UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 


 

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 28, 2016

 


 

EXTRACTION OIL & GAS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware

 

001- 37907

 

46-1473923

(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

370 17th Street, Suite 5300
Denver, Colorado 80202

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(720) 557-8300

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o             Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o             Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 5.02                    Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

Appointment of Chief Accounting Officer

 

(c) On October 28, 2016, Tom L. Brock, age 44, was appointed Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer of the Company and was designated the principal accounting officer of the Company. Mr. Brock joined the Company in August 2016 and prior to such appointment served as Senior Director of Accounting.  Mr. Brock previously served as the Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Controller of American Midstream GP, LCC, the general partner of American Midstream Partners, LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership, from November 2013 through August of 2016, where he lead the accounting and tax departments and participated in the execution of the partnership’s growth strategy. He joined American Midstream Partners, LP in July 2012 as Vice President, Corporate Controller prior to being promoted to Chief Accounting Officer.  Prior to his appointment with American Midstream Partners, LP, Mr. Brock held the position of Director of Trading and Finance with BG Group in Houston, Texas, where he controlled accounting and other functions for its marketing and trading companies beginning in July 2010. Mr. Brock began his career with KPMG LLP where he spent 13 years holding various positions serving clients in the energy industry. Mr. Brock holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from New Mexico State University and is a CPA licensed in the State of Texas.

 

In connection with his appointment, Mr. Brock received a grant of 125,000 restricted stock units (“ RSUs ”), pursuant to the Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. 2016 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “ LTIP ”).  Upon vesting, each RSU will entitle Mr. Brock to receive one share of Common Stock. The RSUs will vest over a three-year period, contingent on Mr. Brock’s continuous service through each vesting date, pursuant to the following schedule: 25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant, 25% on the second anniversary, and 50% on the third anniversary.  The foregoing description of the RSU awards is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (for Employees), which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

In connection with his designation as principal accounting officer of the Company, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Brock on October 28, 2016, effective as of November, 1, 2016 (the “ Employment Agreement ”).  T he Employment Agreement includes an initial term of three years, subject to termination upon notice or certain other conditions, and automatically extends for an additional one-year period every year thereafter unless the Company or the Executive gives written notice that the automatic extension will not occur within 60 days prior to the end of the initial term, or, if applicable, the current extension term.  Pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Brock’s annual base salary is $250,000, and Mr. Brock is entitled to (1) a target annual bonus opportunity and (2) an annual performance-based equity award, both with an expected target value equal to 60% his annual base salary, subject to annual adjustment by the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than “cause” or if the Executive terminates employment for “good reason,” (the terms “cause,” and “good reason,” as defined in the Employment Agreement), then, subject to Mr. Brock’s timely execution and non-revocation of a release of claims, Mr. Brock will be entitled to receive the following from the Company (1) any earned but unpaid annual bonus for the calendar year ending prior to the date of termination; (2) a lump sum payment equal to 0.5 times (or one times, in the event such termination of employment occurs within the 12-month period following the occurrence of a “change in control,” as such term is defined in the Employment Agreement) Mr. Brock’s annual base salary at the time of termination; and (3) for a period of up to 6 months following termination, reimbursement on a monthly basis of the portion of the premiums paid by the Executive to continue coverage under the Company’s group health plans under COBRA that exceeds the employee premium amount that similarly situated active employees of the Company pay for the same or similar coverage under such plans.  The Employment Agreement also provides that Mr. Brock is subject to customary noncompetition and non-solicitation restrictions during the term of his employment and for a period of six months following termination (12 months for certain terminations following a change of control).

 

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Employment Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

2



 

There is no other arrangement or understanding between Mr. Brock and any other persons pursuant to which he was appointed to Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer. Mr. Brock does not have any family relationship with any director or executive officer of the Company. There is no relationship between Mr. Brock and the Company that would require disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

 

Indemnification Agreement

 

(c) and (e) In connection with his appointment as Chief Accounting Officer, the Company entered into an Indemnification Agreement with Mr. Brock (the “ Indemnification Agreement ”). The Indemnification Agreement requires the Company to indemnify Mr. Brock to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liability that may arise by reason of his service to the Company, and to advance certain expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against him as to which he could be indemnified.

 

The foregoing description of the Indemnification Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Indemnification Agreement, which is attached as Exhibits 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

Item 9.01                    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)          Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (for Employees) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-214089) filed with the Commission on October 13, 2016).

 

 

 

10.2

 

Employment Agreement effective as of November 1, 2016 among the Company and Tom L. Brock.

 

 

 

10.3

 

Indemnification Agreement (Tom L. Brock).

 

3



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: October 28, 2016

 

 

 

 

EXTRACTION OIL & GAS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Russell T. Kelley, Jr.

 

 

Russell T. Kelley, Jr.

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

4



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (for Employees) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-214089) filed with the Commission on October 13, 2016).

 

 

 

10.2

 

Employment Agreement effective as of November 1, 2016 among the Company and Tom L. Brock.

 

 

 

10.3

 

Indemnification Agreement (Tom L. Brock).

 

5


Exhibit 10.2

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”) is made by and between Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), XOG Services, LLC (the “ Employer ” and together with the Company, “ Extraction ”) and Tom L. Brock (“ Employee ”) effective as of November 1, 2016 (the “ Effective Date ”), and hereby amends and replaces in its entirety any other employment agreement heretofore entered into between Employee and the Employer or any of its affiliates.

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS , the Employer desires to employ Employee as its Chief Accounting Officer on the terms and conditions, and for the consideration, hereinafter set forth and Employee desires to be employed by the Employer on such terms and conditions and for such consideration.

 

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

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

In addition to the terms defined in the body of this Agreement, for purposes of this Agreement, the following capitalized words shall have the meanings indicated below:

 

1.1                                Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

1.2                                Cause ” shall mean a determination by the Employer that Employee (a) has engaged in gross negligence, gross incompetence or willful misconduct in the performance of Employee’s duties with respect to the Company or any of its affiliates, (b) has failed without proper legal reason to substantially perform Employee’s duties and responsibilities to the Company or any of its affiliates, (c) has materially breached any provision of this Agreement, (d) has committed an act of theft, fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation or willful breach of a fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its affiliates, or (e) has been convicted of, pleaded no contest to or received adjudicated probation or deferred adjudication in connection with a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude or any felony (or a crime of similar import in a foreign jurisdiction). In order to terminate Employee’s employment for Cause, the Employer must provide the Employee with a written notice providing in reasonable detail the specific circumstances alleged to constitute Cause and the Employee must not have cured or remedied the alleged Cause event (if susceptible to cure) in the Employer’s good faith judgment within ten (10) days after his receipt of such notice.

 

1.3                                Change in Control ” shall mean:

 

(a)                                  a merger of the Company with another entity, a consolidation involving the Company, or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to another entity if, in any such case, (i) the holders of equity securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or event do not beneficially own immediately after

 



 

such transaction or event equity securities of the resulting entity entitled to 50% or more of the votes then eligible to be cast in the election of directors generally (or comparable governing body) of the resulting entity in substantially the same proportions that they owned the equity securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or event or (ii) the persons who were members of the Board immediately prior to such transaction or event shall not constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the resulting entity immediately after such transaction or event;

 

(b)                                  the dissolution or liquidation of the Company;

 

(c)                                   when any person or entity, including a “group” as contemplated by section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, acquires or gains ownership or control (including, without limitation, power to vote) of more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of the Company; or

 

(d)                                  as a result of or in connection with a contested election of directors, the persons who were members of the Board immediately before such election shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board.

 

For purposes of the preceding sentence, (i)  “resulting entity” in the context of a transaction or event that is a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all assets shall mean the surviving entity (or acquiring entity in the case of an asset sale) unless the surviving entity (or acquiring entity in the case of an asset sale) is a subsidiary of another entity and the holders of common stock of the Company receive capital stock of such other entity in such transaction or event, in which event the resulting entity shall be such other entity, and (ii) subsequent to the consummation of a merger or consolidation that does not constitute a Change in Control, the term “Company” shall refer to the resulting entity and the term “Board” shall refer to the board of directors (or comparable governing body) of the resulting entity.

 

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

 

1.5                                Date of Termination ” shall mean the date Employee’s employment with the Employer is considered to have terminated pursuant to Section 3.5.

 

1.6                                Good Reason ” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(a)                                  a material diminution in Employee’s Base Salary; or

 

(b)                                  a material diminution in Employee’s authority, duties, or responsibilities; or

 

(c)                                   the involuntary relocation of the geographic location of Employee’s principal place of employment by more than 50 miles from the location of Employee’s principal place of employment as of the Effective Date; or

 

(d)                                  a material breach by the Company or the Employer of this Agreement.

 

2



 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.7 or any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, any assertion by Employee of a termination of employment for “ Good Reason ” shall not be effective unless all of the following conditions are satisfied: (i) the condition described in Section 1.7(a), (b) or (c) giving rise to Employee’s termination of employment must have arisen without Employee’s consent; (ii) Employee must provide written notice to the Employer of such condition in accordance with Section 11.1 within 45 days of the later of the initial existence of the condition or when Employee first learns of the existence of the condition (provided that such notice, if provided within 45 days of when Employee first learns of the existence of the condition, must in all circumstances be provided no later than 90 days following the initial existence of the condition); (iii) the condition specified in such notice must remain uncorrected for 30 days after receipt of such notice by the Employer; and (iv) the date of Employee’s termination of employment must occur within 90 days after the initial existence of the condition specified in such notice or when Employee first learns of the existence of the condition (provided, however, that such termination may in no circumstance occur later than two years following the initial existence of the condition).

 

1.7                                Notice of Termination ” shall mean a written notice delivered to the other party indicating the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon for termination of Employee’s employment and the intended Date of Termination and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Employee’s employment under the provision so indicated.

 

1.8                                Section 409A ” shall mean section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and other interpretative guidance issued thereunder.

 

1.9                                Section 409A Payment Date ” shall mean the earlier of (a) the date of Employee’s death or (b) the date that is six months after the date of termination of Employee’s employment with the Employer.

 

ARTICLE II
EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES

 

2.1                                Employment; Effective Date .  The Employer agrees to continue to employ Employee, and Employee agrees to continue to be employed by the Employer, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement beginning as of the Effective Date and continuing for the period of time set forth in Article III of this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

2.2                                Positions .  From and after the Effective Date, the Employer shall employ Employee in the position of Chief Accounting Officer of the Employer and of the Company or in such other position or positions as the parties may mutually agree, and Employee shall report to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

 

2.3                                Duties and Services .  Employee agrees to serve in the position referred to in Section 2.2 and to perform diligently and to the best of Employee’s abilities the duties and services appertaining to such position, as well as (a) such additional reasonably specific duties and services that Employee from time to time may be reasonably directed to perform by the

 

3



 

Employer that are reasonably consistent with such position, and (b) such additional duties and services appropriate to such position(s) which the parties mutually agree upon from time to time.

 

2.4                                Other Interests .  Employee agrees, during the period of Employee’s employment by the Employer, to devote substantially all of Employee’s business time, energy and best efforts to the business and affairs of the Company and its affiliates.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties acknowledge and agree that Employee may (a) engage in and manage Employee’s passive personal investments and (b) engage in charitable and civic activities; provided, however, that such activities shall be permitted so long as such activities do not materially conflict with the business and affairs of the Company or its affiliates or materially interfere with Employee’s performance of Employee’s duties hereunder.

 

2.5                                Duty of Loyalty .  Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee owes a fiduciary duty of loyalty, fidelity and allegiance to act in the best interests of the Company and its affiliates and to do no act that would materially injure the business, interests, or reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates. In keeping with these duties, Employee shall make full disclosure to the Company of all business opportunities pertaining to the Company’s business and shall not appropriate for Employee’s own benefit business opportunities concerning the subject matter of the fiduciary relationship.

 

ARTICLE III
TERM AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

 

3.1                                Term .  Unless this Agreement is sooner terminated pursuant to other provisions hereof, the Employer agrees to continue to employ Employee for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Expiration Date ”); provided, however, that beginning on the Initial Expiration Date, and on each anniversary of the Initial Expiration Date thereafter, if Employee’s employment under this Agreement has not been terminated pursuant to Section 3.2 or 3.3, then said term of employment under this Agreement shall automatically be extended for successive one-year periods unless on or before the date that is 60 days prior to the first day of any such extension period either party shall give written notice to the other that no such automatic extension shall occur, in which case the term of this Agreement shall terminate as of the end of the current term, and if so provided in such notice, Employee’s employment shall terminate contemporaneously with the expiration of the term of this Agreement.

 

3.2                                Employer’s Right to Terminate .  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1, the Employer may terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement at any time for any of the following reasons by providing Employee with a Notice of Termination:

 

(a)                                  upon Employee being unable to perform Employee’s duties or fulfill Employee’s obligations under this Agreement by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than six months as determined by the Company and certified in writing by a competent medical physician selected by the Company; or

 

(b)                                  Employee’s death; or

 

4



 

(c)                                   for Cause; or

 

(d)                                  for any other reason whatsoever or for no reason at all, in the sole discretion of the Employer.

 

3.3                                Employee’s Right to Terminate .  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1, Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement for Good Reason or for any other reason whatsoever or for no reason at all, in the sole discretion of Employee, by providing the Employer with a Notice of Termination.  In the case of a termination of employment by Employee pursuant to this Section 3.3, the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination shall not be less than 15 nor more than 60 days, respectively, from the date such Notice of Termination is given, and the Employer may require a Date of Termination earlier than that specified in the Notice of Termination (and, if such earlier Date of Termination is so required, it shall not change the basis for Employee’s termination nor be construed or interpreted as a termination of employment pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 3.2).

 

3.4                                Deemed Resignations .  Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company or the Employer and Employee prior to the termination of Employee’s employment, any termination of Employee’s employment shall constitute (a) an automatic resignation of Employee as an officer of the Company and each affiliate of the Company and (b) an automatic resignation of Employee from the Board (if applicable), from the board of directors of any affiliate of the Company and from the board of directors or similar governing body of any corporation, limited liability entity or other entity in which the Company or any affiliate holds an equity interest and with respect to which board or similar governing body Employee serves as the Company’s or such affiliate’s designee or other representative.

 

3.5                                Meaning of Termination of Employment .  For all purposes of this Agreement, Employee shall be considered to have terminated employment with the Employer when Employee incurs a “separation from service” with the Employer within the meaning of section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code and applicable administrative guidance issued thereunder.

 

ARTICLE IV
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

 

4.1                                Base Salary .  During the term of this Agreement, Employee shall receive a minimum, annualized base salary of $250,000 (the “ Base Salary ”). Employee’s annualized base salary shall be reviewed periodically by the Board (or a committee thereof) and, in the sole discretion of the Board (or a committee thereof), such annualized base salary may be increased (but not decreased) effective as of any date determined by the Board (or a committee thereof).  Employee’s Base Salary shall be paid in equal installments in accordance with the Employer’s standard policy regarding payment of compensation to employees but no less frequently than monthly.

 

4.2                                Bonuses .  Employee shall be eligible to receive an annual, calendar-year bonus (payable in a single lump sum) based on criteria determined in the discretion of the Board or a committee thereof after consultation with the Chief Executive Officer (or his delegate) of the Company (the “ Annual Bonus ”), it being understood that (a) the target Annual Bonus shall

 

5



 

equal a minimum of 60% of Employee’s Base Salary and (b) the actual amount of each Annual Bonus shall be determined in the discretion of the Board or a committee thereof after consultation with the Chief Executive Officer (or his delegate) of the Company. The Employer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to pay each Annual Bonus with respect to a calendar year on or before March 15 of the following calendar year (and in no event shall an Annual Bonus be paid after December 31 of the following calendar year); provided, however, that Employee will be entitled to receive payment of such Annual Bonus only if Employee is employed by the Employer on such date of payment.  If Employee has not been employed by the Employer since January 1 of the year that includes the Effective Date, then the Annual Bonus for such year shall be prorated based on the ratio of the number of days during such calendar year that Employee was employed by the Employer to the number of days in such calendar year.

 

4.3                                Equity Award . Employee shall be eligible to receive an annual equity award grant under the Company’s then existing incentive equity incentive plan based on vesting criteria determined in the discretion of the Board or a committee thereof after consultation with the Chief Executive Officer (or his delegate), with an expected target grant date fair value equal to a minimum of 60% of Employee’s Base Salary. The Employee’s entitlement to any equity award remains subject to approval by the Board or a committee thereof after consultation with the Chief Executive Officer (or his delegate).

 

4.4                                Other Benefits .  During Employee’s employment hereunder, Employee shall be allowed to participate in all benefit plans and programs of Extraction, including improvements or modifications of the same, which are now, or may hereafter be, available to other executive officers of the Employer or the Company.  Extraction shall not, however, by reason of this Section 4.3, be obligated to institute, maintain, or refrain from changing, amending, or discontinuing any such benefit plan or program, so long as such changes are similarly applicable to other executive officers generally.

 

4.5                                Expenses .  The Employer shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee in performing services hereunder, including all expenses of travel and living expenses while away from home on business or at the request of and in the service of the Company or the Employer; provided, in each case, that such expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Employer.  Any such reimbursement of expenses shall be made by the Employer upon or as soon as practicable following receipt of supporting documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Employer (but in any event not later than the close of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense is incurred by Employee); provided, however, that, upon Employee’s termination of employment with Extraction, in no event shall any additional reimbursement be made prior to the Section 409A Payment Date to the extent such payment delay is required under section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code.  In no event shall any reimbursement be made to Employee for such fees and expenses after the later of (a) the first anniversary of the date of Employee’s death or (b) the date that is five years after the date of Employee’s termination of employment with the Employer (other than by reason of Employee’s death).

 

4.6                                Vacation and Sick Leave .  During Employee’s employment hereunder, Employee shall be entitled to sick and vacation leave in accordance with the Employer’s policies

 

6



 

applicable to its executive officers, which leave shall accrue and be taken in accordance with the Employer’s sick and vacation policies in effect from time to time.  Employee’s right to carry over unused vacation from one calendar year to the next shall be determined by the Employer’s vacation policy.

 

4.7                                Offices .  Subject to Articles II, III, and IV hereof, Employee agrees to serve without additional compensation, if elected or appointed thereto, as a director of the Company or any of the Company’s affiliates and as a member of any committees of the board of directors of any such entities, and in one or more executive positions of any of the Company’s affiliates.

 

ARTICLE V
EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT ON COMPENSATION

 

5.1                                For Cause; Without Good Reason; Death; Disability; Non-Renewals .  If Employee’s employment hereunder shall terminate on account of his death or disability pursuant to Section 3.2(a) or (b), at the expiration of the term provided in Section 3.1, pursuant to Section 3.2(c), or pursuant to Employee’s resignation for other than Good Reason, then all compensation and all benefits to Employee hereunder shall terminate contemporaneously with such termination of employment, except that Employee (or Employee’s legal representative, estate, and/or beneficiaries, as the case may be) shall be entitled to (a) payment of all accrued and unpaid Base Salary to the Date of Termination, (b) reimbursement for all incurred but unreimbursed expenses for which Employee is entitled to reimbursement in accordance with Section 4.5, and (c) benefits to which Employee is entitled under the terms of any applicable benefit plan or program (such amounts set forth in (a), (b), and (c) shall be collectively referred to herein as the “ Accrued Rights ”).

 

5.2                                Without Cause; for Good Reason If Employee’s employment hereunder shall terminate pursuant to Employee’s resignation for Good Reason, or by action of the Employer pursuant to Section 3.2 for any reason other than those encompassed by Section 3.2(a), 3.2(b), or 3.2(c), then all compensation and all benefits to Employee hereunder shall terminate contemporaneously with such termination of employment, except that Employee shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights and, subject to Employee’s delivery, within 50 days after the Date of Termination, and non-revocation of an executed release in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Employer (which shall release and discharge the Company and its affiliates, subsidiaries and benefit plans, and their respective stockholders, officers, directors, members, partners, employees, agents representatives and other affiliated persons from any and all claims or causes of action of any kind or character, including but not limited to all claims or causes of action arising out of Employee’s employment with the Employer or its affiliates or the termination of such employment) (the “ Release ”), Employee shall receive the following additional compensation and benefits from the Company or the Employer, as applicable, (but no other additional compensation or benefits after such termination):

 

(a)                                  Unpaid Prior Year Annual Bonus: The Employer shall pay to Employee any earned but unpaid Annual Bonus for the calendar year ending prior to the Date of Termination, which amount shall be payable in a lump-sum on or before the date such annual bonuses are paid to employees who have continued employment with the Employer (but in no event earlier than 60 days after the Date of Termination;

 

7



 

(b)                                  Severance Payment: The Employer shall pay to Employee a severance amount equal to 0.5 times the Employee’s Base Salary as of the Date of Termination, which amount shall be paid in a lump sum payment on the date that is 60 days after the Date of Termination occurs; provided, however, that in the event that Employee’s Date of Termination under this Section 5.2(b) occurs within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control, such severance amount shall equal one times the Employee’s Base Salary; and

 

(c)                                   Post-Employment Health Coverage:  Provided that Employee elects to continue coverage for Employee and Employee’s spouse and eligible dependents, if any, under the Company’s or the Employer’s group health plans under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (COBRA), and/or sections 601 through 608 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, during the first six (6) months of such continuation coverage (twelve (12) months if the Employee’s Date of Termination occurs within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control), the Employer shall promptly reimburse Employee on a monthly basis for the difference between the amount Employee pays to effect and continue such coverage and the employee contribution amount that similarly situated active executive employees of the Company pay for the same or similar coverage under such group health plans; provided, however, that in the event that Employee becomes eligible for group health coverage from a subsequent employer, the reimbursements provided by the Employer under this Section 5.2(c) shall immediately cease.

 

ARTICLE VI
PROTECTION OF INFORMATION

 

6.1                                Disclosure to and Property of the Company .  For purposes of this Article VI, the term “the Company” shall include the Company and any of its affiliates, and any reference to “employment” or similar terms shall include a director and/or consulting relationship. All information, trade secrets, designs, ideas, concepts, improvements, product developments, discoveries and inventions, whether patentable or not, that are conceived, made, developed, disclosed to or acquired by Employee, individually or in conjunction with others, during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to the Company’s or any of its affiliates’ businesses, trade secrets, products or services (including, without limitation, all such information relating to corporate opportunities, strategies, business plans, product specifications, compositions, manufacturing and distribution methods and processes, research, financial and sales data, pricing terms, evaluations, opinions, interpretations, acquisition prospects, the identity of customers or their requirements, the identity of key contacts within the customer’s organizations or within the organization of acquisition prospects, or production, marketing and merchandising techniques, prospective names and marks) and all writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression (collectively, “ Confidential Information ”) shall be disclosed to the Company and are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company or its affiliates, as applicable.  Moreover, all documents, videotapes, written presentations, brochures, drawings, memoranda, notes, records, files, correspondence, manuals, models, specifications, computer programs, E-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, maps, drawings,

 

8



 

architectural renditions, models and all other writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression (collectively, “ Work Product ”) are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company (or its affiliates).  Employee agrees to perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company or its affiliates to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership.  Upon termination of Employee’s employment with the Company, for any reason, Employee promptly shall deliver such Confidential Information and Work Product, and all copies thereof, to the Company.

 

6.2                                Disclosure to Employee .  The Company has and will disclose to Employee and place Employee in a position to have access to or develop Confidential Information and Work Product of the Company (or its affiliates); and has and will entrust Employee with business opportunities of the Company (or its affiliates); and has and will place Employee in a position to develop business good will on behalf of the Company (or its affiliates).

 

6.3                                No Unauthorized Use or Disclosure .

 

(a)                                  Employee agrees to preserve and protect the confidentiality of all Confidential Information and Work Product of the Company and its affiliates.  Employee agrees that Employee will not, at any time during or after Employee’s employment with the Company, make any unauthorized disclosure of, and Employee shall not remove from the Company premises, Confidential Information or Work Product of the Company or its affiliates, or make any use thereof, except, in each case, in the carrying out of Employee’s responsibilities hereunder. Employee shall use all reasonable efforts to cause all persons or entities to whom any Confidential Information shall be disclosed by Employee hereunder to preserve and protect the confidentiality of such Confidential Information.

 

(b)                                  Employee shall have no obligation hereunder to keep confidential any Confidential Information if and to the extent disclosure thereof is specifically required by law; provided, however, that in the event disclosure is required by applicable law, Employee shall provide the Company with prompt notice of such requirement prior to making any such disclosure, so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order.

 

(c)                                   At the request of the Company at any time, Employee agrees to deliver to the Company all Confidential Information that Employee may possess or control. Employee agrees that all Confidential Information of the Company (whether now or hereafter existing) conceived, discovered or made by Employee during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company exclusively belongs to the Company (and not to Employee), and upon request by the Company for specified Confidential Information, Employee will promptly disclose such Confidential Information to the Company and perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership. Affiliates of the Company shall be third party beneficiaries of Employee’s obligations under this Article VI.  As a result of Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee may also from time to time have access to, or knowledge of, Confidential Information or Work Product of third parties, such as customers, suppliers,

 

9



 

partners, joint venturers, and the like, of the Company and its affiliates. Employee also agrees to preserve and protect the confidentiality of such third party Confidential Information and Work Product.

 

(d)                                  Nothing herein will prevent Employee from: (i) making a good faith report of possible violations of applicable law to any governmental agency or entity; or (ii) making disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of applicable law.  For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall prevent Employee from making a disclosure of a trade secret that: (A) is made in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.  Further, an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer of reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (X) files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and (Y) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

 

6.4                                Ownership by the Company .  If, during Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee creates any work of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression that is the subject matter of copyright (such as videotapes, written presentations, or acquisitions, computer programs, E-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, drawings, maps, architectural renditions, models, manuals, brochures, or the like) relating to the Company’s business, products, or services, whether such work is created solely by Employee or jointly with others (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise), including any Work Product, the Company shall be deemed the author of such work if the work is prepared by Employee in the scope of Employee’s employment; or, if the work relating to the Company’s business, products, or services is not prepared by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment but is specially ordered by the Company as a contribution to a collective work, as a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, as a translation, as a supplementary work, as a compilation, or as an instructional text, then the work shall be considered to be work made for hire and the Company shall be the author of the work.  If the work relating to the Company’s business, products, or services is neither prepared by Employee within the scope of Employee’s employment nor a work specially ordered that is deemed to be a work made for hire during Employee’s employment by the Company, then Employee hereby agrees to assign, and by these presents does assign, to the Company all of Employee’s worldwide right, title, and interest in and to such work and all rights of copyright therein.

 

6.5                                Assistance by Employee .  During the period of Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee shall assist the Company and its nominee, at any time, in the protection of the Company’s or its affiliates’ worldwide right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information and Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by the Company or its nominee(s) and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries.  For the period of two (2) years after Employee’s employment termination with the Company pursuant to Section 5.2 above, at the request from time to time and expense of the Company or its affiliates, Employee shall assist the Company or its nominee(s) in the protection of the Company’s or its

 

10



 

affiliates’ worldwide right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information and Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by the Company or its nominee and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries. Employee shall assist after Employee’s employment termination with the Company other than pursuant to Section 5.2 above pursuant to mutually agreeable terms between the Employee and the Company.

 

6.6           Remedies .  Employee acknowledges that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article VI by Employee, and the Company or its affiliates shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Article VI by terminating payments or benefits then owing to Employee under Section 5.2 and to specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach; provided, that , to the extent the Company receives monetary damages from the Employee, such amounts shall not exceed the total value Employee received under Section 5.2.  Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article VI but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from Employee and Employee’s agents. However, if it is determined that Employee has not committed a breach of this Article VI, then the Company shall resume the payments and benefits due under this Agreement and pay to Employee and Employee’s spouse, if applicable, all payments and benefits that had been suspended pending such determination.

 

ARTICLE VII
STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE COMPANY

 

7.1           Statements Concerning the Company .  Employee shall refrain, both during and after the termination of the employment relationship, from publishing any oral or written statements about the Company, any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or such affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives that (a) are slanderous, libelous or defamatory, (b) disclose Confidential Information of the Company, any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ business affairs, directors, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives, or (c) place the Company, any of its affiliates, or any of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives in a false light before the public.  The foregoing shall not be violated by truthful statements in response to legal process, required governmental testimony or filings, or administrative or arbitral proceedings (including, without limitation, depositions in connection with such proceedings). A violation or threatened violation of this prohibition may be enjoined by the courts. The rights afforded the Company and its affiliates under this provision are in addition to any and all rights and remedies otherwise afforded by law.

 

7.2           Enforcement Rights .  A violation or threatened violation of this Article VII  may be enjoined by the courts. The rights afforded the Company and its affiliates under this provision are in addition to any and all rights and remedies otherwise afforded by law.

 

11



 

ARTICLE VIII
NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT

 

8.1           Definitions .  As used in this Article VIII, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Business ” means (a) during the period of Employee’s employment by the Company, the core products and services provided by the Company and its affiliates during such period and other products and services that are functionally equivalent to the foregoing, and (b) during the portion of the Prohibited Period that begins on the termination of Employee’s employment with the Employer, the products and services provided by the Company and its affiliates at the time of such termination of employment and other products and services that are functionally equivalent to the foregoing.

 

Competing Business ” means any business, individual, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity which wholly or in any significant part engages in any business competing with the Business in the Restricted Area. In no event will the Company or any of its affiliates be deemed a Competing Business.

 

Governmental Authority ” means any governmental, quasi-governmental, state, county, city or other political subdivision of the United States or any other country, or any agency, court or instrumentality, foreign or domestic, or statutory or regulatory body thereof.

 

Legal Requirement ” means any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization, or other directional requirement (including, without limitation, any of the foregoing that relates to environmental standards or controls, energy regulations and occupational, safety and health standards or controls including those arising under environmental laws) of any Governmental Authority.

 

Prohibited Period ” means the period during which Employee is employed by the Employer hereunder and a period of six months (twelve months if Employee’s Date of Termination occurs within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control and Employee receives severance benefits pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement) following the termination of Employee’s employment with the Employer.

 

Restricted Area ” means any geographic area within a 100-mile radius of any location where the Company or its affiliates engages in the Business, and for which Employee has or had responsibilities, during the period of Employee’s employment.

 

8.2           Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation .  Employee and Extraction agree to the non-competition and non-solicitation provisions of this Article VIII in consideration for the Confidential Information provided by Extraction to Employee pursuant to Article VI of this Agreement, to protect the trade secrets and confidential information of the Company or its affiliates disclosed or entrusted to Employee by the Company or its affiliates or created or developed by Employee for the Company or its affiliates, to protect the business goodwill of the Company or its affiliates developed through the efforts of Employee and/or the business

 

12



 

opportunities disclosed or entrusted to Employee by the Company or its affiliates and as an additional incentive for Extraction to enter into this Agreement.

 

(a)           Subject to the exceptions set forth in Section 8.2(b) below, Employee expressly covenants and agrees that during the Prohibited Period (i) Employee will refrain from carrying on or engaging in, directly or indirectly, any Competing Business in the Restricted Area and (ii) Employee will not, and Employee will cause Employee’s affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, become an employee of, partner in, owner or member of (or an independent contractor to), control or participate in, be connected with or loan money to, sell or lease equipment or property to, or otherwise be affiliated with any business, individual, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity which engages in a Competing Business in the Restricted Area.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the restrictions contained in Section 8.2(a), Employee or any of Employee’s affiliates may own an aggregate of not more than 2% of the outstanding stock of any class of any corporation engaged in a Competing Business, if such stock is listed on a national securities exchange or regularly traded in the over-the-counter market by a member of a national securities exchange, without violating the provisions of Section 8.2(a), provided that neither Employee nor any of Employee’s affiliates has the power, directly or indirectly, to control or direct the management or affairs of any such corporation and is not involved in the management of such corporation.

 

(c)           Employee further expressly covenants and agrees that during the Prohibited Period, Employee will not, and Employee will cause Employee’s affiliates not to (i) engage or employ, or solicit or contact with a view to the engagement or employment of, any person who is an officer or employee of the Company or any of its affiliates or (ii) canvass, solicit, approach or entice away or cause to be canvassed, solicited, approached or enticed away from the Company or any of its affiliates any person who or which is a customer of any of such entities during the period during which Employee is employed by the Employer.

 

(d)           The restrictions contained in Section 8.2 shall not apply to any product or service that the Company or the Employer provided during Employee’s employment but that the Company or the Employer no longer provides at the Date of Termination.

 

(e)           Before accepting employment with any other person or entity while employed by the Employer during the Prohibited Period, the Employee will inform such person or entity of the restrictions contained in this Article VIII.

 

8.3           Relief .  Employee and Extraction agree and acknowledge that the limitations as to time, geographical area and scope of activity to be restrained as set forth in Section 8.2 are reasonable and do not impose any greater restraint than is necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of Extraction.  Employee and Extraction also acknowledge that money damages would not be sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article VIII by Employee, and the Company or its affiliates shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Article VIII by terminating payments or benefits then owing to Employee under Section 5.2 and to specific

 

13



 

performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach; provided, that , to the extent the Company or the Employer receives monetary damages from the Employee, such amounts shall not exceed the total value Employee received under Section 5.2.  Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article VIII but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from Employee and Employee’s agents. However, if it is determined that Employee has not committed a breach of this Article VIII, then Extraction shall resume the payments and benefits due under this Agreement and pay to Employee all payments and benefits that had been suspended pending such determination.

 

8.4           Reasonableness; Enforcement .  Employee hereby represents to Extraction that Employee has read and understands, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of this Article VIII.  Employee acknowledges that the geographic scope and duration of the covenants contained in this Article VIII are the result of arm’s-length bargaining and are fair and reasonable in light of (a) the nature and wide geographic scope of the operations of the Business, (b) Employee’s level of control over and contact with the Business in all jurisdictions in which it is conducted, (c) the fact that the Business is conducted throughout the Restricted Area and (d) the amount of Confidential Information that Employee is receiving in connection with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder.  It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Article VIII be enforced to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Legal Requirements, whether now or hereafter in effect and therefore, to the extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, Employee and Extraction hereby waive any provision of applicable Legal Requirements that would render any provision of this Article VIII invalid or unenforceable.

 

8.5           Reformation .  Extraction and Employee agree that the foregoing restrictions are reasonable under the circumstances and that any breach of the covenants contained in this Article VIII would cause irreparable injury to Extraction.  Employee understands that the foregoing restrictions may limit Employee’s ability to engage in certain businesses anywhere in the Restricted Area during the Prohibited Period, but acknowledges that Employee will receive sufficient consideration from Extraction to justify such restriction.  Further, Employee acknowledges that Employee’s skills are such that Employee can be gainfully employed in non-competitive employment, and that the agreement not to compete will not prevent Employee from earning a living.  Nevertheless, if any of the aforesaid restrictions are found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unreasonable, or overly broad as to geographic area or time, or otherwise unenforceable, the parties intend for the restrictions herein set forth to be modified by the court making such determination so as to be reasonable and enforceable and, as so modified, to be fully enforced.  By agreeing to this contractual modification prospectively at this time, Extraction and Employee intend to make this provision enforceable under the law or laws of all applicable States, Provinces and other jurisdictions so that the entire agreement not to compete and this Agreement as prospectively modified shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be rendered void or illegal.  Such modification shall not affect the payments made to Employee under this Agreement.

 

14



 

ARTICLE IX
DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

9.1           Arbitration .  Except as otherwise provided in this Article IX, any and all claims or disputes between Employee and the Company or its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates (including, without limitation, the validity, scope, and enforceability of this Article IX and claims arising under any federal, state or local law prohibiting discrimination in employment or governing the employment relationship in any way) shall be submitted for final and binding arbitration by a single arbitrator in Denver, Colorado, in accordance with the rules for resolution of employment disputes of the American Arbitration Association (“ AAA ”).  The arbitrator shall have the power to gather such materials, information, testimony, and evidence as he or she deems relevant to the dispute before him or her, and each party will provide such materials, information, testimony, and evidence requested by the arbitrator, except to the extent any information so requested is subject to an attorney-client or other privilege. The arbitrator shall apply the substantive law of the State of Colorado (excluding Colorado choice-of-law principles that might call for the application of some other state’s law), or federal law, or both as applicable to the claims asserted.  The results of the arbitration and the decision of the arbitrator will be final and binding on the parties and each party agrees and acknowledges that these results shall be enforceable in a court of law of competent jurisdiction; provided that the parties agree that the arbitrator and any court enforcing the award of the arbitrator shall not have the right or authority to award punitive or exemplary damages to any disputing party.  No demand for arbitration may be made after the date when the institution of legal or equitable proceedings based on such claim or dispute would be barred by the applicable statute of limitations.  In the event either party must resort to the judicial process to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, the award of an arbitrator, or equitable relief granted by an arbitrator, the party seeking enforcement shall be entitled to recover from the other party all costs of litigation including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs.  All proceedings conducted pursuant to this agreement to arbitrate, including any order, decision or award of the arbitrator, shall be kept confidential by all parties.  Employee and Extraction explicitly recognize that no provision of this Article IX shall prevent either party from seeking to resolve any dispute relating to Article VI or Article VIII of this Agreement in a court of law.  Employee and Extraction further acknowledge and agree that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have the power to maintain the status quo pending the arbitration of any dispute under this Article IX, and this Article IX shall not require the arbitration of an application for emergency or temporary injunctive relief by either party pending arbitration; provided, however, that the remainder of any such dispute beyond the application for emergency or temporary injunctive relief shall be subject to arbitration under this Article IX.  EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, EMPLOYEE IS WAIVING ANY RIGHT THAT EMPLOYEE MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL OR, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN, A COURT TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM ALLEGED BY EMPLOYEE.

 

ARTICLE X
CERTAIN EXCISE TAXES

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Employee is a “disqualified individual” (as defined in section 280G(c) of the Code), and the payments and benefits provided for in this Agreement, together with any other payments and benefits which

 

15



 

Employee has the right to receive from the Company or any of its affiliates, would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), then the payments and benefits provided for in this Agreement shall be either (a) reduced (but not below zero) so that the present value of such total amounts and benefits received by Employee from the Company and its affiliates will be one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Employee’s “base amount” (as defined in section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) and so that no portion of such amounts and benefits received by Employee shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by section 4999 of the Code, or (b) paid in full, whichever produces the better net after-tax position to Employee (taking into account any applicable excise tax under section 4999 of the Code and any other applicable taxes, including any federal, state, municipal, and local income or employment taxes, and taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions).  The reduction of payments and benefits hereunder, if applicable, shall be made by reducing, first, payments or benefits to be paid in cash hereunder in the order in which such payment or benefit would be paid or provided (beginning with such payment or benefit that would be made last in time and continuing, to the extent necessary, through to such payment or benefit that would be made first in time) and, then, reducing any benefit to be provided in-kind hereunder in a similar order, in all instances in accordance with Section 409A. The determination as to whether any such reduction in the amount of the payments and benefits provided hereunder is necessary shall be made by the Company or the Employer in good faith; provided, however, that (a) no portion of Employee’s payments or benefits the receipt or enjoyment of which Employee shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of section 280G(b) of the Code will be taken into account; (b) no portion of Employee’s payments or benefits will be taken into account which, in the opinion of tax counsel (“ Tax Counsel ”) for the Company does not constitute a parachute payment (including by reason of section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code); (c) in calculating the applicable excise tax under section 4999 of the Code, no portion of Employee’s payments or benefits will be taken into account which, in the opinion of Tax Counsel, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the base amount that is allocable to such reasonable compensation; and (d) the value of any non-cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit will be determined by Tax Counsel or the Company’s independent auditor in accordance with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.  At the time that payments are made under this Agreement, the Company will provide Employee with a written statement setting forth the manner in which such payments were calculated and the basis for such calculations, including any opinions or other advice the Company received from Tax Counsel, the Company’s independent auditor, or other advisors or consultants (and any such opinions or advice which are in writing will be attached to the statement).  If a reduced payment or benefit is made or provided, and through error or otherwise, that payment or benefit, when aggregated with other payments and benefits from the Company (or its affiliates) used in determining if a “parachute payment” exists, exceeds one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Employee’s base amount, then Employee shall immediately repay such excess to the Company or the applicable affiliate upon notification that an overpayment has been made.  The fact that Employee’s right to payments or benefits may be reduced by reason of the limitations contained in this Article X will not limit or otherwise affect any other rights of Employee under this Agreement or otherwise.  All determinations required by this Article X will be made at the expense of the Company.  However, nothing in this Article X shall require the Company or any affiliate to be responsible

 

16



 

for, or have any liability or obligation with respect to, Employee’s excise tax liabilities under section 4999 of the Code.

 

ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS

 

11.1         Notices .  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 (a) when received if delivered personally or by courier, (b) on the date receipt is acknowledged if delivered by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or (c) one day after transmission if sent by facsimile transmission with confirmation of transmission, as follows:

 

If to Employee, addressed to:

Tom L. Brock

 

Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc.

 

370 17 th  Street, Suite 5300

 

Denver, CO 80202, or the last known residential address reflected in the Employer’s records

 

 

 

 

Facsimile:

(720) 557-8301

 

 

Attention: Tom L. Brock

 

E-mail:

Per Employer records

 

 

If to the Company or the Employer, addressed to:

Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc.

 

370 17th Street, Suite 5300

 

Denver, CO 80202

 

Attention: General Counsel

 

 

 

Facsimile:

(720) 557-8301

 

 

Attention: General Counsel

 

E-mail:

General Counsel’s e-mail address

 

or to such other address as either party may furnish to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices or changes of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

11.2                         Applicable Law; Submission to Jurisdiction .

 

(a)           This Agreement is entered into under, and shall be governed for all purposes by, the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

(b)           With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts located in the State of Colorado.

 

11.3         No Waiver .  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

 

17



 

Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

11.4         Severability .  If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity or unenforceability of that provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

 

11.5         Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

11.6         Withholding of Taxes and Other Employee Deductions .  The Employer or the Company may withhold from any benefits and payments made pursuant to this Agreement all federal, state, city and other taxes and withholdings as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and all other customary deductions made with respect to the Company’s employees generally.

 

11.7         Headings .  The Section headings have been inserted for purposes of convenience and shall not be used for interpretive purposes.

 

11.8         Gender and Plurals . Wherever the context so requires, the masculine gender includes the feminine or neuter, and the singular number includes the plural and conversely.

 

11.9         Affiliate .  As used in this Agreement, the term “ affiliate ” as used with respect to a particular person or entity shall mean any other person or entity which owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, such particular person or entity.

 

11.10       Successors; Assigns; Third Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and the Employer and any successor of the Company or the Employer.  In addition, the Employer may assign this Agreement and Employee’s employment to any other affiliate of the Company at any time without the consent of Employee, and any assign of the Employer shall be deemed to be the Employer for purposes of this Agreement.  Except as provided in the foregoing sentences of this Section 11.10, this Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder are personal, and neither this Agreement nor any right, benefit, or obligation of either party hereto shall be subject to voluntary or involuntary assignment, alienation, or transfer, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other party.  In addition, any payment owed to Employee hereunder after the date of Employee’s death shall be paid to Employee’s estate.  Each affiliate of the Company shall be a third party beneficiary of, and may directly enforce, Employee’s obligations under Article VI, Article VII and Article VIII.

 

11.11       Term .  Termination of this Agreement shall not affect any right or obligation of any party which is accrued or vested prior to such termination.  Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, the provisions of Articles V, VI, VII, VIII and IX shall survive any termination of the employment relationship and/or of this Agreement.

 

18



 

11.12       Entire Agreement .  Except as provided in any signed written agreement contemporaneously or hereafter executed by the Company or the Employer and Employee, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof, and contains all the covenants, promises, representations, warranties and agreements between the parties with respect to employment of Employee by the Employer. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, all understandings and agreements preceding the date of execution of this Agreement and relating to the subject matter hereof are hereby null and void and of no further force and effect.

 

11.13       Modification; Waiver .  Any modification to or waiver of this Agreement will be effective only if it is in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement.

 

11.14       Actions by the Board .  Any and all determinations or other actions required of the Board hereunder that relate specifically to Employee’s employment by the Employer or the terms and conditions of such employment shall be made by the members of the Board other than Employee if Employee is a member of the Board, and Employee shall not have any right to vote or decide upon any such matter.

 

11.15       Employee’s Representations and Warranties .  Employee represents and warrants to Extraction that (a) Employee does not have any agreements with any prior employers or other third parties that will prohibit Employee from working for Extraction or fulfilling Employee’s duties and obligations to Extraction pursuant to this Agreement and (b) Employee has complied with all duties imposed on Employee with respect to Employee’s former employer, e.g., Employee does not possess any tangible property belonging to Employee’s former employer.

 

11.16       Section 409A .  The parties hereby agree that this Agreement is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A with respect to amounts, if any, subject thereto and shall be interpreted, construed, and administered consistent with such intent. Each payment made under this Agreement shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if Employee is a “specified employee” (as such term is defined in Section 409A and as determined by the Employer in accordance with any method permitted under Section 409A) and any payment or benefit provided for herein would be subject to additional taxes and interest under Section 409A if Employee’s receipt of such payment or benefit is not delayed until the Section 409A Payment Date, then such payment or benefit shall not be provided to Employee (or Employee’s estate, if applicable) until the Section 409A Payment Date.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or elsewhere, any payment or benefit under this Agreement or otherwise that is exempt from Section 409A pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-l(b)(9)(v)(A) or (C) (relating to certain reimbursements and in-kind benefits) shall be paid or provided only to the extent that the expenses are not incurred, or the benefits are not provided, beyond the last day of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which Employee’s “separation from service” occurs; and provided further that such expenses are reimbursed no later than the last day of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which Employee’s “separation from service” occurs.  To the extent any expense reimbursement or the provision of any in-kind benefit is determined to be subject to Section 409A (and not exempt pursuant to the prior sentence or otherwise) (i) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to

 

19



 

liquidation or exchange for another benefit, (ii) the amount of any such expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year, and (iii) such payments shall be made on or before the last day of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense occurred.

 

11.17       Clawback.   Notwithstanding any provisions in this Agreement to the contrary, any compensation, payments, or benefits provided hereunder, whether in the form of cash or otherwise, shall be subject to a clawback to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of any applicable law, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, section 304 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, or any regulations promulgated thereunder, or any policy adopted by the Company pursuant to any such law (whether in existence as of the Effective Date or later adopted).

 

[ Signatures begin on next page .]

 

20



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

 

EXTRACTION OIL & GAS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark A. Erickson

 

 

Name:

Mark A. Erickson

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

XOG SERVICES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark A. Erickson

 

 

Name:

Mark A. Erickson

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

TOM L. BROCK

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Tom L. Brock

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

TOM L. BROCK

 


Exhibit 10.3

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made as of October 28, 2016 by and between Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and Tom L. Brock (“ Indemnitee ”).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, directors, officers and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Corporation or business enterprise itself;

 

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance and adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders and that the Corporation should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, (i) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation (as may be amended, the “ Bylaws ”) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Corporation, (ii) Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“ DGCL ”) and (iii) the Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Corporation and members of the Board, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Bylaws and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as may be amended, the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, (i) Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, (ii) Indemnitee may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Corporation without adequate protection, (iii) the Corporation desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity, and (iv) Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Corporation on the condition that he be so indemnified.

 

AGREEMENT:

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Corporation and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 



 

Section 1                                               Definitions .  (a) As used in this Agreement:

 

Affiliate ” of any specified Person shall mean any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such specified Person.

 

Corporate Status ” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of (i) the Corporation or (ii) any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation.

 

Disinterested Director ” shall mean a director of the Corporation who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

Enterprise ” shall mean the Corporation and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Expenses ” shall mean all reasonable costs, expenses, fees and charges, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.  Expenses also shall include, without limitation, (i) expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from, incurred by Indemnitee in connection with, arising out of, or in respect of or relating to, any Proceeding, including, without limitation, the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedes bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) for purposes of Section 12(d)  hereof only, expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise, (iii) any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, and (iv) any interest, assessments or other charges in respect of the foregoing.  “Expenses” shall not include “Liabilities.”

 

Indemnity Obligations ” shall mean all obligations of the Corporation to Indemnitee under this Agreement, including the Corporation’s obligations to provide indemnification to Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

Independent Counsel ” shall mean a law firm of fifty (50) or more attorneys, or a member of a law firm of fifty (50) or more attorneys, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five (5) years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Corporation or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder; provided, however, that the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of

 

2



 

professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Corporation or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

Liabilities ” shall mean all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, judgments, orders, fines, penalties and other amounts payable in connection with, arising out of, or in respect of or relating to any Proceeding, including, without limitation, amounts paid in settlement in any Proceeding and all costs and expenses in complying with any judgment, order or decree issued or entered in connection with any Proceeding or any settlement agreement, stipulation or consent decree entered into or issued in settlement of any Proceeding.

 

Person ” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, governmental agency or body or any other legal entity.

 

Proceeding ” shall mean any threatened, pending or completed action, claim, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, formal or informal hearing, inquiry or investigation, litigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed judicial, administrative or arbitration proceeding (including, without limitation, any such proceeding under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act or any other federal law, state law, statute or regulation), whether brought in the right of the Corporation or otherwise, and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative nature, in each case, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be, or is threatened to be, involved as a party, witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, by reason of any actual or alleged action taken by Indemnitee or of any action on Indemnitee’s part while acting as director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement can be provided under this Agreement

 

(b)                                  For the purpose hereof, references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a Person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 2                                               Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings .  The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding (other than any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

3



 

Section 3                                               Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation .  The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, or any claim, issue or matter therein.  No indemnification for Liabilities and Expenses shall be made under this Section 3 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Corporation, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to such indemnification.

 

Section 4                                               Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful .  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, and without limiting the rights of Indemnitee under any other provision hereof, including any rights to indemnification pursuant to Sections 2 or 3 hereof, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to the extent that Indemnitee is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Section 4 and without limitation, the termination of any Proceeding or claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

Section 5                                               Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness or otherwise a participant in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses suffered or incurred (or, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 6                                               Additional Indemnification .  Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 2 , 3 or 4 hereof, the Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding, including but not limited to:

 

(a)                                  the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL; and

 

(b)                                  the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

4



 

Section 7                                               Exclusions .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy obtained by the Corporation except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under such insurance policy;

 

(b)                                  for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Corporation within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 12(d)  of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Corporation or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law; or

 

(d)                                  if a final decision by a court having jurisdiction in the matter shall determine that such indemnification is not lawful.

 

Section 8                                               Advancement .  In accordance with the pre-existing requirements of the Bylaws, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Corporation shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Expenses reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.  Advances shall be unsecured and interest free.  Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.  Advances shall include any and all Expenses reasonably incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Corporation to support the advances claimed.  Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Corporation of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.  This Section 8 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 7 hereof.

 

Section 9                                               Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

 

(a)                                  Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Corporation in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement hereunder following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof.  The written notification to the Corporation shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts

 

5



 

underlying the Proceeding.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Corporation a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding.  Any delay or failure by Indemnitee to notify the Corporation hereunder will not relieve the Corporation from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay or failure in so notifying the Corporation shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement.  The Secretary of the Corporation shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)                                  In the event Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and/or advancement with respect to any Proceeding, Indemnitee may, at Indemnitee’s option, (i) retain counsel selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Corporation to defend Indemnitee in such Proceeding, at the sole expense of the Corporation (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or (ii) have the Corporation assume the defense of Indemnitee in such Proceeding, in which case the Corporation shall assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel selected by the Corporation and approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) within ten (10) days of the Corporation’s receipt of written notice of Indemnitee’s election to cause the Corporation to do so.  If the Corporation is required to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, it shall engage legal counsel for such defense, and the Corporation shall be solely responsible for all fees and expenses of such legal counsel and otherwise of such defense.  Such legal counsel may represent both Indemnitee and the Corporation (and any other party or parties entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation with respect to such matter) unless, in the reasonable opinion of legal counsel to Indemnitee, there is a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Corporation (or any other such party or parties) or there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are not available to the Corporation (or any such other party or parties).  Notwithstanding either party’s assumption of responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, each party shall have the right to engage separate counsel at its own expense.  The party having responsibility for defense of a Proceeding shall provide the other party and its counsel with all copies of pleadings and material correspondence relating to the Proceeding.  Indemnitee and the Corporation shall reasonably cooperate in the defense of any Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought hereunder, regardless of whether the Corporation or Indemnitee assumes the defense thereof.  Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of the Corporation, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.  The Corporation may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

 

Section 10                                        Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 9(a)  hereof, if any determination by the Corporation is required by applicable law with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto, such determination shall be made (i) if Indemnitee shall request such determination be made by Independent Counsel, by Independent Counsel, and (ii) in all other circumstances, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if

 

6



 

there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Corporation; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Corporation (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Corporation hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.  The Corporation will not deny any written request for indemnification hereunder made in good faith by Indemnitee unless a determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification described in this Section 10(a)  has been made.  The Corporation agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Liabilities and Expenses arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(b)                                  In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 10(a)  hereof, (i) the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Corporation within ten (10) days of the Submission Date (the cost of such Independent Counsel to be paid by the Corporation), (ii) the Corporation shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and (iii) Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Corporation Indemnitee’s written objection to such selection.  Such objection by Indemnitee may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement.  If such written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected shall not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until Indemnitee withdraws the objection or a court has determined that such objection is without merit.  Absent a timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel.  If no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to before the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a)  hereof (the “ Submission Date ”) and (ii) ten (10) days after the final disposition of the Proceeding, each of the Corporation and Indemnitee shall select a law firm or member of a law firm meeting the qualifications to serve as Independent Counsel, and such law firms or members of law firms shall select the Independent Counsel.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 12(a)  of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

Section 11                                        Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

 

(a)                                  In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not

 

7



 

prohibited by applicable law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 9(a)  of this Agreement, and the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.  Neither the failure of the Corporation (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 12(e)  hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 10 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Corporation of the request therefore, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided , however , that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if (i) the determination is to be made by Independent Counsel and Indemnitee objects to the Corporation’s selection of Independent Counsel and (ii) the Independent Counsel ultimately selected requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation or information relating thereto; provided further, however , that such 60-day period may also be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

(c)                                   The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)                                  Reliance as Safe Harbor .  For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with the reasonable care by the Enterprise.  The provisions of this Section 11(d)  shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

 

8



 

(e)                                   Actions of Others .  The knowledge or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 12                                        Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 12(e)  hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(a)  of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Corporation of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 4 or 5 or the last sentence of Section 10(a)  of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Sections 2 , 3 or 6 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Corporation or any other Person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  The Corporation shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)                                  In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 the Corporation shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                   If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(a)  of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Corporation shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 , absent a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)                                  The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Corporation is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.  It is the intent of the Corporation that Indemnitee not be required to incur Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to

 

9



 

Indemnitee hereunder.  The Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all such Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Corporation under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Corporation, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

 

(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding; provided that, in absence of any such determination with respect to such Proceeding, the Corporation shall advance Expenses with respect to such Proceeding.

 

Section 13                                        Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation .

 

(a)                                  The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal.  To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)                                  The Corporation hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated.  The Corporation hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Corporation shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations, (ii) the Corporation shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Corporation hereunder, (iv) the Corporation shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other

 

10



 

Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v) the Corporation irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Corporation hereunder.  In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Corporation or payable under any Corporation insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Corporation or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Corporation or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement.  In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Corporation hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated.  Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any Liability arising as a result of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Corporation or any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Corporation under this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   To the extent that the Corporation maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Corporation or of any other Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies and such policies shall provide for and recognize that the insurance policies are primary to any rights to indemnification, advancement or insurance proceeds to which Indemnitee may be entitled from one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to the same extent as the Corporation’s indemnification and advancement obligations set forth in this Agreement.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Corporation has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Corporation shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Corporation shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(d)                                  In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be subrogated to the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, including rights of indemnification provided to Indemnitee from any other person or entity with whom Indemnitee may be associated; provided , however, that the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of any such payment of all rights of recovery of Indemnitee under insurance policies of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.

 

(e)                                   The indemnification and contribution provided for in this Agreement will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of Indemnitee.

 

11



 

Section 14                                        Duration of Agreement; Not Employment Contract .  This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any other Enterprise and (ii) the date of final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement relating thereto.  This Agreement shall be binding upon the Corporation and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.  This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee.  Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), if any, is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Corporation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the DGCL.

 

Section 15                                        Severability .  If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 16                                        Enforcement .

 

(a)                                  The Corporation expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, and the Corporation acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation.

 

(b)                                  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided , however , that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 17                                        Modification and Waiver .  No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto.  No waiver of

 

12



 

any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 18                                        Notices .  All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

(i)                                      If to Indemnitee, at such address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Corporation.

 

(ii)                                   If to the Corporation to:

 

Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc.
370 17
th  Street, Suite 5300
Denver, CO 80202
Attention: Board of Directors

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Corporation.

 

Section 19                                        Contribution .  To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Corporation, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for Liabilities or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (a) the relative benefits received by the Corporation and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and (b) the relative fault of the Corporation (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and transaction(s).

 

Section 20                                        Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction .  This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.  Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12(a)  of this Agreement, the Corporation and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Court ”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (d) waive,

 

13



 

and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 21                                        Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 22                                        Miscellaneous .  Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.  The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

14



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

EXTRACTION OIL & GAS, INC.

 

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark A. Erickson

 

By:

/s/ Tom L. Brock

Name:

Mark A. Erickson

 

Name:

Tom L. Brock

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

Title:

Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer

 

Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement