Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement
China
National Petroleum Corporation Kunlun Natural Gas Co., Ltd.
Xi’an
Xilan Natural Gas Co., Ltd.
July 6,
2009
Party
A:
|
CNPC
(China National Petroleum Corporation) Kunlun Natural Gas Co., Ltd. (“CNPC
Kunlun”)
|
Party B: | Xi’an Xilan Natural Gas Co., Ltd. (“Xilan Natural Gas”) |
WHEREAS,
Party A
has accumulated rich experience in the investment and operation of vehicular CNG
projects, and has been authorized by CNPC to be in charge of CNPC’s vehicular
CNG business nationwide as well as its LNG business in southern China, with
advantages in upstream natural gas supplies, funding, engineering, and human
resources in place;
WHEREAS,
Party B
possesses rich experience in urban natural gas and vehicular natural gas
investments and operations, and has established advantages in the location,
market, operation and development of urban natural gas and vehicular fueling
stations;
After
equal negotiations, Party A and B have reached the following agreement (the
“Agreement”) regarding strategic cooperation in vehicular CNG business between
both parties.
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I.
Overview of cooperating parties
Party A
is the wholly owned subsidiary of CNPC (China National Petroleum Corporation),
and is designated by CNPC to specialize in vehicular CNG business. Currently, it
has initiated CNG projects in 70 cities and 18 provinces including Shandong,
Shanghai, Tianjin, Hainan, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Hebei,
Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, and is the largest CNG supplier in
China.
Party B
is a US listed company specialized in the investment, construction and operation
of urban pipeline natural gas and vehicular natural gas in China, and possesses
over ten years of experience in urban natural gas project operation and
management. Xilan Natural Gas has been conducting natural gas business in over
ten cities across three provinces in China, and has obtained government approval
to construct approximately 100 CNG fueling stations, with 35 stations currently
under operation.
II.
Principle, scope, purpose
1.
|
Principle:
to achieve mutual benefit through share of resources, combining of
strength, collaboration with integrity; to establish strategic long-term
relations with the goal of mutual benefit and joint venture as the
tie.
|
2.
|
Scope:
cities already covered by Party B’s business as well as cities that
maximize the share of resource and joint of
strength.
|
3.
|
Purpose:
to achieve core competitive advantage and market share through strategic
cooperation to maximize the market potential for CNG
business.
|
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III.
Mechanism
1. Organization
To
facilitate the cooperation, both parties consent to the establishment of the
following Executive Committee (the “Committee”) and working group:
(1) Members of the
Committee:
Party A: Tao, Yuchun,
Chief General Manager
Zhou, Gan, Chief
General Manager Assistant
Zhang, Yuliang,
Director of Market Development
Niu, Wenjun,
Director of Planning
Party B: Ji, Qinan, Chief
Executive Officer
Zhang, Huaifu, Vice
President
Ren, Yanlin, Vice
President
Xxxx, Xxx, Director
of Investment and Development
Xxx, Xxxxx, Director
of Customer Relations
Xxx, Xxxxxx,
Director of Property Management
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(2) Members of the Working
Group:
Party A: Zhou, Gan; Niu,
Wenjun; Zhang, Yuliang; Xx, Xxx; Xu, Gaofeng
Party B:
Zhang, Huaifu; Ren, Yanlin; Xxxx, Xxx; Xxx, Xxxxx; Guo,
Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx
and Huaifu Zhang will be in charge of the working group for both
parties.
2. Decision
making, communication, coordination
(1) Executive Committee:
responsible for the assessment and approval of projects and plans submitted by
the working group and coordination of difficulties faced by the working group. A
Committee meeting will be held semi-annually and special meetings could be
called in case of need.
(1)
Working Group: responsible for the proposition of cooperation projects and plan
to be submitted to the Committee for approval; regular quarterly meetings will
be held to discuss cooperation related issues; research seminars and discussion
sessions could be called on a need basis.
IV.
Content and approach
To build
CNG fueling stations and compressor stations in cities covered by CNPC natural
gas pipeline networks, based on specific discussions by both parties to maximize
the joint strength. The preliminary plan includes selecting approximately 20
cities along CNPC pipeline networks to proceed the CNG project during the two
years from the date of this Agreement.
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The
approach of cooperation include the establishment of a joint venture to explore
the vehicular CNG market with Party A holding 51% the equity interest of the
joint venture and Party B holding 49% of the equity interest of the joint
venture.
V.
Responsibility and Obligation
1.
|
Both
parties should prioritize the other party when selecting business partners
to initiate CNG projects in planned
cities.
|
2.
|
Both
parties should fulfill the responsibilities and obligations specified in
this Agreement and Corporate Charter of the joint venture by both
parties.
|
3.
|
Party
A should be responsible for the natural gas quota and the upstream natural
gas supplies to maximize CNPC’s advantage and support to the joint
venture.
|
4.
|
Party
B should be responsible for the management and operation support for the
joint venture
|
VI.
Other
This
Agreement has four copies, and will be deemed legally effective when executed by
authorized signatory and stamped by both parties.
Other
issues not specified in this Agreement are subject to further negotiation of
both parties.
This
Agreement is executed on this 6th
day of July, 2009 in ShenZhen, China.