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): February 12, 2018

 


 

Cactus, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware

 

001-38390

 

35-2586106

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

Cobalt Center
920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77024

 

(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

 

 

(713) 626-8800

 

(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))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company   x

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   x

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01                    Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

On February 7, 2018, Cactus, Inc. (the “ Company ”) and Cactus Wellhead, LLC (“ Cactus LLC ”) entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, for themselves and as representatives of the other underwriters named therein (the “ Underwriters ”), relating to the initial public offering (the “ Offering ”) of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ”).

 

The Underwriting Agreement provides for the offer and sale by the Company of an aggregate of up to 26,450,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, including up to 3,450,000 shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued and sold to cover over-allotments, if any, at an initial price to the public of $19.00 per share ($17.86 per share net of underwriting discounts and commissions).

 

The material terms of the Offering are described in the prospectus, dated February 7, 2018 (the “ Prospectus ”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) on February 9, 2018, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).  The Offering is registered with the Commission pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-222540), initially filed by the Company on January 12, 2018 (the “ Initial Registration Statement ”) and a registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-222919), initially filed by the Company on February 7, 2018 pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “ Rule 462(b) Registration Statement ” and together with the Initial Registration Statement, “ Registration Statement ”).

 

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, agreements and obligations, closing conditions and termination provisions.  The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make because of such liabilities.

 

The Offering closed on February 12, 2018 (the “ Closing Date ”), and the Company received proceeds of approximately $405.8 million (net of underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses) from the sale of 23,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock.  As described in the Prospectus, the Company contributed the net proceeds of the Offering to Cactus LLC in exchange for common units representing limited liability company interests in Cactus LLC (“ CW Units ”) under the Cactus LLC Agreement (as described below). The Company caused Cactus LLC to use (i) approximately $251.0 million to repay borrowings outstanding under its term loan facility and (ii) approximately $154.8 million to redeem CW Units from certain direct and indirect owners of Cactus LLC (the “ Existing Owners ”) on or about the date hereof. If the Underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A Common Stock, the Company will receive additional net proceeds of $61.6 million. The Company intends to contribute the net proceeds from any exercise of the Underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Class A Common Stock to Cactus LLC in exchange for additional CW Units, and to cause Cactus LLC to use any such amounts to redeem additional CW Units from the Existing Owners.

 

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Relationships

 

Affiliates of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC are lenders under Cactus LLC’s term loan facility and received proceeds of the Offering through the repayment of borrowings thereunder.

 

The Underwriters are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the Underwriters and their respective affiliates have in the past performed commercial banking, investment banking and advisory services for Cactus LLC and its affiliates from time to time for which they have received customary fees and reimbursement of expenses and may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for the Company in the ordinary course of their business for which they may receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (which may include bank loans and/or credit default swaps) for their own account and for the accounts of their

 

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customers and may at any time hold long and short positions in such securities and instruments. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The Underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

 

Cactus, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan

 

The description of the Cactus, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan (the “ LTIP ”) provided below under Item 5.02 is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.  A copy of the LTIP is attached as Exhibit 10.18 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

In connection with the Offering, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”) with Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P. (“ Cadent ”), Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC (“ HoldCo ”) and Lee Boquet (together with HoldCo and Cadent, the “ Registration Rights Holders ”), dated January 29, 2018 and effective as of the Closing Date.  Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company agreed to register the sale of shares of Class A Common Stock by the Registration Rights Holders under certain circumstances as described below.

 

The Company has agreed to file a shelf registration statement to permit the resale by the Registration Rights Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of redemption rights when the Company becomes eligible to register the sale of its securities on Form S-3 under the Securities Act.  In addition, if at any time after the 180th day following the closing of the Offering the Company is not eligible to register the sale of its securities on Form S-3, each of Cadent and HoldCo will have the right to request three “demand” registrations, provided that the aggregate amount of registrable securities that are requested to be included in such demand registration is at least $25,000,000.  Further, the Registration Rights Holders and certain of their assignees will have customary “piggyback” registration rights.

 

Upon the demand of a Registration Rights Holder, the Company will facilitate in the manner described in the Registration Rights Agreement a “takedown” of Class A Common Stock off of an effective shelf registration statement.  A shelf takedown may take the form of an underwritten public offering provided that the aggregate amount of registrable securities that are requested to be included in such offering is at least $25,000,000.

 

These registration rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations, including the right of the underwriters to limit the number of shares to be included in a registration and the Company’s right to delay or withdraw a registration statement under certain circumstances.  Also, any demand for a registered offering or a takedown and the exercise of any piggyback registration rights will be subject to the constraints of any applicable lock-up arrangements.  In addition, the Company may postpone the filing of a demanded registration statement, suspend the initial effectiveness of any shelf registration statement or delay offerings and sales under any effective shelf registration statement for a reasonable “blackout period” not in excess of 90 days if the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) determines that such registration or offering could materially interfere with a bona fide business, acquisition or divestiture or financing transaction of the Company or is reasonably likely to require premature disclosure of information, the premature disclosure of which could materially and adversely affect the Company; provided that the Company shall not delay the filing of any demanded registration statement more than once in any 12-month period.

 

The Company will generally pay all registration expenses in connection with the Company’s obligations under the registration rights agreement, regardless of whether a registration statement is filed or becomes effective.

 

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Registration Rights Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

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Stockholders’ Agreement

 

In connection with the Offering, the Company entered into a stockholders’ agreement (the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”) with Cadent and HoldCo, dated January 29, 2018 and effective as of the Closing Date.  Among other things, the Stockholders’ Agreement provides Cadent with the right to designate a number of nominees (each, a “ Cadent Director ”) to the Board such that:

 

·                   at least 50% of the directors on the Board are Cadent Directors for so long as Cadent and its affiliates collectively beneficially own at least 20% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock;

 

·                   at least 25% of the directors on the Board are Cadent Directors for so long as Cadent and its affiliates collectively beneficially own less than 20% but at least 10% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock;

 

·                   at least one of the directors on the Board are Cadent Directors for so long as Cadent and its affiliates collectively beneficially own less than 10% but at least 5% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock; and

 

·                   once Cadent and its affiliates collectively own less than 5% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, Cadent will not have any Board designation rights.

 

Further, the Stockholders’ Agreement provides HoldCo with the right to designate a number of nominees (each, a “ HoldCo Director ”) to our Board such that:

 

·                   at least 50% of the directors on the Board are HoldCo Directors for so long as HoldCo and its affiliates collectively beneficially own at least 20% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock;

 

·                   at least 25% of the directors on the Board are HoldCo Directors for so long as HoldCo and its affiliates collectively beneficially own less than 20% but at least 10% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock;

 

·                   at least one of the directors on the Board are HoldCo Directors for so long as HoldCo and its affiliates collectively beneficially own less than 10% but at least 5% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock; and

 

·                   once HoldCo and its affiliates collectively own less than 5% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, HoldCo will not have any Board designation rights.

 

Pursuant to the Stockholders’ Agreement, the Company, Cadent and HoldCo will be required to take all necessary action, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including with respect to any fiduciary duties under Delaware law), to cause the election of the nominees designated by Cadent and HoldCo.

 

The rights granted to Cadent and HoldCo to designate directors are additive to and not intended to limit in any way the rights that Cadent and HoldCo or any of their affiliates may have to nominate, elect or remove directors under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Stockholders’ Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 4.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Tax Receivable Agreement

 

In connection with the Offering, the Company entered into a Tax Receivable Agreement (the “ TRA ”), dated January 29, 2018 and effective as of the Closing Date, with certain direct and indirect owners of Cactus LLC

 

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identified therein (each a “ TRA Holder ”).  This agreement generally provides for the payment by the Company to each TRA Holder of 85% of the net cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax or franchise tax that the Company actually realizes or is deemed to realize in certain circumstances in periods after the Offering as a result of (i) certain increases in tax basis that occur as a result of the Company’s acquisition (or deemed acquisition for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of all or a portion of such TRA Holder’s CW Units in connection with the Offering or pursuant to the exercise of the Redemption Right or the Call Right (in each case, as defined in the Cactus LLC Agreement), (ii) certain increases in tax basis resulting from the repayment, in connection with the Offering, of borrowings outstanding under Cactus LLC’s term loan facility and (iii) imputed interest deemed to be paid by the Company as a result of, and additional tax basis arising from, any payments the Company makes under the Tax Receivable Agreement.  The Company will retain the benefit of the remaining 15% of these cash savings.

 

If the Company elects to terminate the TRA early (or it is terminated early due to the Company’s failure to honor a material obligation thereunder or due to certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control), the Company would be required to make an immediate payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future payments to be made under the TRA (based upon certain assumptions and deemed events set forth in the TRA) and such payment is expected to be substantial.

 

The foregoing description is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the TRA, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Cactus LLC

 

In connection with the Offering, Cactus LLC and its members entered into the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Cactus LLC (the “ Cactus LLC Agreement ”), dated January 29, 2018 and effective as of the Closing Date. The Cactus LLC Agreement, among other things, admitted the Company as the sole managing member of Cactus LLC.  In accordance with the terms of the Cactus LLC Agreement, the holders of CW Units will, subject to certain limitations, have the right (the “ Redemption Right ”) to cause Cactus LLC to acquire all or at least a minimum portion of its CW Units for, at Cactus LLC’s election, (x) shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock at a redemption ratio of one share of Class A Common Stock for each CW Unit redeemed, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassification and other similar transactions, or (y) an equivalent amount of cash. Alternatively, upon the exercise of the Redemption Right, the Company (instead of Cactus LLC) will have the right (the “ Call Right ”) to acquire each tendered CW Unit directly from the exchanging CW Unit Holder (as defined below) for, at its election, (x) one share of Class A Common Stock, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications and other similar transactions, or (y) an equivalent amount of cash. In connection with any redemption of CW Units pursuant to the Redemption Right or the Call Right, the corresponding number of shares of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Class B Common Stock ”), will be cancelled.

 

The foregoing description of the Cactus LLC Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Cactus LLC Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Item 3.02                    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The information set forth under Item 1.01 under “Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Cactus LLC” is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.

 

In connection with the Offering, the Company, Cactus LLC, HoldCo and certain other indirect owners of Cactus LLC effected a series of restructuring transactions as a result of which (a) all of the membership interests (including outstanding Class A units, Class A-1 units and Class B units) in Cactus LLC held by the Existing Owners were converted into CW Units; (b) the Company contributed the net proceeds of the Offering to Cactus LLC in exchange for 23,000,000 CW Units; (c) Cactus LLC used the net proceeds of the Offering that it received from the Company to repay the borrowings outstanding under its term loan facility and to redeem 8,667,841 CW Units from the Existing Owners; (d) the Company issued and contributed a number of shares of its Class B Common Stock, equal to the number of outstanding CW Units held by the Existing Owners following the redemption described in (c) above to Cactus LLC; and (e) Cactus LLC distributed to each of the Existing Owners that continued to own CW

 

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Units following the Offering (the “ CW Unit Holders ”) one share of Class B Common Stock for each CW Unit such CW Unit Holder continues to hold following the redemption described in (c) above.

 

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Cactus LLC Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 3.02 by reference.

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

The information provided in Item 1.01 hereto under the headings “Registration Rights Agreement” and “Stockholders’ Agreement” and in Item 5.03 hereto is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

 

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

 

Employment Agreements and Non-Competition Agreements

 

In connection with the Offering, on February 12, 2018, Cactus LLC entered into amended and restated employment agreements (each an “ Employment Agreement ”) with each of Scott Bender, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Joel Bender, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of the Company.  Under these Employment Agreements, each of Messrs. Scott and Joel Bender are entitled to receive severance compensation if his employment is terminated under certain conditions, such as a termination by the named executive officer for “good reason” or by us without “cause,” each as defined in the Employment Agreements. Each Employment Agreement has a three-year term that will extend automatically for one-year periods unless advance written notice by either party is provided. In addition, the agreements provide for:

 

·                   specified minimum base salaries;

 

·                   participation in all of our employee benefit plans to the extent the executive is eligible thereunder;

 

·                   termination benefits, including, in specified circumstances, severance payments; and

 

·                   an annual bonus of up to 100% of annual base salary in the good faith discretion of the Board if executive satisfies budgetary and performance goals, as determined annually by the Board.

 

The Company has not entered into separate severance agreements with Scott and Joel Bender and instead relies on the terms of each executive’s Employment Agreement to dictate the terms of any severance arrangements. The Employment Agreements do not provide for accelerated or enhanced cash payments or health and welfare benefits upon a change in control, but do provide for salary continuation payments and subsidized health and welfare benefits upon the termination of the executive’s employment for “good reason” or without “cause.”

 

In connection with the Offering, on February 12, 2018, Cactus LLC entered into amended and restated noncompetition agreements (each a “ Noncompetition Agreement ”) with each of Scott Bender and Joel Bender.  Each of the Noncompetition Agreements provide that, for a period of one year following termination of his employment, he will not (i) compete against Cactus LLC in connection with Cactus LLC’s business, (ii) solicit or induce any of Cactus LLC’s employees to leave his or her employment with Cactus LLC or hire any of Cactus LLC’s employees or (iii) solicit or entice customers who were Cactus LLC’s customers within the one-year period immediately prior to his date of termination to cease doing business with Cactus LLC or to begin doing business with Cactus LLC’s competitors.

 

The foregoing description of the Employment Agreements and Noncompetition Agreements is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Employment Agreements and Noncompetition Agreements, which are filed as Exhibits 10.3, 10.4, 10.5 and 10.6 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated in this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

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Indemnification Agreements

 

In connection with the closing of the Offering, the Company entered into Indemnification Agreements (“ Indemnification Agreements ”) with each of the executive officers and directors of the Company.  These Indemnification Agreements require the Company to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liability that may arise by reason of their service to the Company, and to advance certain expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

 

The foregoing description of the Indemnification Agreements is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Indemnification Agreements, which are attached as Exhibits 10.7 through 10.17 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

Appointment of Directors

 

On February 7, 2018, the Board appointed Joel Bender, John (Andy) O’Donnell, Michael McGovern, Alan Semple and Gary Rosenthal as members of the Board.

 

As compensation for services provided as a member of the Board, each non-employee director will receive the following compensation for his or her service on the board of directors of the Company:

 

·                   A cash retainer of $80,000 per year, payable quarterly in arrears;

 

·                   An additional cash retainer of $20,000 per year, payable quarterly in arrears if such non-employee director serves as the chairperson of the Audit Committee and an additional cash retainer of $10,000 per year for each member of the Audit Committee; and

 

·                   Annual equity based compensation with an aggregate grant date value of $100,000 (as set forth below).

 

In addition, each director will be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending board and committee meetings.

 

Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no arrangements or understandings between Messrs. Scott Bender, Joel Bender, Bruce Rothstein, John (Andy) O’Donnell, Michael McGovern, Alan Semple and Gary Rosenthal and any other person pursuant to which he was selected as a director. Messrs. Bruce Rothstein, John (Andy) O’Donnell, Michael McGovern, Alan Semple and Gary Rosenthal have no family relationship with any director or executive officer of the Company or any person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer. Scott Bender, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and a member of the Board, is the father of Steven Bender, the Company’s Vice President of Operations, and the brother of Joel Bender, the Company’s Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary and member of the Board.

 

Biographical information for Joel Bender, John (Andy) O’Donnell, Michael McGovern, Alan Semple and Gary Rosenthal is set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Management—Directors and Executive Officers” and is incorporated herein by reference.  Certain additional information about the compensation provided to Joel Bender, John (Andy) O’Donnell, Michael McGovern, Alan Semple and Gary Rosenthal is contained in the section of the Prospectus entitled “Executive Compensation” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Pursuant to the Stockholders’ Agreement described above, each of Messrs. Rothstein, O’Donnell and McGovern are deemed to be Cadent Directors, and each of Messrs. Scott Bender, Joel Bender and Alan Semple are deemed to be HoldCo Directors.

 

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Long Term Incentive Plan

 

On February 7, 2018, the Board adopted the LTIP for the benefit of employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its affiliates.  The LTIP provides for the grant of all or any of the following types of equity-based awards: stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock awards, dividend equivalents, other stock-based awards, cash awards, substitute awards and performance awards.  Subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the LTIP, 3,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock have been reserved for issuance pursuant to awards under the LTIP.  Class A Common Stock withheld to satisfy exercise prices or tax withholding obligations will be available for delivery pursuant to other awards.  The LTIP will be administered by the Board or an alternative committee appointed by the Board.

 

The non-employee directors received the annual restricted stock unit grant value of $100,000 in connection with the Offering. All director restricted stock awards will generally be subject to a one year vesting schedule. Due to Mr. Bruce Rothstein’s services as a managing partner at Cadent, all compensation and equity awards that he receives will be payable or transferred to Cadent. In connection with the Offering, Messrs. Rosenthal and Semple also each received restricted stock unit grants with grant date values of $1,250,000 that will vest over three years. In connection with the Offering, Messrs. Scott and Joel Bender each received restricted stock unit grants with grant date values of $1,000,000 and Mr. Steven Bender received restricted stock unit grants with a grant date value of $600,000, in each case that will vest over three years.

 

The foregoing description of the LTIP is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the LTIP, which is attached as Exhibit 10.18 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

Item 5.03                    Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Changes in Fiscal Year.

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

 

On February 12, 2018, in connection with the closing of the Offering, the Company amended and restated its Certificate of Incorporation (as amended and restated, the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), which was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 12, 2018.  A description of the Certificate of Incorporation is contained in the section of the Prospectus entitled “Description of Capital Stock” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The foregoing description and the description contained in the Prospectus are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate of Incorporation, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 5.03 by reference.

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws

 

On February 12, 2018, in connection with the closing of the Offering, the Company amended and restated its Bylaws (as amended and restated, the “ Bylaws ”).  A description of the Bylaws is contained in the section of the Prospectus entitled “Description of Capital Stock” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The foregoing description and the description contained in the Prospectus are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaws, which is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 5.03 by reference.

 

Item 9.01                    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)           Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

1.1

 

Underwriting Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2018, by and among Cactus, Inc., Cactus Wellhead, LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC for themselves and as representatives of the other underwriters named therein

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cactus, Inc., effective February 12, 2018

 

3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Cactus, Inc., effective February 12, 2018

 

4.1

 

Registration Rights Agreement, effective as of February 12, 2018, by and among Cactus, Inc. and the stockholders named therein

 

4.2

 

Stockholders’ Agreement, effective as of February 12, 2018., by and among Cactus, Inc., Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P. and Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC

 

10.1

 

Tax Receivable Agreement, effective as of February 12, 2018, by and among Cactus, Inc. and the other parties named therein

 

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10.2

 

First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Cactus Wellhead, LLC, effective as of February 12, 2018

 

10.3

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Scott Bender, dated as of February 12, 2018.

 

10.4

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Joel Bender, dated as of February 12, 2018.

 

10.5

 

Amended and Restated Non-competition Agreement with Scott Bender, dated as of February 12, 2018.

 

10.6

 

Amended and Restated Non-competition Agreement with Joel Bender, dated as of February 12, 2018.

 

10.7

 

Indemnification Agreement (Scott Bender)

 

10.8

 

Indemnification Agreement (Joel Bender)

 

10.9

 

Indemnification Agreement (Bruce Rothstein)

 

10.10

 

Indemnification Agreement (Brian Small)

 

10.11

 

Indemnification Agreement (Steven Bender)

 

10.12

 

Indemnification Agreement (Stephen Tadlock)

 

10.13

 

Indemnification Agreement (John (Andy) O’Donnell)

 

10.14

 

Indemnification Agreement (Michael McGovern)

 

10.15

 

Indemnification Agreement (Alan Semple)

 

10.16

 

Indemnification Agreement (Gary Rosenthal)

 

10.17

 

Indemnification Agreement (Ike Smith)

 

10.18

 

Cactus, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan

 

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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.

 

Date: February 12, 2018

 

 

Cactus, Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/Brian Small

 

Name:

Brian Small

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

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Exhibit 1.1

 

Execution Version

 

Cactus, Inc.

 

23,000,000 Shares

 

Class A Common Stock
($0.01 par value)

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

New York, New York
February 7, 2018

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
                                                As Representatives of the several Underwriters

 

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013

 

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010-3629

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Cactus, Inc. , a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “ Company ”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “ Underwriters ”), for whom you (the “ Representatives ”) are acting as representatives, 23,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.01 par value (“ Class A Common Stock ”), of the Company (said shares to be issued and sold by the Company being hereinafter called the “ Underwritten Securities ”).  The Company also proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 3,450,000 additional shares of Class A Common Stock solely to cover over-allotments, if any (the “ Option Securities ”; the Option Securities, together with the Underwritten Securities, being hereinafter called the “ Securities ”).  The use of the neuter in this underwriting agreement (this “ Agreement ”) shall include the feminine and masculine wherever appropriate.

 

As used in this Agreement, the “ Registration Statement ” means the registration statement referred to in paragraph 1(a) hereof, including the exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ Securities Act ”) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act (“ Rule 430A ”), as amended at the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto (the “ Execution Time ”), and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b)

 



 

under the Securities Act (a “ Rule 462(b) Registration Statement ”) becomes effective prior to the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof), shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be; the “ Effective Date ” means each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or becomes effective; the “ Preliminary Prospectus ” means any preliminary prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) hereof and any preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date that omits information with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A (the “ Rule 430A Information ”); and the “ Prospectus ” means the prospectus relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (“ Rule 424(b) ”) after the Execution Time.

 

As used in this Agreement, the “ Disclosure Package ” shall mean (i) the Preliminary Prospectus that is generally distributed to investors and used to offer the Securities,  (ii) any issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act (an “ Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ”), identified in Schedule II hereto, and (iii) any other free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (a “ Free Writing Prospectus ”), that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.

 

Upon the consummation of the offering contemplated hereby (the “ Offering ”), the Company will contribute the net proceeds of the Offering to Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cactus LLC ”), in exchange for units of membership interest in Cactus LLC (the “ CW Units ”).

 

It is understood and agreed to by all parties that the corporate reorganization transactions (the “ Reorganization Transactions ”) described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Corporate Reorganization” will occur on or prior to the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined).

 

The First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Operating Company Agreement of Cactus LLC, dated January 29, 2018 and to become effective on the Closing Date is referred to herein as the “ Cactus LLC Agreement . The tax receivable agreement between Cactus LLC, Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Cadent ”), Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Management Holdco ”), Lee Boquet (Lee Boquet, Cadent and Management Holdco being collectively referred to herein as the “ Existing Owners ”), dated January 29, 2018 and to become effective on the Closing Date is referred to herein as the “ Tax Receivable Agreement ”. The Stockholders’ Agreement between the Company and the Existing Owners that are party thereto, dated January 29, 2018 and to become effective on the Closing Date is referred to herein as the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”. The registration rights agreement that the Company will enter into with the Existing Holders (as defined therein), dated January 29, 2018 and to become effective on the Closing Date is referred to herein as the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”. The Tax Receivable Agreement, the Stockholders’ Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement are collectively referred to herein as the “ Transaction Documents .”

 

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Cactus Wellhead Australia Pty, Ltd (“ Cactus Australia ”) and Cactus Wellhead (Suzhou) Pressure Control Co., Ltd. (“ Cactus Suzhou ”) are collectively referred to herein as the “ Operating Subsidiaries .”  The Company and Cactus LLC are collectively referred to herein as the “ Cactus Parties .” The Company, Cactus LLC and the Operating Subsidiaries are collectively referred to herein as the “ Cactus Entities .”

 

1.                                       Representations and Warranties .  The Cactus Parties represent and warrant to, and agree with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.

 

(a)                                  The Company has prepared and filed with the SEC a registration statement (file number 333-222540) on Form S-1, including a related preliminary prospectus, for the registration of the Offering and sale of the Securities under the Securities Act. Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time, has become effective. The Company may have filed one or more amendments thereto, including a related preliminary prospectus, each of which has previously been furnished to you.  The Company will file with the SEC a final prospectus relating to the Securities in accordance with Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time.  As filed, such final prospectus shall contain all information required by the Securities Act and, except to the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the latest Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein.

 

(b)                                  On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as defined herein) and on any date on which Option Securities are purchased, if such date is not the Closing Date (each such date or the Closing Date, as applicable, a “ settlement date ”), the Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act; on the Effective Date, at the Execution Time and on the Closing Date, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that the Cactus Parties make no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through any Representative specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof (“ Underwriter Information ”).

 

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(c)                                   (i) (A) The Disclosure Package and (B) the initial public offering price, the number of Underwritten Securities and the number of Option Securities to be included on the cover page of the Prospectus (the information in this clause (B) is referred to as the “ Pricing Information ”), when taken together as a whole, (ii) each electronic road show, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package and the Pricing Information, and (iii) any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined herein), when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package and the Pricing Information, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with Underwriter Information.

 

(d)                                  (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and (ii) as of the Execution Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (“ Rule 405 ”)), without taking account of any determination by the SEC pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

 

(e)                                   From the time of the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the SEC (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any Person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the Execution Time, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “ Emerging Growth Company ”).  “ Testing-the-Waters Communication ” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act.

 

(f)                                    The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives and their respective affiliates, on behalf of the Underwriters, to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications.  The Company reconfirms that the Representatives and their respective affiliates, on behalf of the Underwriters, have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications.  The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed in Schedule III hereto.  “ Written Testing-the-Waters Communication ” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405.

 

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(g)                                   No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus includes any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement.  The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with Underwriter Information.

 

(h)                                  Each of the Cactus Entities (i) has been duly incorporated or formed, as applicable, and is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company, proprietary limited company or limited company, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, as applicable, (ii) has all necessary corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business in all material respects as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and (iii) is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except, in the case of (iii), to the extent that the failure to be so registered or qualified or be in good standing (A) would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Reorganization Transactions) or (B) would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Cactus Entities, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).

 

(i)                                      Assuming no purchase of the Option Securities, after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, on the Closing Date and each settlement date, the Company will be the sole managing member of Cactus LLC and will own 23,000,000 CW Units; such managing member interest and CW Units will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Cactus LLC Agreement and will be fully paid (to the extent required under the Cactus LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-303, 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act); and such CW Units will be owned by the Company free and clear of liens, encumbrances, security interests, charges or claims (“Liens”), except (i) Liens arising under the Credit Agreement, dated July 31, 2014, among Cactus LLC, Credit Suisse AG, as administrative agent, collateral agent and issuing bank, and the lenders named therein as parties thereto (the “ Credit Facility ”) and (B) as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(j)                                     On the Closing Date and each settlement date, after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, Cactus LLC will own directly 100% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Operating Subsidiaries; such shares of capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid (to the extent required under the their applicable organizational documents) and nonassessable; and such shares of capital stock will be owned by Cactus LLC, free and clear of all Liens, except (A) Liens arising under the Credit Facility and (B) as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(k)                                  The statements in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the headings “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Cactus Wellhead LLC Agreement,” “—Tax Receivable Agreement,” “—Registration Rights Agreement,” “—Stockholders’ Agreement,” “Description of Capital Stock,” “Material U.S. Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders” and “Underwriting” insofar as such statements purport to constitute summaries of the terms of statutes, rules or regulation, legal or governmental proceedings or contracts and other documents, descriptions of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, CW Units, summaries of provisions of the Transaction Documents or any other instruments, constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such statutes, rules and regulations, legal and governmental proceedings and contracts and other documents in all material respects.

 

(l)                                      This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Cactus Parties.

 

(m)                              The Transaction Documents have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Cactus Parties that are parties thereto, and the Transaction Documents, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, are valid and legally binding agreements of each of the Cactus Parties that are parties thereto, enforceable against the Cactus Parties that are parties thereto in accordance with their terms; provided that, with respect to each such agreement, the enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (ii) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

(n)                                  The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(o)                                  No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over any of the Cactus Entities is required in connection with (i) the offering, issuance and sale by the Company of the Securities, (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Cactus Parties, and (iii) the consummation by the applicable Cactus Parties of the Reorganization Transactions or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for (A) such as may be required under the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder (the “ Exchange Act ”), state securities or “Blue Sky” laws and applicable rules and regulations under such laws, or the rules and regulations of FINRA in connection with the purchase and distribution by the Underwriters of the Securities in the manner contemplated herein and in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (B) such that have been, or on or prior to the Closing Date will be, obtained or made, and (C) such that, if

 

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not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(p)                                  None of the issuance and sale of the Securities, the execution, delivery and performance of this agreement or the consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated (including the Reorganization Transactions) will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Cactus Entities pursuant to, (i) the charter, certificate or articles of incorporation or formation, as applicable, or by-laws or limited liability company agreement or other operating agreement, as applicable, of the Cactus Entities, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which any of the Cactus Entities is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to any of the Cactus Entities of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over any of the Cactus Entities or any of its or their properties except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) above, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(q)                                  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no holders of securities of the Company have rights to the registration of such securities under the Registration Statement.  The holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are not entitled to statutory preemptive or other similar contractual rights to subscribe for the Securities.

 

(r)                                     At the applicable settlement date, the Securities will have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided in this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the description of the Class A Common Stock contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(s)                        The financial statements (including the related notes and any supporting schedules) and other financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act, and present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby on the basis stated therein at the respective dates or for the respective periods to which they apply and have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). The summary historical financial data under the caption “Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Financial Data” contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and the selected historical financial data set forth under the caption “Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial Data” contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly present, in all material respects, on the basis stated in the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement, the information included therein. The unaudited pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure

 

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Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information contained therein and have been properly presented on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. The pro forma financial statements included in the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act (“ Regulation S-X ”) and the pro forma adjustments have been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements. Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Cactus Parties believe to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.

 

(t)                                     No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving any of the Cactus Entities or their property is pending or, to the knowledge of the Cactus Parties, threatened that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(u)                                  Each of the Cactus Entities owns or leases all such properties as are necessary to the conduct of its operations as presently conducted.

 

(v)                                  None of the Cactus Entities is in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or certificate or articles of incorporation or formation, as applicable, or bylaws, limited liability company agreement or other operating agreement, as applicable, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Cactus Entities or any of their respective properties, as applicable, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(w)                                PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of (i) the Company and (ii) Cactus LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries and delivered their report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are independent public accountants with respect to the Cactus Parties within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder.

 

(x)                                  Each of the Company and Cactus LLC has filed all tax returns that are required to be filed, taking into account valid extensions of time to file (except (i) in any case in which the failure so to file would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto)) and has paid all taxes required to be paid thereon, except (i) for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith (with proper reserves established in accordance with GAAP) or as

 

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would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

 

(y)                                  No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Cactus Entities exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent, and none of the Cactus Parties is aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment thereto).

 

(z)                                   Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Cactus Entities are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; all policies of insurance and customs bonds insuring the Cactus Entities or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Cactus Entities are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no claims that individually or in the aggregate are reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect against the Cactus Entities under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; none of the Cactus Entities has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and none of the Cactus Entities has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

 

(aa)                           At the Closing Date and any settlement date, after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, neither Cactus LLC nor the Operating Subsidiaries will be prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Cactus Parties, as applicable, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or other equity interests, from repaying to the Cactus Parties, as applicable, any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Cactus Parties, as applicable, or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Cactus Parties, as applicable, or any other subsidiary of the Cactus Parties, as applicable, except (i) as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto) and (ii) for those prohibitions arising under the Credit Facility.

 

(bb)                           The Cactus Entities possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by all applicable authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except for such failure to possess as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and none of the Cactus Entities has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable

 

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decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

 

(cc)                             The Cactus Entities, considered together as one entity, maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization;  and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Other than as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Cactus Entities’ internal controls over financial reporting are effective and the Company is not aware of any material weakness in their internal controls over financial reporting.

 

(dd)                           To the extent required by Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the Company has established and maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e)) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports to be filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and includes, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

(ee)                             The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

(ff)                               The Cactus Parties and their respective subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, codes or rules of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof having the force and effect of law, including any judicial or administrative order, consent decree or judgment, relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“ Environmental Laws ”), (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, (iii) are not the subject of any pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands or, demand letters, claims in writing, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations or proceedings relating to any Environmental Laws, and (iv) do not have any actual or potential liability

 

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under any Environmental Laws, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto). Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the Cactus Entities (i) have been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended or (ii) are subject to any pending proceeding pursuant to any Environmental Laws in which any foreign, federal, state or local governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, nor do the Cactus Parties have knowledge that any such proceeding is contemplated.

 

(gg)                                         In the ordinary course of its business, the Cactus Entities periodically review the effect of Environmental Laws on their business, operations and properties, as applicable, in the course of which they identify and evaluate associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws, or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties).  On the basis of such review, the Company and Cactus LLC have reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

(hh)                                       Each Plan as to which a member of the Cactus Entities is the plan sponsor is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”) and the United States Internal Revenue code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”), each such Plan has been established and administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms. None of the following events has occurred or exists: (i) a failure to fulfill the obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of ERISA, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to a Plan, determined without regard to any waiver of such obligations or extension of any amortization; (ii) a “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) with respect to any Plan for which the Company, Cactus LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries is the plan sponsor, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) an audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other federal or state governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by any of the Cactus Entities that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) any breach of any contractual obligation, or any violation of law or applicable qualification standards, with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Cactus Entities that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  None of the following

 

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events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (i) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans in the current fiscal year of the Cactus Entities compared to the amount of such contributions made in the most recently completed fiscal year of the Cactus Entities, in each case to the extent applicable; (ii) a material increase in the “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of FASB ASC 715) of the Cactus Entities compared to the amount of such obligations in the most recently completed fiscal year of the Cactus Entities, in each case to the extent applicable; (iii) any event or condition giving rise to a liability under Title IV of ERISA that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iv) the filing of a claim by one or more employees or former employees of the Cactus Entities related to their employment that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  For purposes of this paragraph, the term “ Plan ” means a “plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA with respect to which any of the Cactus Entities has or could reasonably be expected to have any liability.

 

(ii)                                               There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”) applicable to the Company.

 

(jj)                                             None of the Company or any of the subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company or Cactus LLC, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of the subsidiaries is aware of or has taken, or will take, any action, directly or indirectly that could result in a violation or a sanction for violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, as may be amended, or similar applicable law of any other relevant jurisdiction, or the rules or regulations thereunder; and the Company and the subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures to ensure compliance therewith and with the representations and warranties contained herein.  No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company, Cactus LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries with respect to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or any similar applicable law of any other relevant jurisdiction is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company and Cactus LLC, threatened.  No part of the proceeds of the Offering contemplated hereby will be used, directly or indirectly, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as may be amended, or similar applicable law of any other relevant jurisdiction, or the rules or regulations thereunder.

 

(kk)                                       The operations of the Company and the subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and the money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of the subsidiaries with

 

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respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company and Cactus LLC, threatened.

 

(ll)                                   Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (i) is, or is controlled or 50% or more owned in the aggregate by or is acting on behalf of, one or more individuals or entities that are currently the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States (including any administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State or the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, a member state of the European Union (including sanctions administered or enforced by Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom) or other relevant sanctions authority in a jurisdiction in which the Company or its subsidiaries operate (collectively, “ Sanctions ” and such persons, “ Sanctioned Persons ” and each such person, a “ Sanctioned Person ”), (ii) is located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions that broadly prohibit dealings with that country or territory (collectively, “ Sanctioned Countries ” and each such country, a “ Sanctioned Country ”) or (iii) will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of this Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by, or would result in the imposition of Sanctions against, any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the Offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

(mm)                               Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has engaged in any unauthorized dealings or transactions with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person, or a Sanctioned Country, in the preceding five years, nor does the Company or any of its subsidiaries have any plans to engage in dealings or transactions with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person, or with or in a Sanctioned Country. No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company, nor any of its subsidiaries, with respect to Sanctions is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company is threatened.

 

(nn)                                       Except for the Company’s ownership, directly or indirectly, of the limited liability company interests in Cactus LLC and each of the Operating Subsidiaries, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other entity, other than the equity or long-term debt securities of corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, joint ventures, associations or other entities that, in the aggregate, would not constitute a significant subsidiary as such term is defined in Section 1.02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.

 

(oo)                                       The Cactus Entities own, possess, license or have other rights to use, in all material respects, all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “ Intellectual Property ”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Cactus Entities as now

 

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conducted or as proposed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and Prospectus to be conducted, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and have not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property that, if determined adversely to the Cactus Entities could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Any certificate signed by any officer of any of the Cactus Parties, as applicable, and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by such Cactus Party, as applicable, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

 

2.                                       Purchase and Sale .

 

(a)                                              Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $17.86 per share, the amount of the Underwritten Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto.

 

(b)                                              Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 3,450,000 Option Securities at the same purchase price per share as the Underwriters shall pay for the Underwritten Securities, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Securities but not payable on the Option Securities. Said option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Underwritten Securities by the Underwriters.  Said option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time on or before the 30th day after the date of the Prospectus upon written or telegraphic notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of shares of the Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option and the settlement date.  The number of Option Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage of the total number of shares of the Option Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the Underwritten Securities, subject to such adjustments as you in your absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional shares.

 

3.                                       Delivery and Payment .  Delivery of and payment for the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities (if the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof shall have been exercised on or before the third Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date) shall be made at 10:00 AM, New York City time, on February 12, 2018, or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement among the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “ Closing Date ”).  As used herein, “ Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

 

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Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price of the Securities being sold by the Company to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to the account specified by the Company.  Delivery of the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

 

If the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof is exercised after the third Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date, the Company will deliver the Option Securities (at the expense of the Company) to the Representatives, at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, on the date specified by the Representatives (which shall be within three Business Days after exercise of said option) for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to the account specified by the Company.  If settlement for the Option Securities occurs after the Closing Date, the Company will deliver to the Representatives on the settlement date for the Option Securities, and the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the Option Securities shall be conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental opinions, certificates and letters confirming as of such date the opinions, certificates and letters delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

 

4.                                       Offering by Underwriters .  It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Prospectus.

 

5.                                       Agreements .  The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:

 

(a)                                              Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement unless the Company has furnished you a copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object. The Company will cause the Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representatives with the SEC pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing.  The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with the SEC, (ii) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) of any request by the SEC or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.  The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop

 

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order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its reasonable best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

 

(b)                                              If, at any time prior to the filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

 

(c)                                               If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act (“ Rule 172 ”)), any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act or the rules thereunder, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Representatives of any such event; (ii) prepare and file with the SEC, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and (iii) supply any supplemented Prospectus to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

 

(d)                                              As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement or statements which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 under the Securities Act.

 

(e)                                               The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

(f)                                                The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may

 

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designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

 

(g)                                               The Company will not, without the prior written consent of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company) directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the SEC in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any other shares of Class A Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Class A Common Stock; or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 180 days after the date of this Agreement, provided , however , that the Company may (i) grant and award or issue and sell Class A Common Stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units and/or other awards contemplated pursuant to any employee stock option plan or other employee compensation or incentive plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan of the Company in effect at the Execution Time, (ii) may issue Class A Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants outstanding at the Execution Time, (iii) file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 and (iv) offer, issue and sell shares of Class A Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, Class A Common Stock, in connection with any acquisition or strategic investment (including any joint venture, strategic alliance or partnership); provided, however, that in the case of this clause (iv), (x) any such offer, issuance or sale shall not exceed 5% of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock on an as converted basis and (y) any recipient of such securities shall execute and deliver to the Representatives a lock-up letter described in Section 6(j) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 5(g) shall not apply to or prohibit: (A) the sale of shares of Class A Common Stock by the Company to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or (B) distributions of shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, such capital stock to stockholders of the Company; provided, however, that in the case of this clause (B) each distributee shall execute and deliver to the Representatives a lock-up letter described in Section 6(j) hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the consummation of the Reorganization Transactions shall not be subject to this clause (g).

 

(h)                                              If Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC agree, in a letter substantially in the form set forth in the Addendum to Exhibit B hereto, in their sole discretion, to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up letter described in Section 6(j) hereof for an officer, director or other stockholder of the Company and provides the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at

 

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least three Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto through a major news service at least two Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

 

(i)                                                  The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might constitute or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

(j)                                                 The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses relating to the following matters: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the SEC of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Securities, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities; (v) the registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act and the listing of the Securities on the New York Stock Exchange (the “ NYSE ”); (vi) any registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such registration and qualification not to exceed $10,000); (vii) any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”) (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such filings not to exceed $25,000); (viii) the investor presentations on any “road show” or any Testing-the-Waters Communication undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with any electronic road show, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and one-half of the cost of any aircraft used in connection with the roadshow or any Testing the Waters Communications; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company; and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder.  It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section 5(j) and Sections 7 and 8 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, stock transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

 

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The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a Free Writing Prospectus required to be filed by the Company with the SEC or retained by the Company under Rule 433 under the Securities Act (“ Rule 433 ”); provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule II hereto and any electronic road show.  Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .”  The Company agrees that (x) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (y) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rule 164 under the Securities Act (“ Rule 164 ”) and Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the SEC, legending and record keeping.

 

(k)                                              The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (a) completion of the distribution of the Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act and (b) completion of the 180-day restricted period referred to in Section 5(g) hereof.

 

(l)                                                  If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any event occurs as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that use of the Written Testing-the-Waters Communication may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Representatives in such quantities as may be reasonably requested.

 

6.                                       Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters .  The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities, as the case may be, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Cactus Parties contained herein as of the Execution Time, the Closing Date and any settlement date pursuant to Section 3 hereof, to the accuracy of the statements of the Cactus Parties made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

 

(a)                                              The Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) shall have been filed with the SEC within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

 

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(b)                                              The Company shall have requested and caused Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Cactus Parties, and King & Wood Mallesons, special Chinese counsel to the Cactus Parties, to have furnished to the Representatives their opinions, dated the applicable settlement date and addressed to the Representatives, substantially in the forms attached as Exhibit C and Exhibit D hereto, respectively.

 

(c)                                               The Representatives shall have received from Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the applicable settlement date and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

 

(d)                                              The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the Company, signed by the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated the applicable settlement date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as well as each electronic road show used in connection with the offering of the Securities, and this Agreement and that:

 

(i)                                      the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;

 

(ii)                                   no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened; and

 

(iii)                                since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there has been no Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

 

(e)           The Company shall have requested and caused PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to have furnished to the Representatives, at the Execution Time and at the applicable settlement date, letters, dated respectively as of the Execution Time and as of any dated applicable settlement date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and covering the financial statements of the Cactus Parties and certain other financial information included in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and other customary matters.

 

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(f)                                                Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Prospectus (exclusive of supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (e) of this Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Cactus Entities taken as a whole, in each case, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof), the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

 

(g)                                               Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

(h)                                              Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

 

(i)                                                  The Securities shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on the NYSE, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Representatives.

 

(j)                                                 At the Execution Time, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto from each person listed in Schedule IV addressed to the Representatives.

 

(k)                                              The Reorganization Transactions shall have been consummated other than any such Reorganization Transactions contemplated to be consummated contemporaneously with the Closing.

 

(l)                                                  At the Execution Time and at the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request, including a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E .

 

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned

 

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above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives.  Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

 

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, at 910 Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas 77002, on any settlement day.

 

7.                                       Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses .  If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof (other than termination resulting from the occurrence of any of the events set forth in clauses (i)(B), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of Section 10), or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC on demand for all expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.

 

8.                                       Indemnification and Contribution .

 

(a)                                              The Cactus Parties jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement for the registration of the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any Preliminary Prospectus, or the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act), or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided , however , that the Cactus Parties will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with Underwriter Information.  This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company or Cactus LLC may otherwise have.

 

22



 

(b)                                              Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Cactus Parties and each of their respective directors, each of the Company’s officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through any Representative specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity from the Cactus Parties.  This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have.  The Cactus Parties acknowledge that the statements set forth (i) in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the Securities and, under the heading “Underwriting,” (ii) the list of Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Securities, (iii) the sentences related to concessions and reallowances and (iv) the paragraph related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(c)                                               Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above.  The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided , however , that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party.  Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel (which, if the Cactus Parties are the indemnifying parties, shall be limited to one such separate counsel for any Underwriter with similar claims and similar defenses, together with all persons who control such Underwriters) if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within

 

23



 

a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party.  An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d)                                              In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Cactus Parties, jointly and severally, and the Underwriters severally agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively, “ Losses ”) to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Cactus Parties on the one hand and by the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities.  If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Cactus Parties, jointly and severally, and the Underwriters severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Cactus Parties on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  Benefits received by the Cactus Parties shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company or Cactus LLC on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission.  The Company, Cactus LLC and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), in no event shall any Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  For purposes of this

 

24



 

Section 8, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee, affiliate and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

 

9.                                       Default by an Underwriter .  If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided , however , that in the event that the aggregate amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of Securities set forth in Schedule I hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such non-defaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company.  In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Company and any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

 

10.                                Termination .  This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such delivery and payment (i) (A) trading in the Company’s Class A Common Stock shall have been suspended by the SEC or NYSE or (B) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities (iii) there shall have occurred a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

 

25



 

11.                                Representations and Indemnities to Survive . The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Cactus Parties or their respective officers or directors and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Cactus Parties or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.  The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

 

12.                                Notices . All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, Attention:  General Counsel, facsimile number: +1 (646) 291-1469 or Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010-3629, Attention: LCD-IBD; or, if sent to the Company or Cactus LLC, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Cobalt Center, 920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300, Houston, TX 77024, facsimile number: 888-397-4540, Attention: Scott Bender.

 

13.                                Successors . This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

 

14.                                No Fiduciary Duty .  The Cactus Parties hereby acknowledge that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Cactus Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) the Underwriters are acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the Company or Cactus LLC and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Cactus Parties agree that they are solely responsible for making their own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters has advised or is currently advising the Company or Cactus LLC on related or other matters).  The Cactus Parties agree that they will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company or Cactus LLC, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

15.                                Integration .  This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Cactus Parties and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

16.                                Applicable Law This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.

 

17.                                Waiver of Jury Trial . The Cactus Parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

26



 

18.                                Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

19.                                Headings . The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

27



 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Cactus Parties and the several Underwriters.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

Cactus, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

 

Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Cactus Wellhead, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

 

Title:   President

 

[ Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement ]

 



 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the date
first above written.

 

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

 

 

By: Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen M. Trauber

 

 

Name: Stephen M. Trauber

 

 

Title:   Managing Director

 

 

 

By: Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jaison George

 

 

Name: Jaison George

 

 

Title:   Director

 

 

For themselves and the other several
Underwriters named in Schedule I to
the foregoing Agreement.

 

[ Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement ]

 



 

SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriters

 

Number of Underwritten
Securities to be Purchased

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

6,401,667

 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

5,117,500

 

Piper Jaffray & Co.

 

2,999,584

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

 

2,635,417

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

 

2,108,333

 

Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Securities, Inc.

 

1,312,917

 

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

843,333

 

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 

843,333

 

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

 

368,958

 

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

 

368,958

 

Total

 

23,000,000

 

 

I- 1



 

SCHEDULE II

 

Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package

 

None.

 

II- 1



 

SCHEDULE III

 

Schedule of Written Testing-the-Waters Communications

 

Testing the Waters Presentation delivered May 9 and 10, 2017.

 

III- 1



 

SCHEDULE IV

 

Parties to Lock-Up

 

Joel Bender

Scott Bender

Steven Bender

Lee Boquet

Michael McGovern

John (Andy) O’Donnell

Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC

Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P.

Bruce Rothstein

Alan Semple

Brian Small

Ike Smith

Stephen Tadlock

Gary Rosenthal

 

IV- 1



 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Form of Lock-Up Agreement]

 

Cactus, Inc.

 

Public Offering of Class A Common Stock

 

[ · ] , 2018

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
                                                As Representatives of the several Underwriters,

 

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013

 

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010-3629

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter is being delivered to you in connection with the underwriting agreement dated the date hereof (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), among Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and each of you as representatives of a group of Underwriters named therein, relating to an underwritten public offering of Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value (the “ Class A Common Stock ”), of the Company (the “ Offering ”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

In order to induce you and the other Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or would reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned or any person in privity with the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement (other than a Registration Statement on Form S-8) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder with respect to, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock, or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period from the date hereof until 180 days after the date of the Underwriting Agreement (such 180 day period, the “ Lock-Up Period ”).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph shall not

 

A- 1



 

apply to or prohibit any of the following: (i) transfers of shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock as a bona fide gift or gifts; (ii) transfers or dispositions of shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock to any trust for the direct dispositions of shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession to the legal representative, heir, beneficiary or a member of the immediate family of the undersigned; provided that any such transfer or disposition pursuant to this clause (ii) shall not involve a disposition for value; (iii) transfers to any corporation, partnership or other business entity with whom the undersigned shares in common an investment manager or advisor which has investment discretionary authority with respect to the undersigned’s and the entity’s investments pursuant to an investment advisory or similar agreement; or (iv) distributions of shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock to partners, members or stockholders of the undersigned; provided, that in the case of any transfer, disposition or distribution pursuant to each of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), each transferee, donee or distributee shall execute and deliver to the Representatives a lock-up letter in the form of this letter (to the extent such transferee, done or distributee has not already executed and delivered to the Representatives such a lock-up letter); provided further, that in the case of any transfer, disposition or distribution pursuant to clause (iii) or (iv), such transfers, distributions or dispositions (x) are not required to be reported in any public report or filing with the SEC and (y) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers, including in each case under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. For purposes of this letter, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin. Furthermore, notwithstanding the restrictions imposed by this letter, the undersigned may, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (a) exercise an option to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock, or receive any incentive awards, granted under any stock incentive plan or stock purchase plan of the Company in effect as of the Execution Time or as described in the Disclosure Package or exercise warrants outstanding as of the Execution Time to purchase shares of the Company’s capital stock, provided that the underlying shares issuable upon exercise thereof (or received upon vesting of any such incentive award) shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this letter, (b) establish a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Class A Common Stock, provided that (x) such plan does not provide for any transfers of Class A Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period and (y) if the establishment or existence of such 10b5-1 Plan requires a filing with the SEC under Section 16 of Exchange Act, such filings shall indicate that no sales will be made pursuant to such 10b5-1 Plan during the Lock-up Period, (c) transfer shares of Class A Common Stock to the Company in connection with the termination of the undersigned’s employment with the Company; provided that no public announcement or public filing with the SEC (including under Section 16 of the Exchange Act) of such transfer shall be required to be made during the Lock-Up Period and the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfer and (d) transfer or dispose of shares of Class A Common Stock purchased in the Offering from the Underwriters or on the open market following the Offering; provided that in the case of this clause (d) no public announcement or public filing with the SEC (including under Section 16 of the Exchange Act) of the transfer or disposition of such shares

 

A- 2



 

shall be required to be made during the Lock-Up Period and the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers or disposition.

 

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC agree that, at least three Business Days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of Class A Common Stock, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver.  Any release or waiver granted by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two Business Days after the publication date of such press release.  The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

 

If for any reason the Underwriting Agreement shall be terminated prior to the Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement), the agreement set forth above shall likewise be terminated.

 

 

Yours very truly,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

A- 3



 

EXHIBIT B

 

[Form of Press Release]

 

Cactus, Inc.
[
· ] , 2018

 

Cactus, Inc. (the “ Company ”) announced today that Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC , the lead book-running managers in the Company’s recent public sale of [ · ] shares of Class A common stock, are [ waiving ] [ releasing ] a lock-up restriction with respect to [ · ] shares of the Company’s Class A common stock held by [ certain officers or directors ] [ an officer or director ] of the Company.  The [ waiver ] [ release ] will take effect on [ insert date ], 2018, and the shares may be sold on or after such date.

 

This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

B- 1



 

[Form of Waiver of Lock-up]

ADDENDUM

 

[ insert letterhead of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ]

 

Cactus, Inc.
Public Offering of Class A Common Stock

 

[ insert date ] , 2018

 

[ n ame and address of officer or director requesting waiver ]

 

Dear Mr./Ms.  [ insert name ] :

 

This letter is being delivered to you in connection with the offering by Cactus, Inc. (the “ Company ”) of [ · ] shares of Class A common stock, $0.01 par value (the “ Class A Common Stock ”), of the Company and the lock-up letter dated [ insert date ] , 2018 (the “ Lock-up Letter ”), executed by you in connection with such offering, and your request for a [ waiver ] [ release ] dated [ insert date ] , 2018, with respect to [ · ] shares of Class A Common Stock (the “ Shares ”).

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC hereby agree to [ waive ] [ release ] the transfer restrictions set forth in the Lock-up Letter, but only with respect to the Shares, effective [ insert date ] , 2018; provided , however , that such [ waiver ] [ release ] is conditioned on the Company announcing the impending [ waiver ] [ release ] by press release through a major news service at least two business days before effectiveness of such [ waiver ] [ release ] .  This letter will serve as notice to the Company of the impending [ waiver ] [ release ] .

 

Except as expressly [ waived ] [ released ] hereby, the Lock-up Letter shall remain in full force and effect.

 

 

Yours very truly,

 

 

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

cc: Cactus, Inc.

 

 

B- 2



 

EXHIBIT C

 

Form of Legal Opinion of Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P.

 

1.                                       The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation, and is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with the corporate power and authority necessary to own or lease its properties and to conduct its business, in each case, in all material respects as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company is duly registered or qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation under the laws of each jurisdiction set forth opposite its name on an annex to such counsel’s opinion.

 

2.                                       Cactus LLC is validly existing as a limited liability company and is in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware with the limited liability company power and authority necessary to own or lease its properties and to conduct its business, in each case, in all material respects as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Cactus LLC is duly registered or qualified to transact business as a foreign limited liability company under the laws of each jurisdiction set forth opposite its name on an annex to such counsel’s opinion.

 

3.                                       The Securities to be issued and sold by the Company to the Underwriters under the Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company (as amended and restated as of the date hereof, the “ Company Organizational Documents ”) and, when issued and delivered by the Company to the Underwriters upon payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued in accordance with the Company Organizational Documents, free of preemptive rights under federal law, the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”) or the Company Organizational Documents, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

4.                                       The shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company to be outstanding following completion of the Offering have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Company Organizational Documents and will be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

5.                                       Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights created pursuant to any agreement filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement to have any securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or registered by the Company under the Securities Act or otherwise; and, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue, or convert any obligations into or exchange any securities for, shares of capital stock of or ownership interests in the Company created pursuant to any agreement filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

6.                                       After giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions and the Offering, the Company directly owns such limited liability company interests in Cactus LLC as are described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; such limited liability company interests (a) have been duly authorized and validly issued (in accordance with the Cactus LLC Agreement), are fully paid (to the extent required under the Cactus LLC Agreement) and nonassessable (except as such nonassessability may be affected by Sections 18-303, 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “ Delaware LLC Act ”)) and (b) are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, free and clear of all liens in respect of which a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Delaware naming the Company as debtor is on file in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of February [     ], 2018.

 

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7.                                       The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Cactus Parties.

 

8.                                       The Reorganization Transactions have been duly authorized by the Cactus Parties.

 

9.                                       Each of the Transaction Documents and the Cactus LLC Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Cactus Parties party thereto and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of each such Cactus Party, enforceable against each such Cactus Party in accordance with its terms; except that, with respect to each such agreement, the enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (ii) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

10.                                The execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement by the Company does not, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement, the offering, issuance and sale of the Securities pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described under the heading “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not, (i) result in a breach or default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default) under any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; (ii) violate the provisions of the Company Organizational Documents or the Cactus LLC Agreement; (iii) violate any federal or New York statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company, the DGCL or the Delaware LLC Act or (iv) result in the creation of any additional Lien upon any property or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries under the Credit Facility except, with respect to clauses (i), (iii) and (iv), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability of the Cactus Parties to consummate the Reorganization Transactions and the transactions contemplated in the Underwriting Agreement in connection with the offering, issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company; it being understood that such counsel need not express any opinion in clause (iii) of this paragraph 7 with respect to any federal or state securities laws, Blue Sky or anti-fraud laws, rules or regulations.

 

11.                                No consent, approval, authorization or order of, registration or qualification with any federal or New York court or governmental agency or any Delaware court or governmental agency acting pursuant to the DGCL or the Delaware LLC Act is required to be obtained or made by the Cactus Parties for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement and the Transaction Documents, the compliance by the Company with the terms thereof, the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement and the issuance and sale by the Company of the Securities being delivered on the date hereof pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, except (i) as have been obtained or made, (ii) for the registration of the offering and sale of the Securities under the Securities Act, (iii) for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as may be required under applicable federal or state securities laws and the approval by FINRA of the underwriting terms and arrangements in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters or (iv) for such consents that, if not obtained, have not or would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

12.                                The Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Securities Act; any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted and are pending by the SEC.

 

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13.                                The Registration Statement, on the Effective Date, and the Prospectus, when filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (in each case other than (a) the financial statements and related schedules, including the notes and schedules thereto and the auditor’s report thereon and (b) any other financial or accounting information, in each case included in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as to which such counsel need not express any opinion), appeared on their face to comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act.

 

14.                                The statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the headings “Business—Environmental, Health and Safety Regulation,” “Description of Capital Stock,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Cactus Wellhead LLC Agreement,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Shareholders’ Agreement,” “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences To Non-U.S. Holders,” to the extent that they constitute descriptions or summaries of the terms of the Class A Common Stock or the documents referred to therein, or refer to statements of federal law, the laws of the State of Delaware or legal conclusions, are accurate in all material respects.

 

15.                                The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds,” will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

16.                                The Cactus LLC Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of each of the Cactus Parties, enforceable against each of the Cactus Parties in accordance with its terms, provided that the enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (ii) public policy, applicable law relating to fiduciary duties and indemnification and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

In rendering such opinion, such counsel may (i) rely in respect of matters of fact upon certificates of officers and other representatives of the Cactus Parties, on the representations and warranties set forth in the Underwriting Agreement and upon information obtained from public officials, (ii) assume the legal capacity of all natural persons, that all documents submitted to such counsel as originals are authentic, that all copies submitted to such counsel conform to the originals thereof, that the signatures on all documents examined by such counsel are genuine, the due authorization, execution and delivery by the parties thereto of all documents and instruments examined by such counsel (other than as to the Cactus Parties with respect to the Reorganization Transactions and the Transaction Documents and as to the Cactus Parties with respect to the Underwriting Agreement) and that the Underwriting Agreement is the valid and binding agreement of the respective parties thereto and that the laws of any jurisdiction other than the jurisdictions that are the subject of such opinion do not affect the terms of the Underwriting Agreement or the Transaction Documents, (iii) state that its opinion is limited to matters governed by federal law, New York law, the Delaware LLC Act and the DGCL, (iv) with respect to the opinions expressed as to the due registration or qualification as a foreign corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, of the Cactus Parties, state that such opinions are based upon certificates of foreign qualification or registration provided by the Secretary of State

 

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of the states listed on an annex to be attached to such counsel’s opinion (each of which shall be dated as of a date not more than fourteen days prior to the Closing Date and shall be provided to counsel to the Underwriters) and (v) state that they express no opinion with respect to (A) any permits to own or operate any real or personal property or (B) state or local taxes or tax statutes.

 

In addition, such counsel shall state that they have participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, the independent accountants of the Company and the Underwriters and their counsel, at which conferences the contents of the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and related matters were discussed, and although such counsel has not independently verified, is not passing upon, and is not assuming any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (except to the extent specified in the foregoing opinion), based on the foregoing (relying as to factual matters upon statements made to us by representatives of the Company), nothing has come to such counsel’s attention that causes such counsel to believe that:

 

(A)                                the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(B)                                the Disclosure Package, as of the Execution Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or

 

(C)                                the Prospectus, as of its date or as of and on the Closing Date included or includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

it being understood that such counsel expresses no statement or belief with respect to (i) the financial statements and related schedules, including the notes and schedules thereto and the auditor’s report thereon, or any other financial or accounting information, in each case included in or omitted from the Registration Statement , the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus; or (ii) representations and warranties and other statements of fact included in the exhibits to the Registration Statement.

 

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EXHIBIT D

 

Form of Opinion of King & Wood Mallesons, Special Chinese Counsel

 

(a)                        The total amount of the registered capital of Cactus Suzhou WFOE is USD 2,100,000, all of which (i) has been fully paid to Cactus Suzhou WFOE, and (ii) is legally and wholly owned by the Company in accordance with the Articles of Association of Cactus Suzhou WFOE.  All the equity interest in Cactus Suzhou WFOE is free and clear of all liens, charges or encumbrances according to the information obtained through public company search except liens, charges or encumbrances under the Company’s Credit Agreement dated as of July 31, 2014.

 

(b)                        Cactus Suzhou WFOE has been duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good standing under the PRC laws and has all corporate power and authority necessary to own or hold its respective properties and to conduct its business pursuant to the business scope recorded in its Business License, as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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EXHIBIT E

 

Form of CFO Certificate

 

CERTIFICATE OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

 

February [   ], 2018

 

The undersigned, in his capacity as Chief Financial Officer of Cactus, Inc. (“Cactus”), a Delaware corporation, does hereby deliver this certificate pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of February [   ], 2018 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among Cactus, Cactus Wellhead, LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named in Schedule I thereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this certificate shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

I hereby certify that:

 

1.               As the Chief Financial Officer of Cactus, I am: (a) responsible for the financial and accounting matters of Cactus and its subsidiaries, including oversight of the financial and accounting functions and staff; and (b) knowledgeable about the internal accounting records and accounting practices, systems, policies and procedures of Cactus and its subsidiaries.

 

2.               I, or a member of Cactus’ accounting team for whom I am responsible, have reviewed (a) the consolidated financial statements of Cactus and its subsidiaries as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014, which financial statements have been audited by BDO USA LLP, and the preliminary unaudited results of operations for the three months ended December 31, 2017 of Cactus and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Financial Statements”); and (b) the related financial data presented in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, as set forth under the captions “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” (the “MD&A Data”) and “Prospectus Summary—Recent Developments—Preliminary Estimate of Selected Fourth Quarter 2017 Financial Results” (the “Fourth Quarter Financial Data” and collectively with the MD&A Data, the “Financial Data”).

 

3.               The amounts set forth in the Financial Data are derived from the Financial Statements. Nothing has come to my attention that would lead me to believe that the Financial Data, or the Financial Statements from which the Financial Data was derived, are not correct, complete and accurate in all material respects or are misleading in any material respect and nothing has come to my attention that would cause me to believe that any modifications need to be made to the Financial Data, or the Financial Statements from which the Financial Data was derived, to make such financial information correct, complete and accurate in all material respects. Also, the Fourth Quarter Financial Data has been prepared in a manner materially consistent with the financial information included in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package for the year ended December 31, 2016, subject to the limitations set forth in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package.

 



 

4.               Nothing has come to my attention that leads me to believe that the Financial Data, or the Financial Statements from which the Financial Data was derived, (a) have not been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles; and (b) were not prepared in good faith based upon the assumptions that Cactus’ management believes are reasonable and consistent with Cactus’ internal books and records and information systems.

 

I acknowledge and agree that: (a) this certificate is being delivered pursuant to Section 6(l) of the Underwriting Agreement; (b) the Underwriters are entitled to rely on this certificate in conducting and documenting their due diligence investigation of Cactus in connection with the offering described in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package; and (c) Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. and Baker Botts L.L.P. are entitled to rely on this certificate in connection with the opinion letters such firms will deliver pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto affixed his signature as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

 

 

Brian Small

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

Execution Version

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

CACTUS, INC.

 

Cactus, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as set forth in Title 8 of the Delaware Code (the “ DGCL ”), hereby certifies as follows:

 

1.                                       The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “ Original Certificate of Incorporation ”) was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 17, 2017.

 

2.                                       This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “ Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”), which restates and amends the Original Certificate of Incorporation, has been declared advisable by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”), duly adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation and duly executed and acknowledged by the officers of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 103, 228, 242 and 245 of the DGCL.

 

3.                                       The Original Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

FIRST:  The name of the Corporation is Cactus, Inc.

 

SECOND:  The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is The Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 in New Castle County, Delaware.  The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

THIRD:  The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL as it currently exists or may hereafter be amended.

 

FOURTH:  The total number of shares of stock that the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is 525,000,000 shares of stock, classified as (i) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Preferred Stock ”), (ii) 300,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Class A Common Stock ”), and (iii) 215,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Class B Common Stock ” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “ Common Stock ”).

 

1.                                       Provisions Relating to Preferred Stock.

 

(a)                                  Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more classes or series, the shares of each class or series to have such designations and powers, preferences and

 



 

rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as are stated and expressed herein and in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such class or series adopted by the Board as hereafter prescribed (a “ Preferred Stock Designation ”).

 

(b)                                  Subject to any limitations prescribed by law, and the rights of any series of the Preferred Stock then outstanding, if any, authority is hereby expressly granted to and vested in the Board to authorize the issuance of Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more classes or series, and with respect to each series of Preferred Stock, to fix and state by the resolution or resolutions from time to time adopted by the Board providing for the issuance thereof the designation and the powers, preferences, privileges and rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions relating to each series of Preferred Stock, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

(i)                                      whether or not the class or series is to have voting rights, full, special or limited, or is to be without voting rights, and whether or not such series is to be entitled to vote as a separate class or series either alone or together with the holders of one or more other classes or series of stock;

 

(ii)                                   the number of shares to constitute the class or series and the designations thereof;

 

(iii)                                the powers, preferences, privileges and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, with respect to any series;

 

(iv)                               whether or not the shares of any class or series shall be redeemable at the option of the Corporation or the holders thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, and, if redeemable, the redemption price or prices (which may be payable or issuable in the form of cash, notes, securities or other property), and the time or times at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such shares shall be redeemable and the manner of redemption;

 

(v)                                  whether or not the shares of a class or series shall be subject to the operation of retirement or sinking funds to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares for retirement, and, if such retirement or sinking fund or funds are to be established, the annual amount thereof, and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;

 

(vi)                               the dividend rate, whether dividends are payable or issuable in cash, stock of the Corporation or other property, the conditions upon which and the times when such dividends are payable or issuable, the preference to or the relation to the payment or issuable of dividends payable or issuable on any other class or classes or series of stock, whether or not such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative, and if cumulative, the date or dates from which such dividends shall accumulate, and whether such dividends shall be compounded and if so the rate of such compounding;

 

(vii)                            the preferences, if any, and the amounts thereof which the holders of any class or series thereof shall be entitled to receive upon the voluntary or involuntary

 

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liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation;

 

(viii)                         whether or not the shares of any series, at the option of the Corporation or the holder thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, shall be convertible into or exchangeable for, the shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes, or series of stock, securities or other property of the Corporation and the conversion price or prices or ratio or ratios or the rate or rates at which such exchange may be made, with such adjustments, if any, as shall be stated and expressed or provided for in such resolution or resolutions; and

 

(ix)                               such other powers, privileges, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions with respect to any series as may to the Board seem advisable.

 

(c)                                   The shares of each series of Preferred Stock may vary from the shares of any other class or series thereof in any or all of the foregoing respects.

 

2.                                       Provisions Relating to Common Stock.

 

(a)                                  Except as may otherwise be provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including for the avoidance of doubt the terms of Section 2(d)), each share of Common Stock shall have identical rights and privileges in every respect.  Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of Preferred Stock and any series thereof.  Except as may otherwise be provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in a Preferred Stock Designation or by applicable law, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on all matters upon which the stockholders are entitled to vote, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other matters upon which the stockholders are entitled to vote, and the holders of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote at or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders, other than as provided in the applicable Preferred Stock Designation.  Each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the Bylaws (as in effect at the time in question) and applicable law on all matters put to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. Except as otherwise required in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or by applicable law, the holders of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class on all matters (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, the holders of Common Stock and the Preferred Stock shall vote together as a single class).

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or pursuant to the DGCL.

 

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(c)                                   Subject to the prior rights and preferences, if any, applicable to shares of Preferred Stock or any series thereof, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by them such dividends and distributions (payable or issuable in cash, stock or otherwise), if any, as may be declared thereon by the Board at any time and from time to time out of any funds of the Corporation legally available therefor. Dividends and other distributions shall not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock unless (i) the dividend consists of shares of Class B Common Stock or of rights, options, warrants or other securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable for shares of Class B Common Stock paid proportionally with respect to each outstanding share of Class B Common Stock and (ii) a dividend consisting of shares of Class A Common Stock or of rights, options, warrants or other securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable for shares of Class A Common Stock on equivalent terms is simultaneously paid to the holders of Class A Common Stock.  If dividends are declared on the Class A Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock that are payable or issuable in shares of Common Stock, or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, the dividends payable or issuable to the holders of Class A Common Stock shall be paid only in shares of Class A Common Stock (or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock), the dividends payable to the holders of Class B Common Stock shall be paid only in shares of Class B Common Stock (or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for Class B Common Stock), and such dividends shall be paid in the same number of shares (or fraction thereof) on a per share basis of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, respectively (or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for the same number of shares (or fraction thereof) on a per share basis of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, respectively). In no event shall the shares of either Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock be split, divided, or combined unless the outstanding shares of the other class shall be proportionately split, divided or combined.

 

(d)                                  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, after distribution in full of the preferential amounts, if any, to be distributed to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or any series thereof as provided in the applicable Preferred Stock Designation, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them. The holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. A dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Corporation, as such terms are used in this paragraph (d), shall not be deemed to be occasioned by or to include any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or corporations or other entity or a sale, lease, exchange or conveyance of all or a part of the assets of the Corporation.

 

(e)                                   Shares of Class B Common Stock shall be redeemable for shares of Class A Common Stock on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of Cactus Wellhead, LLC dated as of January 29, 2018, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms (the “ LLC Agreement ”). The Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon

 

4



 

redemption of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock for Class A Common Stock pursuant to the LLC Agreement, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock that shall be issuable upon any such redemption pursuant to the LLC Agreement; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such redemption of shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to the LLC Agreement by delivering to the holder of shares of Class B Common Stock upon such redemption, cash in lieu of shares of Class A Common Stock in the amount permitted by and provided in the LLC Agreement or shares of Class A Common Stock which are held in the treasury of the Corporation. All shares of Class A Common Stock that shall be issued upon any such redemption will, upon issuance in accordance with the LLC Agreement, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.  All shares of Class B Common Stock redeemed shall be cancelled.

 

(f)                                    The number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of either Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.

 

(g)                                   No stockholder shall, by reason of the holding of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, have any preemptive or preferential right to acquire or subscribe for any shares or securities of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, which may at any time be issued, sold or offered for sale by the Corporation, unless specifically provided for in the terms of a series of Preferred Stock.

 

FIFTH:  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.  In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (as they may be amended and restated from time to time, the “ Bylaws ”), the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.  The directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock specified in the related Preferred Stock Designation, shall be divided, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes, as nearly equal in number as is reasonably possible, with the initial term of office of the first class to expire at the 2018 annual meeting (the “ Class I Directors ”), the initial term of office of the second class to expire at the 2019 annual meeting (the “ Class II Directors ”), and the initial term of office of the third class to expire at the 2020 annual meeting (the “ Class III Directors ”), with each director to hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, disability, resignation, disqualification or removal.  At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election, with each director to hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, disability, resignation, disqualification or removal.  The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III at the time such classification becomes effective. Subject to applicable law, the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then

 

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outstanding and the then-applicable terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, among the Corporation and certain of its stockholders, expected to be dated on or about January 29, 2018 (the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”), any newly created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy on the Board that results from the death, disability, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director and shall not be filled by the stockholders.  Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office for the remaining term of his predecessor.  No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

Subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation thereunder) and the then-applicable terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, any director may be removed only for cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2 / 3 % of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors, acting at a meeting of the stockholders in accordance with the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws. Except as applicable law otherwise provides, cause for the removal of a director shall be deemed to exist only if the director whose removal is proposed: (i) has been convicted of a felony by a court of competent jurisdiction and that conviction is no longer subject to direct appeal; (ii) has been found to have been grossly negligent in the performance of his duties to the Corporation in any matter of substantial importance to the Corporation by the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the directors then in office or a court of competent jurisdiction; or (iii) has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be mentally incompetent, which mental incompetency directly affects his ability to serve as a director of the Corporation.

 

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, if any, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board.  Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws so provide, the election of directors need not be by written ballot.  There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of directors.

 

SIXTH:  Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be taken at a duly held annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be taken by any consent in writing of such stockholders.

 

SEVENTH:  Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors that the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the stockholders of the Corporation shall not have the power to call a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

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EIGHTH:  In furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws without any action on the part of the stockholders of the Corporation; provided that any bylaw adopted or amended by the Board, and any powers thereby conferred, may be amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation by the vote of holders of not less than 66 2 / 3 % in voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.  No Bylaws hereafter made or adopted, nor any repeal of or amendment thereto, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that was valid at the time it was taken.

 

NINTH:  No director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as it now exists.  In addition to the circumstances in which a director of the Corporation is not personally liable as set forth in the preceding sentence, a director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the fullest extent permitted by any amendment to the DGCL hereafter enacted that further limits the liability of a director.

 

Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article Ninth shall be prospective only and shall not affect any limitation on liability of a director for acts or omissions occurring prior to the date of such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

TENTH:  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunities that are from time to time presented to Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P. and its affiliates (the “ Sponsor ”) or any of their respective affiliates or any of their respective agents, shareholders, members, partners, directors, officers, employees, affiliates or subsidiaries (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries), including any director or officer of the Corporation who is also an agent, shareholder, member, partner, director, officer, employee, affiliate or subsidiary of the Sponsor (each, a “ Business Opportunities Exempt Party ”), even if the business opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and no Business Opportunities Exempt Party shall have any duty to communicate or offer any such business opportunity to the Corporation or be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or any stockholder of the Corporation, including for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or controlling stockholder or otherwise, and the Corporation shall indemnify each Business Opportunities Exempt Party against any claim that such person is liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty, by reason of the fact that such person (i) participates in, pursues or acquires any such business opportunity, (ii) directs any such business opportunity to another person or (iii) fails to present any such business opportunity, or information regarding any such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries, unless, in the case of a person who is a director or officer of the Corporation, such business opportunity is expressly offered to such director or officer in writing solely in his capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation.

 

To the fullest extent permitted by law, no Business Opportunity Exempt Party shall have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (1) engaging in the same or similar business

 

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activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (2) otherwise competing with the Corporation or any of its affiliates, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Business Opportunity Exempt Party shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Business Opportunity Exempt Party engages in any such activities.

 

Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article Tenth, nor the adoption of any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, any modification of law, shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any right or protection of any person granted pursuant hereto existing at, or arising out of or related to any event, act or omission that occurred prior to, the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification (regardless of when any proceeding (or part thereof) relating to such event, act or omission arises or is first threatened, commenced or completed).

 

If any provision or provisions of this Article Tenth shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article Tenth (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article Tenth containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article Tenth (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Article Tenth containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

This Article Tenth shall not limit any protections or defenses available to, or indemnification or advancement rights of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or applicable law. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any securities of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article Tenth.

 

ELEVENTH:  The Corporation shall not be governed by or subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL as now in effect or hereafter amended, or any successor statute thereto.

 

TWELFTH:  The Corporation shall have the right, subject to any express provisions or restrictions contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, from time to time, to amend this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any provision hereof in any manner now or hereafter provided by applicable law, and all rights and powers of any kind conferred upon a director or stockholder of the Corporation by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment hereof are subject to such right of the Corporation.

 

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THIRTEENTH:  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (and in addition to any other vote that may be required by applicable law, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2 / 3 % in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, including any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or any provision hereof or thereof, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other agent or employee of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.  Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any securities of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article Thirteenth.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as of this 29 th  day of January, 2018.

 

 

CACTUS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

Name:

Scott Bender

 

Title:

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ]

 


Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

OF

 

CACTUS, INC.

 

Incorporated under the Laws of the State of Delaware

 

Date of Adoption: February 12, 2018

 

ARTICLE I
OFFICES AND RECORDS

 

Section 1.1.                                  Registered Office . The registered office of Cactus, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”) in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. The registered office and registered agent of the Corporation may be changed from time to time by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) in the manner provided by applicable law.

 

Section 1.2.                                  Other Offices . The Corporation may have such other offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board may designate or as the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.

 

Section 1.3.                                  Books and Records . The books and records of the Corporation may be kept outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the Board.

 

ARTICLE II
STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 2.1.                                  Annual Meetings . If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, and time as may be fixed by resolution of the Board. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting. The Board may, at any time prior to the holding of an annual meeting of stockholders, and for any reason, postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

 

Section 2.2.                                  Special Meetings . Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation (the “ Preferred Stock ”), special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may only be called in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. The Board may, at any time prior to the holding of a special meeting of stockholders, and for any reason, postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of the stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

 



 

Section 2.3.                                  Record Date .

 

(A)                                In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment or recess thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by applicable law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment or recess of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned or recessed meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned or recessed meeting the same date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned or recessed meeting.

 

(B)                                In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

Section 2.4.                                  Stockholder List . The officer who has charge of the stock ledger shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders ( provided , however , if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10th day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of such stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either on a reasonably accessible electronic network ( provided that the information required to gain access to the list is provided with the notice of the meeting) or during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. The stock list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information

 

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required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled by this section to examine the list required by this section or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders.

 

Section 2.5.                                  Place of Meeting . The Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be, may designate the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting of the stockholders. If no designation is so made, the place of meeting shall be the principal executive offices of the Corporation. The Board, acting in its sole discretion, may establish guidelines and procedures in accordance with applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”) and any other applicable law for the participation by stockholders and proxyholders in a meeting of stockholders by means of remote communications, and may determine that any meeting of stockholders will not be held at any place but will be held solely by means of remote communication. Stockholders and proxyholders complying with such procedures and guidelines and otherwise entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be deemed present in person and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication.

 

Section 2.6.                                  Notice of Meeting . Written or printed notice, stating the place, if any, day and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, in a manner pursuant to Section 7.7 hereof, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify (i) the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), (ii) the place, if any, date and time of such meeting, (iii) the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, (iv) in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is called and (v) such other information as may be required by applicable law or as may be deemed appropriate by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation. If the stockholder list referred to in Section 2.4 of these Bylaws is made accessible on an electronic network, the notice of meeting must indicate how the stockholder list can be accessed. If the meeting of stockholders is to be held solely by means of electronic communications, the notice of meeting must provide the information required to access such stockholder list during the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation. The Corporation may provide stockholders with notice of a meeting by electronic transmission provided such stockholders have consented to receiving electronic notice in accordance with the DGCL. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by applicable law. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the notice of meeting. Meetings may be held without notice if all stockholders entitled to vote are present, or if notice is waived by those not present in accordance with Section 7.4 of these Bylaws.

 

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Section 2.7.                                  Quorum and Adjournment of Meetings .

 

(A)                                Except as otherwise provided by applicable law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting (the “ Voting Stock ”), represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a class, the holders of a majority of the shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series for the transaction of such business. For the avoidance of doubt, abstentions and broker non-votes shall be treated as present for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum.  The chairman of the meeting or a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn or recess the meeting at any time and for any reason, whether or not there is such a quorum. The stockholders present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until the meeting is adjourned or recessed, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

 

(B)                                Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn or recess from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned or recessed meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment or recess is taken; provided , however , that if the adjournment or recess is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At the adjourned or recessed meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

Section 2.8.                                  Proxies . At all meetings of stockholders, a stockholder may vote by proxy executed in writing (or in such other manner prescribed by the DGCL) by the stockholder or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact. Any copy, facsimile transmission or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile transmission or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission. No proxy may be voted or acted upon after the expiration of three (3) years from the date of such proxy, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Every proxy is revocable at the pleasure of the stockholder executing it unless the proxy states that it is irrevocable and applicable law makes it irrevocable. A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or by filing another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary of the Corporation.

 

Section 2.9.                                  Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations .

 

(A)                                Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

 

(1)                                  Nominations of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders may be made only (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (b) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof or (c) subject to the then-applicable terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) (with respect to nominations of persons for election to

 

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the Board only), by any stockholder of the Corporation who (i) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in these Bylaws and at the time of the annual meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in these Bylaws and applicable law as to such business or nomination; Section 2.9(A)(2)  of these Bylaws shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of the stockholders.

 

(2)                                  For any nominations or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.9(A)(2)  of these Bylaws, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action under the DGCL. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which anniversary, in the case of the first annual meeting of stockholders following the close of the Corporation’s initial public offering, shall be deemed to be                   , 2018; provided , however , that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is scheduled for a date that is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than one hundred (100) days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall any adjournment, recess, cancellation, rescheduling or postponement of an annual meeting or any announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice (whether given pursuant to this Section 2.9(A)(2)  or Section 2.9(B) ) to the Secretary of the Corporation must:

 

(a)                                  set forth, as to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (i) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporation’s books and records) (ii) (A) the class or series, if any, and number of shares of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially or of record (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person (except that such Proposing Person shall be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future), (B) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, swap or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value or volatility of any class or series of shares of

 

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the Corporation, any “call equivalent position” or “put equivalent position” (as such terms are defined in Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act) (including any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a derivative security for purposes of such definitions as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence, in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination) or any other derivative or synthetic arrangement having characteristics of a long position in, or a short position with respect to, any class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “ Derivative Instrument ”), directly or indirectly, owned beneficially by such Proposing Person and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation, (C) a description of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Proposing Person has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation, (D) any short interest in any security of the Corporation (for purposes of these Bylaws a person shall be deemed to have a “short interest” in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security), (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership, limited liability company or similar entity in which such Proposing Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, is a manager, is a managing member or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a manager or managing member of a limited liability company or similar entity and (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such Proposing Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such Proposing Person’s immediate family sharing the same household, (iii) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents for, as applicable, the proposal or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (iv) a representation that the Proposing Person is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting, will continue to be a holder of record of stock entitled to vote at such meeting through the date of the meeting and intends to appear in person or by

 

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proxy at the meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the meeting, (v) a description of any material interest in such business of the Proposing Person on whose behalf the proposal is made, (vi) a summary of any material discussion regarding the business proposed to be brought before the meeting between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and any other record or beneficial holder of the shares of any class or series of the Corporation (including their names), on the other hand, and (vii) a representation as to whether such Proposing Person intends or is part of a group that intends to (x) deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or to elect each such nominee or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination. The information required under this Section 2.9(A)(2) shall be supplemented and updated by such Proposing Person as described under Section 2.9(C)(6);

 

(b)                                  if the notice relates to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, set forth (i) a reasonably brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of each Proposing Person in such business, (ii) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration) and (iii) a complete and accurate description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other person, persons or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder;

 

(c)                                   set forth, as to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such person (presently and for the past five (5) years), (iii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such person, (v) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (vi) a complete and accurate description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K

 

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if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant and (vii) a notarized letter signed by such person stating his or her acceptance of the nomination by the Proposing Person, stating his or her intention to serve as a director for the full term if elected, and consenting to be named as a nominee for director in any proxy statement relating to such person’s election;

 

(d)                                  with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board, include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2.9(A)(4) of these Bylaws; and

 

(e)                                   set forth, as the Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish, any such additional information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

 

(3)                                  Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of Section 2.9(A)(2)  of these Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by these Bylaws shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(4)                                  To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, a proposed nominee must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 2.9(A)(2)  of these Bylaws and applicable law) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (i) a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire the Proposing Person shall request in writing from the Secretary with at least seven (7) days’ prior notice); (ii) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person (A) is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote in such capacity on any issue or question (a “ Voting Commitment ”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law,

 

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(B) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director of the Corporation that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, (C) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable law and all applicable rules of the U.S. exchanges upon which the Common Stock of the Corporation is listed and all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and other guidelines of the Corporation, (D) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, intends to serve a full term if elected as a director of the Corporation and (E) will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its stockholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects and do not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (iii) a written director agreement (which agreement shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request).

 

(5)                                  The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 2.9(A)  shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business or a nomination if such stockholder has notified the Corporation of his intention to present a proposal or make a nomination at an annual meeting in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal or nomination has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.

 

(6)                                  For purposes of these Bylaws, the term “Proposing Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting of stockholders, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting is made, (iii) any affiliate or associate (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act for purposes of these Bylaws) of such stockholder or beneficial owners and (iv) any other person with whom such stockholder or beneficial owner (or any of their respective affiliates or associates) is acting in concert.

 

(B)                                Special Meetings of Stockholders . Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to a notice of meeting (a) as provided by the then-applicable terms in the Stockholders’ Agreement, (b) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof or (c)  provided that the Board has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (i) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in these Bylaws and at the time of the special meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and

 

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(iii) complies with the notice procedures set forth in these Bylaws and applicable law. In the event a special meeting of stockholders is called for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any stockholder of record among such requesting stockholders may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by Section 2.9(A)(2)  of these Bylaws with respect to any nomination (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2.9(A)(2)  of these Bylaws) shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than one hundred (100) days prior to the date of such special meeting, the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment, recess, cancellation, rescheduling or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(C)                                General .

 

(1)                                  Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws or the Stockholders’ Agreement shall be eligible to serve as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.

 

(2)                                  For purposes of these Bylaws, “ public announcement ” shall mean disclosure (i) in a press release reported by Dow Jones News Service, the Associated Press, (ii) any other national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or (iii) in a notice of meeting (or any supplement) pursuant to Section 2.6 of these Bylaws.

 

(3)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these Bylaws, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these Bylaws; provided , however , that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to Section 2.9(A)(2) or Section 2.9(B)  of these Bylaws. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (ii) of

 

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the holders of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation (“ Preferred Stock ”) if and to the extent provided for under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

 

(4)                                  The Corporation may require any proposed stockholder nominee for director to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation. Unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) making a nomination or proposal under this Section 2.9 does not appear at a meeting of stockholders to present such nomination or proposal, the nomination shall be disregarded and the proposed business shall not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in favor thereof may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2.9 , to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

 

(5)                                  A stockholder providing notice of a nomination or proposal of other business to be brought before a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.9 shall be true and correct (i) as of the record date for the meeting and (ii) as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment, recess, cancellation, rescheduling or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date) and not later than seven (7) business days prior to the date for the meeting, if practicable (or, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof)).

 

(6)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.9 , for as long as the Stockholders’ Agreement remains in effect with respect to Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P. and its affiliates (“ Cadent ”) and Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC (“ HoldCo ”), Cadent and HoldCo (to the extent either is then subject to the Stockholders’ Agreement) shall not be subject to the notice procedures set forth in paragraph (A)(2)  or paragraph (B)  of this Section 2.9 with respect to any annual or special meeting of stockholders

 

Section 2.10.                           Conduct of Business . Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the chairman of the meeting of stockholders (the “chairman of the meeting”), who shall be the Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence, the Chief Executive Officer or, in his or her absence, the President or, in his or her absence, a Senior Vice President or, in the absence of the

 

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foregoing persons, a person designated by the Board, or in the absence of such designation, a person chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chairman of the meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of the chairman of the meeting, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) regulation of the manner of voting and conduct of discussion; (iii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iv) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (v) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; (vi) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; and (vii) restrictions on the use of audio or visual recording devices at the meeting. The chairman of the  meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such chairman of the meeting should so determine, such chairman of the meeting shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

Section 2.11.                           Required Vote . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, at any meeting at which directors are to be elected, so long as a quorum is present, the directors shall be elected by a plurality of votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, in all matters other than the election of directors and certain non-binding advisory votes described below, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter shall be the act of the stockholders. In non-binding advisory matters with more than two possible vote choices, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter shall be the recommendation of the stockholders.

 

Section 2.12.                           Treasury Stock . The Corporation shall not vote, directly or indirectly, shares of its own stock owned by it or any other corporation, if a majority of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such corporation is held, directly or indirectly by the Corporation, and such shares will not be counted for quorum purposes; provided , however , that

 

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the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or such other corporation, to vote stock of the Corporation held in a fiduciary capacity.

 

Section 2.13.                           Inspectors of Elections; Opening and Closing the Polls . At any meeting at which a vote is taken by ballots, the Board by resolution may, and when required by applicable law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors, which inspector or inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents or representatives, to act at the meetings of stockholders and make a written report thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate has been appointed to act or is able to act at a meeting of stockholders and the appointment of an inspector is required by applicable law, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by applicable law.

 

ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.1.                                  General Powers . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board elected in accordance with these Bylaws. In addition to the powers and authorities by these Bylaws expressly conferred upon them, the Board may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. The directors shall act only as a Board or a committee thereof, and the individual directors shall have no power as such.

 

Section 3.2.                                  Number, Tenure and Qualifications . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, if any, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. The election and terms of office of directors shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 3.3.                                  Regular Meetings . Subject to Section 3.5 , regular meetings of the Board shall be held on such dates, and at such times and places, as are determined from time to time by resolution of the Board.

 

Section 3.4.                                  Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board shall be called at the request of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the members of the Board then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board may fix the place, if any, date and time of the meetings. Any business may be conducted at a special meeting of the Board.

 

Section 3.5.                                  Notice . Notice of any meeting of directors shall be given to each director at his business or residence in writing by hand delivery, first-class or overnight mail, courier service or facsimile or electronic transmission or orally by telephone. If mailed by first-class mail, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when deposited in the United States

 

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mails so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid, at least five (5) days before such meeting. If by overnight mail or courier service, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the notice is delivered to the overnight mail or courier service company at least 24 hours before such meeting. If by facsimile or electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the notice is transmitted at least 24 hours before such meeting. If by telephone or by hand delivery, the notice shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the time set for the meeting and shall be confirmed by facsimile or electronic transmission that is sent promptly thereafter. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board need be specified in the notice of such meeting, except for amendments to these Bylaws, as provided under Section 8.1 . A meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in accordance with Section 7.4 of these Bylaws.

 

Section 3.6.                                  Action by Consent of Board . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, including by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote at a meeting, and may be stated as such in any document or instrument filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 3.7.                                  Conference Telephone Meetings . Members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting, except where such person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

Section 3.8.                                  Quorum . Subject to Section 3.9 , a whole number of directors equal to at least a majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the directors present may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice unless (i) the date, time and place, if any, of the adjourned meeting are not announced at the time of adjournment, in which case notice conforming to the requirements of Section 3.5 of these Bylaws shall be given to each director, or (ii) the meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, in which case the notice referred to in clause (i) shall be given to those directors not present at the announcement of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting. The act of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board. The directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough directors to leave less than a quorum.

 

Section 3.9.                                  Vacancies . Subject to applicable law, the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and the then-applicable terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, any newly created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy on the Board that results from the death, disability, resignation, disqualification or

 

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removal of any director or from any other cause shall, unless otherwise required by law or by resolution of the Board, be filled in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation. Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office for the remaining term of his predecessor. No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

Section 3.10.                           Removal . Subject to the then applicable terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement, directors of the Corporation may be removed in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.

 

Section 3.11.                           Records . The Board shall cause to be kept a record containing the minutes of the proceedings of the meetings of the Board and of the stockholders, appropriate stock books and registers and such books of records and accounts as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.12.                           Compensation . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board shall have authority to fix the compensation of directors, including fees and reimbursement of expenses. The Corporation will cause each non-employee director serving on the Board to be reimbursed for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by him in connection with such service.

 

Section 3.13.                           Regulations . To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws, the Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of the Board and for the management of the affairs and business of the Corporation as the Board may deem appropriate.

 

ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES

 

Section 4.1.                                  Designation; Powers . The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.

 

Section 4.2.                                  Procedure; Meetings; Quorum . Any committee designated pursuant to Section 4.1 shall choose its own chairman by a majority vote of the members then in attendance in the event the chairman has not been selected by the Board, shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board when requested, and shall meet at such times and at such place or places as may be provided by the charter of such committee or by resolution of such committee or resolution of the Board. At every meeting of any such committee, the presence of a majority of all the members thereof shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary for the adoption by it of any resolution. The Board shall adopt a charter for each committee for which a charter is required by applicable laws, regulations or stock exchange rules, may adopt a charter for any other committee, and may adopt other rules and regulations for the governance of any committee not

 

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inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws or any such charter, and each committee may adopt its own rules and regulations of governance, to the extent not inconsistent with these Bylaws or any charter or other rules and regulations adopted by the Board.

 

Section 4.3.                                  Substitution of Members . The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.

 

ARTICLE V
OFFICERS

 

Section 5.1.                                  Officers . The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers as the Board from time to time may deem proper. The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among the directors. All officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article V. Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board or by any committee thereof. The Board or any committee thereof may from time to time elect, or the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer may appoint, such other officers (including one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers) and such agents, as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation. Such other officers and agents shall have such duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be provided in these Bylaws or as may be prescribed by the Board or such committee thereof or by the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be.

 

Section 5.2.                                  Election and Term of Office . The officers of the Corporation shall be elected or appointed from time to time by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected or appointed and shall have qualified or until his death or until he shall resign, but any officer may be removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board or, except in the case of an officer or agent elected by the Board, by the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer. Such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the person so removed. No elected officer shall have any contractual rights against the Corporation for compensation by virtue of such election beyond the date of the election of his successor, his death, his resignation or his removal, whichever event shall first occur, except as otherwise provided in an employment contract or under an employee deferred compensation plan.

 

Section 5.3.                                  Chairman of the Board . The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall be responsible for the general management of the affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties incidental to his office that may be required by law and all such other duties as are properly required of him by the Board. He shall make reports to the Board and the stockholders, and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board and of any committee thereof are carried into effect. The Chairman of the Board may also serve as Chief Executive Officer, if so elected by the Board.

 

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Section 5.4.                                  Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer shall act in a general executive capacity and shall assist the Chairman of the Board in the administration and operation of the Corporation’s business and general supervision of its policies and affairs. The Chief Executive Officer shall, in the absence of or because of the inability to act of the Chairman of the Board, perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board and preside at all meetings of the Board. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the authority to sign, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, checks, orders, contracts, leases, notes, drafts and all other documents and instruments in connection with the business of the Corporation.

 

Section 5.5.                                  President . The President, if any, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him by the Board.

 

Section 5.6.                                  Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents . Each Senior Vice President and Vice President, if any, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him by the Board.

 

Section 5.7.                                  Treasurer . The Treasurer shall exercise general supervision over the receipt, custody and disbursement of corporate funds. The Treasurer shall cause the funds of the Corporation to be deposited in such banks as may be authorized by the Board, or in such banks as may be designated as depositaries in the manner provided by resolution of the Board. He shall have such further powers and duties and shall be subject to such directions as may be granted or imposed upon him from time to time by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 5.8.                                  Secretary . The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept in one or more books provided for that purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board, the committees of the Board and the stockholders; he shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws and as required by applicable law; he shall be custodian of the records and the seal of the Corporation and affix and attest the seal to all stock certificates of the Corporation (unless the seal of the Corporation on such certificates shall be a facsimile, as hereinafter provided) and affix and attest the seal to all other documents to be executed on behalf of the Corporation under its seal; and he shall see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and in general, he shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 5.9.                                  Vacancies . A newly created elected office and a vacancy in any elected office because of death, resignation, or removal may be filled by the Board for the unexpired portion of the term at any meeting of the Board. Any vacancy in an office appointed by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer because of death, resignation, or removal may be filled by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 5.10.                           Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations . Unless otherwise directed by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of security holders of or with respect to any action of security holders of any other corporation in which the Corporation may

 

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hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers that the Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.

 

ARTICLE VI
STOCK CERTIFICATES AND TRANSFERS

 

Section 6.1.                                  Stock Certificates and Transfers . The interest of each stockholder of the Corporation shall be evidenced by certificates for shares of stock in such form as the appropriate officers of the Corporation may from time to time prescribe, provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock may be uncertificated or electronic shares. The shares of the stock of the Corporation shall be entered in the books of the Corporation as they are issued and shall exhibit the holder’s name and number of shares. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the shares of the stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation, which may be maintained by a third-party registrar or transfer agent, by the holder thereof in person or by his attorney, upon surrender for cancellation of certificates for at least the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of the authenticity of the signature as the Corporation or its agents may reasonably require or upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of uncertificated shares and upon compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form, at which time the Corporation shall issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto (if the stock is then represented by certificates), cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.

 

Each certificated share of stock shall be signed, countersigned and registered in such manner as the Board may by resolution prescribe, which resolution may permit all or any of the signatures on such certificates to be in facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 6.2.                                  Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates . No certificate for shares or uncertificated shares of stock in the Corporation shall be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, destroyed or stolen, except on production of such evidence of such loss, destruction or theft and on delivery to the Corporation of a bond of indemnity in such amount, upon such terms and secured by such surety, as the Board or any financial officer may in its or his discretion require.

 

Section 6.3.                                  Ownership of Shares . The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock of the Corporation as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 6.4.                                  Regulations Regarding Certificates .  Subject to applicable law, the Board shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as they may deem

 

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expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration or the replacement of certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation. The Corporation may enter into additional agreements with stockholders to restrict the transfer of stock of the Corporation in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 7.1.                                  Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January and end on the 31 st  day of December of each year.

 

Section 7.2.                                  Dividends . Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares of stock, which dividends may be paid in either cash, property or shares of stock of the Corporation. A member of the Board, or a member of any committee designated by the Board, shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the director reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation, as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities or net profits of the Corporation, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds from which dividends might properly be declared and paid.

 

Section 7.3.                                  Seal . The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the words “Corporate Seal,” the year of incorporation and around the margin thereof the words “Cactus, Inc. — Delaware.”

 

Section 7.4.                                  Waiver of Notice . Whenever any notice is required to be given to any stockholder or director of the Corporation under the provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, including by electronic transmission, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual or special meeting of the stockholders or the Board or committee thereof need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

Section 7.5.                                  Resignations . Any director or any officer, whether elected or appointed, may resign at any time by giving written notice, including by electronic transmission, of such resignation to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary, and such resignation shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the date said notice is received by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary, or at such later time as is specified therein. No formal action shall be required of the Board or the stockholders to make any such resignation effective.

 

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Section 7.6.                                  Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.

 

(A)                                The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ proceeding ”) by reason of the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (a “ Covered Person ”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent, against all expenses, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Covered Person in connection with such proceeding.

 

(B)                                The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided , however , that to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 7.6 or otherwise.

 

(C)                                The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Section 7.6 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to a Covered Person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6 , except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to a Covered Person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Covered Person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

 

(D)                                If a claim for indemnification under this Section 7.6 (following the final disposition of such proceeding) is not paid in full within sixty (60) days after the Corporation has received a claim therefor by the Covered Person, or if a claim for any advancement of expenses under this Section 7.6 is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after the Corporation has received a statement or statements requesting such amounts to be advanced, the Covered Person shall thereupon (but not before) be entitled to file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim. If successful in whole or in part, the Covered Person shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. In any such action, the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

 

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(E)                                 The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Section 7.6 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, any agreement or vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

(F)                                  This Section 7.6 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.

 

(G)                                Any Covered Person entitled to indemnification and/or advancement of expenses, in each case pursuant to this Section 7.6 , may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and/or insurance provided by one or more persons with whom or which such Covered Person 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 this Section 7.6 , (ii) the Corporation shall be primarily liable for all such obligations and any indemnification afforded to a Covered Person in respect of a proceeding, expense, liability or matter that is the subject of this Section 7.6 , whether created by law, organizational or constituent documents, contract or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any persons with whom or which a Covered Person may be associated to indemnify such Covered Person and/or advance expenses or liabilities to such Covered Person in respect of any proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Corporation hereunder, (iv) the Corporation shall be required to indemnify each Covered Person and advance expenses to each Covered Person hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights such Covered Person may have against any other person with whom or which such Covered Person 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 a Covered Person 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.

 

Section 7.7.                                  Notices . Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by applicable law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by commercial courier service, or by facsimile or other electronic transmission, provided that notice to stockholders by electronic transmission shall be given in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent at his last known address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively, notice to any stockholder shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (3) if by posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; (4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder; and (5) if by mail, when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.

 

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Section 7.8.                                  Facsimile and Electronic Signatures . In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile or electronic signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile or electronic signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board or a committee thereof.

 

Section 7.9.                                  Time Periods .  Except as otherwise explicitly set forth in these Bylaws, in applying any provision of these Bylaws that require that an act be done or not done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

 

Section 7.10.                           Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records . Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees designated by the Board, or by any other person as to the matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

Section 7.11.                           Severability . Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of these Bylaws will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision or portion of any provision of these Bylaws is held to be invalid, illegal  or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such provision or portion of any provision shall be severable and the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and these Bylaws will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been contained herein.

 

ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS

 

Section 8.1.                                  Amendments . Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed (a) by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors present at any special or regular meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present if, in the case of such special meeting only, notice of such amendment, alteration or repeal is contained in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting or (b) at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders upon the affirmative vote of at least 66 2 / 3 % of the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors if, in the case of such special meeting only, notice of such amendment, alteration or repeal is contained in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sections 3.9 and 3.10 and this paragraph of Section 8.1 may only be amended, altered or repealed at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders upon the affirmative vote of at least 66 2 / 3 % of the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote

 

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thereon if, in the case of such special meeting only, notice of such amendment, alteration or repeal is contained in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, alteration or repeal of Section 7.6 shall adversely affect any right or protection existing under these Bylaws immediately prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, including any right or protection of a present or former director, officer or employee thereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) so long as the Stockholders’ Agreement remains in effect, the Board shall not approve any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of these Bylaws, or the adoption of any new Bylaw, that would be contrary to or inconsistent with the then-applicable terms of the Stockholders’ Agreement and (2) no amendment to the Stockholders’ Agreement (whether or not such amendment modifies any provision to the Stockholders’ Agreement to which these Bylaws are subject) shall be deemed an amendment of these Bylaws for purposes of this Section 8.1 .

 

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Exhibit 4.1

 

Execution Copy

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of   January 29, 2018 and effective as of the date of the initial closing of the IPO, and is between Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ PubCo ”), Cadent (as defined below), HoldCo (as defined below) and Lee Boquet.  Such holders of Registrable Securities party hereto are collectively referred to herein as the “ Securityholders .”

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

In this Agreement:

 

A&R OpCo Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of OpCo, dated as of January 29, 2018, as may be amended, restated, supplemented or modified, from time to time.

 

Affiliate ” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date hereof.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Business Day ” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, federal or New York State holiday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close.

 

Cadent ” means Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, its Affiliates and its and their successors and permitted assigns (as provided pursuant to Section 6.1 ).

 

Cadent Demand Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)  hereof.

 

Class A Common Stock ” means the shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of PubCo, and any other capital stock of PubCo into which such common stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

 

Class B Common Stock ” means the shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of PubCo, and any other capital stock of PubCo into which such common stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

 

Control ” (including its correlative meanings, “ Controlled by ” and “ under common Control with ”) means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise) of a Person.

 

Demand Notice ” means each of a Cadent Demand Notice or a HoldCo Demand Notice.

 



 

Effective Date ” shall mean the date of the final prospectus relating to the IPO.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

HoldCo ” means Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, its Affiliates and its and their successors and permitted assigns (as provided pursuant to Section 6.1 ).

 

HoldCo Demand Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)  hereof.

 

IPO ” means an underwritten registered public offering of PubCo’s Class A Common Stock in connection with which the Class A Common Stock first becomes listed on a Recognized Exchange.

 

OpCo ” means Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

OpCo Units ” means units representing limited liability company interests in OpCo.

 

Person ” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, a cooperative, an unincorporated organization, or other form of business organization, whether or not regarded as a legal entity under applicable law, or any governmental authority or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

PubCo ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Recognized Exchange ” means The New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market.

 

Registrable Securities ” means shares of Class A Common Stock that may be delivered in exchange for OpCo Units and other shares of Class A Common Stock otherwise held by Securityholders from time to time. For purposes of this Agreement, Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a registration statement covering resales of such Registrable Securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act by the SEC and such Registrable Securities have been disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement, (ii) such Registrable Securities are eligible to be sold by Securityholders owning such Registrable Securities (including Registrable Securities deliverable to a Securityholder under an effective Exchange Registration) pursuant to Rule 144 or 145 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act, without limitation thereunder on volume or manner of sale, unless such Registrable Securities are held by a Holder that beneficially owns Shares representing 5% or more of the aggregate voting power of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock eligible to vote in the election of directors of PubCo or (iii) such Registrable Securities cease to be outstanding (or issuable upon exchange).

 

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Registration Expenses ” means any and all expenses incurred in connection with the performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including:

 

(a)                                  all SEC, stock exchange, or FINRA registration and filing fees (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter,” as such term is defined in Rule 5121 of FINRA, and of its counsel);

 

(b)                                  all fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities);

 

(c)                                   all printing, messenger and delivery expenses;

 

(d)                                  all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange or FINRA and all rating agency fees;

 

(e)                                   the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for PubCo and of its independent public accountants, including the expenses of any special audits and/or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance;

 

(f)                                    any fees and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by the issuers or sellers of Securities, including liability insurance if PubCo so desires or if the underwriters so require, and the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained in connection with the requested registration, but excluding underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any;

 

(g)                                   the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of not more than one law firm (as selected by Securityholders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration) incurred by all the Securityholders in connection with the registration;

 

(h)                                  the costs and expenses of PubCo relating to analyst and investor presentations or any “road show” undertaken in connection with the registration and/or marketing of the Registrable Securities (including the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Securityholders); and

 

(i)                                      any other fees and disbursements customarily paid by the issuers of Securities.

 

SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

 

Shares ” means shares of Class A Common Stock of PubCo. Shares held by or on behalf of a Securityholder the certificate for which does not bear a Securities Act restrictive legend, which Shares may be resold freely without registration under the Securities Act, will not be considered Shares for purposes of the demand and piggyback provisions of this Agreement.

 

Securities ” means capital stock, limited partnership interests, limited liability company interests, beneficial interests, warrants, options, notes, bonds, debentures, and other securities, equity interests, ownership interests and similar obligations of every kind and nature of any Person.

 

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Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

Securityholders ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Shelf Eligibility Date ” means the date on which PubCo becomes eligible to utilize Form S-3 or a successor form for the sale of Shares in a secondary offering on a delayed or continuous basis in accordance with Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which: (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, representatives or trustees thereof is at the time owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the total voting power of stock (or equivalent ownership interest) of the limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity is at the time owned or Controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or Control the managing director or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity.

 

WKSI ” means a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

ARTICLE II

 

DEMAND AND PIGGYBACK RIGHTS

 

2.1                                Right to Demand a Non-Shelf Registered Offering .

 

(a)                                  If at any time on or after the 180 th  day following the Effective Date, there is no effective Shelf Registration Statement on file with the SEC, then upon the written demand of Cadent (a “ Cadent Demand Notice ”) or HoldCo (a “ HoldCo Demand Notice ”), PubCo will facilitate in the manner described in this Agreement a non-shelf registered offering of Registrable Securities requested by any such demanding Securityholder to be included in such offering, provided that (i) the market value, based on the closing price of PubCo’s Class A Common Stock on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of the Demand Notice, of the aggregate amount of Registrable Securities held by the Securityholders that are requested in such Demand Notice to be included in such registered offering or underwritten takedown, as applicable, is at least $25,000,000, and (ii) each of Cadent and HoldCo shall be entitled to only three such non-shelf registered offering demands. For the avoidance of doubt, the exercise of a demand for a non-shelf registered offering by a permitted assign of Cadent or HoldCo shall count as a demand by Cadent or HoldCo, as applicable, for a non-shelf registered offering.

 

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(b)                                  Any demanded non-shelf registered offering may, at PubCo’s option, include Shares to be sold by PubCo for its own account and will also include Registrable Securities to be sold by Securityholders that exercise their related piggyback rights pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof and any other Registrable Securities to be sold by the holders of registration rights granted other than pursuant to this Agreement exercising such rights, in each case, to the extent exercising such rights on a timely basis. In order to be valid, the Demand Notice must provide the information described in Section 3.1 hereof (if applicable) and Section 4.5 hereof or be followed by such information, when requested as contemplated by Section 4.5 hereof.

 

(c)                                   Without limiting any other obligations of PubCo hereunder, as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving a valid Demand Notice satisfying the criteria set forth in Section 2.1 hereof, PubCo shall file with the SEC a registration statement covering all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Demand Notice as well as any other Registrable Securities as to which registration is properly requested in accordance with Section 2.2 hereof (which other Registrable Securities may be included by means of a pre-effective amendment) and any other registrable securities properly requested in accordance with other registration rights agreements with PubCo, but subject in each case to any cutbacks imposed in accordance with Section 3.5 hereof and the limitations set forth in Section 2.5 hereof.

 

2.2                                Right to Piggyback on a Non-Shelf Registered Offering . After PubCo’s IPO, in connection with any registered offering of Shares covered by a non-shelf registration statement (whether pursuant to the exercise of demand rights or at the initiative of PubCo), the Securityholders may exercise piggyback rights to have included in such offering Registrable Securities held by them, subject in each case to any cutbacks imposed in accordance with Section 3.5 hereof and the limitations set forth in Section 2.5 hereof. PubCo will facilitate in the manner described in this Agreement any such non-shelf registered offering.

 

2.3                                Shelf Registration .  As promptly as practicable following the Shelf Eligibility Date, PubCo shall use commercially reasonably efforts to file with the SEC a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (a “ Shelf Registration Statement ”) relating to the offer and sale of all Registrable Securities by the Securityholders from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such Securityholders and set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and, thereafter, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement that is not an automatically effective shelf registration statement, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act.

 

2.4                                Demand and Piggyback Rights for Shelf Takedowns . Upon the demand of a Securityholder, made at any time and from time to time, PubCo will facilitate in the manner described in this Agreement a “takedown” of Registrable Securities off of an effective shelf registration statement.  A shelf takedown may take the form of an underwritten public offering provided that the aggregate amount of Registrable Securities that are requested to be included in such offering is at least $25,000,000.  In connection with any underwritten shelf takedown (whether pursuant to the exercise of such demand rights by the Securityholders, or at the initiative of PubCo), the Securityholders may exercise piggyback rights to have included in such takedown Registrable Securities held by them that are registered on such shelf.

 

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2.5                                Limitations on Demand and Piggyback Rights .

 

(a)                                  Any demand for a registered offering or takedown, and the exercise of any piggyback registration rights, will be subject to the constraints of any applicable lockup arrangements, and any such demand must be deferred until such lockup arrangements no longer apply.  If a demand has been made for a non-shelf registered offering or for an underwritten takedown, no further demands may be made so long as the related offering is still being pursued. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Securityholders will not have piggyback or other registration rights with respect to the following registered primary offerings by PubCo: (i) a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans; (ii) a registration on Form S-4 or S-8 (or other similar successor forms then in effect under the Securities Act); (iii) a registration pursuant to which PubCo is offering to exchange its own Securities for other Securities; (iv) a registration statement relating solely to dividend reinvestment or similar plans; (v) a shelf registration statement pursuant to which only the initial purchasers and subsequent transferees of debt securities of PubCo or any Subsidiary that are convertible for Interests or Common Stock and that are initially issued pursuant to Rule 144A and/or Regulation S of the Securities Act may resell such notes and sell the common equity into which such notes may be converted; or (vi) a registration where the Registrable Securities are not being sold for cash.

 

(b)                                  PubCo may postpone the filing of a demanded registration statement, suspend the initial effectiveness of any shelf registration statement or delay offerings and sales under any effective shelf registration statement for a reasonable “blackout period” not in excess of 90 days if the board of directors of PubCo determines in good faith that such registration or offering could materially interfere with a bona fide business, acquisition or divestiture or financing transaction of PubCo or is reasonably likely to require premature disclosure of information, the premature disclosure of which could materially and adversely affect PubCo; provided that PubCo shall not delay the filing of any demanded registration statement more than once in any 12-month period. The blackout period will end upon the earlier to occur of, (i) in the case of a bona fide business, acquisition or divestiture or financing transaction, a date not later than 90 days from the date such deferral commenced, and (ii) in the case of disclosure of non-public information, the earlier to occur of (x) the filing by PubCo of its next succeeding Form 10-K or Form 10-Q, or (y) the date upon which such information is otherwise disclosed.

 

ARTICLE III

 

NOTICES, CUTBACKS AND OTHER MATTERS

 

3.1                                Notifications Regarding Registration Statements . In order for Securityholders to exercise their right to demand that a registration statement be filed, they must include in their Demand Notice the number of Registrable Securities sought to be registered and the proposed plan of distribution.

 

3.2                                Notifications Regarding Registration Piggyback Rights .

 

(a)                                  In the event that PubCo receives (i) any demand from Cadent or HoldCo, as applicable, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, or (ii) if PubCo files a registration statement with respect to a non-shelf registered offering, PubCo will promptly give to each of the

 

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Securityholders a written notice thereof no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth Business Day following receipt by PubCo of such demand or the filing of such registration statement, as applicable. Any Securityholder wishing to exercise its piggyback rights with respect to any such non-shelf registration statement must notify PubCo and the other Securityholders of the number of Registrable Securities it seeks to have included in such registration statement in a written notice. Such notice must be given as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day prior to (i) if applicable, the date on which the preliminary prospectus intended to be used in connection with pre-effective marketing efforts for the relevant offering is expected to be finalized, and (ii) in any case, the date on which the pricing of the relevant offering is expected to occur. No such notice is required in connection with a shelf registration statement, as Registrable Securities held by all Securityholders will be included up to the applicable percentage.

 

(b)                                  Pending any required public disclosure and subject to applicable legal requirements, the parties will maintain appropriate confidentiality of their discussions regarding a prospective non-shelf registration.

 

3.3                                Notifications Regarding Demanded Underwritten Takedowns .

 

(a)                                  PubCo will keep the Securityholders reasonably apprised of all pertinent aspects of any underwritten shelf takedown demanded by Cadent or HoldCo, as applicable, in order that Securityholders may have a reasonable opportunity to exercise their related piggyback rights. Without limiting PubCo’s obligation as described in the preceding sentence, having a reasonable opportunity requires that the Securityholders be notified by PubCo of an anticipated underwritten takedown (whether pursuant to a demand made by Cadent or HoldCo, as applicable, or made at PubCo’s own initiative) no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on (i) if applicable, the second Business Day prior to the date on which the preliminary prospectus or prospectus supplement intended to be used in connection with pre-pricing marketing efforts for such takedown is finalized, and (ii) in all cases, the second Business Day prior to the date on which the pricing of the relevant takedown occurs.

 

(b)                                  Any Securityholder wishing to exercise its piggyback rights with respect to an underwritten shelf takedown must notify PubCo and the other Securityholders of the number of Registrable Securities it seeks to have included in such takedown. Such notice must be given as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on (i) if applicable, the Business Day prior to the date on which the preliminary prospectus or prospectus supplement intended to be used in connection with marketing efforts for the relevant offering is expected to be finalized, and (ii) in all cases, the Business Day prior to the date on which the pricing of the relevant takedown occurs.

 

(c)                                   Pending any required public disclosure and subject to applicable legal requirements, the parties will maintain appropriate confidentiality of their discussions regarding a prospective underwritten takedown.

 

3.4                                Plan of Distribution, Underwriters, Advisors and Counsel . If a majority of the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in an underwritten offering through a non-shelf registration statement or through a shelf takedown is being sold by PubCo for its own account,

 

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PubCo will be entitled to determine the plan of distribution and select the managing underwriters and any provider of advisory services for such offering. Otherwise, Securityholders holding a majority of the Shares requested to be included in such offering will be entitled to determine the plan of distribution and select the managing underwriters and any provider of advisory services; provided that such investment banker or bankers, managers and providers of advisory services shall be reasonably satisfactory to PubCo), and will also be entitled to select counsel for the selling Securityholders (which may be the same as counsel for PubCo).

 

3.5                                Cutbacks . If the managing underwriters advise PubCo and the selling Securityholders that, in their opinion, the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in an underwritten offering exceeds the amount that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the distribution of the Registrable Securities being offered, the price that will be paid in such offering or the marketability thereof, such offering will include only the number of Registrable Securities that the underwriters advise can be sold in such offering. If PubCo is selling Registrable Securities for its own account in such offering and the offering is not being made on account of a demand made by Cadent or HoldCo, as applicable, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, PubCo will have first priority. If PubCo is selling Registrable Securities for its own account in such offering and the offering is being made on account of a demand made by Cadent or HoldCo, as applicable, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, the Person making the demand, whether it be Cadent or HoldCo, will have first priority. To the extent of any remaining capacity, and in all other cases, the selling Securityholders (and any other Persons having registration rights pari passu with the Securityholders and participating in such offering) and PubCo will be subject to cutback pro rata based on the number of Registrable Securities initially requested by them to be included in such offering, without distinguishing between Securityholders (or other Persons exercising pari passu registration rights) based on who made the demand for such offering or otherwise.

 

3.6                                Withdrawals . Even if Registrable Securities held by a Securityholder have been part of a registered underwritten offering, such Securityholder may, no later than the time at which the public offering price and underwriters’ discount are determined with the managing underwriter, decline to sell all or any portion of the Registrable Securities being offered for its account.

 

3.7                                Lockups . In connection with any underwritten offering of Shares, PubCo and each Securityholder will agree (in the case of Securityholders, with respect to Registrable Securities respectively held by them) to be bound by the underwriting agreement’s lockup restrictions (which must apply in like manner to all of them) that are agreed to by PubCo. In addition, the Securityholders shall be bound by their obligations with respect to any lockup arrangements or other restrictions on transfer of Registrable Securities set forth in the A&R OpCo Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

FACILITATING REGISTRATIONS AND OFFERINGS

 

4.1                                General . If PubCo becomes obligated under this Agreement to facilitate a registration and offering of Registrable Securities on behalf of Securityholders, PubCo will do so

 

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with the same degree of care and dispatch as would reasonably be expected in the case of a registration and offering by PubCo of Securities for its own account. Without limiting this general obligation, PubCo will fulfill its specific obligations as described in this  Article IV .

 

4.2                                Registration Statements . In connection with each registration statement that is demanded by Securityholders in accordance with this Agreement or as to which piggyback rights otherwise apply, PubCo will:

 

(a)                                  (1) prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on an appropriate form covering the applicable Registrable Securities, (2) file amendments thereto as warranted, (3) seek the effectiveness thereof, and (4) file with the SEC prospectuses and prospectus supplements as may be required, all in consultation with Cadent and HoldCo and as reasonably necessary in order to permit the offer and sale of the such Registrable Securities in accordance with the applicable plan of distribution;

 

(b)                                  (1) within a reasonable time prior to the filing of any registration statement, any prospectus, any amendment to a registration statement, amendment or supplement to a prospectus or any free writing prospectus (in each case including all exhibits filed therewith), provide copies of such documents to the selling Securityholders and to the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering, if applicable, and to their respective counsel; fairly consider such reasonable changes in any such documents prior to or after the filing thereof as the counsel to the Securityholders or the underwriter or the underwriters may request; and make such of the representatives of PubCo as shall be reasonably requested by the selling Securityholders or any underwriter available for discussion of such documents; and (2) within a reasonable time prior to the filing of any document which is to be incorporated by reference into a registration statement or a prospectus, provide copies of such document to counsel for the Securityholders and underwriters; fairly consider such reasonable changes in such document prior to or after the filing thereof as counsel for such Securityholders or such underwriter shall request; and make such of the representatives of PubCo as shall be reasonably requested by such counsel available for discussion of such document;

 

(c)                                   use all reasonable efforts to cause each registration statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of such registration statement, amendment or supplement and during the distribution of the registered Registrable Securities (x) to comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act (including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) and (y) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(d)                                  notify each Securityholder promptly, and, if requested by such Securityholder, confirm such advice in writing, (i) when a registration statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements thereto become effective if such registration statement or post-effective amendment is not automatically effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act, (ii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if, between the effective date of a registration statement and the closing of any sale of

 

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securities covered thereby pursuant to any agreement to which PubCo is a party, the representations and warranties of PubCo contained in such agreement cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if PubCo receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, and (iv) of the happening of any event during the period a registration statement is effective as a result of which such registration statement or the related prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(e)                                   furnish counsel for each underwriter, if any, and for the Securityholders copies of any correspondence with the SEC or any state securities authority relating to the registration statement or prospectus;

 

(f)                                    otherwise use all reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including making available to its security holders an earnings statement covering at least 12 months which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar provision then in force); and

 

(g)                                   use all reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement at the earliest possible time.

 

4.3                                Non-Shelf Registered Offerings and Shelf Takedowns . In connection with any non-shelf registered offering or shelf takedown that is demanded by Securityholders or as to which piggyback rights otherwise apply, PubCo will:

 

(a)                                  cooperate with the selling Securityholders and the sole underwriter or managing underwriter of an underwritten offering, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the governing documents thereof) and registered in such names as the selling Securityholders or the sole underwriter or managing underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any, may reasonably request at least five days prior to any sale of such Registrable Securities;

 

(b)                                  furnish to each Securityholder and to each underwriter, if any, participating in the relevant offering, without charge, as many copies of the applicable prospectus, including each preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such Securityholder or underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities; PubCo hereby consents to the use of the prospectus, including each preliminary prospectus, by each such Securityholder and underwriter in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the prospectus or the preliminary prospectus;

 

(c)                                   (1) use all reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities being offered and sold, no later than the time the applicable registration statement becomes effective, under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as each underwriter, if any, or any Securityholder holding Registrable Securities covered by a

 

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registration statement, shall reasonably request; (2) use all reasonable efforts to keep each such registration or qualification effective during the period such registration statement is required to be kept effective; and (3) do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each such underwriter, if any, and Securityholder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Securityholder; provided , however , that PubCo shall not be obligated to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to consent to be subject to general service of process (other than service of process in connection with such registration or qualification or any sale of Registrable Securities in connection therewith) in any such jurisdiction;

 

(d)                                  cause all Registrable Securities being sold to be qualified for inclusion in or listed on any Recognized Exchange on which Registrable Securities issued by PubCo are then so qualified or listed if so requested by the Securityholders, or if so requested by the underwriter or underwriters of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, if any;

 

(e)                                   cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with FINRA and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter in an underwritten offering;

 

(f)                                    use all reasonable efforts to facilitate the distribution and sale of any Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to this Agreement, including without limitation by making “road show” presentations, holding meetings with and making calls to potential investors and taking such other actions as shall be requested by the Securityholders or the lead managing underwriter of an underwritten offering;

 

(g)                                   in the case of an offering that includes a provider of advisory services, enter into and perform its obligations under customary agreements (including an advisory services agreement and an indemnification agreement in customary form); and

 

(h)                                  enter into customary agreements (including, in the case of an underwritten offering, underwriting agreements in customary form, and including provisions with respect to indemnification and contribution in customary form and consistent with the provisions relating to indemnification and contribution contained herein) and take all other customary and appropriate actions in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities and in connection therewith:

 

(1)                                  make such representations and warranties to the selling Securityholders and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in similar underwritten offerings;

 

(2)                                  obtain opinions of counsel to PubCo and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the lead managing underwriter, if any) addressed to each selling Securityholder and the underwriters, if any, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in sales of securities or underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Securityholders and underwriters;

 

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(3)                                  obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from PubCo’s independent certified public accountants addressed to the selling Securityholders, if permissible, and the underwriters, if any, which letters shall be customary in form and shall cover matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters to underwriters in connection with primary underwritten offerings; and

 

(4)                                  to the extent requested and customary for the relevant transaction, enter into a Securities sales agreement with the Securityholders providing for, among other things, the appointment of such representative as agent for the selling Securityholders for the purpose of soliciting purchases of Registrable Securities, which agreement shall be customary in form, substance and scope and shall contain customary representations, warranties and covenants; and

 

The above shall be done at such times as customarily occur in similar registered offerings or shelf takedowns.

 

4.4                                Due Diligence . In connection with each registration and offering of Registrable Securities to be sold by Securityholders, PubCo will, in accordance with customary practice, make available for inspection by representatives of the Securityholders and underwriters and any counsel or accountant retained by such Securityholders or underwriters all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of PubCo and cause appropriate officers, managers, employees, outside counsel and accountants of PubCo to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter, counsel or accountant in connection with their due diligence exercise, including through in-person meetings, but subject to customary privilege constraints.

 

4.5                                Information from Securityholders . Each Securityholder that holds Registrable Securities covered by any registration statement will furnish to PubCo such information regarding itself as is required to be included in the registration statement or is otherwise required by FINRA or the SEC in connection with such registration statement, the ownership of Registrable Securities by such Securityholder and the proposed distribution by such Securityholder of such Registrable Securities as PubCo may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

 

4.6                                Expenses . All Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration statement or registered offering covering Registrable Securities held by the Securityholders will be borne by PubCo. However, underwriters’, brokers’ and dealers’ discounts and commissions applicable to Registrable Securities sold for the account of a Securityholder will be borne by such Securityholder.

 

ARTICLE V

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

5.1                                Indemnification by PubCo . In the event of any registration under the Securities Act by any registration statement pursuant to rights granted in this Agreement of Registrable Securities held by Securityholders, PubCo will indemnify and hold harmless Securityholders,

 

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their officers, directors and affiliates, and each underwriter of such securities and each other Person, if any, who Controls any Securityholder or such underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (including legal fees and costs of court), joint or several, to which Securityholders or such underwriter or controlling Person may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, including any amount paid in settlement of any litigation commenced or threatened, and shall promptly reimburse such Persons, as and when incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating any claims and defending any actions, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or any actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any violation or alleged violation by PubCo of the Securities Act, any blue sky laws, securities laws or other applicable laws of any state or country in which such Shares are offered and relating to action taken or action or inaction required of PubCo in connection with such offering, or arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact (i) contained, on its effective date, in any registration statement under which such securities were registered under the Securities Act or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, or which arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) contained in any preliminary prospectus, if used prior to the effective date of such registration statement, or in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented if PubCo shall have filed with the SEC any amendment or supplement to the final prospectus), or which arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in such prospectus or necessary to make the statements in such prospectus not misleading; and will reimburse Securityholders and each such underwriter and each such controlling Person for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, or liability; provided , however , that PubCo shall not be liable to any Securityholder or its underwriters or controlling Persons in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to PubCo through a written instrument duly executed by Securityholders or such underwriter specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

 

5.2                                Indemnification by Securityholders . Each Securityholder as a condition to including Registrable Securities in such registration statement will indemnify and hold harmless (in the same manner and to the same extent as set forth in Section 5.1 hereof) PubCo, each director of PubCo, each officer of PubCo who shall sign the registration statement, and any Person who Controls PubCo within the meaning of the Securities Act, (i) with respect to any statement or omission from such registration statement, or any amendment or supplement to it, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to PubCo through a written instrument duly executed by such Securityholder specifically regarding such Securityholder for use in the preparation of such registration statement or amendment or supplement, and (ii) with respect to compliance by such Securityholder with applicable laws in effecting the sale or other disposition of the securities covered by such registration statement.

 

5.3                                Indemnification Procedures . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party of notice of the commencement of any action involving a claim referred to in Section 5.1 and

 

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Section 5.2 hereof, the indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made or may be made against an indemnifying party, give written notice to such indemnifying party of the commencement of the action. The failure of any indemnified party to give notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations in this  Article V , except to the extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced by the failure to give notice. If any such action is brought against an indemnified party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense of the action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election to assume defense of the action, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses incurred by the latter in connection with the action’s defense other than reasonable costs of investigation. An indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any action or proceeding and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at such indemnified party’s expense unless (i) the employment of such counsel has been specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, which authorization shall not be unreasonably withheld, (ii) the indemnifying party has not assumed the defense and employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party within thirty (30) days after notice of any such action or proceeding, or (iii) the named parties to any such action or proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action or proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party), it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to all local counsel which is necessary, in the good faith opinion of both counsel for the indemnifying party and counsel for the indemnified party in order to adequately represent the indemnified parties) for the indemnified party and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred upon written request and presentation of invoices. Whether or not a defense is assumed by the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its consent (not to be unreasonably withheld). No indemnifying party will consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which (i) does not include as an unconditional term the giving by the claimant or plaintiff, to the indemnified party, of a release from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation or (ii) involves the imposition of equitable remedies or the imposition of any non-financial obligations on the indemnified party.

 

5.4                                Contribution . If the indemnification required by this  Article V from the indemnifying party is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any indemnifiable losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefit of the indemnifying and indemnified parties and (ii) if the allocation in clause (i)  is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefit referred to in clause (i)  and also the relative fault of the indemnified and indemnifying parties, in connection with the actions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The

 

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relative benefits received by a party shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it bear to the total amounts (including, in the case of any underwriter, any underwriting commissions and discounts) received by each other party. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact, has been made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or parties, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damage, liabilities, and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. PubCo and the Securityholders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5.4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the prior provisions of this Section 5.4 .

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.4 , no indemnifying party shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the securities were offered to the public by such indemnifying party exceeds the amount of any damages which such indemnifying party has otherwise been required to pay by reason of an untrue statement or omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such a fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

OTHER AGREEMENTS

 

6.1                                Assignment . No Securityholder shall assign all or any part of this Agreement without the prior written consent of PubCo; provided , however , that without the prior written consent of PubCo, each of Cadent and HoldCo may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement in whole or in part to (x) any of their respective Affiliates and/or (y) any Person who becomes a holder of Registrable Securities upon a distribution by Cadent or HoldCo, as applicable, of shares of Class A Common Stock or OpCo Units to its members, limited partners or stockholders that becomes a party hereto by executing and delivering an assignment and joinder agreement to PubCo, substantially in the form of  Exhibit A to this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding on the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

6.2                                Merger or Consolidation . In the event PubCo engages in a merger or consolidation in which the Registrable Securities are converted into securities of another company, appropriate arrangements will be made so that the registration rights provided under this Agreement continue to be provided to Securityholders by the issuer of such securities. To the extent such new issuer, or any other company acquired by PubCo in a merger or consolidation, was bound by registration rights obligations that would conflict with the provisions of this Agreement, PubCo will, unless Securityholders then holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities otherwise agree, use its commercially reasonable efforts to modify any

 

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such “inherited” registration rights obligations so as not to interfere in any material respects with the rights provided under this Agreement. To the extent any such modification of “inherited” registration rights disproportionately and adversely impacts any Securityholder hereunder, such modification shall not be effective as to such Securityholder without the consent of such Securityholder.

 

6.3                                Limited Liability . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, neither the members, general partners, limited partners or managing directors, or any directors or officers of any members, general or limited partner, advisory director, nor any future members, general partners, limited partners, advisory directors, or managing directors, if any, of any Securityholder shall have any personal liability for performance of any obligation of such Securityholder under this Agreement in excess of the respective capital contributions of such members, general partners, limited partners, advisory directors or managing directors to such Securityholder.

 

6.4                                Rule 144 . If PubCo is subject to the requirements of Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, PubCo covenants that it will file any reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (or, if PubCo is subject to the requirements of Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act but is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Securityholder, make publicly available such information) and it will take such further action as any Securityholder may reasonably request, so as to enable such Securityholder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (b) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Securityholder, PubCo will deliver to such Securityholder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.4 shall not in any way limit or otherwise modify any applicable restrictions on transfer set forth in the A&R OpCo Agreement.

 

6.5                                In-Kind Distributions . If any Securityholder seeks to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of its Registrable Securities to its direct or indirect equityholders, PubCo will, subject to applicable lockups, work with such Securityholder and PubCo’s transfer agent to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested by such Securityholder.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1                                Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telex, fax or air courier guaranteeing delivery to the Persons at the respective addresses set forth below or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice.

 

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(a)                                  If to PubCo, to:

 

Cactus, Inc.
Cobalt Center
920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77024
Attention: Scott Bender
Fax: (713) 626-8800

 

with a copy (not constituting notice) to:

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
666 Fifth Avenue, 26
th  Floor
New York, New York 10103
Attention: Adorys Velazquez
Fax: (212) 237-0100

 

(b)                                  If to Cadent, to:

 

Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P.
4 High Ridge Park, Suite 303
Stamford, Connecticut 06905
Attention: Bruce Rothstein
Fax: 203-638-5022

 

with a copy (not constituting notice) to:

 

DuBois Bryant & Campbell
303 Colorado, Suite 2300
Austin, TX 78701
Attention: J. Nixon Fox, III

 

(c)                                   If to HoldCo, to:

 

Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC
Cobalt Center
920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77024
Attention: Scott Bender
Fax: (713) 626-8800

 

with a copy (not constituting notice) to:

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
666 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor
New York, New York 10103
Attention: Adorys Velazquez
Fax: (212) 237-0100

 

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Any such notice, request, demand or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally or by facsimile or electronic transmission, (b) on the first Business Day after being sent if delivered by nationally recognized overnight delivery service and (c) upon the earlier of actual receipt thereof or five Business Days after the date of deposit in the United States mail if delivered by mail.

 

7.2                                Section Headings . The article and section headings in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. References in this Agreement to a designated “Article” or “Section” refer to an Article or Section of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically indicated.

 

7.3                                Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

7.4                                Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

(a)                                  The parties to this Agreement hereby agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, and appellate courts from any thereof in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

7.5                                Amendments .

 

(a)                                  This Agreement may be amended only by an instrument in writing executed by PubCo and Securityholders holding at least a majority of the Registrable Securities collectively held by them; provided that any amendment that would adversely impact the rights hereunder of Cadent or HoldCo shall require the prior written consent of Cadent or HoldCo, as applicable; provided , further , that any amendment that would disproportionately and adversely impact (i) the rights hereunder of the Securityholders party hereto other than Cadent without similarly affecting the rights hereunder of Cadent (other than the granting of demand rights to any new party to become a Securityholder hereunder and rights incidental thereto) shall require the prior approval of a such Securityholders other than Cadent holding a majority of the Registrable Securities held by such Securityholders, (ii) the rights hereunder of any Securityholder other than Cadent without similarly affecting the rights hereunder of all other Securityholders other than Cadent shall require the prior written consent of such Securityholder. This Agreement will terminate as to any Securityholder when it no longer holds any Registrable Securities.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything in Section 7.5(a)  hereof to the contrary, if PubCo at any time after the date of this Agreement grants to any other holders of its securities (other than any assignees becoming party hereto after the date hereof in accordance with Section 6.1 hereof) any rights to request or cause PubCo to effect the registration under the Securities Act or offering or sale of any such securities on any terms materially more favorable to such

 

18



 

holders than the terms set forth in this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall, upon the request of Cadent or HoldCo, be deemed amended or supplemented to the extent necessary to provide Cadent and HoldCo such more favorable rights and benefits.

 

7.6                                Entire Agreement . This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. The registration rights granted under this Agreement supersede any registration, qualification or similar rights with respect to any of the Registrable Securities granted under any other agreement, and any of such preexisting registration rights are hereby terminated.

 

7.7                                Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any specific provision of this Agreement shall not invalidate or render unenforceable any of its other provisions. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed reformed, if practicable, to the extent necessary to render it valid and enforceable and to the extent permitted by law and consistent with the intent of the parties to this Agreement.

 

7.8                                Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, including by means of facsimile, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute the same instrument.

 

7.9                                Additional Holders . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, PubCo may from time to time add additional holders of Registrable Securities of PubCo as parties to this Agreement. In order to become a party to this Agreement, such additional party must execute a signature page evidencing such party’s agreement to be bound hereby as a Securityholder, and upon PubCo’s receipt of any such additional holder’s executed signature page hereto, such additional holder shall be deemed to be a party hereto and such additional signature pages shall be a part of this Agreement.

 

7.10                         Equitable Remedies . The parties hereto agree that irreparable harm would occur in the event that any of the agreements and provisions of this Agreement were not performed fully by the parties hereto in accordance with their specific terms or conditions or were otherwise breached, and that money damages are an inadequate remedy for breach of this Agreement because of the difficulty of ascertaining and quantifying the amount of damage that will be suffered by the parties hereto in the event that this Agreement is not performed in accordance with its terms or conditions or is otherwise breached. It is accordingly hereby agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to restrain, enjoin and prevent breaches of this Agreement by the other parties and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, such remedy being in addition to and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies to which the other parties are entitled to at law or in equity.

 

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank ]

 

19



 

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

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

CACTUS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

Name:

Scott Bender

 

Title:

President, CEO and Director

 

 

 

CADENT ENERGY PARTNERS II, L.P.:

 

 

 

By: Cadent Energy Partners II GP, L.P., its general partner

 

 

 

By: CEP II-GP, LLC, its general Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Bruce Rothstein

 

Name:

Bruce Rothstein

 

Title:

Managing Member

 

 

 

 

CACTUS WH ENTERPRISES, LLC:

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

Name:

Scott Bender

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

OTHER:

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Lee Boquet

 

Name:

Lee Boquet

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND JOINDER

 

                      , 20         

 

Reference is made to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of                       , 2018, by and among Cactus, Inc. (“ PubCo ”), Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P. (“ Cadent ”), Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC (“ HoldCo ”) and Lee Boquet (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Registration Rights Agreement, [ Cadent ][ HoldCo ] (the “ Assignor ”) hereby assigns [ in part ][ or in full ] its rights and obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement to each of             ,              and              (each, an “ Assignee ” and collectively, the “ Assignees ”). [ For the avoidance of doubt, the Assignor will remain a party to the Registration Rights Agreement following the assignment in part of its rights and obligations thereunder to the undersigned Assignees. ]

 

Each undersigned Assignee hereby agrees to and does become party to the Registration Rights Agreement as a Securityholder. This assignment and joinder shall serve as a counterpart signature page to the Registration Rights Agreement and by executing below each undersigned Assignee is deemed to have executed the Registration Rights Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named a party thereto and each Assignee’s shares of Class A Common Stock shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank. ]

 

A- 1



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this assignment and joinder as of date first set forth above.

 

 

ASSIGNOR:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

ASSIGNEE(S):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

A- 2


Exhibit 4.2

 

Execution Version

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

This STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of January 29, 2018, is entered into by and among Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Cadent ”), Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Holdco ” and, together with Cadent, the “ Principal Stockholders ”).

 

WHEREAS , in connection with, and effective upon, the completion of the underwritten initial public offering (the “ IPO ”) of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock (as defined below), the Principal Stockholders and the Company have entered into this Agreement to set forth certain understandings among such parties, including with respect to certain governance matters.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1                                     Certain Definitions .  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

A&R OpCo Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of the OpCo, dated as of January 29, 2018, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any specified Person, a Person that directly or indirectly Controls or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such specified Person. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) no Principal Stockholder (other than Holdco) shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of Holdco and (ii) no party to this Agreement shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of another party to this Agreement solely by reason of the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

Beneficial Owner ” of a security is a Person who directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares (a) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security and/or (b) investment power, which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security. The terms “ Beneficially Own ” and “ Beneficial Ownership ” shall have correlative meanings. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement each Principal Stockholder is deemed to Beneficially Own the shares of Common Stock (or other securities of the Company into which such shares of Common Stock may be converted or for which such shares of Common Stock may be exchanged) owned by it, notwithstanding the fact that such shares or other securities are subject to this Agreement. In addition, for purposes of this Agreement, (i) no Principal Stockholder (other than Holdco) will be deemed to Beneficially Own any shares of Common Stock (or other securities of the Company into which such shares of Common Stock may be converted or for which such shares of Common Stock may be exchanged) owned by Holdco and

 



 

(ii) no Principal Stockholder will be deemed to Beneficially Own shares of Common Stock (or other securities of the Company into which such shares of Common Stock may be converted or for which such shares of Common Stock may be exchanged) held by any other Principal Stockholder solely due to the fact that any such shares or other securities are subject to this Agreement.

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Class A Common Stock ” means the shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

 

Class B Common Stock ” means the shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

 

Common Stock ” means the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock, collectively.

 

Control ” (including the terms “ Controls ,” “ Controlled by ” and “ under common Control with ”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to (a) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise or (b) vote 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of a Person.

 

Necessary Action ” means, with respect to a specified result, all actions (to the extent such actions are permitted by applicable law and, in the case of any action by the Company that requires a vote or other action on the part of the Board, to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties that the Company’s directors may have in such capacity) necessary to cause such result, including (i) voting or providing a written consent or proxy with respect to shares of Common Stock, (ii) causing the adoption of stockholders’ resolutions and amendments to the organizational documents of the Company, (iii) executing agreements and instruments and (iv) making or causing to be made, with governmental, administrative or regulatory authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such result.

 

OpCo ” means Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

OpCo Unit ” means any class of units or interests that is established in OpCo.

 

Outstanding Cactus Interests ” means, collectively, (i) the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and (ii) the OpCo Units held by Persons other than the Company. For purposes of calculating any proportion of Outstanding Cactus Interests, the number of Outstanding Cactus Interests held by any Person shall consist of the sum of (a) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by such Person and (b) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock such Person would receive upon the exchange of all OpCo Units held by such Person in accordance with the A&R OpCo Agreement.

 

2



 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, any court, administrative agency, regulatory body, commission or other governmental authority, board, bureau or instrumentality, domestic or foreign and any subdivision thereof or other entity, and also includes any managed investment account.

 

Section 1.2                                     Rules of Construction .

 

(a)                                  Unless the context requires otherwise: (i) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms; (ii) references to Articles and Sections refer to articles and sections of this Agreement; (iii) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” and words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (iv) the terms “hereof,” “hereto,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (v) unless the context otherwise requires, the term “or” is not exclusive and shall have the inclusive meaning of “and/or”; (vi) defined terms herein will apply equally to both the singular and plural forms and derivative forms of defined terms will have correlative meanings; (vii) references to any law or statute shall include all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and references to any law or statute shall be construed as including any legal and statutory provisions consolidating, amending, succeeding or replacing the applicable law or statute; (viii) references to any Person include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns; and (ix) references to “days” are to calendar days unless otherwise indicated.

 

(b)                                  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience and identification only and are not intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision thereof.

 

(c)                                   This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or other rule requiring construction against the party that drafted or caused this Agreement to be drafted.

 

ARTICLE II
VOTING AND GOVERNANCE MATTERS

 

Section 2.1                                     Designees .

 

(a)                                  Upon the closing of the IPO, the Board shall initially consist of seven directors, including Bruce Rothstein, Scott Bender, Joel Bender, John (Andy) O’Donnell, Michael McGovern, Alan Semple and Gary Rosenthal (the “ Initial Directors ”). Of the Initial Directors, (x) Bruce Rothstein, John (Andy) O’Donnell and Michael McGovern are each deemed to be designees of Cadent and (y) Scott Bender, Joel Bender and Alan Semple are each deemed to be designees of Holdco. From and after the closing of the IPO, the rights of each of Cadent and Holdco to designate directors to the Board shall be as set forth in the remainder of this Section 2.1 .

 

(b)                                  (i) The Company and Holdco shall take all Necessary Action to cause the Board to include a number of directors designated by Cadent (each such director, a “ Cadent Director ”) such that:

 

3



 

(A)                                at least 50% of the directors on the Board are Cadent Directors for so long as Cadent and its Affiliates collectively beneficially own at least 20% of the Outstanding Cactus Interests;

 

(B)                                at least 25% of the directors on the Board are Cadent Directors for so long as Cadent  and its Affiliates collectively beneficially own less than 20% but at least 10% of the Outstanding Cactus Interests; and

 

(C)                                at least one director on the Board is a Cadent Director for so long as Cadent and its Affiliates collectively beneficially own less than 10% but at least 5% of the Outstanding Cactus Interests.

 

If Cadent and its Affiliates collectively Beneficially Own less than 5% of the Outstanding Cactus Interests, Cadent shall not be entitled to designate a nominee.

 

(ii)                                   The Company and Cadent shall take all Necessary Action to cause the Board to include a number of directors designated by Holdco (each such director, a “ Holdco Director ”) such that:

 

(A)                                at least 50% of the directors on the Board are Holdco Directors for so long as Holdco and its Affiliates collectively beneficially own at least 20% of the Outstanding Cactus Interests;

 

(B)                                at least 25% of the directors on the Board are Holdco Directors for so long as Holdco and its Affiliates collectively beneficially own less than 20% but at least 10% of the Outstanding Cactus Interests; and

 

(C)                                at least one director on the Board is a Holdco Director for so long as Holdco and its Affiliates collectively beneficially own less than 10% but at least 5% Outstanding Cactus Interests.

 

If Holdco and its Affiliates collectively Beneficially Own less than 5% of the Outstanding Cactus Interests, Holdco shall not be entitled to designate a nominee.

 

(iii)                                For purposes of calculating the number of Cadent Directors that Cadent is entitled to designate or Holdco Directors that Holdco is entitled to designate, as the case may be, pursuant to this Section 2.1(b) , any fractional amounts shall automatically be rounded upward to the nearest whole number of Cadent Directors or Holdco Directors, as applicable, that is greater than such fractional amount, and any such calculations shall be made on a pro forma basis; provided, however, that neither Cadent nor Holdco shall have the right to designate more than one half of the members of the Board.

 

(iv)                               For the avoidance of doubt, the rights granted to each of Cadent and Holdco to designate members of the Board are additive to, and not intended to limit in any way, the respective rights that Cadent or Holdco or their respective Affiliates may have to nominate, elect or remove directors under the Company’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws or the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

4



 

(v)                                  The Company agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including with respect to any applicable fiduciary duties under Delaware law), that taking all Necessary Action to effectuate the above shall include (A) including the persons designated pursuant to this Section 2.1(b)  in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board for election at any meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, (B) nominating and recommending each such individual to be elected as a director as provided herein and (C) soliciting proxies or consents in favor thereof.  The Company is entitled to identify such individual as a Cadent Director or a Holdco Director, as the case may be, pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   At any time the members of the Board are allocated among separate classes of directors, (i) the Cadent Directors and the Holdco Directors shall be evenly distributed in different classes of directors to the extent practicable and (ii) after taking into account clause (i) of this Section 2.1(c) , each of Cadent and Holdco shall be permitted to designate the class or classes to which each Cadent Director and Holdco, as applicable, shall be allocated.

 

(d)                                  Cadent shall have the right to remove any Cadent Director (with or without cause) appointed by it, from time to time and at any time, from the Board, exercisable upon written notice to the Company, and the Company shall take all Necessary Action to cause such removal. Holdco shall have the right to remove any Holdco (with or without cause) appointed by it, from time to time and at any time, from the Board, exercisable upon written notice to the Company, and the Company shall take all Necessary Action to cause such removal.

 

(e)                                   (i)                                      In the event that a vacancy is created on the Board by the death, disability, resignation or removal (whether by Cadent or otherwise in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as either may be amended or restated from time to time) of a Cadent Director, Cadent shall be entitled to designate an individual to fill the vacancy so long as the total number of persons that will serve on the Board as designees of Cadent immediately following the filling of such vacancy will not exceed the total number of persons Cadent is entitled to designate pursuant to Section 2.1(b)  on the date of such replacement designation.  The Company and Holdco shall take all Necessary Action to cause such replacement designee to become a member of the Board.

 

(ii)                                   In the event that a vacancy is created on the Board by the death, disability, resignation or removal (whether by Holdco or otherwise in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as either may be amended or restated from time to time) of a Holdco Director, Holdco shall be entitled to designate an individual to fill the vacancy so long as the total number of persons that will serve on the Board as designees of Holdco immediately following the filling of such vacancy will not exceed the total number of persons Holdco is entitled to designate pursuant to Section 2.1(b)  on the date of such replacement designation.  The Company and Cadent shall take all Necessary Action to cause such replacement designee to become a member of the Board.

 

(f)                                    (i)                                      If (A) at the time of any annual meeting of the Company held for the election of directors, Cadent and its Affiliates collectively Beneficially Own less than 50% of the Outstanding Cactus Interests but more than 25% of the Outstanding Cactus Interests, then if requested by the Company, Cadent shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to remove

 

5



 

such excess Cadent Directors from the Board and (B) at any time the number of Cadent Directors exceeds the number of Cadent Directors that Cadent is then entitled to designate to the Board and at such time Cadent and its Affiliates collectively Beneficially Own less than 25% of the Outstanding Cactus Interests, then if requested by the Company, Cadent shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to remove such excess Cadent Directors from the Board immediately.

 

(ii)                                   If (A) at the time of any annual meeting of the Company held for the election of directors, Holdco and its Affiliates collectively Beneficially Own less than 50% of the Outstanding Cactus Interests but more than 25% of the Outstanding Cactus Interests, then if requested by the Company, Holdco shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to remove such excess Holdco Directors from the Board and (B) at any time the number of Holdco Directors exceeds the number of Holdco Directors that Holdco is then entitled to designate to the Board and at such time Holdco and its Affiliates collectively Beneficially Own less than 25% of the Outstanding Cactus Interests, then if requested by the Company, Holdco shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to remove such excess Holdco Directors from the Board immediately.

 

Section 2.2                                     Restrictions on Other Agreements .  No Principal Stockholder shall, directly or indirectly, grant any proxy or enter into or agree to be bound by any voting trust, agreement or arrangement of any kind with respect to its shares of Common Stock (or other securities of the Company into which such shares of Common Stock may be converted or for which such shares of Common Stock may be exchanged) if and to the extent the terms thereof conflict with the provisions of this Agreement (whether or not such proxy, voting trust, agreement or agreements are with other Principal Stockholders, holders of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company into which such shares of Common Stock may be converted or for which such shares of Common Stock may be exchanged, that are not parties to this Agreement or otherwise).

 

ARTICLE III
EFFECTIVENESS AND TERMINATION

 

Section 3.1                                     Effectiveness .  This Agreement shall become effective upon the closing of the IPO.  To the extent the closing of the IPO does not occur, the provisions of this Agreement shall be without any force or effect.

 

Section 3.2                                     Termination .  This Agreement shall terminate upon the delivery of written notice to the Company by all of the Principal Stockholders requesting the termination of this Agreement.  Further, at such time as a particular Principal Stockholder no longer Beneficially Owns any shares of Common Stock (or other securities of the Company into which such shares of Common Stock may be converted or for which such shares of Common Stock may be exchanged), all rights and obligations of such Principal Stockholder under this Agreement shall terminate.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, all rights and obligations set forth in Article II shall terminate upon the fifth anniversary of the date of this Agreement, unless earlier terminated pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph of this Section 3.2 .

 

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ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 4.1                                     Notices .  All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered, sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, mailed by registered or certified mail or be sent by facsimile or electronic mail to such party at the address set forth below (or such other address as shall be specified by like notice).  Notices will be deemed to have been duly given hereunder if (a) personally delivered, when received, (b) sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, one business day after deposit with the nationally recognized overnight courier, (c) mailed by registered or certified mail, five business days after the date on which it is so mailed, and (d) sent by facsimile or electronic mail, on the date sent so long as such communication is transmitted before 5:00 p.m. in the time zone of the receiving party on a business day, otherwise, on the next business day.

 

(a)                                  If to the Company, to:

 

Cactus, Inc.
Cobalt Center
920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300
Houston, TX 77024
Attention: Scott Bender
E-mail: scott.bender@cactuswellhead.com

 

(b)                                  If to Cadent, to:

 

Cadent Energy Partners, LLC
800 Westchester Avenue, Suite S-436
Rye Brook, NY 10573
Attention: Bruce Rothstein
E-mail: rothstein@cadentenergy.com

 

Section 4.2                                     Severability .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance, is found to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 4.3                                     Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall be considered one and the same agreement.

 

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Section 4.4                                     Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement (a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and (b) is not intended to confer upon any Person, other than the parties hereto, any rights or remedies hereunder.

 

Section 4.5                                     Further Assurances .  Each party hereto shall execute, deliver, acknowledge and file such other documents and take such further actions as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the other parties hereto to give effect to and carry out the transactions contemplated herein.

 

Section 4.6                                     Governing Law; Equitable Remedies .  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF). The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or was otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions and other equitable remedies to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any of the Selected Courts (as defined below), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with respect to such remedy are hereby waived by each of the parties hereto. Each party hereto further agrees that, in the event of any action for an injunction or other equitable remedy in respect of such breach or enforcement of specific performance, it will not assert the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

Section 4.7                                     Consent To Jurisdiction .  With respect to any suit, action or proceeding (“ Proceeding ”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement, each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably (a) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and the appellate courts therefrom (the “ Selected Courts ”) and waives any objection to venue being laid in the Selected Courts whether based on the grounds of forum non conveniens or otherwise and hereby agrees not to commence any such Proceeding other than before one of the Selected Courts; provided , however , that a party may commence any Proceeding in a court other than a Selected Court solely for the purpose of enforcing an order or judgment issued by one of the Selected Courts; (b) consents to service of process in any Proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by recognized international express carrier or delivery service, to their respective addresses referred to in Section 4.1 hereof; provided, however, that nothing herein shall affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law; and (c) TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, WAIVES, AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE) ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, AND AGREES THAT ANY OF THEM MAY FILE A COPY OF THIS PARAGRAPH WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND BARGAINED-FOR AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES

 

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IRREVOCABLY TO WAIVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND TO HAVE ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT BE TRIED IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A JURY.

 

Section 4.8                                     Amendments; Waivers .

 

(a)                                  No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived unless such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed (i) in the case of an amendment, by each of the parties hereto, and (ii) in the case of a waiver, by each of the parties against whom the waiver is to be effective.

 

(b)                                  No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

Section 4.9                                     Assignment .  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties; provided, however, that the Principal Stockholders may each assign any of its respective rights hereunder to any of its Affiliates. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and assigns.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

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

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

CACTUS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

 

Name:

Scott Bender

 

 

Title:

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

 

 

 

 

HOLDCO:

 

 

 

CACTUS WH ENTERPRISES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

 

Title: President

 

[Signature Page to Stockholders’ Agreement]

 



 

 

CADENT:

 

 

 

CADENT ENERGY PARTNERS II, L.P.:

 

 

 

By:

Cadent Energy Partners II GP, L.P.,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

CEP II-GP, LLC, its general Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Bruce Rothstein

 

 

Name: Bruce Rothstein

 

 

Title: Managing Member

 

[Signature Page to Stockholders’ Agreement]

 


Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

CACTUS, INC.

 

CERTAIN OTHER PERSONS NAMED HEREIN,

 

and

 

THE AGENT

 

DATED AS OF JANUARY 29, 2018

 



 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of January 29, 2018 and effective as of the date of the initial closing of the IPO, is hereby entered into by and among Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporate Taxpayer ”), the TRA Holders and the Agent.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Corporate Taxpayer is the managing member of Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cactus LLC ”), an entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and holds limited liability company interests in Cactus LLC;

 

WHEREAS, Cactus LLC and each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), for the Taxable Year that includes the IPO and for each Taxable Year in which a Redemption occurs;

 

WHEREAS, on the IPO Date, Cactus LLC will use a portion of the net proceeds of the IPO it receives from the Corporate Taxpayer to repay borrowings outstanding under its term loan facility (the “ Debt Payoff ”);

 

WHEREAS, Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC is a holder of Units, and certain TRA Holders are members of Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC and may acquire Units hereafter pursuant to Section 8.3 of the Cactus WH Enterprises LLC Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the TRA Holders currently hold Units or will hold Units in the future and may transfer all or a portion of such Units in one or more Redemptions, and, as a result of such Redemptions, the Corporate Taxpayer is expected to obtain or be entitled to certain tax benefits (including tax benefits relating to the Debt Payoff) as further described herein;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is intended to set forth the agreement among the parties hereto regarding the sharing of the tax benefits realized by the Corporate Taxpayer as a result of the Redemptions (including tax benefits relating to the Debt Payoff);

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1                                   Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth in this Article I shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined).

 

Accrued Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Actual Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the actual liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer; provided that the actual liability for U.S.

 

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federal income Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer shall be calculated taking into account the amount of Allocable Common Basis calculated as set forth in that definition (for the avoidance of doubt, regardless of the extent to which depreciation, amortization or other deductions arising from the underlying adjustments under Section 734(b) are actually allocated to the Corporate Taxpayer).

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person.

 

Agent ” means Cadent Management Services, LLC or such other Person designated as such pursuant to Section 7.6(c) .

 

Agreed Rate ” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 150 basis points.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Allocable Common Basis ” means, with respect to each Unit that is the subject of a Redemption, the portion of any adjustment to the Tax basis of each Reference Asset under Section 734(b) of the Code as a result of the Debt Payoff that is allocable to such Unit in the hands of the Corporate Taxpayer, as determined on the relevant Redemption Date and subsequently adjusted for depreciation or amortization of such Tax basis after the Redemption and prior to the relevant Taxable Year.  For this purpose, the portion of any adjustment to the Tax basis of a Reference Asset under Section 734(b) of the Code as a result of the Debt Payoff that is allocable to such Unit shall equal the total adjustment to the Tax basis of such Reference Asset under Section 734(b) of the Code as a result of the Debt Payoff at the time of the relevant Redemption (as adjusted for depreciation or amortization of such Tax basis after the Redemption and prior to the relevant Taxable Year) divided by the total number of Units outstanding immediately after such Redemption, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be subsequently adjusted on account of changes in the number of Units outstanding as a result of issuances or redemptions of Units occurring after the date of the relevant Redemption.

 

Amended Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Assumed State and Local Tax Rate ” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, (a) the sum of the products of (i) the Corporate Taxpayer’s income and franchise tax apportionment factor(s) for each state and local jurisdiction in which Cactus LLC (or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries that are treated as a partnership or disregarded entity) or the Corporate Taxpayer files an income or franchise tax return for the relevant Taxable Year and (ii) the highest corporate income and franchise tax rate(s) for each state and local jurisdiction in which Cactus LLC (or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries that are treated as a partnership or disregarded entity) or the Corporate Taxpayer files an income or franchise tax return for each relevant Taxable Year, reduced by (b) the product of (i) the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to the Corporate Taxpayer for the relevant Taxable Year (determined based on the calculation of the Hypothetical Tax Liability for the relevant Taxable Year) and (ii) the aggregate rate calculated under clause (a).

 

Attributable ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b)  of this Agreement.

 

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Basis Adjustment ” means any adjustment to the Tax basis of a Reference Asset as a result of a Redemption and the payments made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Redemption (as calculated under Section 2.1 of this Agreement), including, but not limited to: (i) under Section 743(b) of the Code (in situations where, following a Redemption, Cactus LLC remains classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes); and (ii) under Sections 732(b) and 1012 of the Code (in situations where, as a result of one or more Redemptions, Cactus LLC becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes).  For the avoidance of doubt, the amount of any Basis Adjustment resulting from a Redemption of Units shall be determined without regard to any Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to such Units prior to such Redemption; and, further, payments made under this Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in a Basis Adjustment to the extent such payments are treated as Imputed Interest.

 

Beneficial Owner ” and “Beneficially Own” shall be as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the rules promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

Board ” means the board of directors of the Corporate Taxpayer.

 

Business Day ” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of Texas shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

Cactus LLC ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Cactus LLC Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Cactus LLC, as amended from time to time.

 

Cactus WH Enterprises LLC Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC dated as of  January 29, 2018.

 

Call Purchase ” has the meaning set forth in the Cactus LLC Agreement.

 

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following events or series of related events after the IPO Date:

 

(i)                any Person (excluding any Qualifying Owner or any group of Qualifying Owners acting together which would constitute a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and excluding a corporation or other entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Corporate Taxpayer in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Corporate Taxpayer) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporate Taxpayer representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Corporate Taxpayer’s then outstanding voting securities; or

 

(ii)             there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Corporate Taxpayer with any other corporation or other entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, the voting securities of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not continue to represent or are not converted into more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding

 

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voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof; or

 

(iii)          the stockholders of the Corporate Taxpayer approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporate Taxpayer or there is consummated an agreement or series of related agreements for the sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by the Corporate Taxpayer of all or substantially all of the Corporate Taxpayer’s assets, other than such sale or other disposition by the Corporate Taxpayer of all or substantially all of the Corporate Taxpayer’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Corporate Taxpayer in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately prior to such sale.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except with respect to clause (ii) above, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the shares of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in, and own substantially all of the shares of, an entity which owns, either directly or through a Subsidiary, all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

Class A Shares ” means shares of Class A common stock of the Corporate Taxpayer.

 

Code ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement (or any successor U.S. federal income Tax statute).

 

Control ” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Corporate Taxpayer ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Corporate Taxpayer Return ” means the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporate Taxpayer (including any consolidated group of which the Corporate Taxpayer is a member, as further described in Section 7.12(a)  of this Agreement) filed with respect to any Taxable Year.

 

Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit ” for a Taxable Year means the cumulative amount (but not less than zero) of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporate Taxpayer, up to and including such Taxable Year, net of the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Detriments for the same period.  The Realized Tax Benefit and Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year shall be determined based on the most recent Tax Benefit Payment Schedule or Amended Schedule, if any, in existence at the time of such determination.

 

Debt Payoff ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Default Rate ” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 550 basis points.

 

5



 

Determination ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1313(a) of the Code or any other event (including the execution of IRS Form 870-AD) that finally and conclusively establishes the amount of any liability for Tax.

 

Dispute ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Date ” means the date of an Early Termination Notice for purposes of determining the Early Termination Payment.

 

Early Termination Effective Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Rate ” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 150 basis points.

 

Early Termination Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Expert ” means Ernst & Young LLP or such nationally recognized expert in the particular area of disagreement as is mutually acceptable to the Corporate Taxpayer and the Agent.

 

Hypothetical Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer (using the same methods, elections, conventions, U.S. federal income tax rate and similar practices used on the relevant Corporate Taxpayer Return), but without taking into account (i) any Basis Adjustments, (ii) any Allocable Common Basis, (iii) any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest for the Taxable Year, and (iv) any Post-IPO TRA Benefits.  For the avoidance of doubt, Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any U.S. federal income Tax item (or portions thereof) that is attributable to any Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest, and any Post-IPO TRA Benefits. Furthermore, the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be calculated using the actual deductions of (and other impacts of) state and local income and franchise Taxes (for the avoidance of doubt, in the same amount and manner used in the calculation of the Actual Tax Liability).

 

Imputed Interest ” means any interest imputed under Section 1272, 1274 or 483 or other provision of the Code with respect to the Corporate Taxpayer’s payment obligations under this Agreement.

 

IPO ” means the initial public offering of shares by the Corporate Taxpayer.

 

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IPO Date ” means the closing date of the IPO.

 

IRS ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

 

LIBOR ” means during any period, an interest rate per annum equal to the one-year LIBOR rate reported, on the date two (2) calendar days prior to the first day of such period, on the Telerate Page 3750 (or if such screen shall cease to be publicly available, as reported on Reuters Screen page “LIBOR01” or by any other publicly available source of such market rate) for London interbank offered rates for United States dollar deposits for such period.

 

Majority TRA Holders ” means, at the time of any determination, TRA Holders who would be entitled to receive more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate amount of the Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Holders hereunder (determined using such calculations of Early Termination Payments reasonably estimated by the Corporate Taxpayer) if the Corporate Taxpayer had exercised its right of early termination on such date.

 

Market Value ” means the closing price of the Class A Shares on the applicable Redemption Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Class A Shares are then traded or listed, as reported by Bloomberg L.P.; provided , that if the closing price is not reported by Bloomberg L.P. for the applicable Redemption Date, then the Market Value means the closing price of the Class A Shares on the Business Day immediately preceding such Redemption Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Class A Shares are then traded or listed, as reported by Bloomberg L.P.; provided further that if the Class A Shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, “Market Value” means the cash consideration paid for Class A Shares, or the fair market value of the other property delivered for Class A Shares, as determined by the Board in good faith.

 

Material Objection Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

Net Tax Benefit ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Objection Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Payment Date ” means any date on which a payment is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity.

 

Post-IPO TRA ” means any tax receivable agreement (or comparable agreement) entered into by the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Corporate Taxpayer is obligated to pay over amounts with respect to tax benefits resulting from any increases in Tax basis, net operating losses or other tax attributes to which the Corporate Taxpayer becomes entitled as a result of a transaction (other than any Redemptions) after the date of this Agreement.

 

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Post-IPO TRA Benefits ” means any tax benefits resulting from increases in Tax basis,  net operating losses or other tax attributes with respect to which the Corporate Taxpayer is obligated to make payments under a Post-IPO TRA.

 

Qualifying Owners ” means (i) Scott Bender, or any company of which he is the manager, managing member or he otherwise controls, including, but not limited to, Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC, (ii) any wife, lineal descendant, legal guardian or other legal representative or estate of Scott Bender; (iii) any trust of which at least one of the trustees is a person described in clause (i) or (ii) above, and (iv) Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P. and any affiliated funds or investment vehicles managed by Cadent Energy Partners, LLC.

 

Realized Tax Benefit ” means, for a Taxable Year, the sum of (i) the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability for such Taxable Year over the Actual Tax Liability for such Taxable Year and (ii) the State and Local Tax Benefit for such Taxable Year.  If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by the IRS of any Taxable Year, such liability and the corresponding Hypothetical Tax Liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination with respect to such Actual Tax Liability.

 

Realized Tax Detriment ” means, for a Taxable Year, the sum of (i) the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability for such Taxable Year and (ii) the State and Local Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year.  If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by the IRS of any Taxable Year, such liability and the corresponding Hypothetical Tax Liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination with respect to such Actual Tax Liability.

 

Reconciliation Dispute ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.10 of this Agreement.

 

Reconciliation Procedures ” means the procedures described in Section 7.10 of this Agreement.

 

Redemption ” means any transfer of Units by a TRA Holder, or by a permitted transferee of such TRA Holder pursuant to the Cactus LLC Agreement, to Cactus LLC or to the Corporate Taxpayer pursuant to the Redemption Right or a Call Purchase, as applicable.

 

Redemption Date ” means each date on which a Redemption is effective under the Cactus LLC Agreement.

 

Redemption Notice ” has the meaning set forth in the Cactus LLC Agreement.

 

Redemption Right ” means the redemption right of holders of Units set forth in Section 4.6 of the Cactus LLC Agreement.

 

Redemption Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 of this Agreement.

 

Reference Asset ” means, with respect to any Redemption, an asset (other than cash or a cash equivalent) that is held by Cactus LLC, or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (but only to

 

8



 

the extent such Subsidiaries are not held through any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes), at the time of such Redemption.  A Reference Asset also includes any asset that is “substituted basis property” under Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code with respect to a Reference Asset.

 

Schedule ” means any of the following:  (i) a Redemption Schedule, (ii) a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule, or (iii) the Early Termination Schedule.

 

Senior Obligations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.

 

State and Local Tax Benefit ” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability; provided that, for purposes of determining the State and Local Tax Benefit, each of the Hypothetical Tax Liability and the Actual Tax Liability shall be calculated using the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate instead of the rate applicable for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

State and Local Tax Detriment ” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability; provided that, for purposes of determining the State and Local Tax Detriment, each of the Actual Tax Liability and the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be calculated using the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate instead of the rate applicable for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Subsidiaries ” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person, owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controls more than 50% of the voting power or other similar interests or the sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such Person.

 

Tax Benefit Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Tax Benefit Payment Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.

 

Tax Proceeding ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

 

Tax Receivable Agreements ” means this Agreement and any Post-IPO TRA.

 

Tax Return ” means any return, declaration, report or similar statement required to be filed with respect to Taxes (including any attached schedules), including, without limitation, any information return, claim for refund, amended return and declaration of estimated Tax.

 

Taxable Year ” means a taxable year of the Corporate Taxpayer as defined in Section 441(b) of the Code (which, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a period of less than twelve (12) months for which a Tax Return is made), ending on or after the IPO Date.

 

Taxes ” means any and all U.S. federal, state and local taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits, and any interest related to such Tax.

 

Taxing Authority ” means the IRS and any federal, national, state, county or municipal or other local government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any

 

9



 

quasi-governmental body exercising any taxing authority or any other authority exercising Tax regulatory authority.

 

TRA Holder ” means each of those Persons set forth on Schedule A and their respective successors and permitted assigns pursuant to Section 7.6(a) .

 

Transferor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.12(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Treasury Regulations ” means the final, temporary and proposed regulations under the Code promulgated from time to time (including corresponding provisions and succeeding provisions) as in effect for the relevant Taxable Year.

 

Units ” has the meaning set forth in the Cactus LLC Agreement.

 

Valuation Assumptions ” means, as of an Early Termination Date, the assumptions that:

 

(i)                                                                                      in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date, the Corporate Taxpayer will have taxable income sufficient to fully utilize the deductions arising from all Basis Adjustments (assuming, to the extent applicable, in calculating such deductions that the election under Section 168(k)(7) is made with respect to any actual or deemed Basis Adjustment arising from a Redemption made in the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Date or deemed to be made on the Early Termination Date pursuant to clause (v) of this definition), all Allocable Common Basis and the Imputed Interest during such Taxable Year or future Taxable Years (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest that would result from future Tax Benefit Payments that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions, further assuming such future Tax Benefit Payments would be paid on the due date, without extensions, for filing the Corporate Taxpayer Return for the applicable Taxable Year) in which such deductions would become available;

 

(ii)                                   any loss or credit carryovers generated by deductions or losses arising from any Basis Adjustment, Allocable Common Basis or Imputed Interest (including such Basis Adjustment, Allocable Common Basis and Imputed Interest generated as a result of payments under this Agreement) that are available in the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Date will be utilized by the Corporate Taxpayer in the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Date;

 

(iii)                                the U.S. federal, state and local income and franchise tax rates that will be in effect for each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and other law as in effect on the Early Termination Date except to the extent any change to such tax rates for such Taxable Year have already been enacted into law;

 

(iv)                               any non-amortizable Reference Assets to which any Basis Adjustment or Allocable Common Basis is attributable will be disposed of in a fully taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the fifth anniversary of the Early Termination Date for an amount sufficient to fully utilize the Basis Adjustment or Allocable Common Basis, as applicable, with respect to such non-amortizable Reference Asset; provided , that in the event of a Change in Control which includes a taxable sale of such non-amortizable Reference Asset (including the sale of all of the equity interests in an entity classified as a

 

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partnership or disregarded entity that directly or indirectly owns such non-amortizable Reference Asset), such non-amortizable Reference Asset shall be deemed disposed of at the time of the Change in Control; and

 

(v)                                  if, at the Early Termination Date, there are Units that have not been transferred in a Redemption, then all Units shall be deemed to be transferred pursuant to the Redemption Right effective on the Early Termination Date.

 

Section 1.2                                   Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions .  The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.  References to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules are to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified.  All Exhibits and Schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Any capitalized terms used in any Exhibit or Schedule but not otherwise defined therein, shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement.  Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular.  Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import.  “Writing,” “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any agreement or contract are to that agreement or contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.  References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively.

 

ARTICLE II
DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED TAX BENEFITS

 

Section 2.1                                   Redemption Schedules .  Within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of the Corporate Taxpayer Return for each Taxable Year in which any Redemption has been effected by a TRA Holder, the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver to the Agent a schedule (the “ Redemption Schedule ”) that shows, in reasonable detail necessary to perform the calculations required by this Agreement, including with respect to each TRA Holder participating in any Redemption during such Taxable Year, (i) the Basis Adjustments with respect to the Reference Assets as a result of the Redemptions effected by such TRA Holder in such Taxable Year, (ii) the Allocable Common Basis attributable to the Units that were the subject of a Redemption effected by such TRA Holder in such Taxable Year, and (iii) the period (or periods) over which such Basis Adjustments and Allocable Common Basis are amortizable and/or depreciable.

 

Section 2.2                                   Tax Benefit Payment Schedules .

 

(a)                                Within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of the Corporate Taxpayer Return for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, the Corporate Taxpayer shall provide to the Agent: (i) a schedule showing, in reasonable detail, (A) the calculation of the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable

 

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Year, (B) the portion of the Net Tax Benefit, if any, that is Attributable to each TRA Holder who has participated in any Redemption, (C) the Accrued Amount with respect to any such Net Tax Benefit that is Attributable to such TRA Holder, (D) the Tax Benefit Payment due to each such TRA Holder, and (E) the portion of such Tax Benefit Payment that the Corporate Taxpayer intends to treat as Imputed Interest (a “ Tax Benefit Payment Schedule ”), (ii) a reasonably detailed calculation by the Corporate Taxpayer of the Hypothetical Tax Liability, (iii) a reasonably detailed calculation by the Corporate Taxpayer of the Actual Tax Liability, (iv) a copy of the Corporate Taxpayer Return for such Taxable Year, and (v) any other work papers reasonably requested by the Agent.  In addition, the Corporate Taxpayer shall allow the Agent reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives of the Corporate Taxpayer in connection with a review of such Tax Benefit Payment Schedule.  The Tax Benefit Payment Schedule will become final as provided in Section 2.3(a)  and may be amended as provided in Section 2.3(b)  (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.3(b) ).

 

(b)                                For purposes of calculating the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for any Taxable Year, carryovers or carrybacks of any U.S. federal income Tax item attributable to the Basis Adjustments, Allocable Common Basis, Imputed Interest, and any Post-IPO TRA Benefits shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations, as applicable, governing the use, limitation and expiration of carryovers or carrybacks of the relevant type.  If a carryover or carryback of any U.S. federal income Tax item includes a portion that is attributable to the Basis Adjustment, Allocable Common Basis, Imputed Interest, or any Post-IPO TRA Benefits, and another portion that is not so attributable, such respective portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology.  The parties agree that (i) any payment under this Agreement (to the extent permitted by law and other than amounts accounted for as Imputed Interest) will be treated as a subsequent upward adjustment to the purchase price of the relevant Units and will have the effect of creating additional Basis Adjustments to Reference Assets for the Corporate Taxpayer in the year of payment, and (ii) as a result, such additional Basis Adjustments will be incorporated into the current year calculation and into future year calculations, as appropriate.

 

Section 2.3                                   Procedure; Amendments .

 

(a)                                An applicable Schedule or amendment thereto shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which the Agent has received the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto unless (i) the Agent, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving an applicable Schedule or amendment thereto, provides the Corporate Taxpayer with notice of a material objection to such Schedule (“ Objection Notice ”) made in good faith or (ii) the Agent provides a written waiver of such right of any Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule or amendment thereto becomes binding on the date a waiver from the Agent has been received by the Corporate Taxpayer.  If the Corporate Taxpayer and Agent, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in an Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer of such Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer and Agent shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.10 or Resolution of Disputes procedures under Section 7.9 , as applicable.

 

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(b)                                The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporate Taxpayer (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule, (ii) to correct inaccuracies in the Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was provided to the Agent, (iii) to comply with the Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures, (iv) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other Tax item to such Taxable Year, (v) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Corporate Taxpayer Return filed for such Taxable Year or (vi) to adjust a Redemption Schedule to take into account payments made pursuant to this Agreement (any such Schedule, an “ Amended Schedule ”).  The Corporate Taxpayer shall provide an Amended Schedule to the Agent within sixty (60) calendar days of the occurrence of an event referenced in clauses (i) through (vi) of the preceding sentence.  For the avoidance of doubt, in the event a Schedule is amended after such Schedule becomes final pursuant to Section 2.3(a) , the Amended Schedule shall not be taken into account in calculating any Tax Benefit Payment in the Taxable Year to which the amendment relates but instead shall be taken into account in calculating the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit for the Taxable Year in which the amendment actually occurs.

 

Section 2.4                                   Section 754 Election . In its capacity as the sole managing member of Cactus LLC, the Corporate Taxpayer will ensure that, on and after the date hereof and continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, Cactus LLC and any of its eligible Subsidiaries will have in effect an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (and under any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law).

 

ARTICLE III
TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

 

Section 3.1                                   Payments .

 

(a)                                Within five (5) Business Days after a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule delivered to the Agent becomes final in accordance with Section 2.3(a) , the Corporate Taxpayer shall pay to each TRA Holder the Tax Benefit Payment in respect of such TRA Holder determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b)  for such Taxable Year.  Each such payment shall be made by check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account previously designated by the TRA Holder to the Corporate Taxpayer, or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder.  For the avoidance of doubt, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of estimated Tax payments, including, without limitation, U.S. federal or state estimated income Tax payments.

 

(b)                                A “ Tax Benefit Payment ” in respect of a TRA Holder for a Taxable Year means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of the portion of the Net Tax Benefit Attributable to such TRA Holder and the Accrued Amount with respect thereto.  The “ Net Tax Benefit ” for a Taxable Year shall be an amount equal to the excess, if any, of 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of such Taxable Year over the sum of (i) the total amount of payments previously made under this Section 3.1 (excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) and (ii) the total amount of Tax Benefit Payments previously made under the

 

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corresponding provision of any Post-IPO TRA; provided , for the avoidance of doubt, that no TRA Holder shall be required to return any portion of any previously made Tax Benefit Payment. Subject to Section 3.3, the portion of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year that is “ Attributable ” to a TRA Holder is the portion of such Net Tax Benefit that it is derived from any (i) any Basis Adjustment or Allocable Common Basis that was attributable, at the time of the relevant Redemption, to the Units acquired or deemed acquired by the Corporate Taxpayer in a Redemption undertaken by or with respect to such TRA Holder or (ii) any Imputed Interest with respect to Tax Benefit Payments made to such TRA Holder. The “ Accrued Amount ” with respect to any portion of a Net Tax Benefit shall equal an amount determined in the same manner as interest on such portion of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the Corporate Taxpayer Return for such Taxable Year until the Payment Date.  For the avoidance of doubt, for Tax purposes, the Accrued Amount shall not be treated as interest but shall instead be treated as additional consideration for the acquisition of Units in a Redemption unless otherwise required by law.

 

(c)                                 Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, a TRA Holder may elect, by notifying the Corporate Taxpayer in writing in connection with the delivery of the relevant Redemption Notice, to limit the aggregate Tax Benefit Payments to be made to such TRA Holder, with respect to the related Redemption, to (i) a percentage specified by such TRA Holder in its written notification of (ii) the amount equal to the sum of (A) any cash, excluding any Tax Benefit Payments, received by such TRA Holder in the relevant Redemption and (B) the aggregate Market Value of the Class A Shares received by such TRA Holder in such Redemption, provided , for the avoidance of doubt, that such amount shall not include any Imputed Interest with respect to such Redemption. An election made by a TRA Holder pursuant to this Section 3.1(c)  may not be revoked.

 

Section 3.2                                   No Duplicative Payments .  It is intended that the provisions of this Agreement will not result in duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) required under the Tax Receivable Agreements.  It is also intended that the provisions of the Tax Receivable Agreements will result in 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit, and the Accrued Amount thereon, being paid to the Persons to whom payments are due pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreements.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in the appropriate manner to achieve these fundamental results.

 

Section 3.3                                   Pro Rata Payments; Coordination of Benefits with Other Tax Receivable Agreements .

 

(a)                                Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.1 to the contrary, to the extent that the aggregate amount of the Corporate Taxpayer’s tax benefit subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements is limited in a particular Taxable Year because the Corporate Taxpayer does not have sufficient taxable income in such Taxable Year to fully utilize available deductions and other attributes:

 

(i)              the limitation on the tax benefit for the Corporate Taxpayer shall first be allocated among the Tax Receivable Agreements as follows: (A) first among any Post-IPO TRAs (and then among all Persons eligible for payments thereunder in the manner set forth in such Post-IPO TRAs) and (B) then, to the extent of any remaining limitation

 

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on tax benefit for the Corporate Taxpayer after the application of clause (A), to this Agreement (and then among all TRA Holders as set forth in Section 3.3(a)(ii) below) (for the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 3.1(a)(i) , it is intended that in calculating the Corporate Taxpayer’s tax benefit subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements, any available taxable income of the Corporate Taxpayer be first allocated to this Agreement and any remaining available taxable income will then be allocated to any Post-IPO TRA); and

 

(ii)           if any part of the limitation on the tax benefit is allocated to this Agreement, such allocated limitation shall be further allocated among all TRA Holders in proportion to the respective portion of the Net Tax Benefit that would have been Attributable to each such TRA Holder in such Taxable Year under this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer had sufficient taxable income in such Taxable Year so that there was no such limitation; provided that if any portion of the Net Tax Benefit for such Taxable Year results from the carryback of a loss or other Tax item to such Taxable Year from a later Taxable Year (for the avoidance of doubt, carrybacks of losses and other Tax items from more than one later Taxable Year shall be used in the order prescribed in the applicable rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations), no part of the limitation shall be allocated to the tax benefits set forth on the Schedule prior to its amendment to reflect the carryback and any limitation shall instead be applied to the tax benefits carried back and such limitation shall be further allocated among all TRA Holders in proportion to the respective portion of the Net Tax Benefit that would have been Attributable to each such TRA Holder in the Taxable Year in which such carried back losses or other Tax items arose under this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer had sufficient taxable income in such Taxable Year so that there was no such limitation.

 

(b)                                After taking into account Section 3.3(a) , if for any reason the Corporate Taxpayer does not fully satisfy its payment obligations to make all Tax Benefit Payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreements in respect of a particular Taxable Year, then (i) the Corporate Taxpayer will pay the same proportion of each Tax Benefit Payment due to each Person to whom a payment is due under each of the Tax Receivable Agreements in respect of such Taxable Year, without favoring one obligation over the other, and (ii) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments in respect of prior Taxable Years have been made in full.

 

(c)                                 To the extent the Corporate Taxpayer makes a payment to a TRA Holder in respect of a particular Taxable Year under Section 3.1(a)  of this Agreement (taking into account Section 3.3(a)  and (a)(i) , but excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) in an amount in excess of the amount of such payment that should have been made to such TRA Holder in respect of such Taxable Year, then (i) such TRA Holder shall not receive further payments under Section 3.1(a)  until such TRA Holder has foregone an amount of payments equal to such excess and (ii) the Corporate Taxpayer will pay the amount of such TRA Holder’s foregone payments to the other Persons to whom a payment is due under the Tax Receivable Agreements in a manner such that each such Person to whom a payment is due under the Tax Receivable Agreements, to the maximum extent possible, receives aggregate payments under Section 3.1(a)  or the comparable section of the other Tax Receivable Agreement(s), as applicable (in each case, taking into account Section 3.3(a)  and (a)(i)  or the comparable section of the other Tax Receivable

 

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Agreement(s), but excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) in the amount it would have received if there had been no excess payment to such TRA Holder.

 

(d)                                The parties hereto agree that the parties to any Post-IPO TRA are expressly made third party beneficiaries of the provisions of this Section 3.3 .

 

ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION

 

Section 4.1                                   Early Termination at Election of the Corporate Taxpayer .  The Corporate Taxpayer may terminate this Agreement at any time by paying to each TRA Holder the Early Termination Payment due to such TRA Holder pursuant to Section 4.5(a)  (such termination, an “ Early Termination ”); provided that the Corporate Taxpayer may withdraw any notice of exercise of its termination rights under this Section 4.1 prior to the time at which any Early Termination Payment has been paid.  Upon payment of the Early Termination Payment by the Corporate Taxpayer, the Corporate Taxpayer shall not have any further payment obligations under this Agreement, other than for any Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice and, except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment, any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the Early Termination Date.  Upon payment of all amounts provided for in this Section 4.1 , this Agreement shall terminate.

 

Section 4.2                                   Early Termination upon Change of Control .  In the event of a Change of Control, all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the closing date of the Change of Control and shall include, but not be limited to the following: (a) payment of the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the effective date of a Change of Control, (b) payment of any Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice, and (c) except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment or if included as a payment under clause (b) of this Section 4.2 , payment of any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the effective date of a Change of Control.  In the event of a Change of Control, the Early Termination Payment shall be calculated utilizing the Valuation Assumptions and by substituting in each case the terms “the closing date of a Change of Control” for an “Early Termination Date.”

 

Section 4.3                                   Breach of Agreement .

 

(a)                                In the event that the Corporate Taxpayer breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, whether as a result of failure to make any payment within three (3) months of the date when due, as a result of failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement in a case commenced under the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, then if the Majority TRA Holders so elect, such breach shall be treated as an Early Termination.  Upon such election, all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such breach and shall include, but shall not be limited to, (i) the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been

 

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delivered on the date of a breach, (ii) any Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the date of the breach, and (iii) except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment or if included as a payment under clause (ii) of this Section 4.3(a) , any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the date of the breach.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporate Taxpayer breaches this Agreement, if the Majority TRA Holders do not elect to treat such breach as an Early Termination pursuant to this Section 4.3(a) , the TRA Holders shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the terms hereof.

 

(b)                                The parties agree that the failure of the Corporate Taxpayer to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due shall be deemed to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, and that it shall not be considered to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, except in the case of an Early Termination Payment or any payment treated as an Early Termination Payment, it shall not be a breach of this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment when due to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer has insufficient funds available to make, or to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer is contractually constrained from making, such payment in the Corporate Taxpayer’s sole judgment exercised in good faith; provided that the interest provisions of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment (unless the Corporate Taxpayer does not have sufficient cash to make such payment as a result of limitations imposed by any credit agreement to which Cactus LLC or any subsidiary of Cactus LLC is a party, in which case Section 5.2 shall apply, but the Default Rate shall be replaced by the Agreed Rate); provided further that it shall be a breach of this Agreement, and the provisions of Section 4.3(a)  shall apply as of the original due date of the Tax Benefit Payment, if the Corporate Taxpayer makes any distribution of cash or other property (other than Class A Shares) to its stockholders while any Tax Benefit Payment is due and payable but unpaid.  The Corporate Taxpayer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain sufficient available funds for the purpose of making Tax Benefit Payments under this Agreement and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to avoid entering into loan agreements that could be reasonably anticipated to materially delay the timing of any Tax Benefit Payments under this Agreement.

 

Section 4.4                                   Early Termination Notice .  If the Corporate Taxpayer chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.1 above, the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver to the Agent notice of such intention to exercise such right (the “ Early Termination Notice ”).  Upon delivery of the Early Termination Notice or the occurrence of an event described in Section 4.2 or Section 4.3(a) , the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver (i) a schedule showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment (the “ Early Termination Schedule ”) and (ii) any other work papers related to the calculation of the Early Termination Payment reasonably requested by the Agent.  In addition, the Corporate Taxpayer shall allow the Agent reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives of the Corporate Taxpayer in connection with a review of such Early Termination Schedule.  The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which the Agent has received such Schedule or amendment thereto unless (x) the Agent, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporate Taxpayer and each other Agent with notice of a material objection to such Schedule made in good faith

 

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(“ Material Objection Notice ”) or (y) the Agent provides a written waiver of such right of a Material Objection Notice within the period described in clause (x) above, in which case such Schedule becomes binding on the date a waiver from the Agent has been received by the Corporate Taxpayer (the “ Early Termination Effective Date ”).  If the Corporate Taxpayer and Agent, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer of the Material Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer and Agent shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.10 or Resolution of Disputes procedures under Section 7.9 , as applicable.

 

Section 4.5                                   Payment upon Early Termination .

 

(a)                                Subject to its right to withdraw any notice of Early Termination pursuant to Section 4.1 , within three (3) Business Days after the Early Termination Effective Date, the Corporate Taxpayer shall pay to each TRA Holder its Early Termination Payment.  Each such payment shall be made by check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account or accounts designated by the TRA Holder, or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder.

 

(b)                                A TRA Holder’s “ Early Termination Payment ” as of the Early Termination Date shall equal, with respect to each TRA Holder, the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as of the Early Termination Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments that would be required to be paid by the Corporate Taxpayer to such TRA Holder beginning from the Early Termination Date and assuming that the Valuation Assumptions are applied.

 

ARTICLE V
SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

 

Section 5.1                                   Subordination .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under this Agreement shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporate Taxpayer and its Subsidiaries (such obligations, “ Senior Obligations ”) and shall rank pari passu with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporate Taxpayer that are not Senior Obligations.  For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the above, the determination of whether it is a breach of this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment or other payment under this Agreement when due is governed by Section 4.3(b) . To the extent that any payment under this Agreement is not permitted to be made at the time payment is due as a result of this Section 5.1 and the terms of the agreements governing Senior Obligations, such payment obligation nevertheless shall accrue for the benefit of the TRA Holders and the Corporate Taxpayer shall make such payments at the first opportunity that such payments are permitted to be made in accordance with the terms of the Senior Obligations.

 

Section 5.2                                   Late Payments by the Corporate Taxpayer .  The amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under this Agreement not made to any TRA Holder when due under the terms of this Agreement, whether as a result of Section 5.1 and the terms of the Senior Obligations or otherwise, shall be

 

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payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate  (or, if so provided in Section 4.3(b) , at the Agreed Rate) and commencing from the date on which such Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under this Agreement was due and payable.

 

ARTICLE VI
NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

 

Section 6.1                                   Participation in the Corporate Taxpayer’s and Cactus LLC’s Tax Matters .  Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Cactus LLC Agreement, the Corporate Taxpayer shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all Tax matters concerning the Corporate Taxpayer and Cactus LLC, including without limitation preparing, filing or amending any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to Taxes.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporate Taxpayer shall notify the Agent of, and keep the Agent reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any audit, examination, or any other administrative or judicial proceeding (a “ Tax Proceeding ”) of the Corporate Taxpayer or Cactus LLC by a Taxing Authority the outcome of which could be reasonably expected to affect the rights and obligations of the TRA Holders under this Agreement, and shall provide the Agent with reasonable opportunity to provide information and other input to the Corporate Taxpayer, Cactus LLC and their respective advisors concerning the conduct of any such portion of a Tax Proceeding; provided , however , that the Corporate Taxpayer shall not settle or otherwise resolve any part of a Tax Proceeding described in the previous clause that relates to a Basis Adjustment, any Allocable Common Basis or the deduction of Imputed Interest (and, in each case, that is reasonably expected to have a material effect on the TRA Holders’ rights under this Agreement) without the consent of the Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided further , that the Corporate Taxpayer and Cactus LLC shall not be required to take any action, or refrain from taking any action, that is inconsistent with any provision of the Cactus LLC Agreement.

 

Section 6.2                                   Consistency .  Unless there is a Determination to the contrary, the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holders agree to report, and to cause their respective Subsidiaries to report, for all purposes, including U.S. federal, state and local Tax purposes and financial reporting purposes, all Tax-related items (including, without limitation, the Basis Adjustments, any Allocable Common Basis and each Tax Benefit Payment), but, for financial reporting purposes, only in respect of items that are not explicitly characterized as “deemed” or in a similar manner by the terms of this Agreement, in a manner consistent with the description of any Tax characterization herein (including as set forth in  Section 2.2(b)  and Section 3.1(b)  and any Schedule required to be provided by or on behalf of the Corporate Taxpayer under this Agreement, as finally determined pursuant to Section 2.3 ).  If the Corporate Taxpayer and any TRA Holder, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve any disagreement concerning such treatment within thirty (30) calendar days, the Corporate Taxpayer and such TRA Holder shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.10 or Resolution of Disputes procedures under Section 7.9 , as applicable.

 

Section 6.3                                   Cooperation .  Each TRA Holder shall (i) furnish to the Corporate Taxpayer in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the Corporate Taxpayer may reasonably request for purposes of making any determination or computation

 

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necessary or appropriate under this Agreement, preparing any Tax Return or contesting or defending any Tax Proceeding, (ii) make itself available to the Corporate Taxpayer and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as the Corporate Taxpayer or its representatives may reasonably request in connection with any of the matters described in clause (i) above, and (iii) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter.  The Corporate Taxpayer shall reimburse the TRA Holder for any reasonable third-party costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this Section 6.3 .

 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 7.1                                   Notices .  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be sufficient in all respects if given in writing, in English and by personal delivery (if signed for receipt), by certified or registered United States mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for next day delivery, transmitted via facsimile transmission or transmitted via electronic mail (following appropriate confirmation of receipt by return email, including an automated confirmation of receipt) and shall be deemed to have been made and the receiving party charged with notice, when received except that if received after 5:00 p.m. (in the recipient’s time zone) on a Business Day or if received on a day that is not a Business Day, such notice, request or communication will not be effective until the next succeeding Business Day. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:

 

If to the Corporate Taxpayer, to:

 

Cactus, Inc.
Cobalt Center

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77024
Attention:  Scott Bender

Telephone:            (713) 396-5750
Facsimile:                  (713) 626-8800
Email:                                     Scott.Bender@cactuswellhead.com

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to the Corporate Taxpayer) to:

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
666 Fifth Avenue

26th Floor

New York, NY 10103-0040
Attention: Adorys Velazquez

Telephone:            (212) 237-0036
Facsimile:                  (212) 237-0100
Email:                                     avelazquez@velaw.com

 

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If to the Agent, to:

 

Cadent Management Services, LLC

800 Westchester Avenue

Suite S-436

Rye Brook, NY 10573

Attention:                  Bruce Rothstein

Telephone:            (203) 638-5000
Email:                                     rothstein@cadentenergy.com

 

If to a TRA Holder, other than the Agent, that is or was a partner in Cactus LLC, to:

 

The address set forth in the records of Cactus LLC.

 

Any party may change its address or fax number by giving the other party written notice of its new address or fax number in the manner set forth above.

 

Section 7.2                                   Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission or otherwise (including an electronically executed signature page) shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.3                                   Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in Section 3.3 .

 

Section 7.4                                   Governing Law .  This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof that would mandate the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.5                                   Severability .  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

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Section 7.6                                   Successors; Assignment .

 

(a)                                No TRA Holder may assign this Agreement to any person without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer; provided , however, that

 

(i)              to the extent Units are transferred in accordance with the terms of the Cactus LLC Agreement, the transferring TRA Holder shall have the option to assign to the transferee of such Units the transferring TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units as long as such transferee has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such transfer, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporate Taxpayer, agreeing to become a “TRA Holder” for all purposes of this Agreement, and

 

(ii)           the right to receive any and all payments payable or that may become payable to a TRA Holder pursuant to this Agreement that, once a Redemption has occurred, arise with respect to the Units transferred in such Redemption, may be assigned to any Person or Persons as long as any such Person has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such assignment, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporate Taxpayer, agreeing to be bound by Section 7.13 and acknowledging specifically the terms of Section 7.6(b) .

 

For the avoidance of doubt, if a TRA Holder transfers Units but does not assign to the transferee of such Units the rights of such TRA Holder under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, such TRA Holder shall continue to be entitled to receive the Tax Benefit Payments, if any, due hereunder with respect to, including any Tax Benefit Payments arising in respect of a subsequent Redemption of, such Units.

 

(b)                                Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6 , no assignee described in Section 7.6(a)(ii)  shall have any rights under this Agreement except for the right to enforce its right to receive payments under this Agreement.

 

(c)                                 The Person designated as the Agent may not be changed without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer and the Majority TRA Holders.

 

(d)                                Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives.  The Corporate Taxpayer shall cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporate Taxpayer, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporate Taxpayer would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 7.7                                   Amendments .  No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by each of the Corporate Taxpayer and the Majority TRA Holders; provided , however, that no such amendment shall be effective if such amendment would have a disproportionate effect on the payments certain TRA Holders will or may receive

 

22



 

under this Agreement unless all such disproportionately affected TRA Holders consent in writing to such amendment.

 

Section 7.8                                   Titles and Subtitles . The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.

 

Section 7.9                                   Resolution of Disputes .

 

(a)                                Any and all disputes which are not governed by Section 7.10 , including any ancillary claims of any party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this Section 7.9 and Section 7.10 ) (each a “ Dispute ”) shall be governed by this Section 7.9 .  The parties hereto shall attempt in good faith to resolve all Disputes by negotiation.  If a Dispute between the parties hereto cannot be resolved in such manner, such Dispute shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in accordance with the then-existing rules of arbitration of the American Arbitration Association. If the parties to the Dispute fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within ten (10) calendar days of the receipt of the request for arbitration, the American Arbitration Association shall make the appointment. The arbitrator shall be a lawyer admitted to the practice of law in a U.S. state, or a nationally recognized expert in the relevant subject matter, and shall conduct the proceedings in the English language.  Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings.  In addition to monetary damages, the arbitrator shall be empowered to award equitable relief, including an injunction and specific performance of any obligation under this Agreement.  The arbitrator is not empowered to award damages in excess of compensatory damages, and each party hereby irrevocably waives any right to recover punitive, exemplary or similar damages with respect to any Dispute.  The award shall be the sole and exclusive remedy between the parties regarding any claims, counterclaims, issues, or accounting presented to the arbitral tribunal.  Judgment upon any award may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction over a party or any of its assets.

 

(b)                                Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.9(a) , the Corporate Taxpayer may bring an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling a party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder, and/or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this Section 7.9(a) , the Agent and each TRA Holder (i) expressly consents to the application of Section 7.9(c)  to any such action or proceeding, (ii) agrees that proof shall not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions of this Agreement would be difficult to calculate and that remedies at law would be inadequate, and (iii) irrevocably appoints the Corporate Taxpayer as agent of such party for service of process in connection with any such action or proceeding and agrees that service of process upon such agent, who shall promptly advise such party in writing of any such service of process, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon such party in any such action or proceeding.

 

(c)                                 EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY FEDERAL COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE OR THE DELAWARE COURT OF CHANCERY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY JUDICIAL

 

23



 

PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION 7.9 OR ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING ANCILLARY TO AN ARBITRATION OR CONTEMPLATED ARBITRATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO OR CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT.  Such ancillary judicial proceedings include any suit, action or proceeding to compel arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm an arbitration award.  The parties acknowledge that the fora designated by this Section 7.9(c)  have a reasonable relation to this Agreement, and to the parties’ relationship with one another.

 

(d)                                The parties hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they now or hereafter may have to personal jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such ancillary suit, action or proceeding brought in any court referred to in Section 7.9(c)  and such parties agree not to plead or claim the same.

 

Section 7.10                            Reconciliation .  In the event that the Agent and the Corporate Taxpayer are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to the calculations required to produce the schedules described in Section 2.3 , Section 4.4 and Section 6.1 (but not, for the avoidance doubt, with respect to any legal interpretation with respect to such provisions or schedules) within the relevant period designated in this Agreement (“ Reconciliation Dispute ”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to the Expert.  The Expert shall be a partner or principal in a nationally recognized accounting or law firm, and unless the Corporate Taxpayer and the Agent agree otherwise, the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with the Corporate Taxpayer or the Agent or other actual or potential conflict of interest.  If the parties are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the respondent(s) of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, the Expert shall be appointed by the American Arbitration Association.  The Expert shall resolve (a) any matter relating to the Exchange Schedule or an amendment thereto or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within thirty (30) calendar days, (b) any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) calendar days , and (c) any matter related to treatment of any tax-related item as contemplated in Section 6.2 within fifteen (15) calendar days, or, in each case, as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable after such matter has been submitted to the Expert for resolution.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement would be due (in the absence of such disagreement) or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, any portion of such payment that is not under dispute shall be paid on the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporate Taxpayer, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution.  The costs and expenses relating to the engagement of such Expert or amending any Tax Return shall be borne by the Corporate Taxpayer except as provided in the next sentence.  The Corporate Taxpayer and the Agent shall each bear its own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts the Agent’s position (as determined by the Expert), in which case the Corporate Taxpayer shall reimburse the Agent for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding, or (ii) the Expert adopts the Corporate Taxpayer’s position (as determined by the Expert), in which case the Agent shall reimburse the Corporate Taxpayer for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding.  Any dispute as to whether a dispute is a Reconciliation Dispute within the meaning of this Section 7.10 shall be decided by the Expert.  The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the

 

24



 

Expert pursuant to this Section 7.10 shall be binding on the Corporate Taxpayer and its Subsidiaries and the Agent and the TRA Holders and may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.11                            Withholding .  The Corporate Taxpayer shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as the Corporate Taxpayer is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax law.  To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by the Corporate Taxpayer, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the relevant TRA Holder.

 

Section 7.12                            Admission of the Corporate Taxpayer into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets .

 

(a)                                If the Corporate Taxpayer is or becomes a member of an affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated income Tax Return pursuant to Sections 1501 et seq. of the Code or any corresponding provisions of U.S. state or local Tax law, then: (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated taxable income of the group as a whole.

 

(b)                                If the Corporate Taxpayer (or any other entity that is obligated to make a Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment hereunder), Cactus LLC or any of Cactus LLC’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (but only to the extent such Subsidiaries are not held through any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) (a “ Transferor ”) transfers one or more Reference Assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) with which the Transferor does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code, the Transferor, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment (e.g., calculating the gross income of the entity and determining the Realized Tax Benefit of such entity) due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such Reference Assets in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such contribution.  The consideration deemed to be received by the Transferor shall be equal to the gross fair market value of the transferred Reference Assets.  For purposes of this Section 7.12(a) , a transfer of a partnership interest shall be treated as a transfer of the Transferor’s share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership.

 

Section 7.13                            Confidentiality .

 

(a)                                The Agent, each TRA Holder and each of the TRA Holder’s assignees acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporate Taxpayer is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporate Taxpayer and its Affiliates, as required by law or legal process or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, such Person shall keep and retain in the strictest confidence and not disclose to any Person any confidential matters, acquired pursuant to this Agreement, of the Corporate Taxpayer and its Affiliates and successors, concerning Cactus LLC and its Affiliates and successors or the TRA

 

25



 

Holders, learned by the Agent or any TRA Holder heretofore or hereafter.  This Section 7.13 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of the Agent or a TRA Holder in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community and (ii) the disclosure of information (A) as may be proper in the course of performing such TRA Holder’s obligations, or monitoring or enforcing such TRA Holder’s rights, under this Agreement, (B) as part of such TRA Holder’s normal reporting, rating or review procedure (including normal credit rating and pricing process), or in connection with such TRA Holder’s or such TRA Holder’s Affiliates’ normal fund raising, financing, marketing, informational or reporting activities, or to such TRA Holder’s (or any of its Affiliates’) or its direct or indirect owners or Affiliates, auditors, accountants, employees, attorneys or other agents, (C) to any bona fide prospective assignee of such TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement, or prospective merger or other business combination partner of such TRA Holder, provided that such assignee or merger partner agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 7.13 , (D) as is required to be disclosed by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, administrative body or governmental body, or by subpoena, summons or legal process, or by law, rule or regulation; provided that any TRA Holder required to make any such disclosure to the extent legally permissible shall provide the Corporate Taxpayer prompt notice of such disclosure, or to regulatory authorities or similar examiners conducting regulatory reviews or examinations (without any such notice to the Corporate Taxpayer), or (E) to the extent necessary for a TRA Holder or its direct or indirect owners to prepare and file its Tax Returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding such Tax Returns from any Taxing Authority or to prosecute or defend any Tax Proceeding with respect to such Tax Returns.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Agent (and each employee, representative or other agent of Agent or its assignees, as applicable) and each TRA Holder and each of its assignees (and each employee, representative or other agent of such TRA Holder or its assignees, as applicable) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the Tax treatment and Tax structure of the Corporate Taxpayer, Cactus LLC, the Agent, the TRA Holders and their Affiliates, and any of their transactions, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other Tax analyses) that are provided to the Agent or the TRA Holder relating to such Tax treatment and Tax structure.

 

(b)                                If the Agent or an assignee or a TRA Holder or an assignee commits a breach, or threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Section 7.13 , the Corporate Taxpayer shall have the right and remedy to have the provisions of this Section 7.13 specifically enforced by injunctive relief or otherwise by any court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post any bond or other security, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries or the TRA Holders and that money damages alone shall not provide an adequate remedy to such Persons.  Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.

 

Section 7.14                            No More Favorable Terms .  None of the Corporate Taxpayer nor any of its Subsidiaries shall enter into any additional agreement providing rights similar to this Agreement to any Person (including any agreement pursuant to which the Corporate Taxpayer is obligated to pay amounts with respect to tax benefits resulting from any increases in Tax basis, net operating losses or other tax attributes to which the Corporate Taxpayer becomes entitled as a result of a transaction) if such agreement provides terms that are more favorable to the counterparty under

 

26



 

such agreement than those provided to the TRA Holders under this Agreement; provided , however, that the Corporate Taxpayer (or any of its Subsidiaries) may enter into such an agreement if this Agreement is amended to make such more favorable terms available to the TRA Holders.

 

Section 7.15                            Change in Law . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, a TRA Holder reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement (a) could cause income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this Agreement) recognized by such TRA Holder upon any Redemption that as of the date of this Agreement would be treated as capital gain to instead be treated as ordinary income or to be otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (b) would have other material adverse tax consequences to such TRA Holder and/or its direct or indirect owners, then, in either case, at the election of such TRA Holder and to the extent specified by such TRA Holder, this Agreement (c) (i) shall cease to have further effect, (ii) shall not apply to a Redemption by such TRA Holder occurring after a date specified by it, or (iii) shall otherwise be amended in a manner determined by such TRA Holder to waive any benefits to which such TRA Holder would otherwise be entitled under this Agreement, provided that such amendment shall not result in an increase in or acceleration of payments under this Agreement at any time as compared to the amounts and times of payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

27



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporate Taxpayer, the Agent, and the TRA Holders have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

CORPORATE TAXPAYER:

 

 

 

CACTUS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

 

Title: President, CEO and Director

 

 

 

 

 

AGENT:

 

 

 

CADENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Bruce Rothstein

 

 

Name: Bruce Rothstein

 

 

Title: Managing Member

 

[The signatures of the TRA Holders are attached in Schedule A .]

 

28



 

SCHEDULE A

TRA HOLDERS

 

Signatures of TRA Holders

 



 

 

BENDER INVESTMENT COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

 

Title: President

 

 

 

 

 

CADENT ENERGY PARTNERS II, L.P.:

 

 

 

By:

Cadent Energy Partners II GP, L.P.,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

By:

CEP II-GP, LLC, its general Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Bruce Rothstein

 

 

Name: Bruce Rothstein

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

CACTUS WH ENTERPRISES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

 

Title: President

 

Signatures of TRA Holders

 



 

signatures of other Individuals who Are TRA Holders

 

Signatures of TRA Holders

 



 

Signatures of TRA Holders

 



 

Signatures of TRA Holders

 



 

Signatures of TRA Holders

 


Exhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

 

FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC

 

DATED AS OF JANUARY 29, 2018

 


 

THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS IN CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS, AND HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING ISSUED IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS.  SUCH INTERESTS MUST BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE SECURITIES ACT, ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT; AND (III) ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BETWEEN THE MANAGING MEMBER AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER.  THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OF RECORD EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS, THIS FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT, AND ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BY THE MANAGING MEMBER AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER.  THEREFORE, PURCHASERS AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT OR ACQUISITION FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.

 



 

Table of Contents

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

2

 

 

 

Section 1.1

Definitions

2

Section 1.2

Interpretive Provisions

14

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

14

 

 

 

Section 2.1

Formation

14

Section 2.2

Filing

14

Section 2.3

Name

15

Section 2.4

Registered Office; Registered Agent

15

Section 2.5

Principal Place of Business

15

Section 2.6

Purpose; Powers

15

Section 2.7

Term

15

Section 2.8

Intent

15

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

OWNERSHIP AND CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

15

 

 

 

Section 3.1

Authorized Units; General Provisions With Respect to Units

15

Section 3.2

Voting Rights

18

Section 3.3

Capital Contributions; Unit Ownership

18

Section 3.4

Capital Accounts

19

Section 3.5

Other Matters

19

Section 3.6

Redemption of Units

20

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

ALLOCATIONS OF PROFITS AND LOSSES

27

 

 

 

Section 4.1

Profits and Losses

27

Section 4.2

Special Allocations

27

Section 4.3

Allocations for Tax Purposes in General

30

Section 4.4

Other Allocation Rules

30

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

DISTRIBUTIONS

31

 

 

 

Section 5.1

Distributions

31

Section 5.2

Tax-Related Distributions

32

Section 5.3

Distribution Upon Withdrawal

32

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

MANAGEMENT

32

 

 

 

Section 6.1

The Managing Member; Fiduciary Duties

32

Section 6.2

Officers

33

Section 6.3

Warranted Reliance by Officers on Others

34

Section 6.4

Indemnification

34

Section 6.5

Maintenance of Insurance or Other Financial Arrangements

35

Section 6.6

Resignation or Termination of Managing Member

35

Section 6.7

No Inconsistent Obligations

35

Section 6.8

Reclassification Events of PubCo

35

 

i



 

Section 6.9

Certain Costs and Expenses

36

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

ROLE OF MEMBERS

36

 

 

 

Section 7.1

Rights or Powers

36

Section 7.2

Voting

37

Section 7.3

Various Capacities

37

Section 7.4

Business Opportunities

37

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS

38

 

 

 

Section 8.1

Restrictions on Transfer

38

Section 8.2

Notice of Transfer

39

Section 8.3

Transferee Members

39

Section 8.4

Legend

40

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

ACCOUNTING

40

 

 

 

Section 9.1

Books of Account

40

Section 9.2

Tax Elections

41

Section 9.3

Tax Returns; Information

41

Section 9.4

Tax Matters Member and Company Representative

41

Section 9.5

Withholding Tax Payments and Obligations

42

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION

43

 

 

 

Section 10.1

Liquidating Events

43

Section 10.2

Bankruptcy

43

Section 10.3

Procedure

44

Section 10.4

Rights of Members

45

Section 10.5

Notices of Dissolution

45

Section 10.6

Reasonable Time for Winding Up

45

Section 10.7

No Deficit Restoration

45

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI

GENERAL

45

 

 

 

Section 11.1

Amendments; Waivers

45

Section 11.2

Further Assurances

46

Section 11.3

Successors and Assigns

46

Section 11.4

Entire Agreement

46

Section 11.5

Rights of Members Independent

46

Section 11.6

Governing Law

46

Section 11.7

Jurisdiction and Venue

46

Section 11.8

Headings

47

Section 11.9

Counterparts

47

Section 11.10

Notices

47

Section 11.11

Representation By Counsel; Interpretation

48

Section 11.12

Severability

48

Section 11.13

Expenses

48

Section 11.14

No Third Party Beneficiaries

48

 

ii



 

FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC

 

This FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT (as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), dated as of January 29, 2018 and effective as of the date of the initial closing of the IPO (as defined below) (the “ Effective Date ”), is made and entered into by and among Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and each other Person who is or at any time becomes a Member in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Act.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the respective meanings set forth in Section 1.1 .

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , the Company was formed pursuant to a Certificate of Formation filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 11, 2011 and is currently governed by the Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of the Company dated as of May 31, 2016 (the “ Existing LLC Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS , pursuant to the terms of the Closing Agreement, the parties thereto have agreed to consummate the recapitalization of the Company (the “ Recapitalization ”) and to take the other actions contemplated in the Closing Agreement (together with the Recapitalization, the “ Reorganization ”);

 

WHEREAS , immediately prior to the consummation of the Recapitalization, the Members of the Company consist of those Persons listed on Exhibit A hereto;

 

WHEREAS , in connection with the Reorganization, Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ PubCo ”), will issue shares of Class A Common Stock to the public in the initial underwritten public offering of shares of its stock (the “ IPO ”) in exchange for cash (the “ Proceeds ”);

 

WHEREAS , PubCo will contribute the net Proceeds to the Company in exchange for a number of Units such that the total number of Units held by PubCo shall be equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding after the IPO (including any shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option);

 

WHEREAS , following the Company’s receipt of the net Proceeds, the Company will pay off certain Indebtedness and will use a portion of such cash, if any is available, to redeem Units from some or all of the Members (other than PubCo) (such redemptions, the “ IPO Redemptions ”);

 



 

WHEREAS , following any IPO Redemptions (and taking into account such IPO Redemptions), PubCo will issue and contribute a number of shares of its Class B Common Stock to the Company equal to the number of outstanding Units collectively held by the Members (other than PubCo), and the Company shall distribute such shares of Class B Common Stock to the Members (other than PubCo) in accordance with the number of Units held by such Members;

 

WHEREAS , each Unit (other than any Unit held by PubCo) may be redeemed, at the election of the holder of such Unit (together with the transfer and surrender by such holder of one share of Class B Common Stock), for one share of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS , the Members of the Company desire that PubCo become the sole managing Member of the Company (in its capacity as managing Member as well as in any other capacity, the “ Managing Member ”);

 

WHEREAS , the Members of the Company desire to amend and restate the Existing LLC Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS , this Agreement shall supersede the Existing LLC Agreement in its entirety as of the Effective Date.

 

NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1                                     Definitions .  As used in this Agreement and the Schedules and Exhibits attached to this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

 

A&R HoldCo Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of the Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC dated as of  January 29, 2018.

 

Act ” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del.  C. § 18-101, et seq., as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Action ” means any claim, action, suit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Entity.

 

Adjusted Basis ” has the meaning given such term in Section 1011 of the Code.

 

Adjusted Capital Account Deficit ” means the deficit balance, if any, in such Member’s Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year or other taxable period, with the following adjustments:

 

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(a)                                  credit to such Capital Account any amount that such Member is obligated to restore under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( c ), as well as any addition thereto pursuant to the next to last sentences of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) after taking into account thereunder any changes during such year in Company Minimum Gain and Member Minimum Gain; and

 

(b)                                  debit to such Capital Account the items described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )(4), (5) and (6).

 

This definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d ) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person.  For these purposes, “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; provided that, for purposes of this Agreement, (i) no Member shall be deemed an Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed an Affiliate of any Member.

 

Agreement ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

All Owned Units ” means the sum of (x) all of the Units then held by a Redeeming Member and (y) all of the Units which such Redeeming Member would then own had such Redeeming Member then redeemed, pursuant to the A&R HoldCo Agreement, all of the HoldCo Units then owned, if any, by such Redeeming Member.

 

beneficially own ” and “ beneficial owner ” shall be as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the rules promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 ” means Title XI of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, as may be amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law), and any related provisions of law, including court decisions, regulations and administrative guidance.

 

Black-Out Period ” means any “black-out” or similar period under PubCo’s policies covering trading in PubCo’s securities to which the applicable Redeeming Member is subject, during which such Redeeming Member is restricted from immediately reselling shares of Class A Common Stock to be delivered to such Redeeming Member in connection with a Redemption or pursuant to PubCo’s exercise of its Call Right.

 

Board ” means the board of directors of PubCo.

 

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are required or authorized by Law to be closed in the City of New York.

 

Business Opportunities Exempt Party ” is defined in Section 7.4(a) .

 

Call Election Notice ” is defined in Section 3.6(f)(ii) .

 

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Call Purchase ” means the purchase of Units by PubCo pursuant to an election by PubCo to exercise its Call Right set forth in Section 3.6(f) .

 

Call Right ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(f)(i) .

 

Capital Account ” means, with respect to any Member, the Capital Account maintained for such Member in accordance with Section 3.4 .

 

Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of cash and the initial Gross Asset Value of any property (other than cash) contributed to the Company by such Member.  Any reference to the Capital Contribution of a Member will include any Capital Contributions made by a predecessor holder of such Member’s Units to the extent that such Capital Contribution was made in respect of Units Transferred to such Member.

 

Cash Election ” is defined in Section 3.6(a)(iv)  and shall also include PubCo’s election to purchase Units for cash pursuant to a Call Purchase.

 

Cash Election Amount ” means with respect to a particular Redemption or Call Purchase for which a Cash Election has been made, (a) if the cash amount to be paid has been derived from a sale of shares of Class A Common Stock by PubCo, an amount of cash equal to the gross proceeds received by PubCo from the sale of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that would have been received if a Cash Election had not been made less any Offering Expenses with respect to such Redemption, or (b) in any other case, an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that would have been received if a Cash Election had not been made.

 

Change of Control Redemption Date ” is defined in Section 3.6(g) .

 

Class A Common Stock ” means, as applicable, (a) the Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of PubCo or (b) following any consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event involving PubCo, any shares or other securities of PubCo or any other Person or cash or other property that become payable in consideration for the Class A Common Stock or into which the Class A Common Stock is exchanged or converted as a result of such consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event.

 

Class B Common Stock ” means, as applicable, (a) the Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of PubCo or (b) following any consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event involving PubCo, any shares or other securities of PubCo or any other Person or cash or other property that become payable in consideration for the Class B Common Stock or into which the Class B Common Stock is exchanged or converted as a result of such consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event.

 

Closing Agreement ” means the Closing Steps Agreement dated as of  January 29, 2018, by and among the Company, PubCo and the Persons listed on the signature pages thereto, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

Closing Date Capital Account Balance ” means, with respect to any Member, the positive Capital Account balance of such Member as of the Effective Date after giving effect to the

 

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Reorganization, IPO, IPO Redemption and related transactions, the amount or deemed value of which will be set forth by the Company on Exhibit A within 180 calendar days following the execution of this Agreement.

 

Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Commission ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Company ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Company Minimum Gain ” has the meaning of “partnership minimum gain” set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).  It is further understood that Company Minimum Gain shall be determined in a manner consistent with the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(2), including the requirement that if the adjusted Gross Asset Value of property subject to one or more Nonrecourse Liabilities differs from its adjusted tax basis, Company Minimum Gain shall be determined with reference to such Gross Asset Value.

 

Company Representative ” has the meaning assigned to the term “partnership representative” in Section 6223 of the Code and any Treasury Regulations or other administrative or judicial pronouncements promulgated thereunder.

 

Contract ” means any written agreement, contract, lease, sublease, license, sublicense, obligation, promise or undertaking.

 

control ” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), with respect to the relationship between or among two or more Persons, means the possession, directly or indirectly or as trustee, personal representative or executor, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the affairs or management of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee, personal representative or executor, by contract, credit arrangement or otherwise.

 

Debt Securities ” means, with respect to PubCo, any and all debt instruments or debt securities that are not convertible or exchangeable into Equity Securities of PubCo.

 

Depreciation ” means, for each Fiscal Year or other taxable period, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable with respect to an asset for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period, except that (a) with respect to any such property the Gross Asset Value of which differs from its Adjusted Basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes and which difference is being eliminated by use of the “remedial method” pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d), Depreciation for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period shall be the amount of book basis recovered for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period under the rules prescribed by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d)(2), and (b) with respect to any other such property the Gross Asset Value of which differs from its Adjusted Basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year or other taxable period, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period bears to such beginning Adjusted Basis; provided , however , that if the Adjusted Basis for

 

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U.S. federal income tax purposes of an asset at the beginning of such Fiscal Year or other taxable period is zero, Depreciation with respect to such asset shall be determined with reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method selected by the Tax Matters Member.

 

DGCL ” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Effective Time means the time immediately prior to the closing of the IPO on the date of the initial closing of the IPO.

 

Equity Securities ” means (a) with respect to a partnership, limited liability company or similar Person, any and all units, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options or other equivalents of, or other ownership interests in, any such Person as well as debt or equity instruments convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into any such units, interests, rights or other ownership interests and (b) with respect to a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participation or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, including all common stock and preferred stock, or warrants, options or other rights to acquire any of the foregoing, including any debt instrument convertible or exchangeable into any of the foregoing.

 

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Existing LLC Agreement ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Fair Market Value ” means the fair market value of any property as determined in good faith by the Managing Member after taking into account such factors as the Managing Member shall deem appropriate.

 

Federal Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended from time to time, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Fiscal Year ” means the fiscal year of the Company, which shall end on December 31 of each calendar year unless, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, another fiscal year is required.  The Company shall have the same fiscal year for U.S. federal income tax purposes and for accounting purposes.

 

Former A-1 Unitholder ” means a Person that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, was a holder of Class A-1 Units of the Company pursuant to the Existing LLC Agreement.

 

GAAP ” means U.S. generally acceptable accounting principles at the time.

 

Good Faith ” means a Person having acted in good faith and in a manner such Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to a criminal proceeding, having had no reasonable cause to believe such Person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

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Governmental Entity ” means any federal, national, supranational, state, provincial, local, foreign or other government, governmental, stock exchange, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body.

 

Gross Asset Value ” means, with respect to any asset, the asset’s Adjusted Basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except as follows:

 

(a)                                  the initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the gross Fair Market Value of such asset as of the date of such contribution;

 

(b)                                  the Gross Asset Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross Fair Market Values as of the following times: (i) the acquisition of an interest (or additional interest) in the Company by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution to the Company or in exchange for the performance of more than a de minimis amount of services to or for the benefit of the Company; (ii) the distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of Company assets as consideration for an interest in the Company; (iii) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( g )(1) (other than pursuant to Code Section 708(b)(1)(B)), (iv) the acquisition of an interest in the Company by any new or existing Member upon the exercise of a noncompensatory option in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( s ); or (v) any other event to the extent determined by the Managing Member to be permitted and necessary or appropriate to properly reflect Gross Asset Values in accordance with the standards set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( q ); provided , however , that adjustments pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and (iv) above shall be made only if the Managing Member reasonably determines that such adjustments are necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Members in the Company.  If any noncompensatory options are outstanding upon the occurrence of an event described in this paragraph (b)(i) through (b)(v), the Company shall adjust the Gross Asset Values of its properties in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) (f )(1) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) (h )(2);

 

(c)                                   the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset distributed to any Member shall be adjusted to equal the gross Fair Market Value of such asset on the date of such distribution;

 

(d)                                  the Gross Asset Values of Company assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the Adjusted Basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( m ) and subsection (f)  in the definition of “Profits” or “Losses” below or Section 4.2(h) ; provided , however , that the Gross Asset Value of a Company asset shall not be adjusted pursuant to this subsection to the extent the Managing Member determines that an adjustment pursuant to subsection (b) of this definition is necessary or appropriate in connection with a

 

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transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this subsection (d); and

 

(e)                                   if the Gross Asset Value of a Company asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to subsections (a) , (b)  or (d)  of this definition of Gross Asset Value, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for purposes of computing Profits, Losses and other items allocated pursuant to Article IV .

 

Holdco ” means Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

Holdco Units ” means units representing membership interests in HoldCo.

 

Indebtedness ” means (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money (including capitalized lease obligations, sale-leaseback transactions or other similar transactions, however evidenced), (b) any other indebtedness that is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture, draft or similar instrument, (c) notes payable and (d) lines of credit and any other agreements relating to the borrowing of money or extension of credit.

 

Interest ” means the entire interest of a Member in the Company, including the Units and all of such Member’s rights, powers and privileges under this Agreement and the Act.

 

IPO ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

IPO Redemptions ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Law ” means any federal, national, supranational, state, provincial, local or similar statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, requirement or rule of law (including common law).

 

Legal Action ” is defined in Section 11.7 .

 

Liability ” means any liability or obligation, whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated and whether due or to become due, regardless of when asserted.

 

Liquidating Event ” is defined in Section 10.1 .

 

Managing Member ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Member ” means any Person that executes this Agreement as a Member, and any other Person admitted to the Company as an additional or substituted Member, that has not made a disposition of such Person’s entire Interest.

 

Member Minimum Gain ” has the meaning ascribed to “partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i).  It is further understood that the determination of Member Minimum Gain and the net increase or decrease in Member Minimum Gain shall be made in the same manner as required for such determination of Company Minimum Gain under Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(d) and 1.704-2(g)(3).

 

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Member Nonrecourse Debt ” has the meaning of “partner nonrecourse debt” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

 

Member Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning of “partner nonrecourse deductions” set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(i)(1) and 1. 704-2(i)(2).

 

National Securities Exchange ” means an exchange registered with the Commission under the Exchange Act.

 

Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning assigned that term in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b).

 

Nonrecourse Liability ” is defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(3).

 

Offering Expenses ” means, with respect to any Redemption, to the extent PubCo funds the Cash Election Amount to be paid to the Redeeming Member with respect to such Redemption through any offering of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Securities on or prior to the Redemption Date, any expenses, fees and commissions incurred by PubCo or the Company in connection with such offering, including the amount of any difference between the price at which such Equity Securities were sold to underwriters or other initial purchasers and the price at which such Equity Securities are sold to the public or other ultimate investors in such offering after taking into account underwriters’ discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any deferred discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions payable in connection with or as a result of such offering).

 

Officer ” means each Person appointed as an officer of the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.2 .

 

Person ” means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity, as well as any syndicate or group that would be deemed to be a person under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

 

Plan Asset Regulations ” means the regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor at Section 2510.3-101 of Part 2510 of Chapter XXV, Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

President and Chief Executive Officer ” is defined in Section 6.2(b) .

 

Prime Rate ” means, on any date of determination, a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest most recently published by The Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate” at large U.S. money center banks.

 

Proceeding ” is defined in Section 6.4 .

 

Proceeds ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Profits ” or “ Losses ” means, for each Fiscal Year or other taxable period, an amount equal to the Company’s taxable income or loss for such year or period, determined in accordance with

 

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Code Section 703(a) (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments (without duplication):

 

(a)                                  any income or gain of the Company that is exempt from U.S. federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses shall be added to such taxable income or loss;

 

(b)                                  any expenditures of the Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( i ), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses, shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;

 

(c)                                   in the event the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of the definition of Gross Asset Value above, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the Gross Asset Value of the Company asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases the Gross Asset Value of the Company asset) from the disposition of such asset and shall, except to the extent allocated pursuant to Section 4.2 , be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses;

 

(d)                                  gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Company assets with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be computed with reference to the Gross Asset Value of the asset disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such asset differs from its Gross Asset Value;

 

(e)                                   in lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation;

 

(f)                                    to the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( m )(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Account balances as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Member’s interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) from the disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; and

 

(g)                                   any items of income, gain, loss or deduction which are specifically allocated pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.2 shall not be taken into account in computing Profits or Losses for any taxable year, but such items available to be specially allocated pursuant to Section 4.2 will be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in subparagraphs (a) through (f) above.

 

Property ” means all real and personal property owned by the Company from time to time, including both tangible and intangible property.

 

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PubCo ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

A “ PubCo Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following events or series of events after the Effective Time:

 

(a)                                  any Person (excluding any Qualifying Owner or any group of Qualifying Owners acting together which would constitute a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and excluding a corporation or other entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of PubCo in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the PubCo) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of PubCo representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of PubCo’s then outstanding voting securities; or

 

(b)                                  there is consummated a merger or consolidation of PubCo with any other corporation or other entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, the voting securities of PubCo immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not continue to represent or are not converted into more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof; or

 

(c)                                   the stockholders of PubCo approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of PubCo or there is consummated an agreement or series of related agreements for the sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by PubCo of all or substantially all of PubCo’s assets, other than such sale or other disposition by PubCo of all or substantially all of PubCo’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of PubCo in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of PubCo immediately prior to such sale.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except with respect to clause (b) above, a “PubCo Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the shares of PubCo immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in, and own substantially all of the shares of, an entity which owns, either directly or through a Subsidiary, all or substantially all of the assets of PubCo immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

PubCo Common Stock ” means all classes and series of common stock of PubCo, including the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock.

 

Qualifying Owners ” means (i) Scott Bender, or any company of which he is the manager, managing member or he otherwise controls, including, but not limited to, HoldCo, (ii) any wife, lineal descendant, legal guardian or other legal representative or estate of Scott Bender; (iii) any trust of which at least one of the trustees is a person described in clause (i) or (ii) above, and (iv) Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P. and any affiliated funds or investment vehicles managed by Cadent Energy Partners, LLC.

 

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Reclassification Event ” means any of the following: (a) any reclassification or recapitalization of PubCo Common Stock (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination or any transaction subject to Section 3.1(g) ), (b) any merger, consolidation or other combination involving PubCo, or (c) any sale, conveyance, lease, or other disposal of all or substantially all the properties and assets of PubCo to any other Person, in each of clauses (a), (b) or (c), as a result of which holders of PubCo Common Stock shall be entitled to receive cash, securities or other property for their shares of PubCo Common Stock.

 

Redeeming Member ” is defined in Section 3.6(a)(i) .

 

Redemption ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(a)(i) .

 

Redemption Date ” means (a) the later of (i) the date that is ten Business Days after the Redemption Notice Date and (ii) if the Company or PubCo has made a valid Cash Election with respect to the relevant Redemption, the first Business Day on which the Company or PubCo has available funds to pay the Cash Election Amount, which in no event shall be more than fifteen Business Days after the Redemption Notice Date, or (b) such later date (i) specified in the Redemption Notice or (ii) on which a contingency described in Section 3.6(a)(ii)(D)  that is specified in the Redemption Notice is satisfied.

 

Redemption Notice ” is defined in Section 3.6(a)(ii) .

 

Redemption Notice Date ” is defined in Section 3.6(a)(ii) .

 

Regulatory Allocations ” is defined in Section 4.2(i) .

 

Reorganization ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Retraction Condition ” means any of the following conditions with respect to a Redemption by a Redeeming Member: (a) any registration statement pursuant to which the resale of Class A Common Stock to be registered for such Redeeming Member at or immediately following the consummation of such Redemption shall have ceased to be effective pursuant to any action or inaction by the SEC or no such resale registration statement has yet become effective; (b) PubCo shall have failed to cause any related prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement necessary to effect the sale of shares of Class A Common Stock received with respect to such Redemption; (c) PubCo shall have exercised its right to defer, delay or suspend the filing or effectiveness of a registration statement and such deferral, delay or suspension shall affect the ability of such Redeeming Member to have the resale of its Class A Common Stock registered at or immediately following the consummation of the Redemption; (d) PubCo or the Company shall have disclosed to such Redeeming Member any material non-public information concerning PubCo or the Company, the receipt of which results in such Redeeming Member being prohibited or restricted from selling Class A Common Stock at or immediately following the Redemption without disclosure of such information (and PubCo does not permit disclosure); (e) any stop order relating to the registration statement pursuant to which the Class A Common Stock was to be registered by such Redeeming Member at or immediately following the Redemption shall have been issued by the SEC; (f) there shall be in effect an injunction, a restraining order or a decree of any nature of

 

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any Governmental Entity that restrains or prohibits the Redemption; or (g) the Redemption Date would occur three Business Days or less prior to, or during, a Black-Out Period.

 

Retraction Notice ” is defined in Section 3.6(b) .

 

SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions thereof.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Sponsor ” is defined in Section 7.4(a) .

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person with respect to which such specified Person (a) has, directly or indirectly, the power, through the ownership of securities or otherwise, to elect a majority of directors or similar managing body or (b) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, a majority of such Person’s Equity Securities.

 

Tax Matters Member ” means the “tax matters partner” as defined in Code Section 6231(a)(7) and as appointed in Section 9.4 .

 

Tax Receivable Agreement ” means the Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2018, by and among PubCo and the other parties thereto, as may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, and any similar agreement entered into by PubCo after the Effective Date.

 

Transfer ” means, when used as a noun, any voluntary or involuntary, direct or indirect (whether through a change of control of the Transferor or any Person that controls the Transferor, the issuance or transfer of Equity Securities of the Transferor, by operation of law or otherwise), transfer, sale, pledge or hypothecation or other disposition and, when used as a verb, voluntarily or involuntarily, directly or indirectly (whether through a change of control of the Transferor or any Person that controls the Transferor, the issuance or transfer of Equity Securities of the Transferor or any Person that controls the Transferor, by operation of law or otherwise), to transfer, sell, pledge or hypothecate or otherwise dispose of.  The terms “Transferee,” “Transferor,” “Transferred,” and other forms of the word “Transfer” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

Transfer Agent ” is defined in Section 3.6(a)(iii) .

 

Treasury Regulations ” means pronouncements, as amended from time to time, or their successor pronouncements, which clarify, interpret and apply the provisions of the Code, and which are designated as “Treasury Regulations” by the United States Department of the Treasury.

 

Uniform Commercial Code ” means the Uniform Commercial Code or any successor provision thereof as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of Delaware.

 

Units ” means the Units issued hereunder and shall also include any equity security of the Company issued in respect of or in exchange for Units, whether by way of dividend or other

 

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distribution, split, recapitalization, merger, rollup transaction, consolidation, conversion or reorganization.

 

Winding-Up Member ” is defined in Section 10.3(a) .

 

Section 1.2                                     Interpretive Provisions .  For all purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a)                                  the terms defined in Section 1.1 are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms;

 

(b)                                  all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned under GAAP;

 

(c)                                   all references to currency, monetary values and dollars set forth herein shall mean United States (U.S.) dollars and all payments hereunder shall be made in United States dollars;

 

(d)                                  when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference is to an Article or Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated;

 

(e)                                   whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

 

(f)                                    “or” is not exclusive;

 

(g)                                   pronouns of either gender or neuter shall include, as appropriate, the other pronoun forms; and

 

(h)                                  the words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II

 

ORGANIZATION OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

 

Section 2.1                                     Formation .  The Company has been formed as a limited liability company subject to the provisions of the Act upon the terms, provisions and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

Section 2.2                                     Filing .  The Company’s Certificate of Formation has been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Act.  The Members shall execute such further documents (including amendments to such Certificate of Formation) and take such further action as is appropriate to comply with the requirements of Law for the formation or operation of a limited liability company in Delaware and in all states and counties where the Company may conduct its business.

 

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Section 2.3                                     Name .  The name of the Company is “Cactus Wellhead, LLC” and all business of the Company shall be conducted in such name or, in the discretion of the Managing Member, under any other name.

 

Section 2.4                                     Registered Office; Registered Agent .  The location of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, or at such other place as the Managing Member from time to time may select.  The name and address for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware are The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, or such other qualified Person as the Managing Member may designate from time to time and its business address.

 

Section 2.5                                     Principal Place of Business .  The principal place of business of the Company shall be located in such place as is determined by the Managing Member from time to time.

 

Section 2.6                                     Purpose; Powers .  The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be formed under the Act.  The Company shall have the power and authority to take any and all actions and engage in any and all activities necessary, appropriate, desirable, advisable, ancillary or incidental to the accomplishment of the foregoing purpose.

 

Section 2.7                                     Term .  The term of the Company commenced on the date of filing of the Certificate of Formation of the Company with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Act and shall continue indefinitely.  The Company may be dissolved and its affairs wound up only in accordance with Article X .

 

Section 2.8                                     Intent .  It is the intent of the Members that the Company be operated in a manner consistent with its treatment as a “partnership” for U.S. federal and applicable state income tax purposes.  It is also the intent of the Members that the Company not be operated or treated as a “partnership” for purposes of Section 303 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code.  Neither the Company nor any Member shall take any action inconsistent with the express intent of the parties hereto as set forth in this Section 2.8 .

 

ARTICLE III

 

OWNERSHIP AND CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

 

Section 3.1                                     Authorized Units; General Provisions With Respect to Units .

 

(a)                                  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall be authorized to issue from time to time such number of Units and such other Equity Securities as the Managing Member shall determine in accordance with Section 3.3 .  Each authorized Unit may be issued pursuant to such agreements as the Managing Member shall approve, including pursuant to options and warrants.  The Company may reissue any Units that have been repurchased or acquired by the Company.

 

(b)                                  Each outstanding Unit shall be identical (except as provided in Section 3.1(e)  or Section 3.3 ).

 

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(c)                                   Initially, none of the Units will be represented by certificates.  If the Managing Member determines that it is in the interest of the Company to issue certificates representing the Units, certificates will be issued and the Units will be represented by those certificates, and this Agreement shall be amended as the Managing Member shall determine necessary or desirable to reflect the issuance of certificated Units for purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code.  Nothing contained in this Section 3.1(c)  shall be deemed to authorize or permit any Member to Transfer its Units except as otherwise permitted under this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  The total number of Units issued and outstanding and held by the Members is set forth on Exhibit A (as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) as of the date set forth therein.

 

(e)                                   If, at any time after the Effective Time, PubCo issues a share of its Class A Common Stock or any other Equity Security of PubCo (other than shares of Class B Common Stock), (i) the Company shall concurrently issue to PubCo one Unit (if PubCo issues a share of Class A Common Stock), or such other Equity Security of the Company (if PubCo issues Equity Securities other than Class A Common Stock) corresponding to the Equity Securities issued by PubCo, and with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of PubCo to be issued and (ii) PubCo shall concurrently contribute to the Company the net proceeds or other property received by PubCo for such share of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Security; provided , however , that if PubCo issues any shares of Class A Common Stock in order to acquire or fund the acquisition from a Member of a number of Units (and shares of Class B Common Stock) equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock so issued, then the Company shall not issue any new Units in connection therewith and, where such shares of Class A Common Stock have been issued for cash to fund an acquisition, PubCo shall not be required to transfer such net proceeds to the Company, and such net proceeds shall instead be transferred to such Member as consideration for such acquisition.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 3.1(e)  shall not apply to the issuance and distribution to holders of shares of PubCo Common Stock of rights to purchase Equity Securities of PubCo under a “poison pill” or similar shareholders rights plan (and upon any redemption of Units for Class A Common Stock, such Class A Common Stock will be issued together with a corresponding right under such plan), or to the issuance under PubCo’s employee benefit plans of any warrants, options, other rights to acquire Equity Securities of PubCo or rights or property that may be converted into or settled in Equity Securities of PubCo, but shall in each of the foregoing cases apply to the issuance of Equity Securities of PubCo in connection with the exercise or settlement of such rights, warrants, options or other rights or property.  Except pursuant to Section 3.6 , (x) the Company may not issue any additional Units to PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries unless substantially simultaneously therewith PubCo or such Subsidiary issues or sells an equal number of newly-issued shares of PubCo’s Class A Common Stock to another Person, and (y) the Company may not issue any other Equity Securities of the Company to PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries unless substantially simultaneously PubCo or such Subsidiary issues or sells, to

 

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another Person, an equal number of newly-issued shares of a new class or series of Equity Securities of PubCo or such Subsidiary with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of the Company.  If at any time PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) issues Debt Securities, PubCo or such Subsidiary shall transfer to the Company (in a manner to be determined by the Managing Member in its reasonable discretion) the proceeds received by PubCo or such Subsidiary in exchange for such Debt Securities in a manner that directly or indirectly burdens the Company with the repayment of the Debt Securities. In the event any Equity Security outstanding at PubCo is exercised or otherwise converted and, as a result, any shares of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Securities of PubCo are issued, the corresponding Equity Security outstanding at the Company shall be similarly exercised or otherwise converted, as applicable, and an equivalent number of Units or other Equity Securities of the Company shall be issued to PubCo as contemplated by the first sentence of this Section 3.1(e) .

 

(f)                                    PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries may not redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire (i) any shares of Class A Common Stock (including upon forfeiture of any unvested shares of Class A Common Stock) unless substantially simultaneously the Company redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires from PubCo or such Subsidiary an equal number of Units for the same price per security or (ii) any other Equity Securities of PubCo, unless substantially simultaneously the Company redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires from PubCo or such Subsidiary an equal number of Equity Securities of the Company of a corresponding class or series with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of PubCo for the same price per security.  The Company may not redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire (x) except pursuant to Section 3.6 , any Units from PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries unless substantially simultaneously PubCo or such Subsidiary redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock for the same price per security from holders thereof, or (y) any other Equity Securities of the Company from PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries unless substantially simultaneously PubCo or such Subsidiary redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires for the same price per security an equal number of Equity Securities of PubCo of a corresponding class or series with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distribution upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of PubCo. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any consideration payable by PubCo in connection with the redemption or repurchase of any shares of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Securities of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries consists (in whole or in part) of shares of Class A Common Stock or such other Equity Securities (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the cashless exercise of an option or warrant), then the redemption or repurchase of the corresponding Units or other Equity Securities of the Company shall be effectuated in an equivalent manner.

 

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(g)                                   The Company shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by any equity split, equity distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse equity split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of the outstanding Units unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the outstanding PubCo Common Stock, with corresponding changes made with respect to any other exchangeable or convertible securities.  PubCo shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by any equity split, equity distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse equity split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of the outstanding PubCo Common Stock unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the outstanding Units, with corresponding changes made with respect to any other exchangeable or convertible securities.

 

(h)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (including Section 3.1(e) ), if PubCo holds any excess cash amount, PubCo may, in its sole discretion, contribute such excess cash amount to the Company in exchange for a number of Units or other Equity Securities of the Company determined in its sole discretion, and distribute to the holders of Class A Common Stock shares of Class A Common Stock (if the Company issues Units to PubCo) or such other Equity Security of PubCo (if the Company issues Equity Securities of the Company other than Units) corresponding to the Equity Securities issued by the Company and with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of the Company issued.

 

Section 3.2                                     Voting Rights .  No Member has any voting right except with respect to those matters specifically reserved for a Member vote under the Act and for matters expressly requiring the approval of Members under this Agreement.  Except as otherwise required by the Act, each Unit will entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters to be voted on by the Members.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the holders of Units having voting rights will vote together as a single class on all matters to be approved by the Members.

 

Section 3.3                                     Capital Contributions; Unit Ownership .

 

(a)                                  Capital Contributions .  Except as otherwise set forth in Section 3.1(e) , no Member shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions.

 

(b)                                  Issuance of Additional Units or Interests .  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Managing Member shall have the right to authorize and cause the Company to issue on such terms (including price) as may be determined by the Managing Member (i) subject to the limitations of Section 3.1 , additional Units or other Equity Securities in the Company (including creating preferred interests or other classes or series of interests having such rights, preferences and privileges as determined by the Managing Member, which rights, preferences and privileges may be senior to the Units), and (ii) obligations, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities or interests convertible or exchangeable for Units or other Equity Securities in the Company; provided that, at any time following the Effective Date, in each case the Company shall not issue Equity Securities in the Company to any

 

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Person unless such Person shall have executed a counterpart to this Agreement and all other documents, agreements or instruments deemed necessary or desirable in the discretion of the Managing Member.  Upon such issuance and execution, such Person shall be admitted as a Member of the Company.  In that event, the Managing Member shall amend Exhibit A to reflect such additional issuances.  Subject to Section 11.1 , the Managing Member is hereby authorized to amend this Agreement to set forth the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of such additional Units or other Equity Securities in the Company, or such other amendments that the Managing Member determines to be otherwise necessary or appropriate in connection with the creation, authorization or issuance of, any class or series of Units or other Equity Securities in the Company pursuant to this Section 3.3(b) ; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Managing Member shall have the right to amend this Agreement as set forth in this sentence without the approval of any other Person (including any Member) and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (including Section 11.1 ) if such amendment is necessary in order to consummate any offering of shares of PubCo Common Stock or other Equity Securities of PubCo provided that the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties of any such additional Units or other Equity Securities of the Company as set forth in such amendment are substantially similar to those applicable to such shares of PubCo Common Stock or other Equity Securities of PubCo.

 

Section 3.4                                     Capital Accounts .  A Capital Account shall be maintained for each Member in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and, to the extent consistent with such regulations, the other provisions of this Agreement.  Each Member’s Capital Account balance as of the Effective Date shall be equal to the amount of its respective Closing Date Capital Account Balance set forth opposite such Member’s name on Exhibit A .  Thereafter, each Member’s Capital Account shall be (a) increased by (i) allocations to such Member of Profits pursuant to Section 4.1 and any other items of income or gain allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 4.2 , (ii) the amount of additional cash or the initial Gross Asset Value of any asset (net of any Liabilities assumed by the Member and any Liabilities to which the asset is subject) contributed to the Company by such Member, and (iii) any other increases allowed or required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), and (b) decreased by (i) allocations to such Member of Losses pursuant to Section 4.1 and any other items of deduction or loss allocated to such Member pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.2 , (ii) the amount of any cash or the Gross Asset Value of any asset (net of any Liabilities assumed by the Member and any Liabilities to which the asset is subject) distributed to such Member, and (iii) any other decreases allowed or required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv).  In the event of a Transfer of Units made in accordance with this Agreement (including a deemed Transfer for U.S. federal income tax purposes as described in Section 3.6(a)(iv) ), the Capital Account of the Transferor that is attributable to the Transferred Units shall carry over to the Transferee Member in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( l ).

 

Section 3.5                                     Other Matters .

 

(a)                                  No Member shall demand or receive a return on or of its Capital Contributions or withdraw from the Company without the consent of the Managing Member.  Under

 

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circumstances requiring a return of any Capital Contributions, no Member has the right to receive property other than cash.

 

(b)                                  No Member shall receive any interest, salary, compensation, draw or reimbursement with respect to its Capital Contributions or its Capital Account, or for services rendered or expenses incurred on behalf of the Company or otherwise in its capacity as a Member, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.9 or as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The Liability of each Member shall be limited as set forth in the Act and other applicable Law and, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or required by Law, no Member (or any of its Affiliates) shall be personally liable, whether to the Company, any of the other Members, the creditors of the Company, or any other third party, for any debt or Liability of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being a Member of the Company.

 

(d)                                  Except as otherwise required by the Act, a Member shall not be required to restore a deficit balance in such Member’s Capital Account, to lend any funds to the Company or, except as otherwise set forth herein, to make any additional contributions or payments to the Company.

 

(e)                                   The Company shall not be obligated to repay any Capital Contributions of any Member.

 

Section 3.6                                     Redemption of Units .

 

(a)                                  (i) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 3.6 , each of the Members (other than PubCo and its wholly-owned Subsidiaries) (the “ Redeeming Member ”) shall be entitled to cause the Company to redeem all or a portion of such Member’s Units (together with the transfer and surrender of the same number of shares of Class B Common Stock) for an equivalent number of shares of Class A Common Stock (a “ Redemption ”) or, at the Company’s election made in accordance with Section 3.6(a)(iv) , cash equal to the Cash Election Amount calculated with respect to such Redemption.  A Redeeming Member shall be permitted to effect a Redemption of Units no more frequently than once per calendar quarter. The Managing Member may, in its discretion, adopt a policy to limit quarterly exchanges to a particular period during each quarter.  With respect to each Redemption, a Redeeming Member shall be required to redeem at least a number of Units equal to the lesser of (A) 2,500 Units and (B) All Owned Units (excluding, for this purpose only, HoldCo Units not eligible for redemption pursuant to the terms of the A&R HoldCo Agreement at the time of the relevant Redemption).   Notwithstanding the preceding clause (A) of this Section 3.6(a)(i), with respect to each Redemption, if the Redeeming Member is any of Bender Investment Company, Scott Bender, Joel Bender, Steven Bender, Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P. (or any affiliated funds or investment vehicles managed by Cadent Energy Partners, LLC) or Lee Boquet, such Redeeming Member  shall be required to redeem at least a number of Units equal to the lesser of 10,000 Units and All Owned Units, and if the

 

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Redeeming Member is a Former A-1 Unitholder, such Redeeming Member  shall be required to redeem at least a number of Units equal to the lesser of 1,000 Units and All Owned Units (excluding, for this purpose only, HoldCo Units not eligible for redemption pursuant to the terms of the A&R HoldCo Agreement at the time of the relevant Redemption).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 3.6(j)  and Section 3.6(k), a Redeeming Member may exercise its redemption right with respect to All Owned Units of such Member or at least 1,000,000 Units at any time. Upon the Redemption of all of a Member’s Units, such Member shall, for the avoidance of doubt, cease to be a Member of the Company.

 

(ii)                                   In order to exercise the redemption right under Section 3.6(a)(i) , the Redeeming Member shall provide written notice (the “ Redemption Notice ”) to the Company, with a copy to PubCo (the date of delivery of such Redemption Notice, the “ Redemption Notice Date ”), stating:

 

(A)                                the number of Units (together with the transfer and surrender of an equal number of shares of Class B Common Stock) the Redeeming Member elects to have the Company redeem;

 

(B)                                if the shares of Class A Common Stock to be received are to be issued other than in the name of the Redeeming Member, the name(s) of the Person(s) in whose name or on whose order the shares of Class A Common Stock are to be issued;

 

(C)                                if the shares of Class A Common Stock are then publicly traded, whether the exercise of the redemption right is contingent upon the price of a share of Class A Common Stock at the close of business on the last trading day prior to the Redemption Date (as reported by Bloomberg, L.P. or its successor) being equal to a specified price, and, if so, such price;

 

(D)                                whether the exercise of the redemption right is to be contingent (including as to timing) upon the closing of an underwritten offering of the shares of Class A Common Stock for which the Units will be redeemed or the closing of an announced merger, consolidation or other transaction or event to which PubCo is a party in which the shares of Class A Common Stock would be exchanged or converted or become exchangeable for or convertible into cash or other securities or property; and

 

(E)                                 if the Redeeming Member requires the Redemption to take place on a specific Business Day, such Business Day, provided that, any such specified Business Day not be earlier than the date that would otherwise apply pursuant to clause (a) of the definition of Redemption Date.

 

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(iii)                                If the Units to be redeemed (or the shares of Class B Common Stock to be transferred and surrendered) by the Redeeming Member are represented by a certificate or certificates, prior to the Redemption Date, the Redeeming Member shall also present and surrender such certificate or certificates representing such Units (or shares of Class B Common Stock) during normal business hours at the principal executive offices of the Company, or if any agent for the registration or transfer of Class A Common Stock is then duly appointed and acting (the “ Transfer Agent ”), at the office of the Transfer Agent.  If required by the Managing Member, any certificate for Units and any certificate for shares of Class B Common Stock (in each case, if certificated) surrendered to the Company hereunder shall be accompanied by instruments of transfer, in forms reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Member and the Transfer Agent, duly executed by the Redeeming Member or the Redeeming Member’s duly authorized representative.

 

(iv)                               Upon receipt of a Redemption Notice, the Company shall be entitled to elect (a “ Cash Election ”) to settle the Redemption by delivering to the Redeeming Member, in lieu of the applicable number of shares of Class A Common Stock that would be received in such Redemption, an amount of cash equal to the Cash Election Amount for such Redemption.  In order to make a Cash Election with respect to a Redemption, the Company must provide written notice of such election to the Redeeming Member (with a copy to PubCo) prior to 1:00 p.m., Houston time, on the seventh Business Day after the Redemption Notice Date.  If the Company fails to provide such written notice prior to such time, it shall not be entitled to make a Cash Election with respect to such Redemption.

 

(v)                                  For U.S. federal income (and applicable state and local) tax purposes, each of the Redeeming Member, the Company and PubCo, as the case may be, agree to treat each Redemption and, in the event PubCo exercises its Call Right, each Call Purchase, as a sale of the Redeeming Member’s Units (together with the same number of shares of Class B Common Stock) to PubCo in exchange for shares of Class A Common Stock or cash, as applicable.

 

(b)                                                                                  (i) Subject to the satisfaction of any contingency described in Section 3.6(a)(ii)(C)  or (D)  that is specified in the relevant Redemption Notice, the Redemption shall be completed on the Redemption Date; provided , that if a valid Cash Election has not been made and a Retraction Condition occurs, the Redeeming Member may, at any time prior to the Redemption Date, revoke its Redemption Notice or delay the consummation of a Redemption by giving written notice (the “ Retraction Notice ”) to the Company (with a copy to PubCo); provided that in no event shall the Redeeming Member seeking to revoke or delay the consummation of such Redemption and relying on any of the matters contemplated in the definition of Retraction Condition have controlled or intentionally materially influenced any facts, circumstances, or Persons in connection therewith (except in the good faith performance of his or her duties as an officer or director of PubCo) in order

 

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to provide such Redeeming Member with a basis for such revocation or delay .  The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice that revokes a Redemption Notice shall terminate all of the Redeeming Member’s, the Company’s and PubCo’s rights and obligations arising from the retracted Redemption Notice.  If a Redeeming Member delays the consummation of a Redemption pursuant to a Retraction Notice, (A) unless the Redeeming Member delivers a Retraction Notice in accordance with Section 3.6(b)(i)(B) , the Redemption Date shall occur on the first Business Day following the date on which the conditions giving rise to such delay cease to exist (or such earlier day as PubCo, the Company and such Redeeming Member may agree in writing) and (B) the Redeeming Member may retract its Redemption Notice by giving a Retraction Notice to the Company (with a copy to PubCo) at any time prior to the date on which the conditions giving rise to such delay cease to exist.

 

(ii)                                   Unless the Redeeming Member has timely delivered a Retraction Notice revoking a Redemption Notice as provided in Section 3.6(b)(i)  or PubCo has elected its Call Right pursuant to Section 3.6(f) , on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date) (A) the Redeeming Member shall transfer and surrender the Units to be redeemed (and a corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock) to the Company, in each case free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, (B) PubCo shall contribute to the Company the consideration the Redeeming Member is entitled to receive under Section 3.6(a)(i)  or Section 3.6(a)(iv)  and, as described in Section 3.1(e) , the Company shall issue to PubCo a number of Units or other Equity Securities of the Company as consideration for such contribution, (C) the Company shall (x) cancel the redeemed Units, (y) transfer to the Redeeming Member the consideration the Redeeming Member is entitled to receive under Section 3.6(a)(i)  or Section 3.6(a)(iv) , and (z) if the Units are certificated, issue to the Redeeming Member a certificate for a number of Units equal to the difference (if any) between the number of Units evidenced by the certificate surrendered by the Redeeming Member pursuant to clause (ii)(A) of this Section 3.6(b)  and the number of redeemed Units, and (D) PubCo shall cancel the surrendered shares of Class B Common Stock.

 

(c)                                   If (i) there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction pursuant to which the shares of Class A Common Stock are converted or changed into another security, securities or other property (other than as a result of a subdivision or combination or any transaction subject to Section 3.1(g) ), or (ii) PubCo, by dividend or otherwise, distributes to all holders of the shares of Class A Common Stock evidences of its Indebtedness or assets, including securities (including shares of Class A Common Stock and any rights, options or warrants to all holders of the shares of Class A Common Stock to subscribe for or to purchase or to otherwise acquire shares of Class A Common Stock, or other securities or rights convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for shares of Class A Common Stock) but excluding any cash dividend or distribution as well as any such distribution of Indebtedness or assets received by PubCo from the Company in

 

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respect of the Units, then upon any subsequent Redemption, in addition to the shares of Class A Common Stock or the Cash Election Amount, as applicable, each Member shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security, securities or other property that such Member would have received if such Redemption had occurred immediately prior to the effective date of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization, other similar transaction, dividend or other distribution, taking into account any adjustment as a result of any subdivision (by any split, distribution or dividend, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of such security, securities or other property that occurs after the effective time of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction.  For the avoidance of doubt, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the shares of Class A Common Stock are converted or changed into another security, securities or other property, or any dividend or distribution (other than an excluded dividend or distribution, as described above), this Section 3.6 shall continue to be applicable, mutatis mutandis , with respect to such security or other property. This Agreement shall apply to the Units held by the Members as of the Effective Date, as well as any Units hereafter acquired by a Member, including Members who receive their Units pursuant to Section 8.3 of the A&R HoldCo Agreement.

 

(d)                                  PubCo shall at all times keep available, solely for the purpose of issuance upon a Redemption, out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Securities, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock that shall be issuable upon the Redemption of all outstanding Units (other than those Units held by PubCo or any Subsidiary of PubCo); provided , that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude PubCo from satisfying its obligations with respect to a Redemption by delivery of cash pursuant to a Cash Election or shares of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Securities that are held in the treasury of PubCo. PubCo covenants that all shares of Class A Common Stock and other Equity Securities that shall be issued upon a Redemption shall, upon issuance thereof, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.  In addition, for so long as the shares of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Securities are listed on a National Securities Exchange, PubCo shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause all shares of Class A Common Stock and such other Equity Securities issued upon a Redemption to be listed on such National Securities Exchange at the time of such issuance.

 

(e)                                   The issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Securities upon a Redemption shall be made without charge to the Redeeming Member for any stamp or other similar tax in respect of such issuance; provided , however , that if any such shares of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Securities are to be issued in a name other than that of the Redeeming Member, then the Person or Persons in whose name the shares are to be issued shall pay to PubCo the amount of any tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in such issuance or shall establish to the satisfaction of PubCo that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

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(f)                                    (i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.6 , but subject to Section 3.6(g) , a Redeeming Member shall be deemed to have offered to sell its Units as described in the Redemption Notice to PubCo, and PubCo may, in its sole discretion, by means of delivery of a Call Election Notice in accordance with, and subject to the terms of, this Section 3.6(f) , elect to purchase directly and acquire such Units (together with the transfer and surrender of the same number of shares of Class B Common Stock) on the Redemption Date by paying to the Redeeming Member (or, on the Redeeming Member’s written order and subject to Section 3.6(e) , its designee) that number of shares of Class A Common Stock the Redeeming Member (or its designee) would otherwise receive pursuant to Section 3.6(a)(i)  or, at PubCo’s election, an amount of cash equal to the Cash Election Amount of such shares of Class A Common Stock (the “ Call Right ”), whereupon PubCo shall acquire the Units offered for redemption by the Redeeming Member (together with the transfer and surrender of the same number of shares of Class B Common Stock to PubCo for cancellation).  PubCo shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Units; provided that if PubCo funds the Cash Election Amount other than through the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock, such Units will be reclassified into another Equity Security of the Company if the Managing Member determines such reclassification is necessary.

 

(ii)                                   PubCo may, at any time prior to the Redemption Date, in its sole discretion deliver written notice (a “ Call Election Notice ”) to the Company and the Redeeming Member setting forth its election to exercise its Call Right.  A Call Election Notice may be revoked by PubCo at any time; provided that any such revocation does not prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption on the Redemption Date.  Except as otherwise provided by this Section 3.6(f) , an exercise of the Call Right shall be consummated pursuant to the same timeframe and in the same manner as the relevant Redemption would have been consummated if PubCo had not delivered a Call Election Notice.

 

(g)                                   In connection with a PubCo Change of Control, PubCo shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to require each Member (other than PubCo and its wholly-owned Subsidiaries) to effect a Redemption of some or all of such Member’s Units (together with the transfer and surrender of the same number of shares of Class B Common Stock); provided that a Cash Election shall not be permitted pursuant to such a Redemption under this Section 3.6(g) .  Any Redemption pursuant to this Section 3.6(g)  shall be effective immediately prior to the consummation of the PubCo Change of Control (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be effective if such PubCo Change of Control is not consummated) (the “ Change of Control Redemption Date ”).  From and after the Change of Control Redemption Date, (i) the Units and shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such Redemption shall be deemed to be transferred to PubCo on the Change of Control Redemption Date and (ii) such Member shall cease to have any rights with respect to the Units and shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such Redemption (other than the right to receive shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to such Redemption).  PubCo shall provide written notice of an expected PubCo Change of Control to all Members

 

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within the earlier of (x) five (5) Business Days following the execution of the agreement with respect to such PubCo Change of Control and (y) ten (10) Business Days before the proposed date upon which the contemplated PubCo Change of Control is to be effected, indicating in such notice such information as may reasonably describe the PubCo Change of Control transaction, subject to applicable law, including the date of execution of such agreement or such proposed effective date, as applicable, the amount and types of consideration to be paid for shares of Class A Common Stock in the PubCo Change of Control, any election with respect to types of consideration that a holder of shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, shall be entitled to make in connection with such PubCo Change of Control, and the number of Units (and corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock) held by such Member that PubCo intends to require to be subject to such Redemption.  Following delivery of such notice and on or prior to the Change of Control Redemption Date, the Members shall take all actions reasonably requested by PubCo to effect such Redemption, including taking any action and delivering any document required pursuant to the remainder of this Section 3.6 to effect a Redemption.

 

(h)                                  No Redemption shall impair the right of the Redeeming Member to receive any distributions payable on the Units redeemed pursuant to such Redemption in respect of a record date that occurs prior to the Redemption Date for such Redemption.  For the avoidance of doubt, no Redeeming Member, or a Person designated by a Redeeming Member to receive shares of Class A Common Stock, shall be entitled to receive, with respect to such record date, distributions or dividends both on Units redeemed by the Company from such Redeeming Member and on shares of Class A Common Stock received by such Redeeming Member, or other Person so designated, if applicable, in such Redemption.

 

(i)                                      Any Units acquired by the Company under this Section 3.6 and transferred by the Company to PubCo shall remain outstanding and shall not be cancelled as a result of their acquisition by the Company.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, PubCo shall be automatically admitted as a Member of the Company with respect to any Units or other Equity Securities in the Company it receives under this Agreement (including under this Section 3.6 in connection with any Redemption).

 

(j)                                     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.6 , the Managing Member may, by written notice to the Members, suspend the redemption rights of the Members as set forth in this Section 3.6 for an aggregate period of up to 90 days in any calendar year.  For the avoidance of doubt, following the delivery of a Redemption Notice by any Redeeming Member, if the Managing Member suspends the redemption rights of the Members, such Redeeming Member may deliver a Retraction Notice and revoke its Redemption Notice at any time prior to the later of (x) the applicable Redemption Date or (y) the date of the consummation of the applicable Redemption.

 

(k)                                  The Managing Member may impose additional limitations and restrictions on Redemptions (including limiting Redemptions or creating priority procedures for

 

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Redemptions), to the extent it determines, in its sole discretion, such limitations and restrictions to be necessary or appropriate to avoid undue risk that the Company may be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code.  Furthermore, the Managing Member may require any Member or group of Members to redeem all of their Units to the extent it determines, in its sole discretion, that such Redemption is necessary or appropriate to avoid undue risk that the Company may be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code.  Upon delivery of any notice by the Managing Member to such Member or group of Members requiring such Redemption, such Member or group of Members shall exchange, subject to exercise by PubCo of its Call Right pursuant to Section 3.6(f)(i) , all of their Units effective as of the date specified in such notice (and such date shall be deemed to be a Redemption Date for purposes of this Agreement) in accordance with this Section 3.6 and otherwise in accordance with the requirements set forth in such notice.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

ALLOCATIONS OF PROFITS AND LOSSES

 

Section 4.1                                     Profits and Losses .  After giving effect to the allocations under Section 4.2 and subject to Section 4.4 , Profits and Losses (and, to the extent determined by the Managing Member to be necessary and appropriate to achieve the resulting Capital Account balances described below, any allocable items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit includable in the computation of Profits and Losses) for each Fiscal Year or other taxable period shall be allocated among the Members during such Fiscal Year or other taxable period in a manner such that, after giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 4.2 and all distributions through the end of such Fiscal Year or other taxable period, the Capital Account balance of each Member, immediately after making such allocation, is, as nearly as possible, equal to (i) the amount such Member would receive pursuant to Section 10.3(b)  if all assets of the Company on hand at the end of such Fiscal Year or other taxable period were sold for cash equal to their Gross Asset Values, all liabilities of the Company were satisfied in cash in accordance with their terms (limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the Gross Asset Value of the assets securing such liability), and all remaining or resulting cash was distributed, in accordance with Section 10.3(b) , to the Members immediately after making such allocation, minus (ii) such Member’s share of Company Minimum Gain and Member Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale of assets, and the amount any such Member is treated as obligated to contribute to the Company, computed immediately after the hypothetical sale of assets.

 

Section 4.2                                     Special Allocations .

 

(a)                                  Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year or other taxable period shall be specially allocated to the Members under any method determined by the Managing Member to be appropriate and in accordance with the applicable Treasury Regulations. The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions for a Fiscal Year or other taxable period shall equal the excess, if any, of the net increase, if any, in the amount of Company Minimum Gain during that Fiscal Year or other taxable period over the

 

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aggregate amount of any distributions during that Fiscal Year or other taxable period of proceeds of a Nonrecourse Liability that are allocable to an increase in Company Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(d).

 

(b)                                  Any Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year or other taxable period shall be specially allocated to the Member who bears economic risk of loss with respect to the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i).  If more than one Member bears the economic risk of loss for such Member Nonrecourse Debt, the Member Nonrecourse Deductions attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt shall be allocated among the Members according to the ratio in which they bear the economic risk of loss.  This Section 4.2(b)  is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year or other taxable period (or if there was a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain for a prior Fiscal Year or other taxable period and the Company did not have sufficient amounts of income and gain during prior periods to allocate among the Members under this Section 4.2(c) ), each Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period in an amount equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during such year (as determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(2)).  This section is intended to constitute a minimum gain chargeback under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement except Section 4.2(c) , if there is a net decrease in Member Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year or other taxable period (or if there was a net decrease in Member Minimum Gain for a prior Fiscal Year or other taxable period and the Company did not have sufficient amounts of income and gain during prior periods to allocate among the Members under this Section 4.2(d) ), each Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such year in an amount equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Member Minimum Gain (as determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4)).  This section is intended to constitute a partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain chargeback under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(e)                                   Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary except Section 4.2(a)  and Section 4.2(b) , no Losses or other items of loss or expense shall be allocated to any Member to the extent that such allocation would cause such Member to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit (or increase any existing Adjusted Capital Account Deficit) at the end of such Fiscal Year or other taxable period.  All Losses and other items of loss and expense in excess of the limitation set forth in this Section 4.2(e)  shall be allocated to the Members who do not have an Adjusted Capital Account

 

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Deficit in proportion to their relative positive Capital Accounts but only to the extent that such Losses and other items of loss and expense do not cause any such Member to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit.

 

(f)                                    Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary except Section 4.2(c)  and Section 4.2(d) , in the event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustment, allocation or distribution described in paragraph (4), (5) or (6) of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d ), items of income and gain (consisting of a pro rata portion of each item of income, including gross income, and gain for the Fiscal Year or other taxable period) shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate any Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of that Member as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 4.2(f)  shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other allocations provided for in this Article IV have been tentatively made as if this Section 4.2(f)  were not in this Agreement.  This Section 4.2(f)  is intended to constitute a qualified income offset under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii) (d ) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(g)                                   If any Member has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year or other taxable period that is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount that such Member is obligated to restore and (ii) the amount that the Member is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentence of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and (i)(5), that Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 4.2(g)  shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article IV have been made as if Section 4.2(f)  and this Section 4.2(g)  were not in this Agreement.

 

(h)                                  To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Sections 734(b) or 743(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( m )(2) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) (m) (4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution to any Member in complete liquidation of such Member’s Interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) and such item of gain or loss shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) (m) (2) if such section applies or to the Member to whom such distribution was made if Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) (m) (4) applies.

 

(i)                                      The allocations set forth in Sections 4.2(a)  through 4.2(h)  (the “ Regulatory Allocations ”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IV (other than the Regulatory Allocations), the Regulatory Allocations (and anticipated future Regulatory Allocations) shall be taken into account in

 

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allocating other items of income, gain, loss and deduction among the Members so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of such allocation of other items and the Regulatory Allocations to each Member should be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each such Member if the Regulatory Allocations had not occurred.  This Section 4.2(i)  is intended to minimize to the extent possible and to the extent necessary any economic distortions which may result from application of the Regulatory Allocations and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

 

Section 4.3                                     Allocations for Tax Purposes in General .

 

(a)                                  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.3 , each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be allocated among the Members in the same manner as such item is allocated under Sections 4.1 and 4.2 .

 

(b)                                  In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (including the Treasury Regulations applying the principles of Code Section 704(c) to changes in Gross Asset Values) , items of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any Company property having a Gross Asset Value that differs from such property’s adjusted U.S. federal income tax basis shall, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be allocated among the Members to account for any such difference using the “traditional method with curative allocations,” with the curative allocations applied only to sale gain, under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(c) or such other method or methods determined by the Managing Member to be appropriate and in accordance with the applicable Treasury Regulations.

 

(c)                                   Any (i) recapture of depreciation or any other item of deduction shall be allocated, in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.1245-1(e) and 1.1254-5, to the Members who received the benefit of such deductions, and (ii) recapture of grants credits shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with applicable law.

 

(d)                                  Allocations pursuant to this Section 4.3 are solely for purposes of U.S. federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect or in any way be taken into account in computing any Member’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items or distributions pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   If, as a result of an exercise of a noncompensatory option to acquire an interest in the Company, a Capital Account reallocation is required under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( s )(3), the Company shall make corrective allocations pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).

 

Section 4.4                                     Other Allocation Rules .

 

(a)                                  The Members are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by this Article IV and the economic impact of the allocations on the amounts receivable by them under this Agreement.  The Members hereby agree to be bound by the

 

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provisions of this Article IV in reporting their share of Company income and loss for income tax purposes.

 

(b)                                  The provisions regarding the establishment and maintenance for each Member of a Capital Account as provided by Section 3.4 and the allocations set forth in Sections 4.1 , 4.2 and 4.3 are intended to comply with the Treasury Regulations and to reflect the intended economic entitlement of the Members.  If the Managing Member determines, in its sole discretion, that the application of the provisions in Sections 3.4 , 4.1 , 4.2 or 4.3 would result in non-compliance with the Treasury Regulations or would be inconsistent with the intended economic entitlement of the Members, the Managing Member is authorized to make any appropriate adjustments to such provisions.

 

(c)                                   All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit allocable to an interest in the Company that may have been Transferred shall be allocated between the Transferor and the Transferee based on the portion of the Fiscal Year or other taxable period during which each was recognized as the owner of such interest, in accordance with a method determined by the Managing Member and permissible under Code Section 706 and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

 

(d)                                  The Members’ proportionate shares of the “excess nonrecourse liabilities” of the Company, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3), shall be allocated to the Members in any manner determined by the Managing Member and permissible under the Treasury Regulations.

 

ARTICLE V

 

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 5.1                                     Distributions .

 

(a)                                  Distributions .  To the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, and except as otherwise provided in Section 10.3 , distributions to Members may be declared by the Managing Member out of funds legally available therefor in such amounts and on such terms (including the payment dates of such distributions) as the Managing Member shall determine using such record date as the Managing Member may designate; any such distribution shall be made to the Members as of the close of business on such record date on a pro rata basis (except that, for the avoidance of doubt, repurchases or redemptions made in accordance with Section 3.1 or payments made in accordance with Sections 6.4 or 6.9 need not be on a pro rata basis), in accordance with the number of Units owned by each Member as of the close of business on such record date; provided , however , that the Managing Member shall have the obligation to make distributions as set forth in Sections 5.2 and 10.3(b)(iii) ; and provided , further , that, notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no distributions shall be made to any Member to the extent such distribution would render the Company insolvent or violate the Act.  For purposes of the foregoing sentence, insolvency means the inability of the Company to meet its

 

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payment obligations when due.  Promptly following the designation of a record date and the declaration of a distribution pursuant to this Section 5.1 , the Managing Member shall give notice to each Member of the record date, the amount and the terms of the distribution and the payment date thereof.

 

(b)                                  Successors .  For purposes of determining the amount of distributions, each Member shall be treated as having made the Capital Contributions and as having received the distributions made to or received by its predecessors in respect of any of such Member’s Units.

 

(c)                                   Distributions In-Kind .  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any distributions may be made in cash or in kind, or partly in cash and partly in kind, as determined by the Managing Member.  To the extent that the Company distributes property in-kind to the Members, the Company shall be treated as making a distribution equal to the Fair Market Value of such property for purposes of Section 5.1(a)  and such property shall be treated as if it were sold for an amount equal to its Fair Market Value.  Any resulting gain or loss shall be allocated to the Member’s Capital Accounts in accordance with Section 4.1 and Section  4.2 .

 

Section 5.2                                     Tax-Related Distributions .  The Company shall, subject to any restrictions contained in any commercial agreement entered into in the ordinary course with a third party to which the Company is bound, make distributions out of legally available funds (and taking into account any cash reserves to pay costs, fees, operating expenses and other expenses of the Company which the Managing Member reasonably deems necessary) to all Members on a pro rata basis, in accordance with the number of Units owned by each Member, at such times and in such amounts as the Managing Member reasonably determines is necessary to enable PubCo to (i) timely satisfy all of its U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax liabilities and (ii) timely meet its obligations pursuant to any and all Tax Receivable Agreements.

 

Section 5.3                                     Distribution Upon Withdrawal .  No withdrawing Member shall be entitled to receive any distribution or the value of such Member’s Interest in the Company as a result of withdrawal from the Company prior to the liquidation of the Company, except as specifically provided in this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

MANAGEMENT

 

Section 6.1                                     The Managing Member; Fiduciary Duties .

 

(a)                                  PubCo shall be the sole Managing Member of the Company.  Except as otherwise required by Law, (i) the Managing Member shall have full and complete charge of all affairs of the Company, (ii) the management and control of the Company’s business activities and operations shall rest exclusively with the Managing Member, and the Managing Member shall make all decisions regarding the business, activities and operations of the Company (including the incurrence of costs and expenses) in its sole discretion without the consent of any other Member and (iii) the Members

 

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other than the Managing Member (in their capacity as such) shall not participate in the control, management, direction or operation of the activities or affairs of the Company and shall have no power to act for or bind the Company.

 

(b)                                  In connection with the performance of its duties as the Managing Member of the Company, except as otherwise set forth herein, the Managing Member acknowledges that it will owe to the Members the same fiduciary duties as it would owe to the stockholders of a Delaware corporation if it were a member of the board of directors of such a corporation and the Members were stockholders of such corporation.  The Members acknowledge that the Managing Member will take action through its board of directors, and that the members of the Managing Member’s board of directors will owe comparable fiduciary duties to the stockholders of the Managing Member.  The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities of the Managing Member otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Members to replace, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, such other duties and liabilities of the Managing Member.

 

Section 6.2                                     Officers .

 

(a)                                  The Managing Member may appoint, employ or otherwise contract with any Person for the transaction of the business of the Company or the performance of services for or on behalf of the Company, and the Managing Member may delegate to any such Persons such authority to act on behalf of the Company as the Managing Member may from time to time deem appropriate.

 

(b)                                  The initial president and chief executive officer of the Company (the “ President and Chief Executive Officer ”) will be Scott Bender.

 

(c)                                   Except as otherwise set forth herein, the President and Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for the general and active management of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and will see that all orders of the Managing Member are carried into effect.  The President and Chief Executive Officer will report to the Managing Member and have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president and chief executive officer of a corporation organized under the DGCL, subject to the terms of this Agreement, and will have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Managing Member or this Agreement.  The President and Chief Executive Officer will have the power to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Company, except where required or permitted by Law to be otherwise signed and executed, and except where the signing and execution thereof will be expressly delegated by the Managing Member to some other Officer or agent of the Company.

 

(d)                                  Except as set forth herein, the Managing Member may appoint Officers at any time, and the Officers may include one or more vice presidents, a secretary, one or more assistant secretaries, a chief financial officer, a general counsel, a treasurer, one or more assistant treasurers, a chief operating officer, an executive chairman, and any

 

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other officers that the Managing Member deems appropriate.  Except as set forth herein, the Officers will serve at the pleasure of the Managing Member, subject to all rights, if any, of such Officer under any contract of employment.  Any individual may hold any number of offices, and an Officer may, but need not, be a Member of the Company.  The Officers will exercise such powers and perform such duties as specified in this Agreement or as determined from time to time by the Managing Member.

 

(e)                                   Subject to this Agreement and to the rights, if any, of an Officer under a contract of employment, any Officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Managing Member.  Any Officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Managing Member.  Any resignation will take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation will not be necessary to make it effective.  Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Company under any contract to which the Officer is a party.  A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause will be filled in the manner prescribed in this Agreement for regular appointments to that office.

 

Section 6.3                                     Warranted Reliance by Officers on Others .  In exercising their authority and performing their duties under this Agreement, the Officers shall be entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements of the following Persons or groups unless they have actual knowledge concerning the matter in question that would cause such reliance to be unwarranted:

 

(a)                                  one or more employees or other agents of the Company or subordinates whom the Officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented; and

 

(b)                                  any attorney, public accountant, or other Person as to matters which the Officer reasonably believes to be within such Person’s professional or expert competence.

 

Section 6.4                                     Indemnification .  Subject to the limitations and conditions provided in this Section 6.4 , each Person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or arbitrative (each, a “ Proceeding ”), or any appeal in such a Proceeding or any inquiry or investigation that could lead to such a Proceeding, by reason of the fact he, she or it, or a Person of which he, she or it is the legal representative, is or was a Member, an Officer, or acting as the, Managing Member, Tax Matters Member or Company Representative of the Company, in each case, shall be indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than such Law permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment) against all judgment, penalties (including excise and similar taxes and punitive damages), fines, settlement and reasonable expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) actually incurred by such Person in connection with such Proceeding, appeal, inquiry or investigation, if such Person acted in

 

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Good Faith.  Reasonable expenses incurred by a Person of the type entitled to be indemnified under this Section 6.4 who was, is or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a Proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he, she or it is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.  Indemnification under this Section 6.4 shall continue as to a Person who has ceased to serve in the capacity which initially entitled such Person to indemnity hereunder.  The rights granted pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall be deemed contract rights, and no amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 6.4 shall have the effect of limiting or denying any such rights with respect to actions taken or Proceedings, appeals, inquiries or investigations arising prior to any amendment, modification or repeal.  It is expressly acknowledged that the indemnification provided in this Section 6.4 could involve indemnification for negligence or under theories of strict liability.

 

Section 6.5                                     Maintenance of Insurance or Other Financial Arrangements .  In compliance with applicable Law, the Company (with the approval of the Managing Member) may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any Person who is or was a Member, employee or agent of the Company, or at the request of the Company is or was serving as a manager, director, officer, employee or agent of another limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for any Liability asserted against such Person and Liability and expenses incurred by such Person in such Person’s capacity as such, or arising out of such Person’s status as such, whether or not the Company has the authority to indemnify such Person against such Liability and expenses.

 

Section 6.6                                     Resignation or Termination of Managing Member .  PubCo shall not, by any means, resign as, cease to be or be replaced as Managing Member except in compliance with this Section 6.6 .  No termination or replacement of PubCo as Managing Member shall be effective unless proper provision is made, in compliance with this Agreement, so that the obligations of PubCo, its successor (if applicable) and any new Managing Member and the rights of all Members under this Agreement and applicable Law remain in full force and effect.  No appointment of a Person other than PubCo (or its successor, as applicable) as Managing Member shall be effective unless PubCo (or its successor, as applicable) and the new Managing Member (as applicable) provide all other Members with contractual rights, directly enforceable by such other Members against PubCo (or its successor, as applicable) and the new Managing Member (as applicable), to cause (a) PubCo to comply with all PubCo’s obligations under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.6 ) other than those that must necessarily be taken in its capacity as Managing Member and (b) the new Managing Member to comply with all the Managing Member’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 6.7                                     No Inconsistent Obligations .  The Managing Member represents that it does not have any contracts, other agreements, duties or obligations that are inconsistent with its duties and obligations (whether or not in its capacity as Managing Member) under this Agreement and covenants that, except as permitted by Section 6.1 , it will not enter into any contracts or other agreements or undertake or acquire any other duties or obligations that are inconsistent with such duties and obligations.

 

Section 6.8                                     Reclassification Events of PubCo .  If a Reclassification Event occurs, the Managing Member or its successor, as the case may be, shall, as and to the extent necessary, amend

 

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this Agreement in compliance with Section 11.1 , and enter into any necessary supplementary or additional agreements, to ensure that, following the effective date of the Reclassification Event: (i) the redemption rights of holders of Units set forth in Section 3.6 provide that each Unit (together with the transfer and surrender of one share of Class B Stock) is redeemable for the same amount and same type of property, securities or cash (or combination thereof) that one share of Class A Common Stock becomes exchangeable for or converted into as a result of the Reclassification Event and (ii) PubCo or the successor to PubCo, as applicable, is obligated to deliver such property, securities or cash upon such redemption.  PubCo shall not consummate or agree to consummate any Reclassification Event unless the successor Person, if any, becomes obligated to comply with the obligations of PubCo (in whatever capacity) under this Agreement.

 

Section 6.9                                     Certain Costs and Expenses .  The Company shall (i) pay, or cause to be paid, all costs, fees, operating expenses and other expenses of the Company (including the costs, fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants or other professionals and the compensation of all personnel providing services to the Company) incurred in pursuing and conducting, or otherwise related to, the activities of the Company, and (ii) in the sole discretion of the Managing Member, reimburse the Managing Member for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by it in connection with serving as the Managing Member.  To the extent that the Managing Member determines in its sole discretion that such expenses are related to the business and affairs of the Managing Member that are conducted through the Company and/or its Subsidiaries (including expenses that relate to the business and affairs of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and that also relate to other activities of the Managing Member), the Managing Member shall cause the Company to pay or bear all expenses of the Managing Member, including, without limitation, costs of securities offerings not borne directly by Members, board of directors compensation and meeting costs, costs of periodic reports to its stockholders, litigation costs and damages arising from litigation, accounting and legal costs; provided that the Company shall not pay or bear any income tax obligations of the Managing Member or bear the cost of payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, any payments made to or on behalf of the Managing Member pursuant to this Section 6.9 shall not be treated as a distribution pursuant to Section 5.1(a)  but shall instead be treated as a cost or an expense of the Company.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

ROLE OF MEMBERS

 

Section 7.1                                     Rights or Powers .  Other than the Managing Member, the Members, acting in their capacity as Members, shall not have any right or power to take part in the management or control of the Company or its business and affairs or to act for or bind the Company in any way.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Members have all the rights and powers specifically set forth in this Agreement and, to the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement, in the Act.  A Member, any Affiliate thereof or an employee, stockholder, agent, director or officer of a Member or any Affiliate thereof, may also be an employee or be retained as an agent of the Company.  The existence of these relationships and acting in such capacities will not result in the Member (other than the Managing Member) being deemed to be participating in the control of the business of the Company or otherwise affect the limited liability of the Member.  Except as specifically provided herein, a Member (other than the Managing Member) shall not, in its capacity as a Member, take

 

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part in the operation, management or control of the Company’s business, transact any business in the Company’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Company

 

Section 7.2                                     Voting .

 

(a)                                  Meetings of the Members may be called upon the written request of Members holding at least 50% of the outstanding Units.  Such request shall state the location of the meeting and the nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting.  Written notice of any such meeting shall be given to all Members not less than two Business Days and not more than 30 days prior to the date of such meeting.  Members may vote in person, by proxy or by telephone at any meeting of the Members and may waive advance notice of such meeting.  Whenever the vote or consent of Members is permitted or required under this Agreement, such vote or consent may be given at a meeting of the Members or may be given in accordance with the procedure prescribed in this Section 7.2 .  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the affirmative vote of the Members holding a majority of the outstanding Units shall constitute the act of the Members.

 

(b)                                  Each Member may authorize any Person or Persons to act for it by proxy on all matters in which such Member is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting.  Every proxy must be signed by such Member or its attorney-in-fact.  No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy.  Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Member executing it.

 

(c)                                   Each meeting of Members shall be conducted by an Officer designated by the Managing Member or such other individual Person as the Managing Member deems appropriate.

 

(d)                                  Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Members may be taken without a meeting if the requisite Members whose approval is necessary consent thereto in writing.

 

Section 7.3                                     Various Capacities .  The Members acknowledge and agree that the Members or their Affiliates will from time to time act in various capacities, including as a Member and as the Tax Matters Member or Company Representative.

 

Section 7.4                                     Business Opportunities .

 

(a)                                  To the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Company, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company and its Subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunities that are from time to time presented to Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P. and its Affiliates (the “ Sponsor ”) or any of their respective Affiliates or any of their respective agents, shareholders, members, partners, directors, officers, employees, Affiliates or Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries), including any officer of the Company who is also an agent, shareholder, member, partner, director, officer, employee, Affiliate or Subsidiary of the Sponsor (each, a “ Business

 

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Opportunities Exempt Party ”), even if the business opportunity is one that the Company or its Subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and no Business Opportunities Exempt Party shall have any duty to communicate or offer any such business opportunity to the Company or be liable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Members, including for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as an officer or Member or otherwise, and the Company shall indemnify each Business Opportunities Exempt Party against any claim that such Person is liable to the Company or the Members for breach of any fiduciary duty, by reason of the fact that such Person (i) participates in, pursues or acquires any such business opportunity, (ii) directs any such business opportunity to another Person or (iii) fails to present any such business opportunity, or information regarding any such business opportunity, to the Company or its Subsidiaries, unless, in the case of a Person who is an officer of the Company, such business opportunity is expressly offered to such officer in writing solely in his capacity as an officer of the Company.

 

(b)                                  To the fullest extent permitted by Law, no Business Opportunity Exempt Party shall have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (i) engaging in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Company or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (ii) otherwise competing with the Company or any of its Affiliates, and, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, no Business Opportunity Exempt Party shall be liable to the Company or the Members or to any Affiliate of the Company for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Business Opportunity Exempt Party engages in any such activities.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS

 

Section 8.1                                     Restrictions on Transfer .

 

(a)                                  Except as provided in Section 3.6 and except for Transfers by HoldCo to its members pursuant to Section 8.3 of the A&R Holdco Agreement, no Member shall Transfer all or any portion of its Interest without the Managing Member’s prior written consent, which consent shall be granted or withheld in the Managing Member’s reasonable discretion.  If, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8.1(a) , all or any portion of a Member’s Interests are Transferred in violation of this Section 8.1(a) , involuntarily, by operation of law or otherwise, then without limiting any other rights and remedies available to the other parties under this Agreement or otherwise, the Transferee of such Interest (or portion thereof) shall not be admitted to the Company as a Member or be entitled to any rights as a Member hereunder, and the Transferor will continue to be bound by all obligations hereunder, unless and until the Managing Member consents in writing to such admission, which consent shall be granted or withheld in the Managing Member’s sole discretion.  Any attempted or purported Transfer of all or a portion of a Member’s Interests in violation of this Section 8.1(a)  shall be null and void and of no force or effect

 

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whatsoever.  For the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions on Transfer contained in this Article VIII shall not apply to the Transfer of any capital stock of the Managing Member; provided that no shares of Class B Common Stock may be Transferred unless a corresponding number of Units are Transferred therewith in accordance with this Agreement.

 

(b)           In addition to any other restrictions on Transfer contained herein, including the provisions of this Article VIII , in no event may any Transfer or assignment of Interests by any Member be made (i) to any Person who lacks the legal right, power or capacity to own Interests; (ii) unless, if requested by the Company, the Transferor has received a written opinion in form and substance that is reasonably acceptable to the Company from legal counsel or a qualified tax advisor (in either case who is reasonably acceptable to the Company) to the effect that such Transfer (A) will not be considered to be effected on or through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof,” as such terms are used in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1, (B) will not result in the Company having more than one hundred (100) partners, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1) (determined taking into account the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)), and (C) will not cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code or a successor provision or to be taxed as a corporation pursuant to the Code or successor of the Code; (iii) if such Transfer would cause the Company to become, with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, a “party-in-interest” (as defined in Section 3 (14) of ERISA) or a “disqualified person” (as defined in Section 4975(e)(2) of the Code); (iv) if such Transfer would, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, cause any portion of the assets of the Company to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise cause the Company to be subject to regulation under ERISA; (v) if such Transfer requires the registration of such Interests or any Equity Securities issued upon any exchange of such Interests, pursuant to any applicable U.S. federal or state securities Laws; or (vi) if such Transfer subjects the Company to regulation under the Investment Company Act or the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, each as amended (or any succeeding law). Any Transfer purported to be made in violation of this Section 8.1(b) shall be void ab initio.

 

Section 8.2                                     Notice of Transfer .  Other than in connection with Transfers made pursuant to Section 3.6 , each Member shall, after complying with the provisions of this Agreement, but in any event no later than three Business Days following any Transfer of Interests, give written notice to the Company of such Transfer.  Each such notice shall describe the manner and circumstances of the Transfer.

 

Section 8.3                                     Transferee Members .  A Transferee of Interests pursuant to this Article VIII shall have the right to become a Member only if (i) the requirements of this Article VIII are met, (ii) such Transferee executes an instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Member agreeing to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement and assuming all of the Transferor’s then existing and future Liabilities arising under or relating to this Agreement, (iii) such Transferee represents that the Transfer was made in accordance with all applicable securities Laws, (iv) the

 

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Transferor or Transferee shall have reimbursed the Company for all reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) of any Transfer or proposed Transfer of a Member’s Interest, whether or not consummated and (v) if such Transferee or his or her spouse is a resident of a community property jurisdiction, then such Transferee’s spouse shall also execute an instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Member agreeing to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement to the extent of his or her community property or quasi-community property interest, if any, in such Member’s Interest.  Unless agreed to in writing by the Managing Member, the admission of a Member shall not result in the release of the Transferor from any Liability that the Transferor may have to each remaining Member or to the Company under this Agreement or any other Contract between the Managing Member, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and such Transferor or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand.  Written notice of the admission of a Member shall be sent promptly by the Company to each remaining Member.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8.3 , and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, following a Transfer of Units by HoldCo to any of its members pursuant to Section 8.3 of the A&R HoldCo Agreement, such transferee shall succeed to all of the rights of HoldCo with respect to such Units under this Agreement.

 

Section 8.4                                     Legend .  Each certificate representing a Unit, if any, will be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.

 

THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SUCH ACT.

 

THE TRANSFER AND VOTING OF THESE SECURITIES IS SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT OF CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC DATED AS OF JANUARY 29, 2018 AMONG THE MEMBERS LISTED THEREIN, AS IT MAY BE AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED AND/OR RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND NO TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES WILL BE VALID OR EFFECTIVE UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED.  COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES.”

 

ARTICLE IX

 

ACCOUNTING

 

Section 9.1                                     Books of Account .  The Company shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, maintain true books and records of account in which full and correct entries shall be made of all its business transactions pursuant to a system of accounting established and administered in

 

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accordance with GAAP, and shall set aside on its books all such proper accruals and reserves as shall be required under GAAP.

 

Section 9.2                                     Tax Elections .

 

(a)                                  The Company and any eligible Subsidiary shall make an election (or continue a previously made election) pursuant to Section 754 of the Code for the taxable year of the Company that includes the Effective Date, shall not thereafter revoke such election and shall make a new election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code to the extent necessary following any “termination” of the Company or the Subsidiary, as applicable, under Section 708 of the Code.  In addition, the Company shall make the following elections on the appropriate forms or tax returns:

 

i.                                           to adopt the calendar year as the Company’s Fiscal Year, if permitted under the Code;

 

ii.                                        to adopt the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

iii.                                     to elect to amortize the organizational expenses of the Company as permitted by Section 709(b) of the Code; and

 

iv.                                    any other election the Managing Member may deem appropriate and in the best interests of the Company.

 

(b)                                  Upon request of the Managing Member, each Member shall cooperate in good faith with the Company in connection with the Company’s efforts to elect out of the application of the company-level audit and adjustment rules of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, if applicable.  None of the Managing Member, the Members, or the Company shall make any election under Section 1101(g)(4) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 to have the provisions of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 governing “Subchapter C — Treatment of Partnerships” apply to any tax return of the Company filed for a taxable year beginning prior to January 1, 2018.

 

Section 9.3                                     Tax Returns; Information .  The Tax Matters Member or Company Representative (as applicable) shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all income and other tax and informational returns of the Company.  The Tax Matters Member or Company Representative (as applicable) shall furnish to each Member a copy of each approved return and statement, together with any schedules or other information which each Member may require in connection with such Member’s own tax affairs as soon as practicable (but in no event more than 60 days after the end of each Fiscal Year).  The Members agree to take all actions reasonably requested by the Company or the Company Representative to comply with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, including where applicable, filing amended returns as provided in Sections 6225 or 6226 of the Code and providing confirmation thereof to the Company Representative.

 

Section 9.4                                     Tax Matters Member and Company Representative .  The Managing Member is specially authorized and appointed to act as the Tax Matters Member and as the Company Representative (as applicable) and in any similar capacity under state or local Law.  The

 

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Tax Matters Member or Company Representative (as applicable) may retain, at the Company’s expense, such outside counsel, accountants and other professional consultants as it may reasonably deem necessary in the course of fulfilling its obligations as Tax Matters Member or Company Representative (as applicable).

 

Section 9.5                                     Withholding Tax Payments and Obligations .

 

(a)                                  The Company and its Subsidiaries may withhold from distributions, allocations or portions thereof if it is required to do so by any applicable rule, regulation or law, and each Member hereby authorizes the Company and its Subsidiaries to withhold or pay on behalf of or with respect to such Member any amount of taxes that the Managing Member determines, in good faith, that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is required to withhold or pay with respect to any amount distributable or allocable to such Member pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  To the extent that any tax is paid by (or withheld from amounts payable to) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and the Managing Member determines, in good faith, that such tax relates to one or more specific Members (including any tax payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 6225 of the Code with respect to items of income, gain, loss deduction or credit allocable or attributable to such Member), such tax shall be treated as an amount of taxes withheld or paid with respect to such Member pursuant to this Section 9.5 .

 

(c)                                   For all purposes under this Agreement, any amounts withheld or paid with respect to a Member pursuant to this Section 9.5 shall be treated as if distributed to such Member at the time such withholding or payment is made.  Further, to the extent that the cumulative amount of such withholding or payment for any period exceeds the distributions to which such Member is entitled for such period, the amount of such excess shall be considered a loan from the Company to such Member, with interest accruing at the Prime Rate in effect from time to time, compounded annually.  The Managing Member may, in its discretion, either demand payment of the principal and accrued interest on such demand loan at any time (which payment shall not be deemed a Capital Contribution for purposes of this Agreement), and enforce payment thereof by legal process, or may withhold from one or more distributions to a Member amounts sufficient to satisfy such Member’s obligations under any such demand loan.

 

(d)                                  Neither the Company nor the Managing Member shall be liable for any excess taxes withheld in respect of any Member, and, in the event of overwithholding, a Member’s sole recourse shall be to apply for a refund from the appropriate Governmental Entity.

 

(e)                                   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, (i) any Person who ceases to be a Member shall be treated as a Member for purposes of this Section 9.5 and (ii) the obligations of a Member pursuant to this Section 9.5 shall survive indefinitely with respect to any taxes withheld or paid by the Company that relate to the period

 

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during which such Person was actually a Member, regardless of whether such taxes are assessed, withheld or otherwise paid during such period.

 

ARTICLE X

 

DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION

 

Section 10.1                              Liquidating Events .  The Company shall dissolve and commence winding up and liquidating upon the first to occur of the following (each, a “ Liquidating Event ”):

 

(a)                                  The sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; and

 

(b)                                  The determination of the Managing Member to dissolve, wind up, and liquidate the Company.

 

The Members hereby agree that the Company shall not dissolve prior to the occurrence of a Liquidating Event and that no Member shall seek a dissolution of the Company, under Section 18-802 of the Act or otherwise, other than based on the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (b) above.  If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Company has dissolved prior to the occurrence of a Liquidating Event, the Members hereby agree to continue the business of the Company without a winding up or liquidation.  In the event of a dissolution pursuant to Section 10.1(b) , the relative economic rights of each class of Units immediately prior to such dissolution shall be preserved to the greatest extent practicable with respect to distributions made to Members pursuant to Section 10.3 in connection with such dissolution, taking into consideration tax and other legal constraints that may adversely affect one or more parties to such dissolution and subject to compliance with applicable laws and regulations, unless, with respect to any class of Units, holders of a majority of the Units of such class consent in writing to a treatment other than as described above.

 

Section 10.2                              Bankruptcy .  For purposes of this Agreement, the “bankruptcy” of a Member shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (a) any Governmental Entity shall take possession of any substantial part of the property of that Member or shall assume control over the affairs or operations thereof, or a receiver or trustee shall be appointed, or a writ, order, attachment or garnishment shall be issued with respect to any substantial part thereof, and such possession, assumption of control, appointment, writ or order shall continue for a period of 90 consecutive days; or (b) a Member shall admit in writing of its inability to pay its debts when due, or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or apply for or consent to the appointment of any receiver, trustee or similar officer or for all or any substantial part of its property; or shall institute (by petition, application, answer, consent or otherwise) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debts, dissolution, liquidation, or similar proceeding under the Laws of any jurisdiction; or (c) a receiver, trustee or similar officer shall be appointed for such Member or with respect to all or any substantial part of its property without the application or consent of that Member, and such appointment shall continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of 90 consecutive days or any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangements, readjustment of debt, dissolution, liquidation or similar proceedings shall be instituted (by petition, application or otherwise) against that Member and shall remain undismissed for a period of 90 consecutive days.

 

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Section 10.3                              Procedure .

 

(a)                                  In the event of the dissolution of the Company for any reason, the Members shall commence to wind up the affairs of the Company and to liquidate the Company’s investments; provided that if a Member is in bankruptcy or dissolved, another Member, who shall be the Managing Member (“ Winding-Up Member ”) shall commence to wind up the affairs of the Company and, subject to Section 10.4(a) , such Winding-Up Member shall have full right and unlimited discretion to determine in good faith the time, manner and terms of any sale or sales of the Property or other assets pursuant to such liquidation, having due regard to the activity and condition of the relevant market and general financial and economic conditions.  The Members shall continue to share profits, losses and distributions during the period of liquidation in the same manner and proportion as though the Company had not dissolved.  The Company shall engage in no further business except as may be necessary, in the reasonable discretion of the Managing Member or the Winding-Up Member, as applicable, to preserve the value of the Company’s assets during the period of dissolution and liquidation.

 

(b)                                  Following the payment of all expenses of liquidation and the allocation of all Profits and Losses as provided in Article IV , the proceeds of the liquidation and any other funds of the Company shall be distributed in the following order of priority:

 

(i)                                      First, to the payment and discharge of all of the Company’s debts and Liabilities to creditors (whether third parties or Members), in the order of priority as provided by Law, except any obligations to the Members in respect of their Capital Accounts;

 

(ii)                                   Second, to set up such cash reserves which the Managing Member reasonably deems necessary for contingent or unforeseen Liabilities or future payments described in Section 10.3(b)(i)  (which reserves when they become unnecessary shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of subsection (iii), below); and

 

(iii)                                Third, the balance to the Members, pro rata in accordance with the number of Units owned by each Member.

 

(c)                                   Except as provided in Section 10.4(a) , no Member shall have any right to demand or receive property other than cash upon dissolution and termination of the Company.

 

(d)                                  Upon the completion of the liquidation of the Company and the distribution of all Company funds, the Company shall terminate and the Managing Member or the Winding-Up Member, as the case may be, shall have the authority to execute and record a certificate of cancellation of the Company, as well as any and all other documents required to effectuate the dissolution and termination of the Company.

 

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Section 10.4                              Rights of Members .

 

(a)                                  Each Member irrevocably waives any right that it may have to maintain an action for partition with respect to the property of the Company.

 

(b)                                  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, (i) each Member shall look solely to the assets of the Company for the return of its Capital Contributions, and (ii) no Member shall have priority over any other Member as to the return of its Capital Contributions, distributions or allocations.

 

Section 10.5                              Notices of Dissolution .  In the event a Liquidating Event occurs or an event occurs that would, but for the provisions of Section 10.1 , result in a dissolution of the Company, the Company shall, within 30 days thereafter, (a) provide written notice thereof to each of the Members and to all other parties with whom the Company regularly conducts business (as determined in the discretion of the Managing Member), and (b) comply, in a timely manner, with all filing and notice requirements under the Act or any other applicable Law.

 

Section 10.6                              Reasonable Time for Winding Up .  A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Company and the liquidation of its assets in order to minimize any losses that might otherwise result from such winding up.

 

Section 10.7                              No Deficit Restoration .  No Member shall be personally liable for a deficit Capital Account balance of that Member, it being expressly understood that the distribution of liquidation proceeds shall be made solely from existing Company assets.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

GENERAL

 

Section 11.1                              Amendments; Waivers .

 

(a)                                  The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, modified or amended (including by means of merger, consolidation or other business combination to which the Company is a party) only with the approval of the Managing Member and the consent of the holders of a majority of outstanding Units; provided , however , that no amendment to this Agreement may:

 

i.                                           modify the limited liability of any Member, or increase the liabilities or obligations of any Member, in each case, without the consent of each such affected Member; or

 

ii.                                        materially alter or change any rights, preferences or privileges of any Interests in a manner that is different or prejudicial relative to any other Interests, without the approval of a majority in interest of the Members holding the Interests affected in such a different or prejudicial manner.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing subsection (a), the Managing Member, acting alone, may amend this Agreement, including Exhibit A , (i) to reflect the admission of new Members, Transfers of Interests, the issuance of additional Units or Equity Securities, as provided by the terms of this Agreement, and, subject to Section

 

45



 

11.1(a) , subdivisions or combinations of Units made in compliance with Section 3.1(g) , (ii) to the minimum extent necessary to (A) comply with the provisions of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 and any Treasury Regulations or other administrative pronouncements promulgated thereunder and (B) to administer the effects of such provisions in an equitable manner and (iii) as necessary to avoid the Company being classified as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704(b) of the Code.

 

Section 11.2                              Further Assurances .  Each party agrees that it will from time to time, upon the reasonable request of another party, execute such documents and instruments and take such further action as may be required to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.3                              Successors and Assigns .  All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon the parties and their respective successors and assigns, but shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the successors and assigns of any Member only to the extent that they are permitted successors and assigns pursuant to the terms hereof.  No party may assign its rights hereunder except as herein expressly permitted.

 

Section 11.4                              Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with all Exhibits and Schedules hereto and all other agreements referenced therein and herein, constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the parties and there are no warranties, representations or other agreements between the parties in connection with the subject matter hereof except as specifically set forth herein and therein.

 

Section 11.5                              Rights of Members Independent .  The rights available to the Members under this Agreement and at Law shall be deemed to be several and not dependent on each other and each such right accordingly shall be construed as complete in itself and not by reference to any other such right.  Any one or more and/or any combination of such rights may be exercised by a Member and/or the Company from time to time and no such exercise shall exhaust the rights or preclude another Member from exercising any one or more of such rights or combination thereof from time to time thereafter or simultaneously.

 

Section 11.6                              Governing Law .  This Agreement, the legal relations between the parties and any Action, whether contractual or non-contractual, instituted by any party with respect to matters arising under or growing out of or in connection with or in respect of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and performed in such State and without regard to conflicts of law doctrines.

 

Section 11.7                              Jurisdiction and Venue .  The parties hereto hereby agree and consent to be subject to the jurisdiction of any federal court of the District of Delaware or the Delaware Court of Chancery over any action, suit or proceeding (a “ Legal Action ”) arising out of or in connection with this Agreement.  The parties hereto irrevocably waive the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such Legal Action.  Each of the parties hereto further irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such Legal Action by the mailing of copies thereof by registered mail, postage prepaid, to such party at its address set forth in

 

46



 

this Agreement, such service of process to be effective upon acknowledgment of receipt of such registered mail.  Nothing in this Section 11.7 shall affect the right of any party hereto to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

Section 11.8                              Headings .  The descriptive headings of the Articles, Sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.9                              Counterparts .  This Agreement and any amendment hereto or any other agreement (or document) delivered pursuant hereto may be executed in one or more counterparts and by different parties in separate counterparts.  All of such counterparts shall constitute one and the same agreement (or other document) and shall become effective (unless otherwise provided therein) when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party.

 

Section 11.10                       Notices .  Any notice or other communication hereunder must be given in writing and (a) delivered in person, (b) transmitted by facsimile, electronic mail or telecommunications mechanism, provided that any notice so given is also mailed as provided in clause (c), or (c) mailed by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, receipt requested as follows:

 

If to the Company or the Managing Member, addressed to it at:

 

Cactus, Inc.
Cobalt Center
920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300
Houston, TX 77024
Attention:
Scott Bender

Telephone: (713) 626-8800
Facsimile: (713) 626-8800
Email: scott.bender@cactuswellhead.com

 

With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
666 Fifth Avenue, 26
th  Floor
New York, NY 10103
Telephone: (212) 237-0036
Facsimile: (212) 237-0100
Email: avelazquez@velaw.com

 

47



 

or to such other address or to such other Person as either party shall have last designated by such notice to the other parties.  Each such notice or other communication shall be effective (i) if given by telecommunication or electronically, when transmitted to the applicable number or electronic email address so specified in (or pursuant to) this Section 11.10 and an appropriate answerback is received or, if transmitted after 4:00 p.m.  local time on a Business Day in the jurisdiction to which such notice is sent or at any time on a day that is not a Business Day in the jurisdiction to which such notice is sent, then on the immediately following Business Day, (ii) if given by mail, on the first Business Day in the jurisdiction to which such notice is sent following the date three days after such communication is deposited in the mails with first class postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid or (iii) if given by any other means, on the Business Day when actually received at such address or, if not received on a Business Day, on the Business Day immediately following such actual receipt.

 

Section 11.11                       Representation By Counsel; Interpretation .  The parties acknowledge that each party to this Agreement has been represented by counsel in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Accordingly, any rule of Law, or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any claimed ambiguities in this Agreement against the party that drafted it has no application and is expressly waived.

 

Section 11.12                       Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable by any Governmental Entity, the remaining provisions of this Agreement, to the extent permitted by Law shall remain in full force and effect, provided that the essential terms and conditions of this Agreement for all parties remain valid, binding and enforceable.

 

Section 11.13                       Expenses .  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or in the Closing Agreement, each party shall bear its own expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 11.14                       No Third Party Beneficiaries .  Except as expressly provided in Sections 6.4 and 9.2 , nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights or remedies under this Agreement or otherwise create any third party beneficiary hereto.

 

[Signatures on Next Page]

 

48



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each of the parties hereto has caused this First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written and effective as of the Effective Date.

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

CACTUS WELLHEAD , LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

Name:

Scott Bender

 

Title:

President

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT OF

CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC

 



 

 

MEMBERS:

 

 

 

CADENT ENERGY PARTNERS II, L.P.

 

 

 

By: Cadent Energy Partners II GP, L.P., its general partner

 

 

 

By: CEPII-GP, LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Bruce Rothstein

 

Name:

Bruce Rothstein

 

Title:

Managing Member

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CACTUS WH ENTERPRISES, LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

Name:

Scott Bender

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEE BOQUET

 

 

 

 

/s/ Lee Boquet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CACTUS, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

Name:

Scott Bender

 

Title:

President, CEO and director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MANAGING MEMBER:

 

 

 

CACTUS, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

Name:

Scott Bender

 

Title:

President, CEO and director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT OF

CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

Members of Cactus Wellhead, LLC Prior to Recapitalization

 

Member

 

Cadent Energy Partners II, L.P.

 

Cactus WH Enterprises, LLC

 

Lee Boquet

 

51


Exhibit 10.3

 

Execution Version

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

- between -

 

Scott Bender

 

- and -

 

Cactus Wellhead, LLC

 

Re: Terms and Conditions of Employment of Scott Bender

 



 

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of February 12, 2018 (the “Commencement Date”) by Cactus Wellhead, LLC (the “Employer”), and Scott Bender, an individual resident in Houston, Texas (the “Executive”).

 

RECITALS

 

(A)          The Employer and the Executive entered into that certain Employment Agreement dated August 31, 2011 (the “Original Employment Agreement”).

 

(B)          The Employer and the Executive desire to amend and restate the Original Employment Agreement, and each Party agrees that unless otherwise noted herein, any prior agreements with respect to the employment of the Executive with and by the Employer, including the Original Employment Agreement, shall be terminated and replaced in their entirety by this Agreement as of the Commencement Date.

 

(C)          The Employer wishes to continue employing the Executive and the Executive wishes to continue to be employed upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

(D)          In this Agreement, the Employer and the Executive will be known as “Party” or “Parties” as the context requires.

 

(E)           In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1.                                       FORM, CONTENT AND GOVERNING LAW

 

1.1                                This Agreement comprises 7 Clauses and 2 Schedules and the contents of the Schedules are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein and are made a part of this Agreement for all purposes.

 

1.2                                Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in Schedule 1 or as otherwise set forth herein.

 

1.3                                This Agreement will govern the Executive’s employment with the Employer during the Employment Period.

 

1.4                                This Agreement will be governed by the internal laws of the State of Texas without regard to conflict of laws principles.

 

2.                                       EMPLOYMENT, TERM AND DUTIES

 

2.1                                The Employer hereby agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby agrees to be employed by the Employer, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

1



 

2.2                                Subject to the provisions of Clause 5, the initial term of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement will be 3 years, commencing on the Commencement Date.  After the end of the initial 3 year term, the Executive’s employment under this Agreement will continue automatically until terminated by either Party giving to the other Party between 90 and 120 days’ written notice of termination prior to the next anniversary of this Agreement that such Party does not wish to extend Executive’s employment.

 

2.3                                The Executive will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Employer.  The Executive will use his best efforts to promote the success of the Employer’s business, and will cooperate fully with the Board in the advancement of the best interests of the Employer.

 

2.4                                The Executive will perform his duties hereunder based at Houston, Texas, subject to reasonable travel.

 

2.5                                The Executive will be entitled to indemnification from the Employer to the maximum extent provided in the limited liability company agreement of Employer, as in effect on the Commencement Date, for acting as an officer or director or other representative of the Employer or its Affiliates when acting on behalf of the Employer or its Affiliates, as set forth therein.  Executive will be provided with directors and officers liability insurance to the same extent as that provided to other officers and directors of the Employer and its Affiliates.

 

3.                                       COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

 

3.1                                Salary.  The Executive will be paid a salary of Three Hundred Thousand and 00/100 US DOLLARS (US $300,000.00) per annum, subject to increase but not decrease by the Board (the “Salary”), which will be payable in equal installments but no less frequently than monthly, and otherwise according to the Employer’s customary payroll practices.  The Salary will be reviewed in accordance with procedures established by the Board not less frequently than annually.  In addition to Salary, the Executive will be eligible to receive an annual bonus of up to 100% of Salary in the good faith discretion of the Board and as determined based on meeting annually set and agreed on budgetary and performance goals.

 

3.2                                Benefits.  The Executive will, during the Employment Period, be permitted to participate in such car schemes, expense reimbursement schemes, qualified pension, qualified profit sharing, bonus plans, life insurance, hospitalization, major medical, and other employee benefit plans of the Employer that may be in effect from time to time, to the extent the Executive is eligible under the terms of those plans (collectively, the “Benefits”).  The initial contribution level in the car scheme will be at $900 per month.

 

3.3                                Expense Reimbursements.  The Employer will pay on behalf of the Executive (or reimburse the Executive for) reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive at the request of, or on behalf of, the Employer in the performance of the Executive’s duties pursuant to this Agreement, and in accordance with the Employer’s policies in effect from time to time.

 

2



 

3.4                                Vacation.  The Executive will be entitled to six weeks paid time off (“PTO”) each year, such PTO to be governed by the terms of the Employer’s then-current policy regarding PTO.

 

3.5                                Tax Liabilities.  The Company shall deduct or cause to be deducted from the Salary, bonuses and other compensation payable to the Executive all taxes and amounts required by law to be withheld.

 

4.                                       NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION; CONFIDENTIALITY

 

As an additional inducement to the Employer to enter into this Agreement, and in order to protect the confidential information (including, without limitation, trade secrets) and goodwill of the Employer and its Affiliates, the Executive agrees that he will abide by the restrictions set forth in the Non-competition Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A .

 

5.                                       TERMINATION

 

5.1                                The Employment Period, Salary, Benefits and any and all other rights of the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise as an employee of the Employer will terminate upon the first of the following to occur:

 

(a)                                  the end of the term pursuant to Clause 2.2;

 

(b)                                  the death of the Executive;

 

(c)                                   the Disability of the Executive, effective immediately upon notice from either Party to the other;

 

(d)                                  termination by the Employer for Cause, effective immediately upon notice from the Employer to the Executive, or at such later time as such notice may specify; or

 

(e)                                   termination by the Employer without Cause, effective upon not less than ninety (90) days prior notice from the Employer to the Executive.

 

5.2                                Notwithstanding the provisions of Clauses 2.2 and 5.1, the Executive will be entitled to terminate his employment under this Agreement with or without Good Reason, upon not less than ninety (90) days prior notice from the Executive to the Employer.

 

6.                                       PAY ON TERMINATION

 

6.1                                If the Employer terminates this Agreement without Cause or if the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, then, as severance payments, the Employer will provide the Executive with a payment equal to the amount of the Executive’s then current Salary for (a) the remaining term of this Agreement (determined without regard to any extensions to the original 3 year term), if greater than one (1) year, or (b) one (1) year from the date of termination otherwise; and, in either such case, the Employer shall continue to provide Executive with all Benefits (other than car and expense reimbursement schemes) for that same period of time to which the Salary relates, subject

 

3



 

to compliance by Executive with the Non-competition Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A and the Executive’s execution of the Release Agreement set forth in Exhibit B . Applicable Salary payments will be made in a single lump sum cash payment to Executive (less all required withholding) within the sixty (60) day period immediately following the date of Executive’s separation from service.

 

6.2                                If the Employer terminates this Agreement for Cause, then the Executive will be entitled to receive his Salary and Benefits until the date on which the termination is effective.

 

6.3                                If this Agreement is terminated by either Party as a result of the Executive’s Disability, the Employer will pay the Executive’s Salary and Benefits through the remainder of the calendar month during which such termination is effective and for the lesser of (a) six (6) consecutive months thereafter, or (b) the period until disability insurance benefits commence under any disability insurance coverage which may be provided by the Employer to the Executive.  Applicable Salary payments will be made in a single lump sum cash payment to Executive (less all required withholding) within the thirty (30) day period immediately following the date of Executive’s Disability.

 

6.4                                If this Agreement terminates as a result of the death of the Executive, the Executive (or his estate) will be entitled to receive his Salary and accrued Benefits through to the end of the calendar month in which his death occurs. Applicable Salary payments will be made in a single lump sum cash payment to Executive (less all required withholding) within the thirty (30) day period immediately following the date of Executive’s death.

 

6.5                                Except as otherwise specifically provided in Clauses 6.1 through 6.4 hereof and as required by law (including without limitation the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”)), the Executive’s entitlement to receipt of the Benefits will cease on the effective date of termination of this Agreement and the Executive will be entitled to accrue such Benefits only as provided in the plan providing for the relevant Benefit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, if the Executive is entitled to severance payments under Sections 6.1, 6.3 or 6.4 of this Agreement, during such severance period, provided that the Executive elects continuation coverage of health insurance in accordance with COBRA, the Employer shall be required to pay the Executive’s portion of COBRA payments during the applicable severance period.  In the event that COBRA becomes unavailable to the Executive during any part of the severance period, the Employer at its sole cost shall obtain separate and materially similar health insurance coverage for the Executive during the applicable period of severance.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph, the Employer’s obligation to provide the Benefits, COBRA payments or similar healthcare benefits provided by Section 6 will cease upon the date that the Executive becomes eligible to be covered under another group health insurance plan (other than Medicare), and provided further, if the Employer’s provision of benefits pursuant to this Section 6 would violate the nondiscrimination rules or would result in the imposition of penalties under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and the related regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (the “ACA”), the Employer shall reform this Section 6 in a manner as is necessary to comply with the ACA.

 

4



 

7.                                       MISCELLANEOUS

 

General provisions pertaining to this Agreement are contained in Schedule 1 attached hereto.  Additionally, Schedule 2 of this Agreement contains grievance procedures and dispute resolution procedures.

 

- Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank -

 

5



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement to be effective as of the Commencement Date.

 

 

CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

Name:

Scott Bender

 

Title:

President

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SCOTT BENDER AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 



 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

/s/ Scott Bender

 

Scott Bender

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO SCOTT BENDER AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 



 

SCHEDULE 1:  DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

This is Schedule 1 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Cactus Wellhead, LLC and Scott Bender dated effective February 12, 2018.

 

DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

1.                                       Definitions .  In this Agreement and the Schedules, the following words and expressions will have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:-

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person.  For purposes of this definition, the term “control” means, with respect to any Entity, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Entity, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Board” means the governing body of the Employer, which shall be the Board of Managers.

 

“Cause” means the Executive:

 

(a)                                  is convicted of, or enters a nolo contendre or guilty plea with respect to a crime involving fraud, theft, embezzlement or other act of material dishonesty on behalf of the Executive, the Board’s loss of confidence in Executive because Executive is convicted of or enters a nolo contendre or guilty plea with respect to any felony or crime involving moral turpitude;

 

(b)                                  commits any other material breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement other than a breach which (being capable of being remedied) is remedied by him within fourteen (14) days of being called upon to do so in writing by the Employer; or

 

(c)                                   fails to perform his duties and responsibilities (other than a failure from Disability) for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days; provided, however, that the parties hereto agree that this is not a performance standard and relates solely to the Executive failing to perform his duties and responsibilities in any manner.

 

A termination for Cause shall only be made by action of the Board in a special meeting called for the purpose of considering the termination so long as Scott Bender or other Bender Managers (as defined in the limited liability company agreement of the Employer) do not intentionally fail to attend such meeting(s) to prevent the establishment of a quorum for conducting business.

 

“Disability” will be determined in accordance with section 2 below.

 

“Employment Period” means the term of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement as set out in Clause 2.2.

 

1



 

”Good Reason” means any of the following, without the Executive’s prior written consent: (a) the Employer commits any material breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement; (b) the Employer assigns the Executive to a position, responsibilities, or duties of a materially lesser status or degree of responsibility than his position, responsibilities or duties as of the Commencement Date; (c) the requirement by the Employer that the Executive be based anywhere other than Houston, Texas, provided that such a change in geographic location be deemed material; or (d) any decrease of more than ten percent (10%) in Executive’s Salary as it exists on the effective date of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the Executive being eligible to terminate for Good Reason, the Executive must provide written notice of termination for Good Reason pursuant to this Agreement within the ninety (90) day period immediately following the initial existence of the condition at issue, and the Employer shall have the opportunity to cure such circumstances within the thirty (30) day period of receipt of such notice.  If the Employer cures the applicable condition, Good Reason shall not be deemed to exist.

 

2.                                       Disability .  For the purposes of Clause 5.1(c), the Executive will be deemed to have a “Disability” if, for physical or mental reasons, the Executive is unable to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s duties under this Agreement for 3-consecutive months, or 3-months during any twelve-month period.  The Disability of the Executive will be determined by the examination of the Executive by a medical doctor selected by written agreement of the Parties upon the request of either Party by notice to the other Party.  If the Parties are unable to agree on the selection of a medical doctor, each of the Parties will select a medical doctor and the two medical doctors will select a third medical doctor who will conduct the examination to determine whether the Executive has a Disability.  The determination of the examining medical doctor will be final and binding on the Parties.  The Executive must submit to a reasonable number of examinations by the examining medical doctor and the Executive hereby authorizes the disclosure and release to the Employer of such determination and all supporting medical records.  If the Executive is not legally competent then the Executive’s legal guardian or duly authorized attorney-in-fact will act in the Executive’s stead for the purposes of submitting the Executive to the examination, and providing the authorization of disclosure required.  If requested by Employer, Executive will execute such further documents as are necessary to permit such disclosure in a timely manner.

 

3.                                       Notices .  All notices, consents, waivers, and other communications under this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when (a) delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (b) sent by facsimile (with written confirmation of receipt), provided that a copy is mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, or (c) when received by the addressee, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service (receipt requested), in each case to the appropriate addresses and facsimile numbers set forth below (or to such other addresses and facsimile numbers as a Party may designate by notice to the other party):

 

Executive:

 

2



 

Employer:

 

Cactus Wellhead, LLC
920 Memorial City Way
Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77024
Attention: Senior Vice President

 

4.                                       Further Assurances .  The Parties agree (a) to furnish upon request in a timely manner to each other such further information, (b) to execute and deliver to each other such other documents, and (c) to do such other acts and things, all as the other Party may reasonably request for the purpose of carrying out the intent of this Agreement and the documents referred to in this Agreement.

 

5.                                       Waiver .

 

5.1                                The rights and remedies of the Parties to this Agreement are cumulative and not alternative.  Neither the failure nor any delay by any Party in exercising any right, power, or privilege under this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right, power, or privilege, and no single or partial exercise of any such right, power, or privilege will preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power, or privilege or the exercise of any other right, power, or privilege.

 

5.2                                To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, (a) no claim or right arising out of this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement may be discharged by one Party, in whole or in part, by a waiver or renunciation of the claim or right unless in writing signed by the both Parties; (b) no waiver that may be given by a Party will be applicable except in the specific instance for which it is given; and (c) no notice to or demand on one Party will be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation of such Party or of the right of the Party giving such notice or demand to take further action without notice or demand as provided in this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement.

 

6.                                       Internal Revenue Code Section 409A .  The Parties intend that this Agreement will be administered in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and all regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”).  To the extent that any provision of this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A, the provision shall be read in such a manner so that all payments hereunder are either exempt or comply with Section 409A.  The Parties agree that this Agreement may be amended, as reasonably requested by either Party, as may be necessary to be exempt from or fully comply with Section 409A in order to preserve the payments and benefits provided hereunder without additional cost to either Party. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, Executive shall not be considered to have terminated employment with the Employer or any subsidiary or Affiliate thereof for purposes of this Agreement unless Executive would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A from the Employer or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates.  Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided under this Agreement shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A, and any payments described in this Agreement that are

 

3



 

due within the “short term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise.  Without limiting the foregoing and notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if Executive is deemed by the Employer at the time of Executive’s separation from service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid the imposition of additional taxes and interest on Executive under Section 409A, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (a) the expiration of the six-(6) month period measured from the date of Executive’s separation from service or (b) the date of Executive’s death.

 

7.                                       Assignments, Successors, And No Third-Party Rights .  This Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding upon, the Parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, and legal representatives, including any entity with which the Employer may merge or consolidate or be converted into or to which all or substantially all of its assets may be transferred.  The duties and covenants of the Employee under this Agreement, being personal, may not be delegated.

 

8.                                       Prior Agreements . The Parties agree that any prior agreements with respect to the employment of the Executive with and by the Employer, including the Original Employment Agreement, shall be terminated and replaced in their entirety by this Agreement as of the Commencement Date.  The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has received all payments, benefits and other compensation to which he was entitled or could ever be entitled under the Original Employment Agreement and that he has no further rights, claims or entitlements under the Original Employment Agreement or any other prior agreements relating to his employment by the Employer prior to the Commencement Date, except for the payment of any base salary for the final pay period under the Original Employment Agreement through the Commencement Date to the extent not already paid.

 

9.                                       Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect.  Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable and the invalid or unenforceable provision(s) shall be deemed replaced by valid and enforceable provisions that are consistent with the expressed intent of the Parties to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

 

10.                                Time Of Essence .  With regard to all dates and time periods set forth or referred to in this Agreement, time is of the essence.

 

11.                                Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement.

 

11 .                                Amendment . Any amendment to or modification of this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by both Parties.

 

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SCHEDULE 2:  GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

This is Schedule 2 to the Employment Agreement between Cactus Wellhead, LLC and Scott Bender dated effective February 12, 2018.

 

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

1.                                       If the Executive wishes to obtain redress of any grievance relating to his employment or is dissatisfied with any reprimand, suspension or other disciplinary step taken by the Employer, he will apply in writing, setting out the nature and details of any such grievance or dissatisfaction, to the Board of Managers.

 

2.                                       In the event that there is a dispute arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement, the Parties covenant and agree as follows:

 

2.1                                The Parties will first use their reasonable best efforts to resolve such dispute among themselves, with or without mediation.

 

2.2                                If the Parties are unable to resolve such dispute among themselves, they will use their reasonable best efforts to agree upon an individual arbitrator to settle the dispute.  Any award as a result of such arbitration will be final and binding upon the Parties and the Parties agree to abide by and perform any award rendered by the arbitrator.  Such a ruling will be non-appealable.

 

2.3                                If the Parties are unable to agree on a single arbitrator such dispute will be submitted to binding arbitration in Houston, Texas, pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, under the auspices of, and pursuant to the rules, of the American Arbitration Association’s Commercial Arbitration Rules as then in effect, or such other procedures as the Parties may agree to at the time, before a tribunal of three (3) arbitrators, one of which will be selected by the Executive, one of which will be selected by the Employer, and the third of which will be selected by the two arbitrators so selected.  Any award issued as a result of such arbitration will be final and binding upon the Parties as to all demands, complaints, claims, liens, obligations, liabilities or causes of action, including, but not limited to, all claims of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment or retaliation under state, local or federal law (including, but not limited to, the Texas Code, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Labor Management Relations Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended), and will be enforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the Party against whom enforcement is sought.  A ruling by the arbitrators will be non-appealable except as provided by the Federal Arbitration Act.  The Parties agree to abide by and perform any award rendered by the arbitrators except as provided by the Federal Arbitration Act.

 

2.4                                If either the Employer or the Executive materially breaches this Agreement or fails to comply with any final and non-appealable award and the other party thereafter seeks enforcement of any award rendered by the arbitrators, then the prevailing Party (designated by the arbitrators) to such proceeding(s) will be entitled to recover all of its costs and expenses from the non-prevailing Party, in addition to any other relief to which it may be entitled.

 

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2.5                                If a dispute arises and one Party fails or refuses to designate an arbitrator within thirty (30) days after receipt of a written notice that an arbitration proceeding is to be held, then the rules of the Federal Arbitration Act shall apply to designate the arbitrator not so designated by a Party.

 

2.6                                Either the Employer or the Executive may cause an arbitration proceeding to commence by giving the other Party notice in writing of such arbitration.  The Employer and the Executive covenant and agree to act as expeditiously as practicable to resolve all disputes by arbitration.

 

2.7                                The arbitration proceeding will be held in English.

 

2.8                                Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Employer nor the Executive will be precluded from seeking interim court action at any time after commencing arbitration and before the arbitrators are selected in the event the relief sought is equitable relief to preserve the status quo.  All such interim remedies shall not bind the arbitrators in connection with any subsequent rulings.  Legal process in any such action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world.

 

2.9                                Except as expressly provided herein and except for an action seeking injunctive or other equitable relief to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, no action may be brought in any court of law and EACH OF THE PARTIES WAIVES ANY RIGHTS THAT IT MAY HAVE TO BRING A CAUSE OF ACTION IN ANY COURT OR IN ANY PROCEEDING INVOLVING A JURY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW .

 

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EXHIBIT A:  NON-COMPETITION

 

CONFIDENTIALITY, NON-SOLICITATION, NON-COMPETITION, AND NON-RECRUITMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of                      , 2018, is made by and between Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Scott Bender (“Employee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in the business of providing API 6A well-head equipment, gate valves and associated services to the oilfield service industry (the “Business”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Employee entered into that certain Noncompetition Agreement dated August 31, 2011 (the “Original Noncompetition Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the initial public offering of Cactus, Inc., the Employee will be receiving equity awards in consideration for his services to Cactus, Inc. and the Company (the “Equity Awards”);

 

WHEREAS, in consideration of the Equity Awards, the Company and Employee desire to amend and restate the Original Noncompetition Agreement, which shall be terminated and replaced in its entirety by this Agreement as of the Effective Date (as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee are parties to an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement of even date herewith (the “Employment Agreement”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                           Term . The term of this Agreement shall commence as of the date first set forth above (the “Effective Date”) and, except as set forth herein, shall remain in full force and effect until twelve (12) months after the date that Employee ceases to be an employee of the Company (the “Term”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Term of this Agreement shall terminate and this Agreement shall be of no further force and effect if Employee is entitled to severance or other payments under the Employment Agreement at or after the Termination Date (as defined below) and such payments are not made by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Employment Agreement.

 

Section 2.                                           Consideration .

 

(a)                                  The Company has provided and shall provide Employee access to Confidential Information (as defined below) and Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Company has entrusted and will be entrusting Employee, in Employee’s unique and special

 

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capacity, with developing the goodwill of the Company.  In consideration thereof and in consideration of the Equity Awards and as a condition to the Company’s employment of Employee pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, Employee voluntarily agrees to the covenants set forth in this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  In exchange for Employee’s promise not to disclose Confidential Information of the Company, the Company has provided and will provide Employee access to Confidential Information that is unknown to Employee. Employee and the Company agree that the consideration provided in this otherwise enforceable agreement gives rise to Company’s interest in restraining employee from competing.

 

Section 3.                                           Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation .

 

(a)                                  Acknowledgement . Employee recognizes and acknowledges that it is essential for the proper protection of the business and goodwill of the Company and for the proper protection of the Confidential Information that Employee be restrained: (i) from soliciting or inducing any employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company; (ii) from soliciting the trade of or trading with the customers and of the Company for any business purpose competitive with the Company’s business; and (iii) from competing against the Company in connection with the Company’s business.

 

(b)                                  Noncompetition . During the Term, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, become or be interested in, employed by, or associated with in any capacity, any other person, corporation, partnership or other entity whatsoever (a “ Person ”) engaged in the Business or in any other businesses (the “ New Businesses ”) in which the Company was actively engaged as of the date Employee ceases to be an employee of the Company (the “ Termination Date ”) in the Applicable Areas (defined below), or in any geographic or market area in which the Company is conducting the Business or the New Businesses as of the Termination Date. Notwithstanding the above, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent Employee from owning, as an inactive investor, up to five percent (5%) of the securities of any competitor of the Company, which securities are listed on a national securities exchange. Furthermore, after the Termination Date, Employee may become employed in a separate, autonomous division of a Person (regardless of whether such Person is engaged in the Business or in one or more of the New Businesses) provided: (i) such division is not in competition with the Business or with one of the New Businesses, and (ii) Employee is not materially engaged in any other division or part of such Person.  The “Applicable Areas” shall be defined as (x) the following states: Alaska,  Colorado, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, Wyoming; and (y) the following countries: Australia, China and Israel.

 

(c)                                   Non-Solicitation of Customers . During the Term, Employee shall not, on Employee’s behalf or on behalf of any other Person other than the Company, directly or indirectly, solicit, contact, call upon, communicate with or attempt to communicate with any Person which was a customer of the Company within twelve (12) months before the Termination Date for the purpose of soliciting or enticing any such Person to cease doing business with the Company or to begin doing business with any Person providing competing goods or services as the Company; provided, that the restrictions set forth in this  Section 3(c)  shall only apply to

 

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customers of businesses of the Company with which Employee was materially involved while an employee of the Company.

 

(d)                                  Non-Solicitation of Employees . During the Term, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, hire, contract with, solicit, or encourage to leave the Company’s employ any of the Company’s employees.

 

(e)                                   Enforceability . The parties acknowledge and agree that the restrictions set forth in this  Section 3 are narrowly tailored to protect the legitimate interests of the parties and are reasonable. If, however, at the time of enforcement of any of the provisions of this  Section 3 a court holds that the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under the circumstances then existing or are otherwise illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect by reason of its duration, definition of geographic area or scope of activity, or any other reason, the parties hereto agree that the maximum period, scope or geographical area reasonable or otherwise enforceable under such circumstances shall be deemed automatically substituted for the stated period, scope or area, but the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby in any other jurisdiction and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. The parties also acknowledge and agree that in the event any provision of this  Section 3 is declared void or unenforceable by any court in any state, such determination shall not affect any other provision of this  Section 3 .

 

Section 4.                                           Confidentiality .

 

(a)                                  Acknowledgement . Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i) Employee during the term of the Original Noncompetition Agreement had access to and acquired, and during the Term will have access to and will acquire, certain confidential and proprietary information relating to the business and operation of the Company, including but not limited to information with respect to the existing and contemplated services, products, trade secrets, ideas, know how, research and development, formulas, models, compilations, processes, inventions, computer code generated or developed, software or programs, related documentation, business and financial methods or practices, plans, pricing, operating margins, marketing, merchandising and selling techniques and information, customer lists, details of customer agreements, sources of supply, employee compensation and benefit plans, customer records and data of the Company, and other confidential information relating to the policies, operating strategies, expansion strategies or business strategies or other confidential or proprietary information of the Company (collectively, the “Confidential Information”); (ii) the Confidential Information is the property of the Company; (iii) the use, misappropriation or disclosure of the Confidential Information would constitute a breach of trust and could cause irreparable injury to the Company; and (iv) it is essential to the protection of the Company’s good will and to the maintenance of the Company’s competitive position that the Confidential Information be kept secret and that Employee not disclose the Confidential Information to others or use the Confidential Information to Employee’s own advantage or the advantage of others.

 

(b)                                  Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information . Employee covenants and agrees to hold and safeguard the Confidential Information in trust for the Company, its successors and assigns, and agrees that Employee shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, misappropriate or disclose or make available to anyone at any time, any of the

 

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Confidential Information, whether or not developed by Employee; provided , however , that the foregoing shall not apply to: (i) any information generally available to the public or which becomes generally available to the public through no fault of Employee, but only from and after the date such information becomes so available; (ii) any information obtained by Employee from a third party which Employee has no reason to believe, after reasonable inquiry, is violating any obligation of confidentiality to the Company; or (iii) any information Employee is required by law to disclose provided that the Company is promptly given advance notice of and an opportunity to contest such disclosure.

 

(c)                                   Permitted Disclosures .  Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict Employee from lawfully (i) initiating communications directly with, cooperating with, providing information to, causing information to be provided to, or otherwise assisting in an investigation by any governmental or regulatory agency, entity, or official(s) (collectively, “ Governmental Authorities ”) regarding a possible violation of any law; (ii) responding to any inquiry or legal process directed to Employee individually from any such Governmental Authorities; (iii) testifying, participating or otherwise assisting in an action or proceeding by any such Governmental Authorities relating to a possible violation of law; or (iv) making any other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any applicable law.  Additionally, pursuant to the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Employee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (i) is made (A) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (B) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) is made to Employee’s attorney in relation to a lawsuit for retaliation against Employee for reporting a suspected violation of law; or (iii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.  This Agreement does not require Employee to obtain prior authorization from the Company before engaging in any conduct described in this paragraph, or to notify the Company that Employee has engaged in any such conduct.

 

Section 5.                                           Intellectual Property . Employee understands and acknowledges that the Company shall have the sole and exclusive rights to anything relating to its actual or prospective business which the Employee conceives or works on, either in whole or in part, while employed by the Company and that all such work product shall be the property of the Company as “works for hire” under federal law and may also constitute the Company’s confidential and proprietary information. Accordingly, Employee agrees that he:

 

(a)                                  will promptly and fully disclose all such items to the Company and will not disclose such items to any other Person without the Company’s prior written consent;

 

(b)                                  will maintain on the Company’s behalf and surrender to the Company upon termination of his/her employment appropriate written records regarding all such items;

 

(c)                                   will, but without personal expense, fully cooperate with the Company, execute all papers and perform all acts requested by the Company to establish, confirm or

 

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protect its exclusive rights in such items or to enable it to transfer legal title to such items, together with any patents that may be issued;

 

(d)                                  will, but without personal expense, provide such information and true testimony as the Company may request regarding such items including, without limitation, items which Employee neither conceived nor worked on but regarding which Employee has knowledge because of Employee’s employment with the Company;

 

(e)                                   hereby assigns to the Company, its successors and assigns, exclusive right, title and interest in and to all such items, including any patents which have been or may be issued; and

 

(f)                                    hereby agrees that only such items in which Employee personally holds or claims an interest and which are not subject to this Agreement are listed on the Ownership Schedule attached hereto. The absence of an Ownership Schedule means that no such items exist.

 

Section 6.                                           Injunctive Relief . Employee acknowledges and agrees that in the event of any breach by Employee of any of Employee’s covenants or agreements contained herein, including, without limitation, a breach of Sections 3 4 , and  5 , the Company would suffer substantial and irrevocable harm and money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for such a breach. Therefore, in the event of any such breach and in addition to any other remedy the Company may have at law or in equity in the event of any such breach, the Company shall be entitled to seek and receive specific performance and temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief from any breach of any of the covenants or agreements of this Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction without the necessity of proving the amount of any actual damages to it resulting from such breach.

 

Section 7.                                           Miscellaneous .

 

(a)                                  Notice. All notices, consents, waivers, and other communications under this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given:

 

(i)                                      two days after deposit in the mail, if sent first-class United States mail;

 

(ii)                                   when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt);

 

(iii)                                when sent by facsimile (with written confirmation of receipt), provided that a copy is mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested; or

 

(iv)                               when received by the addressee, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service (receipt requested), in each case to the appropriate addresses and facsimile numbers set forth below (or to such other addresses and facsimile numbers as a party may designate by notice to the other parties):

 

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if to Employee :

 

if to the Company :

 

Cactus Wellhead, LLC

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300

Houston, TX 77024

Facsimile: 713-396-5810

 

(b)                                  Assignment; Binding Effect . Neither the rights nor the obligations under this Agreement may be assigned by Employee without the written consent of the Company, which may be withheld for any reason. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Employee and his heirs, personal representatives, and assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns. Employee’s obligations under this Agreement shall be binding upon Employee regardless of which office(s) of the Company Employee is employed at or position(s) Employee may hold and shall inure to the benefit of any successors or assigns of the Company.

 

(c)                                   Choice of Law . This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to principles of conflicts of law thereof.

 

(d)                                  Amendment; Waiver . No modification or amendment to this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and signed by all parties hereto. Any waiver by any party of any violation of, breach of or default under any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not be construed as, or constitute, a continuing waiver of such provision, or waiver of any other violation of, breach of or default under any other provision of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   Severability . Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the commission of any act contrary to law. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such provision (expressly including, without limitation, any provision set forth in  Section 3 ), shall be deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws of such jurisdiction so as to be valid and enforceable.

 

(f)                                    Headings . The headings in this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and shall be disregarded in interpreting it.

 

(g)                                   Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties to this Agreement regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements (including, without limitation, the Original Noncompetition Agreement), arrangements, communications, representations and warranties, whether oral or written, between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof.

 

(h)                                  Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. A signature hereto sent or delivered by facsimile or

 

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other electronic transmission shall be as legally binding and enforceable as a signed original for all purposes.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employee has executed this Agreement and the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf as of the Effective Date.

 

 

CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

I, Scott Bender, acknowledge and agree that I was given ample opportunity to evaluate this Agreement before I signed it, that I wish to accept the benefits of employment by the Company, that I understand the restrictions upon me as to competition after termination of my employment and I believe them to be reasonable and necessary to protect the Company, and that the Company will be entitled to stop, by court injunction, any violation of the restrictions by me.

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

Scott Bender

 

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EXHIBIT B:  RELEASE

 

RELEASE AGREEMENT

 

FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION OF the special payments and benefits to be provided in connection with the termination of my employment in accordance with Section 6.1 of the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of                      , 2018 (as amended and in effect from time to time, the “Employment Agreement”) between Cactus Wellhead, LLC (the “Company”), and me, I, on my own behalf and on behalf of my personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees and all others connected with me, hereby release and forever discharge the Company and its affiliates and all of their respective past and present officers, directors, managers, stockholders, controlling persons, employees, agents, representatives, successors and assigns and all others connected with any of them (the “Released Parties”), both individually and in their official capacities, from any and all rights, liabilities, claims, damages, demands and causes of action, whether statutory or at common law (including any claim for salary, benefits, payments, expenses, costs, attorney’s fees, damages, penalties, compensation, remuneration, contractual entitlements) (collectively, “Claims”) relating to any matter occurring on or prior to the date of my signing of this Release Agreement (the “Release”), including any Claims resulting from, arising out of, or connected with my employment or its termination and any other Claims pursuant to: (a) any federal, state, foreign or local law, regulation or other requirement (including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and any other local, state, or federal anti-discrimination or anti-retaliation law, each as amended from time to time); (b) any other local, state or federal law, regulation or ordinance; (c) any public policy or common law; and (d) any contract I may have with any Released Party, including the Employment Agreement (collectively, the “Released Claims”); provided, however, that the foregoing release shall not apply to (i) any right explicitly set forth in the Employment Agreement to any payments and benefits to be provided in connection with the termination of my employment, (ii) any right or claim that arises after the date this release is executed, (iii) any right I may have to vested or accrued benefits or entitlements under any applicable plan, agreement, program, award, policy or arrangement of the Company and its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, (iv) my right to indemnification and advancement of expenses in accordance with applicable laws and/or the certificate of incorporation and by-laws, limited liability company agreement or other governing documents of the Company and its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, or any applicable insurance policy, or (v) any right I may have to obtain contribution as permitted by law in the event of entry of judgment against me as a result of any act or failure to act for which I, on the one hand, and any Released Party, on the other hand, are jointly liable. This Release is not intended to indicate that any such claims exist or that, if they do exist, they are meritorious. Rather, I am simply agreeing that, in exchange for the consideration received by me through this Release, any and all Released Claims that I may have against any Released Party, regardless of whether they actually exist, are expressly settled, compromised and waived. This Release includes matters attributable to the sole or partial negligence (whether gross or simple) or other fault, including strict liability, of any Released Party.

 

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Notwithstanding the release of liability contained herein, nothing in this Release prevents me from filing any non-legally waivable claim (including a challenge to the validity of this Release) with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or other government agency; however, I understand and agree that I am waiving any and all rights to recover any monetary or personal relief as a result of such EEOC or other government agency proceeding or subsequent legal action.

 

In signing this Release, I acknowledge that (i) I have carefully read this Release; (ii) I have had at least twenty-one (21) days from the date of notice of termination of my employment, or in the event that such termination of employment is “in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program” (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended), the date that is forty-five (45) days following such notice date, to consider the terms of this Release and that such time has been sufficient; (iii) I am hereby encouraged by the Company to seek the advice of an attorney prior to signing this Release and have had adequate opportunity to do so; (iv) I am not entitled to the consideration set forth in Section 6.1 of the Employment Agreement but for my entry into, and non-revocation of, this Release within the time provided to do so; and (v) I am signing this Release voluntarily and with a full understanding and acceptance of its terms, I understand the final and binding effect of this Release, and the only promises made to me to sign this Release are those stated in the Employment Agreement and herein.

 

I understand that I may revoke this Release at any time within seven days of the date of my signing by providing written notice to the Company of such revocation so that such notice is received by the Company no later than 11:59 P.M. on the seventh (7 th ) day after I sign this Release and that this Release will take effect only upon the expiration of such seven-day (7) revocation period (the “Effective Date”) and only if I have not timely revoked it.

 

Intending to be legally bound, I have signed this Release to be effective as of the Effective Date.

 

 

 

 

Scott Bender

 

 

 

 

 

Date

 

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Exhibit 10.4

 

Execution Version

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

- between -

 

Joel Bender

 

- and -

 

Cactus Wellhead, LLC

 

Re: Terms and Conditions of Employment of Joel Bender

 



 

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of February 12, 2018 (the “Commencement Date”) by Cactus Wellhead, LLC (the “Employer”), and Joel Bender, an individual resident in Houston, Texas (the “Executive”).

 

RECITALS

 

(A)                                The Employer and the Executive entered into that certain Employment Agreement dated August 31, 2011 (the “Original Employment Agreement”).

 

(B)                                The Employer and the Executive desire to amend and restate the Original Employment Agreement, and each Party agrees that unless otherwise noted herein, any prior agreements with respect to the employment of the Executive with and by the Employer, including the Original Employment Agreement, shall be terminated and replaced in their entirety by this Agreement as of the Commencement Date.

 

(C)                                The Employer wishes to continue employing the Executive and the Executive wishes to continue to be employed upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

(D)                                In this Agreement, the Employer and the Executive will be known as “Party” or “Parties” as the context requires.

 

(E)                                 In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1.                                       FORM, CONTENT AND GOVERNING LAW

 

1.1                                This Agreement comprises 7 Clauses and 2 Schedules and the contents of the Schedules are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein and are made a part of this Agreement for all purposes.

 

1.2                                Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in Schedule 1 or as otherwise set forth herein.

 

1.3                                This Agreement will govern the Executive’s employment with the Employer during the Employment Period.

 

1.4                                This Agreement will be governed by the internal laws of the State of Texas without regard to conflict of laws principles.

 

2.                                       EMPLOYMENT, TERM AND DUTIES

 

2.1                                The Employer hereby agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby agrees to be employed by the Employer, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

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2.2                                Subject to the provisions of Clause 5, the initial term of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement will be 3 years, commencing on the Commencement Date.  After the end of the initial 3 year term, the Executive’s employment under this Agreement will continue automatically until terminated by either Party giving to the other Party between 90 and 120 days’ written notice of termination prior to the next anniversary of this Agreement that such Party does not wish to extend Executive’s employment.

 

2.3                                The Executive will serve as Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of the Employer.  The Executive will use his best efforts to promote the success of the Employer’s business, and will cooperate fully with the Board in the advancement of the best interests of the Employer.

 

2.4                                The Executive will perform his duties hereunder based at Houston, Texas, subject to reasonable travel.

 

2.5                                The Executive will be entitled to indemnification from the Employer to the maximum extent provided in the limited liability company agreement of Employer, as in effect on the Commencement Date, for acting as an officer or director or other representative of the Employer or its Affiliates when acting on behalf of the Employer or its Affiliates, as set forth therein.  Executive will be provided with directors and officers liability insurance to the same extent as that provided to other officers and directors of the Employer and its Affiliates.

 

3.                                       COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

 

3.1                                Salary.  The Executive will be paid a salary of Three Hundred Thousand and 00/100 US DOLLARS (US $300,000.00) per annum, subject to increase but not decrease by the Board (the “Salary”), which will be payable in equal installments but no less frequently than monthly, and otherwise according to the Employer’s customary payroll practices.  The Salary will be reviewed in accordance with procedures established by the Board not less frequently than annually.  In addition to Salary, the Executive will be eligible to receive an annual bonus of up to 100% of Salary in the good faith discretion of the Board and as determined based on meeting annually set and agreed on budgetary and performance goals.

 

3.2                                Benefits.  The Executive will, during the Employment Period, be permitted to participate in such car schemes, expense reimbursement schemes, qualified pension, qualified profit sharing, bonus plans, life insurance, hospitalization, major medical, and other employee benefit plans of the Employer that may be in effect from time to time, to the extent the Executive is eligible under the terms of those plans (collectively, the “Benefits”).  The initial contribution level in the car scheme will be at $900 per month.

 

3.3                                Expense Reimbursements.  The Employer will pay on behalf of the Executive (or reimburse the Executive for) reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive at the request of, or on behalf of, the Employer in the performance of the Executive’s duties pursuant to this Agreement, and in accordance with the Employer’s policies in effect from time to time.

 

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3.4                                Vacation.  The Executive will be entitled to six weeks paid time off (“PTO”) each year, such PTO to be governed by the terms of the Employer’s then-current policy regarding PTO.

 

3.5                                Tax Liabilities.  The Company shall deduct or cause to be deducted from the Salary, bonuses and other compensation payable to the Executive all taxes and amounts required by law to be withheld.

 

4.                                       NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION; CONFIDENTIALITY

 

As an additional inducement to the Employer to enter into this Agreement, and in order to protect the confidential information (including, without limitation, trade secrets) and goodwill of the Employer and its Affiliates, the Executive agrees that he will abide by the restrictions set forth in the Non-competition Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A .

 

5.                                       TERMINATION

 

5.1                                The Employment Period, Salary, Benefits and any and all other rights of the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise as an employee of the Employer will terminate upon the first of the following to occur:

 

(a)                                  the end of the term pursuant to Clause 2.2;

 

(b)                                  the death of the Executive;

 

(c)                                   the Disability of the Executive, effective immediately upon notice from either Party to the other;

 

(d)                                  termination by the Employer for Cause, effective immediately upon notice from the Employer to the Executive, or at such later time as such notice may specify; or

 

(e)                                   termination by the Employer without Cause, effective upon not less than ninety (90) days prior notice from the Employer to the Executive.

 

5.2                                Notwithstanding the provisions of Clauses 2.2 and 5.1, the Executive will be entitled to terminate his employment under this Agreement with or without Good Reason, upon not less than ninety (90) days prior notice from the Executive to the Employer.

 

6.                                       PAY ON TERMINATION

 

6.1                                If the Employer terminates this Agreement without Cause or if the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, then, as severance payments, the Employer will provide the Executive with a payment equal to the amount of the Executive’s then current Salary for (a) the remaining term of this Agreement (determined without regard to any extensions to the original 3 year term), if greater than one (1) year, or (b) one (1) year from the date of termination otherwise; and, in either such case, the Employer shall continue to provide Executive with all Benefits (other than car and expense reimbursement schemes) for that same period of time to which the Salary relates, subject

 

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to compliance by Executive with the Non-competition Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A and the Executive’s execution of the Release Agreement set forth in Exhibit B . Applicable Salary payments will be made in a single lump sum cash payment to Executive (less all required withholding) within the sixty (60) day period immediately following the date of Executive’s separation from service.

 

6.2                                If the Employer terminates this Agreement for Cause, then the Executive will be entitled to receive his Salary and Benefits until the date on which the termination is effective.

 

6.3                                If this Agreement is terminated by either Party as a result of the Executive’s Disability, the Employer will pay the Executive’s Salary and Benefits through the remainder of the calendar month during which such termination is effective and for the lesser of (a) six (6) consecutive months thereafter, or (b) the period until disability insurance benefits commence under any disability insurance coverage which may be provided by the Employer to the Executive.  Applicable Salary payments will be made in a single lump sum cash payment to Executive (less all required withholding) within the thirty (30) day period immediately following the date of Executive’s Disability.

 

6.4                                If this Agreement terminates as a result of the death of the Executive, the Executive (or his estate) will be entitled to receive his Salary and accrued Benefits through to the end of the calendar month in which his death occurs. Applicable Salary payments will be made in a single lump sum cash payment to Executive (less all required withholding) within the thirty (30) day period immediately following the date of Executive’s death.

 

6.5                                Except as otherwise specifically provided in Clauses 6.1 through 6.4 hereof and as required by law (including without limitation the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”)), the Executive’s entitlement to receipt of the Benefits will cease on the effective date of termination of this Agreement and the Executive will be entitled to accrue such Benefits only as provided in the plan providing for the relevant Benefit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, if the Executive is entitled to severance payments under Sections 6.1, 6.3 or 6.4 of this Agreement, during such severance period, provided that the Executive elects continuation coverage of health insurance in accordance with COBRA, the Employer shall be required to pay the Executive’s portion of COBRA payments during the applicable severance period.  In the event that COBRA becomes unavailable to the Executive during any part of the severance period, the Employer at its sole cost shall obtain separate and materially similar health insurance coverage for the Executive during the applicable period of severance.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph, the Employer’s obligation to provide the Benefits, COBRA payments or similar healthcare benefits provided by Section 6 will cease upon the date that the Executive becomes eligible to be covered under another group health insurance plan (other than Medicare), and provided further, if the Employer’s provision of benefits pursuant to this Section 6 would violate the nondiscrimination rules or would result in the imposition of penalties under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and the related regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (the “ACA”), the Employer shall reform this Section 6 in a manner as is necessary to comply with the ACA.

 

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7.                                       MISCELLANEOUS

 

General provisions pertaining to this Agreement are contained in Schedule 1 attached hereto.  Additionally, Schedule 2 of this Agreement contains grievance procedures and dispute resolution procedures.

 

- Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank -

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement to be effective as of the Commencement Date.

 

 

CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

Name:

Scott Bender

 

Title:

President

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO JOEL BENDER AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 



 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 

 

/s/ Joel Bender

 

Joel Bender

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO JOEL BENDER AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 



 

SCHEDULE 1:  DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

This is Schedule 1 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Cactus Wellhead, LLC and Joel Bender dated effective February 12, 2018.

 

DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

1.                                       Definitions .  In this Agreement and the Schedules, the following words and expressions will have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:-

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person.  For purposes of this definition, the term “control” means, with respect to any Entity, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Entity, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Board” means the governing body of the Employer, which shall be the Board of Managers.

 

“Cause” means the Executive:

 

(a)                                  is convicted of, or enters a nolo contendre or guilty plea with respect to a crime involving fraud, theft, embezzlement or other act of material dishonesty on behalf of the Executive, the Board’s loss of confidence in Executive because Executive is convicted of or enters a nolo contendre or guilty plea with respect to any felony or crime involving moral turpitude;

 

(b)                                  commits any other material breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement other than a breach which (being capable of being remedied) is remedied by him within fourteen (14) days of being called upon to do so in writing by the Employer; or

 

(c)                                   fails to perform his duties and responsibilities (other than a failure from Disability) for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days; provided, however, that the parties hereto agree that this is not a performance standard and relates solely to the Executive failing to perform his duties and responsibilities in any manner.

 

A termination for Cause shall only be made by action of the Board in a special meeting called for the purpose of considering the termination so long as Joel Bender or other Bender Managers (as defined in the limited liability company agreement of the Employer) do not intentionally fail to attend such meeting(s) to prevent the establishment of a quorum for conducting business.

 

“Disability” will be determined in accordance with section 2 below.

 

“Employment Period” means the term of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement as set out in Clause 2.2.

 

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”Good Reason” means any of the following, without the Executive’s prior written consent: (a) the Employer commits any material breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement; (b) the Employer assigns the Executive to a position, responsibilities, or duties of a materially lesser status or degree of responsibility than his position, responsibilities or duties as of the Commencement Date; (c) the requirement by the Employer that the Executive be based anywhere other than Houston, Texas, provided that such a change in geographic location be deemed material; or (d) any decrease of more than ten percent (10%) in Executive’s Salary as it exists on the effective date of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the Executive being eligible to terminate for Good Reason, the Executive must provide written notice of termination for Good Reason pursuant to this Agreement within the ninety (90) day period immediately following the initial existence of the condition at issue, and the Employer shall have the opportunity to cure such circumstances within the thirty (30) day period of receipt of such notice.  If the Employer cures the applicable condition, Good Reason shall not be deemed to exist.

 

2.                                       Disability .  For the purposes of Clause 5.1(c), the Executive will be deemed to have a “Disability” if, for physical or mental reasons, the Executive is unable to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s duties under this Agreement for 3-consecutive months, or 3-months during any twelve-month period.  The Disability of the Executive will be determined by the examination of the Executive by a medical doctor selected by written agreement of the Parties upon the request of either Party by notice to the other Party.  If the Parties are unable to agree on the selection of a medical doctor, each of the Parties will select a medical doctor and the two medical doctors will select a third medical doctor who will conduct the examination to determine whether the Executive has a Disability.  The determination of the examining medical doctor will be final and binding on the Parties.  The Executive must submit to a reasonable number of examinations by the examining medical doctor and the Executive hereby authorizes the disclosure and release to the Employer of such determination and all supporting medical records.  If the Executive is not legally competent then the Executive’s legal guardian or duly authorized attorney-in-fact will act in the Executive’s stead for the purposes of submitting the Executive to the examination, and providing the authorization of disclosure required.  If requested by Employer, Executive will execute such further documents as are necessary to permit such disclosure in a timely manner.

 

3.                                       Notices .  All notices, consents, waivers, and other communications under this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when (a) delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (b) sent by facsimile (with written confirmation of receipt), provided that a copy is mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, or (c) when received by the addressee, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service (receipt requested), in each case to the appropriate addresses and facsimile numbers set forth below (or to such other addresses and facsimile numbers as a Party may designate by notice to the other party):

 

Executive:

 

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Employer:

 

Cactus Wellhead, LLC
920 Memorial City Way
Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77024
Attention: Senior Vice President

 

4.                                       Further Assurances .  The Parties agree (a) to furnish upon request in a timely manner to each other such further information, (b) to execute and deliver to each other such other documents, and (c) to do such other acts and things, all as the other Party may reasonably request for the purpose of carrying out the intent of this Agreement and the documents referred to in this Agreement.

 

5.                                       Waiver .

 

5.1                                The rights and remedies of the Parties to this Agreement are cumulative and not alternative.  Neither the failure nor any delay by any Party in exercising any right, power, or privilege under this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right, power, or privilege, and no single or partial exercise of any such right, power, or privilege will preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power, or privilege or the exercise of any other right, power, or privilege.

 

5.2                                To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, (a) no claim or right arising out of this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement may be discharged by one Party, in whole or in part, by a waiver or renunciation of the claim or right unless in writing signed by the both Parties; (b) no waiver that may be given by a Party will be applicable except in the specific instance for which it is given; and (c) no notice to or demand on one Party will be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation of such Party or of the right of the Party giving such notice or demand to take further action without notice or demand as provided in this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement.

 

6.                                       Internal Revenue Code Section 409A .  The Parties intend that this Agreement will be administered in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and all regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”).  To the extent that any provision of this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A, the provision shall be read in such a manner so that all payments hereunder are either exempt or comply with Section 409A.  The Parties agree that this Agreement may be amended, as reasonably requested by either Party, as may be necessary to be exempt from or fully comply with Section 409A in order to preserve the payments and benefits provided hereunder without additional cost to either Party. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, Executive shall not be considered to have terminated employment with the Employer or any subsidiary or Affiliate thereof for purposes of this Agreement unless Executive would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A from the Employer or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates.  Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided under this Agreement shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A, and any payments described in this Agreement that are

 

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due within the “short term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise.  Without limiting the foregoing and notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if Executive is deemed by the Employer at the time of Executive’s separation from service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid the imposition of additional taxes and interest on Executive under Section 409A, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (a) the expiration of the six-(6) month period measured from the date of Executive’s separation from service or (b) the date of Executive’s death.

 

7.                                       Assignments, Successors, And No Third-Party Rights .  This Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding upon, the Parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, and legal representatives, including any entity with which the Employer may merge or consolidate or be converted into or to which all or substantially all of its assets may be transferred.  The duties and covenants of the Employee under this Agreement, being personal, may not be delegated.

 

8.                                       Prior Agreements . The Parties agree that any prior agreements with respect to the employment of the Executive with and by the Employer, including the Original Employment Agreement, shall be terminated and replaced in their entirety by this Agreement as of the Commencement Date.  The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has received all payments, benefits and other compensation to which he was entitled or could ever be entitled under the Original Employment Agreement and that he has no further rights, claims or entitlements under the Original Employment Agreement or any other prior agreements relating to his employment by the Employer prior to the Commencement Date, except for the payment of any base salary for the final pay period under the Original Employment Agreement through the Commencement Date to the extent not already paid.

 

9.                                       Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect.  Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable and the invalid or unenforceable provision(s) shall be deemed replaced by valid and enforceable provisions that are consistent with the expressed intent of the Parties to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

 

10.                                Time Of Essence .  With regard to all dates and time periods set forth or referred to in this Agreement, time is of the essence.

 

11.                                Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement.

 

11 .                                Amendment . Any amendment to or modification of this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by both Parties.

 

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SCHEDULE 2:  GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

This is Schedule 2 to the Employment Agreement between Cactus Wellhead, LLC and Joel Bender dated effective February 12, 2018.

 

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

1.                                       If the Executive wishes to obtain redress of any grievance relating to his employment or is dissatisfied with any reprimand, suspension or other disciplinary step taken by the Employer, he will apply in writing, setting out the nature and details of any such grievance or dissatisfaction, to the Board of Managers.

 

2.                                       In the event that there is a dispute arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement, the Parties covenant and agree as follows:

 

2.1                                The Parties will first use their reasonable best efforts to resolve such dispute among themselves, with or without mediation.

 

2.2                                If the Parties are unable to resolve such dispute among themselves, they will use their reasonable best efforts to agree upon an individual arbitrator to settle the dispute.  Any award as a result of such arbitration will be final and binding upon the Parties and the Parties agree to abide by and perform any award rendered by the arbitrator.  Such a ruling will be non-appealable.

 

2.3                                If the Parties are unable to agree on a single arbitrator such dispute will be submitted to binding arbitration in Houston, Texas, pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, under the auspices of, and pursuant to the rules, of the American Arbitration Association’s Commercial Arbitration Rules as then in effect, or such other procedures as the Parties may agree to at the time, before a tribunal of three (3) arbitrators, one of which will be selected by the Executive, one of which will be selected by the Employer, and the third of which will be selected by the two arbitrators so selected.  Any award issued as a result of such arbitration will be final and binding upon the Parties as to all demands, complaints, claims, liens, obligations, liabilities or causes of action, including, but not limited to, all claims of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment or retaliation under state, local or federal law (including, but not limited to, the Texas Code, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Labor Management Relations Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended), and will be enforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the Party against whom enforcement is sought.  A ruling by the arbitrators will be non-appealable except as provided by the Federal Arbitration Act.  The Parties agree to abide by and perform any award rendered by the arbitrators except as provided by the Federal Arbitration Act.

 

2.4                                If either the Employer or the Executive materially breaches this Agreement or fails to comply with any final and non-appealable award and the other party thereafter seeks enforcement of any award rendered by the arbitrators, then the prevailing Party (designated by the arbitrators) to such proceeding(s) will be entitled to recover all of its costs and expenses from the non-prevailing Party, in addition to any other relief to which it may be entitled.

 

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2.5                                If a dispute arises and one Party fails or refuses to designate an arbitrator within thirty (30) days after receipt of a written notice that an arbitration proceeding is to be held, then the rules of the Federal Arbitration Act shall apply to designate the arbitrator not so designated by a Party.

 

2.6                                Either the Employer or the Executive may cause an arbitration proceeding to commence by giving the other Party notice in writing of such arbitration.  The Employer and the Executive covenant and agree to act as expeditiously as practicable to resolve all disputes by arbitration.

 

2.7                                The arbitration proceeding will be held in English.

 

2.8                                Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Employer nor the Executive will be precluded from seeking interim court action at any time after commencing arbitration and before the arbitrators are selected in the event the relief sought is equitable relief to preserve the status quo.  All such interim remedies shall not bind the arbitrators in connection with any subsequent rulings.  Legal process in any such action or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world.

 

2.9                                Except as expressly provided herein and except for an action seeking injunctive or other equitable relief to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, no action may be brought in any court of law and EACH OF THE PARTIES WAIVES ANY RIGHTS THAT IT MAY HAVE TO BRING A CAUSE OF ACTION IN ANY COURT OR IN ANY PROCEEDING INVOLVING A JURY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW .

 

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EXHIBIT A:  NON-COMPETITION

 

CONFIDENTIALITY, NON-SOLICITATION, NON-COMPETITION, AND NON-RECRUITMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of                       , 2018, is made by and between Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Joel Bender (“Employee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in the business of providing API 6A well-head equipment, gate valves and associated services to the oilfield service industry (the “Business”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Employee entered into that certain Noncompetition Agreement dated August 31, 2011 (the “Original Noncompetition Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the initial public offering of Cactus, Inc., the Employee will be receiving equity awards in consideration for his services to Cactus, Inc. and the Company (the “Equity Awards”);

 

WHEREAS, in consideration of the Equity Awards, the Company and Employee desire to amend and restate the Original Noncompetition Agreement, which shall be terminated and replaced in its entirety by this Agreement as of the Effective Date (as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee are parties to an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement of even date herewith (the “Employment Agreement”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                           Term . The term of this Agreement shall commence as of the date first set forth above (the “Effective Date”) and, except as set forth herein, shall remain in full force and effect until twelve (12) months after the date that Employee ceases to be an employee of the Company (the “Term”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Term of this Agreement shall terminate and this Agreement shall be of no further force and effect if Employee is entitled to severance or other payments under the Employment Agreement at or after the Termination Date (as defined below) and such payments are not made by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Employment Agreement.

 

Section 2.                                           Consideration .

 

(a)                                            The Company has provided and shall provide Employee access to Confidential Information (as defined below) and Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Company has entrusted and will be entrusting Employee, in Employee’s unique and special

 

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capacity, with developing the goodwill of the Company.  In consideration thereof and in consideration of the Equity Awards and as a condition to the Company’s employment of Employee pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, Employee voluntarily agrees to the covenants set forth in this Agreement.

 

(b)                                            In exchange for Employee’s promise not to disclose Confidential Information of the Company, the Company has provided and will provide Employee access to Confidential Information that is unknown to Employee. Employee and the Company agree that the consideration provided in this otherwise enforceable agreement gives rise to Company’s interest in restraining employee from competing.

 

Section 3.                                           Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation .

 

(a)                                            Acknowledgement . Employee recognizes and acknowledges that it is essential for the proper protection of the business and goodwill of the Company and for the proper protection of the Confidential Information that Employee be restrained: (i) from soliciting or inducing any employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company; (ii) from soliciting the trade of or trading with the customers and of the Company for any business purpose competitive with the Company’s business; and (iii) from competing against the Company in connection with the Company’s business.

 

(b)                                            Noncompetition . During the Term, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, become or be interested in, employed by, or associated with in any capacity, any other person, corporation, partnership or other entity whatsoever (a “ Person ”) engaged in the Business or in any other businesses (the “ New Businesses ”) in which the Company was actively engaged as of the date Employee ceases to be an employee of the Company (the “ Termination Date ”) in the Applicable Areas (defined below), or in any geographic or market area in which the Company is conducting the Business or the New Businesses as of the Termination Date. Notwithstanding the above, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent Employee from owning, as an inactive investor, up to five percent (5%) of the securities of any competitor of the Company, which securities are listed on a national securities exchange. Furthermore, after the Termination Date, Employee may become employed in a separate, autonomous division of a Person (regardless of whether such Person is engaged in the Business or in one or more of the New Businesses) provided: (i) such division is not in competition with the Business or with one of the New Businesses, and (ii) Employee is not materially engaged in any other division or part of such Person.  The “Applicable Areas” shall be defined as (x) the following states: Alaska,  Colorado, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, Wyoming; and (y) the following countries: Australia, China and Israel.

 

(c)                                             Non-Solicitation of Customers . During the Term, Employee shall not, on Employee’s behalf or on behalf of any other Person other than the Company, directly or indirectly, solicit, contact, call upon, communicate with or attempt to communicate with any Person which was a customer of the Company within twelve (12) months before the Termination Date for the purpose of soliciting or enticing any such Person to cease doing business with the Company or to begin doing business with any Person providing competing goods or services as the Company; provided, that the restrictions set forth in this  Section 3(c)  shall only apply to

 

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customers of businesses of the Company with which Employee was materially involved while an employee of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company acknowledges the Employee’s ownership and participation in Cactus Pipe & Supply, LLC and agrees that such ownership and participation does not, as of the date hereof, violate the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

(d)                                            Non-Solicitation of Employees . During the Term, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, hire, contract with, solicit, or encourage to leave the Company’s employ any of the Company’s employees.

 

(e)                                             Enforceability . The parties acknowledge and agree that the restrictions set forth in this  Section 3 are narrowly tailored to protect the legitimate interests of the parties and are reasonable. If, however, at the time of enforcement of any of the provisions of this  Section 3 a court holds that the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under the circumstances then existing or are otherwise illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect by reason of its duration, definition of geographic area or scope of activity, or any other reason, the parties hereto agree that the maximum period, scope or geographical area reasonable or otherwise enforceable under such circumstances shall be deemed automatically substituted for the stated period, scope or area, but the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby in any other jurisdiction and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. The parties also acknowledge and agree that in the event any provision of this  Section 3 is declared void or unenforceable by any court in any state, such determination shall not affect any other provision of this  Section 3 .

 

Section 4.                                           Confidentiality .

 

(a)                                            Acknowledgement . Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i) Employee during the term of the Original Noncompetition Agreement had access to and acquired, and during the Term will have access to and will acquire, certain confidential and proprietary information relating to the business and operation of the Company, including but not limited to information with respect to the existing and contemplated services, products, trade secrets, ideas, know how, research and development, formulas, models, compilations, processes, inventions, computer code generated or developed, software or programs, related documentation, business and financial methods or practices, plans, pricing, operating margins, marketing, merchandising and selling techniques and information, customer lists, details of customer agreements, sources of supply, employee compensation and benefit plans, customer records and data of the Company, and other confidential information relating to the policies, operating strategies, expansion strategies or business strategies or other confidential or proprietary information of the Company (collectively, the “Confidential Information”); (ii) the Confidential Information is the property of the Company; (iii) the use, misappropriation or disclosure of the Confidential Information would constitute a breach of trust and could cause irreparable injury to the Company; and (iv) it is essential to the protection of the Company’s good will and to the maintenance of the Company’s competitive position that the Confidential Information be kept secret and that Employee not disclose the Confidential Information to others or use the Confidential Information to Employee’s own advantage or the advantage of others.

 

A- 3



 

(b)                                            Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information . Employee covenants and agrees to hold and safeguard the Confidential Information in trust for the Company, its successors and assigns, and agrees that Employee shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, misappropriate or disclose or make available to anyone at any time, any of the Confidential Information, whether or not developed by Employee; provided , however , that the foregoing shall not apply to: (i) any information generally available to the public or which becomes generally available to the public through no fault of Employee, but only from and after the date such information becomes so available; (ii) any information obtained by Employee from a third party which Employee has no reason to believe, after reasonable inquiry, is violating any obligation of confidentiality to the Company; or (iii) any information Employee is required by law to disclose provided that the Company is promptly given advance notice of and an opportunity to contest such disclosure.

 

(c)                                             Permitted Disclosures .  Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict Employee from lawfully (i) initiating communications directly with, cooperating with, providing information to, causing information to be provided to, or otherwise assisting in an investigation by any governmental or regulatory agency, entity, or official(s) (collectively, “ Governmental Authorities ”) regarding a possible violation of any law; (ii) responding to any inquiry or legal process directed to Employee individually from any such Governmental Authorities; (iii) testifying, participating or otherwise assisting in an action or proceeding by any such Governmental Authorities relating to a possible violation of law; or (iv) making any other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any applicable law.  Additionally, pursuant to the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Employee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (i) is made (A) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (B) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) is made to Employee’s attorney in relation to a lawsuit for retaliation against Employee for reporting a suspected violation of law; or (iii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.  This Agreement does not require Employee to obtain prior authorization from the Company before engaging in any conduct described in this paragraph, or to notify the Company that Employee has engaged in any such conduct.

 

Section 5.                                           Intellectual Property . Employee understands and acknowledges that the Company shall have the sole and exclusive rights to anything relating to its actual or prospective business which the Employee conceives or works on, either in whole or in part, while employed by the Company and that all such work product shall be the property of the Company as “works for hire” under federal law and may also constitute the Company’s confidential and proprietary information. Accordingly, Employee agrees that he:

 

(a)                                  will promptly and fully disclose all such items to the Company and will not disclose such items to any other Person without the Company’s prior written consent;

 

(b)                                  will maintain on the Company’s behalf and surrender to the Company upon termination of his/her employment appropriate written records regarding all such items;

 

A- 4



 

(c)                                   will, but without personal expense, fully cooperate with the Company, execute all papers and perform all acts requested by the Company to establish, confirm or protect its exclusive rights in such items or to enable it to transfer legal title to such items, together with any patents that may be issued;

 

(d)                                  will, but without personal expense, provide such information and true testimony as the Company may request regarding such items including, without limitation, items which Employee neither conceived nor worked on but regarding which Employee has knowledge because of Employee’s employment with the Company;

 

(e)                                   hereby assigns to the Company, its successors and assigns, exclusive right, title and interest in and to all such items, including any patents which have been or may be issued; and

 

(f)                                    hereby agrees that only such items in which Employee personally holds or claims an interest and which are not subject to this Agreement are listed on the Ownership Schedule attached hereto. The absence of an Ownership Schedule means that no such items exist.

 

Section 6.                                           Injunctive Relief . Employee acknowledges and agrees that in the event of any breach by Employee of any of Employee’s covenants or agreements contained herein, including, without limitation, a breach of Sections 3 4 , and  5 , the Company would suffer substantial and irrevocable harm and money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for such a breach. Therefore, in the event of any such breach and in addition to any other remedy the Company may have at law or in equity in the event of any such breach, the Company shall be entitled to seek and receive specific performance and temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief from any breach of any of the covenants or agreements of this Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction without the necessity of proving the amount of any actual damages to it resulting from such breach.

 

Section 7.                                           Miscellaneous .

 

(a)                                            Notice. All notices, consents, waivers, and other communications under this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given:

 

(i)                                      two days after deposit in the mail, if sent first-class United States mail;

 

(ii)                                   when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt);

 

(iii)                                when sent by facsimile (with written confirmation of receipt), provided that a copy is mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested; or

 

(iv)                               when received by the addressee, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service (receipt requested), in each case to the appropriate addresses and facsimile numbers set forth below (or to such other addresses and facsimile numbers as a party may designate by notice to the other parties):

 

A- 5



 

if to Employee :

 

if to the Company :

 

Cactus Wellhead, LLC

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300

Houston, TX 77024

Facsimile: 713-396-5810

 

(b)                                  Assignment; Binding Effect . Neither the rights nor the obligations under this Agreement may be assigned by Employee without the written consent of the Company, which may be withheld for any reason. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Employee and his heirs, personal representatives, and assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns. Employee’s obligations under this Agreement shall be binding upon Employee regardless of which office(s) of the Company Employee is employed at or position(s) Employee may hold and shall inure to the benefit of any successors or assigns of the Company.

 

(c)                                   Choice of Law . This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to principles of conflicts of law thereof.

 

(d)                                  Amendment; Waiver . No modification or amendment to this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and signed by all parties hereto. Any waiver by any party of any violation of, breach of or default under any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not be construed as, or constitute, a continuing waiver of such provision, or waiver of any other violation of, breach of or default under any other provision of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   Severability . Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the commission of any act contrary to law. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such provision (expressly including, without limitation, any provision set forth in  Section 3 ), shall be deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws of such jurisdiction so as to be valid and enforceable.

 

(f)                                    Headings . The headings in this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and shall be disregarded in interpreting it.

 

(g)                                   Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties to this Agreement regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements (including, without limitation, the Original Noncompetition Agreement), arrangements, communications, representations and warranties, whether oral or written, between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof.

 

A- 6



 

(h)                                  Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. A signature hereto sent or delivered by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be as legally binding and enforceable as a signed original for all purposes.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

A- 7



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employee has executed this Agreement and the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf as of the Effective Date.

 

 

CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

I, Joel Bender, acknowledge and agree that I was given ample opportunity to evaluate this Agreement before I signed it, that I wish to accept the benefits of employment by the Company, that I understand the restrictions upon me as to competition after termination of my employment and I believe them to be reasonable and necessary to protect the Company, and that the Company will be entitled to stop, by court injunction, any violation of the restrictions by me.

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

Joel Bender

 

A- 8



 

EXHIBIT B:  RELEASE

 

RELEASE AGREEMENT

 

FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION OF the special payments and benefits to be provided in connection with the termination of my employment in accordance with Section 6.1 of the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of                    , 2018 (as amended and in effect from time to time, the “Employment Agreement”) between Cactus Wellhead, LLC (the “Company”), and me, I, on my own behalf and on behalf of my personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees and all others connected with me, hereby release and forever discharge the Company and its affiliates and all of their respective past and present officers, directors, managers, stockholders, controlling persons, employees, agents, representatives, successors and assigns and all others connected with any of them (the “Released Parties”), both individually and in their official capacities, from any and all rights, liabilities, claims, damages, demands and causes of action, whether statutory or at common law (including any claim for salary, benefits, payments, expenses, costs, attorney’s fees, damages, penalties, compensation, remuneration, contractual entitlements) (collectively, “Claims”) relating to any matter occurring on or prior to the date of my signing of this Release Agreement (the “Release”), including any Claims resulting from, arising out of, or connected with my employment or its termination and any other Claims pursuant to: (a) any federal, state, foreign or local law, regulation or other requirement (including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and any other local, state, or federal anti-discrimination or anti-retaliation law, each as amended from time to time); (b) any other local, state or federal law, regulation or ordinance; (c) any public policy or common law; and (d) any contract I may have with any Released Party, including the Employment Agreement (collectively, the “Released Claims”); provided, however, that the foregoing release shall not apply to (i) any right explicitly set forth in the Employment Agreement to any payments and benefits to be provided in connection with the termination of my employment, (ii) any right or claim that arises after the date this release is executed, (iii) any right I may have to vested or accrued benefits or entitlements under any applicable plan, agreement, program, award, policy or arrangement of the Company and its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, (iv) my right to indemnification and advancement of expenses in accordance with applicable laws and/or the certificate of incorporation and by-laws, limited liability company agreement or other governing documents of the Company and its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, or any applicable insurance policy, or (v) any right I may have to obtain contribution as permitted by law in the event of entry of judgment against me as a result of any act or failure to act for which I, on the one hand, and any Released Party, on the other hand, are jointly liable. This Release is not intended to indicate that any such claims exist or that, if they do exist, they are meritorious. Rather, I am simply agreeing that, in exchange for the consideration received by me through this Release, any and all Released Claims that I may have against any Released Party, regardless of whether they actually exist, are expressly settled, compromised and waived. This Release includes matters attributable to the sole or partial negligence (whether gross or simple) or other fault, including strict liability, of any Released Party.

 

B- 1



 

Notwithstanding the release of liability contained herein, nothing in this Release prevents me from filing any non-legally waivable claim (including a challenge to the validity of this Release) with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or other government agency; however, I understand and agree that I am waiving any and all rights to recover any monetary or personal relief as a result of such EEOC or other government agency proceeding or subsequent legal action.

 

In signing this Release, I acknowledge that (i) I have carefully read this Release; (ii) I have had at least twenty-one (21) days from the date of notice of termination of my employment, or in the event that such termination of employment is “in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program” (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended), the date that is forty-five (45) days following such notice date, to consider the terms of this Release and that such time has been sufficient; (iii) I am hereby encouraged by the Company to seek the advice of an attorney prior to signing this Release and have had adequate opportunity to do so; (iv) I am not entitled to the consideration set forth in Section 6.1 of the Employment Agreement but for my entry into, and non-revocation of, this Release within the time provided to do so; and (v) I am signing this Release voluntarily and with a full understanding and acceptance of its terms, I understand the final and binding effect of this Release, and the only promises made to me to sign this Release are those stated in the Employment Agreement and herein.

 

I understand that I may revoke this Release at any time within seven days of the date of my signing by providing written notice to the Company of such revocation so that such notice is received by the Company no later than 11:59 P.M. on the seventh (7 th ) day after I sign this Release and that this Release will take effect only upon the expiration of such seven-day (7) revocation period (the “Effective Date”) and only if I have not timely revoked it.

 

Intending to be legally bound, I have signed this Release to be effective as of the Effective Date.

 

 

 

 

Joel Bender

 

 

 

Date

 

B- 2


Exhibit 10.5

 

NON-COMPETITION
CONFIDENTIALITY, NON-SOLICITATION,
NON-COMPETITION, AND NON-RECRUITMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 12, 2018, is made by and between Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Scott Bender (“Employee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in the business of providing API 6A well-head equipment, gate valves and associated services to the oilfield service industry (the “Business”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Employee entered into that certain Noncompetition Agreement dated August 31, 2011 (the “Original Noncompetition Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the initial public offering of Cactus, Inc., the Employee will be receiving equity awards in consideration for his services to Cactus, Inc. and the Company (the “Equity Awards”);

 

WHEREAS, in consideration of the Equity Awards, the Company and Employee desire to amend and restate the Original Noncompetition Agreement, which shall be terminated and replaced in its entirety by this Agreement as of the Effective Date (as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee are parties to an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement of even date herewith (the “Employment Agreement”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                           Term . The term of this Agreement shall commence as of the date first set forth above (the “Effective Date”) and, except as set forth herein, shall remain in full force and effect until twelve (12) months after the date that Employee ceases to be an employee of the Company (the “Term”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Term of this Agreement shall terminate and this Agreement shall be of no further force and effect if Employee is entitled to severance or other payments under the Employment Agreement at or after the Termination Date (as defined below) and such payments are not made by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Employment Agreement.

 

Section 2.                                           Consideration .

 

(a)                                  The Company has provided and shall provide Employee access to Confidential Information (as defined below) and Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Company has entrusted and will be entrusting Employee, in Employee’s unique and special capacity, with developing the goodwill of the Company.  In consideration thereof and in

 



 

consideration of the Equity Awards and as a condition to the Company’s employment of Employee pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, Employee voluntarily agrees to the covenants set forth in this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  In exchange for Employee’s promise not to disclose Confidential Information of the Company, the Company has provided and will provide Employee access to Confidential Information that is unknown to Employee. Employee and the Company agree that the consideration provided in this otherwise enforceable agreement gives rise to Company’s interest in restraining employee from competing.

 

Section 3.                                           Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation .

 

(a)                                  Acknowledgement . Employee recognizes and acknowledges that it is essential for the proper protection of the business and goodwill of the Company and for the proper protection of the Confidential Information that Employee be restrained: (i) from soliciting or inducing any employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company; (ii) from soliciting the trade of or trading with the customers and of the Company for any business purpose competitive with the Company’s business; and (iii) from competing against the Company in connection with the Company’s business.

 

(b)                                  Noncompetition . During the Term, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, become or be interested in, employed by, or associated with in any capacity, any other person, corporation, partnership or other entity whatsoever (a “ Person ”) engaged in the Business or in any other businesses (the “ New Businesses ”) in which the Company was actively engaged as of the date Employee ceases to be an employee of the Company (the “ Termination Date ”) in the Applicable Areas (defined below), or in any geographic or market area in which the Company is conducting the Business or the New Businesses as of the Termination Date. Notwithstanding the above, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent Employee from owning, as an inactive investor, up to five percent (5%) of the securities of any competitor of the Company, which securities are listed on a national securities exchange. Furthermore, after the Termination Date, Employee may become employed in a separate, autonomous division of a Person (regardless of whether such Person is engaged in the Business or in one or more of the New Businesses) provided: (i) such division is not in competition with the Business or with one of the New Businesses, and (ii) Employee is not materially engaged in any other division or part of such Person.  The “Applicable Areas” shall be defined as (x) the following states: Alaska,  Colorado, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, Wyoming; and (y) the following countries: Australia, China and Israel.

 

(c)                                   Non-Solicitation of Customers . During the Term, Employee shall not, on Employee’s behalf or on behalf of any other Person other than the Company, directly or indirectly, solicit, contact, call upon, communicate with or attempt to communicate with any Person which was a customer of the Company within twelve (12) months before the Termination Date for the purpose of soliciting or enticing any such Person to cease doing business with the Company or to begin doing business with any Person providing competing goods or services as the Company; provided, that the restrictions set forth in this  Section 3(c)  shall only apply to customers of businesses of the Company with which Employee was materially involved while an employee of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company acknowledges the Employee’s ownership

 



 

and participation in Cactus Pipe & Supply, LLC and agrees that such ownership and participation does not, as of the date hereof, violate the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Non-Solicitation of Employees . During the Term, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, hire, contract with, solicit, or encourage to leave the Company’s employ any of the Company’s employees.

 

(e)                                   Enforceability . The parties acknowledge and agree that the restrictions set forth in this  Section 3 are narrowly tailored to protect the legitimate interests of the parties and are reasonable. If, however, at the time of enforcement of any of the provisions of this  Section 3 a court holds that the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under the circumstances then existing or are otherwise illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect by reason of its duration, definition of geographic area or scope of activity, or any other reason, the parties hereto agree that the maximum period, scope or geographical area reasonable or otherwise enforceable under such circumstances shall be deemed automatically substituted for the stated period, scope or area, but the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby in any other jurisdiction and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. The parties also acknowledge and agree that in the event any provision of this  Section 3 is declared void or unenforceable by any court in any state, such determination shall not affect any other provision of this  Section 3 .

 

Section 4.                                           Confidentiality .

 

(a)                                  Acknowledgement . Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i) Employee during the term of the Original Noncompetition Agreement had access to and acquired, and during the Term will have access to and will acquire, certain confidential and proprietary information relating to the business and operation of the Company, including but not limited to information with respect to the existing and contemplated services, products, trade secrets, ideas, know how, research and development, formulas, models, compilations, processes, inventions, computer code generated or developed, software or programs, related documentation, business and financial methods or practices, plans, pricing, operating margins, marketing, merchandising and selling techniques and information, customer lists, details of customer agreements, sources of supply, employee compensation and benefit plans, customer records and data of the Company, and other confidential information relating to the policies, operating strategies, expansion strategies or business strategies or other confidential or proprietary information of the Company (collectively, the “Confidential Information”); (ii) the Confidential Information is the property of the Company; (iii) the use, misappropriation or disclosure of the Confidential Information would constitute a breach of trust and could cause irreparable injury to the Company; and (iv) it is essential to the protection of the Company’s good will and to the maintenance of the Company’s competitive position that the Confidential Information be kept secret and that Employee not disclose the Confidential Information to others or use the Confidential Information to Employee’s own advantage or the advantage of others.

 

(b)                                  Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information . Employee covenants and agrees to hold and safeguard the Confidential Information in trust for the Company, its successors and assigns, and agrees that Employee shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, misappropriate or disclose or make available to anyone at any time, any of the Confidential

 



 

Information, whether or not developed by Employee; provided , however , that the foregoing shall not apply to: (i) any information generally available to the public or which becomes generally available to the public through no fault of Employee, but only from and after the date such information becomes so available; (ii) any information obtained by Employee from a third party which Employee has no reason to believe, after reasonable inquiry, is violating any obligation of confidentiality to the Company; or (iii) any information Employee is required by law to disclose provided that the Company is promptly given advance notice of and an opportunity to contest such disclosure.

 

(c)                                   Permitted Disclosures .  Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict Employee from lawfully (i) initiating communications directly with, cooperating with, providing information to, causing information to be provided to, or otherwise assisting in an investigation by any governmental or regulatory agency, entity, or official(s) (collectively, “ Governmental Authorities ”) regarding a possible violation of any law; (ii) responding to any inquiry or legal process directed to Employee individually from any such Governmental Authorities; (iii) testifying, participating or otherwise assisting in an action or proceeding by any such Governmental Authorities relating to a possible violation of law; or (iv) making any other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any applicable law.  Additionally, pursuant to the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Employee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (i) is made (A) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (B) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) is made to Employee’s attorney in relation to a lawsuit for retaliation against Employee for reporting a suspected violation of law; or (iii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.  This Agreement does not require Employee to obtain prior authorization from the Company before engaging in any conduct described in this paragraph, or to notify the Company that Employee has engaged in any such conduct.

 

Section 5.                                           Intellectual Property . Employee understands and acknowledges that the Company shall have the sole and exclusive rights to anything relating to its actual or prospective business which the Employee conceives or works on, either in whole or in part, while employed by the Company and that all such work product shall be the property of the Company as “works for hire” under federal law and may also constitute the Company’s confidential and proprietary information. Accordingly, Employee agrees that he:

 

(i)                                      will promptly and fully disclose all such items to the Company and will not disclose such items to any other Person without the Company’s prior written consent;

 

(ii)                                   will maintain on the Company’s behalf and surrender to the Company upon termination of his/her employment appropriate written records regarding all such items;

 

(iii)                                will, but without personal expense, fully cooperate with the Company, execute all papers and perform all acts requested by the Company to establish, confirm or protect its exclusive rights in such

 



 

items or to enable it to transfer legal title to such items, together with any patents that may be issued;

 

(iv)                               will, but without personal expense, provide such information and true testimony as the Company may request regarding such items including, without limitation, items which Employee neither conceived nor worked on but regarding which Employee has knowledge because of Employee’s employment with the Company;

 

(v)                                  hereby assigns to the Company, its successors and assigns, exclusive right, title and interest in and to all such items, including any patents which have been or may be issued; and

 

(vi)                               hereby agrees that only such items in which Employee personally holds or claims an interest and which are not subject to this Agreement are listed on the Ownership Schedule attached hereto. The absence of an Ownership Schedule means that no such items exist.

 

Section 6.                                           Injunctive Relief . Employee acknowledges and agrees that in the event of any breach by Employee of any of Employee’s covenants or agreements contained herein, including, without limitation, a breach of Sections 3 4 , and  5 , the Company would suffer substantial and irrevocable harm and money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for such a breach. Therefore, in the event of any such breach and in addition to any other remedy the Company may have at law or in equity in the event of any such breach, the Company shall be entitled to seek and receive specific performance and temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief from any breach of any of the covenants or agreements of this Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction without the necessity of proving the amount of any actual damages to it resulting from such breach.

 

Section 7.                                           Miscellaneous .

 

(a)                                  Notice. All notices, consents, waivers, and other communications under this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given:

 

(i)                                      two days after deposit in the mail, if sent first-class United States mail;

 

(ii)                                   when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt);

 

(iii)                                when sent by facsimile (with written confirmation of receipt), provided that a copy is mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested; or

 

(iv)                               when received by the addressee, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service (receipt requested), in each case to the appropriate addresses and facsimile numbers set forth below (or to

 



 

such other addresses and facsimile numbers as a party may designate by notice to the other parties):

 

if to Employee :

 

if to the Company :

 

Cactus Wellhead, LLC

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300

Houston, TX 77024

Facsimile: 713-396-5810

 

(b)                                  Assignment; Binding Effect . Neither the rights nor the obligations under this Agreement may be assigned by Employee without the written consent of the Company, which may be withheld for any reason. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Employee and his heirs, personal representatives, and assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns. Employee’s obligations under this Agreement shall be binding upon Employee regardless of which office(s) of the Company Employee is employed at or position(s) Employee may hold and shall inure to the benefit of any successors or assigns of the Company.

 

(c)                                   Choice of Law . This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to principles of conflicts of law thereof.

 

(d)                                  Amendment; Waiver . No modification or amendment to this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and signed by all parties hereto. Any waiver by any party of any violation of, breach of or default under any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not be construed as, or constitute, a continuing waiver of such provision, or waiver of any other violation of, breach of or default under any other provision of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   Severability . Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the commission of any act contrary to law. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such provision (expressly including, without limitation, any provision set forth in  Section 3 ), shall be deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws of such jurisdiction so as to be valid and enforceable.

 

(f)                                    Headings . The headings in this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and shall be disregarded in interpreting it.

 

(g)                                   Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties to this Agreement regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements (including, without limitation, the Original Noncompetition Agreement), arrangements,

 



 

communications, representations and warranties, whether oral or written, between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof.

 

(h)                                  Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. A signature hereto sent or delivered by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be as legally binding and enforceable as a signed original for all purposes.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employee has executed this Agreement and the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf as of the Effective Date.

 

 

CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

Name:

Scott Bender

 

Title:

President

 

I, Scott Bender, acknowledge and agree that I was given ample opportunity to evaluate this Agreement before I signed it, that I wish to accept the benefits of employment by the Company, that I understand the restrictions upon me as to competition after termination of my employment and I believe them to be reasonable and necessary to protect the Company, and that the Company will be entitled to stop, by court injunction, any violation of the restrictions by me.

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Scott Bender

 

Scott Bender

 


 

Exhibit 10.6

 

NON-COMPETITION
CONFIDENTIALITY, NON-SOLICITATION,
NON-COMPETITION, AND NON-RECRUITMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 12, 2018, is made by and between Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Joel Bender (“Employee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in the business of providing API 6A well-head equipment, gate valves and associated services to the oilfield service industry (the “Business”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Employee entered into that certain Noncompetition Agreement dated August 31, 2011 (the “Original Noncompetition Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the initial public offering of Cactus, Inc., the Employee will be receiving equity awards in consideration for his services to Cactus, Inc. and the Company (the “Equity Awards”);

 

WHEREAS, in consideration of the Equity Awards, the Company and Employee desire to amend and restate the Original Noncompetition Agreement, which shall be terminated and replaced in its entirety by this Agreement as of the Effective Date (as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee are parties to an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement of even date herewith (the “Employment Agreement”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                           Term . The term of this Agreement shall commence as of the date first set forth above (the “Effective Date”) and, except as set forth herein, shall remain in full force and effect until twelve (12) months after the date that Employee ceases to be an employee of the Company (the “Term”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Term of this Agreement shall terminate and this Agreement shall be of no further force and effect if Employee is entitled to severance or other payments under the Employment Agreement at or after the Termination Date (as defined below) and such payments are not made by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Employment Agreement.

 

Section 2.                                           Consideration .

 

(a)                                  The Company has provided and shall provide Employee access to Confidential Information (as defined below) and Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Company has entrusted and will be entrusting Employee, in Employee’s unique and special capacity, with developing the goodwill of the Company.  In consideration thereof and in

 



 

consideration of the Equity Awards and as a condition to the Company’s employment of Employee pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, Employee voluntarily agrees to the covenants set forth in this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  In exchange for Employee’s promise not to disclose Confidential Information of the Company, the Company has provided and will provide Employee access to Confidential Information that is unknown to Employee. Employee and the Company agree that the consideration provided in this otherwise enforceable agreement gives rise to Company’s interest in restraining employee from competing.

 

Section 3.                                           Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation .

 

(a)                                  Acknowledgement . Employee recognizes and acknowledges that it is essential for the proper protection of the business and goodwill of the Company and for the proper protection of the Confidential Information that Employee be restrained: (i) from soliciting or inducing any employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company; (ii) from soliciting the trade of or trading with the customers and of the Company for any business purpose competitive with the Company’s business; and (iii) from competing against the Company in connection with the Company’s business.

 

(b)                                  Noncompetition . During the Term, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, become or be interested in, employed by, or associated with in any capacity, any other person, corporation, partnership or other entity whatsoever (a “ Person ”) engaged in the Business or in any other businesses (the “ New Businesses ”) in which the Company was actively engaged as of the date Employee ceases to be an employee of the Company (the “ Termination Date ”) in the Applicable Areas (defined below), or in any geographic or market area in which the Company is conducting the Business or the New Businesses as of the Termination Date. Notwithstanding the above, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent Employee from owning, as an inactive investor, up to five percent (5%) of the securities of any competitor of the Company, which securities are listed on a national securities exchange. Furthermore, after the Termination Date, Employee may become employed in a separate, autonomous division of a Person (regardless of whether such Person is engaged in the Business or in one or more of the New Businesses) provided: (i) such division is not in competition with the Business or with one of the New Businesses, and (ii) Employee is not materially engaged in any other division or part of such Person.  The “Applicable Areas” shall be defined as (x) the following states: Alaska,  Colorado, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, Wyoming; and (y) the following countries: Australia, China and Israel.

 

(c)                                   Non-Solicitation of Customers . During the Term, Employee shall not, on Employee’s behalf or on behalf of any other Person other than the Company, directly or indirectly, solicit, contact, call upon, communicate with or attempt to communicate with any Person which was a customer of the Company within twelve (12) months before the Termination Date for the purpose of soliciting or enticing any such Person to cease doing business with the Company or to begin doing business with any Person providing competing goods or services as the Company; provided, that the restrictions set forth in this  Section 3(c)  shall only apply to customers of businesses of the Company with which Employee was materially involved while an employee of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company acknowledges the Employee’s ownership

 



 

and participation in Cactus Pipe & Supply, LLC and agrees that such ownership and participation does not, as of the date hereof, violate the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Non-Solicitation of Employees . During the Term, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, hire, contract with, solicit, or encourage to leave the Company’s employ any of the Company’s employees.

 

(e)                                   Enforceability . The parties acknowledge and agree that the restrictions set forth in this  Section 3 are narrowly tailored to protect the legitimate interests of the parties and are reasonable. If, however, at the time of enforcement of any of the provisions of this  Section 3 a court holds that the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under the circumstances then existing or are otherwise illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect by reason of its duration, definition of geographic area or scope of activity, or any other reason, the parties hereto agree that the maximum period, scope or geographical area reasonable or otherwise enforceable under such circumstances shall be deemed automatically substituted for the stated period, scope or area, but the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby in any other jurisdiction and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. The parties also acknowledge and agree that in the event any provision of this  Section 3 is declared void or unenforceable by any court in any state, such determination shall not affect any other provision of this  Section 3 .

 

Section 4.                                           Confidentiality .

 

(a)                                  Acknowledgement . Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i) Employee during the term of the Original Noncompetition Agreement had access to and acquired, and during the Term will have access to and will acquire, certain confidential and proprietary information relating to the business and operation of the Company, including but not limited to information with respect to the existing and contemplated services, products, trade secrets, ideas, know how, research and development, formulas, models, compilations, processes, inventions, computer code generated or developed, software or programs, related documentation, business and financial methods or practices, plans, pricing, operating margins, marketing, merchandising and selling techniques and information, customer lists, details of customer agreements, sources of supply, employee compensation and benefit plans, customer records and data of the Company, and other confidential information relating to the policies, operating strategies, expansion strategies or business strategies or other confidential or proprietary information of the Company (collectively, the “Confidential Information”); (ii) the Confidential Information is the property of the Company; (iii) the use, misappropriation or disclosure of the Confidential Information would constitute a breach of trust and could cause irreparable injury to the Company; and (iv) it is essential to the protection of the Company’s good will and to the maintenance of the Company’s competitive position that the Confidential Information be kept secret and that Employee not disclose the Confidential Information to others or use the Confidential Information to Employee’s own advantage or the advantage of others.

 

(b)                                  Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information . Employee covenants and agrees to hold and safeguard the Confidential Information in trust for the Company, its successors and assigns, and agrees that Employee shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, misappropriate or disclose or make available to anyone at any time, any of the Confidential

 



 

Information, whether or not developed by Employee; provided , however , that the foregoing shall not apply to: (i) any information generally available to the public or which becomes generally available to the public through no fault of Employee, but only from and after the date such information becomes so available; (ii) any information obtained by Employee from a third party which Employee has no reason to believe, after reasonable inquiry, is violating any obligation of confidentiality to the Company; or (iii) any information Employee is required by law to disclose provided that the Company is promptly given advance notice of and an opportunity to contest such disclosure.

 

(c)                                   Permitted Disclosures .  Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict Employee from lawfully (i) initiating communications directly with, cooperating with, providing information to, causing information to be provided to, or otherwise assisting in an investigation by any governmental or regulatory agency, entity, or official(s) (collectively, “ Governmental Authorities ”) regarding a possible violation of any law; (ii) responding to any inquiry or legal process directed to Employee individually from any such Governmental Authorities; (iii) testifying, participating or otherwise assisting in an action or proceeding by any such Governmental Authorities relating to a possible violation of law; or (iv) making any other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any applicable law.  Additionally, pursuant to the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, Employee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (i) is made (A) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (B) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) is made to Employee’s attorney in relation to a lawsuit for retaliation against Employee for reporting a suspected violation of law; or (iii) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.  This Agreement does not require Employee to obtain prior authorization from the Company before engaging in any conduct described in this paragraph, or to notify the Company that Employee has engaged in any such conduct.

 

Section 5.                                           Intellectual Property . Employee understands and acknowledges that the Company shall have the sole and exclusive rights to anything relating to its actual or prospective business which the Employee conceives or works on, either in whole or in part, while employed by the Company and that all such work product shall be the property of the Company as “works for hire” under federal law and may also constitute the Company’s confidential and proprietary information. Accordingly, Employee agrees that he:

 

(i)                                      will promptly and fully disclose all such items to the Company and will not disclose such items to any other Person without the Company’s prior written consent;

 

(ii)                                   will maintain on the Company’s behalf and surrender to the Company upon termination of his/her employment appropriate written records regarding all such items;

 

(iii)                                will, but without personal expense, fully cooperate with the Company, execute all papers and perform all acts requested by the Company to establish, confirm or protect its exclusive rights in such

 



 

items or to enable it to transfer legal title to such items, together with any patents that may be issued;

 

(iv)                               will, but without personal expense, provide such information and true testimony as the Company may request regarding such items including, without limitation, items which Employee neither conceived nor worked on but regarding which Employee has knowledge because of Employee’s employment with the Company;

 

(v)                                  hereby assigns to the Company, its successors and assigns, exclusive right, title and interest in and to all such items, including any patents which have been or may be issued; and

 

(vi)                               hereby agrees that only such items in which Employee personally holds or claims an interest and which are not subject to this Agreement are listed on the Ownership Schedule attached hereto. The absence of an Ownership Schedule means that no such items exist.

 

Section 6.                                           Injunctive Relief . Employee acknowledges and agrees that in the event of any breach by Employee of any of Employee’s covenants or agreements contained herein, including, without limitation, a breach of Sections 3 4 , and  5 , the Company would suffer substantial and irrevocable harm and money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for such a breach. Therefore, in the event of any such breach and in addition to any other remedy the Company may have at law or in equity in the event of any such breach, the Company shall be entitled to seek and receive specific performance and temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief from any breach of any of the covenants or agreements of this Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction without the necessity of proving the amount of any actual damages to it resulting from such breach.

 

Section 7.                                           Miscellaneous .

 

(a)                                  Notice. All notices, consents, waivers, and other communications under this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given:

 

(i)                                      two days after deposit in the mail, if sent first-class United States mail;

 

(ii)                                   when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt);

 

(iii)                                when sent by facsimile (with written confirmation of receipt), provided that a copy is mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested; or

 

(iv)                               when received by the addressee, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service (receipt requested), in each case to the appropriate addresses and facsimile numbers set forth below (or to

 



 

such other addresses and facsimile numbers as a party may designate by notice to the other parties):

 

if to Employee :

 

if to the Company :

 

Cactus Wellhead, LLC

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300

Houston, TX 77024

Facsimile: 713-396-5810

 

(b)                                  Assignment; Binding Effect . Neither the rights nor the obligations under this Agreement may be assigned by Employee without the written consent of the Company, which may be withheld for any reason. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Employee and his heirs, personal representatives, and assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns. Employee’s obligations under this Agreement shall be binding upon Employee regardless of which office(s) of the Company Employee is employed at or position(s) Employee may hold and shall inure to the benefit of any successors or assigns of the Company.

 

(c)                                   Choice of Law . This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to principles of conflicts of law thereof.

 

(d)                                  Amendment; Waiver . No modification or amendment to this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and signed by all parties hereto. Any waiver by any party of any violation of, breach of or default under any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not be construed as, or constitute, a continuing waiver of such provision, or waiver of any other violation of, breach of or default under any other provision of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   Severability . Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the commission of any act contrary to law. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such provision (expressly including, without limitation, any provision set forth in  Section 3 ), shall be deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws of such jurisdiction so as to be valid and enforceable.

 

(f)                                    Headings . The headings in this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and shall be disregarded in interpreting it.

 

(g)                                   Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties to this Agreement regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements (including, without limitation, the Original Noncompetition Agreement), arrangements,

 



 

communications, representations and warranties, whether oral or written, between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof.

 

(h)                                  Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. A signature hereto sent or delivered by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be as legally binding and enforceable as a signed original for all purposes.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employee has executed this Agreement and the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf as of the Effective Date.

 

 

CACTUS WELLHEAD, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

Name:

Scott Bender

 

Title:

President

 

I, Joel Bender, acknowledge and agree that I was given ample opportunity to evaluate this Agreement before I signed it, that I wish to accept the benefits of employment by the Company, that I understand the restrictions upon me as to competition after termination of my employment and I believe them to be reasonable and necessary to protect the Company, and that the Company will be entitled to stop, by court injunction, any violation of the restrictions by me.

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Joel Bender

 

Joel Bender

 


Exhibit 10.7

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made effective as of February 12, 2018, by and between Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and Scott Bender, an individual resident of the State of Texas (“ 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 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 entity at which they serve;

 

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 each 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 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 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 or she 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, manager, officer, employee or agent of (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cactus LLC ”), and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead (Suzhou) Pressure Control Co., Ltd. (“ Suzhou ”), a Chinese limited company, and Cactus Wellhead Australia Pty, Ltd (“ CWA ”), an Australian limited company, or (iii) 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 (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Suzhou and CWA, and (iii) any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise at which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, manager, 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 13(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.

 

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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 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 such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any actual or alleged action taken (or a failure to take action) by Indemnitee or of any action (or inaction) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of his or her Corporate Status, 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.

 

Subsidiary Documents ” shall mean the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, joint venture or trust agreement, and any other organizational document or other agreement of any Enterprise, as applicable, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC.

 

(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,” “employed” and similar terms, shall include any service as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, manager, 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 or she

 

3



 

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.                                            Services to the Corporation .  Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, as applicable, or, by mutual agreement of the Corporation and Indemnitee, as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another Enterprise, as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Corporation shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Corporation (or any 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 Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Corporation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 15 hereof.

 

Section 3.                                            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, which is provided for in Section 4 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

Section 4.                                            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 Expenses suffered or incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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 Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 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 Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Court ”) 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 5.                                            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 Section 3 or Section 4 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

 

4



 

of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Section 5 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 6.                                            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 7.                                            Additional Indemnification .  Notwithstanding any limitation in Section 3, Section 4 or Section 5 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 (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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.

 

Section 8.                                            Exclusions .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Corporation hereunder as to which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, constituent document, contract or otherwise (other than pursuant to this Agreement), but only to the extent of such payments actually made;

 

(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 16b of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 13(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

 

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Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

 

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

 

Section 9.                                            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 such advances 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 by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.  This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8 hereof.  Nothing in this Section 9 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section 13(d) of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.                                     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 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

 

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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 (including local 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 11.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(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 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

 

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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 described in this Section 11(a) has been made that such Indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification.  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 11(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 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 11(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 13(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 12.                                     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 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 10(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 Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that

 

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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 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 13(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 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 or she 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 12(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.

 

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

 

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Section 13.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(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 Section 5 or Section 6 or the third to last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, Section 4 or Section 7 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 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 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 13, 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 11(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 13, 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 13 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 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

 

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action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Corporation under this Agreement or the Bylaws 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 14.                                     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 Subsidiary Document, any other 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.  The Corporation shall not adopt or approve, directly or indirectly, any amendment or alteration to, or repeal of, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or any applicable Subsidiary Document, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any applicable Subsidiary Document,  or applicable law relative to such rights 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 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

 

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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 Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or any 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 or owed 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, manager, 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.

 

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(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.

 

Section 15.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any other Enterprise and (ii) one year following the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee has requested rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any Proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 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.  The Corporation shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee.

 

Section 16.                                     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 17.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, and the Corporation acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, manager, 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

 

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the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, the applicable Subsidiary Documents and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 18.                                     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 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 19.                                     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:

 

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

 

(b)                                  If to the Corporation to:

 

Cobalt Center

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77024

Attention:  Board of Directors of Cactus, Inc.

 

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

 

Section 20.                                     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 (i) 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 (ii) 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 21.                                     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 13(a) of this Agreement, the Corporation and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court, and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or

 

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any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 22.                                     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.

 

[ Signature page follows. ]

 

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

 

CACTUS, INC.

 

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

Name:

Scott Bender

 

 

Name:

Scott Bender

 

Title:

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

 

Title:

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement

 


Exhibit 10.8

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made effective as of February 12, 2018, by and between Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and Joel Bender, an individual resident of the State of Texas (“ 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 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 entity at which they serve;

 

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 each 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 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 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 or she 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, manager, officer, employee or agent of (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cactus LLC ”), and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead (Suzhou) Pressure Control Co., Ltd. (“ Suzhou ”), a Chinese limited company, and Cactus Wellhead Australia Pty, Ltd (“ CWA ”), an Australian limited company, or (iii) 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 (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Suzhou and CWA, and (iii) any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise at which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, manager, 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 13(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.

 

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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 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 such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any actual or alleged action taken (or a failure to take action) by Indemnitee or of any action (or inaction) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of his or her Corporate Status, 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.

 

Subsidiary Documents ” shall mean the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, joint venture or trust agreement, and any other organizational document or other agreement of any Enterprise, as applicable, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC.

 

(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,” “employed” and similar terms, shall include any service as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, manager, 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 or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee

 

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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.                                            Services to the Corporation .  Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, as applicable, or, by mutual agreement of the Corporation and Indemnitee, as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another Enterprise, as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Corporation shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Corporation (or any 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 Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Corporation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 15 hereof.

 

Section 3.                                            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, which is provided for in Section 4 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

Section 4.                                            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 Expenses suffered or incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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 Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 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 Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Court ”) 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 5.                                            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 Section 3 or Section 4 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

 

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Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Section 5 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 6.                                            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 7.                                            Additional Indemnification .  Notwithstanding any limitation in Section 3, Section 4 or Section 5 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 (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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.

 

Section 8.                                            Exclusions .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Corporation hereunder as to which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, constituent document, contract or otherwise (other than pursuant to this Agreement), but only to the extent of such payments actually made;

 

(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 16b of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 13(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, (ii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in

 

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its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

 

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

 

Section 9.                                            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 such advances 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 by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.  This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8 hereof.  Nothing in this Section 9 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section 13(d) of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.                                     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 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.

 

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(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 (including local 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 11.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(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 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

 

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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 described in this Section 11(a) has been made that such Indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification.  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 11(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 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 11(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 13(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 12.                                     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 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 10(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 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 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.

 

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(b)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 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 or she 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 12(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.

 

(e)                                   Actions of Others .  The knowledge or actions, or failure to act, of any director, manager, 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 13.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(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 Section 5 or Section 6 or the third to last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to

 

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Section 3, Section 4 or Section 7 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 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 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 13, 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 11(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 13, 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 13 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 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 the Bylaws 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.

 

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Section 14.                                     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 Subsidiary Document, any other 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.  The Corporation shall not adopt or approve, directly or indirectly, any amendment or alteration to, or repeal of, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or any applicable Subsidiary Document, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any applicable Subsidiary Document,  or applicable law relative to such rights 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 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 Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or any 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 or owed 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

 

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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, manager, 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.

 

Section 15.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any other Enterprise and (ii) one year following the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee has requested rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any Proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 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.  The Corporation shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and

 

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substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee.

 

Section 16.                                     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 17.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, and the Corporation acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, manager, 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, the applicable Subsidiary Documents and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 18.                                     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 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 19.                                     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:

 

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

 

(b)                                  If to the Corporation to:

 

Cobalt Center

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77024

Attention:  Board of Directors of Cactus, Inc.

 

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

 

Section 20.                                     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 (i) 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 (ii) 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 21.                                     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 13(a) of this Agreement, the Corporation and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in 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, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 22.                                     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.

 

[ Signature page follows. ]

 

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

 

 

CACTUS, INC.

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

By:

/s/ Joel Bender

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

Name: Joel Bender

 

Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

Title:

Senior VP, Chief Operating

 

 

 

 

Officer, Secretary and Director

 

Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement

 


Exhibit 10.9

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made effective as of February 12, 2018, by and between Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and Bruce Rothstein, an individual resident of the State of New York (“ 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 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 entity at which they serve;

 

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 each 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 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 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 or she 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, manager, officer, employee or agent of (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cactus LLC ”), and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead (Suzhou) Pressure Control Co., Ltd. (“ Suzhou ”), a Chinese limited company, and Cactus Wellhead Australia Pty, Ltd (“ CWA ”), an Australian limited company, or (iii) 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 (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Suzhou and CWA, and (iii) any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise at which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, manager, 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 13(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.

 

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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 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 such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any actual or alleged action taken (or a failure to take action) by Indemnitee or of any action (or inaction) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of his or her Corporate Status, 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.

 

Subsidiary Documents ” shall mean the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, joint venture or trust agreement, and any other organizational document or other agreement of any Enterprise, as applicable, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC.

 

(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,” “employed” and similar terms, shall include any service as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, manager, 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 or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee

 

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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.                                            Services to the Corporation .  Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, as applicable, or, by mutual agreement of the Corporation and Indemnitee, as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another Enterprise, as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Corporation shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Corporation (or any 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 Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Corporation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 15 hereof.

 

Section 3.                                            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, which is provided for in Section 4 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

Section 4.                                            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 Expenses suffered or incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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 Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 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 Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Court ”) 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 5.                                            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 Section 3 or Section 4 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

 

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Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Section 5 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 6.                                            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 7.                                            Additional Indemnification .  Notwithstanding any limitation in Section 3, Section 4 or Section 5 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 (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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.

 

Section 8.                                            Exclusions .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Corporation hereunder as to which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, constituent document, contract or otherwise (other than pursuant to this Agreement), but only to the extent of such payments actually made;

 

(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 16b of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 13(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, (ii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in

 

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its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

 

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

 

Section 9.                                            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 such advances 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 by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.  This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8 hereof.  Nothing in this Section 9 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section 13(d) of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.                                     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 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.

 

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(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 (including local 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 11.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(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 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

 

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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 described in this Section 11(a) has been made that such Indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification.  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 11(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 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 11(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 13(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 12.                                     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 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 10(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 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 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.

 

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(b)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 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 or she 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 12(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.

 

(e)                                   Actions of Others .  The knowledge or actions, or failure to act, of any director, manager, 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 13.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(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 Section 5 or Section 6 or the third to last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to

 

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Section 3, Section 4 or Section 7 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 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 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 13, 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 11(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 13, 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 13 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 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 the Bylaws 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.

 

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Section 14.                                     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 Subsidiary Document, any other 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.  The Corporation shall not adopt or approve, directly or indirectly, any amendment or alteration to, or repeal of, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or any applicable Subsidiary Document, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any applicable Subsidiary Document,  or applicable law relative to such rights 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 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 Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or any 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 or owed 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

 

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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, manager, 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.

 

Section 15.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any other Enterprise and (ii) one year following the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee has requested rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any Proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 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.  The Corporation shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and

 

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substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee.

 

Section 16.                                     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 17.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, and the Corporation acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, manager, 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, the applicable Subsidiary Documents and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 18.                                     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 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 19.                                     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:

 

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

 

(b)                                  If to the Corporation to:

 

Cobalt Center

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77024

Attention:  Board of Directors of Cactus, Inc.

 

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

 

Section 20.                                     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 (i) 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 (ii) 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 21.                                     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 13(a) of this Agreement, the Corporation and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in 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, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 22.                                     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.

 

[ Signature page follows. ]

 

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

 

 

CACTUS, INC.

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

By:

/s/ Bruce Rothstein

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

Name: Bruce Rothstein

 

Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement

 


Exhibit 10.10

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made effective as of February 12, 2018, by and between Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and Brian Small, an individual resident of the State of Texas (“ 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 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 entity at which they serve;

 

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 each 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 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 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 or she 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, manager, officer, employee or agent of (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cactus LLC ”), and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead (Suzhou) Pressure Control Co., Ltd. (“ Suzhou ”), a Chinese limited company, and Cactus Wellhead Australia Pty, Ltd (“ CWA ”), an Australian limited company, or (iii) 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 (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Suzhou and CWA, and (iii) any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise at which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, manager, 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 13(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.

 

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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 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 such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any actual or alleged action taken (or a failure to take action) by Indemnitee or of any action (or inaction) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of his or her Corporate Status, 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.

 

Subsidiary Documents ” shall mean the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, joint venture or trust agreement, and any other organizational document or other agreement of any Enterprise, as applicable, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC.

 

(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,” “employed” and similar terms, shall include any service as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, manager, 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 or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee

 

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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.                                            Services to the Corporation .  Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, as applicable, or, by mutual agreement of the Corporation and Indemnitee, as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another Enterprise, as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Corporation shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Corporation (or any 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 Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Corporation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 15 hereof.

 

Section 3.                                            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, which is provided for in Section 4 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

Section 4.                                            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 Expenses suffered or incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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 Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 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 Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Court ”) 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 5.                                            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 Section 3 or Section 4 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

 

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Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Section 5 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 6.                                            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 7.                                            Additional Indemnification .  Notwithstanding any limitation in Section 3, Section 4 or Section 5 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 (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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.

 

Section 8.                                            Exclusions .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Corporation hereunder as to which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, constituent document, contract or otherwise (other than pursuant to this Agreement), but only to the extent of such payments actually made;

 

(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 16b of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 13(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, (ii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in

 

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its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

 

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

 

Section 9.                                            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 such advances 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 by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.  This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8 hereof.  Nothing in this Section 9 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section 13(d) of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.                                     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 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.

 

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(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 (including local 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 11.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(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 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

 

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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 described in this Section 11(a) has been made that such Indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification.  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 11(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 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 11(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 13(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 12.                                     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 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 10(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 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 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.

 

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(b)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 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 or she 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 12(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.

 

(e)                                   Actions of Others .  The knowledge or actions, or failure to act, of any director, manager, 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 13.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(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 Section 5 or Section 6 or the third to last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to

 

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Section 3, Section 4 or Section 7 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 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 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 13, 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 11(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 13, 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 13 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 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 the Bylaws 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.

 

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Section 14.                                     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 Subsidiary Document, any other 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.  The Corporation shall not adopt or approve, directly or indirectly, any amendment or alteration to, or repeal of, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or any applicable Subsidiary Document, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any applicable Subsidiary Document,  or applicable law relative to such rights 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 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 Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or any 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 or owed 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

 

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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, manager, 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.

 

Section 15.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any other Enterprise and (ii) one year following the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee has requested rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any Proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 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.  The Corporation shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and

 

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substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee.

 

Section 16.                                     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 17.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, and the Corporation acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, manager, 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, the applicable Subsidiary Documents and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 18.                                     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 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 19.                                     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:

 

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

 

(b)                                  If to the Corporation to:

 

Cobalt Center

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77024

Attention:  Board of Directors of Cactus, Inc.

 

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

 

Section 20.                                     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 (i) 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 (ii) 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 21.                                     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 13(a) of this Agreement, the Corporation and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in 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, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 22.                                     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.

 

[ Signature page follows. ]

 

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

 

 

CACTUS, INC.

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

By:

/s/ Brian Small

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

Name: Brian Small

 

Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement

 


Exhibit 10.11

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made effective as of February 12, 2018, by and between Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and Steven Bender, an individual resident of the State of Texas (“ 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 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 entity at which they serve;

 

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 each 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 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 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 or she 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, manager, officer, employee or agent of (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cactus LLC ”), and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead (Suzhou) Pressure Control Co., Ltd. (“ Suzhou ”), a Chinese limited company, and Cactus Wellhead Australia Pty, Ltd (“ CWA ”), an Australian limited company, or (iii) 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 (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Suzhou and CWA, and (iii) any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise at which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, manager, 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 13(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.

 

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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 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 such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any actual or alleged action taken (or a failure to take action) by Indemnitee or of any action (or inaction) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of his or her Corporate Status, 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.

 

Subsidiary Documents ” shall mean the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, joint venture or trust agreement, and any other organizational document or other agreement of any Enterprise, as applicable, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC.

 

(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,” “employed” and similar terms, shall include any service as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, manager, 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 or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee

 

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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.                                            Services to the Corporation .  Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, as applicable, or, by mutual agreement of the Corporation and Indemnitee, as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another Enterprise, as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Corporation shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Corporation (or any 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 Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Corporation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 15 hereof.

 

Section 3.                                            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, which is provided for in Section 4 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

Section 4.                                            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 Expenses suffered or incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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 Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 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 Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Court ”) 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 5.                                            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 Section 3 or Section 4 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

 

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Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Section 5 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 6.                                            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 7.                                            Additional Indemnification .  Notwithstanding any limitation in Section 3, Section 4 or Section 5 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 (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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.

 

Section 8.                                            Exclusions .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Corporation hereunder as to which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, constituent document, contract or otherwise (other than pursuant to this Agreement), but only to the extent of such payments actually made;

 

(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 16b of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 13(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, (ii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in

 

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its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

 

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

 

Section 9.                                            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 such advances 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 by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.  This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8 hereof.  Nothing in this Section 9 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section 13(d) of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.                                     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 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.

 

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(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 (including local 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 11.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(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 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

 

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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 described in this Section 11(a) has been made that such Indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification.  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 11(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 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 11(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 13(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 12.                                     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 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 10(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 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 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.

 

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(b)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 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 or she 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 12(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.

 

(e)                                   Actions of Others .  The knowledge or actions, or failure to act, of any director, manager, 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 13.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(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 Section 5 or Section 6 or the third to last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to

 

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Section 3, Section 4 or Section 7 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 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 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 13, 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 11(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 13, 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 13 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 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 the Bylaws 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.

 

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Section 14.                                     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 Subsidiary Document, any other 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.  The Corporation shall not adopt or approve, directly or indirectly, any amendment or alteration to, or repeal of, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or any applicable Subsidiary Document, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any applicable Subsidiary Document,  or applicable law relative to such rights 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 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 Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or any 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 or owed 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

 

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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, manager, 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.

 

Section 15.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any other Enterprise and (ii) one year following the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee has requested rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any Proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 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.  The Corporation shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and

 

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substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee.

 

Section 16.                                     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 17.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, and the Corporation acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, manager, 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, the applicable Subsidiary Documents and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 18.                                     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 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 19.                                     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:

 

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

 

(b)                                  If to the Corporation to:

 

Cobalt Center

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77024

Attention:  Board of Directors of Cactus, Inc.

 

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

 

Section 20.                                     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 (i) 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 (ii) 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 21.                                     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 13(a) of this Agreement, the Corporation and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in 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, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 22.                                     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.

 

[ Signature page follows. ]

 

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

 

 

CACTUS, INC.

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

By:

/s/ Steven Bender

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

Name: Steven Bender

 

Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement

 


Exhibit 10.12

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made effective as of February 12, 2018, by and between Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and Stephen Tadlock, an individual resident of the State of Texas (“ 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 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 entity at which they serve;

 

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 each 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 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 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 or she 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, manager, officer, employee or agent of (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cactus LLC ”), and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead (Suzhou) Pressure Control Co., Ltd. (“ Suzhou ”), a Chinese limited company, and Cactus Wellhead Australia Pty, Ltd (“ CWA ”), an Australian limited company, or (iii) 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 (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Suzhou and CWA, and (iii) any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise at which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, manager, 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 13(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.

 

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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 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 such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any actual or alleged action taken (or a failure to take action) by Indemnitee or of any action (or inaction) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of his or her Corporate Status, 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.

 

Subsidiary Documents ” shall mean the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, joint venture or trust agreement, and any other organizational document or other agreement of any Enterprise, as applicable, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC.

 

(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,” “employed” and similar terms, shall include any service as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, manager, 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 or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee

 

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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.              Services to the Corporation .  Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, as applicable, or, by mutual agreement of the Corporation and Indemnitee, as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another Enterprise, as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Corporation shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Corporation (or any 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 Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Corporation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 15 hereof.

 

Section 3.              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, which is provided for in Section 4 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

Section 4.              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 Expenses suffered or incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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 Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 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 Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Court ”) 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 5.              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 Section 3 or Section 4 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

 

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Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Section 5 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 6.              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 7.              Additional Indemnification .  Notwithstanding any limitation in Section 3, Section 4 or Section 5 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 (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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.

 

Section 8.              Exclusions .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee:

 

(a)           for amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Corporation hereunder as to which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, constituent document, contract or otherwise (other than pursuant to this Agreement), but only to the extent of such payments actually made;

 

(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 16b of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)           except as provided in Section 13(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, (ii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in

 

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its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

 

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

 

Section 9.              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 such advances 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 by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.  This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8 hereof.  Nothing in this Section 9 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section 13(d) of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.            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 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.

 

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(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 (including local 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 11.            Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

 

(a)           Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(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 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

 

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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 described in this Section 11(a) has been made that such Indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification.  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 11(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 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 11(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 13(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 12.            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 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 10(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 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 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.

 

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(b)           Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 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 or she 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 12(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.

 

(e)           Actions of Others .  The knowledge or actions, or failure to act, of any director, manager, 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 13.            Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a)           Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(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 Section 5 or Section 6 or the third to last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to

 

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Section 3, Section 4 or Section 7 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 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 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 13, 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 11(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 13, 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 13 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 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 the Bylaws 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.

 

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Section 14.            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 Subsidiary Document, any other 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.  The Corporation shall not adopt or approve, directly or indirectly, any amendment or alteration to, or repeal of, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or any applicable Subsidiary Document, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any applicable Subsidiary Document,  or applicable law relative to such rights 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 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 Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or any 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 or owed 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

 

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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, manager, 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.

 

Section 15.            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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any other Enterprise and (ii) one year following the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee has requested rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any Proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 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.  The Corporation shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and

 

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substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee.

 

Section 16.            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 17.            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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, and the Corporation acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, manager, 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, the applicable Subsidiary Documents and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 18.            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 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 19.            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:

 

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

 

(b)           If to the Corporation to:

 

Cobalt Center

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77024

Attention:  Board of Directors of Cactus, Inc.

 

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

 

Section 20.            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 (i) 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 (ii) 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 21.            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 13(a) of this Agreement, the Corporation and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in 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, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 22.            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.

 

[ Signature page follows. ]

 

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

 

 

CACTUS, INC.

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

By:

/s/ Stephen Tadlock

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

Name: Stephen Tadlock

 

Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

Title: Vice President of Corporate Services

 

Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement

 


Exhibit 10.13

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made effective as of February 12, 2018, by and between Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and John O’Donnell, an individual resident of the State of Texas (“ 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 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 entity at which they serve;

 

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 each 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 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 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 or she 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, manager, officer, employee or agent of (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cactus LLC ”), and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead (Suzhou) Pressure Control Co., Ltd. (“ Suzhou ”), a Chinese limited company, and Cactus Wellhead Australia Pty, Ltd (“ CWA ”), an Australian limited company, or (iii) 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 (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Suzhou and CWA, and (iii) any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise at which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, manager, 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 13(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.

 

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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 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 such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any actual or alleged action taken (or a failure to take action) by Indemnitee or of any action (or inaction) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of his or her Corporate Status, 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.

 

Subsidiary Documents ” shall mean the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, joint venture or trust agreement, and any other organizational document or other agreement of any Enterprise, as applicable, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC.

 

(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,” “employed” and similar terms, shall include any service as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, manager, 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 or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee

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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.                                            Services to the Corporation .  Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, as applicable, or, by mutual agreement of the Corporation and Indemnitee, as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another Enterprise, as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Corporation shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Corporation (or any 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 Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Corporation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 15 hereof.

 

Section 3.                                            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, which is provided for in Section 4 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

Section 4.                                            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 Expenses suffered or incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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 Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 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 Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Court ”) 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 5.                                            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 Section 3 or Section 4 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

 

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Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Section 5 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 6.                                            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 7.                                            Additional Indemnification .  Notwithstanding any limitation in Section 3, Section 4 or Section 5 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 (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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.

 

Section 8.                                            Exclusions .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Corporation hereunder as to which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, constituent document, contract or otherwise (other than pursuant to this Agreement), but only to the extent of such payments actually made;

 

(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 16b of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 13(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, (ii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in

 

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its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

 

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

 

Section 9.                                            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 such advances 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 by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.  This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8 hereof.  Nothing in this Section 9 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section 13(d) of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.                                     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 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.

 

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(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 (including local 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 11.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(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 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

 

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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 described in this Section 11(a) has been made that such Indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification.  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 11(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 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 11(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 13(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 12.                                     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 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 10(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 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 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.

 

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(b)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 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 or she 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 12(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.

 

(e)                                   Actions of Others .  The knowledge or actions, or failure to act, of any director, manager, 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 13.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(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 Section 5 or Section 6 or the third to last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to

 

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Section 3, Section 4 or Section 7 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 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 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 13, 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 11(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 13, 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 13 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 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 the Bylaws 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.

 

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Section 14.                                     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 Subsidiary Document, any other 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.  The Corporation shall not adopt or approve, directly or indirectly, any amendment or alteration to, or repeal of, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or any applicable Subsidiary Document, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any applicable Subsidiary Document,  or applicable law relative to such rights 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 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 Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or any 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 or owed 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

 

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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, manager, 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.

 

Section 15.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any other Enterprise and (ii) one year following the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee has requested rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any Proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 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.  The Corporation shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and

 

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substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee.

 

Section 16.                                     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 17.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, and the Corporation acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, manager, 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, the applicable Subsidiary Documents and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 18.                                     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 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 19.                                     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:

 

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

 

(b)                                  If to the Corporation to:

 

Cobalt Center

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77024

Attention:  Board of Directors of Cactus, Inc.

 

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

 

Section 20.                                     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 (i) 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 (ii) 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 21.                                     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 13(a) of this Agreement, the Corporation and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in 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, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 22.                                     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.

 

[ Signature page follows. ]

 

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

 

 

CACTUS, INC.

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

By:

/s/ John O’Donnell

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

Name: John O’Donnell

 

Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement

 


Exhibit 10.14

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made effective as of February 12, 2018, by and between Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and Michael McGovern, an individual resident of the State of Texas (“ 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 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 entity at which they serve;

 

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 each 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 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 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 or she 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, manager, officer, employee or agent of (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cactus LLC ”), and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead (Suzhou) Pressure Control Co., Ltd. (“ Suzhou ”), a Chinese limited company, and Cactus Wellhead Australia Pty, Ltd (“ CWA ”), an Australian limited company, or (iii) 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 (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Suzhou and CWA, and (iii) any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise at which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, manager, 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 13(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.

 

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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 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 such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any actual or alleged action taken (or a failure to take action) by Indemnitee or of any action (or inaction) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of his or her Corporate Status, 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.

 

Subsidiary Documents ” shall mean the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, joint venture or trust agreement, and any other organizational document or other agreement of any Enterprise, as applicable, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC.

 

(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,” “employed” and similar terms, shall include any service as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, manager, 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 or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee

 

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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.                                            Services to the Corporation .  Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, as applicable, or, by mutual agreement of the Corporation and Indemnitee, as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another Enterprise, as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Corporation shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Corporation (or any 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 Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Corporation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 15 hereof.

 

Section 3.                                            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, which is provided for in Section 4 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

Section 4.                                            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 Expenses suffered or incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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 Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 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 Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Court ”) 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 5.                                            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 Section 3 or Section 4 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

 

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Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Section 5 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 6.                                            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 7.                                            Additional Indemnification .  Notwithstanding any limitation in Section 3, Section 4 or Section 5 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 (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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.

 

Section 8.                                            Exclusions .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Corporation hereunder as to which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, constituent document, contract or otherwise (other than pursuant to this Agreement), but only to the extent of such payments actually made;

 

(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 16b of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 13(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, (ii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in

 

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its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

 

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

 

Section 9.                                            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 such advances 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 by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.  This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8 hereof.  Nothing in this Section 9 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section 13(d) of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.                                     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 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.

 

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(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 (including local 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 11.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(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 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

 

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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 described in this Section 11(a) has been made that such Indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification.  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 11(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 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 11(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 13(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 12.                                     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 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 10(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 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 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.

 

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(b)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 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 or she 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 12(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.

 

(e)                                   Actions of Others .  The knowledge or actions, or failure to act, of any director, manager, 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 13.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(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 Section 5 or Section 6 or the third to last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to

 

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Section 3, Section 4 or Section 7 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 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 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 13, 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 11(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 13, 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 13 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 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 the Bylaws 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.

 

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Section 14.                                     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 Subsidiary Document, any other 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.  The Corporation shall not adopt or approve, directly or indirectly, any amendment or alteration to, or repeal of, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or any applicable Subsidiary Document, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any applicable Subsidiary Document,  or applicable law relative to such rights 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 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 Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or any 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 or owed 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

 

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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, manager, 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.

 

Section 15.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any other Enterprise and (ii) one year following the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee has requested rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any Proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 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.  The Corporation shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and

 

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substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee.

 

Section 16.                                     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 17.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, and the Corporation acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, manager, 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, the applicable Subsidiary Documents and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 18.                                     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 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 19.                                     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:

 

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

 

(b)                                  If to the Corporation to:

 

Cobalt Center

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77024

Attention:  Board of Directors of Cactus, Inc.

 

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

 

Section 20.                                     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 (i) 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 (ii) 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 21.                                     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 13(a) of this Agreement, the Corporation and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in 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, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 22.                                     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.

 

[ Signature page follows. ]

 

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

 

 

CACTUS, INC.

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

By:

/s/ Michael McGovern

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

Name: Michael McGovern

 

Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement

 


Exhibit 10.15

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made effective as of February 12, 2018, by and between Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and Alan Semple, an individual resident of the State of Texas (“ 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 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 entity at which they serve;

 

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 each 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 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 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 or she 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, manager, officer, employee or agent of (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cactus LLC ”), and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead (Suzhou) Pressure Control Co., Ltd. (“ Suzhou ”), a Chinese limited company, and Cactus Wellhead Australia Pty, Ltd (“ CWA ”), an Australian limited company, or (iii) 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 (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Suzhou and CWA, and (iii) any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise at which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, manager, 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 13(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.

 

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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 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 such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any actual or alleged action taken (or a failure to take action) by Indemnitee or of any action (or inaction) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of his or her Corporate Status, 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.

 

Subsidiary Documents ” shall mean the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, joint venture or trust agreement, and any other organizational document or other agreement of any Enterprise, as applicable, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC.

 

(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,” “employed” and similar terms, shall include any service as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, manager, 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 or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee

 

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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.                                            Services to the Corporation .  Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, as applicable, or, by mutual agreement of the Corporation and Indemnitee, as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another Enterprise, as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Corporation shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Corporation (or any 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 Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Corporation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 15 hereof.

 

Section 3.                                            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, which is provided for in Section 4 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

Section 4.                                            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 Expenses suffered or incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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 Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 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 Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Court ”) 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 5.                                            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 Section 3 or Section 4 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

 

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Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Section 5 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 6.                                            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 7.                                            Additional Indemnification .  Notwithstanding any limitation in Section 3, Section 4 or Section 5 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 (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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.

 

Section 8.                                            Exclusions .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Corporation hereunder as to which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, constituent document, contract or otherwise (other than pursuant to this Agreement), but only to the extent of such payments actually made;

 

(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 16b of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 13(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, (ii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in

 

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its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

 

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

 

Section 9.                                            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 such advances 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 by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.  This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8 hereof.  Nothing in this Section 9 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section 13(d) of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.                                     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 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.

 

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(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 (including local 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 11.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(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 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

 

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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 described in this Section 11(a) has been made that such Indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification.  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 11(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 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 11(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 13(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 12.                                     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 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 10(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 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 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.

 

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(b)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 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 or she 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 12(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.

 

(e)                                   Actions of Others .  The knowledge or actions, or failure to act, of any director, manager, 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 13.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(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 Section 5 or Section 6 or the third to last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to

 

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Section 3, Section 4 or Section 7 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 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 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 13, 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 11(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 13, 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 13 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 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 the Bylaws 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.

 

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Section 14.                                     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 Subsidiary Document, any other 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.  The Corporation shall not adopt or approve, directly or indirectly, any amendment or alteration to, or repeal of, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or any applicable Subsidiary Document, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any applicable Subsidiary Document,  or applicable law relative to such rights 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 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 Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or any 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 or owed 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

 

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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, manager, 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.

 

Section 15.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any other Enterprise and (ii) one year following the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee has requested rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any Proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 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.  The Corporation shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and

 

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substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee.

 

Section 16.                                     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 17.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, and the Corporation acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, manager, 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, the applicable Subsidiary Documents and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 18.                                     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 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 19.                                     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:

 

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

 

(b)                                  If to the Corporation to:

 

Cobalt Center

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300

Houston, Texas 77024

Attention:  Board of Directors of Cactus, Inc.

 

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

 

Section 20.                                     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 (i) 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 (ii) 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 21.                                     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 13(a) of this Agreement, the Corporation and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in 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, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 22.                                     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.

 

[ Signature page follows. ]

 

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

 

 

CACTUS, INC.

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

By:

/s/ Alan Semple

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

Name: Alan Semple

 

Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement

 


Exhibit 10.16

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made effective as of February 12, 2018, by and between Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and Gary Rosenthal, an individual resident of the State of Texas (“ 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 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 entity at which they serve;

 

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 each 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 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 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 or she 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, manager, officer, employee or agent of (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cactus LLC ”), and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead (Suzhou) Pressure Control Co., Ltd. (“ Suzhou ”), a Chinese limited company, and Cactus Wellhead Australia Pty, Ltd (“ CWA ”), an Australian limited company, or (iii) 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 (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Suzhou and CWA, and (iii) any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise at which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, manager, 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 13(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.

 

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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 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 such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any actual or alleged action taken (or a failure to take action) by Indemnitee or of any action (or inaction) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of his or her Corporate Status, 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.

 

Subsidiary Documents ” shall mean the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, joint venture or trust agreement, and any other organizational document or other agreement of any Enterprise, as applicable, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC.

 

(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,” “employed” and similar terms, shall include any service as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, manager, 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 or she

 

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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.                                            Services to the Corporation .  Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, as applicable, or, by mutual agreement of the Corporation and Indemnitee, as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another Enterprise, as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Corporation shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Corporation (or any 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 Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Corporation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 15 hereof.

 

Section 3.                                            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, which is provided for in Section 4 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

Section 4.                                            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 Expenses suffered or incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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 Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 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 Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Court ”) 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 5.                                            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 Section 3 or Section 4 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

 

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of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Section 5 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 6.                                            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 7.                                            Additional Indemnification .  Notwithstanding any limitation in Section 3, Section 4 or Section 5 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 (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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.

 

Section 8.                                            Exclusions .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Corporation hereunder as to which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, constituent document, contract or otherwise (other than pursuant to this Agreement), but only to the extent of such payments actually made;

 

(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 16b of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 13(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

 

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Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

 

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

 

Section 9.                                            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 such advances 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 by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.  This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8 hereof.  Nothing in this Section 9 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section 13(d) of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.                                     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 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

 

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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 (including local 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 11.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(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 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

 

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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 described in this Section 11(a) has been made that such Indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification.  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 11(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 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 11(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 13(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 12.                                     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 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 10(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 Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that

 

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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 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 13(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 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 or she 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 12(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.

 

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

 

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Section 13.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(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 Section 5 or Section 6 or the third to last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, Section 4 or Section 7 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 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 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 13, 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 11(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 13, 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 13 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 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

 

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action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Corporation under this Agreement or the Bylaws 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 14.                                     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 Subsidiary Document, any other 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.  The Corporation shall not adopt or approve, directly or indirectly, any amendment or alteration to, or repeal of, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or any applicable Subsidiary Document, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any applicable Subsidiary Document,  or applicable law relative to such rights 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 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

 

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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 Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or any 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 or owed 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, manager, 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.

 

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(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.

 

Section 15.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any other Enterprise and (ii) one year following the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee has requested rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any Proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 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.  The Corporation shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee.

 

Section 16.                                     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 17.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, and the Corporation acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, manager, 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

 

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the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, the applicable Subsidiary Documents and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 18.                                     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 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 19.                                     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:

 

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

 

(b)                                  If to the Corporation to:

 

Cobalt Center

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77024

Attention:  Board of Directors of Cactus, Inc.

 

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

 

Section 20.                                     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 (i) 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 (ii) 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 21.                                     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 13(a) of this Agreement, the Corporation and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court, and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or

 

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any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 22.                                     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.

 

[ Signature page follows. ]

 

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

 

CACTUS, INC.

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

By:

/s/ Gary Rosenthal

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

Name: Gary Rosenthal

 

Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement

 


Exhibit 10.17

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made effective as of February 12, 2018, by and between Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and Ike Smith, an individual resident of the State of Texas (“ 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 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 entity at which they serve;

 

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 each 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 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 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 or she 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, manager, officer, employee or agent of (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cactus LLC ”), and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Cactus Wellhead (Suzhou) Pressure Control Co., Ltd. (“ Suzhou ”), a Chinese limited company, and Cactus Wellhead Australia Pty, Ltd (“ CWA ”), an Australian limited company, or (iii) 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 (i) the Corporation, (ii) any predecessor and any previous, current or future subsidiary or other controlled Affiliate of the Corporation, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC and its subsidiaries and controlled Affiliates, including, without limitation, Suzhou and CWA, and (iii) any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise at which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, manager, 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 13(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.

 

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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 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 such Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any actual or alleged action taken (or a failure to take action) by Indemnitee or of any action (or inaction) on Indemnitee’s part while acting as director or officer of the Corporation, or by reason of his or her Corporate Status, 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.

 

Subsidiary Documents ” shall mean the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, joint venture or trust agreement, and any other organizational document or other agreement of any Enterprise, as applicable, including, without limitation, Cactus LLC.

 

(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,” “employed” and similar terms, shall include any service as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, manager, 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 or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee

 

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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.                                            Services to the Corporation .  Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, as applicable, or, by mutual agreement of the Corporation and Indemnitee, as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another Enterprise, as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Corporation shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Corporation (or any 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 Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Corporation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 15 hereof.

 

Section 3.                                            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, which is provided for in Section 4 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

Section 4.                                            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 Expenses suffered or incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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 Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 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 Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Court ”) 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 5.                                            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 Section 3 or Section 4 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

 

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Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.  For purposes of this Section 5 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 6.                                            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 7.                                            Additional Indemnification .  Notwithstanding any limitation in Section 3, Section 4 or Section 5 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 (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be 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.

 

Section 8.                                            Exclusions .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Corporation hereunder as to which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy, constituent document, contract or otherwise (other than pursuant to this Agreement), but only to the extent of such payments actually made;

 

(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 16b of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 13(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, (ii) the Corporation provides the indemnification, in

 

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its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

 

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

 

Section 9.                                            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 such advances 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 by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.  This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8 hereof.  Nothing in this Section 9 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section 13(d) of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.                                     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 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.

 

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(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 (including local 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 11.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(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 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

 

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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 described in this Section 11(a) has been made that such Indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification.  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 11(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 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 11(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 13(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 12.                                     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 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 10(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 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 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.

 

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(b)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 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 or she 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 12(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.

 

(e)                                   Actions of Others .  The knowledge or actions, or failure to act, of any director, manager, 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 13.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 13(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(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 Section 5 or Section 6 or the third to last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Corporation of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to

 

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Section 3, Section 4 or Section 7 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 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 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 13, 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 11(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 13, 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 13 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 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 the Bylaws 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.

 

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Section 14.                                     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 Subsidiary Document, any other 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.  The Corporation shall not adopt or approve, directly or indirectly, any amendment or alteration to, or repeal of, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or any applicable Subsidiary Document, the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any applicable Subsidiary Document,  or applicable law relative to such rights 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 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 Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or any 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 or owed 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

 

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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, manager, 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.

 

Section 15.                           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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any other Enterprise and (ii) one year following the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee has requested rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any Proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13 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.  The Corporation shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and

 

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substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Corporation (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee.

 

Section 16.                                     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 17.                                     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, manager, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, and the Corporation acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director, manager, 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, the applicable Subsidiary Documents and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefore, nor diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 18.                                     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 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 19.                                     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:

 

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

 

(b)                                  If to the Corporation to:

 

Cobalt Center

920 Memorial City Way, Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77024

Attention:  Board of Directors of Cactus, Inc.

 

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

 

Section 20.                                     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 (i) 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 (ii) 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 21.                                     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 13(a) of this Agreement, the Corporation and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in 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, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any Proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such Proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 22.                                     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.

 

[ Signature page follows. ]

 

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

 

CACTUS, INC.

INDEMNITEE

 

 

By:

/s/ Scott Bender

 

By:

/s/ Ike Smith

 

Name: Scott Bender

 

Name: Ike Smith

 

Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

Title: Chief Accounting Officer

 

Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement

 


Exhibit 10.18

 

CACTUS, INC.

 

Long Term Incentive Plan

 

1.                                       Purpose .  The purpose of the Cactus, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) is to provide a means through which (a) Cactus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and its Affiliates may attract, retain and motivate qualified persons as employees, directors and consultants, thereby enhancing the profitable growth of the Company and its Affiliates and (b) persons upon whom the responsibilities of the successful administration and management of the Company and its Affiliates rest, and whose present and potential contributions to the Company and its Affiliates are of importance, can acquire and maintain stock ownership or awards the value of which is tied to the performance of the Company, thereby strengthening their concern for the Company and its Affiliates. Accordingly, the Plan provides for the grant of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Awards, Dividend Equivalents, Other Stock-Based Awards, Cash Awards, Substitute Awards, Performance Awards, or any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

2.                                       Definitions .  For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

(a)                                  Affiliate ” means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, trust or other organization that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any entity or organization, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power (i) to vote more than 50% of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of the controlled entity or organization or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the controlled entity or organization, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

 

(b)                                  ASC Topic 718 ” means the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation , as amended or any successor accounting standard.

 

(c)                                   Award ” means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Award, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award, Cash Award, Substitute Award or Performance Award, together with any other right or interest, granted under the Plan.

 

(d)                                  Award Agreement ” means any written instrument (including any employment, severance or change in control agreement) that sets forth the terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations applicable to an Award, in addition to those set forth under the Plan.

 

(e)                                   Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(f)                                    Cash Award ” means an Award denominated in cash granted under Section 6(i) .

 

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(g)                                   Change in Control ” means, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, the occurrence of any of the following events after the Effective Date:

 

(i)                                      A “change in the ownership” of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v), whereby any one person, or more than one person acting as a “group” (for purposes of this Section 2(g)(i) , as such term is defined in Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v)(B)), acquires ownership of stock in the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company.

 

(ii)                                   A “change in the effective control” of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi), whereby either (A) any one person, or more than one person acting as a “group” (for purposes of this Section 2(g)(ii) , as such term is defined in Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi)(D)), acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 30% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; or (B) a majority of the members of the Board are replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election.

 

(iii)                                A “change in the ownership of a substantial portion” of the Company’s assets within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii), whereby any one person, or more than one person acting as a “group” (for purposes of this Section 2(g)(iii) , as such term is defined in Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii)(C)), acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets of the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of all the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions.

 

The preceding provisions of this Section 2(g)  are intended to merely summarize the provisions of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(5) and, to the extent that the preceding provisions of this Section 2(g)  do not incorporate fully all of the provisions (or are otherwise inconsistent with the provisions) of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(5), then the relevant provisions of such Treasury Regulation shall control.

 

(h)                                  Change in Control Price ” means the amount determined in the following clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v), whichever the Committee determines is applicable, as follows:  (i) the price per share offered to holders of Stock in any merger or consolidation, (ii) the per share Fair Market Value of the Stock immediately before the Change in Control or other event without regard to assets sold in the Change in Control or other event and assuming the Company has received the consideration paid for the assets in the case of a sale of the assets, (iii) the amount distributed per share of Stock in a dissolution transaction, (iv) the price per share offered to holders of Stock in any tender offer or exchange offer whereby a Change in Control or other event takes place, or (v) if such Change in Control or other event occurs other than pursuant to a transaction described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this Section 2(h) , the value per share of the Stock that may otherwise be obtained with respect to such Awards or to which such Awards track, as determined by the Committee as of the date determined by the Committee to be the date

 

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of cancellation and surrender of such Awards.  In the event that the consideration offered to stockholders of the Company in any transaction described in this Section 2(h)  or in Section 8(e)  consists of anything other than cash, the Committee shall determine the fair cash equivalent of the portion of the consideration offered which is other than cash and such determination shall be binding on all affected Participants to the extent applicable to Awards held by such Participants.

 

(i)                                      Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including the guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance and regulations thereto.

 

(j)                                     Committee ” means a committee of two or more directors designated by the Board to administer the Plan; provided , however , that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more Qualified Members.

 

(k)                                  Dividend Equivalent ” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(g) , to receive cash, Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments.

 

(l)                                      Effective Date ” means February 7, 2018.

 

(m)                              Eligible Person ” means any individual who, as of the date of grant of an Award, is an officer or employee of the Company or of any of its Affiliates, and any other person who provides services to the Company or any of its Affiliates, including directors of the Company; provided , however , that, any such individual must be an “employee” of the Company or any of its parents or subsidiaries within the meaning of General Instruction A.1(a) to Form S-8 if such individual is granted an Award that may be settled in Stock.  An employee on leave of absence may be an Eligible Person.

 

(n)                                  Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including the guidance, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance, rules and regulations thereto.

 

(o)                                  Fair Market Value ” of a share of Stock means, as of any specified date, (i) if the Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Stock, as reported on the stock exchange composite tape on that date (or if no sales occur on such date, on the last preceding date on which such sales of the Stock are so reported); (ii) if the Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange but is traded over the counter on such date, the average between the reported high and low bid and asked prices of Stock on the most recent date on which Stock was publicly traded  on or preceding the specified date; or (iii) in the event Stock is not publicly traded at the time a determination of its value is required to be made under the Plan, the amount determined by the Committee in its discretion in such manner as it deems appropriate, taking into account all factors the Committee deems appropriate, including the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.  Notwithstanding this definition of Fair Market Value, with respect to one or more Award types, or for any other purpose for which the Committee must determine the Fair Market Value under the Plan, the Committee may elect to choose a different measurement date or methodology for determining Fair Market Value so long

 

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as the determination is consistent with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules and all other applicable laws and regulations.

 

(p)                                  ISO ” means an Option intended to be and designated as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(q)                                  Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules ” means the limitations or requirements of Section 409A of the Code, as amended from time to time, including the guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance and regulations thereto.

 

(r)                                     Nonstatutory Option ” means an Option that is not an ISO.

 

(s)                                    Option ” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(b) , to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods, which may either be an ISO or a Nonstatutory Option.

 

(t)                                     Other Stock-Based Award ” means an Award granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(h) .

 

(u)                                  Participant ” means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan that remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.

 

(v)                                  Performance Award ” means an award granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(k) , the grant, vesting, exercisability and/or settlement of which (and/or the timing or amount thereof) is subject to the achievement of one or more performance goals specified by the Committee.

 

(w)                                Qualified Member ” means a member of the Board who is (i) a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) and (ii) “independent” under the listing standards or rules of the securities exchange upon which the Stock is traded, but only to the extent such independence is required in order to take the action at issue pursuant to such standards or rules.

 

(x)                                  Restricted Stock ” means Stock granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(d)  that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.

 

(y)                                  Restricted Stock Unit ” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(e) , to receive Stock, cash or a combination thereof at the end of a specified period (which may or may not be coterminous with the vesting schedule of the Award).

 

(z)                                   Rule 16b-3 ” means Rule 16b-3, promulgated by the SEC under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

(aa)                           SAR ” means a stock appreciation right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(c) .

 

(bb)                           SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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(cc)                             Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, including the guidance, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and successor provisions, guidance, rules and regulations thereto.

 

(dd)                           Stock ” means the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and such other securities as may be substituted (or re-substituted) for Stock pursuant to Section 8 .

 

(ee)                             Stock Award ” means unrestricted shares of Stock granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(f) .

 

(ff)                               Substitute Award ” means an Award granted under Section 6(j) .

 

3.                                       Administration .

 

(a)                                  Authority of the Committee .  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee except to the extent the Board elects to administer the Plan, in which case references herein to the “Committee” shall be deemed to include references to the “Board.”  Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, Rule 16b-3 and other applicable laws, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to:

 

(i) designate Eligible Persons as Participants;

 

(ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to an Eligible Person;

 

(iii) determine the number of shares of Stock or amount of cash to be covered by Awards;

 

(iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award, including whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be vested, settled, exercised, cancelled or forfeited (including conditions based on continued employment or service requirements or the achievement of one or more performance goals);

 

(v) modify, waive or adjust any term or condition of an Award that has been granted, which may include the acceleration of vesting, waiver of forfeiture restrictions, modification of the form of settlement of the Award (for example, from cash to Stock or vice versa), early termination of a performance period, or modification of any other condition or limitation regarding an Award;

 

(vi) determine the treatment of an Award upon a termination of employment or other service relationship;

 

(vii) impose a holding period with respect to an Award or the shares of Stock received in connection with an Award;

 

(viii) interpret and administer the Plan and any Award Agreement;

 

(ix) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, in any Award, or in any Award Agreement; and

 

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(x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

 

The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee.  Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its Affiliates, stockholders, Participants, beneficiaries, and permitted transferees under Section 7(a)  or other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant.

 

(b)                                  Exercise of Committee Authority .  At any time that a member of the Committee is not a Qualified Member, any action of the Committee relating to an Award granted or to be granted to an Eligible Person who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company where such action is not taken by the full Board may be taken either (i) by a subcommittee, designated by the Committee, composed solely of two or more Qualified Members, or (ii) by the Committee but with each such member who is not a Qualified Member abstaining or recusing himself or herself from such action; provided , however , that upon such abstention or recusal, the Committee remains composed solely of two or more Qualified Members.  Such action, authorized by such a subcommittee or by the Committee upon the abstention or recusal of such non-Qualified Member(s), shall be the action of the Committee for purposes of the Plan.  For the avoidance of doubt, the full Board may take any action relating to an Award granted or to be granted to an Eligible Person who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company.

 

(c)                                   Delegation of Authority .  The Committee may delegate any or all of its powers and duties under the Plan to a subcommittee of directors or to any officer of the Company, including the power to perform administrative functions and grant Awards; provided , however , that such delegation does not (i) violate state or corporate law, (ii) result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) for Awards granted to Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company.  Upon any such delegation, all references in the Plan to the “Committee,” other than in Section 8 , shall be deemed to include any subcommittee or officer of the Company to whom such powers have been delegated by the Committee.  Any such delegation shall not limit the right of such subcommittee members or such an officer to receive Awards; provided , however , that such subcommittee members and any such officer may not grant Awards to himself or herself, a member of the Board, or any executive officer of the Company or an Affiliate, or take any action with respect to any Award previously granted to himself or herself, a member of the Board, or any executive officer of the Company or an Affiliate. The Committee may also appoint agents who are not executive officers of the Company or members of the Board to assist in administering the Plan, provided , however , that such individuals may not be delegated the authority to grant or modify any Awards that will, or may, be settled in Stock.

 

(d)                                  Limitation of Liability .  The Committee and each member thereof shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates, the Company’s legal counsel, independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan.  Members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee shall not be personally liable for any action

 

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or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be indemnified and held harmless by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.

 

(e)                                   Participants in Non-U.S. Jurisdictions . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, to comply with applicable laws in countries other than the United States in which the Company or any of its Affiliates operates or has employees, directors or other service providers from time to time, or to ensure that the Company complies with any applicable requirements of foreign securities exchanges, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (i) determine which of the Company’s Affiliates shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which Eligible Persons outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Eligible Persons outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws or listing requirements of any foreign exchange; (iv) establish sub-plans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable (any such sub-plans and/or modifications shall be attached to the Plan as appendices), provided , however , that no such sub-plans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitations contained in Section 4(a) ; and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is granted, that it deems advisable to comply with any applicable governmental regulatory exemptions or approval or listing requirements of any such foreign securities exchange.  For purposes of the Plan, all references to foreign laws, rules, regulations or taxes shall be references to the laws, rules, regulations and taxes of any applicable jurisdiction other than the United States or a political subdivision thereof.

 

4.                                       Stock Subject to Plan .

 

(a)                                  Number of Shares Available for Delivery .  Subject to adjustment in a manner consistent with Section 8 , 3,000,000 shares of Stock are reserved and available for delivery with respect to Awards, and such total shall be available for the issuance of shares upon the exercise of ISOs.

 

(b)                                  Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards .  Subject to Section 4(c) , no Award may be granted if the number of shares of Stock that may be delivered in connection with such Award exceeds the number of shares of Stock remaining available under the Plan minus the number of shares of Stock issuable in settlement of or relating to then-outstanding Awards.  The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or Substitute Awards) and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award.

 

(c)                                   Availability of Shares Not Delivered under Awards .  Shares of Stock subject to an Award under this Plan that expires or is cancelled, forfeited, exchanged, settled in cash or otherwise terminated without the actual delivery of shares (Awards of Restricted Stock shall not be considered “delivered shares” for this purpose), will again be available for Awards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the number of shares tendered or withheld in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an Award or taxes relating to an Award, (ii) shares that were subject to an Option or an SAR but were not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement or net exercise of such Option or SAR and (iii) shares repurchased on the open market with the

 

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proceeds of an Option’s exercise price, will not, in each case, be available for Awards.  If an Award may be settled only in cash, such Award need not be counted against any share limit under this Section 4 .

 

(d)                                  Stock Offered .  The shares of Stock to be delivered under the Plan shall be made available from (i) authorized but unissued shares of Stock, (ii) Stock held in the treasury of the Company, or (iii) previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by the Company, including shares purchased on the open market.

 

5.                                       Eligibility; Per Person Award Limitations .

 

(a)                                  Awards may be granted under the Plan only to Eligible Persons.

 

(b)                                  In each calendar year during any part of which the Plan is in effect, a non-employee member of the Board may not be granted Awards (i) relating to more than 100,000 shares of Stock, subject to adjustment in a manner consistent with any adjustment made pursuant to Section 8 , or (ii) if greater, Awards having a value (determined, if applicable, pursuant to ASC Topic 718) on the date of grant in excess of $1,500,000, in each case multiplied by the number of full or partial calendar years in any performance period established with respect to an Award, if applicable; provided , that, for the calendar year in which a non-employee member of the Board first commences service on the Board only, the foregoing limitations shall be doubled; provided , further that, the limits set forth in this Section 5(b)  shall be without regard to grants of Awards, if any, made to a non-employee member of the Board during any period in which such individual was an employee of the Company or of any of its Affiliates or was otherwise providing services to the Company or to any of its Affiliates other than in the capacity as a director of the Company.

 

6.                                       Specific Terms of Awards .

 

(a)                                  General .  Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6 .  Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with any other Award.  In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 10 ), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine.

 

(b)                                  Options .  The Committee is authorized to grant Options, which may be designated as either ISOs or Nonstatutory Options, to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)                                      Exercise Price .  Each Award Agreement evidencing an Option shall state the exercise price per share of Stock (the “ Exercise Price ”) established by the Committee; provided , however , that except as provided in Section 6(j)  or in Section 8 , the Exercise Price of an Option shall not be less than the greater of (A) the par value per share of the Stock or (B) 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock as of the date of grant of the Option (or in the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or any of its subsidiaries, 110% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock on the date of grant).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Exercise Price of a Nonstatutory Option may be less

 

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than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of Stock as of the date of grant of the Option if the Option (1) does not provide for a deferral of compensation by reason of satisfying the short-term deferral exception set forth in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules or (2) provides for a deferral of compensation and is compliant with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.

 

(ii)                                   Time and Method of Exercise; Other Terms .  The Committee shall determine the methods by which the Exercise Price may be paid or deemed to be paid, the form of such payment, including cash or cash equivalents, Stock (including previously owned shares or through a cashless exercise, i.e., “net settlement”, a broker-assisted exercise, or other reduction of the amount of shares otherwise issuable pursuant to the Option), other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or any Affiliate, other property, or any other legal consideration the Committee deems appropriate (including notes or other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis), the methods by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, including the delivery of Restricted Stock subject to Section 6(d) , and any other terms and conditions of any Option.  In the case of an exercise whereby the Exercise Price is paid with Stock, such Stock shall be valued based on the Stock’s Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise.  No Option may be exercisable for a period of more than ten years following the date of grant of the Option (or in the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or any of its subsidiaries, for a period of more than five years following the date of grant of the ISO).

 

(iii)                                ISOs .  The terms of any ISO granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code.  ISOs may only be granted to Eligible Persons who are employees of the Company or employees of a parent or any subsidiary corporation of the Company.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 8 , no term of the Plan relating to ISOs (including any SAR in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either the Plan or any ISO under Section 422 of the Code, unless the Participant has first requested the change that will result in such disqualification.  ISOs shall not be granted more than ten years after the earlier of the adoption of the Plan or the approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of Stock subject to an ISO and the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of stock of any parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) subject to any other incentive stock options of the Company or a parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) that are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, or such other amount as may be prescribed under Section 422 of the Code, such excess shall be treated as Nonstatutory Options in accordance with the Code.  As used in the previous sentence, Fair Market Value shall be determined as of the date the ISO is granted.  If a Participant shall make any disposition of shares of Stock issued pursuant to an ISO under the circumstances described in Section 421(b) of the Code (relating to disqualifying dispositions), the Participant shall notify the Company of such disposition within the time provided to do so in the applicable award agreement.

 

(c)                                   SARs .  The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

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(i)                                      Right to Payment .  An SAR is a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the Committee.

 

(ii)                                   Grant Price . Each Award Agreement evidencing an SAR shall state the grant price per share of Stock established by the Committee; provided , however , that except as provided in Section 6(j)  or in Section 8 , the grant price per share of Stock subject to an SAR shall not be less than the greater of (A) the par value per share of the Stock or (B) 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock as of the date of grant of the SAR.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the grant price of an SAR may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of Stock subject to an SAR as of the date of grant of the SAR if the SAR (1) does not provide for a deferral of compensation by reason of satisfying the short-term deferral exception set forth in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules or (2) provides for a deferral of compensation and is compliant with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.

 

(iii)                                Method of Exercise and Settlement; Other Terms . The Committee shall determine the form of consideration payable upon settlement, the method by or forms in which Stock (if any) will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR.  SARs may be either free-standing or granted in tandem with other Awards.  No SAR may be exercisable for a period of more than ten years following the date of grant of the SAR.

 

(iv)                               Rights Related to Options .  An SAR granted in connection with an Option shall entitle a Participant, upon exercise, to surrender that Option or any portion thereof, to the extent unexercised, and to receive payment of an amount determined by multiplying (A) the difference obtained by subtracting the Exercise Price with respect to a share of Stock specified in the related Option from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR, by (B) the number of shares as to which that SAR has been exercised.  The Option shall then cease to be exercisable to the extent surrendered.  SARs granted in connection with an Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Award Agreement governing the Option, which shall provide that the SAR is exercisable only at such time or times and only to the extent that the related Option is exercisable and shall not be transferable except to the extent that the related Option is transferrable.

 

(d)                                  Restricted Stock .  The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)                                      Restrictions .  Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose.  Except as provided in Section 7(a)(iii)  and Section 7(a)(iv) , during the restricted period applicable to the Restricted Stock, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hedged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.

 

(ii)                                   Dividends and Splits .  As a condition to the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee may allow a Participant to elect, or may require, that any cash dividends paid on a share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock, applied to the purchase of additional Awards or deferred without interest to the

 

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date of vesting of the associated Award of Restricted Stock.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and specified in the applicable Award Agreement, Stock distributed in connection with a Stock split or Stock dividend, and other property (other than cash) distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Stock or other property has been distributed.

 

(e)                                   Restricted Stock Units .  The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)                                      Award and Restrictions .  Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture) as the Committee may impose.

 

(ii)                                   Settlement .  Settlement of vested Restricted Stock Units shall occur upon vesting or upon expiration of the deferral period specified for such Restricted Stock Units by the Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Participant).  Restricted Stock Units shall be settled by delivery of (A) a number of shares of Stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units for which settlement is due, or (B) cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of shares of Stock equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units for which settlement is due, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter.

 

(f)                                    Stock Awards .  The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Awards to Eligible Persons as a bonus, as additional compensation, or in lieu of cash compensation any such Eligible Person is otherwise entitled to receive, in such amounts and subject to such other terms as the Committee in its discretion determines to be appropriate.

 

(g)                                   Dividend Equivalents .  The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to Eligible Persons, entitling any such Eligible Person to receive cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property equal in value to dividends or other distributions paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock.  Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award (other than an Award of Restricted Stock or a Stock Award).  The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or at a later specified date and, if distributed at a later date, may be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Stock, Awards, or other investment vehicles or accrued in a bookkeeping account without interest, and subject to such restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture, as the Committee may specify.  With respect to Dividend Equivalents granted in connection with another Award, absent a contrary provision in the Award Agreement, such Dividend Equivalents shall be subject to the same restrictions and risk of forfeiture as the Award with respect to which the dividends accrue and shall not be paid unless and until such Award has vested and been earned.

 

(h)                                  Other Stock-Based Awards .  The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Eligible Persons such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Stock, purchase rights for Stock, Awards with value and payment contingent upon

 

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performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Stock or the value of securities of, or the performance of, specified Affiliates of the Company.  The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Other Stock-Based Awards.  Stock delivered pursuant to an Other-Stock Based Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(h)  shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, as the Committee shall determine.

 

(i)                                      Cash Awards .  The Committee is authorized to grant Cash Awards, on a free-standing basis or as an element of, a supplement to, or in lieu of any other Award under the Plan to Eligible Persons in such amounts and subject to such other terms as the Committee in its discretion determines to be appropriate.

 

(j)                                     Substitute Awards; No Repricing .  Awards may be granted in substitution or exchange for any other Award granted under the Plan or under another plan of the Company or an Affiliate or any other right of an Eligible Person to receive payment from the Company or an Affiliate.  Awards may also be granted under the Plan in substitution for awards held by individuals who become Eligible Persons as a result of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of another entity or the assets of another entity by or with the Company or an Affiliate.  Such Substitute Awards referred to in the immediately preceding sentence that are Options or SARs may have an exercise price that is less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of the substitution if such substitution complies with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules and other applicable laws and exchange rules.  Except as provided in this Section 6(j)  or in Section 8 , without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to (i) reduce the Exercise Price or grant price of an outstanding Option or SAR, (ii) grant a new Option, SAR or other Award in substitution for, or upon the cancellation of, any previously granted Option or SAR that has the effect of reducing the Exercise Price or grant price thereof, (iii) exchange any Option or SAR for Stock, cash or other consideration when the Exercise Price or grant price per share of Stock under such Option or SAR exceeds the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock or (iv) take any other action that would be considered a “repricing” of an Option or SAR under the applicable listing standards of the national securities exchange on which the Stock is listed (if any).

 

(k)                                  Performance Awards . The Committee is authorized to designate any of the Awards granted under the foregoing provisions of this Section 6 as Performance Awards.  The Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance goals applicable to a Performance Award, and, unless provided otherwise within an Award Agreement, may exercise its discretion to reduce or increase the amounts payable under any Performance Award.  Performance goals may differ among Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants.  The performance period applicable to any Performance Award shall be set by the Committee in its discretion but shall not exceed ten years.

 

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7.                                       Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards .

 

(a)                                  Limit on Transfer of Awards .

 

(i)                                      Except as provided in Sections 7(a)(iii)  and (iv) , each Option and SAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or by the person to whom the Participant’s rights shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7(a) , an ISO shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

(ii)                                   Except as provided in Sections 7(a)(i) , (iii)  and (iv) , no Award, other than a Stock Award, and no right under any such Award, may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.

 

(iii)                                To the extent specifically provided by the Committee, an Award may be transferred by a Participant without consideration to immediate family members or related family trusts, limited partnerships or similar entities or on such terms and conditions as the Committee may from time to time establish.

 

(iv)                               An Award may be transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order entered or approved by a court of competent jurisdiction upon delivery to the Company of a written request for such transfer and a certified copy of such order.

 

(b)                                  Form and Timing of Payment under Awards; Deferrals .  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or any of its Affiliates upon the exercise or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine in its discretion, including cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis (which may be required by the Committee or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee); provided , however , that any such deferred or installment payments will be set forth in the Award Agreement.  Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents or other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Stock.

 

(c)                                   Evidencing Stock . The Stock or other securities of the Company delivered pursuant to an Award may be evidenced in any manner deemed appropriate by the Committee in its sole discretion, including in the form of a certificate issued in the name of the Participant or by book entry, electronic or otherwise, and shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which such Stock or other securities are then listed, and any applicable federal, state or other laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be inscribed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.  Further, if certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Company may retain physical possession of the certificates and may require that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, related to the Restricted Stock.

 

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(d)                                  Consideration for Grants . Awards may be granted for such consideration, including services, as the Committee shall determine, but shall not be granted for less than the minimum lawful consideration.

 

(e)                                   Additional Agreements .  Each Eligible Person to whom an Award is granted under the Plan may be required to agree in writing, as a condition to the grant of such Award or otherwise, to subject an Award that is exercised or settled following such Eligible Person’s termination of employment or service to a general release of claims and/or a noncompetition or other restricted covenant agreement in favor of the Company and its Affiliates, with the terms and conditions of such agreement(s) to be determined in good faith by the Committee.

 

8.                                       Subdivision or Consolidation; Recapitalization; Change in Control; Reorganization .

 

(a)                                  Existence of Plans and Awards .  The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company, the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.

 

(b)                                  Additional Issuances .  Except as expressly provided herein, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, including upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per share of Stock, if applicable.

 

(c)                                   Subdivision or Consolidation of Shares .  The terms of an Award and the share limitations under the Plan shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee from time to time, in accordance with the following provisions:

 

(i)                                      If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall subdivide as a whole (by reclassification, by a Stock split, by the issuance of a distribution on Stock payable in Stock, or otherwise) the number of shares of Stock then outstanding into a greater number of shares of Stock or in the event the Company distributes an extraordinary cash dividend, then, as appropriate (A) the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery with respect to Awards and applicable limitations with respect to Awards provided in Section 4 and Section 5 (other than cash limits) shall be increased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of shares of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be increased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the Exercise Price or grant price) for each share of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be reduced proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value

 

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as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions; provided , however , that in the case of an extraordinary cash dividend that is not an Adjustment Event (defined below), the adjustment to the number of shares of Stock and the Exercise Price or grant price, as applicable, with respect to an outstanding Option or SAR may be made in such other manner as the Committee may determine that is permitted pursuant to applicable tax and other laws, rules and regulations.

 

(ii)                                   If at any time, or from time to time, the Company shall consolidate as a whole (by reclassification, by reverse Stock split, or otherwise) the number of shares of Stock then outstanding into a lesser number of shares of Stock, then, as appropriate (A) the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery with respect to Awards and applicable limitations with respect to Awards provided in Section 4 and Section 5 (other than cash limits) shall be decreased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of shares of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be decreased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the Exercise Price or grant price) for each share of Stock (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be increased proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.

 

(d)                                  Recapitalization .  In the event of any change in the capital structure or business of the Company or other corporate transaction or event that would be considered an “equity restructuring” within the meaning of ASC Topic 718 and, in each case, that would result in an additional compensation expense to the Company pursuant to the provisions of ASC Topic 718, if adjustments to Awards with respect to such event were discretionary or otherwise not required (each such an event, an “ Adjustment Event ”), then the Committee shall equitably adjust (i) the aggregate number or kind of shares that thereafter may be delivered under the Plan, (ii) the number or kind of shares or other property (including cash) subject to an Award, (iii) the terms and conditions of Awards, including the purchase price or Exercise Price of Awards and performance goals, as applicable, and (iv) the applicable limitations with respect to Awards provided in Section 4 and Section 5 (other than cash limits) to equitably reflect such Adjustment Event (“ Equitable Adjustments ”).  In the event of any change in the capital structure or business of the Company or other corporate transaction or event that would not be considered an Adjustment Event, and is not otherwise addressed in this Section 8 , the Committee shall have complete discretion to make Equitable Adjustments (if any) in such manner as it deems appropriate with respect to such other event.

 

(e)                                   Change in Control and Other Events .  Except to the extent otherwise provided in any applicable Award Agreement, vesting of any Award shall not occur solely upon the occurrence of a Change in Control and, in the event of a Change in Control or other changes in the Company or the outstanding Stock by reason of a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange or other relevant change occurring after the date of the grant of any Award, the Committee, acting in its sole discretion without the consent or approval of any holder, may exercise any power enumerated in Section 3 (including the power to accelerate vesting, waive any forfeiture conditions or otherwise modify or adjust any other condition or limitation regarding an Award) and may also effect one or more of the following

 

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alternatives, which may vary among individual holders and which may vary among Awards held by any individual holder:

 

(i) accelerate the time of exercisability of an Award so that such Award may be exercised in full or in part for a limited period of time on or before a date specified by the Committee, after which specified date all unexercised Awards and all rights of holders thereunder shall terminate;

 

(ii) redeem in whole or in part outstanding Awards by requiring the mandatory surrender to the Company by selected holders of some or all of the outstanding Awards held by such holders (irrespective of whether such Awards are then vested or exercisable) as of a date, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Awards and pay to each holder an amount of cash or other consideration per Award (other than a Dividend Equivalent or Cash Award, which the Committee may separately require to be surrendered in exchange for cash or other consideration determined by the Committee in its discretion) equal to the Change in Control Price, less the Exercise Price with respect to an Option and less the grant price with respect to a SAR, as applicable to such Awards; provided , however , that to the extent the Exercise Price of an Option or the grant price of an SAR exceeds the Change in Control Price, such Award may be cancelled for no consideration;

 

(iii) cancel Awards that remain subject to a restricted period as of the date of a Change in Control or other such event without payment of any consideration to the Participant for such Awards; or

 

(iv) make such adjustments to Awards then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change in Control or other such event (including the substitution, assumption, or continuation of Awards by the successor company or a parent or subsidiary thereof);

 

provided , however , that so long as the event is not an Adjustment Event, the Committee may determine in its sole discretion that no adjustment is necessary to Awards then outstanding.  If an Adjustment Event occurs, this Section 8(e)  shall only apply to the extent it is not in conflict with Section 8(d) .

 

9.                                       General Provisions .

 

(a)                                  Tax Withholding .  The Company and any of its Affiliates are authorized to withhold from any Award granted, or any payment relating to an Award, including from a distribution of Stock, taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company, its Affiliates and Participants to satisfy the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award in such amounts as may be determined by the Committee.  The Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, the form of payment acceptable for such tax withholding obligations, including the delivery of cash or cash equivalents, Stock (including previously owned shares, net settlement, a broker-assisted sale, or other cashless withholding or reduction of the amount of shares otherwise issuable or delivered

 

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pursuant to the Award), other property, or any other legal consideration the Committee deems appropriate.  Any determination made by the Committee to allow a Participant who is subject to Rule 16b-3 to pay taxes with shares of Stock through net settlement or previously owned shares shall be approved by either a committee made up of solely two or more Qualified Members or the full Board.  If such tax withholding amounts are satisfied through net settlement or previously owned shares, the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be so withheld or surrendered shall be the number of shares of Stock that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or surrender equal to the aggregate amount of such tax liabilities determined based on the greatest withholding rates for federal, state, foreign and/or local tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that may be utilized without creating adverse accounting treatment for the Company with respect to such Award, as determined by the Committee.

 

(b)                                  Limitation on Rights Conferred under Plan .  Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Affiliates to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s employment or service relationship at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and/or employees and/or other service providers, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until the Participant is duly issued or transferred shares of Stock in accordance with the terms of an Award.

 

(c)                                   Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction .  All questions arising with respect to the provisions of the Plan and Awards shall be determined by application of the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflict of law provisions thereof, except to the extent Delaware law is preempted by federal law.  The obligation of the Company to sell and deliver Stock hereunder is subject to applicable federal and state laws and to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale, or delivery of such Stock.  With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under the Plan, the Company and each Participant who accepts an Award hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts located in Delaware.

 

(d)                                  Severability and Reformation .  If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable law or, if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect. If any of the terms or provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (as those terms or provisions are applied to Eligible Persons who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act) or Section 422 of the Code (with respect to ISOs), then those conflicting terms or provisions shall be deemed inoperative to the extent they so conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (unless the Board or the Committee, as appropriate, has expressly determined that the Plan or such Award should not comply with Rule 16b-3) or Section 422 of the Code, in each case, only to the extent Rule

 

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16b-3 and such sections of the Code are applicable.  With respect to ISOs, if the Plan does not contain any provision required to be included herein under Section 422 of the Code, that provision shall be deemed to be incorporated herein with the same force and effect as if that provision had been set out at length herein; provided , further, that, to the extent any Option that is intended to qualify as an ISO cannot so qualify, that Option (to that extent) shall be deemed a Nonstatutory Option for all purposes of the Plan.

 

(e)                                   Unfunded Status of Awards; No Trust or Fund Created .  The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for certain incentive awards. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other person.  To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Company or such Affiliate.

 

(f)                                    Nonexclusivity of the Plan .  Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to prevent the Company or any of its Affiliates from taking any corporate action which is deemed by the Company or such Affiliate to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on the Plan or any Award made under the Plan. No employee, beneficiary or other person shall have any claim against the Company or any of its Affiliates as a result of any such action.

 

(g)                                   Fractional Shares .  No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional shares of Stock or whether such fractional shares of Stock or any rights thereto shall be cancelled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated with or without consideration.

 

(h)                                  Interpretation .  Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference.  Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof. Words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, and, where appropriate, the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural. In the event of any conflict between the terms and conditions of an Award Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. The use herein of the word “including” following any general statement, term or matter shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation”, “but not limited to”, or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter.  References herein to any agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and not prohibited by the Plan.

 

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(i)                                      Facility of Payment .  Any amounts payable hereunder to any individual under legal disability or who, in the judgment of the Committee, is unable to manage properly his financial affairs, may be paid to the legal representative of such individual, or may be applied for the benefit of such individual in any manner that the Committee may select, and the Company shall be relieved of any further liability for payment of such amounts.

 

(j)                                     Conditions to Delivery of Stock .  Nothing herein or in any Award Agreement shall require the Company to issue any shares with respect to any Award if that issuance would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, constitute a violation of the Securities Act, any other applicable statute or regulation, or the rules of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect.  In addition, each Participant who receives an Award under the Plan shall not sell or otherwise dispose of Stock that is acquired upon grant, exercise or vesting of an Award in any manner that would constitute a violation of any applicable federal or state securities laws, the Plan or the rules, regulations or other requirements of the SEC or any stock exchange upon which the Stock is then listed.  At the time of any exercise of an Option or SAR, or at the time of any grant of any other Award, the Company may, as a condition precedent to the exercise of such Option or SAR or settlement of any other Award, require from the Participant (or in the event of his or her death, his or her legal representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) such written representations, if any, concerning the holder’s intentions with regard to the retention or disposition of the shares of Stock being acquired pursuant to the Award and such written covenants and agreements, if any, as to the manner of disposal of such shares as, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, may be necessary to ensure that any disposition by that holder (or in the event of the holder’s death, his or her legal representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) will not involve a violation of the Securities Act, any other applicable state or federal statute or regulation, or any rule of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect.  Stock or other securities shall not be delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement (including any Exercise Price, grant price, or tax withholding) is received by the Company.

 

(k)                                  Section 409A of the Code .  It is the general intention, but not the obligation, of the Committee to design Awards to comply with or to be exempt from the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules, and Awards will be operated and construed accordingly. Neither this Section 9(k)  nor any other provision of the Plan is or contains a representation to any Participant regarding the tax consequences of the grant, vesting, exercise, settlement, or sale of any Award (or the Stock underlying such Award) granted hereunder, and should not be interpreted as such.  In no event shall the Company be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by the Participant on account of non-compliance with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.  Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event that a “specified employee” (as defined under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules) becomes entitled to a payment under an Award that would be subject to additional taxes and interest under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules if the Participant’s receipt of such payment or benefits is not delayed until the earlier of (i) the date of the Participant’s death, or (ii) the date that is six months after the Participant’s “separation from service,” as defined under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules (such date, the “ Section 409A Payment Date ”), then such payment or benefit shall not be provided to the Participant until the Section 409A Payment

 

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Date.  Any amounts subject to the preceding sentence that would otherwise be payable prior to the Section 409A Payment Date will be aggregated and paid in a lump sum without interest on the Section 409A Payment Date.  The applicable provisions of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules are hereby incorporated by reference and shall control over any Plan or Award Agreement provision in conflict therewith.

 

(l)                                      Clawback .  The Plan and all Awards granted hereunder are subject to any written clawback policies that the Company, with the approval of the Board or an authorized committee thereof, may adopt either prior to or following the Effective Date, including any policy adopted to conform to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and rules promulgated thereunder by the SEC and that the Company determines should apply to Awards.  Any such policy may subject a Participant’s Awards and amounts paid or realized with respect to Awards to reduction, cancelation, forfeiture or recoupment if certain specified events or wrongful conduct occur, including an accounting restatement due to the Company’s material noncompliance with financial reporting regulations or other events or wrongful conduct specified in any such clawback policy.

 

(m)                              Status under ERISA .  The Plan shall not constitute an “employee benefit plan” for purposes of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

(n)                                  Plan Effective Date and Term .  The Plan was adopted by the Board to be effective on the Effective Date. No Awards may be granted under the Plan on and after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, which is February 7, 2028. However, any Award granted prior to such termination (or any earlier termination pursuant to Section 10 ), and the authority of the Board or Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan, shall extend beyond such termination until the final disposition of such Award.

 

10.                                Amendments to the Plan and Awards.  The Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award or Award Agreement, the Plan or the Committee’s authority to grant Awards without the consent of stockholders or Participants, except that any amendment or alteration to the Plan, including any increase in any share limitation, shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders not later than the annual meeting next following such Committee action if such stockholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock may then be listed or quoted, and the Committee may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other changes to the Plan to stockholders for approval; provided , that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Committee action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award.  For purposes of clarity, any adjustments made to Awards pursuant to Section 8 will be deemed not to materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award and therefore may be made without the consent of affected Participants.

 

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