Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.2

                                 ZINDART LIMITED

                           1997 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

                              ADOPTED MAY 16, 1997
                           APPROVED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
                               AMENDED MAY 8, 1998
                           APPROVED SEPTEMBER 9, 1998
                              AMENDED APRIL 3, 2001
                              AMENDED JULY 18, 2001
                           APPROVED SEPTEMBER 6, 2001

        1. PURPOSES OF THE PLAN. The purposes of this Equity Incentive Plan are
to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial
responsibility, to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and
Consultants of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to promote the success of
the Company's business. Awards granted under the Plan may be, in the case of
U.S. Persons, "Incentive Stock Options", "Nonstatutory Stock Options", Share
bonuses and ADS bonuses, all as defined below and as determined by the
Administrator at the time of grant of an award. For non-U.S. Persons, awards
granted under the Plan will be only Nonstatutory Stock Options and Share and ADS
bonuses.

        2. DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

           (a) "ADMINISTRATOR" means the Board or any of its Committees
appointed pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.

           (b) "ADS" or "ADSs" means an American Depositary Share or American
Depositary Shares representing, respectively, one or more Shares.

           (c) "APPLICABLE LAWS" means the legal requirements relating to the
administration of employee incentive schemes under the applicable laws of Hong
Kong, U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities
laws, the Code and the laws of any other foreign country or jurisdiction where
Awards will be or are being granted under the Plan.

           (d) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

           (e) "CODE" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

           (f) "COMMITTEE" means a Committee appointed by the Board of Directors
in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

           (g) "COMMON STOCK" means the Ordinary Shares ADSs of the Company
allotted and issued, including Ordinary shares or ADSs reserved for issuance
under any employee incentive schemes in effect from time to time.

           (h) "COMPANY" means Zindart Limited, a Hong Kong company with its
principal executive office at Flat C&D, 25/F Block 1, Tat Ping Industrial
Centre, 57 Ting Kok Road, Tai Po, N.T., Hong Kong.
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           (i) "CONSULTANT" means any person who is engaged by the Company or
any Parent or Subsidiary to render consulting or advisory services and is
compensated for such services.

           (j) "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT" means
that the employment, directorship or consulting relationship with the Company,
any Parent, or Subsidiary, is not interrupted or terminated. The Board, in its
sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Status as an Employee,
Director or Consultant shall be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any
leave of absence approved by the Board or (ii) transfers between locations of
the Company or between the Company, its Parent, any Subsidiary, or any
successor. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed 90
days, unless employment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute
or contract, including Company policies. If reemployment upon expiration of a
leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, on the 181st day
of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by the Optionee shall cease to be
treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax purposes as a
Nonstatutory Stock Option.

           (k) "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board.

           (l) "EMPLOYEE" means any person, including Officers and Directors,
employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. The payment
of a director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient to constitute
"employment" by the Company.

           (m) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the United States Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.

           (n) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the value of Common
Stock determined as follows:

                (i) If the Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq National Market
        or The Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the Fair Market Value of Common Stock
        shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if
        no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system (or the
        exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in Common Stock)
        for the last market trading day prior to the time of determination, as
        reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the
        Administrator deems reliable;

                (ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized
        securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market
        Value shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for
        the Common Stock on the last market trading day prior to the day of
        determination, or

                (iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common
        Stock, the Fan-Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by
        the Administrator.

           (o) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended to qualify as
an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code (as
defined herein), as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

           (p) "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a Director who either (is not a
current Employee or Officer of the Company or its parent or subsidiary, does not
receive compensation (directly or indirectly) from the Company or its parent or
subsidiary for services rendered as a

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consultant or in any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as
to which disclosure would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K
promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 ("Regulation S-K"), does not
possess an interest in any other transaction as to which disclosure would be
required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in a business
relationship as to which disclosure would be required under Item 404(b) of
Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a "non-employee director" for
purposes of Rule 16b-3.

           (q) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended to
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

           (r) "OFFICER" means (i) a person who, with respect to the Company, is
its president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or
controller, any vice-president in charge of a principal business unit, division
or function (such as sales, administration or finance), any officer who performs
a policy-making function, or any other person who performs similar policy-making
functions for the Company or its subsidiaries, or (ii) any other person within
the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

           (s) "OPTION" means an option to purchase Shares or ADSs granted
pursuant to the Plan.

           (t) "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the Company
and an Optionee evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option
grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan.

           (u) "OPTIONED STOCK" means the Shares (as defined herein) or ADSs (as
defined herein) subject to an Option.

           (v) "OPTIONEE" means an Employee, Director or Consultant who receives
an Option.

           (w) "OUTSIDE DIRECTOR" means a Director who either (i) is not a
current employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" (within the
meaning of Treasury regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code, is
not a former employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" receiving
compensation for prior services, was not an officer of the Company or an
"affiliated corporation" at any time, and is not currently receiving direct or
indirect remuneration from the Company or an "affiliated corporation" for
services in any capacity other than as a Director, or (ii) is otherwise
considered an "outside director" for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

           (x) "PARENT" means (i) any corporation (other than the employer
corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the employer
corporation it at the time of granting of the option, each of the corporations
other than the employer corporation owns shares possessing 50% or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other
corporations in such chain, or (ii) a "parent corporation", whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

           (y) "PLAN" means this 1997 Equity Incentive Plan.

           (z) "SECTION 16(b)" means Section 16(b) of the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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           (aa) "SECURITY" or "SECURITIES" means Shares and/or ADSs.

           (bb) "SHARE" means an Ordinary share of the Company reserved for
issuance or allotted under the Plan, as adjusted in accordance with Section 14
below, and "share" means any Ordinary share of the Company.

           (cc) "SHARE AWARD" or "AWARD" or "AWARD" means any right granted
under the Plan, including any Option to purchase Shares or ADSs and any Share or
ADS bonus.

           (dd) "SHARE AWARD AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the
Company and a holder of a Share Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an
individual Share Award grant. Each Share Award Agreement shall be subject to the
terms and conditions of the Plan.

           (ee) "SUBSIDIARY" means any corporation (other than the employer
corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the employer
corporation if, at the time of granting of the option, each of the corporations
other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns shares possessing 50%
or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the
other corporations in such chain.

           (ff) "TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY" means a condition rendering a
person unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any
medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to
result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous
period of not less than 12 months.

           (gg) "US PERSON" means a person subject to U.S. taxation on his or
her personal income, such as a U.S. citizen or resident of the U.S.

        3. SECURITIES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to the provisions of Section
14 of the Plan, the maximum number of Securities which may be awarded under the
Plan is 672,500 Shares and/or ADSs, increased to 1,320,000 at the May 1998 Board
meeting and increased to 2,200,000 at the April 2001 Board meeting. The
Securities may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Ordinary shares or
ADSs. If an Option expires or becomes unexercisable without having been
exercised in full, or is surrendered pursuant to an option exchange program, the
unpurchased Securities which were subject thereto shall become available for
future award or sale under lie Plan (unless the Plan has terminated); provided,
however, that Securities out have actually been issued under the Plan shall not
be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future distribution
under the Plan, except that if unvested Securities are repurchased by the
Company at their original purchase price, and the original purchaser of such
Securities did not receive any benefits of ownership of such Securities, such
Securities shall become available for future grant under the Plan. For purposes
of the preceding sentence, voting rights shall not be considered a benefit of
ownership of Securities.

        4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

           (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Board unless and until the
Board delegates administration to a committee appointed by the Board as set
forth in Section 4(b) hereof.

           (b) COMMITTEE. The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a
committee or committees ("Committee") of one (1) or more members of the Board.
In the discretion of the Board, a Committee may consist solely of two (2) or
more Outside Directors or

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solely of two (2) or more Non-Employee Directors. If administration is delegated
to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration
of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power
to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is
authorized to exercise (and references to this Plan to the Board shall
thereafter be to the Committee or such a subcommittee), subject, however, to
such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be
adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at
any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan. The Plan may be
administered by different bodies with respect to directors, non-director
Officers and Employees who are neither directors nor Officers.

           (c) POWERS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. Subject to the provisions of the
Plan and, in the case of a Committee, the specific duties delegated by the Board
to such Committee, and subject to the approval of any relevant authorities,
including the approval, if required, of any stock exchange upon which the
Ordinary shares or ADSs are listed, the Administrator shall have the authority,
in its discretion:

                (i) to determine the Fair Market Value of Securities, in
        accordance with Section 2(m) of the Plan;

                (ii) To determine from time to time which of the persons
        eligible under the Plan shall be granted Share Awards; when and how each
        Share Award shall be granted; whether a Share Award will be an Incentive
        Stock Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a Share bonus, an ADS bonus
        or a combination of the foregoing; the provisions of each Share Award
        granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times when
        a person shall be permitted to receive shares pursuant to a Share Award;
        and the number of shares with respect to which a Share Award shall be
        granted to each such person;

                (iii) to amend the Plan or a Share Award as provided in Section
        16;

                (iv) to determine the number of Securities to be covered by each
        such award granted hereunder;

                (v) to approve forms of agreements for use from time to time
        under the Plan;

                (vi) to determine the terms and conditions of any award granted
        hereunder;

                (vii) to determine whether and under what circumstances an
        Option may be settled in cash under subsection 10(f) instead of
        Securities;

                (viii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and
        awards granted pursuant to the Plan;

                (ix) to subject Awards and shares issuable upon conversion
        thereof to such restrictions on transfer as the Administrator deems
        appropriate;

                (x) to determine the extent, if any, to which the Company is
        subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act and, if the Company is not
        subject to such Section, to amend this Plan accordingly or disregard the
        portions hereof rendered inapplicable by such determination;

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                (xi) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations
        relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to
        sub-plans established for the purpose of qualifying for preferred tax
        treatment under foreign tax laws, and including correcting any detect,
        omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Option or Share
        Award Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary
        or expedient to make the Plan fully effective; and

                (xii) generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such
        acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best
        interests of the Company which are not in conflict with the provisions
        of the Plan.

           (d) EFFECT OF ADMINISTRATOR'S DECISION. All decisions, determinations
and interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and binding on all
Optionees and any other holders of any Options or grantees of Awards.

        5. ELIGIBILITY.

           (a) Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees who are
U.S. citizens or residents. Share Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may
be granted only to Employees, Directors or Consultants.

           (b) No person shall be eligible for the grant of an Incentive Stock
Option if, at the time of grant, such person owns (or is deemed to own pursuant
to Section 424(d) of the Code) shares possessing more man ten percent (10%) of
the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or of
any of its Affiliates unless the exercise price of such Option is at least one
hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of such shares at the date
of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5)
years from the date of grant.

           (c) Subject to the provisions of Section 14 relating to adjustments
upon changes in shares, no person shall be eligible to be granted Share Awards
covering more than 100% of the Securities available for issuance under the Plan
in any calendar year. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the
Securities with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the
first time by an Optionee during any calendar year exceeds US$100,000, such
Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this
Section 5(c), Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order
in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Securities shall be
determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Securities is granted.

           (d) If an Option is canceled in the same fiscal year of the Company
in which it was granted (other than in connection with a transaction described
in Section 14), the canceled Option will be counted against the limit set forth
in Section 5(c) above. For this purpose, if the exercise price of an Option is
reduced, the transaction will be treated as a cancellation of the Option and the
grant of a new Option.

        6. TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to
occur of its adoption by the Board of Directors or its approval by the
shareholders of the Company, as described in Section 21 of the Plan. It shall
continue in effect for the term set forth in Section 17 of the Plan unless
sooner terminated under Section 14 of the Plan.

        7. TERM OF OPTION. The term of each Option shall be the term stated in
the Option Agreement or Notice of Stock Option Gram; provided however, that the
term shall be no more than

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ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. However, in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option granted to an Optionee who, at the tone the Option is
granted, owns shares representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting
power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the
term of the Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant thereof or
such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement. The date of grant
of an Option shall, for an purposes, be the date on which the Administrator
makes the determination granting such Option, or such other date as is
determined by the Board. Notice of the determination shall be given to each
Employee, Director or Consultant to whom an Option is so granted within a
reasonable time after the date of such grant.

        8. VESTING OF OPTIONS. Options shall vest in accordance with the terms
of the Notice of Stock Option Grant and Option Agreement. The total number of
Securities subject to an Option may, but need not, be allotted in periodic
installments (which may, but need not, be equal). The Option may be subject to
such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised
(which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Board may deem
appropriate. The provisions of this Section 8 are subject to any Option
provisions governing the minimum number of Securities as to which an Option may
be exercised.

        9. OPTION EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION.

           (a) The per share exercise price for Securities to be issued pursuant
to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the
Administrator, but shall be subject to the following:

                (i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option:

                        (A) granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant
                of such Incentive Stock Option, owns shares representing more
                than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of
                shares of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share
                exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market
                Value per Share on the date of grant or

                        (B) granted to any Employee other than an Employee
                described in the preceding paragraph, the per Share exercise
                price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair-Market Value per
                Share on the date of grant.

                (ii) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the per Share
        exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per
        Share on the date of the grant.

           (b) The purchase price of Securities acquired pursuant to an Option
shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and regulations,
either (i) in cash at the time the Option is exercised, or (ii) at the
discretion of the Board or Committee, at the time of the grant of the Option,
(A) by delivery to the Company of other shares of the Company, (B) according to
a deferred payment or other arrangement (which may include, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the use of other shares of the Company) with the
person to whom the Option is granted or to whom the Option is transferred
pursuant to Section 11, or (in any other form of legal consideration that may be
acceptable to the Board. In the case of any deferred payment arrangement,
interest shall be payable at least annually and shall be charged at the minimum
rate of interest necessary to avoid the treatment as interest, under any
applicable provisions of the Code, of

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any amounts other than amounts stated to be interest under the deferred payment
arrangement

        10. EXERCISE OF OPTION; TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR RELATIONSHIP.

            (a) PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE; RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. Any Option
granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions
as determined by the Administrator, including performance criteria with respect
to the Company and/or the Optionee, and as shall be permissible under the terms
of the Plan; provided, however, that an Option may only be exercised after it
has vested in accordance with the Notice of Stock Option Grant and the other
relevant terms of this Plan.

        An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such
exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the
Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full payment for the
Securities with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received by
the Company. Full payment may, as authorized by the Administrator, consist of
any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 9(b) of the
Plan. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of
the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the share
certificate evidencing such Securities, no right to vote or receive dividends or
any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned
Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company shall issue (or
cause to be issued) such share certificate promptly upon exercise of the Option.
No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record
date is prior to the date the share certificate is issued, except as provided in
Section 14 of the Plan.

        Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the
number of Securities which thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the
Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Securities as to which the
Option is exercised.

           (b) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR RELATIONSHIP AS A DIRECTOR OR
CONSULTANT. In the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an
Employee, Director or Consultant with the Company (but not in the event of an
Optionee's change of status from Employee to Consultant (in which case an
Employee's Incentive Stock Option shall automatically convert to a Nonstatutory
Stock Option on the date three (3) months and one day from the date of such
change of status) or from Consultant to Employee), such Optionee may exercise
his or her Option within, such period of time designated by the Board, which
shall in no event be later than the expiration of the term of the Option as set
form in the Option Agreement (the "Post-Termination Exercise Period") and only
to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option on the date
Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates.
In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Board shall determine the
Post-Termination Exercise Period at the time the Option is granted, and the term
of such Post-Termination Exercise Period shall in no event exceed three (3)
months from the date of termination, and may terminate as of the date of such
Optionee's termination. In addition, the Board may at any time, with the consent
of the Optionee, extend the Post-Termination Exercise Period and provide for
continued vesting; provided however, that any extension of such period by the
Board in excess of three (3) months from the date of termination shall cause an
Incentive Stock Option so extended to become a Nonstatutory Stock Option,
effective as of the date of Board action. If at the date of termination, the
Optionee is not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares
covered by the unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan. If,
after termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within the
time specified in the Option Agreement or as otherwise determined above, the
Option shall terminate, and the shares covered by such Option shall revert to
the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall

<PAGE>
have the power to permit an Option to continue to vest during the
Post-Termination Exercise Period.

        An Optionee's Option Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of
the Option following the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Stains as an
Employee, Director, or Consultant (other than upon the Optionee's death or
disability) would result in liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act,
then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term
of the Option set form in the Option Agreement, or (ii) the tenth (10th) day
after the last date on which such exercise would result in such liability under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Finally, an Optionee's Option Agreement may
also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the
Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant (other man
upon the Optionee's death or disability) would be prohibited at any time solely
because the issuance of shares would violate the registration requirements under
the Securities Act, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the
expiration of the term of the Option set form in the first paragraph of this
subsection 10(b), or (ii) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after
the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or
Consultant during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of
such registration requirements.

           (c) DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. In the event of termination of an
Optionee's consulting relationship or Continuous Status as an Employee, Director
or Consultant as a result of his or her disability, Optionee may, but only
within twelve (12) months from the date of such termination (and in no event
later than the expiration date of the term of such Option as set forth in the
Option Agreement), exercise the Option to the extent otherwise entitled, to
exercise it at the date of such termination; provided, however, that if such
disability is not a Total and Permanent Disability, in the case of an Incentive
Stock Option, such Incentive Stock Option shall automatically convert to a
Nonstatutory Stock Option on the day three months and one day following such
termination. To the extent that Optionee is not entitled to exercise the Option
at the date of termination, or if Optionee does not exercise such Option to the
extent so entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate,
and the Securities covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.

           (d) DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event of the death of an Optionee, the
Option may be exercised at any time within twelve (12) months following the date
of death (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option
as set form in the Notice of Grant), by the Optionee's estate or by a person who
acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to
the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option at the date of
death. If, at the time of death, the Optionee was not entitled to exercise his
or her entire Option, the Securities covered by the unexercisable portion of the
Option shall immediately revert to the Plan. If, after death, the Optionee's
estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or
inheritance does not exercise the Option within the time specified herein, the
Option shall terminate, and the Securities covered by such Option shall revert
to the Plan.

           (e) U.S. PERSONS - RULE 16b-3. Awards granted to U.S. Persons subject
to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act must comply with Rule 16b-3 and shall
contain such additional conditions or restrictions as may be required thereunder
to qualify for the maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with
respect to Plan transactions.

           (f) BUYOUT PROVISIONS. The Administrator may at any time offer to
buyout for a payment in cash or Securities, an Option previously granted, based
on such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and
communicate to the Optionee at the time that
<PAGE>

such offer is made.

        11. NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. An Incentive Stock Option shall not
be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and
shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the person to whom the Incentive
Stock Option is granted only by such person. A Nonstatutory Stock Option may be
transferred to the extent provided in the Option Agreement; provided that if the
Option Agreement does not expressly permit the transfer of a Nonstatutory Stock
Option, the Nonstatutory Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will,
by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations
order satisfying the requirements of Rule 16b-3, and shall be exercisable during
the lifetime of the person to whom the Option is granted only by such person or
any transferee pursuant to a domestic relations order. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the person to whom the Option is granted may, by delivering written
notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third
party who, in the event of the death of the Optionee, shall thereafter be
entitled to exercise the Option.

        12. RE-LOAD OPTIONS. Without in any way limiting the authority of the
Board or Committee to make or not to make grants of Options hereunder, me Board
or Committee shall have the authority (but not an obligation) to include as part
of any Option Agreement a provision entitling the Optionee to a further Option
(a "Re-Load Option") in the event the Optionee exercises the Option evidenced by
the Option Agreement, in whole or in part, by surrendering other Securities in
accordance with this Plan and the terms and conditions of the Option Agreement
Any such Re-Load Option (i) shall be for a number of Securities equal to the
number of Securities surrendered as part or all of the exercise price of such
Option; (ii) shall have an expiration date which is the same as the expiration
date of the Option the exercise of which gave rise to such Re-Load Option, and
(iii) shall have an exercise price which is equal to one hundred percent (100%)
of the Fair Market Value of the Securities subject to the Re-Load Option on the
date of exercise of the original Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
Re-Load Option which is an Incentive Stock Option and which is granted to a 10%
shareholder (as described in subsection 5(b)), shall have an exercise price
which is equal to one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the
Securities subject to the Re-Load Option on the date of exercise of the original
Option and shall have a term which is no longer than five (5) years.

        Any such Re-Load Option may be an Incentive Stock Option or a
Nonstatutory Stock Option, as the Board or Committee may designate at the time
of the grant of the original Option; provided, however, that the designation of
any Re-Load Option as an Incentive Stock Option shall be subject to the one
hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) annual limitation on exercisability of
Incentive Stock Options described in subsection 5(c) of the Plan and in Section
422(d) of the Code. Then shall be no Re-Load Options on a Re-Load Option. Any
such Re-Load Option shall be subject to the availability of sufficient shares
under Section 3 and shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as the
Board or Committee may determine which are not inconsistent with the express
provisions of the Plan regarding the terms of Options.

        13. TERMS OF SNARE AND ADS BONUSES. Each Share or ADS bonus agreement
shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board
or Committee shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of Share and ADS
bonus agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of
separate agreements need not be identical, but each Share and ADS bonus
agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference
in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions
as appropriate:

            (a) TRANSFERABILITY. No rights under a Share or ADS bonus agreement
shall be transferable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or,
if the agreement so

<PAGE>

provides, pursuant to a domestic relations order satisfying me requirements of
Rule 16b-3, so long as Securities awarded under such agreement remains subject
to the terms of the agreement.

            (b) VESTING. Securities shares sold or awarded under the Plan may,
but need not be subject to option in favour of the Company in accordance with a
vesting schedule to be determined by the Board or Committee.

        14. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION OR MERGER.

            (a) If any change is made in the Securities subject to the Plan, or
subject to any Share Award, without the receipt of consideration by the Company
(through merger, consolidation, reorganization. recapitalization,
reincorporation, share dividend, dividend in property other than cash, share
split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change
in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of
consideration by the Company), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the
class(es) and maximum number of shares subject to the Plan and the maximum
number of shares subject to award to any person during any calendar year, and
the outstanding Share Awards will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and
number of shares and price per share of share subject to such outstanding Share
Awards. Such adjustments shall be made by the Board or Committee, the
determination of which shall be final, binding and conclusive. (The conversion
of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as a
transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the Company.")

            (b) In the event of a Change in Control (as defined below), (i) any
surviving or acquiring corporation shall assume Share Awards outstanding under
the Plan or shall substitute similar Share Awards for those outstanding under
the Plan, or (ii) in the event any surviving or acquiring corporation refuses to
assume such Share Awards or to substitute similar Share Awards for those
outstanding under the Plan, (A) with respect to Share Awards held by persons men
performing services as Employees, Directors or Consultants, the vesting of such
Share Awards and the time during which, such Share Awards may be exercised shall
be accelerated prior to such event and the Share Awards terminated if not
exercised after such acceleration and at or prior to such event, and (B) with
respect to any other Share Awards outstanding under the Plan, such Share Awards
shall be terminated if not exercised prior to such event. For purposes of this
Plan, "Change in Control" means: (1) a dissolution, liquidation, or safe of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company; (2) a merger or consolidation
in which the Company is not the surviving corporation; (3) a reverse merger in
which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of the Company's
common shares outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by
value of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash
or otherwise; (4) an expression of intent to acquire control notified to the
Company under Section 13(d)(l)(C) of the Exchange Act, subsequently effected; or
(5) a change in control of the Company effected by a successful tender offer for
more than 50% of the outstanding voting Securities of the Company.

        15. CANCELLATION AND RE-GRANT OF OPTIONS.

            (a) The Board or Committee shall have the authority to effect, at
any time and from time to time, (i) the repricing of any outstanding Options
under the Plan and/or (ii) with the consent of any adversely affected holders of
Options, the cancellation of any outstanding Options under the Plan and the
grant in substitution therefore of new Options under the Plan covering the same
or different numbers of Securities, but having an exercise price per share not
less than: one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option or Nonstatutory Stock Option or, in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option held by a 10% stockholder

<PAGE>

(as described in subsection 5(b)), not less than one hundred ten percent (110%)
of the Fair Market Value per Share on the new grant date.

            (b) Securities subject to an Option canceled under this Section 15
shall continue to be counted against the maximum award of Options permitted to
be granted pursuant to the Plan. The repricing of an Option hereunder resulting
in a reduction of the exercise price, shall be deemed to be a cancellation of
the original Option and the grant of a substitute Option; in the event of such
repricing, both the original and the substituted Options shall be counted
against the maximum awards of Options permitted to be granted pursuant to the
Plan, to the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code.

        16. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

            (a) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the
Plan. However, except as provided in Section 14 relating to adjustments upon
changes in shares, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the
shareholders of the Company to the extent shareholder approval is necessary for
the Plan to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, Rule 16b-3 or
any Nasdaq or other securities exchange listing requirements or the laws of Hong
Kong.

            (b) The Board may in its sole discretion submit any other amendment
to the Plan for shareholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments
to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code
and the regulations thereunder regarding the exclusion of performance-based
compensation from the limit on corporate deducibility of compensation paid to
certain executive officers.

            (c) It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan
in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible
Employees, Directors or Consultants with the maximum benefits provided or to be
provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options and/or to bring the Plan and/or
Incentive Stock Options granted under it into compliance therewith.

            (d) Rights and obligations under any Share Award granted before
amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless:
(i) the Company requests the consent of the person to whom the Share Award was
granted and (ii) such person consents in writing.

            (e) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the
terms of any one or more Share Awards; provided, however, that the rights and
obligations under any Share Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment
unless: (i) the Company requests the consent of the person to whom the Share
Award was granted and (ii) such person consents in writing.

        17. SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Board may suspend or
terminate the Plan at any time. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall
terminate ten (10) years from the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or
approved by the shareholders of the Company, whichever is earlier. No Share
Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is
terminated. Rights and obligations under any Share Award granted while the Plan
is in effect shall not be impaired by suspension or termination of the Plan,
except with the consent of the person to whom the Share Award was granted.

        18. CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES. Securities shall not be
issued pursuant to

<PAGE>

the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance
and delivery of such Securities pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant
provisions of Applicable Laws, including, without limitation, the relevant Hong
Kong laws and rules relating to securities, and the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and
the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Securities may then be
listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company
with respect to such compliance.

        19. RESERVATION OF SHARES; REGULATORY AUTHORITY FOR ISSUANCE. The
Company shall, during the term of this Plan, will, to the extent permissible
under Hong Kong law, reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall
be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

        The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory
body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to
be necessary to the lawful issuance and safe of any Securities hereunder, shall
relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell
such Securities as to which such requisite authority shall not have been
obtained.

        20. AGREEMENTS. Awards shall be evidenced by written agreements in such
form as the Administrator shall approve from time to time.

        21. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to
approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or
after the date the Plan is adopted. Such shareholder approval shall be obtained
in the degree and manner required under Applicable Laws and the rules of any
stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed.

        22. MISCELLANEOUS.

            (a) The Board shall have the power to accelerate the time at which a
Share Award may first be exercised or the time during which a Share Award or any
part thereof will vest, notwithstanding the provisions in the Share Award
stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it
will vest. (b) Neither an Employee, Director nor a Consultant nor any person to
whom a Share Award is transferred in accordance with the Plan shall be deemed to
be the holder of or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any
shares subject to such Share Award unless and until such person has satisfied
all requirements for exercise of the Share Award pursuant to its terms.

            (c) Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Share Award
granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Employee, Director or Consultant
or other holder of Share Awards any right to continue in the employ of the
Company or any Affiliate, or to continue serving as a Consultant or Director, or
shall affect the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the
employment of any Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, or
the right to terminate the relationship of any Consultant pursuant to the terms
of such Consultant's agreement with the Company or Affiliate or service as a
Director pursuant to the Company's Articles of Association.

            (d) The Company may require any person to whom a Share Award is
granted, or any person to whom a Share Award is transferred in accordance with
the Plan, as a condition of exercising or acquiring shares under any Share Award
to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that such person
is acquiring the shares subject to the Share Award for such

<PAGE>

person's own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise
distributing the shares. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given
pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if: (i) the issuance of the
shares upon the exercise or acquisition of shares under the Share Award has been
registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the
Securities Act, or (ii) as to any particular requirement, a determination is
made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the
circumstances under the then applicable securities laws.

           (e) The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company, place
legends on share certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems
necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws,
including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the shares.<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3

                                 ZINDART LIMITED

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

                             FOR PETER A.J. GARDINER

        THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of October 31,
2000 (the "Effective Date"), between Zindart Limited, a Hong Kong corporation
(the "Company"), and Peter A.J. Gardiner (the "Optionee").

        1. Grant of Option. The Company hereby agrees to grant to the Optionee
an option (the "Option") to purchase 380,000 American Depositary Shares (the
"Shares"), of which the Company's Ordinary Shares (the "Ordinary Shares") are
the underlying security, at an exercise price of $2.50 per ADS (the "Exercise
Price"), for an aggregate exercise price of $950,000. This Option is not
intended to be an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of
the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

        2. Conditions of Exercise.

               (a) This Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time
as to 100% of the Shares, whether vested or unvested.

               (b) Except as otherwise provided herein, the right of the
Optionee to purchase Shares with respect to which this Option has become
exercisable may be exercised in whole or in part at any time or from time to
time prior to expiration of the Option term. This Option may not be exercised
for a fraction of a share.

               (c) This Option is exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice,
in the form attached as Exhibit A-1 (the "Exercise Notice"), which shall state
the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in respect of which
the Option is being exercised (the "Exercised Shares"), and such other
representations and agreements as may be required by the Company. The Exercise
Notice shall be completed by the Optionee and delivered to the Company. The
Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price
as to all Exercised Shares. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon
receipt by the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by
such aggregate Exercise

<PAGE>
Price.

        3. Vesting Schedule. This Option shall be exercisable during its term as
follows:

               (a) Conditions of Vesting. This Option shall vest in accordance
with the Vesting Schedule set forth in subsection (b) below.

               (b) Vesting Schedule. Subject to the provisions of Section 12,
one-third of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest on the first
anniversary of the Effective Date and one twenty-fourth of the Shares shall
subsequently vest on each monthly anniversary of the Effective Date thereafter,
subject to Optionee's continuing to provide employment or consulting services to
the Company as of each such date.

        4. Term of Option. Subject to earlier termination as specified herein,
this Option may be exercised until ten years after the Effective Date, after
which this Option shall terminate.

        5. Termination of Relationship. In the event of termination of
Optionee's continuous status as an employee or consultant of the Company or a
subsidiary of the Company for any reason other than death or Disability (as
defined in Section 6 below), this Option may be exercised for a period of three
(3) months after the date of such termination (but in no event later than the
expiration date of this Option as set forth in Section 4 above) to the extent
that the Option is vested on the date of such termination. To the extent that
Optionee does not exercise this Option within the time specified herein, the
Option shall terminate.

        6. Disability of Optionee. In the event of termination of Optionee's
continuous status as an employee or consultant of the Company or a subsidiary of
the Company as a result of Optionee's disability (within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Code) ("Disability"), this Option may be exercised for a period
of twelve (12) months after the date of such termination (but in no event later
than the expiration date of this Option as set forth in Section 4 above) to the
extent that the Option is vested on the date of such termination. To the extent
that Optionee does not exercise this Option within the time specified herein,
the Option shall terminate.

        7. Death of Optionee. In the event of the death of Optionee, the Option
may be exercised at any time within twelve (12) months following the date of
Optionee's death (but in no event later than the expiration date of this Option
as set forth in Section 4 above), by the Optionee's estate or by a person who
acquired the

<PAGE>
right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, to the extent that the
Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option at the date of death. If, after
death, the Optionee's estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the
Option by bequest or inheritance does not exercise the Option within the time
specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

        8. Optionee's Representations. In the event the Shares have not been
registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), at the time this Option is exercised, the Optionee shall, if required by
the Company, concurrently with the exercise of all or any portion of this
Option, deliver to the Company his Investment Representation Statement in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A-2.

        9. Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be
by cash, check or by any other means of exercise authorized from time to time by
the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or a committee appointed by
the Board.

        10. Non-Transferability of Option. Except under the laws of descent and
distribution or as otherwise provided by the Board in accordance with applicable
law, the Optionee shall not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge or assign the
Option or this Stock Option Agreement; provided, however, that the Optionee
shall be permitted to transfer this Option to a trust controlled by the Optionee
during the Optionee's lifetime for estate planning purposes. Unless transferred
pursuant to the foregoing sentence, the Option shall be exercisable, during the
Optionee's lifetime, only by the Optionee. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, except as otherwise provided herein, the Option may not be
assigned, transferred, pledged or hypothecated in any way, shall not be
assignable by operation of law, and shall not be subject to execution,
attachment or similar process. Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge,
hypothecation or other disposition of the Option contrary to the provisions
hereof, and the levy of any execution, attachment or similar process upon the
Option shall be null and void and without effect.

        11. Restricted Stock Option. Optionee may elect to exercise any portion
of the Option prior to the Shares becoming vested pursuant to Section 3 hereof.
Upon exercise of the Option to purchase unvested Shares, Optionee shall receive
shares of stock, which until vested, shall be restricted ("Restricted Stock").
The Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

               (a) Transferability. The Optionee shall not transfer, assign,

<PAGE>
encumber or otherwise dispose of any Restricted Shares, except (i) by will or by
the laws of descent or distribution or (ii) by transfer to the Company in pledge
as security for payment of the Note, where permitted pursuant to Section 9
hereof. If the Optionee transfers any Restricted Shares, this Section 11 shall
apply to the transferee to the same extent as the Optionee.

               (b) Escrow. Upon issuance, if requested by the Company, the
certificates for Restricted Shares shall be deposited in escrow with the Company
to be held in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Any new,
substituted or additional securities or other property described in Section 12
shall immediately be delivered to the Company to be held in escrow, but only to
the extent the Shares are at the time Restricted Shares. All regular cash
dividends on Restricted Shares (or other securities at the time held in escrow)
shall be paid directly to the Optionee and shall not be held in escrow.
Restricted Shares, together with any other assets or securities held in escrow
hereunder, shall be released from escrow upon the Optionee's request to the
extent the Shares are no longer Restricted Shares (but not more frequently than
once every six months).

        12. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Merger or Change in
Control.

               (a) If any change is made to the Ordinary Shares, or Shares
subject to the Option hereunder, without the receipt of consideration by the
Company (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization,
reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock
split, liquidating dividend, combination or reclassification of Ordinary Shares,
exchange of stock, change in corporate structure or other transaction not
involving the receipt of consideration by the Company), the number of Shares
covered by this Option, as well as the Exercise Price of this Option, shall be
proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued
Ordinary Shares. Such adjustments shall be made on good faith by the Board,
whose good faith determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. (The
conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as
a "transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the Company.")

               (b) In the event of a Change in Control (as defined below), at
the sole election of the Optionee (i) any surviving or acquiring corporation
shall be required to assume the Option or an equivalent option shall be
substituted, or (ii) the vesting of the Option shall be accelerated such that
the Option granted hereunder shall immediately vest, in its entirety, at or
prior to such event. For purposes of this Agreement, "Change in Control" means:
(1) a dissolution, liquidation, or sale of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company; (2) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not
the surviving corporation; (3) a reverse merger in which the Company is the
surviving corporation but the shares of the Company's common shares outstanding
immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the

<PAGE>
merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or
otherwise; (4) an expression of intent to acquire control notified to the
Company under Section 13(d)(1)(C) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, which acquisition is subsequently effected; or (5) a change in
control of the Company effected by a successful tender offer for more than 50%
of the outstanding voting securities of the Company.

        13. Tax Consequences. Some of the federal tax consequences relating to
the exercise and disposition of this Option, as of the date of this Option, are
set forth below. Optionee acknowledges that he has read the brief summary set
forth below with respect to certain U.S. tax consequences arising upon exercise
of this Option and upon disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY
INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE OPTIONEE
SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE
SHARES.

               (a) Exercising the Option. The Optionee may incur regular federal
income tax liability upon exercise of the Option. The Optionee will be treated
as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax rates)
equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value (as quoted on the Nasdaq
National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market or other stock exchange or as
determined by the Board in good faith) ("Fair Market Value") of the Exercised
Shares on the date of exercise over their aggregate Exercise Price. If the
Optionee is an employee or a former employee, the Company will be required to
withhold from his compensation or collect from the Optionee and pay to the
applicable taxing authorities an amount equal to a percentage of this
compensation income at the time of exercise, and may refuse to honor the
exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are not
delivered at the time of exercise.

               (b) Disposition of Shares. If the Optionee holds Shares acquired
upon exercise of the Option for at least one year, any gain realized on
disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal
income tax purposes.

               (c) Section 83(b) Election. Optionee hereby acknowledges that he
has been informed that, with respect to the exercise of the Option for
Restricted Shares, an election may be filed by the Optionee with the U.S.
Internal Revenue Service, within 30 days of the purchase of the Shares, electing
pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed currently on any difference
between the Option Exercise Price and Fair Market Value of the Shares on the
date of purchase. OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS OPTIONEE'S SOLE

<PAGE>
RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT THE COMPANY'S TO FILE TIMELY THE ELECTION UNDER SECTION
83(b) OF THE CODE, EVEN IF OPTIONEE REQUESTS THE COMPANY OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE
TO MAKE THIS FILING ON OPTIONEE'S BEHALF.

        14. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Employment Agreement, by and
between Zindart Limited, a Bermuda corporation and Optionee, this Agreement, the
Exercise Notice and the Investment Representation Statement, all dated as of the
date hereof, constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersedes in its entirety all prior undertakings and
agreements of the Company and the Optionee with respect to the subject matter
hereof, and may not be modified except by means of a writing signed by the
Company and the Optionee. This agreement is governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the
People's Republic of China without regard to its principles of conflicts of law.
Should any provision of this Agreement be determined by a court of law to be
illegal or unenforceable, the other provisions shall nevertheless remain
effective and shall remain enforceable.

        15. Rights as a Stockholder. Neither the Optionee nor any of the
Optionee's successors in interest shall have any rights as a stockholder of the
Company with respect to any Shares subject to the Option until the date of
issuance of a stock certificate for such Shares. The Company shall issue or
cause to issue such stock certificate promptly after the Option is exercise in
whole or in part.

        16. Authority of the Board. The Board shall have full authority to
interpret and construe this Stock Option Agreement. The determination of the
Board as to any such matter of interpretation or construction made in good faith
shall be final, binding and conclusive.

        17. NO GUARANTEE OF CONTINUED SERVICE. OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES
THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED
ONLY BY CONTINUING TO PROVIDE SERVICES AS AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT OF THE
COMPANY OR A SUBSIDIARY OF THE COMPANY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED OR BEING GRANTED AN
OPTION). OPTIONEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT, THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO
NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS AN
EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND
SHALL NOT INTERFERE WITH OPTIONEE'S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY'S OR SUCH SUBSIDIARY'S
RIGHT TO TERMINATE OPTIONEE'S
<PAGE>
RELATIONSHIP AS AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT.

        By your signature and the signature of the Company's representative
below, you and the Company agree that this Option is granted under and governed
by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Optionee has reviewed this
Agreement in its entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of
counsel prior to executing this Agreement and fully understands all provisions
of this Agreement. Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and
final all decisions or interpretations made by the Board in good faith upon any
questions relating to this Agreement. Optionee further agrees to notify the
Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.

OPTIONEE:                                    ZINDART LIMITED
                                             a Hong Kong corporation

/s/ PETER A.J. GARDINER                      By:/s/ ALEXANDER M.K. NGAN
------------------------------                  -----------------------
PETER A.J. GARDINER                          Name:   Alex M.K. Ngan
                                             Title:  Chief Executive Officer

Residence Address:
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT A-1

                                 ZINDART LIMITED

                                 EXERCISE NOTICE

Zindart Limited
Flat C&D, 25/F Block 1
Tai Ping Industrial Centre
57 Ting Kok Road
Tai Po, New Territories
Hong Kong

Attention:  Secretary

        a. Exercise of Option. Effective as of today, ____________, ____, the
undersigned ("Optionee") hereby elects to exercise Optionee's option (the
"Option") to purchase _________ Ordinary Shares (the "Shares") of Zindart
Limited (the "Company") under and pursuant to the Stock Option Agreement dated
__________, 2000 (the "Agreement").

        b. Delivery of Payment. Optionee herewith delivers to the Company the
full exercise price for the Shares.

        c. Representations of Optionee. Optionee acknowledges that Optionee has
received, read and understood the Agreement and agrees to abide by and be bound
by its terms and conditions.

        d. Rights as Shareholder. Until the stock certificate evidencing such
Shares is issued to the Optionee (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the
books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no
right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall
exist with respect to the Shares subject to the Option, notwithstanding the
exercise of the Option. Subject to Section 11 of the Agreement, the Company
shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly after the
Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right
for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued,
except as provided in Section 12 of the Agreement.

        Optionee shall enjoy rights as a shareholder until such time as Optionee
disposes of the Shares. Upon such exercise, Optionee shall have no further
rights as a holder of the Shares so purchased except the right to receive
payment for the Shares so purchased in accordance with the provisions of this
Exercise Notice, and Optionee
<PAGE>
shall forthwith cause the certificate(s) evidencing the Shares so purchased to
be surrendered to the Company for transfer or cancellation.

        e. Tax Consultation. Optionee understands that Optionee may suffer
adverse tax consequences as a result of Optionee's purchase or disposition of
the Shares. Optionee represents that Optionee has consulted with any tax
consultants Optionee deems advisable in connection with the purchase or
disposition of the Shares (including any election made pursuant to Section 83(b)
of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) and that Optionee is not
relying on the Company for any tax advice.

        f. Restrictive Legends and Stop-Transfer Orders.

               (1) Legends. Optionee understands and agrees that the Company may
cause the legends set forth below or legends substantially equivalent thereto,
to be placed upon any certificate(s) evidencing ownership of the Shares together
with any other legends that may be required by the Company or by Hong Kong or
U.S. state or federal securities laws:

               THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER
               THE SECURITIES LAWS OF HONG KONG, THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
               (THE "ACT") OR THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION AND MAY NOT BE
               OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED
               UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT OR, IN THE OPINION OF
               COUNSEL IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER OF THESE
               SECURITIES, SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATION
               IS IN COMPLIANCE THERE WITH.

               (2) Stop-Transfer Notices. Optionee agrees that, in order to
ensure compliance with the restrictions referred to herein, the Company may
issue appropriate "stop transfer" instructions to its transfer agent, if any,
and that, if the Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate
notations to the same effect in its own records.

               (3) Refusal to Transfer. The Company shall not be required (i) to
transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in
violation of any of the provisions of this Exercise Notice or (ii) to treat as
owner of
<PAGE>
such Shares or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or
other transferee to whom such Shares shall have been so transferred.

        g. Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights
under this Exercise Notice to single or multiple assignees, and this Exercise
Notice shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.
Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Exercise Notice
shall be binding upon Optionee and his heirs, executors, administrators,
successors and assigns.

        h. Interpretation. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this
Exercise Notice shall be submitted by Optionee or by the Company forthwith to
the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or the committee thereof
that administers the Agreement and/or Exercise Notice, which shall review such
dispute at its next regular meeting. The resolution of such a dispute by the
Board or committee shall be final and binding on the Company and on the
Optionee.

        i. Governing Law; Severability. This Exercise Notice shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China without regard to its
principles of conflict of laws. Should any provision of this Exercise Notice be
determined by a court of law to be illegal or unenforceable, the other
provisions shall nevertheless remain effective and shall remain enforceable.

        j. Notices. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in
writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery or
international courier service, prepaid, return receipt requested, and addressed
to the other party at its address as shown below beneath its signature, or to
such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time to
the other party.

        k. Further Instruments. The parties agree to execute such further
instruments and to take such further action as may be reasonably necessary to
carry out the purposes and intent of this Exercise Notice.

        l. Entire Agreement. The Agreement is incorporated herein by reference.
The Agreement, this Exercise Notice, and the Investment Representation Statement
constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety
all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect
to the subject matter hereof.

Submitted by:                                Accepted by:

OPTIONEE:                                    ZINDART LIMITED

By:                                          By:
      []
                                             Its:

Address:
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT A-2

                       INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION STATEMENT

OPTIONEE:              PETER A.J. GARDINER

COMPANY:               ZINDART LIMITED

SECURITY:              ORDINARY SHARES

AMOUNT:

DATE:

        In connection with the purchase of the above-listed Securities, the
under signed Optionee represents to the Company the following:

        1. Optionee is aware of the Company's business affairs and financial
condition and has acquired sufficient information about the Company to reach an
informed and knowledgeable decision to acquire the Securities. Optionee is
acquiring these Securities for investment for Optionee's own account only and
not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any "distribution" thereof
within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act").

        2. Optionee acknowledges and understands that the Securities constitute
"restricted securities" under the Securities Act and have not been registered
under the Securities Act in reliance upon a specific exemption therefrom, which
exemption depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of Optionee's
investment intent as expressed herein. In this connection, Optionee understands
that, in the view of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the statutory basis
for such exemption may be unavailable if Optionee's representation was
predicated solely upon a present intention to hold these Securities for the
minimum capital gains period specified under tax statutes, for a deferred sale,
for or until an increase or decrease in the market price of the Securities, or
for a period of one year or any other fixed period in the future. Optionee
further understands that the Securities must be held indefinitely unless they
are subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such
registration is available. Optionee further acknowledges and understands that
the Company is under no obligation to register the Securities. Optionee under
stands that the certificate evidencing the Securities will be imprinted with a
legend which prohibits the transfer of the Securities unless they are registered
or such registration is not required in the opinion of counsel satisfactory to
the Company and any other legend required under applicable securities laws.
<PAGE>
        3. Optionee is familiar with the provisions of Rule 701 and Rule 144,
each promulgated under the Securities Act, which, in substance, permit limited
public resale of "restricted securities" acquired, directly or indirectly from
the issuer thereof, in a non-public offering subject to the satisfaction of
certain conditions. Rule 701 provides that if the issuer qualifies under Rule
701 at the time of the grant of the option to the Optionee, the exercise will be
exempt from registration under the Securities Act. In the event the Company
becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), ninety (90)
days thereafter (or such longer period as any market stand-off agreement may
require) the Securities exempt under Rule 701 may be resold, subject to the
satisfaction of certain of the conditions specified by Rule 144, including: (1)
the resale being made through a broker in an unsolicited "broker's transaction"
or in transactions directly with a market maker (as said term is defined under
the Exchange Act); and, in the case of an affiliate, (2) the availability of
certain public information about the Company, (3) the amount of Securities being
sold during any three month period not exceeding the limitations specified in
Rule 144(e), and (4) the timely filing of a Form 144, if applicable.

        In the event that the Company does not qualify under Rule 701 at the
time of grant of the option, then the Securities may be resold in certain
limited circumstances subject to the provisions of Rule 144, which requires the
resale to occur not less than one year after the later of the date the
Securities were sold by the Company or the date the Securities were sold by an
affiliate of the Company, within the meaning of Rule 144; and, in the case of
acquisition of the Securities by an affiliate, or by a non- affiliate who
subsequently holds the Securities less than two years, the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in sections (1), (2), (3) and (4) of the paragraph
immediately above.

        4. Optionee further understands that in the event all of the applicable
requirements of Rule 701 or 144 are not satisfied, registration under the
Securities Act, compliance with Regulation A, or some other registration
exemption will be required; and that, notwithstanding the fact that Rules 144
and 701 are not exclusive, the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission
has expressed its opinion that persons proposing to sell private placement
securities other than in a registered offering and otherwise than pursuant to
Rules 144 or 701 will have a substantial burden of proof in establishing that an
exemption from registration is available for such offers or sales, and that such
persons and their respective brokers who participate in such transactions do so
at their own risk. Optionee understands that no assurances can be given that any
such other registration exemption will be available in such event.

                                             Signature of Optionee:

                                             Date:                  ,
                                                  ------------------

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