Exhibit 10.4
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “
Agreement ”), dated as of October 21, 2008 by
and between Sung Hsien Chang, (“ Executive
”), and VIASPACE Green Energy Inc. (“VGE”) a
British Virgin Islands corporation having its principal
office at 171 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena, California 91107
.
WHEREAS, VGE and Executive are parties to a
Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of October 21, 2008 (“
Purchase Agreement ”), and all capitalized
terms not defined herein have the meanings given in the Purchase
Agreement;
WHEREAS, VGE believes that Executive provides
unique advisory and management services for VGE and wishes to
retain the continued services of Executive as its
President;
WHEREAS, VGE and Executive have reached an
understanding with respect to Executive’s employment with VGE
for a two year period commencing as of the date of this Agreement;
and
WHEREAS, VGE and Executive desire to evidence
their agreement in writing and to provide for the employment of
Executive by VGE on the terms set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the
foregoing facts, the mutual covenants and agreements contained
herein and other good and valuable consideration, the parties
hereby agree as follows:
1.
Employment, Duties and Acceptance .
1.1 Effective
as of the date of this Agreement, VGE hereby agrees to the
employment of Executive as its President, and Executive hereby
accepts such employment on the terms and conditions contained in
this Agreement. During the term of this Agreement,
Executive shall make himself available to VGE and to any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates as directed to pursue the business of
VGE subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of
Directors of VGE.
1.2 VGE
may assign Executive such general management and supervisory
responsibilities and executive duties for VGE as are appropriate
and commensurate with Executive’s position as President of
VGE.
1.3 Executive
accepts such employment and agrees to devote substantially all of
his business time, energies and attention to the performance of his
duties hereunder and as an executive officer or director of
subsidiaries of VGE. Nothing herein shall be construed
as preventing Executive from making and supervising investments on
a personal or family basis (including trusts, funds and investment
entities in which Executive or members of his family have an
interest); provided, however, that these activities do not
materially interfere with the performance of his duties hereunder
or violate the provisions of Section 4.4 hereof.
2.
Compensation and Benefits .
2.1 VGE
shall pay to Executive a salary at an annual base rate of not less
than $240,000 for the term hereof. During
Executive’s employment, salary will be paid not less
frequently than twice per month.
2.2 VGE
shall also pay to Executive such bonuses as may be determined from
time to time by the VGE Board of Directors. In
determining the annual bonus to be paid to Executive, the VGE Board
may, among other factors they believe to be appropriate, consider,
and give varying degrees of importance to, Executive’s
contribution to the following:
(a) achievement
by VGE of specific identified targets selected by the CEO and
agreed to by Executive from time to time, including without
limitation targets based on increased revenue and profits from the
artwork business and the grass business;
(b) the
attraction and retention of key executive personnel by
VGE;
(c) satisfaction
of VGE’s capital requirements;
(d) the
establishment and achievement of VGE goals;
(e) growth
in VGE’s perceived value; and
(f) such
other criteria as the VGE Board deems to be relevant.
2.3 Executive
shall be entitled to such insurance and other benefits if offered
by VGE, including, among others, medical and dental, subject to
applicable waiting periods and other conditions which may be
generally applicable.
2.4 Executive
shall be entitled to 15 days of paid time off in each year
beginning on the date of employment.
2.5 VGE
will pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable or otherwise
duly authorized transportation, hotel and other expenses incurred
by Executive on business trips (including coach class air travel)
and for all other ordinary and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
actually incurred by him in the conduct of the business of VGE
against itemized receipts submitted with respect to any such
expenses.
2.6 On
the Second Closing Date, VGE will grant executive an option to
purchase the number shares of the Company’s common stock
equal to four percent (4%) of the Company’s total outstanding
shares as of the Second Closing Date. The purchase price
of the option shares shall be eighty percent (80%) of the fair
market value of such common stock as of the Second Closing
Date. The option shall vest over a period of 24 months
beginning on the date of this Agreement, with 1/24 of the option
shares vesting on the first day of each month that Executive is
employed with VGE.
3.
Term and Termination .
3.1 The
initial term of this Agreement commences as of the date of this
Agreement and, unless sooner terminated as herein provided, shall
continue for two (2) years. The initial term may be
extended by Executive for two additional one-year
periods.
3.2 If
Executive dies during the term of this Agreement, this Agreement
shall thereupon terminate, except that VGE shall pay to the legal
representative of Executive’s estate the base salary due
Executive at the time of death, including previously accrued but
unpaid bonuses, expense reimbursements and accrued but unused paid
time off pay.
3.3 If
Executive shall be rendered incapable by an incapacitating illness
or disability (either physical or mental) of complying with the
terms, provisions and conditions hereof on his part to be performed
for a period in excess of 180 consecutive days during any
consecutive twelve (12) month period, then VGE, at its option, may
terminate this Agreement by written notice to
Executive. VGE shall pay to Executive all amounts owing
to Executive at the time of termination, including for previously
accrued but unpaid bonuses, expense reimbursements and accrued but
unused vacation pay.
3.4 VGE,
by notice to Executive, may terminate this Agreement for
Cause. As used herein, “ Cause
” means (a) the refusal in bad faith by Executive to carry
out specific written directions of the Board, (b) intentional fraud
or dishonest action by Executive in his relations with VGE,
(“dishonest” for these purposes shall mean
Executive’s knowingly making of a material misstatement to
the Board for the purpose of obtaining direct personal benefit);
(c) the conviction of Executive of any crime involving an act of
significant moral turpitude; (d) any act (or failure to act),
knowingly committed by Executive, that is in violation of written
VGE policies, this Agreement or VGE’s written agreements with
third parties and that is materially damaging to the business or
reputation of VGE as determined in good faith by the
CEO. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Cause for
termination shall be deemed to exist with respect to
Executive’s acts described in clause (a) or (b) or (d) above,
unless the CEO shall have given written notice to Executive (after
five (5) days advance written notice to Executive and a reasonable
opportunity to Executive to present his views with respect to the
existence of Cause), specifying the Cause with particularity and,
within twenty (20) business days after such notice, Executive shall
not have disputed the CEO’s determination or in reasonably
good faith taken action to cure or eliminate prospectively the
problem or thing giving rise to such Cause.
3.5 &