Employment Agreement
Exhibit 10.18
This employment agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as of September 13, 2010 (“Execution Date”) by and between China Swine Genetics, Inc. (“Company”), a Delaware corporation with business address at 00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, and Mr. Xxxx Xx Xxxx Xx (“Executive”), a US citizen (passport #000000000).
Based on the principles of equality and through amicable negotiation, both parties agree to enter into this agreement for the appointment of Executive as Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of the Company.
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The Company hereby employs the Executive as the CFO of the Company, such employment to become effective as of the date following the date when the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for its 2010 fiscal year is filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“Effectiveness Date”).
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a. The Company shall pay Executive base monthly salary of RMB 50,000 for the first year; base monthly salary of RMB 58,333 for the second year; and base monthly salary of RMB 66,667 is for the third year. The Executive’s base salary shall be subject to annual review by the Board of Directors of the Company (or a committee thereof) (the “Board”) and withholding and other applicable taxes.
b. Subject to the approval by the Board, the Company agrees to grant to the Executive options (hereinafter “Options”) to acquire, at an exercise price equals to $0.1 per share, 60,273 shares of the Company’s common stock with 1/3 vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Execution Date, provided that the Executive is employed by the Company on such date. The vested option will be exercisable at any time for a period of three years commencing on the date of vest. If this Agreement is terminated within 3 years of the Effective Date for any reason, any unexercised Options shall immediately be forfeited.
c. The Executive will be based in both NYC, USA and Beijing, PRC with no less than three (3) months in each city per year. The Company will reimburse the Executive air tickets related to business conducted on behalf of and approved by the Company. The Executive selects NYC as his home base and shall pay for the lodging during his stay in NYC while the Company will bear the lodging expense in Beijing. The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive, upon a proper accounting and presentation of appropriate documentation for reasonable travel expenses and disbursements incurred by him in the course of the performance of his duties under this Agreement in accordance with the normal policy of the Company for senior executives from time to time in effect.
d. The Company will provide basic office equipments including laptop for the Executive in both NYC and Beijing office necessary to conduct business on behalf of the Company.
a. The Executive shall use his best efforts, skills and abilities to promote and protect the interests of the Company and devote his entire working time and energies to the business and affairs of the Company. The Executive shall regularly (and no less frequently than weekly) report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company on all of his activities and shall maintain close and regular contact with the Company’s accounting and finance personnel. Executive shall, at all times, conduct himself in a professional manner and adhere to the standards, ethical obligations, rules, policies, regulations and procedures of the Company which are presently in force or which may be established from time to time by the Company. Executive shall take no action that violates any law, rule or regulation whatsoever while acting in his capacity as employee. Executive shall, at all times, act in a fiduciary capacity for the Company and acknowledges the Company is relying upon and placing trust in Executive. Executive accepts the fiduciary responsibilities and trust placed in Executive by the Company.
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b. During the Term, the Executive shall serve as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “Chief Executive Officer”), and shall perform duties consistent with the position of a chief financial officer of a U.S. publicly-listed corporation with operations in the People’s Republic of China. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Executive shall, under the supervision and direction of the Chief Executive Officer:
(i)Serve and execute all applicable documents, filings and reports as the principal accounting officer of the Company for purposes of the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and, in connection therewith, be responsible, in coordination with the Company’s existing accounting personnel, for: (A) all accounting and financial reporting and controls of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and (B) all financial related disclosure controls of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries;
(ii) Oversee all aspects of the Company’s annual audit, including communications and interactions with the Company’s independent registered accounting firm, the of Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) or any designated audit committee thereof, the Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s outside legal counsel;
(iii) Oversee the preparation and filing of the Company’s annual and quarterly financial statements and related SEC reports (including the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained therein) in conformance with all SEC rules and regulations and generally accepting accounting principles (“GAAP”) of the United States of America;
(iv) Oversee the conversion of the Company’s financial statements from Chinese GAAP to U.S. GAAP;
(v) Design and implement relevant provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, and ensure the corporate internal governance in compliance with the relevant provisions of the U.S. securities laws and applicable stock market regulations;
(vi) Work with the Company’s other accounting and finance personnel to implement the finance function of the Company, including the preparation or review of budgets, projections and financial analyses;
(vii) Assist the Company in its communications with the SEC and all other applicable regulatory authorities;
(viii) Assist Company executives with the preparation and implement of a strategic acquisition program and provide financial consultation and support for the Company’s acquisition initiatives;
(ix) During the Employment Term, the Executive shall lead and coordinate the Company’s investor relations activities which shall include, but is not limited to, communications with investors, analysts and media, and the Company’s public disclosure, and shall implement and monitor the corporate governance of the Company in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Executive shall work in conjunction with other members of the executive management team to support the Company’s business growth;
(iix) Assist the Chief Executive Officer in communications with the investment community. Prepare road show presentations for the Company or introduce the Company to potential investors at meetings; and
(xi) Provide training to the senior management and financial staffs of the Company.
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c. Executive further agrees that he will, without any additional compensation thereof, serve in such executive officer capacities with respect to the Company and any present or future subsidiaries and affiliated corporations and divisions as may from time to time be reasonably designated by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board.
In order to induce the Company to enter into this Agreement, the Executive hereby agrees as follows:
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f. Non-competition and Non-solicitation
In consideration of the salary paid to the Executive by the Company, the Executive agree that during the term of the Employment and for a period of three (3) years following the termination of the Employment for whatever reason:
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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.
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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 (as defined below), or engage, whether as principal, partner, licensor or otherwise, in any Competitor;
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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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d.
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have any equity or other ownership interest in, or become a director or manager of, or be otherwise associated with, or engaged or employed by, any customer, prospect or former customer of the Company or their subsidiary or parent entities or affiliates in any job or career that relates to or concerns any activity substantially similar, in whole or in part, to the Company’s business.
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As used herein, “Competitor” refers to any business or activity which competes, directly or indirectly, with or carries on the business of the Company, or any business activity substantially similar to the Company’s business, as constituted from time to time.
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5.
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a.
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The Executive shall have been delegated appropriate authority to carry out its duties.
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b.
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The Executive shall have the right to participate in the mandatory social security insurance programs.
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6.
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This Agreement shall have a term from the date hereof until September 6, 2013 unless earlier terminated pursuant to the terms hereof (the “Employment Term”). This Agreement is renewable with mutual consent by both parties.
7. 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.
a. By the Company. The Company may terminate the Employment for Cause, at any time, without notice or remuneration, or for any other reason or no reason on thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Executive. “Cause” shall mean (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 gross negligence, misconduct, malfeasance, disloyalty, dishonesty or a breach of trust against the Company 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’s intentional perpetration, participation in or attempted perpetration of fraud or other willful misconduct on the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates; (5) the Executive has died, or (6) the Executive has a disability which shall mean a physical or mental impairment which, as reasonably determined by the Board renders Executive unable for a period of two (2) months to perform substantially his duties hereunder.
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b. By the Executive. By giving three months’ prior written notice, the Executive may resign prior to the expiration of the Agreement.
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. The notice of termination shall indicate the specific provision(s) of this Agreement relied upon in effecting the termination.
9. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications provided in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given at the time when hand delivered, delivered by express courier, or sent by facsimile transmission (with receipt confirmed by the sender’s transmitting device) in accordance with the contact information provided below or such other contact information as the parties may have duly provided by notice.
if to the Company
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With a copy to
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if to the Executive
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or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by such Party.
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a. This Agreement embodies the entire understanding of the parties hereof, and supersedes all other oral or written agreements or understandings between them regarding the subject matter hereof. No other agreements, representations or understandings (whether oral or written) which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement have been made or entered into by either party with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
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b. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force and effect. If any provision of this Agreement shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect and the parties will act in good faith to seek to amend this Agreement so as to render the invalid or unenforceable provisions valid and enforceable while retaining the original intent and meaning of such provision to the maximum extent possible. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement, whether by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed or be construed as a further, continuing or subsequent waiver of any such provision or as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy or power hereunder will preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy or power provided herein or by law or in equity.
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c. This Agreement and all rights and obligations of the Executive hereunder are personal to the Executive and may not be transferred or assigned by the Executive at any time. The Company may assign its rights under this Agreement to any entity that assumes the Company’s obligations hereunder in connection with any sale or transfer of all or a substantial portion of the Company’s assets to such entity.
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d. The headings of the paragraphs contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.
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e. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
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f. Executive shall hold the Company and its officers, directors, other employees, contractors and agents harmless from and against all claims, obligations, losses, damages, liabilities, fines, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees pretrial, trial and appellate) arising out of or incurred as a result of or in connection with: (A) Executive’s failure to meet his or her obligations to the Company; (B) Executive’s breach of any covenant, warranty or representation set forth in this Agreement; and (C) Executive’s negligent, fraudulent or illegal acts. The Company shall hold Executive harmless from and against all claims, obligations, losses, damages, liabilities, fines, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees pretrial, trial and appellate) arising out of or incurred as a result of or in connection with: (A) the Company’s failure to meet its obligations to Executive hereunder, and (B) the Company’s breach of any covenant, warranty or representation set forth in this Agreement.
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h. The Executive shall provide his reasonable cooperation in connection with any action or proceeding (or any appeal from any action or proceeding) which relates to events occurring during the Executive’s employment hereunder, but only to the extent the Company requests such cooperation with reasonable advance notice to the Executive and in respect of such periods of time as shall not unreasonably interfere with the Executive’s ability to perform his duties with any subsequent employer; provided, however, the Company shall pay any reasonable travel, lodging and related expenses that the Executive may incur in connection with providing all such cooperation, to the extent approved by the Company prior to incurring such expenses.
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SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS
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COMPANY
CHINA SWINE GENETICS, INC.
By: _____________
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
EXECUTIVE
________________
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