As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2017

No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

LINN ENERGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   81-5366183

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

600 Travis Street

Houston, Texas, 77002

(281) 840-4000

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

 

 

Linn Energy, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan

(Full title of the plan)

Candice J. Wells

Linn Energy, Inc.

600 Travis Street

Houston, Texas 77002

(Name and address of agent for service)

(281) 840-4000

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:

Matthew R. Pacey

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

600 Travis Street, Suite 3300

Houston, TX 77002

(713) 835-3786

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer   
Non-accelerated filer   ☐  (Do not check if smaller reporting company)    Smaller Reporting Company   

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Securities

to be Registered

 

Amount

to be

Registered (2)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

Per Share (4)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price (4)

  Amount of
Registration Fee

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (1)

  9,914,432 (3)   $13.50   $133,844,888.90   $15,512.62

 

 

(1) Represents shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”) of Linn Energy, Inc. (the “Registrant”) reserved for issuance under the Linn Energy, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).
(2) Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without receipt of consideration that increases the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant’s Class A Common Stock.
(3) Represents (i) 6,444,381 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan, plus (ii) an additional 3,470,051 shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan solely in connection with the conversion of Class B Units or Class A-2 Units (as each is defined in the Plan), as applicable, into shares Class A Common Stock, pursuant to the terms and conditions of Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Linn Energy Holdco LLC (the “LLC Agreement”) and the Conversion Procedures (as defined in the LLC Agreement).
(4) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act and based on the value attributed to the Class A Common Stock in connection with Linn Energy, Inc.’s emergence from bankruptcy pursuant to the Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Linn Energy, LLC and its Debtor Affiliates Other Than Linn Acquisition Company, LLC and Berry Petroleum Company, LLC.

 

 

 


INTRODUCTION

On May 11, 2016, Linn Energy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Linn LLC”), certain of Linn LLC’s direct and indirect subsidiaries, and LinnCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (collectively with the Company and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, the “LINN Debtors”), filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (“Bankruptcy Court”).

On January 27, 2017, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order (the “Confirmation Order”), which approved and confirmed the Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Linn Energy, LLC and its Debtor Affiliates Other Than Linn Acquisition Company, LLC and Berry Petroleum Company, LLC (the “Plan of Reorganization”).

On February 28, 2017 (the “Effective Date”), the Plan of Reorganization became effective and the LINN Debtors emerged from their Chapter 11 cases. As part of the transactions undertaken pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization, Linn LLC’s equity was cancelled and Linn LLC transferred all of its assets and operations to Linn Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or the “Registrant”). As a result, the Company became the successor reporting company to Linn LLC.

Unless otherwise noted or suggested by context, all financial information and data and accompanying financial statements and corresponding notes, as of and prior to the Effective Date, as incorporated by reference herein, reflect the actual historical consolidated results of operations and financial condition of Linn LLC for the periods presented and do not give effect to the Plan of Reorganization or any of the transactions contemplated thereby. Accordingly, such financial information may not be representative of the Company’s performance or financial condition after the Effective Date. Except with respect to such historical financial information and data or as otherwise noted or suggested by context, all other information contained herein relates to the Company following the Effective Date.

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (“Registration Statement”) is being filed by the Registrant, for the purpose of registering 9,914,432 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), for issuance under the terms of the Linn Energy, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The shares of Class A Common Stock being registered pursuant to this Registration Statement have been reserved and authorized for issuance from the Company’s authorized and unissued capital stock.

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The Company will send or give to all participants in the Plan document(s) containing the information required by Part I of Form S-8, as specified in Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Pursuant to Rule 428, the Registrant has not filed such document(s) with the Commission, but such documents (along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof) shall constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

Except to the extent that information is deemed furnished and not filed pursuant to securities laws and regulations, the Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents, which have been filed by the Registrant with the Commission:

 

  a) The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed on March 15, 2016, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed on April 20, 2016;

 

  b) The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, filed on May 12, 2016;

 

  c) The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, filed on August 4, 2016;

 

  d) The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, filed on November 3, 2016; and

 

  e) The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 4, 2016, March 22, 2016, April 5, 2016, April 15, 2016, April 28, 2016, May 11, 2016, May 16, 2016, July 18, 2016, August 2, 2016, September 9, 2016, September 26, 2016, October 11, 2016, October 18, 2016, October 27, 2016 and January 31, 2017.

Except to the extent that information is deemed furnished and not filed pursuant to securities laws and regulations, all documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and all reports on Form 8-K subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall also be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the dates of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

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Item 4. Description of Securities.

Authorized Capitalization

The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) provides that the Company is authorized to issue 300,000,000 shares of capital stock, divided into two classes consisting of (a) 270,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and (b) 30,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

Class A Common Stock

Voting Rights

Each holder of Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election or removal of directors. However, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“JPMS”) and its Affiliates (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), collectively, are not entitled to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company representing, in the aggregate, greater than 4.99% of the total combined voting power of any class of equity securities of the Company entitled to vote on any matter (any shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities held by JPMS and its Affiliates, collectively, in excess of such 4.99% limitation, the “Excess Voting Stock”). Shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities that constitute Excess Voting Stock, for so long as they constitute Excess Voting Stock, are not entitled to vote in any election of directors or any other matter with respect to which stockholders of the Company are entitled to vote.

The Certificate of Incorporation provides that there will be seven authorized directorships that comprise the Whole Board (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) and no director may be removed, with or without cause, without the affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company. After the first election, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors that comprise the Whole Board will be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) as provided in the bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”).

The Bylaws provide that all elections of directors of the Company will be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and except as otherwise required by law or the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Company’s securities are listed or as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation, all other matters will be determined by a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively, on such matter.

Liquidation

Except as otherwise required by the Bylaws or Certificate of Incorporation, the Class A Common Stock will have all rights and privileges typically associated with such securities as set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”) in relation to rights upon liquidation.

Preferred Stock

Under the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of authorized shares of 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 of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, without a vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any preferred stock designation.

The Board is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the state of Delaware, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.

 

3


Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Delaware Law, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws

The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws contain provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the Board and that could make it more difficult to acquire control of the Company by means of a tender offer, open market purchases, a proxy contest or otherwise. The Company expects that these provisions, which are summarized below, will discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions also are designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of the Company to first negotiate with the Board, which the Company believes may result in an improvement of the terms of any such acquisition in favor of the Company’s stockholders. However, they also give the Board the power to discourage acquisitions that some stockholders may favor. A description of these provisions is set forth below.

Business Combinations

The Company has opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL.

Special Meetings of Stockholders

The Bylaws provide that, except as otherwise required by applicable law or provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the stockholders, other than those required by statute, may be called at any time pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board, or upon the written request to the Secretary by one or more stockholders holding, in the aggregate, at least a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of the Company.

No Cumulative Voting

The Certificate of Incorporation provides that there will be no cumulative voting by stockholders in the election of directors.

Advance Notice Procedure

The Bylaws state that if notice is provided for a stockholders meeting other than an annual meeting, it will in addition state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, and the business transacted at such meeting will be limited to the matters so stated in the Company’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto).

Authorized but Unissued Shares

Under Delaware law, the Company’s authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval. The Company may use these additional shares for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Corporate Opportunities

Delaware law permits corporations to adopt provisions renouncing any interest or expectancy in certain opportunities that are presented to the Company or its officers, directors or stockholders. The Certificate of Incorporation, to the fullest extent permitted by law, renounces and waives any interest or expectancy of the Company and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, directly or indirectly, any potential transactions, matters or business opportunities (including, without limitation, any business activities or lines of business that are the same as or similar to those pursued by, or competitive with, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any dealings with customers or clients of the Company or any of its subsidiaries) that are from time to time presented to any Dual Role Person (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), even if the transaction, matter or 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 such person will be liable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person pursues, acquires or participates in such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

4


Without limiting the foregoing renunciation, the Company acknowledges that certain of the stockholders are in the business of making investments in, and have investments in, other businesses similar to and that may compete with the Company’s businesses (“Competing Businesses”), and agrees that each such stockholder has the right to make additional investments in or have relationships with other Competing Businesses independent of its investment in the Company.

Limitation on Liability of Directors and Officers

The Certificate of Incorporation limits liability of directors to the fullest extent that the DGCL or any other law of the state of Delaware, as the same exists or may be amended, permits the limitation or elimination of the liability of directors and provides that no person who is or was a director of the Company will be personally liable to the Company or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

In addition, with certain exceptions, the Certificate of Incorporation requires that the Company indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law and that the Company pay such expenses in advance. The Company may also maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. The Company believes that these indemnifications provisions and insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in the Certificate of Incorporation may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such action, if successful, might otherwise benefit the Company and its stockholders.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for the Class A Common Stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

The foregoing descriptions of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, respectively, which are filed as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the DGCL permits corporations to indemnify directors and officers. The statute generally requires that to obtain indemnification the director or officer must have acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and, additionally, in criminal proceedings, that the officer or director had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In any proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification may be provided if the director or officer is adjudged liable to the corporation (unless ordered by the court). Indemnification against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by a director or officer is required to the extent that such director or officer is successful on the merits in the defense of the proceeding.

The Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Company will indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was one of the Company’s directors or officers or is or was serving at the Company’s request as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The Certificate of Incorporation further provides for the advancement of expenses to each of its officers and directors.

 

5


The Certificate of Incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, the Company’s directors shall not be personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Under Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty can be limited or eliminated except (1) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (2) for any act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (3) under Section 174 of the DGCL (relating to unlawful payment of dividend or unlawful stock purchase or redemption); or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

The Company also maintains a general liability insurance policy which covers certain liabilities of directors and officers of the Company arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the DGCL or the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.

The Company has also entered into indemnity agreements with each of its directors and executive officers. The indemnity agreements require the Company to (a) indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to the Company and (b) advance expenses reasonably incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. Each indemnity agreement is in substantially the form included herein as Exhibit 10.4 to this Registration Statement. The description of the indemnity agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of indemnity agreement, which is incorporated by reference herein.

The Plan provides that the committee of the Board that administers the Plan and all members thereof are entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any opinion or computation furnished to them by any legal counsel, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, members and former members of the committee and any officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries acting at the direction or on behalf of the committee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan.

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits.

Unless otherwise indicated below as being incorporated by reference to another filing of the Company with the Commission, each of the following exhibits is filed herewith:

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Linn Energy, Inc.
  3.2    Bylaws of Linn Energy, Inc.
  5.1    Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP as to the legality of the securities being registered
10.1    Linn Energy, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan
10.2    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (for executive officers with employment agreements)
10.3    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (for employees)
10.4    Form of Indemnity Agreement between Linn Energy, Inc. and the directors and officers of Linn Energy, Inc.

 

6


23.1    Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2    Consent of KPMG LLP
23.3    Consent of DeGolyer and MacNaughton
24.1    Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement)

 

Item 9. Undertakings.

 

  (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

 

  (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and

 

  (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

provided , however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.

 

  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

  (b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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  (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless, in the opinion of its counsel, the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

8


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Houston, state of Texas on February 28, 2017.

 

LINN ENERGY, INC.

By:  

/s/ Candice J. Wells

  Name: Candice J. Wells
  Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Candice J. Wells as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments or post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, or any Registration Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with exhibits hereto and other documents in connection therewith or in connection with the registration of the securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary in connection with such matters and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact and agent may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

/s/ Mark E. Ellis    

    Mark E. Ellis

 

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  February 28, 2017

/s/ David B. Rottino    

    David B. Rottino

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and

Director (Principal Financial Officer)

  February 28, 2017

/s/ Darren R. Schluter    

    Darren R. Schluter

 

Vice President and Controller

(Principal Accounting Officer)

  February 28, 2017

/s/ Evan Lederman    

    Evan Lederman

  Director   February 28, 2017

/s/ Matthew Bonanno    

    Matthew Bonanno

  Director   February 28, 2017

 

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/s/ Kevin Mahony    

    Kevin Mahony

  Director   February 28, 2017

/s/ Andrew Taylor    

    Andrew Taylor

  Director   February 28, 2017

/s/ Philip Brown    

    Philip Brown

  Director   February 28, 2017

 

10


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Linn Energy, Inc.
  3.2    Bylaws of Linn Energy, Inc.
  5.1    Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP as to the legality of the securities being registered
10.1    Linn Energy, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan
10.2    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (for executive officers with employment agreements)
10.3    Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (for employees)
10.4    Form of Indemnity Agreement between Linn Energy, Inc. and the directors and officers of Linn Energy, Inc.
23.1    Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2    Consent of KPMG LLP
23.3    Consent of DeGolyer and MacNaughton
24.1    Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement)

 

11

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

LINN ENERGY, INC.

It is hereby certified that:

1.    The name of the corporation is Linn Energy, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

2.    The date of filing of its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware was February 14, 2017.

3.    On May 11, 2016, the Corporation and certain of its debtor affiliates filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Victoria Division (the “ Bankruptcy Court ”). On December 12, 2016, the Corporation and certain of its debtor affiliates filed that certain Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Linn Energy, LLC and its Debtor Affiliates Other Than Linn Acquisition Company, LLC and Berry Petroleum Company, LLC (as amended and/or supplemented from time to time, the “ Plan ”), which was confirmed on January 27, 2017 by order of the Bankruptcy Court (the “ Order ”). The Plan, as confirmed by the Order, provides for the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation to be amended and restated, in its entirety, to read as set forth in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

4.    This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 241 and 303 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”), pursuant to the authority granted to the Corporation under Section 303 of the DGCL to put into effect and carry out the Plan, as confirmed by the Order.

5.    This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly executed and acknowledged by an officer of the Corporation designated by the Order in accordance with the provisions of Sections 241 and 303 of the DGCL.

6.    The effective date of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be the date it is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

7.    The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as currently in effect, is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the corporation is Linn Energy, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).


ARTICLE II

REGISTERED OFFICE

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is Delaware Corporation Organizers, Inc., 1201 North Market Street, 18th Floor, P.O. Box 1347, Wilmington, County of New Castle, DE 19801. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at that address is Delaware Corporation Organizers, Inc.

ARTICLE III

CORPORATE PURPOSE

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the DGCL.

ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL STOCK

(1)     Authorized Capital Stock . The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is three hundred million (300,000,000) shares, consisting of two hundred seventy million (270,000,000) shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), and thirty million (30,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”).

(2)     Common Stock . The powers, preferences, and rights and the qualifications, limitations, and restrictions of the Common Stock are as follows:

(a)     Voting Rights . Except as otherwise required by the DGCL or as provided by or pursuant to the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (this “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder (excluding any shares that constitute Excess Voting Stock (as defined below)). The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights.

(b)     Stock Splits and Reclassifications . The shares of Common Stock shall not be subdivided, consolidated, reclassified, or otherwise changed, unless contemporaneously therewith the Class A Units of Linn Energy Holdco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company that is a direct subsidiary of the Corporation (“ Linn Subsidiary LLC ”), are subdivided, consolidated, reclassified, or otherwise changed in the same proportion and in the same manner.

(c)     Exchange . The holders of Class B Units and/or Class A-2 Units of Linn Subsidiary LLC (respectively, the “ Class  B Units ” and the “ Class  A-2 Units ”) shall, to the extent provided in the Linn Subsidiary LLC Agreement (as defined below) and in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof, have the right to convert such Class B Units and/or Class A-2 Units into that number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock as determined pursuant to the Linn Subsidiary LLC Agreement. The


Corporation shall at all times when any Class B Units or Class A-2 Units shall be outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock such number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Class B Units and Class A-2 Units in accordance with the terms of the Linn Subsidiary LLC Agreement. If at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding Class B Units and Class A-2 Units, the Corporation will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock to such number as shall be sufficient for such purpose. As used herein, “ Linn Subsidiary LLC Agreement ” means that certain Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Linn Subsidiary LLC, dated as of February 28, 2017, by and among the Corporation and the other members of Linn Subsidiary LLC (as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof).

(3)     Preferred Stock .

(a)    The Board of Directors (as defined below) is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (such certificate being hereinafter referred to as a “ Preferred Stock Designation ”), to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The number of authorized shares of 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 of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, without a vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation.

(b)    There shall be no limitation or restriction on any variation between any of the different series of Preferred Stock as to the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof; and the several series of Preferred Stock may, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Article, vary in any and all respects as fixed and determined by the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, providing for the issuance of the various series; provided , however , that all shares of any one series of Preferred Stock shall have the same designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions.

(4)     Limitation on Voting . Notwithstanding anything contained in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“ JPMS ”) and its Affiliates (as defined below), collectively, shall not be entitled to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Corporation representing, in the aggregate, greater than 4.99% of the total combined voting power of any class of equity securities of the Corporation entitled to vote on any matter (any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities held by


JPMS and its Affiliates, collectively, in excess of such 4.99% limitation, the “ Excess Voting Stock ”). For the avoidance of doubt, if JPMS or any of its Affiliates shall transfer any Excess Voting Stock to any other person that is not an Affiliate of JPMS, the limitation set forth in this paragraph shall no longer apply to such Excess Voting Stock. Excess Voting Stock may only be transferred by JPMS or any of its Affiliates: (a) among or between JPMS and its Affiliates; (b) in a widespread public distribution; (c) in transfers in which no transferee (or group of associated transferees) would receive from JPMS and its Affiliates in such sale or transfer two percent (2%) or more of any class of voting securities of the Corporation, which for the avoidance of doubt, does not include the amount of securities already owned by such transferee (together with its Affiliates or group of associated transferees) prior to such transfer; (d) to an underwriter for the purpose of conducting a widespread public distribution of the voting securities of the Corporation; (e) to the Corporation; or (f) to a transferee that would control more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities of the Corporation without any transfer of Excess Voting Stock from JPMS or its Affiliates. Shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that constitute Excess Voting Stock, for so long as they constitute Excess Voting Stock, shall not be entitled to vote in any election of directors or any other matter with respect to which stockholders of the Corporation are entitled to vote.

(5)     Non-voting Equity Securities . The Corporation shall not issue any non-voting equity securities to the extent prohibited by Section 1123(a)(6) of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “ Bankruptcy Code ”) as in effect on the date of filing of this Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; provided , however , that the foregoing restriction (i) shall have such force and effect only for so long as Section 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code is in effect and applicable to the Corporation, (ii) shall not have any further force or effect beyond that required under Section 1123(a)(6), and (iii) may be amended or eliminated in accordance with applicable law as from time to time may be in effect.

(6)     Preemptive Rights; Certain Definitions .

(a)    The Corporation hereby grants to each stockholder that beneficially owns (including all shares beneficially owned by such stockholder’s Affiliates (as defined below)) at least 2.0% of the total shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on the record date determined by the Board of Directors (each such stockholder, a “ Preemptive Rightsholder ”), which record date shall not be more than ten (10) Business Days (as defined below) prior to the Corporation’s delivery of the Issuance Notice (as defined below), the right to purchase up to its pro rata portion (based on the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such stockholder as of the close of business on the record date, as a percentage of the total number of then-outstanding shares of Common Stock) of any New Equity Securities (as defined below) that the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries proposes to sell or issue at any time and from time to time after the date hereof. The rights of Preemptive Rightsholders to purchase New Equity Securities pursuant to this Section  6 of Article IV (the “ Equity Purchase Right ”) shall apply at the time of issuance of any right, warrant, or option or convertible or exchangeable security that constitutes a New Equity Security, and not to the subsequent conversion, exchange or exercise of such New Equity Security in accordance with its terms.


(b)    As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(i)    “ Affiliate ” means with respect to any person, any other person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such person as of the date on which, or at any time during the period for which, the determination of affiliation is being made (including any investment fund the primary investment manager or investment advisor to which is such person or its Affiliate). For purposes of this definition, (a) the term “ control ” (including the correlative meanings of the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise and (b) the term “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated association or other entity.

(ii)    “ Arm’s Length Terms ” shall mean, with respect to any agreement or transaction, that the terms thereof are at least as favorable to the Corporation (or any subsidiary) as could reasonably be obtained from an independent third party (including with respect to prevailing market terms and pricing provisions).

(iii)     “ beneficially own ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(iv)    “ Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or day on which commercial banks in the State of Texas or the State of New York are authorized or required by law to close for business.

(v)    “ New Equity Securities ” means any and all (i) shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Corporation, (ii) equity securities of any subsidiary of the Corporation, (iii) securities exchangeable into, or convertible or exercisable for, shares of securities of the type specified in clause (i) and (ii), and (iv) options, warrants or other rights to acquire securities of the type specified in clause (i) and (ii), in each case other than as issued (A) to employees, officers, directors or consultants pursuant to any equity-based compensation or incentive plans approved by the Board of Directors or included in the Corporation’s plan of reorganization confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Victoria Division, and securities issued upon exercise or conversion of such options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights, (B) in connection with a stock split, payment of dividends or any similar recapitalization, reclassification, distribution, exchange or readjustment of shares approved by the Board of Directors, (C) as consideration in any business combination, consolidation, merger or acquisition transaction or joint venture involving the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, (D) as a bona fide equity kicker to one or more persons to whom the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries is becoming indebted in connection with the incurrence of such indebtedness approved by the Board of Directors so long as none of such persons are Affiliates of the Corporation or of any stockholder that beneficially owns (including all shares beneficially owned by such stockholder’s Affiliates) at least


5.0% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and such indebtedness is on Arm’s Length Terms, and (E) to the Corporation or a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation.

(c)    The Corporation shall give the Preemptive Rightsholders written notice of any proposed issuance or sale of New Equity Securities that is subject to the Equity Purchase Right, at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the proposed issuance or sale. Such notice (an “ Issuance Notice ”) shall set forth the material terms and conditions of the proposed transaction, including the proposed manner of issuance or sale, a description of the New Equity Securities, the total number of New Equity Securities proposed to be issued or sold, the proposed issuance or sale date, the proposed purchase price per share, including a reasonable description of any non-cash consideration, and (if known) the name and address of the proposed purchaser of the New Equity Securities.

(d)    At any time during the ten (10) Business Days following receipt of an Issuance Notice, each Preemptive Rightsholder shall have the right, but not the obligation, to irrevocably elect, by written notice to the Corporation, to purchase its pro rata portion of the New Equity Securities at the purchase price set forth in the Issuance Notice and upon the other terms and conditions specified in the Issuance Notice (except that to the extent the purchase price includes non-cash consideration, a Preemptive Rightsholder shall pay the cash equivalent thereof as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors and specified in the Issuance Notice); provided, however, that no Preemptive Rightsholder shall be obligated (or permitted without the Corporation’s consent) to purchase any New Equity Securities pursuant to this Section  6 of Article IV unless all required regulatory approvals, if any, applicable to such purchase have been obtained. Except as provided in the next sentence, the purchase of New Equity Securities by electing Preemptive Rightsholders shall be consummated concurrently with the consummation of the issuance or sale described in the Issuance Notice. The closing of the purchase of New Equity Securities by any electing Preemptive Rightsholder may be extended beyond the closing of the transaction described in the Issuance Notice, to the extent necessary to (i) obtain required approvals of governmental authorities and other required approvals which such Preemptive Rightsholder shall be diligently pursuing in good faith (and the Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any approvals required to be obtained by it) and (ii) permit the Preemptive Rightsholder to complete its internal capital call process following receipt of the Issuance Notice; provided further, however, that the approval of the Board of Directors shall be required to extend any such closing beyond the date that is thirty (30) days after delivery of the applicable Issuance Notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event that the closing of any purchase of New Equity Securities by any Preemptive Rightsholder is extended pursuant to this paragraph, such extension shall not preclude the consummation of the issuance or sale of the remaining New Equity Securities described in the Issuance Notice from occurring prior to such closing.

(e)    To the extent that one or more Preemptive Rightsholders do not fully and timely exercise their Equity Purchase Rights, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Section  6 of Article IV , with respect to all of the New Equity Securities described in the applicable Issuance Notice, the Corporation (or its applicable subsidiary)


shall be free to consummate the proposed issuance or sale of all or any portion of the remaining New Equity Securities, on terms no less favorable to the Corporation than those set forth in the Issuance Notice; provided , that (i) such issuance or sale is closed within ninety (90) days after the date the related Issuance Notice was given, and (ii) the price at which the New Equity Securities are transferred must be equal to or higher than the purchase price described in the Issuance Notice. In the event that the Corporation (or its applicable subsidiary) has not sold such New Equity Securities within such 90-day period, the Corporation (or its applicable subsidiary) shall not thereafter issue or sell any New Equity Securities without first again offering such securities to the Stockholders entitled to preemptive rights in the manner provided in this Section  6 of Article IV .

(f)    The rights and obligations set forth in this Section  6 of Article IV shall automatically terminate upon, and shall cease to have any force or effect following, the earlier of (i) the date the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange in the United States (a “ Listing ”) or (ii) the consummation of the first public offering and sale of Common Stock (other than on Forms S-4 or S-8 or their equivalent), pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act (an “ IPO ”).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Corporation and/or any of its subsidiaries may issue or sell New Equity Securities to any purchaser (an “ Accelerated Buyer ”) without first complying with the provisions of this Section  6 of Article IV if the Board of Directors determines in good faith that it is in the best interests of the Corporation to consummate such issuance or sale without having first complied with such provisions; provided , that in connection with any such issuance or sale, the Corporation shall give the Preemptive Rightsholders written notice of such issuance or sale as promptly as practicable, which notice (an “ Accelerated Sale Notice ”) shall describe in reasonable detail (a) the material terms and conditions of the issuance or sale of the New Equity Securities to the Accelerated Buyer, including the number or amount and description of the New Equity Securities issued, the issuance or sale date, the purchase price per share (including a reasonable description of any non-cash consideration), and the name and address of the Accelerated Buyer and (b) the rights of the Preemptive Rightsholders to purchase New Equity Securities, pursuant to this paragraph, in connection with such issuance or sale. In the event of any such issuance or sale of New Equity Securities to an Accelerated Buyer, each Preemptive Rightsholder shall have the right, at any time during the ten (10) Business Days following receipt of the Accelerated Sale Notice, to elect to purchase New Equity Securities in an amount equal to all or any part of its pro rata portion (based upon the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Preemptive Rightsholder as of the close of business on the record date as a percentage of the total number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding) of the New Equity Securities issued to the Accelerated Buyer, by delivering written notice of such election to the Corporation, whereupon the Corporation shall give effect to such exercise by either (i) requiring that the Accelerated Buyer sell down a portion of its New Equity Securities, or (ii) issuing additional New Equity Securities to such Preemptive Rightsholder, or a combination of (i) and (ii), so long as such action effectively provides such Preemptive Rightsholder with the same opportunity to maintain its ownership percentage of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding following the issuance or sale to such Preemptive Rightsholder it would have received had this paragraph not been utilized.


(7)     Tag-Along Right .

(a)    If at any time prior to the earlier of a Listing or the consummation of an IPO, any one or more stockholders (collectively, the “ Tag-Along Seller ”) propose to Transfer (as defined below) shares of Common Stock outside of the open market that constitute more than thirty percent (30%) of the total shares of Common Stock then outstanding to one or more non-Affiliate purchasers in any transaction or series of related transactions (a “ Tag-Along Transfer ”), then each other stockholder that beneficially owns (including all shares beneficially owned by such stockholder’s Affiliates) at least 2.0% of the total shares of Common Stock outstanding (collectively the “ Tag-Along Offerees ”) shall have the right to exercise tag-along rights in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Section  7 of Article IV (any such stockholder exercising such rights, a “ Tagging Stockholder ”). As used herein, “ Transfer ” means any direct or indirect, voluntary or involuntary, sale, transfer, assignment, encumbrance or other disposition by operation of law or otherwise. The rights and obligations set forth in this Section  7 of Article IV shall automatically terminate upon, and shall cease to have any force or effect following, the earlier of (i) a Listing or (ii) the consummation of an IPO.

(b)    The Tag-Along Seller shall promptly give notice (a “ Tag -Along Notice ”) to the Company at least twenty (20) Business Days prior to consummation of the proposed Tag-Along Transfer, setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be Transferred by the Tag-Along Seller, the name and address of the proposed transferee, the proposed purchase price for each such share of Common Stock (the “ Tag-Along Per Share Consideration ”), and any other material terms and conditions of the Tag-Along Transfer, and the Company shall promptly (and in no event more than one Business Day after its receipt of such notice) deliver a copy of the Tag-Along Notice to each Tag-Along Offeree; it being understood that such Tag-Along Notice may be given after the terms of the Tag-Along Transfer have been finalized and does not accord the Tagging Stockholder with any rights to information as to the Transfer not required to be included in the Tag-Along Notice. Each Tag-Along Offeree shall have a period of ten (10) Business Days from the date of the Tag-Along Notice within which to elect to sell up to its Tag-Along Pro Rata Portion of shares of Common Stock at a price per share equal to the Tag-Along Per Share Consideration in connection with such Tag-Along Transfer. Any Tag-Along Offeree may exercise such right by delivery of an irrevocable written notice to the Tag-Along Seller specifying the number of shares of Common Stock such Tag-Along Offeree desires to include in the Tag-Along Transfer. Unless the proposed Transferee agrees to purchase all the shares of Common Stock proposed to be Transferred by the Tag-Along Seller and the Tagging Stockholders, then the total number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be Transferred by the Tag-Along Seller and Tagging Stockholders in such Tag-Along Transfer shall be reduced by recalculating the allocation set forth in this paragraph assuming such smaller number of shares is to be Transferred. The Tag-Along Seller shall have a period of one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days following the expiration of the ten (10) Business Day period referred to


above to consummate the Tag-Along Transfer, on the payment terms specified in the Tag-Along Notice. As used herein, “ Tag-Along Pro Rata Portion ” means a number of shares of Common Stock determined by multiplying (i) the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be Transferred by the Tag-Along Seller in connection with the Tag-Along Transfer by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock held by the applicable Tag-Along Offeree and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock held by the Tag-Along Seller and all of the Tag-Along Offerees electing to participate in the Tag-Along Transfer.

(c)    Each Tagging Stockholder shall agree (i) to make the same representations and warranties to the Transferee with respect to itself and related items as the Tag-Along Sellers make with respect to themselves and related items in connection with the Tag-Along Transfer, (ii) to the same covenants, indemnities and agreements with respect to itself and related items as agreed by the Tag-Along Sellers with respect to themselves and related items in connection with the Tag-Along Transfer, and (iii) to the same terms and conditions to the Transfer of shares of Common Stock as the Tag-Along Sellers agree. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, all such representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements shall be made by each Tagging Stockholder and each Tag-Along Seller severally and not jointly.

ARTICLE V

STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.

ARTICLE VI

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:

(a)    The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”). In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation then in effect, 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, subject, nevertheless, to the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation, and the bylaws of the Corporation.


(b)    The directors of the Corporation need not be stockholders of the Corporation, and need not be elected by written ballot unless the bylaws of the Corporation so provide.

(c)    Special meetings of the stockholders, other than those required by statute, may be called at any time as set forth in the bylaws of the Corporation, and may be called upon the written request to the Secretary by one or more stockholders holding, in the aggregate, at least a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of the Corporation. Any such written request shall specify the time of such meeting and the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted and shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, and the Secretary shall, promptly following his or her receipt of such request, cause notice of such meeting to be given in accordance with the bylaws of the Corporation to each of the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting.

(d)    An annual meeting of stockholders, for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall fix.

ARTICLE VII

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(1)    The Board of Directors shall consist of one or more directors, and shall initially be comprised of seven directors, including the individual serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Company from time to time (the “ CEO Director ”). The initial members of the Board of Directors shall be comprised of Mark E. Ellis as the initial CEO Director, David B. Rottino as the director designated by the Company pursuant to the Plan, and the following five individuals:    Evan Lederman, Matthew Bonanno, Kevin Mahony, Andy Taylor and Phil Brown. The directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock under specified circumstances, shall be of one class and each director shall serve until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or, if earlier, until his or her death, resignation or removal. At each annual meeting of stockholders, (i) directors shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, with each director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or, if earlier, until his or her death, resignation or removal; and (ii) directors may be elected to fill any vacancy on the Board of Directors, regardless of how such vacancy shall have been created. Vacancies on the Board of Directors may also be filled in the manner provided in the bylaws of the Corporation.

(2)    Notwithstanding anything contained in this Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation, the first annual meeting of stockholders shall not occur prior to February 28, 2018 (the date of such annual meeting, the “ First Election ”), and at all times prior to the First Election, (a) the total number of authorized directorships that comprise the Whole Board (as defined below) shall be seven and (b) no director may be removed, with or without cause, without the affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of at least seventy-five percent


(75%) of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Corporation; provided , however , that in the event the Board of Directors approves a Listing or an IPO prior to the First Election, the restrictions set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of this sentence shall cease to apply to the extent the Board of Directors determines is necessary to allow the Board of Directors to be constituted to meet the applicable independence requirements. After the First Election, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors that comprise the Whole Board (as defined below) shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board of Directors as provided in the bylaws of the Corporation. As used herein, “ Whole Board ” shall mean, at any given time, the total number of directorships then authorized, whether or not any vacancies exist with respect to such directorships.

(3)    Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the bylaws of the Corporation.

(4)    Except as otherwise required by applicable law and as provided above prior to the First Election, and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any one or more of the directors may be removed from office, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote or written consent of holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Corporation, voting together as a single class.

ARTICLE VIII

BYLAW AMENDMENTS

The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend and repeal the bylaws of the Corporation, provided , that any adoption, amendment or repeal of the bylaws of the Corporation by the Board of Directors (a) shall require the approval of a majority of the Whole Board and (b) shall be subject to such additional restrictions (which may include, without limitation, majority or supermajority stockholder approval to amend or repeal specifically enumerated provisions), if any, as are set forth in the bylaws of the Corporation as in effect at such time. The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Corporation, voting together as a single class, provided , that any such adoption, amendment or repeal shall be subject to such additional restrictions (which may include, without limitation, supermajority stockholder approval to amend or repeal specifically enumerated provisions) if any, as are set forth in the bylaws of the Corporation as in effect at such time.

ARTICLE IX

SECTION 203 OF THE DGCL

The Corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.


ARTICLE X

LIMITATION ON DIRECTOR LIABILITY

A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for any act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended. In the event that it is determined that Delaware law does not apply, the liability of a director of the Corporation to the company or its stockholders for monetary damages shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

ARTICLE XI

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

(1)     Right to Indemnification . Each 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 she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, manager, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation or of a limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter, a “ Covered Person ”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action or inaction in an official capacity or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, manager, employee, agent or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended from time to time (but in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all costs, charges, expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Covered Person in connection therewith, and that indemnification shall continue as to a Covered Person who has ceased to be a director, officer, manager, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, administrators and personal and legal representatives; provided, however , that, except as provided in Section  4 of this Article XI with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such Covered Person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by that Covered Person, only if that proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.

(2)     Right to Advancement of Expenses . In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section  1 of this Article  XI , a Covered Person shall also have the right to be paid by


the Corporation the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “ advancement of expenses ”); provided , however , that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by a Covered Person in his or her capacity as a director or an officer of the Corporation (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such Covered Person, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “ undertaking ”), by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “ final adjudication ”) that such Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section  2 of this Article XI or otherwise. No Covered Person will be required to post any bond or provide any other security with respect to any such undertaking.

(3)     Primary Indemnitor . The Corporation hereby acknowledges that certain Covered Persons may have rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses (directly or through insurance obtained by any such entity) provided by one or more third parties (collectively, the “ Other Indemnitors ”), and which may include third parties for whom such Covered Person serves as a manager, member, officer, employee or agent. The Corporation hereby agrees and acknowledges that notwithstanding any such rights that a Covered Person may have with respect to any Other Indemnitor(s), (i) the Corporation is the indemnitor of first resort with respect to all Covered Persons and all obligations to indemnify and provide advancement of expenses to Covered Persons, (ii) the Corporation shall be required to indemnify and advance the full amount of expenses incurred by the Covered Persons, to the fullest extent required by law, the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement to which the Corporation is a party, any vote of the stockholders or the Board of Directors, or otherwise, without regard to any rights the Covered Persons may have against the Other Indemnitors and (iii) to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Other Indemnitors from any and all claims for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Corporation further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Other Indemnitors with respect to any claim for which the Covered Persons have sought indemnification from the Corporation shall affect the foregoing and the Other Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of any such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Covered Persons against the Corporation. These rights shall be a contract right, and the Other Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries of the terms of this paragraph.

(4)     Right of Claimant to Bring Suit . If a claim under this Article XI is not paid in full by the Corporation within 30 days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the Covered Person may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Covered Person shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. It shall be a defense to any suit brought by a Covered Person to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (other than a suit brought to enforce a claim for advancement of expenses where the required undertaking, if any, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the Covered Person has


failed to meet any applicable standard of conduct for indemnification set forth in the DGCL, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. In any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that the Covered Person has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or a committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Covered Person is permissible in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or a committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Covered Person has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the suit or create a presumption that the Covered Person has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Covered Person, be a defense to such suit). In any suit brought by a Covered Person to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article  XI or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

(5)     Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The right to indemnification and the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article  XI shall not be exclusive of any other right that any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, the bylaws of the Corporation, any agreement to which the Corporation is a party, any vote of the stockholders or the Board of Directors or otherwise.

(6)     Insurance . The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, manager, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against that expense, liability or loss under Delaware law.

(7)     Expenses as a Witness . To the extent any Covered Peron is by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, manager, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation or of a limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, a witness in any action, suit or proceeding, he or she shall be indemnified against all costs and expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith.

(8)     Indemnification of Employees and Agents . The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article  XI with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.


(9)     Severability . If any provision or provisions of this Article  XI shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article  XI  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 (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Article containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

(10)     Nature of Rights; Amendments to this Article . The rights conferred upon Covered Person in this Article  XI shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to a Covered Person who has ceased to be a director, officer, manager, employee, agent or trustee and shall inure to the benefit of the Covered Person’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any repeal, amendment or modification of this Article  XI or any of the provisions hereof that adversely affects any right of a Covered Person or its successors hereunder shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, impair or otherwise adversely affect any rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses of a Covered Person with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such repeal, amendment or modification.

ARTICLE XII

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

To the fullest extent permitted by Section 122(17) of the DGCL (or any successor provision) and except as may be otherwise expressly agreed in writing by the Corporation and any Dual Role Person (as defined below), the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces and waives any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, directly or indirectly, any potential transactions, matters or business opportunities (including, without limitation, any business activities or lines of business that are the same as or similar to those pursued by, or competitive with, the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or any dealings with customers or clients of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries) that are from time to time presented to any Dual Role Person, even if the transaction, matter or 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 such person shall be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person pursues, acquires or participates in such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries. Without limiting the foregoing renunciation, the Corporation acknowledges that certain of the stockholders are in the business of making investments in, and have investments in, other businesses similar to and that may compete with the Corporation’s businesses (“ Competing Businesses ”), and agrees that each such stockholder shall have the right to make additional investments in or have relationships with other Competing Businesses independent of its


investment in the Corporation. Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this paragraph. Neither the alteration, amendment or repeal of this paragraph, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this paragraph, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, any modification of law, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this paragraph in respect of any business opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this paragraph, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, repeal, adoption or modification. If any provision or provisions of this paragraph 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 paragraph (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this paragraph 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 paragraph (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this paragraph 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 law. This paragraph shall not limit any protections or defenses available to, or indemnification or advancement rights of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Certificate of Incorporation, the bylaws of the Corporation, or applicable law. As used herein, “ Dual Role Person ” shall mean any individual who is a director of the Corporation and is otherwise an employee, officer or a director of a stockholder.

ARTICLE XIII

EXCLUSIVE FORUM

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “ Court of Chancery ”) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder of the Corporation (including a beneficial owner of stock) 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 or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except as to each of (i) through (iv) above, for any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. If any provision or provisions of this Article shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other


circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

ARTICLE XIV

AMENDMENTS

The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware and all rights conferred upon stockholders are granted subject to this reservation; provided , however , that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of the stock of this corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, and the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal any provisions of this Article XIV , Sections 6 or 7 of Article IV , Section  3 of Article XI , or any of Articles VIII or XII .

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed as of February 28, 2017.

 

LINN ENERGY, INC.

/s/ Candice J. Wells

Name:    Candice J. Wells
Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Exhibit 3.2

BYLAWS

OF

LINN ENERGY, INC.

As adopted on February 28, 2017

ARTICLE I - STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1.      Annual Meeting.

(1)    An annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors (as defined below) shall fix.

(2)    Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and proposals of business to be transacted by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to such meeting, (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (c) by any stockholder of record of the Corporation (the “ Record Stockholder ”) at the time of the giving of the Record Stockholder Notice (as defined below), who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section  1 of Article I . For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (c) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or propose business at an annual meeting of stockholders, other than, to the extent the Corporation is then subject to such Rule, business included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (such act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “ Exchange Act ”).

(3)    For nominations of directors or proposals of business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Record Stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of the immediately preceding paragraph, (a) the Record Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing (“ Record Stockholder Notice ”) to the Secretary of the Corporation (the “ Secretary ”) and (b) any such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law. To be timely, a Record Stockholder’s notice shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 45 nor more than 75 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided , however , that, (i) subject to the last sentence of this Section  1(3) of Article I , if the meeting is convened more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held during the preceding year, notice by the Record Stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the later of (A) the 45th day before such annual meeting or (B) the 10th day following the date on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made and (ii) in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and a public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or indicating the


increase in the size of the Board of Directors is not made by the Corporation at least 10 days before the last day a Record Stockholder may timely deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, a Record Stockholder Notice shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bylaws of the Corporation (these “ Bylaws ”), for the first annual meeting of the stockholders after the effective date of these Bylaws, to be timely, a Record Stockholder Notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation no earlier than the close of business on the 75th day prior to the scheduled date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the date that is 45 days prior to the scheduled date of such annual meeting or 10 days following the date on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall an adjournment, or postponement of an annual meeting for which notice has been given, commence a new time period for the giving of a Record Stockholder Notice.

(4)    Any Record Stockholder Notice shall set forth the following information:

(a)    if such notice pertains to the nomination of directors, as to each person whom the Record Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, all information relating to such person as would be required to be disclosed in a solicitation of proxies for the election of such nominee as a director pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, and such person’s written consent to serve as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected;

(b)    with respect to any other business that the Record Stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of such business, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, and any material interest that such Record Stockholder (and, if applicable, the beneficial owner on whose behalf the proposal is made) has in such business; and

(c)    with respect to the Record Stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (each, a “ party ”):

(i)    the name and address of each such party;

(ii)    (A) the class, series, and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record by each such party, (B) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, 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 of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to


settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “ Derivative Instrument ”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by each such party, 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) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which each such party has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of any security of the Corporation, (D) any short interest in any security of the Corporation held by each such party (for purposes hereof, 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 directly or indirectly by each such party 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 in which each such party is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that each such party is directly or indirectly entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, and each such party shall supplement the information provided pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (G), to the extent necessary, by the earlier of the 10th day after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the day prior to the meeting; and

(iii)    any other information relating to each such party 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, as applicable, the proposal and/or the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act.

(5)    A person shall not be eligible for election or re-election as a director at an annual meeting unless (i) the person is nominated by a Record Stockholder in accordance with Section  1(2)(c) of this Article I or (ii) the person is nominated by or at the direction of the Board of Directors. Only such business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting has been made 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 defectively proposed business or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded.


(6)    As used in these Bylaws, “ public announcement ” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(7)    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section  1 of Article I , a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section  1 of Article I . Nothing in this Section  1 of Article I shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable.

Section 2.      Special Meetings.

(1)    Special meetings of the stockholders, other than those required by statute, may be called at any time pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, or upon the written request to the Secretary by one or more stockholders holding, in the aggregate, at least a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of the Corporation. Any such written request shall specify the time of such meeting and the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted and shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, and the Secretary shall, promptly following his or her receipt of such request, cause notice of such meeting to be given in accordance with these Bylaws to each of the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting called by the Board of Directors.

(2)    The notice of a special meeting shall include the purpose for which such meeting is called. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been specified in the notice of such special meeting (or any supplement thereto).

(3)    Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected, as follows: (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by any stockholder of record of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at such meeting and delivers (while it is a Record Stockholder) a written notice to the Secretary setting forth the information required by Sections 1(4)(a) and 1(4)(c) of Article  I . Nominations by stockholders of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at such meeting only if the Record Stockholder’s notice required by the immediately preceding sentence is received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the 45th day prior to such special meeting and the 10th day following the date on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall an adjournment, or postponement of a special meeting for which notice has been given, commence a new time period for the giving of a Record Stockholder’s notice. A person shall not be eligible for election or reelection as a director


at a special meeting of stockholders unless the person is nominated in accordance with this paragraph. Notwithstanding anything in this Section  2(3) of Article I or otherwise in these Bylaws to the contrary, this Section  2(3) of Article I shall not apply to any special meetings of the stockholders called at the request of stockholders to the extent permitted by Section  2(1) of Article I .

(4)    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section  2 of Article I , a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section  2 of Article I . Nothing in this Section  2 of Article I shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, if the Corporation is then subject to such Rule.

Section 3.      Notice of Meetings; Adjournment.

Notice of the place, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders, 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, and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, shall be given, not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law.

Any meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time for any reason by either the chairman of the meeting, or by the vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, whether or not a quorum is present. When a meeting of stockholders is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided , however , that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than 30 days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder in conformity herewith. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and, except as otherwise required by law, shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of such adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each Record Stockholder entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.


Section 4.      Quorum.

At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law or by the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.

If a quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting or the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, by a majority in voting power thereof, present in person or represented by proxy, may adjourn the meeting in the manner provided in Section  3 of Article I , until a quorum shall be present or represented. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

Section 5.      Organization.

Such person as the Board of Directors may have designated or, in the absence of such a person, the Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or, in his or her absence, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the Secretary, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chairman of the meeting appoints.

Section 6.      Conduct of Business.

The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in order. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.

Section 7.      Proxies and Voting.

At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this paragraph 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 telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.


The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law, shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. Every vote taken by ballots shall be counted by a duly appointed inspector or inspectors.

All elections of directors of the Corporation shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and except as otherwise required by law or the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed or as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation, all other matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively, on such matter.

Section 8.      Stockholder List.

The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, prepare and make 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 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10th day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his or her name. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting in the manner provided by law.

A stock list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting as provided by law. This list shall presumptively determine (a) the identity of the stockholders entitled to examine such stock list and to vote at the meeting and (b) the number of shares held by each of them.

ARTICLE II - BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND GOVERNANCE

Section 1.      Number, Election and Term of Directors.

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation to elect additional directors under specified circumstances and except as provided otherwise in the Certificate of Incorporation, the total authorized number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board (as defined below). The directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of preferred stock under specified circumstances, shall be of one class and each director shall serve until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or, if earlier, until his or her death, resignation or removal. As used in these Bylaws, “ Whole Board ” shall mean, at any given time, the total number of directorships then authorized, whether or not any vacancies exist with respect to such directorships.


Section 2.      Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies.

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal from office or other cause may be filled (a) by the stockholders at a special meeting or an annual meeting, or by the written consent of holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote in connection with the election of the directors of the Corporation, voting together as a single class or (b) by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any director elected in accordance with this Section  2 of Article II shall hold office for the remainder of the term of the director for whom the vacancy was created or occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or, if earlier, such director’s death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

Section 3.      Regular Meetings.

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.

Section 4.      Special Meetings.

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, or by any two or more directors and shall be held on such date and at such place and time as the person(s) calling such meeting shall fix. At least 24 hours’ notice of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given to each director by whom it is not waived and such notice will be effective (i) when received if given in a writing delivered by hand or courier, (ii) when given, if by telephone or in person, or (iii) when transmitted with transmission confirmed, if sent by e-mail or by facsimile to the director’s residence or usual place of business, to an email address or facsimile number, as applicable to which the director has expressly consented to receive notice. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

Section 5.      Quorum.

A majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes at any meeting of the Board of Directors (unless the Certificate of Incorporation provides for a vote on a particular matter by the Disinterested Directors (as defined in Section  6 of Article VIII ), in which case a majority of the Disinterested Directors shall constitute a quorum for such matter). If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.


Section 6.      Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone.

Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board of Directors or 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 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 7.      Conduct of Business.

At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, and, except as otherwise expressly required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, all matters shall be determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present. Action may be taken by the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

Section 8.      Resignations and Removal of Directors.

Any director of the Corporation may resign from the Board of Directors or any committee thereof at any time, by giving notice in writing to the Chairman of the Board, if there be one, or the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary and, in the case of a committee, to the chairman of such committee, if there be one. Such resignation shall take effect at the time therein specified or, if no time is specified, immediately; and, unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Except as otherwise required by applicable law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation then outstanding, directors may be removed from office with or without cause by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote in connection with the election of the directors of the Corporation, voting together as a single class. Any director serving on a committee of the Board of Directors may be removed from such committee at any time by the Board of Directors.

Section 9.      Compensation of Directors.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of the directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or paid a stated salary or paid other compensation as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed compensation for attending committee meetings.


ARTICLE III- COMMITTEES

Section 1.      Committees of the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors may from time to time designate committees of the Board of Directors, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and shall, for those committees and any others provided for herein, elect a director or directors to serve as the member or members, designating, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.

Section 2.      Conduct of Business.

Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings. The presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present. Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

Section 1.      Generally.

The Board of Directors, at its next meeting following each annual meeting of the stockholders, shall elect officers of the Corporation, including a Chief Executive Officer and a Secretary. The Board of Directors may also from time to time elect such other officers as it may deem proper or may delegate to any elected officer of the Corporation the power to appoint and remove any such other officers and to prescribe their respective terms of office, authorities and duties. Any Vice President may be designated Executive, Senior or Corporate, or may be given such other designation or combination of designations as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may determine. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. The Board may also elect or appoint a Chairman of the Board, who may or may not also be an officer of the Corporation.

Section 2.      Terms of Office.

All officers of the Corporation elected by the Board of Directors shall hold office for such terms as may be determined by the Board or, except with respect to his or her own office,


the Chief Executive Officer, or until their respective successors are chosen and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. Any officer may be removed from office at any time either with or without cause by affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board then in office, or, in the case of appointed officers, by any elected officer upon whom such power of removal shall have been conferred by the Board of Directors. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise shall be filled by the Board in the manner prescribed in these Bylaws for election or appointment to such office.

Section 3.      Powers and Duties.

Each of the officers of the Corporation elected by the Board of Directors or appointed by an officer in accordance with these Bylaws shall have the powers and duties prescribed by law, by these Bylaws or by the Board and, in the case of appointed officers, the powers and duties prescribed by the appointing officer, and, unless otherwise prescribed by these Bylaws or by the Board of Directors or such appointing officer, shall have such further powers and duties as ordinarily pertain to that office. The Chief Executive Officer shall have authority over the general direction of the affairs of the Corporation.

Section  4.      Delegation of Authority.

The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

Section  5.      Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations.

Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the President or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the President 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 or entity in which this Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation or entity.

ARTICLE V – INFORMATION RIGHTS

Section  1.      Financial Statements and Periodic Reports.

At all times when the Corporation is not obligated to file reports under Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Corporation shall provide the following information to each holder of the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Common Stock ” and each such holder, a “ Common Stockholder ”), and shall satisfy such obligation by timely posting all such information to its website and making such information accessible to the general public, or by timely and publicly filing all such information with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K, as applicable, as if the Corporation were required to file such reports under the Exchange Act:

(1)    for each fiscal year of the Corporation ending on or after December 31, 2016, copies of an annual report on Form 10-K for such fiscal year, which report shall be


delivered no later than ninety (90) days following the end of such fiscal year and shall include the same information and disclosures as the Corporation would be required to include in such report if it were a reporting company under the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, (a) consolidated financial statements of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year, which financial statements shall (i) include a comparison to the prior fiscal year results, (ii) be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States (“ GAAP ”) and (iii) be audited by a nationally recognized accounting firm approved by the Board of Directors and accompanied by a report and opinion thereon by such accounting firm prepared in accordance with GAAP and (b) a management discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations with respect to such financial statements (an “ MD&A ”); provided , however , in the case of fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, the financial statements included in such report shall be in respect of LINN Energy, LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries as of such date;

(2)    for each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Corporation, copies of a quarterly report on Form 10-Q for such fiscal quarter, which report shall be delivered no later than forty-five (45) days following the end of such fiscal quarter and shall include the same information and disclosures as the Corporation would be required to include in such report if it were a reporting company under the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, (a) consolidated financial statements of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter, which statements shall (i) include year-to-date results and a comparison to the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year and (ii) be prepared in accordance with GAAP, and (b) an MD&A with respect to such financial statements; provided , however , that with respect to the first fiscal quarter of 2017, such quarterly report shall be delivered no later than 60 days following the end of such quarter;

(3)    from time to time after the occurrence of any event that the Corporation would be required to report on a Form 8-K if it had been a reporting company under the Exchange Act, a current report on Form 8-K containing the same information as would be required to be contained in, and within the timing required by, a Current Report on Form 8-K under the Exchange Act;

(4)    a complete transcript of each quarterly conference call hosted by the Corporation pursuant to Section  2 of this Article V , which transcript shall be provided no later than two Business Days after the date of such conference call; and

(5)    such additional information as is required to ensure that sufficient “current public information” with respect to the Corporation is available on the Corporation’s website to satisfy the requirements of Section 4(a)(7) (as may be amended from time to time, “ Section 4(a)(7) ” of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (such act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “ Securities Act ”) and Rule 144A and Rule 144(c) promulgated under the Securities Act. As used in these Bylaws, “ Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or day on which commercial banks in the State of Texas or the State of New York are authorized or required by law to close for business.


Section  2.      Quarterly Conference Calls.

The Corporation shall host, and each Common Stockholder shall have access to, quarterly conference calls with senior officers of the Corporation to discuss the results of operations for the relevant reporting period, which calls shall (except as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors with respect to any particular reporting period) include a reasonable and customary question and answer session; provided , that such obligation with respect to quarterly conference calls shall commence in connection with the Corporation’s results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Each such quarterly and annual call shall be hosted no later than thirty days after the Corporation provides the corresponding annual or quarterly financial statements to Common Stockholders in accordance with this Article.

Section  3.      Rule 144, 144A and Section 4(a)(7) Information.

With a view to making available to Common Stockholders the benefits of Section 4(a)(7), Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act (as may be amended from time to time, “ Rule 144A ”) and Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (as may be amended from time to time, “ Rule 144 ”) and other rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that may at any time permit a Common Stockholder to sell shares of Common Stock to the public without registration, the Corporation shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) post to the Corporation’s website in a timely manner all reports and other documents required, if any, to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted thereunder and (ii) make and keep publicly available all information necessary to comply with Section 4(a)(7), Rule 144A and Rule 144 with respect to resales of shares of Common Stock, to the extent required from time to time to enable Common Stockholders to sell shares of Common Stock without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (x) Section 4(a)(7), Rule 144A and Rule 144 or (y) any other rules or regulations now existing or hereafter adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Upon the reasonable request of any Common Stockholder, the Corporation will deliver to such Common Stockholder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such information requirements, and, if not, the specific reasons for non-compliance.

ARTICLE VI - STOCK

Section  1.      Certificates of Stock.

The shares of capital stock of the Corporation may be in certificated or uncertificated form at the discretion of the Board. Each holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the President or a Vice President, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile. If an officer, transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate is no longer serving in that capacity when the certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if that person were still serving in that capacity at the time of issue.


Section  2.      Transfers of Stock.

Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation. Except where a certificate is issued in accordance with Section  4 of Article VI of these Bylaws, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved, if one has been issued, shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate, if any, is issued therefor.

Section  3.      Record Date.

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, 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 of Directors, and which record date shall not be less than 10 days nor more than 60 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors 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 of Directors 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 of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and 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 of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section  3 of Article VI at the adjourned meeting.

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 the stockholders 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 of Directors 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 be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no 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 of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

Section  4.      Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.

In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock, another may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.


Section  5.      Registered Stockholders.

The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and 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.      Additional Regulations.

The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish from time to time.

ARTICLE VII - NOTICES

Section  1.      Notices.

If mailed, notice to stockholders shall be deemed given 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. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL.

Section  2.      Waivers.

A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. Attendance of a person at any meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

ARTICLE VIII - MISCELLANEOUS

Section  1.      Facsimile Signatures.

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


Section  2.      Corporate Seal.

The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.

Section  3.      Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records.

Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other 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 of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such director, committee member or officer 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  4.      Fiscal Year.

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors.

Section  5.      Time Periods.

In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be 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  6.      Affiliate Transactions; Certain Definitions.

The Corporation shall not, and shall not cause or permit any of its subsidiaries to, enter into, consummate, amend, modify (including by waiver) or terminate any Affiliate Transaction or any agreement with respect thereto, unless it (a) is on Arm’s Length Terms and (b) is approved by a majority of the directors who were not appointed by, are not otherwise affiliated with, the Related Party to which the Affiliate Transaction relates or any Affiliate of such Related Party (such directors, the “ Disinterested Directors ”).

As used in these Bylaws, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any person, any other person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such person as of the date on which, or at any time during the period for which, the determination of affiliation is being made (including any investment fund the primary investment manager or investment advisor to which is such person or its Affiliate). For purposes of this definition, the term “ control ” (including the correlative meanings of the terms “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ”), as used with respect to any person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.


Affiliate Transaction ” shall mean any contract, agreement, transaction or other arrangement (whether written or unwritten) between the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Stockholder or any Affiliate (including any portfolio company or funds under management of such Stockholder or its Affiliates) of any stockholder of the Corporation, on the other hand; provided , that it shall not include any contract, agreement, transaction or other arrangement that is solely between the Corporation and/or any one or more of its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Arm’s Length Terms ” shall mean, with respect to any agreement or transaction, that the terms thereof are at least as favorable to the Corporation (or any subsidiary) as could reasonably be obtained from an independent third party (including with respect to prevailing market terms and pricing provisions).

Majority Stockholder Approval ” means, with respect to any matter, the affirmative vote or written consent of one or more stockholders then holding, in the aggregate, a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

Related Party ” shall mean a stockholder of the Corporation who, collectively with its Affiliates (including any controlled portfolio companies and funds under management of such stockholder or its Affiliates), holds more than ten percent (10.0%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Corporation.

Supermajority Stockholder Approval ” means, with respect to any matter, the affirmative vote or written consent of one or more stockholders then holding, in the aggregate, at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

Section  7.      Actions Requiring Stockholder Approval.

(1)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in these Bylaws or that a lesser percentage vote or consent may be required under the DGCL or other applicable law, until the earlier of (i) the date the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange in the United States (a “ Listing ”) or (ii) the consummation of the first public offering and sale of Common Stock (other than on Forms S-4 or S-8 or their equivalent), pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act (an “ IPO ”), the Corporation shall not, and shall not permit or cause any of its subsidiaries to, cause or engage in any of the following transactions or take any of the following actions, without first obtaining (in addition to authorization by the Board of Directors) Majority Stockholder Approval, and any such transaction or action shall not be authorized unless and until such approval is obtained:


(a)    any merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar transaction involving the Corporation or any of its material subsidiaries in which the holders of the Common Stock (or equivalent securities of any subsidiary) immediately prior to such transaction hold in the aggregate less than a majority of the outstanding voting equity securities of the surviving entity immediately after such transaction (other than pursuant to any merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transactions solely between wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Corporation);

(b)    any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, or of any of its material subsidiaries (other than pursuant to any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition solely between wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Corporation);

(c)    the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of any material subsidiary of the Corporation, or the taking of any action that results in the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of any material subsidiary of the Corporation; or

(d)    the entering into of any contract, agreement, or binding arrangement or commitment to do or engage in any of the foregoing, unless such transaction or action is conditioned on such Majority Stockholder Approval.

(2)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in these Bylaws or that a lesser percentage vote or consent may be required under the DGCL or other applicable law, until the earlier of a Listing or the consummation of an IPO, the Corporation shall not, and shall not permit or cause any of its subsidiaries to, cause or engage in any of the following transactions or take any of the following actions, without first obtaining (in addition to authorization by the Board of Directors) Supermajority Stockholder Approval, and any such transaction or action shall not be authorized unless and until such approval is obtained:

(a)    the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation on a going concern basis, or the taking of any action that results in the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation on a going concern basis; or

(b)    the entering into of any contract, agreement, or binding arrangement or commitment to do or engage in any of the foregoing, unless such transaction or action is conditioned on such Supermajority Stockholder Approval.

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend and repeal these Bylaws pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, subject to the power of the holders of capital stock of the Corporation to adopt, amend or repeal these Bylaws by Majority Stockholder


Approval (in addition to any approval by the holders of any particular class or series of capital stock required by law or these Bylaws or the terms of any preferred stock of the Corporation). Notwithstanding the foregoing, until the earlier of a Listing and the consummation of an IPO, none of the provisions of Article V , Sections 6 or 7 of Article VIII , or this Article IX shall be repealed or amended in any manner that is materially adverse to any stockholder, unless such repeal or amendment shall have been approved by Supermajority Stockholder Approval.

ARTICLE X – CONFLICTS WITH CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in these Bylaws, to the extent that any provision set forth herein conflicts with or is inconsistent with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the provision set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation shall take precedence and shall control, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

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Exhibit 5.1

 

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Houston, TX 77002

 
 

(713) 835-3600

 

www.kirkland.com

 

Facsimile:

(713) 835-3601

February 28, 2017

Linn Energy, Inc.

600 Travis Street

Houston, Texas 77002

 

  Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are issuing this opinion letter in our capacity as special counsel for Linn Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and have acted as such in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof. The Registration Statement relates to the registration of the offer and sale by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of 9,914,432 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Shares”), issuable under the Linn Energy, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

In connection with the opinion expressed herein, we have reviewed such corporate records, certificates and other documents and such questions of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. We have assumed that all signatures are genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and that all copies of documents submitted to us conform to the originals.

For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the genuineness of the signatures of persons signing all documents in connection with which this opinion is rendered, the authority of such persons signing on behalf of the parties thereto other than the Company, and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by the parties thereto other than the Company. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that we have not independently established or verified, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company.

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Our opinion expressed below is subject to the qualifications that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of (i) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar law affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principals of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public policy considerations that may limit the rights of parties to obtain certain remedies.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Common Shares have been duly authorized and that the Common Shares, when duly issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

The foregoing opinion is limited in all respects to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (including the applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws) and the federal securities laws of the United States of America. We do not express any opinion herein on the laws of any other jurisdiction.

This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. This opinion speaks only as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Kirkland & Ellis LLP

KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP

Exhibit 10.1

LINN ENERGY, INC.

 

 

2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Linn Energy, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan is to enhance the profitability and value of the Company for the benefit of its stockholders by enabling the Company to offer Eligible Individuals cash and stock-based incentives in order to attract, retain and reward such individuals and strengthen the mutuality of interests between such individuals and the Company’s stockholders. The Plan is effective as of the date set forth in Article XIV.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

2.1      Affiliate means each of the following: (a) any Subsidiary; (b) any Parent; (c) any corporation, trade or business (including, without limitation, a partnership or limited liability company) which is directly or indirectly controlled 50% or more (whether by ownership of stock, assets or an equivalent ownership interest or voting interest) by the Company or one of its Affiliates; (d) any trade or business (including, without limitation, a partnership or limited liability company) which directly or indirectly controls 50% or more (whether by ownership of stock, assets or an equivalent ownership interest or voting interest) of the Company; and (e) any other entity in which the Company or any of its Affiliates has a material equity interest and which is designated as an “Affiliate” by resolution of the Committee; provided that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Common Stock subject to any Option constitutes “service recipient stock” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code or otherwise does not subject the Option to Section 409A of the Code.

2.2      Auditor has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(c).

2.3      Award means any award under the Plan of any Stock Option, Restricted Stock Award, Performance Award, Other Stock-Based Award or Other Cash-Based Award. All Awards shall be granted by, confirmed by, and subject to the terms of, a written Award Agreement executed by the Company and the Participant.

2.4      Award Agreement means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and conditions applicable to an Award.

2.5      Award Shares has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(a).

2.6      Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 


2.7      Bona Fide Agreements has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(c).

2. 8    “ Cause means, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, with respect to a Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Consultancy, the following: (a) in the case where there is no employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award (or where there is such an agreement but it does not define “cause” (or words of like import)), termination due to a Participant’s: (i) conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, any felony or to any crime or offense causing substantial harm to any of the Company or its direct or indirect Subsidiaries (whether or not for personal gain) or involving acts of theft, fraud, embezzlement, moral turpitude or similar conduct; (ii) repeated intoxication by alcohol or drugs during the performance of his or her duties; (iii) willful and intentional misuse of any of the funds of the Company or its direct or indirect Subsidiaries; (iv) embezzlement; (v) willful and material misrepresentations or concealments on any written reports submitted to any of the Company or its direct or indirect Subsidiaries; or (vi) conduct constituting a material breach of the Company’s then current Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and any other written policy referenced therein; provided that, in each case, the Participant knew or should have known such conduct to be a breach; provided , further , that determination of whether one or more of the elements of “Cause” has been met under the Plan shall be in the reasonable discretion of (x) the Board for Eligible Employees with the title of Senior Vice President and above and (y) the Committee for all other Participants; or (b) in the case where there is an employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award that defines “cause” (or words of like import), “cause” as defined under such agreement; provided , however , that with regard to any agreement under which the definition of “cause” only applies on occurrence of a Change in Control, such definition of “cause” shall not apply until a Change in Control actually takes place and then only with regard to a termination thereafter.

2.9    “ Change in Control has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2.

2.10    “ Change in Control Price has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.

2.11      Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any reference to any section of the Code shall also be a reference to any successor provision and any Treasury Regulation and other official guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder.

2.12      Committee means any committee of the Board duly authorized by the Board to administer the Plan. If no committee is duly authorized by the Board to administer the Plan, the term “Committee” shall be deemed to refer to the Board for all purposes under the Plan.

2.13      Common Stock means the Class A common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company.

2.14      Company means Linn Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors by operation of law.

 

 

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2.15      Consultant means any natural person who is an advisor or consultant to the Company or its Affiliates.

2.16      Disability means, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, with respect to a Participant’s Termination, a permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. A Disability shall only be deemed to occur at the time of the determination by the Committee of the Disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for Awards that are subject to Section 409A of the Code, Disability shall mean that a Participant is disabled under Section 409A(a)(2)(C)(i) or (ii) of the Code.

2.17      Dispute Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(c).

2.18      Effective Date means the effective date of the Plan as defined in Article XIV.

2.19      Eligible Employees means each employee of the Company or an Affiliate.

2.20      Eligible Individual means an Eligible Employee or Consultant who is designated by the Committee in its discretion as eligible to receive Awards subject to all of the terms and the conditions set forth herein, including those set forth in Section 4.1.

2.21      Emergence Awards has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(c).

2.22      Emergence Date has the same meaning as “Effective Date” (as defined in that certain Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of LINN Energy LLC, and its Debtor Affiliates).

2.23      Emergence Pool has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(c).

2.24      Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Exchange Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or interpretation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

2.25      Fair Market Value means, for purposes of the Plan, as of any date: (a) with respect to any security (including the Common Stock) that is traded, listed or otherwise reported or quoted on a national securities exchange, the last sales price reported for such security on the applicable date on the principal national securities exchange in the United States on which it is then traded, listed or otherwise reported or quoted; or (b) (i) with respect to any security (including the Common Stock) that is not traded, listed or otherwise reported or quoted on a national securities exchange, or (ii) with respect to any property that is not a security, the Committee shall determine in good faith the price at which the applicable security or other property would be sold by a willing buyer to a willing seller, neither acting under compulsion, taking into account the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and any other applicable laws, rules or regulations and without applying any discounts for minority interest, illiquidity or other similar factors. For purposes of the grant of any Award, the applicable date shall be the trading day immediately prior to the date on which the Award is granted. For purposes of the exercise of any Award, the applicable date shall be the date a notice of exercise is received by the Committee or, if not a day on which the applicable market is open, the next day that it is open.

 

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2.26      Family Member means “family member” as defined in Section A.1.(a)(5) of the general instructions of Form S-8 of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

2.27      Final Allocation Date has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(c).

2.28      Good Reason means, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, the following: (a) in the case where there is no employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award (or where there is such an agreement but it does not define “good reason” (or words of like import)), the occurrence, without the Participant’s written consent, of any of the following events: (i) a reduction in the Participant’s base salary; (ii) any material reduction in the Participant’s title, authority or responsibilities; or (iii) relocation of the Participant’s primary place of employment to a location more than fifty (50) miles from (x) the Company’s location, if the Participant is employed by the Company, or (y) the employing Affiliate’s location, if the Participant is employed by an Affiliate (with the employing entity, the “ Employer ”). If Termination is by the Participant with Good Reason, the Participant will give the Participant’s Employer written notice, which will identify with reasonable specificity the grounds for the Participant’s resignation and provide the Participant’s Employer with thirty (30) days from the day such notice is given to cure the alleged grounds for resignation contained in the notice. A Termination will not be for Good Reason if the Participant’s Employer has cured the alleged grounds for resignation contained in the notice within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice or if such notice is given by the Participant to the Participant’s Employer more than thirty (30) days after the occurrence of the event that the Participant alleges is Good Reason for the Participant’s Termination hereunder. In order for a Termination to be for Good Reason, the Employer must fail to remedy the alleged grounds for resignation within the cure period, and the Participant must actually terminate employment with the Employer within ninety (90) days after the expiration of the cure period; or (b) in the case where there is an employment agreement, consulting agreement, change in control agreement or similar agreement in effect between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant at the time of the grant of the Award that defines “good reason” (or words of like import), “good reason” as defined under such agreement; provided , however , that with regard to any agreement under which the definition of “good reason” only applies on occurrence of a Change in Control, such definition of “good reason” shall not apply until a Change in Control actually takes place and then only with regard to a termination thereafter.

2.29      Incentive Stock Option means any Stock Option awarded to an Eligible Employee of the Company, its Subsidiaries and its Parents (if any) under the Plan intended to be and designated as an “Incentive Stock Option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

2.30      Non-Qualified Stock Option means any Stock Option awarded under the Plan that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

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2.31      Other Cash-Based Award means an Award granted pursuant to Section 9.3 of the Plan and payable in cash at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

2.32      Other Stock-Based Award means an Award under Article IX of the Plan that is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or is payable in or otherwise based on, Common Stock, including, without limitation, an Award valued by reference to an Affiliate.

2.33      Parent means any parent corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code.

2.34      Participant means an Eligible Individual to whom an Award has been granted pursuant to the Plan.

2.35      Performance Award means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article VIII hereof contingent upon achieving certain Performance Goals.

2.36      Performance Goals means goals established by the Committee as contingencies for Awards to vest and/or become exercisable or distributable based on one or more of the performance goals set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

2.37      Performance Period means the designated period during which the Performance Goals must be satisfied with respect to the Award to which the Performance Goals relate.

2.38      Plan means this Linn Energy, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

2.39      Plan of Reorganization means that certain Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of LINN Energy LLC, and its Debtor Affiliates.

2.40      Proceeding has the meaning set forth in Section 13.8.

2.41      Registration Date means the date on which (a) the Company sells shares of its Common Stock in a bona fide, firm commitment underwriting pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act or (b) the Common Stock is listed for traded on a national securities exchange.

2.42      Remaining Share Reserve has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(c).

2.43      Reorganization has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b)(ii).

2.44      Repurchase Closing has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(b).

2.45      Repurchase Closing Date has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(d).

2.46      Repurchase Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(b).

2.47      Repurchase Price has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(a).

 

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2.48      Restricted Stock means an Award of shares of Common Stock under the Plan that is subject to restrictions under Article VII.

2.49      Restriction Period has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a) with respect to Restricted Stock.

2.50      Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act as then in effect or any successor provision.

2.51      Section 162(m) of the Code means the exception for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code and any applicable Treasury Regulations thereunder.

2.52      Section 409A of the Code means the nonqualified deferred compensation rules under Section 409A of the Code and any applicable Treasury Regulations and other official guidance thereunder.

2.53      Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Reference to a specific section of the Securities Act or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation or interpretation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

2.54      Stock Option or Option means any option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted to Eligible Individuals granted pursuant to Article VI.

2.55      Subsidiary means any subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

2.56      Ten Percent Stockholder means a person owning stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Parent.

2.57      Termination means a Termination of Consultancy or Termination of Employment, as applicable.

2.58      Termination of Consultancy means: (a) that the Consultant is no longer acting as a consultant to the Company or any of its Affiliates; or (b) when an entity (other than the Company) which is retaining a Participant as a Consultant ceases to be an Affiliate, unless the Participant otherwise is, or thereupon becomes, a Consultant to the Company or another Affiliate at the time the entity ceases to be an Affiliate. In the event that a Consultant becomes an Eligible Employee upon the termination of such Consultant’s consultancy, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, no Termination of Consultancy shall be deemed to occur until such time as such Consultant is no longer a Consultant or an Eligible Employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may otherwise define Termination of Consultancy in the Award Agreement or, if no rights of a Participant are reduced, may otherwise define Termination of Consultancy thereafter, provided that any such change to the definition of the term “ Termination of Consultancy ” does not subject the applicable Award to Section 409A of the Code.

 

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2.59      Termination of Employment means: (a) a termination of employment (for reasons other than a military or personal leave of absence granted by the Company) of a Participant from the Company and all of its Affiliates; or (b) when an entity (other than the Company) which is employing a Participant ceases to be an Affiliate, unless the Participant otherwise is, or thereupon becomes, employed by the Company or another Affiliate at the time the entity ceases to be an Affiliate. In the event that an Eligible Employee becomes a Consultant upon the termination of such Eligible Employee’s employment, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, no Termination of Employment shall be deemed to occur until such time as such Eligible Employee is no longer an Eligible Employee or a Consultant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may otherwise define Termination of Employment in the Award Agreement or, if no rights of a Participant are reduced, may otherwise define Termination of Employment thereafter, provided that any such change to the definition of the term “ Termination of Employment ” does not subject the applicable Award to Section 409A of the Code.

2.60      Transfer means: (a) when used as a noun, any direct or indirect transfer, sale, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance or other disposition (including the issuance of equity in any entity), whether for value or no value and whether voluntary or involuntary (including by operation of law), and (b) when used as a verb, to directly or indirectly transfer, sell, assign, pledge, encumber, charge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of (including the issuance of equity in any entity) whether for value or for no value and whether voluntarily or involuntarily (including by operation of law). “ Transferred ” and “ Transferable ” shall have a correlative meaning.

ARTICLE III

ADMINISTRATION

3.1      The Committee . The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Committee. To the extent required by applicable law, rule or regulation, it is intended that each member of the Committee shall qualify as (a) a “non-employee director” under

Rule 16b-3, (b) an “outside director” under Section 162(m) of the Code and (c) an “independent director” under the rules of any national securities exchange or national securities association, as applicable. If it is later determined that one or more members of the Committee do not so qualify, actions taken by the Committee prior to such determination shall be valid despite such failure to qualify.

3.2      Grants of Awards . The Committee shall have full authority to grant, pursuant to the terms of the Plan, to Eligible Individuals: (i) Stock Options, (ii) Restricted Stock, (iii) Performance Awards; (iv) Other Stock-Based Awards; and (v) Other

Cash-Based Awards. In particular, the Committee shall have the authority:

(a)    to select the Eligible Individuals to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder, subject, for the avoidance of doubt, to the limitations set forth in Section 4.1;

 

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(b)    to determine whether and to what extent Awards, or any combination thereof, are to be granted hereunder to one or more Eligible Individuals, subject, for the avoidance of doubt, to the limitations set forth in Section 4.1;

(c)    to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

(d)    to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder (including, but not limited to, the exercise or purchase price (if any), any restriction or limitation, any vesting schedule or acceleration thereof, or any forfeiture restrictions or waiver thereof, regarding any Award and the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based on such factors, if any, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion);

(e)    to determine the amount of cash to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

(f)    to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances grants of Options and other Awards under the Plan are to operate on a tandem basis and/or in conjunction with or apart from other awards made by the Company outside of the Plan;

(g)    to determine whether and under what circumstances a Stock Option may be settled in cash, Common Stock and/or Restricted Stock under Section 6.4(d);

(h)    to determine whether a Stock Option is an Incentive Stock Option or Non-Qualified Stock Option;

(i)    to impose a “blackout” period during which Options may not be exercised;

(j)    to determine whether to require a Participant, as a condition of the granting of any Award, to not sell or otherwise dispose of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Award for a period of time as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, following the date of the acquisition of such Award;

(k)    to modify, extend or renew an Award, subject to Article XI and Section 6.4(l), provided, however, that such action does not subject the Award to Section 409A of the Code without the consent of the Participant; and

(l)    solely to the extent permitted by applicable law, to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances to provide loans (which may be on a recourse basis and shall bear interest at the rate the Committee shall provide) to Participants in order to exercise Options under the Plan.

For the sake of clarity and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board or the Committee may delegate to an officer of the Company the authority to make Awards hereunder.

3.3      Guidelines . Subject to Article XI hereof, the Committee shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan

 

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and perform all acts, including the delegation of its responsibilities (to the extent permitted by applicable law and applicable stock exchange rules), as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable; to construe and interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any Award Agreements relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any agreement relating thereto in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary to effectuate the purpose and intent of the Plan. The Committee may adopt special guidelines and provisions for persons who are residing in or employed in, or subject to, the taxes of, any domestic or foreign jurisdictions to comply with applicable tax and securities laws of such domestic or foreign jurisdictions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no action of the Committee under this Section 3.3 shall impair the rights of any Participant without the Participant’s consent. To the extent applicable, the Plan is intended to comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3, and with respect to Awards intended to be “performance-based,” the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, and the Plan shall be limited, construed and interpreted in a manner so as to comply therewith.

3.4      Decisions Final . Any decision, interpretation or other action made or taken in good faith under the Plan, by or at the direction of the Company, the Board or the Committee (or any of its members), shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Company and all employees and Participants and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

3.5      Designation of Consultants/Liability .

(a)    The Committee may designate employees of the Company and professional advisors to assist the Committee in the administration of the Plan and (to the extent permitted by applicable law and applicable exchange rules) may grant authority to officers to grant Awards and/or execute agreements or other documents on behalf of the Committee.

(b)    The Committee may employ such legal counsel, consultants and agents as it may deem desirable for the administration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion received from any such counsel or consultant and any computation received from any such consultant or agent. Expenses incurred by the Committee or the Board in the engagement of any such counsel, consultant or agent shall be paid by the Company. The Committee, its members and any person designated or granted authority pursuant to sub-section (a) above shall not be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, no officer or employee of the Company or its Affiliates or member or former member of the Committee or of the Board shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted under it.

ARTICLE IV

SHARE LIMITATION

4.1      Shares . (a) The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued or used for reference purposes or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall not exceed 6,444,381 shares (subject to any increase or decrease pursuant to Section 4.2) (the “ Share Reserve ”), which may be either authorized and unissued Common Stock or Common Stock held in or acquired for the treasury of the Company or both. Additional shares of

 

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Common Stock may be issued in excess of the Share Reserve for the sole purpose of satisfying any conversion of Class B Units or Class A-2 Units, as applicable, into shares of Common Stock, pursuant to the terms and conditions of that certain Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Linn Energy Holdco LLC, dated as of February 28, 2017, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time (the “ LLCA ”), and the Conversion Procedures (as defined in the LLCA) (the “ Additional Shares ”), which may be either authorized and unissued Common Stock or Common Stock held in or acquired for the treasury of the Company or both; for the avoidance of doubt, such Additional Shares will not be counted against the Share Reserve.

(b)    The maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be granted under the Plan shall be equal to the Share Reserve. If any Option or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan expires, terminates or is canceled for any reason without having been exercised in full, the number of shares of Common Stock underlying any unexercised Award shall again be available for the purpose of Awards under the Plan. If any shares of Restricted Stock, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards denominated in shares of Common Stock awarded under the Plan to a Participant are forfeited for any reason, the number of forfeited shares of Restricted Stock, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards denominated in shares of Common Stock shall again be available for purposes of Awards under the Plan. Any Award under the Plan settled in cash shall not be counted against the foregoing maximum share limitations.

(c)    Thirty-eight and forty-six one hundredths of a percent (38.46%) of the Share Reserve (the “ Emergence Pool ”) will be granted, as of the Emergence Date and in the form of restricted stock units, to (i) the six individuals set forth in Exhibit B , in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit C , provided that the applicable individual is employed by the Company or its Affiliates immediately prior to the Emergence Date, and (ii) Employees within the two categories set forth in Exhibit B , in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit D (all such Awards, the “ Emergence Awards ”), within the ten (10) days immediately following the Emergence Date. The portion of the Share Reserve that does not constitute the Emergence Awards, plus any subsequent Awards that have been forfeited before vesting (the “ Remaining Share Reserve ”), will be fully granted within the thirty-six (36)-month period immediately following the Emergence Date (with such thirty-six (36)-month anniversary, the “ Final Allocation Date ”), as determined by the Committee in a manner consistent with the then prevailing practices of publicly traded E&P companies. If a Change in Control occurs before the Final Allocation Date, the Company will allocate the entire Remaining Share Reserve on a fully-vested basis to actively employed Employees (pro-rata based upon each such Employee’s relative Awards) upon the consummation of the Change in Control.

4.2      Changes .

(a)    The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger or consolidation of the Company or any Affiliate, (iii) any issuance of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting

 

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the Common Stock, (iv) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any Affiliate, (v) any sale or transfer of all or part of the assets or business of the Company or any Affiliate or (vi) any other corporate act or proceeding.

(b)    Subject to the provisions of Section 10.1:

(i)    If the Company at any time subdivides (by any split, recapitalization or otherwise) the outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, or combines (by reverse split, combination or otherwise) its outstanding Common Stock into a lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then the respective exercise prices for outstanding Awards that provide for a Participant elected exercise and the number of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Awards shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under the Plan.

(ii)    Excepting transactions covered by Section 4.2(b)(i), if the Company effects any merger, consolidation, statutory exchange, spin-off, reorganization, sale or transfer of all or substantially all the Company’s assets or business, or other corporate transaction or event in such a manner that the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock are converted into the right to receive (or the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive in exchange therefor), either immediately or upon liquidation of the Company, securities or other property of the Company or other entity (each, a Reorganization ), then, subject to the provisions of Section 10.1, (A) the aggregate number or kind of securities that thereafter may be issued under the Plan, (B) the number or kind of securities or other property (including cash) to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan (including as a result of the assumption of the Plan and the obligations hereunder by a successor entity, as applicable), or (C) the purchase price thereof, shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under the Plan.

(iii)    If there shall occur any change in the capital structure of the Company other than those covered by Section 4.2(b)(i) or 4.2(b)(ii), including by reason of any extraordinary dividend (whether cash or equity), any conversion, any adjustment, any issuance of any class of securities convertible or exercisable into, or exercisable for, any class of equity securities of the Company, then the Committee shall equitably adjust all outstanding Awards and make such other adjustments to the Plan to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for, Participants under the Plan.

(iv)    Any such adjustment determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section 4.2(b) shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Company and all Participants and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns. Any adjustment to, or assumption or substitution of, an Award under this Section 4.2(b) shall be intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.424-1 (and any amendments thereto), to the extent applicable. Except as expressly provided in this Section 4.2 or in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant shall have no additional rights under the Plan by reason of any transaction or event described in this Section 4.2.

 

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(v)    Fractional shares of Common Stock resulting from any adjustment in Awards pursuant to Section 4.2(a) or this Section 4.2(b) shall be aggregated until, and eliminated at, the time of exercise or payment by rounding-down for fractions less than one-half and rounding-up for fractions equal to or greater than one-half. No cash settlements shall be required with respect to fractional shares eliminated by rounding. Notice of any adjustment shall be given by the Committee to each Participant whose Award has been adjusted and such adjustment (whether or not such notice is given) shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan.

4.3      Minimum Purchase Price . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if authorized but previously unissued shares of Common Stock are issued under the Plan, such shares shall not be issued for a consideration that is less than as permitted under applicable law.

ARTICLE V

ELIGIBILITY

5.1      General Eligibility . All current and prospective Eligible Individuals are eligible to be granted Awards. Eligibility for the grant of Awards and actual participation in the Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, subject to the terms of the Plan, including, without limitation, Section 4.1.

5.2      Incentive Stock Options . Notwithstanding the foregoing, only Eligible Employees of the Company, its Subsidiaries and its Parent (if any) are eligible to be granted Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Eligibility for the grant of an Incentive Stock Option and actual participation in the Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

5.3      General Requirement . The vesting and exercise of Awards granted to a prospective Eligible Individual are conditioned upon such individual actually becoming an Eligible Employee or Consultant, respectively.

5.4      Company Repurchase Right .

(a)     Repurchase Right . Upon a Termination of the Participant, the Company shall have the right (but not the obligation) to repurchase all or any portion of the shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Award (such shares of Common Stock, the “ Award Shares ”) at a price equal to the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock to be repurchased, measured as of the date of the Repurchase Notice (as defined in Section 5.4(b)) (the “ Repurchase Price ”). The Company’s repurchase right pursuant to this Section 5.4 shall expire on the seven-month anniversary of the Participant’s date of Termination.

(b)     Repurchase Notice . In order to exercise its right pursuant to Section 5.4, the Company must deliver a written notice to the Participant (the “ Repurchase Notice ”), which Repurchase Notice shall set forth the number of Award Shares to be acquired, the Repurchase Price, and the time and place for the closing of the repurchase contemplated by this Section 5.4 (the “ Repurchase Closing ”).

 

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(c)     Fair Market Value Dispute . If, within thirty (30) days of the Participant’s receipt of the Repurchase Notice, the Participant delivers to the Company a statement setting forth the Participant’s disagreement with the Fair Market Value determination and including the Participant’s proposed Fair Market Value (the “ Dispute Notice ”), then the Company and the Participant will, within thirty (30) days of the Participant’s delivery of the Dispute Notice, engage a nationally recognized accounting firm experienced in the valuation of private companies that is mutually agreeable to the Participant and the Committee and independent of each of the parties (the “ Auditor ”), to resolve such dispute. For this purpose, an accounting firm shall be considered independent of each of the parties if, within the prior two-year period, the accounting firm has neither (i) provided any services to the Company or any of its Affiliates, nor (ii) performed any substantial services for the Participant. The Company, the Committee and the Participant shall promptly provide the Auditor with any information requested by the Auditor as necessary or appropriate in resolving such dispute. The Auditor shall review such information and, within thirty (30) days of its appointment, shall deliver its determination of Fair Market Value, which, absent a court’s finding of fraud or manifest error, shall be binding on the parties; provided, that the Auditor shall not be permitted or authorized to determine a Fair Market Value that is outside of the range between the Fair Market Value proposed by the Committee and the Fair Market Value proposed by the Participant in the Dispute Notice. The fees and expenses of the Auditor shall be borne by (x) the Company, if the final Fair Market Value determined by the Auditor is greater than 107.5% of the Fair Market Value initially determined by the Committee, and (y) the Participant, if the final Fair Market Value determined by the Auditor is less than or equal to 107.5% of the Fair Market Value initially determined by the Committee.

(d)     Repurchase Closing . The Repurchase Closing shall take place on the date designated by the Company in the Repurchase Notice, which date shall be on or before the thirtieth day following the date of the Repurchase Notice (the “ Repurchase Closing Date ”).    On the Repurchase Closing Date, the Company must pay for the Award Shares to be purchased by it in cash, payable by, at the Company’s election, delivery of a cashier’s or bank check or a wire transfer of immediately available funds.

(e)     Liquidity Limitations . If payment of all or a portion of the Repurchase Price by the Company would violate applicable law or any bona fide third party credit agreements to which the Company is a party (the “ Bona Fide Agreements ”), the Company may pay such portion of the Repurchase Price as soon as practicable following the lapse of such prohibitions or restrictions, but in any event no later than the second anniversary of the original Repurchase Closing Date. If permitted by applicable law and the Bona Fide Agreements, the Company will issue an unsecured promissory note to the Participant in the event of any tolling under this Section 5.4(e), which promissory note will bear interest at the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal for the day immediately preceding the date of the issuance of the promissory note.

(f)     Expiration of Repurchase Rights . The repurchase rights granted in this Section 5.4 shall terminate upon the Registration Date.

 

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ARTICLE VI

STOCK OPTIONS

6.1      Options . Stock Options may be granted alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. Each Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be of one of two types: (a) an Incentive Stock Option or (b) a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

6.2      Grants . The Committee shall have the authority to grant to any Eligible Employee one or more Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, or both types of Stock Options, in each case, pursuant to an Award Agreement. The Committee shall have the authority to grant any Consultant one or more Non-Qualified Stock Options. To the extent that any Stock Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option (whether because of its provisions or the time or manner of its exercise or otherwise), such Stock Option or the portion thereof which does not so qualify shall constitute a separate Non-Qualified Stock Option.

6.3      Incentive Stock Options . Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, no term of the Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be so exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan under Section 422 of the Code, or, without the consent of the Participants affected, to disqualify any Incentive Stock Option under such Section 422.

6.4      Terms of Options . Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall be in such form and contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable, including those set forth in an Award Agreement:

(a)     Exercise Price . The exercise price per share of Common Stock subject to a Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant, provided that the per share exercise price of a Stock Option shall not be less than 100% (or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, 110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the time of grant.

(b)     Stock Option Term . The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee, provided that no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than 10 years after the date the Option is granted; and provided further that the term of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder shall not exceed five years.

(c)     Exercisability . Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.4, Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant. If the Committee provides, in its discretion, that any Stock Option is exercisable subject to certain limitations (including, without limitation, that such Stock Option is exercisable only in installments or within certain time periods), the Committee may waive such limitations on the exercisability at any time at or after the time of grant in whole or in part (including, without limitation, waiver of the installment exercise provisions or acceleration of the time at which such Stock Option may be exercised), based on such factors, if any, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion.

 

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(d)     Method of Exercise . Subject to whatever installment exercise and waiting period provisions apply under Section 6.4(c), to the extent vested, Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the Option term, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company (or to its agent specifically designated for such purpose) specifying the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased (which notice may be provided in an electronic form to the extent acceptable to the Committee and the Company). Such notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price as follows: (i) in cash or by check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company; (ii) solely to the extent permitted by applicable law, if the Common Stock is traded on a national securities exchange, and the Committee authorizes, through a procedure whereby the Participant delivers irrevocable instructions to a broker reasonably acceptable to the Committee to deliver promptly to the Company shares of Common Stock with an aggregate value equal to the purchase price; (iii) by having the Company withhold shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Stock Option; or (iv) on such other terms and conditions as may be acceptable to the Committee (including, without limitation, with the consent of the Committee, by payment in full or in part in the form of Common Stock owned by the Participant, based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the payment date as determined by the Committee). No shares of Common Stock shall be issued until payment therefor, as provided herein, has been made or provided for.

(e)     Non-Transferability of Options . No Stock Option shall be Transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, at the time of grant or thereafter that a Non-Qualified Stock Option that is otherwise not Transferable pursuant to this Section is Transferable to a Family Member in whole or in part and in such circumstances, and under such conditions, as specified by the Committee. A Non-Qualified Stock Option that is Transferred to a Family Member pursuant to the preceding sentence (i) may not be subsequently Transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; (ii) remains subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement; and (iii) may be exercised by such Family Member. Any shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option by a permissible transferee of a Non-Qualified Stock Option or a permissible transferee pursuant to a Transfer after the exercise of the Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

(f)     Termination by Death or Disability . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination is by reason of death or Disability, all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participant’s Termination may be exercised by the Participant (or in the case of the Participant’s death, by the legal representative of the Participant’s estate) at any time within a period of one (1) year from the date of such Termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options; provided, however, that, in the event of a Participant’s Termination by reason of Disability, if the Participant dies within such exercise period, all unexercised Stock Options held by such Participant shall thereafter be exercisable, to the extent to which they were exercisable at the time of death, for a period of one (1) year from the date of such death, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.

 

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(g)     Involuntary Termination Without Cause . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination is by involuntary termination by the Company without Cause, all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participant’s Termination may be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period of ninety (90) days from the date of such Termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.

(h)     Voluntary Resignation . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination is voluntary (other than a voluntary termination described in Section 6.4(i)(y) hereof), all Stock Options that are held by such Participant that are vested and exercisable at the time of the Participant’s Termination may be exercised by the Participant at any time within a period of thirty (30) days from the date of such Termination, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Options.

(i)     Termination for Cause . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, if a Participant’s Termination (x) is for Cause or (y) is a voluntary Termination (as provided in Section 6.4(h)) after the occurrence of an event that would be grounds for a Termination for Cause, all Stock Options, whether vested or not vested, that are held by such Participant shall thereupon terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination.

(j)     Unvested Stock Options . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant, or if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, Stock Options that are not vested as of the date of a Participant’s Termination for any reason shall terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination.

(k)     Incentive Stock Option Limitations . To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an Eligible Employee during any calendar year under the Plan and/or any other stock option plan of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Parent exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options. In addition, if an Eligible Employee does not remain employed by the Company, any Subsidiary or any Parent at all times from the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted until three months prior to the date of exercise thereof (or such other period as required by applicable law), such Stock Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option. Should any provision of the Plan not be necessary in order for the Stock Options to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, or should any additional provisions be required, the Committee may amend the Plan accordingly, without the necessity of obtaining the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

(l)     Form, Modification, Extension and Renewal of Stock Options . Subject to the terms and conditions and within the limitations of the Plan, including those set forth in the following sentence, Stock Options shall be evidenced by such form of agreement or grant as is approved by the Committee, and the Committee may (i) modify, extend or renew outstanding Stock Options granted under the Plan ( provided that the rights of a Participant are not reduced without such Participant’s consent and provided , further , that such action does not subject the

 

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Stock Options to Section 409A of the Code without the consent of the Participant), and (ii) accept the surrender of outstanding Stock Options (to the extent not theretofore exercised) and authorize the granting of new Stock Options or other Awards in substitution therefor (to the extent not theretofore exercised). Notwithstanding the foregoing, except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company in accordance with Section 4.2 (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), an outstanding Stock Option may not be modified to reduce the exercise price thereof nor may a new Stock Option at a lower price be substituted for a surrendered Stock Option, unless such action is approved by the stockholders of the Company.

(m)     Early Exercise . The Committee may provide that a Stock Option include a provision whereby the Participant may elect at any time before the Participant’s Termination to exercise the Stock Option as to any part or all of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Option prior to the full vesting of the Stock Option, and such shares shall be subject to the provisions of Article VII and be treated as Restricted Stock, which will remain subject to the original vesting schedule applicable to the predecessor Stock Option. Unvested shares of Common Stock so purchased may be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company or to any other restriction the Committee determines to be appropriate.

(n)     Other Terms and Conditions . The Committee may include a provision in an Award Agreement providing for the automatic exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option on a cashless basis on the last day of the term of such Option if the Participant has failed to exercise the Non-Qualified Stock Option as of such date, with respect to which the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Non-Qualified Stock Option exceeds the exercise price of such Non-Qualified Stock Option on the date of expiration of such Option, subject to Section 13.4. Stock Options may contain such other provisions, which shall not be inconsistent with any of the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem appropriate.    The recipient of a Stock Option under this Article VI shall not be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, dividends or dividend equivalents in respect of the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Stock Option. The Company will evidence each Participant’s ownership of Common Stock issued upon exercise of a Stock Option pursuant to a designated system, such as book entries by the transfer agent; if a stock certificate for such shares of Common Stock is issued, it will be substantially in the form set forth in Section 7.2(c).

ARTICLE VII

RESTRICTED STOCK

7.1      Awards of Restricted Stock . Shares of Restricted Stock may be issued either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The Committee shall determine the Eligible Individuals, to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of Restricted Stock shall be made, the number of shares to be awarded, the price (if any) to be paid by the Participant (subject to Section 7.2), the time or times within which such Awards may be subject to forfeiture, the vesting schedule and rights to acceleration thereof, and all other terms and conditions of the Awards.

 

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The Committee may condition the grant or vesting of Restricted Stock upon the attainment of specified performance targets (including, the Performance Goals) or such other factor as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion, including to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

7.2      Awards and Certificates . If required by the Award Agreement, Eligible Individuals selected to receive Restricted Stock shall not have any right with respect to such Award, unless and until such Participant has delivered a fully executed copy of the Award Agreement evidencing the Award to the Company, to the extent required by the Committee, and has otherwise complied with the applicable terms and conditions of such Award. Further, such Award shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a)     Purchase Price . The purchase price of Restricted Stock shall be fixed by the Committee. Subject to Section 4.3, the purchase price for shares of Restricted Stock may be zero to the extent permitted by applicable law, and, to the extent not so permitted, such purchase price may not be less than par value.

(b)     Acceptance . Awards of Restricted Stock must be accepted within a period of sixty (60) days (or such shorter period as the Committee may specify at grant) after the grant date, by executing a Restricted Stock Award Agreement and by paying whatever price (if any) the Committee has designated thereunder.

(c)     Legend . The Company will evidence each Participant’s ownership of Restricted Stock pursuant to a designated system, such as book entries by the transfer agent. If a stock certificate for such shares of Restricted Stock is issued, such certificate shall be registered in the name of such Participant, and shall, in addition to such legends required by applicable securities laws, bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Award, substantially in the following form:

“The anticipation, alienation, attachment, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge of the shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) of the Linn Energy, Inc. (the “ Company ”) 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) and an Agreement entered into between the registered owner and the Company dated                    . Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company.”

(d)     Custody . If stock certificates are issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require that any stock certificates evidencing such shares be held in custody by the Company until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any grant of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have delivered a duly signed stock power or other instruments of assignment (including a power of attorney), each endorsed in blank with a guarantee of signature if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company, which would permit transfer to the Company of all or a portion of the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award in the event that such Award is forfeited in whole or part or otherwise transferred to the Company.

 

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7.3      Restrictions and Conditions . The shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to the following restrictions and conditions:

(a)     Restriction Period . (i) The Participant shall not be permitted to Transfer shares of Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan during the period or periods set by the Committee (the “ Restriction Period ”) commencing on the date of such Award, as set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement and such agreement shall set forth a vesting schedule and any event that would accelerate vesting of the shares of Restricted Stock. Within these limits, based on service, attainment of Performance Goals pursuant to Section 7.3(a)(ii) and/or such other factors or criteria as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion, the Committee may condition the grant or provide for the lapse of such restrictions in installments in whole or in part, or may accelerate the vesting of all or any part of any Restricted Stock Award and/or waive the deferral limitations for all or any part of any Restricted Stock Award.

(ii)    If the grant of shares of Restricted Stock or the lapse of restrictions is based on the attainment of Performance Goals, the Committee shall establish the objective Performance Goals and the applicable vesting percentage of the Restricted Stock applicable to each Participant or class of Participants in writing prior to the beginning of the applicable fiscal year or at such later date as otherwise determined by the Committee and while the outcome of the Performance Goals are substantially uncertain. Such Performance Goals may incorporate provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar type events or circumstances. With regard to a Restricted Stock Award that is intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent that any such provision would create impermissible discretion under Section 162(m) of the Code or otherwise violate Section 162(m) of the Code, such provision shall be of no force or effect.

(b)     Rights as a Stockholder . Except as provided in Section 7.3(a) and this Section 7.3(b) or as otherwise determined by the Committee in an Award Agreement, the Participant shall have, with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends (the payment of which may be deferred until, and conditioned upon, the expiration of the applicable Restriction Period, as determined in the Committee’s sole discretion), the right to vote such shares and, subject to and conditioned upon the full vesting of shares of Restricted Stock, the right to tender such shares.

(c)     Termination . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant or, if no rights of the Participant are reduced, thereafter, subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason during the relevant Restriction Period, all Restricted Stock still subject to restriction will be forfeited in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee at grant or thereafter.

(d)     Lapse of Restrictions . If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the shares of Restricted Stock, such earned shares (and to the extent ownership of such shares is evidenced by stock certificates, the stock certificates for such shares) shall be delivered to the Participant. All legends shall be removed from said certificates at the time of delivery to the Participant, except as otherwise required by applicable law or other limitations imposed by the Committee.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

PERFORMANCE AWARDS

8.1      Performance Awards . The Committee may grant a Performance Award to a Participant payable upon the attainment of specific Performance Goals. The Committee may grant Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, as well as Performance Awards that are not intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. If the Performance Award is payable in shares of Restricted Stock, such shares shall be transferable to the Participant only upon attainment of the relevant Performance Goal in accordance with Article VII. If the Performance Award is payable in cash, it may be paid upon the attainment of the relevant Performance Goals either in cash or in shares of Restricted Stock (based on the then current Fair Market Value of such shares), as determined by the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion. Each Performance Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in such form that is not inconsistent with the Plan and that the Committee may from time to time approve. With respect to Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall condition the right to payment of any Performance Award upon the attainment of objective Performance Goals established pursuant to Section 8.2(c).

8.2      Terms and Conditions . Performance Awards awarded pursuant to this Article VIII shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

(a)     Earning of Performance Award . At the expiration of the applicable Performance Period, the Committee shall determine the extent to which the Performance Goals established pursuant to Section 8.2(c) are achieved and the percentage of each Performance Award that has been earned.

(b)     Non-Transferability . Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, Performance Awards may not be Transferred during the Performance Period.

(c)     Objective Performance Goals, Formulae or Standards . With respect to Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall establish the objective Performance Goals for the earning of Performance Awards based on a Performance Period applicable to each Participant or class of Participants in writing prior to the beginning of the applicable Performance Period or at such later date as permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code and while the outcome of the Performance Goals are substantially uncertain. Such Performance Goals may incorporate, if and only to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar type events or circumstances. To the extent that any such provision would create impermissible discretion under Section 162(m) of the Code or otherwise violate Section 162(m) of the Code, such provision shall be of no force or effect, with respect to Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

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(d)     Dividends . To the extent determined by the Committee, Participants shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the dividends paid on the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Performance Award; provided that the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for either of the following at the time of grant: (i) dividends or dividend equivalents will be paid as accrued but will be subject to the same vesting terms and conditions as the underlying Performance Award; or (ii) payment of dividends or dividend equivalents shall be deferred until, and conditioned upon, settlement of the underlying Performance Award.

(e)     Payment . Following the Committee’s determination in accordance with Section 8.2(a), the Company shall settle Performance Awards, in such form (including, without limitation, in shares of Common Stock or in cash) as determined by the Committee, in an amount equal to such Participant’s earned Performance Awards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, award an amount less than the earned Performance Awards and/or subject the payment of all or part of any Performance Award to additional vesting, forfeiture and deferral conditions as it deems appropriate.

(f)     Termination . Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, upon a Participant’s Termination for any reason during the Performance Period for a given Performance Award, the Performance Award in question will vest or be forfeited in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee at grant.

(g)     Accelerated Vesting . Based on service, performance and/or such other factors or criteria, if any, as the Committee may determine, the Committee may, at or after grant, accelerate the vesting of all or any part of any Performance Award.

ARTICLE IX

OTHER STOCK-BASED AND CASH-BASED AWARDS

9.1      Other Stock-Based Awards . The Committee is authorized to grant to Eligible Individuals Other Stock-Based Awards that are payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to shares of Common Stock, including but not limited to, shares of Common Stock awarded purely as a bonus and not subject to restrictions or conditions, shares of Common Stock in payment of the amounts due under an incentive or performance plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or an Affiliate, stock equivalent units, restricted stock units, and Awards valued by reference to book value of shares of Common Stock. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to or in tandem with other Awards granted under the Plan.

Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have authority to determine the Eligible Individuals, to whom, and the time or times at which, such Awards shall be made, the number of shares of Common Stock to be awarded pursuant to such Awards, and all other conditions of the Awards. The Committee may also provide for the grant of Common Stock under such Awards upon the completion of a specified Performance Period.

 

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The Committee may condition the grant or vesting of Other Stock-Based Awards upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals as the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion; provided that to the extent that such Other Stock-Based Awards are intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall establish the objective Performance Goals for the grant or vesting of such Other Stock-Based Awards based on a Performance Period applicable to each Participant or class of Participants in writing prior to the beginning of the applicable Performance Period or at such later date as permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code and while the outcome of the Performance Goals are substantially uncertain. Such Performance Goals may incorporate, if and only to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, provisions for disregarding (or adjusting for) changes in accounting methods, corporate transactions (including, without limitation, dispositions and acquisitions) and other similar type events or circumstances. To the extent that any such provision would create impermissible discretion under Section 162(m) of the Code or otherwise violate Section 162(m) of the Code, such provision shall be of no force or effect, with respect to Performance Awards that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

9.2      Terms and Conditions . Other Stock-Based Awards made pursuant to this Article IX shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

(a)     Non-Transferability . Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement and the Plan, shares of Common Stock subject to Awards made under this Article IX may not be Transferred prior to the date on which the shares are issued, or, if later, the date on which any applicable restriction, performance or deferral period lapses.

(b)     Dividends . To the extent determined by the Committee, Participants shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the dividends paid on the number of shares of Common Stock covered by Awards made under this Article IX; provided that the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for either of the following at the time of grant: (i) dividends or dividend equivalents will be paid as accrued but will be subject to the same vesting terms and conditions as the underlying Award; or (ii) payment of dividends or dividend equivalents shall be deferred until, and conditioned upon, settlement of the underlying Award.

(c)     Vesting . Any Award under this Article IX and any Common Stock covered by any such Award shall vest or be forfeited to the extent so provided in the Award Agreement, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.

(d)     Price . Common Stock issued on a bonus basis under this Article IX may be issued for no cash consideration. Common Stock purchased pursuant to a purchase right awarded under this Article IX shall be priced, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

9.3      Other Cash-Based Awards . The Committee may from time to time grant Other Cash-Based Awards to Eligible Individuals in such amounts, on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, including no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law, as it shall determine in its sole discretion. Other Cash-Based Awards may be granted subject to the satisfaction of vesting conditions or may be awarded purely as a bonus and not subject to restrictions or conditions, and if subject to vesting conditions, the Committee may accelerate the vesting of such Awards at any time in its sole discretion. The grant of an Other Cash-Based Award shall not require a segregation of any of the Company’s assets for satisfaction of the Company’s payment obligation thereunder.

 

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ARTICLE X

CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS

10.1      Benefits . In the event of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined below), and except as otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award Agreement, a Participant’s unvested Awards shall not vest automatically and a Participant’s Awards shall be treated in accordance with one or more of the following methods as determined by the Committee:

(a)    Awards, whether or not then vested, shall be continued, assumed, or have new rights substituted therefor, as determined by the Committee in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and restrictions to which shares of Restricted Stock or any other Award granted prior to the Change in Control are subject shall not lapse upon a Change in Control and the Restricted Stock or other Award shall, where appropriate in the sole discretion of the Committee, receive the same distribution as other Common Stock on such terms as determined by the Committee; provided that the Committee may decide to award additional Restricted Stock or other Awards in lieu of any cash distribution. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of Incentive Stock Options, any assumed or substituted Stock Option shall comply with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.424-1 (and any amendment thereto).

(b)    The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for the purchase of any Awards by the Company or an Affiliate for an amount of cash equal to the excess (if any) of the Change in Control Price (as defined below) of the shares of Common Stock covered by such Awards, over the aggregate exercise price of such Awards. For purposes hereof, “ Change in Control Price ” shall mean the highest price per share of Common Stock paid in respect of the transaction that constitutes a Change in Control of the Company.

(c)    The Committee may, in its sole discretion, terminate all outstanding and unexercised Stock Options or any Other Stock-Based Award that provides for a Participant elected exercise, effective as of the date of the Change in Control, by delivering notice of termination to each Participant at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of consummation of the Change in Control, in which case during the period from the date on which such notice of termination is delivered to the consummation of the Change in Control, each such Participant shall have the right to exercise in full all of such Participant’s Awards that are then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on exercisability otherwise contained in the Award Agreements), but any such exercise shall be contingent on the occurrence of the Change in Control, and, provided that, if the Change in Control does not take place within a specified period after giving such notice for any reason whatsoever, the notice and exercise pursuant thereto shall be null and void.

(d)    The Committee may, in its sole discretion, make any other determination as to the treatment of Awards in connection with such Change in Control as the Committee may determine. Any escrow, holdback, earnout or similar provisions in the definitive agreement(s) relating to such transaction may apply to any payment to the holders of Awards to the same extent and in the same manner as such provisions apply to the holders of shares of Common Stock.

 

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Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for accelerated vesting or lapse of restrictions, of an Award at any time.

10.2      Change in Control . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement with a Participant approved by the Committee, a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur if:

(a)    any “person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Common Stock of the Company), becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

(b)    during any period of 24 consecutive calendar months, individuals who were directors of the Company on the first day of such period (the “ Incumbent Directors ”) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board; provided , however , that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the first day of such period whose election, or nomination for election, by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors will be considered as though such individual were an Incumbent Director, but excluding, for purposes of this proviso, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened proxy contest with respect to election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a “person” (as used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), in each case, other than the Board, which individual, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be deemed to be an Incumbent Director for purposes of this Section 10.2(b), regardless of whether such individual was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors;

(c)    consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other business combination (any of the foregoing, a “ Business Combination ”) of the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary with any other corporation, in any case with respect to which the Company voting securities outstanding immediately prior to such Business Combination do not, immediately following such Business Combination, continue to represent (either by remaining outstanding or being converted into voting securities of the Company or any ultimate parent thereof) more than 50% of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company (or its successor) or any ultimate parent thereof after the Business Combination; or

(d)    (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the consummation of a sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) in one or a series of related transactions.

 

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award that is characterized as “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, an event shall not be considered to be a Change in Control under the Plan for purposes of payment of such Award unless such event is also a “change in ownership,” a “change in effective control” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

ARTICLE XI

TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF PLAN

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Board may at any time, and from time to time, amend, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of the Plan (including any amendment deemed necessary to ensure that the Company may comply with any regulatory requirement referred to in Article XIII or Section 409A of the Code), or suspend or terminate it entirely, retroactively or otherwise; provided , however , that the rights of a Participant, with respect to all Awards granted prior to such amendment, suspension or termination, may not be impaired in any way without the express written consent of such Participant. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Board may amend the Plan or any Award Agreement at any time without a Participant’s consent only to comply with applicable law, including Section 409A of the Code. The Committee may amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but, subject to Article IV or as otherwise specifically provided herein, no such amendment or other action by the Committee shall impair the rights of any holder in any way without the holder’s express written consent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, the Board may not amend, in whole or in part, Section 4.1(c) at any time.

ARTICLE XII

UNFUNDED STATUS OF PLAN

The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payment as to which a Participant has a fixed and vested interest but which are not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any right that is greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

ARTICLE XIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

13.1      Legend . The Committee may require each person receiving shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Stock Option or other Award under the Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the Participant is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof. In addition to any legend required by the Plan, the certificates for such shares (if any) may include any legend that the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on Transfer. All certificates for shares of Common Stock (to the extent such shares are certificated) delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then

 

25


listed or any national securities exchange system or over-the-counter market upon whose system the Common Stock is then quoted, any applicable federal or state securities law, and any applicable corporate law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

13.2      Other Plans . Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

13.3      No Right to Employment/Consultancy . Neither the Plan nor the grant of any Option or other Award hereunder shall give any Participant or other employee or Consultant any right with respect to continuance of employment or consultancy by the Company or any Affiliate, nor shall the Plan nor the grant of any Option or other Award hereunder limit in any way the right of the Company or any Affiliate by which an employee is employed or a Consultant is retained to terminate such employment or consultancy at any time.

13.4      Withholding of Taxes .

(a)     General . Subject to Section 13.4(b), as a condition to the settlement of any Award hereunder, a Participant shall be required to pay in cash, or to make other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Company (including, without limitation, authorizing withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to the Participant), an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign taxes of any kind (including, but not limited to, the Participant’s FICA and SDI obligations) which the Company, in its good faith discretion, deems necessary to comply with the Code and/or any other applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to the Award. Unless the tax withholding obligations of the Company are satisfied, the Company shall have no obligation to issue a certificate or book-entry transfer for such Shares.

(b)     Common Stock Not Publicly Traded . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 13.4(a), in the event the shares of Common Stock are not listed for trading on an established securities exchange on the date an Award vests and/or is settled, then the Company shall, at the request of the Participant, deduct or withhold shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign taxes of any kind (including, but not limited to, the Participant’s FICA and SDI obligations) to the maximum extent permitted by the accounting rules applicable to the Company as then in effect without adverse accounting treatment.

13.5      No Assignment of Benefits . No Award or other benefit payable under the Plan shall, except as otherwise specifically provided by law or permitted by the Committee, be Transferable in any manner, and any attempt to Transfer any such benefit shall be void, and any such benefit shall not in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any person who shall be entitled to such benefit, nor shall it be subject to attachment or legal process for or against such person.

 

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13.6      Listing and Other Conditions .

(a)    Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, as long as the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, system sponsored by a national securities association or recognized over-the-counter market, the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award shall be conditioned upon such shares being listed on such exchange, system or market. The Company shall have no obligation to issue such shares unless and until such shares are so listed, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award with respect to such shares shall be suspended until such listing has been effected.

(b)    If at any time counsel to the Company shall be of the opinion that any sale or delivery of shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Option or other Award is or may in the circumstances be unlawful or result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company under the statutes, rules or regulations of any applicable jurisdiction, the Company shall have no obligation to make such sale or delivery, or to make any application or to effect or to maintain any qualification or registration under the Securities Act or otherwise, with respect to shares of Common Stock or Awards, and the right to exercise any Option or other Award shall be suspended until, in the opinion of said counsel, such sale or delivery shall be lawful or will not result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company.

(c)    Upon termination of any period of suspension under this Section 13.6, any Award affected by such suspension which shall not then have expired or terminated shall be reinstated as to all shares available before such suspension and as to shares which would otherwise have become available during the period of such suspension, but no such suspension shall extend the term of any Award.

(d)    A Participant shall be required to supply the Company with certificates, representations and information that the Company requests and otherwise cooperate with the Company in obtaining any listing, registration, qualification, exemption, consent or approval the Company deems necessary or appropriate.

13.7      Governing Law . The Plan and actions taken in connection herewith shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas (regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable Texas principles of conflict of laws).

13.8      Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial . Any suit, action or proceeding with respect to the Plan or any Award Agreement, or any judgment entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in respect of any thereof, shall be resolved only in the courts of the State of Texas or the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and the appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals in such courts. In that context, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company and each Participant shall irrevocably and unconditionally (a) submit in any proceeding relating to the Plan or any Award Agreement, or for the recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof (a “ Proceeding ”), to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Texas, the court of the United States of America for the Southern District of Texas, and appellate courts having jurisdiction of appeals from any of the foregoing, and agree that Tax claims in respect of any such Proceeding shall be heard and determined in such Texas State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court, (b) consent that any such Proceeding may and shall be brought in such courts and waives any objection that the Company and each Participant may now or thereafter have to the venue or jurisdiction of any such

 

27


Proceeding in any such court or that such Proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agree not to plead or claim the same, (c) waive all right to trial by jury in any Proceeding (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to the Plan or any Award Agreement, (d) agree that service of process in any such Proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy of such process by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such party, in the case of a Participant, at the Participant’s address shown in the books and records of the Company or, in the case of the Company, at the Company’s principal offices, attention General Counsel, and (e) agree that nothing in the Plan shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by the laws of the State of Texas.

13.9      Construction . Wherever any words are used in the Plan or an Award Agreement in the masculine gender they shall be construed as though they were also used in the feminine gender in all cases where they would so apply, and wherever words are used herein in the singular form they shall be construed as though they were also used in the plural form in all cases where they would so apply.

13.10      Other Benefits . No Award granted or paid out under the Plan shall be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits under any retirement plan of the Company or its Affiliates nor affect any benefit under any other benefit plan now or subsequently in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to the level of compensation.

13.11      Costs . The Company shall bear all expenses associated with administering the Plan, including expenses of issuing Common Stock pursuant to Awards hereunder.

13.12      No Right to Same Benefits . The provisions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant, and such Awards to individual Participants need not be the same in subsequent years.

13.13      Death/Disability . The Committee may in its discretion require the transferee of a Participant to supply it with written notice of the Participant’s death or Disability and to supply it with a copy of the will (in the case of the Participant’s death) or such other evidence as the Committee deems necessary to establish the validity of the transfer of an Award. The Committee may also require that the agreement of the transferee to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement.

13.14      Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act . All elections and transactions under the Plan by persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act involving shares of Common Stock are intended to comply with any applicable exemptive condition under Rule 16b-3. The Committee may establish and adopt written administrative guidelines, designed to facilitate compliance with Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, as it may deem necessary or proper for the administration and operation of the Plan and the transaction of business thereunder.

13.15      Section 409A of the Code . The Plan is intended to comply with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, it shall be paid in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including proposed, temporary or final regulations or any other guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury and

 

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the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any provision in the Plan that is inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code shall be deemed to be amended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and to the extent such provision cannot be amended to comply therewith, such provision shall be null and void. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Award that is intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Committee or the Company and, in the event that any amount or benefit under the Plan becomes subject to penalties under Section 409A of the Code, responsibility for payment of such penalties shall rest solely with the affected Participants and not with the Company. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or Award Agreement, any payment(s) of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) that are otherwise required to be made under the Plan to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code) as a result of such employee’s separation from service (other than a payment that is not subject to Section 409A of the Code) shall be delayed for the first six (6) months following such separation from service (or, if earlier, the date of death of the specified employee) and shall instead be paid (in a manner set forth in the Award Agreement) upon expiration of such delay period.

13.16      Successors and Assigns . The Plan and any applicable Award Agreement(s) shall be binding on all successors and permitted assigns of a Participant, including, without limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of such estate.

13.17      Severability of Provisions . If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and the Plan and/or Award Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.

13.18      Payments to Minors, Etc . Any benefit payable to or for the benefit of a minor, an incompetent person or other person incapable of receipt thereof shall be deemed paid when paid to such person’s guardian or to the party providing or reasonably appearing to provide for the care of such person, and such payment shall fully discharge the Committee, the Board, the Company, its Affiliates and their officers, directors/managers, employees, agents and representatives with respect thereto.

13.19      Headings and Captions . The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.

13.20      Section 162(m) of the Code . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the provisions of the Plan requiring compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code shall not apply to Awards granted under the Plan that are not intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

13.21      Company Recoupment of Awards . A Participant’s rights with respect to any Award hereunder shall in all events be subject to any right or obligation that the Company may have regarding the clawback of “incentive-based compensation” under Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

The Plan shall become effective upon its adoption by the Board.

ARTICLE XV

TERM OF PLAN

No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the earlier of the date that the Plan is adopted or the date of stockholder approval, but Awards granted prior to such tenth anniversary may extend beyond that date; provided that no Award (other than a Stock Option) that is intended to be “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be granted on or after the fifth anniversary of the stockholder approval of the Plan unless the Performance Goals are re-approved (or other designated Performance Goals are approved) by the stockholders no later than the first stockholder meeting that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which stockholders approve the Performance Goals. For purposes of the Plan, approval by the bankruptcy court shall serve as stockholder approval, unless otherwise prohibited by law.

ARTICLE XVI

NAME OF PLAN

The Plan shall be known as the “Linn Energy, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan.”

 

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EXHIBIT A

PERFORMANCE GOALS

To the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, performance goals established for purposes of Awards intended to be “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, shall be based on the attainment of certain target levels of, or a specified increase or decrease (as applicable) in one or more of the following:

 

    Non-GAAP performance measures included in any of the Company’s SEC filings;

 

    Line items on the Company’s income statement, including but not limited to net interest income, total other income, total costs and expenses, income before taxes, net income and/or earnings per share;

 

    Line items on the Company’s balance sheet, including but not limited to debt or other similar financial obligations of the Company, which may be calculated net of cash balances and/or other offsets and adjustments as may be established by the Committee in its sole discretion;

 

    Line items on the Company’s statement of cash flows, including but not limited to net cash provided in (used by) operating activities, investing activities, and/or financing activities;

 

    Market share;

 

    Operational metrics, including but not limited to generation performance, customer churn, residential ending customer count, customer satisfaction, average days sales outstanding, energizing events issues/success, customer complaints/success, systems availability and downtime, contribution margin, and safety and environmental improvements;

 

    Financial ratios, including but not limited to operating margin, return on equity, return on assets, and/or return on invested capital; or

 

    Total shareholder return, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock, or the growth in value of an investment in the Common Stock assuming the reinvestment of dividends.

With respect to Awards that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, also exclude, or adjust to reflect, the impact of an event or occurrence that the Committee determines should be appropriately excluded or adjusted, including:

(a)    restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items or events, and other unusual or non-recurring charges as described in Accounting Standards Codification 225-20, “Extraordinary and Unusual Items,” and/or management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing or incorporated by reference in the Company’s Form 10-K for the applicable year;

(b)    an event either not directly related to the operations of the Company or not within the reasonable control of the Company’s management;

 

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(c)    a change in tax law or accounting standards required by generally accepted accounting principles; or

(d)    a decision to accelerate or defer capital expenditures or expenses contrary to the timing reflected in the Company’s annual financial plan.

Performance goals may also be based upon individual participant performance goals, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. In addition, Awards that are not intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code may be based on the performance goals set forth herein or on such other performance goals as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion or without regard to any performance goals.

In addition, such performance goals may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of Company (or subsidiary, division, other operational unit, administrative department or product category of the Company) performance under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of one or more other companies or one or more groups of companies (e.g., an index). With respect to Awards that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, but only to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code (including, without limitation, compliance with any requirements for stockholder approval), the Committee may also:

(a)    designate additional business criteria on which the performance goals may be based; or

(b)    adjust, modify or amend the aforementioned business criteria.

 

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EXHIBIT B

ALLOCATION OF EMERGENCE AWARDS

 

Employee

  

Position

   % of Emergence Pool  

Mark E. Ellis

   President & CEO      30.00

David B. Rottino

   EVP & CFO      12.75

Arden L. Walker, Jr.

   EVP & COO      12.75

Thomas E. Emmons

   SVP, Corporate Services      6.50

Jamin McNeil

   SVP, Operations      6.50

Candice J. Wells

   SVP, GC & Corporate Secretary      6.50

Vice President Group

   8 Vice Presidents      12.00

Manager/Director Group

   22 Managers/Directors      13.00
     

 

 

 
        100.00
     

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT C

FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

FOR THE SIX INDIVIDUALS LISTED IN EXHIBIT B

 

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EXHIBIT D

FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE CATEGORIES LISTED IN EXHIBIT B

 

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LINN ENERGY, INC.

 

 

2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

ANNEX A

As a condition to (i) receiving an Award under the Plan and (ii) receiving any Common Stock in settlement of an Award, the Company and the Participant hereby agree to be bound by and to comply with the provisions of this Annex A. For purpose of this Annex A, (A) “ Common Stock ” also includes any Common Stock issued upon conversion of an Interest (a “ Converted Interest ”) pursuant to the Conversion Procedures (with “Interests” and “Conversion Procedures” defined in the Linn Energy Holdco LLC Incentive Interest Plan), and (B) “ Award ” also includes any Converted Interest.

1. Definitions . Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Linn Energy, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”).

2. Issuance of Common Stock and Awards . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Annex A and as set forth in the Plan and the Award Agreement(s), as of the Emergence Date, the Company is issuing Awards to the Participant.

3. Lock-Up Period . The Participant agrees that, if any underwritten offering is undertaken by the Company for its own account or on account of a third party pursuant to customary registration rights (an “ Offering ”) (other than registration of securities issued on Form S-8, S-4 or any successor or similar form), the Participant will not effect any public sale or distribution of any shares of Common Stock, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock, (except pursuant to the prospectus or registration statement for such Offering) during the “ Lock-Up Period ,” unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company. The “ Lock-Up Period ” shall be no longer than the lock-up period applicable to the other shareholders of Common Stock and in any event no longer than 180 days.

4. Tag-Along Rights .

(a) The Participant shall be considered to be a Tag-Along Offeree (as such term is defined in Section 7 of Article IV of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as may be amended from time to time ( provided that any such amendment shall not adversely affect any Participant relative to other potential Tag-Along Offerees) (the “ COI ”)) and entitled to receive a Tag-Along Notice (as defined in the COI) and otherwise participate in the Tag-Along Transfer (as defined in the COI), pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth for the stockholders of the Company in the COI as modified by this Annex A. The Participant’s Tag-Along Transfer pro-rata portion shall be calculated by determining the number of shares of Common Stock held by the Participant on a “fully-diluted” basis (assuming full vesting and conversion/settlement of all outstanding Awards and convertible securities issued by the Company or its Affiliates), but only actual shares of Common Stock held by the Participant may be sold in the Tag Along Transfer,


including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Common Stock acquired as a result of the conversion of an equity award into Common Stock in connection with the Tag-Along Transfer (the “ Tagable Securities ”). By way of example, if a Participant holds ten shares of Common Stock and ten RSUs, the Participant will be deemed to hold 20 shares of Common Stock, but only the actual ten shares of Common Stock held by the Participant may be transferred in the Tag-Along Transfer. The Participant may exercise the Tag-Along Transfer rights set forth in Section 7 of Article IV of the COI with respect to all of the Tagable Securities and without regard to whether the Participant satisfies the threshold limit of share ownership applicable to other stockholders of the Company.

(b) If elected by the Participant and permissible under Section 409A, immediately preceding the Tag-Along Transfer, the Company shall issue shares of Common Stock in settlement of any Tagable Securities that are not already in the form of Common Stock, which newly issued shares of Common Stock shall be considered to be actual shares of Common Stock held by the Participant. By way of example, if a Participant holds ten shares of Common Stock and ten RSUs (five of which will vest and be settled with shares of Common Stock as a result of the Tag-Along Transfer), the Participant will be deemed to hold 20 shares of Common Stock, but only 15 shares of Common Stock (ten shares of Common Stock held by the Participant, plus the five shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant upon vesting and settlement of the RSUs) may be transferred in the Tag-Along Transfer.

(c) In the event the Tag-Along Seller declines to include in the Tag-Along Sale any Tagable Securities that would be permitted to be included in such Tag-Along Transfer and that the Participant has elected to be included in such Tag-Along Transfer (the “ Rejected Awards ”), the Company and/or its Subsidiaries shall purchase the Rejected Awards for cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the proceeds the Participant would have received with respect to such Rejected Awards in such Tag-Along Sale. The distribution of such cash payment shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 4.

(d) In connection with a Tag-Along Transfer, the Participant shall not be required to become subject to restrictive covenants greater in scope or extent than those restrictive covenants to which the Participant has agreed to be bound as in effect immediately prior to the time of the Tag-Along Transfer.

5. Participation Rights . The Participant shall be entitled to receive an Issuance Notice (as defined in the COI) or Accelerated Sale Notice (as defined in the COI), as applicable, and otherwise participate in a proposed issuance or sale of New Equity Securities (as defined in the COI), pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth for the stockholders of the Company in the preemptive rights provision contained in the COI. For purposes of exercising such rights, the Participant’s pro-rata portion of the New Equity Securities shall be calculated by determining the number of shares of Common Stock held by the Participant on a “fully-diluted” basis assuming full vesting and conversion/settlement of all outstanding Awards and convertible securities issued by the Company or its Affiliates. The Participant shall be entitled to the rights set forth in the preemptive rights provision contained in the COI without regard to whether the Participant satisfies the threshold limit of share ownership applicable to other stockholders of the Company.

6. Termination . This Annex A shall terminate upon the Registration Date. Upon termination hereof, no party shall have any right or obligation hereunder; provided that Section 3 shall continue to apply to the Participant through the end of the applicable Lock-Up Period.

 

 

Annex A

Exhibit 10.2

FORM OF

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

PURSUANT TO THE

LINN ENERGY, INC. 2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

*    *    *    *    *

Participant:                                                      

Grant Date:                                                       

Number of Restricted Stock Units Granted:                             

*    *    *    *    *

THIS RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of the Grant Date specified above, is entered into by and between Linn Energy, Inc., a corporation organized in the State of Delaware (the “ Company ”), and the Participant specified above, pursuant to the Linn Energy, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as in effect and as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), which is administered by the Committee; and

WHEREAS, it has been determined under the Plan that it would be in the best interests of the Company to grant the Restricted Stock Units (“ RSUs ”) provided herein to the Participant.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto hereby mutually covenant and agree as follows:

1.     Incorporation By Reference; Plan Document Receipt . Except as specifically provided herein, this Agreement is subject in all respects to the terms and provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, any amendments thereto adopted at any time and from time to time unless such amendments are expressly intended not to apply to the Award provided hereunder), all of which terms and provisions are made a part of and incorporated in this Agreement as if they were each expressly set forth herein. Except as provided otherwise herein, any capitalized term not defined in this Agreement shall have the same meaning as is ascribed thereto in the Plan. The Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a true copy of the Plan and that the Participant has read the Plan carefully and fully understands its content. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of this Agreement shall control.

2.     Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Award . The Company hereby grants to the Participant, as of the Grant Date specified above, the number of RSUs specified above. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, the Participant agrees and understands that nothing contained in this Agreement provides, or is intended to provide, the Participant with any protection against potential future dilution of the Participant’s interest in the Company for any reason, and no adjustments shall be made for dividends in cash or other property, distributions or other rights in respect of the shares of Common Stock underlying the RSUs, except as otherwise specifically provided for in the Plan or this Agreement.


3.     Vesting; Forfeiture .

(a)     Vesting Generally . Subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) to 3(e) hereof, the RSUs subject to this Award shall become vested as follows, provided that the Participant has not incurred a Termination prior to each such vesting date:

 

Vesting  Date

  

Percentage  of  RSUs

Emergence Date    25%
First Anniversary of Emergence Date    25%
Second Anniversary of Emergence Date    25%
Third Anniversary of Emergence Date    25%

For purposes of this Agreement, “ Emergence Date ” has the same meaning as “Effective Date” (as defined in that certain Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of LINN Energy LLC, and its Debtor Affiliates). There shall be no proportionate or partial vesting in the periods prior to each vesting date and all vesting shall occur only on the appropriate vesting date, subject to the Participant not incurring a Termination prior to the applicable vesting date. The continuous employment or service of the Participant shall not be deemed interrupted, and the Participant shall not be deemed to have incurred a Termination, by reason of the transfer of the Participant’s employment or service among the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and/or Affiliates.

(b)     Death or Disability; Termination Without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason . In the event of the Participant’s Termination (i) by reason of the Participant’s death or Disability, (ii) by the Company or other employing Affiliate without Cause or (iii) by the Participant for Good Reason, additional vesting following such Termination, if any, will be determined pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement by and between the Participant and Linn Operating, LLC, dated as of the Emergence Date (the “ Employment Agreement ”).

(c)     Change in Control . All unvested RSUs shall become fully vested upon the consummation of a Change in Control, provided that the Participant has not incurred a Termination prior to such date.

(d)     Committee Discretion to Accelerate Vesting . In addition to the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate vesting of the RSUs at any time and for any reason.

(e)     Forfeiture . Subject to the terms of this Section  3 , all unvested RSUs shall be immediately forfeited upon the Participant’s Termination for any reason.

 

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4.     Delivery of Shares .

(a)     General . Subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b) and Section  4(c) hereof, within thirty (30) days following the vesting of the RSUs (or, in the event of a Qualifying Termination pursuant to Section 3(c) above, within ten days of the date on which the Participant’s release becomes effective, if later), the Participant shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock that correspond to the number of RSUs that have become vested on the applicable vesting date, less any shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company pursuant to Section  9 hereof.

(b)     Emergence Date-Vesting RSUs . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section  4(a) hereof, with respect to the RSUs that vest as of the Emergence Date pursuant to Section  3(a) above, the Participant shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock that corresponds to the number of RSUs that vest as of the Emergence Date, less any shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company pursuant to Section  9 hereof, on the earliest to occur of (i) the Participant’s Termination ( provided that an event shall be considered a Termination for purposes of this Section  4(b) only to the extent the Termination also constitutes a “separation from service” under Code Section 409A); (ii) the first anniversary of the Emergence Date; or (iii) a Change in Control ( provided that an event shall not be considered to be a Change in Control for purposes of this Section  4(b) unless such event is also a “change in ownership,” a “change in effective control” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code).

(c)     Blackout Periods . If the Participant is subject to any Company “blackout” policy or other trading restriction imposed by the Company on the date such distribution would otherwise be made pursuant to Section  4(a) hereof, such distribution shall be instead made on the earlier of (i) the date that the Participant is not subject to any such policy or restriction and (ii) the later of (A) the end of the calendar year in which such distribution would otherwise have been made and (B) a date that is immediately prior to the expiration of two and one-half months following the date such distribution would otherwise have been made hereunder.

5.     Dividends; Rights as Stockholder . Cash dividends on the number of shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder shall be credited to a dividend book entry account on behalf of the Participant with respect to each RSU granted to the Participant, provided that such cash dividends shall not be deemed to be reinvested in shares of Common Stock and shall be held uninvested and without interest and paid in cash at the same time that the shares of Common Stock underlying the RSUs are delivered to the Participant in accordance with the provisions hereof. Stock or property dividends on shares of Common Stock shall be credited to a dividend book entry account on behalf of the Participant with respect to each RSU granted to the Participant, provided that such stock or property dividends shall be paid in (i) shares of Common Stock, (ii) in the case of a spin-off, shares of stock of the entity that is spun-off from the Company, or (iii) other property, as applicable and in each case, at the same time that the shares of Common Stock underlying the RSUs are delivered to the Participant in accordance with the provisions hereof. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock covered by any RSU unless and until the Participant has become the holder of record of such shares.

 

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6.     Non-Transferability . No portion of the RSUs may be sold, assigned, transferred, encumbered, hypothecated or pledged by the Participant, other than to the Company as a result of forfeiture of the RSUs as provided herein.

7.     Restrictive Covenants . As a condition precedent to the Participant’s receipt of the RSUs issued hereunder, the Participant agrees to continue to be bound by the restrictive covenant obligations set forth in the Employment Agreement.

8.     Governing Law . All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to the choice of law principles thereof.

9.     Withholding of Tax . The Participant agrees and acknowledges that the Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign taxes of any kind (including, but not limited to, the Participant’s FICA and SDI obligations) which the Company, in its good faith discretion, deems necessary to be withheld or remitted to comply with the Code and/or any other applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to the RSUs, and if the withholding requirement cannot be satisfied, the Company may otherwise refuse to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock otherwise required to be issued pursuant to this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, if the Common Stock is not listed for trading on a national exchange at the time of vesting and/or settlement of the RSUs, then at the Participant’s election, the Company shall withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable to the Participant hereunder with a Fair Market Value equal to the Participant’s total income and employment taxes imposed as a result of the vesting and/or settlement of the RSUs, but only to the extent permitted by applicable accounting rules so as not to affect accounting treatment.

10.     Legend . The Company may at any time place legends referencing any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law restrictions on all certificates, if any, representing shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement. The Participant shall, at the request of the Company, promptly present to the Company any and all certificates, if any, representing shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to this Agreement in the possession of the Participant in order to carry out the provisions of this Section  10 .

11.     Securities Representations . This Agreement is being entered into by the Company in reliance upon the following express representations and warranties of the Participant. The Participant hereby acknowledges, represents and warrants that:

(a)    The Participant has been advised that the Participant may be an “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in this connection the Company is relying in part on the Participant’s representations set forth in this Section  11 .

(b)    If the Participant is deemed an affiliate within the meaning of Rule 144 of the Securities Act, the shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder must be held indefinitely unless an exemption from any applicable resale restrictions is available or the Company files an additional registration statement (or a “re-offer prospectus”) with regard to such shares of Common Stock and the Company is under no obligation to register such shares of Common Stock (or to file a “re-offer prospectus”).

 

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(c)    If the Participant is deemed an affiliate within the meaning of Rule 144 of the Securities Act, the Participant understands that (i) the exemption from registration under Rule 144 will not be available unless (A) a public trading market then exists for the Common Stock of the Company, (B) adequate information concerning the Company is then available to the public, and (C) other terms and conditions of Rule 144 or any exemption therefrom are complied with, and (ii) any sale of the shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder may be made only in limited amounts in accordance with the terms and conditions of Rule 144 or any exemption therefrom.

12.     No Waiver . No waiver or non-action by either party hereto with respect to any breach by the other party of any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any succeeding breach of such provision, or as a waiver of the provision itself.

13.     Entire Agreement; Amendment . This Agreement, together with the Plan, contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior agreements or prior understandings, whether written or oral, between the parties relating to such subject matter. The Committee shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to modify or amend this Agreement from time to time in accordance with and as provided in the Plan. This Agreement may also be modified or amended by a writing signed by both the Company and the Participant. The Company shall give written notice to the Participant of any such modification or amendment of this Agreement as soon as practicable after the adoption thereof.

14.     Notices . Any notice hereunder by the Participant shall be given to the Company in writing and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof by the General Counsel of the Company. Any notice hereunder by the Company shall be given to the Participant in writing and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof at such address as the Participant may have on file with the Company.

15.     No Right to Employment or Service . Any questions as to whether and when there has been a Termination and the cause of such Termination shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. Nothing in this Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates to terminate the Participant’s employment or service at any time, for any reason and with or without Cause, in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions of the Employment Agreement.

16.     Transfer of Personal Data . The Participant authorizes, agrees and unambiguously consents to the transmission by the Company (or any Subsidiary) of any personal data information related to the RSUs awarded under this Agreement for legitimate business purposes (including, without limitation, the administration of the Plan). This authorization and consent is freely given by the Participant.

17.     Compliance with Laws . The grant of RSUs and the issuance of shares of Common Stock hereunder shall be subject to, and shall comply with, any applicable requirements of any foreign and U.S. federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations

 

5


(including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and in each case any respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) and any other law, rule regulation or exchange requirement applicable thereto. The Company shall not be obligated to issue the RSUs or any shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement if any such issuance would violate any such requirements. As a condition to the settlement of the RSUs, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation.

18.     Binding Agreement; Assignment . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, be binding upon, and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns. The Participant shall not assign any part of this Agreement without the prior express written consent of the Company.

19.     Headings . The titles and headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement.

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

21.     Further Assurances . Each party hereto shall do and perform (or shall cause to be done and performed) all such further acts and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as either party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the Plan and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder; provided that no such additional documents shall contain terms or conditions inconsistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

22.     Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or the validity, legality or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction, it being intended that all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

23.     Acquired Rights . The Participant acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the Company may terminate or amend the Plan at any time; (b) the award of RSUs made under this Agreement is completely independent of any other award or grant and is made at the sole discretion of the Company; (c) no past grants or awards (including, without limitation, the RSUs awarded hereunder) give the Participant any right to any grants or awards in the future whatsoever; and (d) any benefits granted under this Agreement are not part of the Participant’s ordinary salary, and shall not be considered as part of such salary in the event of severance, redundancy or resignation.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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

 

LINN ENERGY, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

PARTICIPANT

 

Name:  

 

 

7

Exhibit 10.3

FORM OF

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

PURSUANT TO THE

LINN ENERGY, INC. 2017 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

*    *    *    *    *

Participant:                                                  

Grant Date:                                                    

Number of Restricted Stock Units Granted:                                 

*    *    *    *    *

THIS RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of the Grant Date specified above, is entered into by and between Linn Energy, Inc., a corporation organized in the State of Delaware (the “ Company ”), and the Participant specified above, pursuant to the Linn Energy, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as in effect and as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), which is administered by the Committee; and

WHEREAS, it has been determined under the Plan that it would be in the best interests of the Company to grant the Restricted Stock Units (“ RSUs ”) provided herein to the Participant.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto hereby mutually covenant and agree as follows:

1.     Incorporation By Reference; Plan Document Receipt . Except as specifically provided herein, this Agreement is subject in all respects to the terms and provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, any amendments thereto adopted at any time and from time to time unless such amendments are expressly intended not to apply to the Award provided hereunder), all of which terms and provisions are made a part of and incorporated in this Agreement as if they were each expressly set forth herein. Except as provided otherwise herein, any capitalized term not defined in this Agreement shall have the same meaning as is ascribed thereto in the Plan. The Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a true copy of the Plan and that the Participant has read the Plan carefully and fully understands its content. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of this Agreement shall control.

2.     Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Award . The Company hereby grants to the Participant, as of the Grant Date specified above, the number of RSUs specified above. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, the Participant agrees and understands that nothing contained in this Agreement provides, or is intended to provide, the Participant with any protection against potential future dilution of the Participant’s interest in the Company for any reason, and no adjustments shall be made for dividends in cash or other property, distributions or other rights in respect of the shares of Common Stock underlying the RSUs, except as otherwise specifically provided for in the Plan or this Agreement.


3.     Vesting; Forfeiture .

(a)     Vesting Generally . Subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) to 3(e) hereof, the RSUs subject to this Award shall become vested as follows, provided that the Participant has not incurred a Termination prior to each such vesting date:

 

Vesting Date

  

Percentage  of  RSUs

Emergence Date    25%
First Anniversary of Emergence Date    25%
Second Anniversary of Emergence Date    25%
Third Anniversary of Emergence Date    25%

For purposes of this Agreement, “ Emergence Date ” has the same meaning as “Effective Date” (as defined in that certain Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of LINN Energy LLC, and its Debtor Affiliates). There shall be no proportionate or partial vesting in the periods prior to each vesting date and all vesting shall occur only on the appropriate vesting date, subject to the Participant not incurring a Termination prior to the applicable vesting date. The continuous employment or service of the Participant shall not be deemed interrupted, and the Participant shall not be deemed to have incurred a Termination, by reason of the transfer of the Participant’s employment or service among the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and/or Affiliates.

(b)     Death or Disability . In the event of the Participant’s Termination by reason of death or Disability, the RSUs that would have vested pursuant to Section 3(a) above in the first twelve (12) months following such Termination will vest as of the Termination.

(c)     Termination Without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason . In the event of the Participant’s Termination by the Company or other employing Affiliate without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason (each, a “ Qualifying Termination ”), subject to the Participant’s execution and non-revocation of a general release of claims in favor of the Company within sixty (60) days of such Termination and continued compliance with all applicable restrictive covenants, the RSUs that would have vested pursuant to Section 3(a) above in the first twelve (12) months following such Termination will vest as of the Termination.

(d)     Change in Control . All unvested RSUs shall become fully vested upon the consummation of a Change in Control, provided that the Participant has not incurred a Termination prior to such date.

(e)     Committee Discretion to Accelerate Vesting . In addition to the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate vesting of the RSUs at any time and for any reason.

 

2


(f)     Forfeiture . Subject to the terms of this Section  3 , all unvested RSUs shall be immediately forfeited upon the Participant’s Termination for any reason.

4.     Delivery of Shares .

(a)     General . Subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b) and Section 4(c) hereof, within thirty (30) days following the vesting of the RSUs (or, in the event of a Qualifying Termination pursuant to Section 3(c) above, within ten days of the date on which the Participant’s release becomes effective, if later), the Participant shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock that correspond to the number of RSUs that have become vested on the applicable vesting date, less any shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company pursuant to Section  8 hereof.

(b)     Emergence Date-Vesting RSUs . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4(a) hereof, with respect to the RSUs that vest as of the Emergence Date pursuant to Section 3(a) above, the Participant shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock that corresponds to the number of RSUs that vest as of the Emergence Date, less any shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company pursuant to Section  8 hereof, on the earliest to occur of (i) the Participant’s Termination ( provided that an event shall be considered a Termination for purposes of this Section 4(b) only to the extent the Termination also constitutes a “separation from service” under Code Section 409A); (ii) the first anniversary of the Emergence Date; or (iii) a Change in Control ( provided that an event shall not be considered to be a Change in Control for purposes of this Section 4(b) unless such event is also a “change in ownership,” a “change in effective control” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code).

(c)     Blackout Periods . If the Participant is subject to any Company “blackout” policy or other trading restriction imposed by the Company on the date such distribution would otherwise be made pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof, such distribution shall be instead made on the earlier of (i) the date that the Participant is not subject to any such policy or restriction and (ii) the later of (A) the end of the calendar year in which such distribution would otherwise have been made and (B) a date that is immediately prior to the expiration of two and one-half months following the date such distribution would otherwise have been made hereunder.

5.     Dividends; Rights as Stockholder . Cash dividends on the number of shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder shall be credited to a dividend book entry account on behalf of the Participant with respect to each RSU granted to the Participant, provided that such cash dividends shall not be deemed to be reinvested in shares of Common Stock and shall be held uninvested and without interest and paid in cash at the same time that the shares of Common Stock underlying the RSUs are delivered to the Participant in accordance with the provisions hereof. Stock or property dividends on shares of Common Stock shall be credited to a dividend book entry account on behalf of the Participant with respect to each RSU granted to the Participant, provided that such stock or property dividends shall be paid in (i) shares of Common Stock, (ii) in the case of a spin-off, shares of stock of the entity that is spun-off from the Company, or (iii) other property, as applicable and in each case, at the same time that the shares of Common Stock underlying the RSUs are delivered to the Participant in accordance with the provisions hereof. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock covered by any RSU unless and until the Participant has become the holder of record of such shares.

 

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6.     Non-Transferability . No portion of the RSUs may be sold, assigned, transferred, encumbered, hypothecated or pledged by the Participant, other than to the Company as a result of forfeiture of the RSUs as provided herein.

7.     Governing Law . All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to the choice of law principles thereof.

8.     Withholding of Tax . The Participant agrees and acknowledges that the Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign taxes of any kind (including, but not limited to, the Participant’s FICA and SDI obligations) which the Company, in its good faith discretion, deems necessary to be withheld or remitted to comply with the Code and/or any other applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to the RSUs, and if the withholding requirement cannot be satisfied, the Company may otherwise refuse to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock otherwise required to be issued pursuant to this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, if the Common Stock is not listed for trading on a national exchange at the time of vesting and/or settlement of the RSUs, then at the Participant’s election, the Company shall withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable to the Participant hereunder with a Fair Market Value equal to the Participant’s total income and employment taxes imposed as a result of the vesting and/or settlement of the RSUs, but only to the extent permitted by applicable accounting rules so as not to affect accounting treatment.

9.     Legend . The Company may at any time place legends referencing any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law restrictions on all certificates, if any, representing shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement. The Participant shall, at the request of the Company, promptly present to the Company any and all certificates, if any, representing shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to this Agreement in the possession of the Participant in order to carry out the provisions of this Section  9 .

10.     Securities Representations . This Agreement is being entered into by the Company in reliance upon the following express representations and warranties of the Participant. The Participant hereby acknowledges, represents and warrants that:

(a)    The Participant has been advised that the Participant may be an “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in this connection the Company is relying in part on the Participant’s representations set forth in this Section  10 .

(b)    If the Participant is deemed an affiliate within the meaning of Rule 144 of the Securities Act, the shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder must be held indefinitely unless an exemption from any applicable resale restrictions is available or the Company files an additional registration statement (or a “re-offer prospectus”) with regard to such shares of Common Stock and the Company is under no obligation to register such shares of Common Stock (or to file a “re-offer prospectus”).

 

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(c)    If the Participant is deemed an affiliate within the meaning of Rule 144 of the Securities Act, the Participant understands that (i) the exemption from registration under Rule 144 will not be available unless (A) a public trading market then exists for the Common Stock of the Company, (B) adequate information concerning the Company is then available to the public, and (C) other terms and conditions of Rule 144 or any exemption therefrom are complied with, and (ii) any sale of the shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder may be made only in limited amounts in accordance with the terms and conditions of Rule 144 or any exemption therefrom.

11.     No Waiver . No waiver or non-action by either party hereto with respect to any breach by the other party of any provision of this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any succeeding breach of such provision, or as a waiver of the provision itself.

12.     Entire Agreement; Amendment . This Agreement, together with the Plan, contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior agreements or prior understandings, whether written or oral, between the parties relating to such subject matter. The Committee shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to modify or amend this Agreement from time to time in accordance with and as provided in the Plan. This Agreement may also be modified or amended by a writing signed by both the Company and the Participant. The Company shall give written notice to the Participant of any such modification or amendment of this Agreement as soon as practicable after the adoption thereof.

13.     Notices . Any notice hereunder by the Participant shall be given to the Company in writing and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof by the General Counsel of the Company. Any notice hereunder by the Company shall be given to the Participant in writing and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon receipt thereof at such address as the Participant may have on file with the Company.

14.     No Right to Employment or Service . Any questions as to whether and when there has been a Termination and the cause of such Termination shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. Nothing in this Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates to terminate the Participant’s employment or service at any time, for any reason and with or without Cause.

15.     Transfer of Personal Data . The Participant authorizes, agrees and unambiguously consents to the transmission by the Company (or any Subsidiary) of any personal data information related to the RSUs awarded under this Agreement for legitimate business purposes (including, without limitation, the administration of the Plan). This authorization and consent is freely given by the Participant.

16.     Compliance with Laws . The grant of RSUs and the issuance of shares of Common Stock hereunder shall be subject to, and shall comply with, any applicable requirements of any foreign and U.S. federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations (including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and in each case any respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) and any other law, rule regulation or exchange requirement applicable thereto. The Company shall not be obligated to issue the RSUs or any shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement if any such issuance

 

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would violate any such requirements. As a condition to the settlement of the RSUs, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation.

17.     Binding Agreement; Assignment . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, be binding upon, and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns. The Participant shall not assign any part of this Agreement without the prior express written consent of the Company.

18.     Headings . The titles and headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement.

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

20.     Further Assurances . Each party hereto shall do and perform (or shall cause to be done and performed) all such further acts and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as either party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the Plan and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder; provided that no such additional documents shall contain terms or conditions inconsistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

21.     Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or the validity, legality or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction, it being intended that all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

22.     Acquired Rights . The Participant acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the Company may terminate or amend the Plan at any time; (b) the award of RSUs made under this Agreement is completely independent of any other award or grant and is made at the sole discretion of the Company; (c) no past grants or awards (including, without limitation, the RSUs awarded hereunder) give the Participant any right to any grants or awards in the future whatsoever; and (d) any benefits granted under this Agreement are not part of the Participant’s ordinary salary, and shall not be considered as part of such salary in the event of severance, redundancy or resignation.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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

 

LINN ENERGY, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

PARTICIPANT

 

Name:  

 

 

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Exhibit 10.4

FORM OF

INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

THIS INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of February 28, 2017 (the “ Effective Date ”) between Linn Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and [●] (the “ Indemnitee ”).

WITNESSETH THAT:

A.    Experienced and competent persons have become more reluctant to serve companies as directors, managers or officers unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the entity;

B.    The Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Company, as each may be amended from time to time (the “ Organizational Documents ”), require indemnification of the officers, managers and directors of the Company. The Organizational Documents state that the indemnification provisions contained therein are in addition to any other indemnification rights of the Indemnitee under any other agreement;

C.    Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware permits the Company to indemnify and advance defense costs to its officers and directors and to indemnify and advance expenses to persons who serve at the request of the Company as directors, officers, employees, or agents of other corporations or enterprises;

D.    It is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company to contractually obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance Expenses on behalf of, such persons so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

E.    This Agreement is supplemental to the Organizational Documents of the Company and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of the Indemnitee thereunder;

F.    The Indemnitee is willing to serve, or to continue to serve, or to take on additional service for, the Company or its affiliates or other Enterprise (as defined below) as [an officer / a director] on condition that the Indemnitee be indemnified, and in consideration for being indemnified, as provided for in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Indemnitee’s agreement to serve or continue to serve as [an officer / a director] after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.     Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement:

(a)    “ Chancery Court ” means the Delaware Court of Chancery.

 

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(b)    “ Change of Control ” means a change in control of the Company occurring after the Effective Date of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 5.01 of Current Report on Form 8-K (or in response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without limitation, a Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred if after the Effective Date (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing greater than fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such person attaining such percentage; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of Directors thereafter; or (iii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors (including for this purpose any new director whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors.

(c)    “ Disinterested Director ” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by the Indemnitee.

(d)    “ Enterprise ” shall mean the Company and any other limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that the Indemnitee is or was serving at the express written request of the Company as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

(e)    “ Enterprise Fiduciary ” means a person who is or was serving as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of an Enterprise, or, while serving as a director, manager, officer, employee or agent of an Enterprise, is or was serving as a tax matters partner of the Company or, at the request of the Company, as a director, manager, officer, tax matters partner, employee, partner, manager, fiduciary or trustee of any affiliate of the Company or any other Enterprise.

(f)    “ Expenses ” shall include all direct and indirect costs including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, advisory fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, bond premiums, the costs of collecting, processing, producing, and hosting electronic materials and documents, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include expenses incurred in connection with

 

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any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written request to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such request that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.

(g)    “ Final Adjudication ” shall mean a final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal.

(h)    “ Independent Counsel ” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of public companies, fiduciary duties, indemnity matters and corporation and limited liability company law, and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or the Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 Company or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, unless the party with whom counsel had a conflict of interest agrees, in such party’s sole discretion, to waive such conflict. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel referred to above.

(i)    “ Proceeding ” includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation (including any corporate internal investigation), inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which the Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, witness or otherwise, by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was an Enterprise Fiduciary, by reason of any action taken by the Indemnitee or of any inaction on the Indemnitee’s part while acting as an Enterprise Fiduciary, or by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, manager, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other Enterprise; in each case whether or not the Indemnitee is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement; including one pending on or before the date of this Agreement, but excluding one initiated by the Indemnitee pursuant to Section  8 of this Agreement to enforce the Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

2.     Indemnification of the Indemnitee . The Company hereby agrees to indemnify the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Delaware law as it currently exists and to such greater extent as applicable law may hereafter permit, with respect to claims asserted from and after the Effective Date, which claims relate to any act or alleged act of Indemnitee, or other event, regardless of whether any such act, alleged act or event occurred prior to or after the Effective Date, but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement. The Company shall be deemed to have requested the Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee

 

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benefit plan whenever the performance by the Indemnitee to the Company also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by the Indemnitee to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan. In such case, the Indemnitee shall be deemed to be an “Enterprise Fiduciary.” Excise taxes assessed on the Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute “fines” within the meaning of Sections  2(a) and  2(b) . In furtherance of the foregoing indemnification, and without limiting the generality thereof:

(a)     Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company . The Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section  2(a) to the extent that the Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or otherwise requires representation of counsel in connection with, any Proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the Company which is governed by Section  2(b) below) by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was an Enterprise Fiduciary or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against losses, Expenses, judgments, fines, damages, penalties, interest, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

(b)     Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company . The Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section  2(b) to the extent that the Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or otherwise requires representation of counsel in connection with, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee was or is an Enterprise Fiduciary, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against losses, Expenses, judgments, fines, damages, penalties, interest, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Indemnitee obtains a Final Adjudication that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such losses, Expenses, judgments, fines, damages, penalties, interest, liabilities or amounts paid in settlement, as applicable. Action taken or omitted by the Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of the Indemnitee’s duties for a purpose reasonably believed by the Indemnitee to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company.

 

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(c)     Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful . To the extent that the Indemnitee is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified with respect to Expenses to the maximum extent permitted by this Agreement and by Delaware law if greater, against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee or on the Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with the successful resolution of a Proceeding. If the Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee or on the Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any 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.

3.     Insurance .

(a)    If available, the Company shall maintain an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for Enterprise Fiduciaries which is at least as favorable to the Indemnitee as the policy in effect on the Effective Date and for so long as the Indemnitee’s services are covered pursuant to this Agreement, regardless of whether the Company would have the power to indemnify such Enterprise Fiduciaries against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement; provided and to the extent that such insurance is available on a reasonable commercial basis, as determined by the Board. To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for its Enterprise Fiduciaries, the Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies to the maximum extent permitted under its or their terms. However, the Indemnitee shall continue to be entitled to the indemnification rights provided pursuant to this Agreement regardless of whether liability or other insurance coverage is at any time obtained or retained by the Company.

(b)    In the event of and immediately upon a Change of Control, Company (or any successor to the interests of Company by way of merger, sale of assets, or otherwise) shall be obligated to continue, procure, and otherwise maintain in effect for a period of six (6) years from the date on which such Change of Control is effective a policy or policies of insurance (which may be a “tail” policy) (the “Change of Control Coverage”) providing Indemnitee with coverage for losses from alleged wrongful acts occurring on or before the effective date of the Change of Control.    If such insurance is in place immediately prior to the Change of Control, then the Change of Control Coverage shall contain limits, retentions or deductibles, terms and exclusions that are no less favorable to Indemnitee than those set forth above. Each policy evidencing the Change of Control Coverage shall be non-cancellable by the insurer except for non-payment of premium. No such policy shall contain any provision that limits or impacts adversely any right or privilege of Indemnitee given by this Agreement.

4.     Contribution .

(a)    Whether or not the indemnification provided in Sections  2 and  3 hereof is available, in respect of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with the Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), the Company shall pay, in the first

 

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instance, the entire amount of any judgment or settlement of such action, suit or proceeding without requiring the Indemnitee to contribute to such payment and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have against the Indemnitee. The Company shall not enter into a settlement of any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with the Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against the Indemnitee.

(b)    Without diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Company set forth in Section  4(a) , if, for any reason, the Indemnitee shall elect or be required to pay all or any portion of any judgment or settlement in any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with the Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), the Company shall contribute to the amount of Expense, judgments, fines and settlements actually and reasonably incurred and paid or payable by the Indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits received by the Company and all officers, directors, managers or employees of the Company, other than the Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with the Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), on the one hand, and the Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which such Proceeding arose; provided, however, that the proportion determined on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors, managers or employees of the Company other than the Indemnitee who are jointly liable with the Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), on the one hand, and the Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the events that resulted in such Expense, judgments, fines or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations which the law may require to be considered. The relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors, managers or employees of the Company, other than the Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with the Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), on the one hand, and the Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the degree to which their liability is primary or secondary and the degree to which their conduct is active or passive.

(c)    To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to the Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying the Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by the Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/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 Company and the Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, managers, officers, employees and agents) and the Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

5.     Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that the Indemnitee is, by reason of the Indemnitee’s status as an Enterprise Fiduciary or a former Enterprise Fiduciary, a witness in any Proceeding to which the Indemnitee is not a party, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified by the Company against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee or on the Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

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6.     Advancement of Expenses .

(a)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding to the fullest permitted by applicable Delaware law by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was an Enterprise Fiduciary, within 20 days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from the Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by a Final Adjudication that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Indemnitee shall not be required to provide any documentation or information to the extent that the provision thereof would undermine or otherwise jeopardize attorney-client privilege. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section  6 shall be unsecured and interest free.

(b)    The indemnification, advancement of Expenses and other provisions of this Section  6 are for the benefit of the Indemnitee, the Indemnitee’s heirs, successors, assigns and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other persons.

7.     Procedures and Presumptions for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification . It is the intent of this Agreement to secure for the Indemnitee rights of indemnity that are at least as favorable as those rights permitted under the Organizational Documents and public policy of the State of Delaware. Accordingly, the parties agree that the following procedures and presumptions shall apply in the event of any question as to whether the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement.

(a)    To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that the Indemnitee has requested indemnification. Any Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with his request for indemnification hereunder shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any failure or delay in providing such request shall not relieve the Company of any liability that it may have to Indemnitee hereunder unless, and to the extent, that such failure actually prevents the Company from defending or assuming the defense of any such Proceeding.

(b)    Upon written request by the Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section  7(a) hereof, a determination with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case by one of the following four methods, which shall be at the election of the Board: (1) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors,

 

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even though less than a quorum, (2) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum, (3) if there are no Disinterested Directors or if the Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee, or (4) if so directed by the Board, by the Company’s shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a Change of Control has occurred, a determination with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made by Independent Counsel (selected by Indemnitee) in a written opinion to the Board of Directors of the Company, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee.

(c)    If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section  7 hereof (except for in the case of a Change of Control), the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section  7(c) . The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board. The Indemnitee may, within 10 days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section  1 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after submission by the Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section  7(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or the Indemnitee may petition the Chancery Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Indemnitee to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section  7(b) hereof. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and Expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section  7(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and Expenses incident to the procedures of this Section  7 , regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.

(d)    The Company agrees that if there is a Change in Control of the Company (other than a Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control) then with respect to all matters thereafter arising concerning the rights of the Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement or any other agreements, the Organizational Documents or any other document now or hereafter in effect relating to such indemnification, the Company shall seek legal advice only from Independent Counsel selected by Indemnitee. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to indemnify fully such counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

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(e)    Neither the failure of the Company (including its Disinterested Directors, a committee of such directors, Independent Counsel, or its shareholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of a Proceeding that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances under the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement, nor an actual determination by the Company (including its Disinterested Directors, a committee of such Disinterested Directors, Independent Counsel, or the Company’s shareholders) that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct, or, in the case of a suit brought by the Indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of Expense hereunder, or brought by the Company to recover an advancement of Expense pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or to such advancement of Expense, under this Section  7(e) or otherwise shall be on the Company.

(f)    the Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if the Indemnitee’s action or inaction is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to the Indemnitee by the officers or managers 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 reasonable care by the Enterprise. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, manager, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to the Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section  7(f) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that the Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that the Indemnitee had no cause to believe that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.

(g)    the Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to the 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 the Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Independent Counsel or member of the Board shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a determination regarding the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement. Any costs or Expense incurred by the Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold the Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

(h)    The Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final judgment may be successful if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the event that any action, claim or proceeding to which the Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against the Indemnitee (including, without limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with or

 

9


without payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that the Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such action, suit or proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.

(i)    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) of itself adversely affect the right of the Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

8.     Remedies of the Indemnitee .

(a)    If a claim under this Agreement is not paid in full by the Company within 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of Expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the reasonable Expenses of prosecuting or defending such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of Expenses) it shall be a defense that, in accordance with the procedures, presumptions and provisions set forth in this Agreement, the Indemnitee has not met any material applicable standard for indemnification set forth in this Agreement under procedures and provisions set forth herein. In any suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Company shall be entitled to recover such Expenses upon a Final Adjudication that the Indemnitee has not met any material applicable standard for indemnification set forth in this Agreement at the Effective Date.

(b)    In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section  7(b) of this Agreement that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section  8 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits, and the Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of the adverse determination under Section  7(b) .

(c)    If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section  7(b) of this Agreement that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section  8 , absent (i) a misstatement by the Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make the Indemnitee’s misstatement not materially misleading in connection with the application for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

(d)    In the event that the Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section  8 , seeks a judicial adjudication of the Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this

 

10


Agreement, or to recover under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, the Company shall pay on the Indemnitee’s behalf, in advance, any and all Expenses (of the types described in the definition of “Expenses” in Section  1 of this Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee in such judicial adjudication, regardless of whether the Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of Expenses or insurance recovery.

(e)    The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section  8 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

(f)    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.

9.     Non-Exclusivity; Insurance; Subrogation .

(a)    The rights of indemnification, advancement of Expenses and other rights of the Indemnitee under this Agreement shall be in addition to any other rights to which an the Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, including (1) the Organizational Documents; (2) pursuant to those rights adopted by any vote of the shareholders; (3) as a matter of law; or (4) otherwise, as to actions in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Enterprise Fiduciary. No amendment or modification of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of the Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such the Indemnitee in the Indemnitee’s capacity as an Enterprise Fiduciary prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that an amendment or modification of the Organizational Documents, whether by law, amendment or otherwise, or an amendment to Delaware law, permits greater indemnification than would be afforded currently under this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that the 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)    If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such claim to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

(c)    In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

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(d)    The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to the Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as an Enterprise Fiduciary to an Enterprise other than the Company shall be reduced by any amount the Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such other Enterprise.

(e)    Any indemnification pursuant to this Agreement shall be made only out of the assets of the Company, including any insurance purchased and maintained by the Company for such purpose, it being agreed that the Company’s shareholders shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Company to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.

(f)    the Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Agreement because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement as in effect at the time of the transaction.

10.     Exception to Right of Indemnification . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim made against the Indemnitee:

(a)    for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of the Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

(b)    for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by the Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section  16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or

(c)    in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by the Indemnitee, against the Company or its directors, managers, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

11.     Duration of Agreement . All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue until six years after the Indemnitee has ceased to be an Enterprise Fiduciary of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an Enterprise Fiduciary another Enterprise) and shall continue thereafter so long as the Indemnitee shall be subject to any Proceeding (or any proceeding commenced under Section  7 hereof) by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was an Enterprise Fiduciary, whether or not the Indemnitee is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives.

 

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12.     Security . To the extent requested by the Indemnitee and approved by the Board, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to the Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to the Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee.

13.     Enforcement .

(a)    The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumes the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce the Indemnitee to serve as [an officer / a director] of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that the Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as such Enterprise Fiduciary of the Company.

(b)    This Agreement and the Organizational Documents constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

14.     Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement is intended to confer upon the Indemnitee indemnification rights to the fullest extent not prohibited by law. In the event any provision hereof conflicts with any applicable law, such provision shall be deemed modified, consistent with the aforementioned intent, to the extent necessary to resolve such conflict.

15.     Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification, termination or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

16.     Notice By the Indemnitee . the Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with or otherwise receiving any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification covered hereunder. The failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise unless and only to the extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.

17.     Notices . All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not so confirmed, then on the next business day, (c) five days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,

 

13


postage prepaid, or (d) one day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent:

 

  (a) To the Indemnitee at the address set forth below the Indemnitee signature hereto.

To the Company at:

Linn Energy, Inc.

JP Morgan Chase Tower

600 Travis, Suite 5100

Houston, TX 77002

Fax: 281-840-4180

Attention: Candice Wells, General Counsel

or to such other address as may have been furnished to the Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by the Indemnitee, as the case may be.

18.     Counterparts . 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. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

19.     Headings . The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

20.     Governing 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. The Company and the Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery 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 Chancery Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, irrevocably Capitol Services, Inc., at 615 South Dupont Highway, Dover, Delaware 19901 (as such address may be changed from time to time by such agent) as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Chancery Court, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Chancery Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on and as of the day and year first above written.

 

LINN ENERGY, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
INDEMNITEE

 

[Name]  
Address:  

 

 

 

 

 

15

Exhibit 23.2

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Linn Energy, Inc:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement on Form S-8 of Linn Energy, Inc. (formally known as Linn Energy, LLC) of our reports dated March 15, 2016, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Linn Energy, LLC as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations, unitholders’ capital (deficit), and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, which reports appear in the December 31, 2015 annual report on Form 10-K of Linn Energy, LLC.

Our reports dated March 15, 2016 contains an explanatory paragraph that states because of continued low commodity prices, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and is in violation of a restrictive covenant and expects to be in violation of financial covenants contained in its credit facilities that would accelerate the maturity of the outstanding indebtedness making it immediately due and payable. The Company does not have sufficient liquidity to meet the accelerated debt requirements. These issues raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of that uncertainty.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Houston, Texas

February 28, 2017

Exhibit 23.3

D E G OLYER AND M AC N AUGHTON

5001 S PRING V ALLEY R OAD

S UITE 800 E AST

D ALLAS , T EXAS 75244

February 27, 2017

Linn Energy, Inc.

600 Travis Street

Houston, Texas 77002

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Linn Energy, Inc., to be filed on or about February 28, 2017, of references to DeGolyer and MacNaughton as independent petroleum engineers, and to the inclusion of information taken from the reports listed below contained in Linn Energy, LLC Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2016, as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed on April 20, 2016 (the “2015 Year-End 10-K”):

 

    Report as of December 31, 2015 on Reserves and Revenue owned by Linn Energy, LLC;

 

    Appraisal Report as of December 31, 2014 on Certain Properties owned by Linn Energy, LLC;

 

    Appraisal Report as of December 31, 2013 on Certain Properties owned by Linn Energy, LLC; and

 

    Appraisal Report as of December 31, 2013 on Certain Properties owned by Linn Energy, LLC associated with the acquisition of Berry Petroleum Company.

We further consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of our third party letter report dated February 9, 2016, filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the 2015 Year-End 10-K.

 

Very truly yours,
LOGO
DeGOLYER and MacNAUGHTON
Texas Registered Engineering Firm F-716