EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”),
is
entered into as of July 26, 2007 (the “Effective
Date”)
by and
between Nice Enterprise Trading H.K. Co., Ltd, a company incorporated and
existing under the laws of Hong Kong (the “Company”)
and
Mr.
Marco Xxx Xxx XX,
an
individual (the “Executive”).
RECITALS
A.
The
Company desires to employ the Executive as its Chief
Financial Officer
and to
assure itself of the services of the Executive during the term of Employment
(as
defined below).
B.
The
Executive desires to be employed by the Company as its Chief
Financial Officer during
the term of Employment and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
The
parties hereto agree as follows:
1.
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POSITION
|
The
Executive hereby accepts a position of Chief
Financial Officer
(the
“Employment”)
of the
Company.
2.
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TERM
|
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the initial term of the
Employment shall be one year commencing on the Effective Date, unless terminated
earlier pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Employment shall be renewed
on a yearly basis. The
Service Agreement may be terminated by either party giving not less than two
months’ notice in writing to the other.
3.
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PROBATION
|
Probationary
period is defined as the first four months of the Employment.
4.
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DUTIES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES
|
The
Executive’s duties at the Company will include all jobs assigned, from time to
time, by the Company’s Board of the Directors (the “Board”)
or the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be.
The
Executive shall devote all of his or her working time, attention and skills
to
the performance of his or her duties at the Company and shall faithfully and
diligently serve the Company in accordance with this Agreement, the Memorandum
and Articles of Association of the Company (the “Articles
of Association”),
and
the guidelines, policies and procedures of the Company approved from time to
time by the Board.
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The
Executive shall use his or her best efforts to perform his or her duties
hereunder. The Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the
Board, become an employee of any entity other than the Company and any
subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, and shall not be concerned or interested
in the lodging business or an entity that competes with that carried on by
the
Company (any such business or entity, a “Competitor”),
provided that nothing in this clause shall preclude the Executive from holding
any shares or other securities of any Competitor that is listed on any
securities exchange or recognized securities market anywhere. The Executive
shall notify the Company in writing of his or her interest in such shares or
securities in a timely manner and with such details and particulars as the
Company may reasonably require.
5.
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NO
BREACH OF CONTRACT
|
The
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 the Executive’s 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 except for agreements entered into
by
and between the Executive and any member of the Group pursuant to applicable
law, if any; (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
(other than this) with any other person or entity.
6.
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LOCATION
|
The
Executive will be based in any location as determined by the Board from time
to
time.
7.
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COMPENSATION
AND BENEFITS
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|
(a)
|
Cash
Compensation.
The Executive’s cash compensation shall be Rmb40,000 per month (of which
Rmb20,000 per month will be regarded as housing and traveling allowances)
during the probation period. After the probation period, the cash
compensation shall be Rmb60,000 per month (of which Rmb40,000 per
month
will be regarded as housing and traveling
allowances).
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|
(b)
|
Equity
Incentives.
The Executive is entitled to a common stock award of Rmb580,000 upon
successful listing of the Company on the stock exchange. The Company
should bear any relation registration or administration fees in
full.
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(c)
|
Annual
Leave and Other Benefits.
The Executive is entitled to 20 days of annual leave per annum. If
the
Executive cannot enjoy the annual leave due to business commitments,
such
remaining balances of annual leave can be carried forward to the
following
year. The Executive is eligible for participation in any standard
employee
benefit plan of the Company that currently exists or may be adopted
by the
Company in the future, including, but not limited to, any retirement
plan,
life insurance plan, health insurance plan and travel/holiday plan.
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8.
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TERMINATION
OF THE AGREEMENT
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|
(a)
|
By
the Company.
The Company may terminate the Employment for cause, at any time,
without
notice or remuneration, if (1) the Executive is convicted or pleads
guilty to a felony or to an act of fraud, misappropriation or
embezzlement, (2) the Executive has been negligent or acted
dishonestly to the detriment of the Company, (3) the Executive has
engaged in actions amounting to misconduct or failed to perform his
or her
duties hereunder and such failure continues after the Executive is
afforded a reasonable opportunity to cure such failure, (4) the
Executive has died, or (5) the Executive has a disability which shall
mean a physical or mental impairment which, as reasonably 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
180
days in any 12-month period, unless a longer period is required by
applicable law, in which case that longer period would apply. In
addition,
the Company may terminate the Employment without cause, at any time,
upon
two months written notice, and upon termination without cause, the
Company
shall provide compensation to the Executive as expressly required
by
applicable law of the jurisdiction where the Executive is based.
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|
(b)
|
By
the Executive.
The Executive may terminate the Employment at any time with a two-month
prior written notice to the Company, if (1) there is a material
reduction in the Executive’s authority, duties and responsibilities, or
(2) there is a material reduction in the Executive’s annual salary
before the next annual salary review. In addition, the Executive
may
resign prior to the expiration of the Agreement if such resignation
is
approved by the Board or an alternative arrangement with respect
to the
Employment is agreed to by the Board.
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|
(c)
|
Notice
of Termination.
Any termination of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall
be communicated by written notice of termination from the terminating
party to the other party.
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9.
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CONFIDENTIALITY
AND NONDISCLOSURE
|
|
(a)
|
Confidentiality
and Non-disclosure.
In the course of the Executive’s services, the Executive may have access
to the Company, and/or the Company’s client’s and/or prospective client’s
trade secrets and confidential information, including but not limited
to
those embodied in memoranda, manuals, letters or other documents,
computer
disks, tapes or other information storage devices, hardware, or other
media or vehicles, pertaining to the Company, and/or the Company’s
client’s and/or prospective client’s business. All such trade secrets and
confidential information are considered confidential. All materials
containing any such trade secret and confidential information are
the
property of the Company and/or the Company’s client and/or prospective
client, and shall be returned to the Company and/or the Company’s client
and/or prospective client upon expiration or earlier termination
of this
Agreement. The Executive shall not directly or indirectly disclose
or use
any such trade secret or confidential information, except as required
in
the performance of the Executive’s duties in connection with the
Employment, or pursuant to applicable law.
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(b)
|
Trade
Secrets.
During and after the Employment, the Executive shall hold the Trade
Secrets in strict confidence; the Executive shall not disclose these
Trade
Secrets to anyone except other employees of the Company who have
a need to
know the Trade Secrets in connection with the Company’s business. The
Executive shall not use the Trade Secrets other than for the benefits
of
the Company.
|
“Trade
Secrets”
means
information deemed confidential by the Company, treated by the Company or which
the Executive know or ought reasonably to have known to be confidential, and
trade secrets, including without limitation designs, processes, pricing
policies, methods, inventions, conceptions, technology, technical data,
financial information, corporate structure and know-how, relating to the
business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries, affiliates and
business associates, whether embodied in memoranda, manuals, letters or other
documents, computer disks, tapes or other information storage devices, hardware,
or other media or vehicles. Trade Secrets do not include information generally
known or released to public domain through no fault of the Executive.
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(c)
|
Former
Employer Information.
The Executive agrees that he or she has not and will not, during
the term
of his or her employment, (i) improperly use or disclose any
proprietary information or trade secrets of any former employer or
other
person or entity with which the Executive has an agreement or duty
to keep
in confidence information acquired by Executive, if any, or
(ii) bring into the premises of Company any document or confidential
or proprietary information belonging to such former employer, person
or
entity unless consented to in writing by such former employer, person
or
entity. The Executive will indemnify the Company and hold it harmless
from
and against all claims, liabilities, damages and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of suit, arising out of or in
connection with any violation of the foregoing.
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(d)
|
Third
Party Information.
The Executive recognizes that the Company may have received, and
in the
future may receive, from third parties their confidential or proprietary
information subject to a duty on the Company’s part to maintain the
confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain
limited
purposes. The Executive agrees that the Executive owes the Company
and
such third parties, during the Executive’s employment by the Company and
thereafter, a duty to hold all such confidential or proprietary
information in the strictest confidence and not to disclose it to
any
person or firm and to use it in a manner consistent with, and for
the
limited purposes permitted by, the Company’s agreement with such third
party.
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4
This
Section 9 shall survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason.
In the event the Executive breaches this Section 9, the Company shall have
right to seek remedies permissible under applicable law.
10.
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INVENTIONS
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|
(a)
|
Disclosure
and Assignment of Inventions.
The Executive understands that the Company engages in research and
development and other activities in connection with its business
and that,
as an essential part of the Employment, the Executive is expected
to make
new contributions to and create inventions of value for the Company.
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From
and
after the Effective Date, the Executive shall disclose in confidence to the
Company all inventions, improvements, designs, original works of authorship,
formulas, processes, compositions of matter, computer software programs,
databases, mask works and trade secrets (collectively, the “Inventions”),
which
the Executive may solely or jointly conceive or develop or reduce to practice,
or cause to be conceived or developed or reduced to practice, during the period
of the Executive’s Employment at the Company. The Executive acknowledges that
copyrightable works prepared by the Executive within the scope of and during
the
period of the Executive’s Employment with the Company are “works for hire” and
that the Company will be considered the author thereof. The Executive agrees
that all the Inventions shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company
and the Executive hereby assign all his or her right, title and interest in
and
to any and all of the Inventions to the Company or its successor in interest
without further consideration.
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(b)
|
Patent
and Copyright Registration.
The Executive agrees to assist the Company in every proper way to
obtain
for the Company and enforce patents, copyrights, mask work rights,
trade
secret rights, and other legal protection for the Inventions. The
Executive will execute any documents that the Company may reasonably
request for use in obtaining or enforcing such patents, copyrights,
mask
work rights, trade secrets and other legal protections. The Executive’s
obligations under this paragraph will continue beyond the termination
of
the Employment with the Company, provided that the Company will reasonably
compensate the Executive after such termination for time or expenses
actually spent by the Executive at the Company’s request on such
assistance. The Executive appoints the Secretary of the Company as
the
Executive’s attorney-in-fact to execute documents on the Executive’s
behalf for this purpose.
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(c)
|
Return
of Confidential Materials.
In the event of the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company
for any reason whatsoever, Executive agrees promptly to surrender
and
deliver to the Company all records, materials, equipment, drawings,
documents and data of any nature pertaining to any confidential
information or to his or her employment, and Executive will not retain
or
take with him or her any tangible materials or electronically stored
data,
containing or pertaining to any confidential information that Executive
may produce, acquire or obtain access to during the course of his
or her
employment.
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5
This
Section 10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason.
In the event the Executive breaches this Section 10, the Company shall have
right to seek remedies permissible under applicable law.
11.
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CONFLICTING
EMPLOYMENT
|
The
Executive hereby agrees that, during the term of his or her employment with
the
Company, he or she will not engage in any other employment, occupation,
consulting or other business activity related to the business in which the
Company is now involved or becomes involved during the term of the Executive’s
employment, nor will the Executive engage in any other activities that conflict
with his or her obligations to the Company without the prior written consent
of
the Company.
12.
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NON-COMPETITION
AND NON-SOLICITATION
|
In
consideration of the salary paid to the Executive by the Company, the Executive
agrees that during the term of the Employment and for a period of six months
following the termination of the Employment for whatever reason:
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(a)
|
The
Executive will not approach clients, customers or contacts of the
Company
or other persons or entities introduced to the Executive in the
Executive’s capacity as a representative of the Company for the purposes
of doing business with such persons or entities which will harm the
business relationship between the Company and such persons and/or
entities;
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(b)
|
unless
expressly consented to by the Company, the Executive will not assume
employment with or provide services as a director or otherwise for
any
Competitor, or engage, whether as principal, partner, licensor or
otherwise, in any Competitor; and
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(c)
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unless
expressly consented to by the Company, the Executive will not seek
directly or indirectly, by the offer of alternative employment or
other
inducement whatsoever, to solicit the services of any employee of
the
Company employed as at or after the date of such termination, or
in the
year preceding such termination.
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The
provisions contained in Section 12 are considered reasonable by the
Executive and the Company. In the event that any such provisions should be
found
to be void under applicable laws but would be valid if some part thereof was
deleted or the period or area of application reduced, such provisions shall
apply with such modification as may be necessary to make them valid and
effective.
This
Section 12 shall survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason.
In the event the Executive breaches this Section 12, the Executive
acknowledges that there will be no adequate remedy at law, and the Company
shall
be entitled to injunctive relief and/or a decree for specific performance,
and
such other relief as may be proper (including monetary damages if appropriate).
In any event, the Company shall have right to seek all remedies permissible
under applicable law.
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13.
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WITHHOLDING
TAXES
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Notwithstanding
anything else herein to the contrary, the Company may withhold (or cause there
to be withheld, as the case may be) from any amounts otherwise due or payable
under or pursuant to this Agreement such national, provincial, local or any
other income, employment, or other taxes as may be required to be withheld
pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
14.
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ASSIGNMENT
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This
Agreement is personal in its nature and neither of the parties hereto shall,
without the consent of the other, assign or transfer this Agreement or any
rights or obligations hereunder; provided, however, that (i) the Company
may assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder
to
any of its affiliates or subsidiaries without such consent, and (ii) in the
event of a merger, consolidation, or transfer or sale of all or substantially
all of the assets of the company with or to any other individual(s) or entity,
this Agreement shall, subject to the provisions hereof, be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of such successor and such successor shall discharge and
perform all the promises, covenants, duties, and obligations of the Company
hereunder.
15.
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SEVERABILITY
|
If
any
provision of this Agreement or the application thereof is held invalid, the
invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Agreement
which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications and
to
this end the provisions of this Agreement are declared to be severable.
16.
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ENTIRE
AGREEMENT
|
This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the
Executive and the Company regarding the terms of the Employment and supersedes
all prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements concerning such subject
matter. The Executive acknowledges that he or she has not entered into this
Agreement in reliance upon any representation, warranty or undertaking which
is
not set forth in this Agreement. Any amendment to this Agreement must be in
writing and signed by the Executive and the Company.
17.
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GOVERNING
LAW
|
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of
the
PRC.
18.
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AMENDMENT
|
This
Agreement may not be amended, modified or changed (in whole or in part), except
by a formal, definitive written agreement expressly referring to this Agreement,
which agreement is executed by both of the parties hereto.
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19.
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WAIVER
|
Neither
the failure nor any delay on the part of a party to exercise any right, remedy,
power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof,
nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege
preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any right, remedy,
power or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or
privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right,
remedy, power or privilege with respect to any other occurrence. No waiver
shall
be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to
have
granted such waiver.
20.
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NOTICES
|
All
notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted under
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
and made if (i) delivered by hand, (ii) otherwise delivered against
receipt therefor, or (iii) sent by a recognized courier with next-day or
second-day delivery to the last known address of the other party.
21.
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COUNTERPARTS
|
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and
all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement
shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or
taken
together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon
as
the signatories. Photographic copies of such signed counterparts may be used
in
lieu of the originals for any purpose.
22.
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NO
INTERPRETATION AGAINST DRAFTER
|
Each
party recognizes that this Agreement is a legally binding contract and
acknowledges that it, he or she has had the opportunity to consult with legal
counsel of choice. In any construction of the terms of this Agreement, the
same
shall not be construed against either party on the basis of that party being
the
drafter of such terms.
[Remainder
of this page has been intentionally left blank.]
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the date first written
above.
Nice
Enterprise Trading H.K. Co.,
Ltd.
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By:
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Name:
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Xxxxxxx
XXX
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Title: |
CEO
and Executive
Director
|
Executive | |||
Signature: | |||
Name:
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Marco
Xxx Xxx XX
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Title: |
CFO
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