16. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLAN

Options to Employees

On August 4, 2008, the Company granted certain employees stock options under the Company’s 2007 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan, which was later amended and restated in 2010, to acquire 3,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001, at $0.80 per share. The options vested over three years and have a life of five years. The Company’s 2007 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan has expired.

Based on the FV method under SFAS No. 123 (Revised) “Share Based Payment” (“SFAS 123(R)”), codified in FASB ASC Topic 718, the FV of each stock option granted is estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model (“BSOPM”). The BSOPM has assumptions for risk free interest rates, dividends, stock volatility and expected life of an option grant. The risk free interest rate is based upon market yields for United States Treasury debt securities at a maturity near the term remaining on the option. Dividend rates are based on the Company’s dividend history. The stock volatility factor is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock price. The expected life of an option grant is based on management’s estimate as no options have been exercised in the Plan to date. The FV of each option granted to employees is recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period of each stock option award. The FV of the options was calculated using the following assumptions, estimated life of five years, volatility of 100%, risk free interest rate of 2.76%, and dividend yield of 0%. No estimate of forfeitures was made as the Company has a short history of granting options. The options were accounted for as a modification of the options cancelled on June 25, 2008. The grant date FV of options was $5.04 million.

On November 9 and 11, 2009, the Company and three option holders agreed to cancel vested but unexercised options for 87,000 vested but unexercised shares and forfeit unvested options for 203,000 unvested shares. On November 11, 2009, the Company granted options to two other employees for 290,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at $2.35 per share. The options vested over three years and have a life of five years. The FV of the options was calculated using the following assumptions, estimated life of five years, volatility of 100%, risk free interest rate of 3.84%, and dividend yield of 0%. The grant date FV of options was $518,513.

In July 2011, the Compensation Committee approved and provided the employees cashless exercise elections to the stock Options granted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") on August 4, 2008. On August 20, 2013, the Board further approved and provided the Employee Recipients (stock options granted to purchase shares of common stock of the Company in its resolutions on November 12, 2009 and August 12, 2010) cashless exercise elections. The holder of the stock options may elect to receive shares equal to the value (as determined below) of his/her option (or the portion thereof being canceled) according to the following formula:

X = Y (A-C)

Where	X =	the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder
	Y =	the number of shares of stock option or, if only a portion of the stock option is being exercised, the portion of the option being canceled
	A =	the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock as defined below
	C =	Stock Option Exercise Price

For purposes of the above calculation, the fair market value per share shall be the closing price quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market for the five (5) trading days prior to the date on which a written notice of such holder’s election to exercise his/her option has been received by the Company. During the quarter ended September 30, 2013, the Employee Recipients exercised 2,650,000 shares of stock options (granted on August 4, 2008) into 1,885,834 shares of the Company’s common stock.

On August 13, 2010, the Company granted 2,200,000 options to acquire the Company’s common stock at $3.05 per share to 36 managerial and non-managerial employees as new equity awards pursuant to the Corporation’s Amended and Restated 2007 plan. According to the vesting terms, the options granted were divided into three tranches, (i) 1/3 (one third) of the total number of shares subject to the options shall vest and become exercisable if the Company meets its minimum revenue and earnings goals in the Company’s guidance for 2010 as delivered in its earnings releases and/or conference calls in the first quarter of 2010, such vesting to occur immediately upon completion of the annual audit confirming the financial results for 2010; and (ii) an additional 1/3 (one third) of the total number of shares subject to the options shall vest and become exercisable if the Company meets certain financial goals of 2011 which will be set out and decided by the Compensation Committee, such vesting to occur immediately upon Compensation Committee’s determination that the Company has met such goals for 2011; and (iii) the remaining 1/3 (one third) of the total number of shares subject to the options shall vest and become exercisable if the Company meets certain financial goals of 2012 which is set out and decided by the Compensation Committee, such vesting is to occur immediately upon Compensation Committee’s determination that the Company has met such goals for 2012. The Option may only be exercised to the extent that the Option has become vested and exercisable.

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company did not meet the financial goals of 2012 and 2011; accordingly, the second and third tranche (two thirds of the total number of 2,200,000 options) was forfeited.

The options have a life of five years. The FV of the options was calculated using the following assumptions; estimated life of five years, volatility of 92%, risk free interest rate of 3.54%, and dividend yield of 0%. Each tranche of the options is deemed to be independent of the others. Therefore, the FV of the first tranche of options was expensed during 2011; the second and third tranche of options were forfeited due to the non-achievement of established financial benchmarks.

The following table summarizes activity for employees in the Company’s Plan:

	Number of Shares		Average Exercise Price per Share		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term in Years

Outstanding at January 1, 2013		3,733,333	$	1.36		1.09
Exercisable at January 1, 2013		3,733,333	$	1.36		1.09
Granted		-		-		-
Exercised		2,650,000		0.80		-
Forfeited		60,000		0.80		-
Outstanding at September 30, 2013		1,023,333	$	2.85		1.65
Exercisable at September 30, 2013		1,023,333	$	2.85		1.65

The Company recorded $0 and $200,800 compensation expense for stock options to employees during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded $0 and $87,986, respectively.

Options to Independent Directors

On October 30, 2009, the Company granted stock options for 130,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at $1.85 per share to three independent directors. The options vested and became exercisable on the six-month anniversary of the grant date with a life of five years. The FV of the options was calculated using the following assumptions: estimated life of five years, volatility of 100%, risk free interest rate of 3.54%, and dividend yield of 0%. The grant date FV of options was $183,000.

On January 20, 2010, the Company granted stock options for 40,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at $4.68 per share to another independent director. The options vested and became exercisable on the six-month anniversary of the grant date with a life of five years. The FV of the options was calculated using the following assumptions: estimated life of five years, volatility of 100%, risk free interest rate of 3.54%, and dividend yield of 0%. The grant date FV of options was $142,000.

On October 7, 2010, our Board approved the increase in its size from seven to nine members as a result of entering the Loan and Note agreements with China Cinda and its affiliate on August 18, 2010. At the same time, our Board appointed Mr. Yilin Ma and Mr. Chungui Shi as new members of the Board to fill the director vacancies until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. In connection with their appointment, the Board authorized the Company to provide Mr. Shi with (i) compensation of $2,000 per month and (ii) subject to shareholder approval at the upcoming 2014 annual meeting of shareholders, the grant of an option to purchase 40,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, at an exercise price equal to the closing price per share of the Company's Common Stock on October 7, 2010. The options vested and will become exercisable upon shareholder approval; the options have a life of five years from the original grant date. The FV of the options was calculated using the following assumptions: estimated life of five years, volatility of 87%, risk free interest rate of 3.54%, and dividend yield of 0%. The grant date FV of options was $83,000.

The above-mentioned Directors Stock Options didn't have cashless exercise right clause. Former Director Sean Shao's stock options were fully vested and exercisable before his decision of not standing for re-election at the Company's annual shareholders meeting in June 2011; Former Director Robert Chanson's stock options were fully vested and exercisable before his decision of not standing for re-election at the Company's annual shareholders meeting in May 2012. On August 20, 2013, the Board approved and provided the Director Recipients cashless exercise elections to the Director Stock Options. The holder of the stock options may elect to receive shares equal to the value (as determined below) of his/her option (or the portion thereof being canceled) according to the following formula:

X = Y (A-C)

Where	X =	the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder
	Y =	the number of shares of stock option or, if only a portion of the stock option is being exercised, the portion of the option being canceled
	A =	the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock as defined below
	C =	Stock Option Exercise Price

The following table summarizes option activity with respect to the independent directors:

	Number of Shares		Average Exercise Price per Share		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term in Years

Outstanding at January 1, 2013		210,000	$	2.60		2.05
Exercisable at January 1, 2013		210,000	$	2.60		2.05
Granted		-		-		-
Exercised		-		-		-
Forfeited		-		-		-
Outstanding at September 30, 2013		210,000	$	2.60		1.30
Exercisable at September 30, 2013		210,000	$	2.60		1.30

No options were exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 or 2012.

Warrants to Investor Relation Firms

On October 1, 2009, the Company granted warrants to acquire 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at $1.50 per share to certain investor relations firms. The warrants are exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time from July 1, 2010 (the “Vesting Date”) to October 1, 2014 (the “Expiration Date”). The Company accounted for warrants issued to investor relations firms based on ASC 505-50 at each balance sheet and expense recorded based on the period elapsed at each balance sheet date, which is the date at which the counterparty’s performance is deemed to be completed for the period. The FV of each warrant granted is estimated on the date of the grant using the BSOPM under ASC 505-30-11 and is recognized as compensation expense over the service term of the investor relations agreement as it is a better matching of cost with services received. Under that Agreement, the issuance of the warrants was irrevocable and the Company agreed to take no action to cause the warrants to be void or revoked or their issuance to be otherwise terminated. The warrants are classified as equity instruments and are exercisable into a fixed number of common shares. There is no commitment or requirement to change the quantity or terms based on conditions to the counterparty’s performance or market conditions. The FV of the warrants was calculated using the following assumptions: estimated life of five years, volatility of 100%, risk free interest rate of 3.54%, and dividend yield of 0%. On August 6, 2013, the 50,000 warrants were exercised through cashless exercise.

The following table summarizes activity for the warrants to certain investor relations IR firms:

	Number of Shares		Average Exercise Price per Share		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term in Years

Outstanding at January 1, 2013		50,000	$	1.50		1.75
Exercisable at January 1, 2013		50,000	$	1.50		1.75
Granted		-		-		-
Exercised		50,000		1.50		-
Forfeited		-		-		-
Outstanding at September 30, 2013		-	$	-		-
Exercisable at September 30, 2013		-	$	-		-