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Exhibit 10.18.  

 
 

QUESTAR CORPORATION
  ANNUAL MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN II    
    

 Section 1. Purpose.  

        The Questar Corporation Annual Management Incentive Plan II ("AMIP II") is to provide an incentive to the highest paid officers of Questar Corporation (the
"Company") and its subsidiaries to focus their best efforts to pursue and attain major organizational goals. The intent with AMIP II is to place a significant portion of the eligible officer's annual
compensation at risk by tying it to specific measurable goals that drive long-term shareholder value. 

 Section 2. Definitions.  

        "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company or a successor to it. 

        "Code"
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 

        "Committee"
means the Management Performance Committee, or its successor committee, which is comprised wholly of independent, outside directors and which must include at least two such
directors. 

        "Covered
Employee" means an Employee who is a "covered employee" as defined in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code and the regulations promulgated pursuant to it or who the Committee
believes will be such a Covered Employee for any given year. 

        "Designated
Beneficiary" means the beneficiary designated by the Covered Employee, in a manner determined by the Committee, to receive amounts due the Covered Employee. In the absence of
an effective designation by the Covered Employee, Designated Beneficiary shall mean the Covered Employee's estate. 

        "Disability"
means permanent and total disability within the meaning of Section 105(d)(4) of the Code. 

        "Employer"
means the Company and any affiliate that is the direct employer of a Covered Employee. 

        "Fiscal
Year" means the fiscal year of the Company. 

        "Performance
Goals" means the specific, measurable goals set by the Committee in writing for any given Fiscal Year. Performance Goals may include multiple goals and may be based on one
or more operational or financial criteria. Such goals shall be set by the Committee by such date as is required under Section 162(m) of the Code. In setting the Performance Goals for the Fiscal
Year, the Committee may include one or any combination of the following criteria is either absolute or relative terms, for the Company or any business unit within it: (a) total shareholder
return; (b) return on assets, return on equity or return on capital employed; (c) measures of profitability such as earnings per share, corporate or business unit net income, net income
before extraordinary or one-time items, earnings before interest and taxes or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (d) cash flow from operations;
(e) gross or net revenues or gross or net margins; (f) levels of operating expense or other expense items reported on the income statement; (g) measures of customer satisfaction
and customer service; (h) safety; (i) annual or multi-year average reserve growth, production growth or production replacement; (j) efficiency or productivity measures
such as annual or multi-year average finding costs, absolute or per unit operating and maintenance costs, lease operating expenses, inside-lease operating expenses, operating and
maintenance expense per decatherm or customer or fuel gas reimbursement percentage; (k) satisfactory completion of a major project or organizational initiative with specific criteria set in
advance by the Committee defining "satisfactory"; (l) debt ratios or other measures of credit quality or liquidity; and (m) strategic asset sales or acquisitions in compliance with
specific criteria set in advance by the Committee.

 

        "Target
Bonus" means the dollar amount specified for each Covered Employee within 60 days after the beginning of a Fiscal Year. 

        "Termination
of Employment" means the date on which a Covered Employee shall cease to serve as an employee for any reason. 

 Section 3. Administration.  

        The Plan shall be administered by the Committee in conjunction with its administration of the Annual Management Incentive Plan. The Committee shall have sole and
complete authority to adopt, alter, and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices for the operation of the Plan and to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan. The Committee
also shall have sole and complete authority to determine the extent to which Performance Goals have been achieved. The Committee's decisions shall be final and binding upon all parties, including the
Company, stockholders, Covered Employees and Designated Beneficiaries. 

 Section 4. Eligibility.  

        Only Covered Employees are eligible to receive payments under this Plan. Any payment on a Target Bonus for an employee who is determined not to be a Covered
Employee at the time the payment is made shall be paid under the terms of the Company's Annual Management Incentive Plan, not under the terms of this Plan. 

 Section 5. Determination of Awards.  

        Within 60 days after the beginning of a Fiscal Year, the Committee shall establish a Target Bonus for each Covered Employee and a maximum payout for cash
awards granted under the terms of this Plan for such Fiscal Year for attainment of specified Performance Goals by Covered Employees. Performance Goals must be objective and must satisfy the
third-party objectivity standards under Section 162(m) of the Code and regulations adopted pursuant to it. 

        Within
60 days after the close of such Fiscal Year, the Committee shall determine cash awards to be paid under the terms of this Plan. Any payments made under this Plan shall be
contingent upon achieving the Performance Goals set in advance for the Fiscal Year in question. The Committee shall certify in writing prior to approval of any awards that such Performance Goals have
been satisfied. (Approved minutes may used for this purpose.) 

        The
maximum cash payment that may be made to any Covered Employee under the terms of this Plan is $1 million for Fiscal Years 2005 through 2008 and $1.5 million for Fiscal
Years beginning with 2009. 

        The
cash payments under this Plan, in aggregate, do not have to equal 100 percent of the maximum payout, but cannot exceed such amount. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may
reduce the cash award otherwise payable to any Covered Employee if it believes that such reduction is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders, but any reduction cannot result in any
increase to one or more other Covered Employees. The Committee has no discretion to increase the cash award otherwise payable to any Covered Employee. 

        All
payments shall be made in cash and in one installment within 60 days of the end of the Fiscal Year. To be eligible to receive an award, the Covered Employee must be actively
employed by the Company or an affiliate as of the date of distribution except as provided below in Section 6.

 

 Section 6. Termination of Employment.  

        In the event a Covered Employee ceases to be an employee during a Fiscal Year for any reason other than death, Disability, retirement, or a Change in Control, he
shall not be entitled to any payment pursuant to the terms of the Plan. If a Covered Employee terminates employment as a result of death, Disability, or retirement, he (or his Designated Beneficiary,
in the event of his death) shall be given a prorated award at the end of the Fiscal Year based on the length of his service during the Fiscal Year when compared to the entire period. For the purpose
of this Plan, retirement shall mean any voluntary Termination of Employment on or after age 55 with 10 years of service. 

        In
the event a Covered Employee ceases to be an employee during a Fiscal Year as a result of a Change in Control during a Fiscal Year, he shall be entitled to receive a payment equal to
his Target Bonus. Such payment shall be made to him within 30 days after his Termination of Employment. This provision does not cancel or supercede any obligation to pay the Covered Employee
under the
Company's Executive Severance Compensation Plan or any other plan or agreement including employment agreements for any Covered Employee in effect at the time of the Change in Control. 

        A
Change in Control of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any "acquiring person" (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement dated as of February 13,
1996, between the Company and U. S. Bank National Association ("Right Agreement")) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) of securities of the Company representing 25 percent of more of the combined voting power of the Company; or (ii) the following individuals cease for any reason to
constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who, as of May 19, 1998, constitute the Company's Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial
assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose
appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in
office who either were directors on May 19, 1998, or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended; or (iii) the Company's stockholders
approve a merger or consolidation of the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the voting
securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the
surviving entity or any parent thereof) at least 60 percent of the combined voting power of the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after
such merger or consolidation, or a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no person is or becomes the beneficial owner,
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25 percent or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities; or (iv) the Company's
stockholders approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets to an entity, at least 60 percent of the combined voting power of the
voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale. A Change in Control,
however, shall not be considered to have occurred until all conditions precedent to the transaction, including but not limited to, all required regulatory approvals have been obtained and unless the
Change in Control event satisfies the requirements for accelerated distributions set forth in Section 409A of the Code.

 

 Section 7. Other Provisions.  

        (a)   Taxes and Withholding. All cash payments made under the Plan are subject to withholding for federal, state, and other
applicable taxes. The Company shall deduct any taxes required by law to be withheld from all amounts paid to a Covered Employee under this Plan. 

        (b)   Source of Funds. All cash payments made under the Plan will be paid from the Company's general assets and nothing
contained in the Plan will require the Company to set aside or hold in trust any funds for the benefit of any Covered Employee or his Designated Beneficiary. 

        (c)   Coordination with Deferred Compensation Plan. Covered Employees are entitled to defer the receipt of their cash bonuses
under the terms of the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan, which became effective November 1, 1993. Any cash bonuses payable under this Plan that are deferred pursuant to the Deferred
Compensation Plan shall be accounted for and distributed according to the terms of such plan and the elections made by Covered Employees. 

        (d)   No Assignment. No right or benefit under this Plan will be subject to assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or charge, and any
attempt to assign, pledge, encumber, or charge such right or benefit will be void. No such right or benefit will in any manner be subject to the debts or liabilities of a Covered Employee. 

        (e)   Amendment of Plan. The Company's Board, at any time, may amend, modify, suspend, or terminate the Plan, but such action
shall not affect the cash awards earned during any given Fiscal Year. No amendment to change the maximum award payable to a Covered Employee, the definition of Covered Employee, or the definition of
Performance Goals shall be effective without shareholder approval. The Company's Board cannot terminate the Plan in any year in which a Change in Control has occurred without the written consent of
the affected Covered Employees. 

        (f)    Successor. The Company shall require any successor or assignee, whether direct, indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise, to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume the obligations under this Plan in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company would be required to perform if no such successor assignment had taken place. 

        (g)   Choice of Law This Plan will be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable federal law and, to the extent
not preempted by federal law, in accordance with the laws of the state of Utah. 

        (h)   Effective Date of the Plan. The Plan shall be effective with respect to the Fiscal Year beginning January 1, 2005.
The Plan shall remain in effect until it is suspended or terminated as provided in Section 7(e). 

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QUESTAR CORPORATION ANNUAL MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN IIFiled by Automated Filing Services Inc. (604) 609-0244 - Sterling Group Ventures, Inc. - Exhibit 10.1

 Exhibit 10.1 

 JV agreement between 

  Makaelo Limited 

  And Aifeng Li 

Regarding Exploration and Development of Donggou and Xiaoxigou Copper Property in Inner Mongolia 

 Party A:   Aifeng Li 

  Party B:   Makaelo Limited 

Whereas: 

	 A:      	 Aifeng Li holds two exploration permits in Donggou
        and Xiaoxigou property of Inner Mongolia, and has the legal authority
        to sign this agreement. 

	 
	 B:      	 Makaelo Limited is a subsidiary company of Sterling
        Group Ventures, Inc. , which is a United State public company and registered
        at Nevada of United States, and has the legal authority to sign this agreement.
      

 Based on mutual benefits for both parties and through friendly
  negotiation, Party A and Party B have reached the following agreement for the
  joint venture exploration and development of Donggou and Xiaoxigou copper property
  within the range of exploration licenses held by Aifeng Li. 

	 1.      	 Both Parties agree to set up a cooperative
        joint venture company in Inner Mongolia, China in accordance with the
        Sino-foreign joint venture enterprise law and other related Chinese laws
        and regulations, to explore and develop in the area of Donggou and Xiaoxigou
        copper property (the "cooperative Company"). The exploration licenses
        of Donggou and Xiaoxigou copper property covers about 52 square km (the
        “cooperative area”). 

	 
	 2.      	 Cooperative conditions and rights of both
        parties: 

	 
	 	 2.1      	 In first stage (exploration stage), Party A provides
        all exploration licenses in the cooperative area, achievements and all
        geological data, and Party B provides exploration cost. 

	 
	 	 2.2      	 Party B shall provide 5.2 million RMB Yuan as an
        exploration expenditure within three years in installments (The first
        year commitment is not less than 2 million RMB Yuan). The exploration
        will be divided into several stages. The minimum exploration expenditure
        for each stage shall be determined based on the exploration design for
        this area by both parties. 

	 
	 	 2.3      	 If Party B elects to terminate the project during
        exploration period, Party B shall not have any rights of the project.
        The exploration licenses shall be returned to Party A 

	 

	 	 	 
	 	 	 without any conditions. At same time, Party A shall
        have right to obtain the achievement of the exploration and all original
        documents or the copy of all original documents. 

	 	 	 
	 	 2.4      	 Party A uses its exploration licenses and geological
        information as its contributions in the cooperative company. The value
        that Party A contributes is 4.8 million Chinese Yuan. The ownership of
        Party A in the cooperative company is 48%. Party B shall provide 5.2 million
        Chinese Yuan to earn 52% of the interest in the cooperative company. In
        the second stage (development stage or continuing exploration stage),
        contributions to fund the exploration and development of the Project will
        be made pro rata. The interest of Party A will be diluted to not less
        than 10% if it elects not to make cash contributions. 

	 
	 3.      	 Liabilities of both parties 
	 
	 	 3.1      	 Party A guarantees no dispute of the exploration
        licenses in the cooperative area. 

	 
	 	 3.2      	 Party A shall be in charge of coordination of Inner
        Mongolia local relations and protect the interest of the cooperative company.
      

	 
	 	 3.3      	 Party A shall provide all necessary geological data
        to Party B. Party B shall keep confidential all received information except
        those requested by the regulatory authorities (government and SEC authorities)
        to be disclosed to the public and shall be fully responsible for the damage
        caused by leaking of the information. 

	 
	 	 3.4      	 Party B shall provide exploration costs according
        to the schedule, the costs shall be accounted into the cooperative company
        as early contributions of Party B. 

	 
	 4.      	 Cooperative company and board of directors 
	 
	 	 4.1      	 Party B will set up Cooperative company with Party
        A. Cooperative company shall be registered in Inner Mongolia of China.
      

	 
	 	 4.2      	 The Board of Directors of the cooperative company
        shall consist of 5 members. Three members shall be appointed by Party
        B and two members shall be appointed by Party A. The chairman shall be
        appointed by Party B and vice chairman shall be appointed by Party A.
      

	 
	 	 4.3      	 General manager and vice general manager shall be
        appointed by the Board of Directors. The director can be general manager
        if the Board of Directors agrees. 

	 
	 	 	 General manager shall be in charge of daily operation
        of the cooperative company. 

	 
	 5.      	 Right of first refusal 
	 

	 	 Should either Party (a “Vending Party”)
        elect to sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of all or any portion of
        its interest in the Cooperative Company, it must first offer such interest
        (the “Offered Interest”) to the other Party (“Other
        Party”). The Other Party must reply to the Vending Party within
        30 days after receipt of the offer. If the Other Party does not intend
        to increase its interest in the Cooperative Company, the Vending Party
        may transfer its Offered Interest within 90 days to a third party but
        the terms and conditions shall not be more favorable than the offer to
        the Other Party. Should the Vending Party be unable to transfer its Offered
        Interest in the Cooperative Company within 90 days and alter terms and
        conditions of transferring, the Vending Party must again comply with the
        above provision and offer it again to the Other Party. 

	 
	 6.      	 The cooperative period of the cooperative company
        shall be 30 years. Through consultation of both parties and upon approval
        of China related management authorities, the cooperative period can be
        extended. 

	 
	 7.      	 Considering that Party B is listed at NASD OTC Bulletin
        Board, this agreement is subject to the approval of Party B’s Board
        of Directors and SEC. 

	 
	 8.      	 After signing this agreement, both parties agree
        to sign the geophysical exploration working contract with Geology and
        Earth Physics of China Academy of Science for the cooperative area before
        March 12, 2005. 

	 
	 9.      	 The agreement has been signed by both parties on
        March 2, 2005. There are four copies of the agreement. Each party keeps
        two copies. Both parties agree that the agreement can be amended through
        fax. 

	 

	
Party A: 
		 Aifeng Li  
	
Address: 
		 Anyang, Henan Province of China  
	
Tel: 
		  0372-3957614  
	
Fax: 
		 0372-3937614  
	
Cel: 
		 136-0372-3209  
	
Email: 
		 fuhuakuangye@yahoo.com.cn  

 Representative: /s/ Aifeng Li 

  Date: March 2, 2005 

	 Party B:  	 Makaelo Limited  
	 Address:  	 Suite 900 – 789 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada
      V6C 1H2  
	 Tel:  	 604-893-8891  
	 Fax:  	 604-405-8515  
	 Cel:  	 139-1091-6496  
	 Email:  	 richardshao@163.com  

 Representative: /s/ Xuxin Shao 

  Date: March 2, 2005 

Appendix: 

Exploration permits:
	 1)      	 1500000411738; 31.05 km2 expiration date: November 19, 2005 
	 2)      	 1500000411739; 21.72 km2 expiration date: November 19, 2005

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