EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “
Agreement” ) is entered into as of May 11, 2009 by and
between:
(i) China New Energy Group Company, a
Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”);
and
(ii) Yangkan Chong (the “ Executive
”), an individual resident of the Republic of
Singapore.
RECITALS
WHEREAS , the Company, through its subsidiaries, is
engaged in the development of natural gas distribution networks,
and the distribution of natural gas to residential, and industrial
and commercial customers in small and medium sized cities in China
(the “Business”); and
WHEREAS, Executive represents that he has the
experience, background and expertise necessary to enable him to be
the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and
to manage, grow and develop the Business; and
WHEREAS, based on such representation, the
Company wishes to employ Executive as its CEO, and Executive wishes
to be so employed, in each case, upon the terms hereinafter set
forth;
NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing recitals and
the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby expressly acknowledged, the parties agree as
follows:
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Position
and Duties . During
the Employment Period (as defined in Section 1.2 below), the
Executive shall serve the Company as its Chief Executive Officer
and shall have such powers, duties and obligations consistent with
such position as the Company’s board of directors (the
“ Board ”) shall determine from time to
time. References to the Board herein with respect to any
determination involving the Executive or his duties, shall be
deemed to exclude the Executive if he is then a member of the
Board.
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The Executive
shall exercise due care as would a good business manager and
faithfully and diligently perform his duties for the Company. The
Executive shall comply with the policies, guidelines, standards,
rules and procedures of the Company, and any additions or
amendments thereto, as they are in effect from time to time during
the Employment Period. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall report directly to the Board.
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Employment Period . Subject to earlier termination as provided in
Section 3 below, the Employment Period shall be a period of one
year commencing on May 18, 2009 (the “ Commencement
Date ”), provided that this Agreement shall be
automatically renewed, and the Employment Period shall be
automatically extended, for successive one-year terms unless either
party gives written notice to the other party at least thirty (30)
days prior to the expiration of this Agreement and the Employment
Period (including any renewal and extension thereof) to terminate
this Agreement or modify its terms (provision of such notice shall
not be deemed to constitute a breach, or an earlier termination, of
this Agreement). The term “Employment
Period” shall include any extension thereof pursuant to the
preceding sentence.
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Location . The Executive will be based in Tianjin,
China. The Executive acknowledges that he may be
required to travel from time to time in accordance with the
business requirements of the Company in the course of performing
his duties for the Company.
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Company
Group .
Except with respect to the direct employment of the Executive by
the Company, the term “Company” as used herein with
respect to all obligations of the Executive hereunder shall be
deemed to include the Company and all of its subsidiaries and
affiliated entities (collectively, the “ Company Group
”).
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Minimum
Time Commitment .
During the Employment Period, the Executive shall hold no
employment outside the Company Group and shall devote substantially
all of his business time, attention and skills to the performance
of his duties for the Company. The The Executive hereby
acknowledges that he shall not be entitled to any overtime pay as
would employees who have standard working hours.
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Representations; No Breach of Contract or other
Obligation . In
addition to the representations contained in the Recitals above,
Executive hereby represents to the Company that: (i) the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Executive and the
performance by the Executive of his duties hereunder shall not
constitute a breach of, or otherwise contravene, the terms of any
other agreement or policy to which the Executive is a party or
otherwise bound; (ii) that the Executive has no information
(including, without limitation, confidential information and trade
secrets) relating to any other person or entity which would
prevent, or be violated by, the Executive entering into this
Agreement or carrying out his duties
hereunder; (iii) that the Executive is not bound by
any confidentiality, trade secret or similar agreement with any
other person or entity; and (iv) Executive is subject to no
fiduciary or other obligation which may affect the performance of
his duties hereunder.
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COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
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Base
Salary . The
Executive’s gross base salary for the first twelve (12)
months of the Employment Period shall be at annualized rate of
US$144,000. The Board and/or its Compensation Committee shall
review the Executive’s base salary every twelve (12) months
and make appropriate adjustment, in its discretion.
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The base salary
shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s regular
payroll practices in effect from time to time, but not less
frequently than in monthly installments.
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Bonus and
Other Incentives .
During the Employment Period, the Executive will be eligible to
receive bonuses and other incentive payments in accordance with the
terms and conditions of any bonus or other incentive plans and
programs as may be adopted by the Board from time to
time.
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Reimbursement of Business
Expenses . Executive
hereby agrees that he shall, within thirty (30) days prior to then
end of each calendar quarter, submit to the Board an expense budget
for following calendar quarter. The Executive will be
eligible to receive reimbursement for all reasonable business
expenses incurred by the Executive during the course of performing
his duties for the Company under this Agreement which are set forth
in the budget approved by the Board. To the extent there
are additional expenses, or expenses exceeding the amounts
pre-approved by the Board, Executive shall seek further Board
approval for such expenses to the extent they exceed
$1,000.
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Vacation
and Other Leave . During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to take paid vacation of three (3)
weeks in each 12 month period taken at such times so as to not
materially impede his duties hereunder. The Executive
shall also be entitled to all other holiday and leave pay generally
available to the executive officers of the Company.
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No
Overtime Pay . The Executive acknowledges that he shall perform
his duties for the Company in a timely manner, that the
compensation and benefits he will be entitled to receive pursuant
to this Agreement will sufficiently compensate him for his
services, and that he will not be entitled to receive any overtime
pay.
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Termination by the Company
. The Executive’s employment
by the Company, and the Employment Period, may be terminated by the
Company: (i) for Cause (as defined immediately below), (ii) with no
less than thirty (30) days prior notice to the Executive, without
Cause, (iii) in the event of the Executive’s death, or (iv)
in the event that the Board determines in good faith that the
Executive has a Disability (as defined immediately
below).
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As used herein,
“ Cause ” shall mean, as determined by a
majority of the Board (excluding the Executive, if he is then a
member of the Board), (i) any act of embezzlement, dishonesty
or fraud taken by the Executive; (ii) the Executive’s
conviction for a felony or conviction of any crime involving moral
turpitude or that impairs the Executive’s ability to perform
his duties; (iii) the Executive’s improper and material
disclosure or use of the any confidential or proprietary
information of the Company or any member of the Company Group; (iv)
the Executive’s breach of any fiduciary duty to the
Company, (v) the Executive’s failure or refusal
to perform his duties which, if curable, remains uncured
following thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Executive
from the Company describing such failure or refusal; (vi)
Executive’s performance of any action when specifically
instructed not to do so by the Board, except where required by
applicable law, regulation or rule; or (vii) Executive’s
failure to perform any action when instructed to do so by the
Board, except where prohibited by applicable law, regulation or
rule.
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As used herein,
“ Disability ” shall mean a physical or mental
impairment which, as determined by the Board, renders the Executive
unable to perform the essential functions of his employment with
the Company, even with reasonable accommodation that does not
impose an undue hardship on the Company, for more than 90 days in
any twelve (12) month period, unless a longer period is required by
applicable laws, in which case that longer period would
apply.
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Termination by the Executive
. The Executive’s
employment by the Company, and the Employment Period, may be
terminated by the Executive with no less than thirty (30) days
prior notice to the Company, provided that the Executive may
provide immediate notice in the event of a Constructive Termination
(as defined immediately below), if not cured within thirty (30)
days after the occurrence thereof.
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As used herein,
“ Constructive Termination ” shall mean, without
the Executive’s express written consent, (i) there is a
material reduction in the Executive’s powers, duties and
responsibilities, or (ii) there is a material reduction in the
Executive’s base salary, opportunity for bonus and incentive
payments, or overall benefits package.
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Benefits
upon termination . If
the Executive’s employment by the Company is terminated
during the Employment Period for any reason by the Company or by
the Executive (in any case, the date that the Executive’s
employment by the Company terminates is referred to as the “
Severance Date ”), the Company shall have no further
obligation to make or provide to the Executive, and the Executive
shall have no further right to receive or obtain from the Company,
any payments or benefits except as follows:
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The Company
shall pay the Executive (or, in the event of the Executive’s
death, the Executive’s estate) any base salary, bonus and
incentive payment that had accrued under this Agreement but had not
been paid on or before the Severance Date, and any reimbursement
due to the Executive under this Agreement for expenses incurred by
the Executive on or before the Severance Date.
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If, during the
Employment Period, the Executive’s employment with the
Company is terminated as a result of a Constructive Termination or
terminated by the Company without Cause, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the
Executi
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