limitation amendment of any form of Award Agreement or instrument to be executed pursuant to this Plan; provided, however, that the Board will not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, amend this Plan in any manner that requires such stockholder approval.
23.
NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN.
Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board, the submission of this Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval, nor any provision of this Plan will be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such additional compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options and bonuses otherwise than under this Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
24.
ACTION BY COMMITTEE.
Any action permitted or required to be taken by the Committee or any decision or determination permitted or required to be made by the Committee pursuant to this Plan shall be taken or made in the Committees sole and absolute discretion.
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Exhibit 5.
RICHARDSON & PATEL LLP
10900 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 500
Los Angeles, California 90024
Telephone (310) 208-1182
Facsimile (310) 208-1154
April 16, 2004
Board of Directors
Teda Travel Group Inc.
Chinachem Century Tower, Suite 2102
Wanchai, Hong Kong
China
Re:
2004 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan)
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Teda Travel Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company) in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 of the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to 2,000,000 shares of the Companys common stock, $.001 par value (the Shares).
In connection with that registration, we have reviewed the proceedings of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the registration and proposed issuance of the Shares, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and all amendments thereto, the Bylaws of the Company and all amendments thereto, and such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary to the rendering of the following opinion.
Based upon that review, it is our opinion that the Shares, when issued in conformance with the terms and conditions of the Plan, will be legally issued, fully paid, and non-assessable. We do not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion to cover, and accordingly we express no opinion as to, the application of the securities or blue-sky laws of the various states as to the issuance and sale of the Shares.
We consent to the use of this opinion in the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the registration of the Shares and to the reference to our firm under the heading Interests of Named Experts and Counsel in the registration statement.
/s/ RICHARDSON & PATEL LLP
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Teda Travel Group Inc. dated 16 April, 2004 of our report dated September 18, 2003, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB of Teda Travel Group Inc. for the year ended June 30, 2003.
/s/ Harper & Pearson
Houston, Texas
April 16, 2004