Employment Agreement with Anthony S. Chan dated September 28, 2017

Exhibit 10.1 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Employment Agreement (“Agreement”), effective as of October 1, 2017 (the “Effective Date”) is entered into by and between American Education Center, Inc., a Nevada company (the “Employer”), and Anthony S. Chan (the “Employee”), on September 28, 2017.

WHEREAS, Employer is desirous of employing Employee pursuant to the terms and conditions and for the consideration set forth in this Agreement, and Employee is desirous of entering the employ of Employer pursuant to such terms and conditions and for such consideration.

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants, and obligations contained herein, Employer and Employee agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1: EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES

1.1.       Employer agrees to employ Employee, and Employee agrees to be employed by Employer, beginning as of October 1, 2017 and, so long as the Agreement is not terminated, continuing until September 30, 2020, (the “Term”) unless terminated as provided herein and subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement or either party provides 30 days’ notice in the event the parties are unable to agree to changes to the Agreement after October 1, 2018.

1.2.       Beginning Effective Date, Employee shall be employed as Chief Financial Officer of Employer, reporting to the Employer’s CEO. Employee agrees to perform the usual and customary duties of a Chief Financial Officer of a publicly-traded company, including but not limited to assistance in the Employer’s up-listing process; development of internal control over financial reporting; evaluation of M&A opportunities; participation in the Employer’s road shows and investor presentations; and implementation of the Employer’s business initiatives and growth strategies. Employee shall at all times comply with and be subject to such policies and procedures as Employer may establish from time to time.

1.3.       Employee shall, during the Term of Employee’s employment, devote Employee’s best efforts to the business and affairs of Employer. The foregoing notwithstanding, the parties recognize and agree that the Employee may engage in other consulting activities for the Employee’s own account while employed hereunder, including without limitation to charitable, community and other consulting or business activities, provided that such other activities do not materially interfere with the performance of the Employee’s duties.

1.4.       Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee owes a fiduciary duty of loyalty, fidelity and allegiance to act at all times in the best interests of the Employer and to do no act which would intentionally injure Employer’s business, its interests, or its reputation. Employee agrees that Employee shall not knowingly become involved in a conflict of interest with Employer, or its affiliates, or upon discovery thereof, allow such a conflict to continue, except as approved by a majority of independent members of Employer’s Board of Directors.

1.5.       Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee is expressly prohibited from purchasing or selling securities of the Employer based on any material non-public information obtained during the course of performing services to the Employer. In addition, Employee is prohibited from informing, or “tipping,” any other person about such material information. Employee also agrees to comply with the Employer’s Insider Trading Policy, as updated and amended from time to time.

ARTICLE 2: COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

2.1.       Employee’s initial base salary (the “Salary”) shall be an annual salary of $150,000 which shall be paid in substantially equal installments on the last day of each month.

2.2        As incentive for Employee to accept the position of Chief Financial Officer, the Employee shall receive the following bonuses if the Employee meets the millstones described below:

2.3.       From and after the Effective Date, Employer shall pay, or reimburse Employee, for all ordinary, reasonable and necessary expenses which Employee incurs in performing his duties under this Agreement including, but not limited to, travel, entertainment, education, professional dues and subscriptions, and all dues, fees and expenses associated with membership in various professional, business and civic associations and societies of which Employee’s participation is in the best interest of Employer.

2.4.       While employed by Employer, Employee shall be allowed to participate, on the same basis generally as other employees of Employer, in all general employee benefit and incentive plans and programs, including improvements or modifications of the same, which on the effective date or thereafter are made available by Employer to all or substantially all of Employer’s employees. Such benefits, plans, and programs may include, without limitation, medical, health, and dental care, life insurance, disability protection, qualified retirement and equity incentive plans. In the absence of such medical, health, dental care and other employee benefit programs, the Employer agrees to reimburse the Employee $1,328 per month. Except as specifically provided herein, nothing in this Agreement is to be construed or interpreted to provide greater rights, participation, coverage, or benefits under such benefit plans or programs than provided to employees pursuant to the terms and conditions of such benefit plans and programs.

2.5.       Employer shall withhold from any compensation, benefits, or amount payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city, or other taxes as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.

2.6.       While employed by Employer, Employee will be bound by the Employer’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan for options issued to the Employee, except as specifically provided in the Option Grant Agreements entered into by and between Employer and Employee.

2.7         The Employee shall be entitled to annual paid vacation of not less than 20 business days per calendar year, in addition to any national holidays in the United States of America. The Employee shall also be entitled to sick days and personal days as are consistent with the Employer’s policies in effect from time to time.

ARTICLE 3: TERMINATION PRIOR TO EXPIRATION OF TERM AND EFFECTS OF SUCH TERMINATION

3.1.       Employee’s employment with Employer shall be terminated (i) upon the death of Employee, or (ii) upon Employee’s permanent disability (permanent disability being defined as Employee’s physical or mental incapacity to perform his usual duties as an employee with such condition to remain continuously and permanently for a period of 90 days).

3.2.       If Employee’s employment is terminated by reason of a “Voluntary Termination” (as hereinafter defined), the death of Employee, or by the Employer for “Cause” (as hereinafter defined), all future compensation to which Employee is otherwise entitled and all future benefits for which Employee is eligible shall cease and terminate as of the date of termination as provided in this Section. Employee, or his estate in the case of Employee’s death, shall be entitled to base salary through the date of such termination and shall be entitled to any individual bonuses or individual incentive compensation not yet paid but due under Employer’s plans but shall not be entitled to any other payments by or on behalf of Employer except for those which may be payable pursuant to the terms of Employer’s employee benefit plans (as hereinafter defined). For purposes of this Section 3.2, a “Voluntary Termination” of the employment relationship by Employee prior to expiration of the Term shall be a termination of employment in the sole discretion of and at the election of Employee, other than (i) a termination of Employee’s employment because of a material breach by Employer of any material provision of this Agreement which remains uncorrected for thirty (30) days following written notice of such breach by Employee to Employer or (ii) a termination of Employee’s employment within six (6) months of a material reduction in Employees’ rank or responsibility with Employer. For purposes of this Section 3.2, the term “Cause” shall mean any of (i) Employee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of the duties and services required of Employee pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) Employee’s final conviction of a felony; or (iii) Employee’s material breach of any material provision of this Agreement which remains uncorrected for thirty (30) days following written notice to Employee by Employer of such breach.

3.3.       If Employee’s employment is terminated for any reason other than as described in Sections 3.1 or 3.2 above during the Term, Employer shall pay to Employee a severance benefit consisting of a single lump sum payment equal to three months of the Employee’s Salary. Such severance benefit shall be paid upon Employee’s termination of employment. Employee shall not be under any duty or obligation to seek or accept other employment following a termination of employment pursuant to which severance benefit payments under this Section 3.3 are owing and the amounts due Employee pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall not be reduced or suspended if Employee accepts subsequent employment or earns any amounts as a self-employed individual. Employee’s rights under this Section 3.3 are Employee’s sole and exclusive rights against the Employer or its affiliates and the Employer’s sole and exclusive liability to Employee under this Agreement, in contract, tort or otherwise, for the termination of his employment relationship with Employer. 

ARTICLE 4: MISCELLANEOUS

4.1.       For purposes of this Agreement, (i) the terms “affiliates” or “affiliated” means an entity who directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with Employer or in which Employer has a 50% or more equity interest, and (ii) any action or omission permitted to be taken or omitted by Employer hereunder shall only be taken or omitted by Employer upon the express authority of the Board of Directors of Employer or of any Committee of the Board to which authority over such matters may have been delegated.

4.2.       For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when received by or tendered to Employee or Employer, as applicable, by pre-paid courier or by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: (i) If to Employer, to current corporate headquarters to the attention of the General Counsel of the Employer. (ii) If to Employee, to his last known personal residence.

4.3.       This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York, excluding any conflict-of-law rule or principle that might refer to the laws of another State or country.

4.4.       No failure by either party hereto at any time to give notice of any breach by the other party of or to require compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

4.5.       It is the desire and intent of the parties that the terms, provisions, covenants, and remedies contained in this Agreement shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. If any such term, provision, covenant, or remedy of this Agreement or the application thereof to any person, association, or entity or circumstances shall, to any extent, be construed to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, then such term, provision, covenant, or remedy shall be construed in a manner so as to permit its enforceability under the applicable law to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any case, the remaining provisions of this Agreement or the application thereof to any person, association, or entity or circumstances other than those to which they have been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect.

4.6.       This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Employer and any other person, association, or entity which may hereafter acquire or succeed to all or substantially all of the business or assets of Employer by any means whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise. Employee’s rights and obligations under this Agreement are personal and such rights, benefits, and obligations of Employee shall not be voluntarily or involuntarily assigned, alienated, or transferred, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Employer, other than in the case of death or incompetence of Employee.

4.7.       This Agreement replaces and merges any previous agreements and discussions pertaining to the subject matter covered herein. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with regard to such subject matter, and contains all of the covenants, promises, representations, warranties, and agreements between the parties with respect such subject matter. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that no representation, inducement, promise, or agreement, oral or written, has been made by either party with respect to such subject matter, which is not embodied herein, and that no agreement, statement, or promise relating to the employment of Employee by Employer that is not contained in this Agreement shall be valid or binding. Any modification of this Agreement will be effective only if it is in writing and signed by each party whose rights hereunder are affected thereby, provided that any such modification must be authorized or approved by the Board of Directors of Employer.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employer and Employee have duly executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.