UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 21, 2018

 

 

PARSLEY ENERGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-36463   46-4314192

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

303 Colorado Street

Suite 3000

Austin, Texas 78701

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

(737) 704-2302

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

Emerging growth company  ☐

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

 

 

 


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

Parsley Energy, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan

On December 21, 2018, the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of Parsley Energy, Inc. (the “ Company ”) adopted the Parsley Energy, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “ Plan ”). The Plan is an unfunded nonqualified deferred compensation plan. The individuals who are eligible to participate in the plan are directors and employees serving in the position of Vice President or more senior, including the Company’s Named Executive Officers, who are selected by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Committee ”) to participate in the Plan. The Committee is the administrator of the Plan.

Under the Plan and in accordance with applicable tax laws and the procedures established by the Committee, participants may elect to defer the receipt of the certain cash compensation, including, in the case of employee participants, up to 80% of base salary and all or a designated amount of bonus compensation and, in the case of directors, all or a designated portion of annual retainers and meeting fees. In addition, participants may also elect to defer receipt of all or a designated amount of restricted stock unit awards (“ RSUs ”) granted under the Parsley Energy, Inc. 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan (as amended and restated February 19, 2015). In addition to elective deferrals, the Plan also permits the Company to make matching and discretionary contributions to participant accounts, as the Company may determine from time to time in its sole discretion. Participants are fully vested at all times in their elective deferrals and Company matching and discretionary contributions. Deferred cash amounts are notionally invested in the available investment options elected by the participant, and all deferred RSUs are notionally invested in shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

Generally, payment of deferred amounts are made (or commence in the case of installments) on the first scheduled payment date following the earliest to occur of (i) the distribution date specified in the participant’s deferral election, (ii) the participant’s “separation from service,” (iii) the participant’s death, (iv) the participant’s “disability,” or (v) the occurrence of a “change in control” (each quoted term as defined in the Plan). Scheduled payment dates are March 1 and September 1 of each year. All payments under the Plan payable in connection with a participant’s separation from service will be subject, if applicable, to delay to the extent required by Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. Participants may elect to receive payment in a lump sum or pursuant to a permissible installment schedule selected by the Committee.

The foregoing description of the Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.

Employment Agreements

On December 28, 2018, Parsley Energy Operations, LLC (the “ Employer ”), an indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreements with each of Matthew Gallagher and Ryan Dalton and a Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement with Colin Roberts (such agreements, collectively, the “ Employment  Agreements ,” and, each of Messrs. Gallagher, Dalton and Roberts, the “ Executives ”).

The Employment Agreements each have an initial one-year term that will automatically renew for successive one-year periods until terminated. The Employment Agreements provide for annual base salaries of $550,000, $475,000 and $393,000 for Messrs. Gallagher, Dalton and Roberts, respectively, and an annual bonus amount as determined by the Committee. Mr. Gallagher’s agreement also provides that, subject to the Company’s policies relating to corporate aircraft, he will be eligible to utilize Company-provided aircraft for personal use in North America for up to 30 hours per calendar year and will not be required to reimburse the Company for costs relating to such use.

Pursuant to the Employment Agreements, in the event any of the Executive’s employment is terminated without “cause” or by the applicable Executive for “good reason” (each quoted term as defined in the Employment Agreements), the applicable Executive would be entitled to (i) a lump-sum cash payment equal to (A) two, in the case of Mr. Gallagher, and one and one-half, in the case of Messrs. Dalton and Roberts (in each case, the “ Severance Multiple ”), multiplied by (B)

 

2


the sum of (x) the applicable Executive’s base salary and (y) the average of the three most recent annual bonuses actually paid in the three-year period preceding the date of termination, (ii) if the applicable Executive were to elect to continue coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“ COBRA ”), then he would be entitled to reimbursement for a period of up to 18 months for the difference between the amount he would pay to effect and continue such coverage and the employee contribution amount that he would pay if he were still an active employee, and (iii) outplacement services for up to 12 months in the case of Mr. Gallagher and six months in the case of Messrs. Dalton and Roberts following the termination date or such time as the applicable Executive obtains reasonably comparable employment, whichever is earlier (the benefits described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), collectively, the “ Severance Benefits ”). Additionally, upon a termination by the Employer without cause or a termination by the applicable Executive for good reason, (1) a prorated portion of the applicable Executive’s unvested outstanding time-based equity awards would immediately vest and (2) a prorated portion of the applicable Executive’s unvested outstanding performance-based equity awards would vest at the end of the applicable performance period based on the actual achievement of the applicable performance conditions through the end of the performance period.

In the event any of the Executives are terminated by reason of death or “disability” (as such term is defined in the Employment Agreements), the applicable Executive would be entitled to (i) a prorated portion of the annual bonus for the year in which such termination occurs based on the actual achievement of applicable performance conditions, (ii) acceleration of all of his unvested outstanding time-based equity awards, and (iii) acceleration of all of his unvested outstanding performance-based equity awards based upon target performance.

Upon a “change of control” (as such term is defined in the Employment Agreements), all unvested outstanding performance-based equity awards held by the Executives will immediately become vested based on the actual achievement of the applicable performance conditions measured from the first day of the applicable performance period through the date immediately prior to the change of control. Finally, if any of the Executives are terminated without cause or an Executive terminates his employment for good reason within the 12-month period following a change of control, then (i) the applicable Executive would be entitled to the Severance Benefits described above, provided that the Severance Multiple would be increased to three for Mr. Gallagher and two and one-quarter for Messrs. Dalton and Roberts, and (ii) all unvested outstanding time-based equity awards held by the applicable Executive would be accelerated in full.

The Employment Agreements also contain certain restrictive covenants, which require the Executives to preserve and protect certain confidential information and, for a one-year period following termination of employment (six months in the event of a termination without cause or for good reason), to refrain from competing with the Company or soliciting its employees. Additionally, the Employment Agreements require the execution of a release and continued compliance with the restrictive covenants to receive the severance benefits described above.

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

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)     Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

    No.    

  

Description

10.1    Parsley Energy, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan, effective as of December 21, 2018.
10.2    Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement, dated December  28, 2018, by and between Parsley Energy Operations, LLC and Matt Gallagher.
10.3    Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement, dated December  28, 2018, by and between Parsley Energy Operations, LLC and Ryan Dalton.
10.4    Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement, dated December  28, 2018, by and between Parsley Energy Operations, LLC and Colin Roberts.

 

3


SIGNATURES

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

 

PARSLEY ENERGY, INC.
By:  

/s/ Colin W. Roberts

    Colin W. Roberts
    Executive Vice President—General Counsel

Dated: December 28, 2018    

Exhibit 10.1

PARSLEY ENERGY, INC.

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article I Preamble and Purpose

     1  

1.01

  Preamble and Purpose      1  

Article II Definitions and Construction

     1  

2.01

  Definitions      1  

Article III Eligibility and Participation

     6  

3.01

  Requirements for Participation      6  

3.02

  Election to Participate; Benefits of Participation      6  

3.03

  Cessation of Participation      6  

Article IV Election Procedures

     6  

4.01

  Deferral Election      6  

4.02

  Base Salary Deferrals      7  

4.03

  Bonus Compensation Deferrals      7  

4.04

  Director Fee Deferrals      7  

4.05

  Restricted Stock Unit Deferrals      7  

4.06

  Re-Deferrals and Changing the Form of Payment      8  
Article V Company Contributions    9  

5.01

  Matching Contributions      9  

5.02

  Discretionary Contributions      9  

Article VI Accounts and Investment Options

     9  

6.01

  Establishment of Accounts      9  

6.02

  Cash Accounts      9  

6.03

  Equity Accounts, Dividend Equivalents and Other Distributions      9  

6.04

  Nature of Accounts      11  

6.05

  Statements      11  

Article VII Vesting

     11  

7.01

  Vesting of Elective Cash Deferrals and Elective Equity Deferrals      11  

7.02

  Vesting of Matching Contributions and Discretionary Contributions      11  

Article VIII Payment of Participant Accounts

     11  

8.01

  In General      11  

8.02

  Timing of Valuation      12  

8.03

  Timing of Payments      12  

8.04

  Timing of Payments to Specified Employees      12  

8.05

  Form of Payment      12  

8.06

  Medium of Payment      12  

Article IX Payments Due to Unforeseeable Emergency

     13  

9.01

  Request for Payment      13  

9.02

  No Payment if Other Relief Available      13  

 

i


9.03

  Limitation on Payment Amount      13  

9.04

  Timing of Payment      13  

9.05

  Cessation of Deferrals      13  

Article X Acceleration Events

     13  

10.01

  Permissible Acceleration Events      13  

Article XI Payments to Beneficiaries

     15  

11.01

  Payments to Beneficiaries      15  

Article XII Administration and Authority

     15  

12.01

  Administration by Committee      15  

12.02

  Non-Uniform Treatment      16  

12.03

  Committee Decisions Final      16  

12.04

  Indemnification      17  

Article XIII Amendment and Termination

     17  

13.01

  Continuation      17  

13.02

  Amendment of the Plan      17  

13.03

  Termination of Eligibility or the Plan      17  

Article XIV Claims For Benefits

     17  

14.01

  Filing a Claim      17  

14.02

  Claim Decision      17  

14.03

  Notice of Denial      18  

14.04

  Appeal Procedures      18  

14.05

  Notice of Decision on Appeal      18  

14.06

  Claims Procedures Mandatory      19  

Article XV Miscellaneous

     19  

15.01

  Limitation on Rights Conferred under the Plan      19  

15.02

  Tax Withholding      19  

15.03

  Governing Law      19  

15.04

  Section 409A of the Code      19  

15.05

  General Assets/Trust      19  

15.06

  No Warranties      19  

15.07

  Beneficiary Designation      20  

15.08

  No Assignment      20  

15.09

  Expenses      20  

15.10

  Severability      20  

15.11

  ERISA Status      20  

15.12

  Construction      20  

 

ii


ARTICLE I

PREAMBLE AND PURPOSE

 

1.01

Preamble and Purpose . Parsley Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) has established this Parsley Energy, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “ Plan ”) to permit the Company and its Subsidiaries to attract and retain a select group of management or highly compensated employees (within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA) and Directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries by allowing them to defer certain compensation to provide for their retirement.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

 

2.01

D efinitions . As used in the Plan, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

  (a)

Accounts ” means one or more separate bookkeeping accounts maintained by the Company or its agent on behalf of a Participant to reflect the Participant’s interests under the Plan and includes any Cash Account or Equity Account.

 

  (b)

Affiliate ” means with respect to any person, any other person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

  (c)

Applicable Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.05(b) .

 

  (d)

Award Agreement ” means, with respect to Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to the LTIP, the award agreement (including any associated notice of grant) or other document evidencing the grant of such award.

 

  (e)

Base Salary ” means an Employee’s annual base salary paid by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries to or for the benefit of such Employee for services rendered.

 

  (f)

Beneficiary ” means any person or entity, designated in accordance with Section  15.07 , entitled to receive benefits which are payable upon or after a Participant’s death pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

 

  (g)

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

  (h)

Bonus Compensation ” means any cash bonus or cash incentive compensation earned by an Employee for services rendered to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries under a plan, program, or arrangement sponsored or maintained by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries.

 

1


  (i)

Cash Account ” means any or all of the following: (i) an Elective Cash Deferral Account; (ii) a Matching Contribution Account; and (iii) a Discretionary Contribution Account.

 

  (j)

Change in Control ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the LTIP; provided, however , that, for purposes of the Plan, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred unless such event also constitutes a “change in the ownership of a corporation,” “change in the effective control of a corporation,” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporation’s assets” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code as applied to the Company.

 

  (k)

Claimant ” has the meaning set forth in Section  14.01 .

 

  (l)

Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the final or temporary regulations promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury thereunder.

 

  (m)

Committee ” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, unless the Board designates a different committee of two or more Directors to serve as the Committee.

 

  (n)

Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section  1.01 .

 

  (o)

Deferral Election ” means an election by an Eligible Person to defer Base Salary, Director Fees, Bonus Compensation, and/or Restricted Stock Units.

 

  (p)

Determination Date ” means the last Valuation Date preceding the payment date.

 

  (q)

Director ” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.

 

  (r)

Director Fees ” means the annual cash retainer and all meeting fees payable in cash to a Director for service as a member of the Board, including retainers and meeting fees paid for service as the lead Director, a committee member (including a special committee), or committee chairman.

 

  (s)

Disabled or Disability ” means that a Participant is: (i) unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; or (ii) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

  (t)

Discretionary Contribution ” means the amount the Company contributes to the Plan on behalf of a Participant, pursuant to Section  5.02 .

 

2


  (u)

Discretionary Contribution Account ” means a separate Cash Account maintained for each Participant to record the Discretionary Contributions made to the Plan pursuant to Section  5.02 , plus all earnings and losses allocable thereto.

 

  (v)

Distribution Date ” means a date specified by a Participant in his or her Election Form for the payment (or the commencement of payment, in the case of installments) of all or a portion of such Participant’s Account.

 

  (w)

Dividend Equivalent ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the LTIP.

 

  (x)

Effective Date ” means December 21, 2018.

 

  (y)

Election Form ” means the written form or forms provided by the Plan Administrator pursuant to which a Participant makes Deferral Elections under the Plan. The Election Form includes the amount or percentage of Base Salary, Bonus Compensation, Director Fees, and/or Restricted Stock Units as applicable, to be deferred (subject to any minimum or maximum amounts established by the Committee); the Distribution Date(s); the form of payment (lump sum or installments); and the selected Investment Options, if applicable.

 

  (z)

Election Period ” means the period established by the Plan Administrator with respect to each Plan Year during which an Eligible Person may make Deferral Elections for a subsequent Plan Year, subject to the following requirements:

 

  (i)

Except as provided in (ii) and (iii) below, the Election Period shall end no later than the last day of the Plan Year immediately preceding the Plan Year in which the services will be performed with respect to the compensation to be deferred;

 

  (ii)

If any Bonus Compensation constitutes “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, then the Election Period for such amounts shall end no later than the date that is six months before the end of the applicable performance period (and in no event later than the date on which the amount of the Bonus Compensation becomes “readily ascertainable” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code); and

 

  (iii)

In the case of an Eligible Person who is newly employed or elected or appointed to the Board during the Plan Year, the Election Period shall end no later than 30 days after such Eligible Person first becomes an Employee or a Director and shall apply only with respect to compensation earned after the date the Deferral Election made during such 30-day period is received by the Plan Administrator.

 

  (aa)

Elective Cash Deferrals ” means (i) Base Salary, Bonus Compensation, and Director Fee deferrals, (ii) any Dividend Equivalents representing the right to receive cash dividends or other cash distributions made to shareholders of the Company attributable to Restricted Stock Units subject to a Deferral Election

 

3


  hereunder, and (iii) any cash dividends or other cash distributions deemed to have been received with respect to notionally invested Shares in a Participant’s Equity Account.

 

  (bb)

Elective Equity Deferrals ” means (i) Restricted Stock Unit deferrals, (ii) any Dividend Equivalents representing the right to receive Shares in connection with a Share dividend or other Share distribution made to shareholders of the Company attributable to Restricted Stock Units subject to a Deferral Election hereunder, and (iii) any Share dividends or other Share distributions deemed to have been received with respect to notionally invested Shares in a Participant’s Equity Account.

 

  (cc)

Elective Cash Deferral Account ” means a separate Account maintained for each Participant to record the Elective Cash Deferrals made to the Plan pursuant to Article IV and all earnings and losses allocable thereto.

 

  (dd)

Eligible Person ” means (i) a Director; or (ii) an Employee who is (A) selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan or (B) is serving in the position of Vice President of the Company or a more senior position. The Committee shall have the sole discretion to determine whether an Employee is an Eligible Person. Eligible Persons (other than Directors) shall be limited to a select group of management or highly compensated employees within the meaning of Sections 201, 301 and 404 of ERISA. As provided in Section  13.03 , the Committee may at any time, in its sole and absolute discretion, limit the classification of Employees who are eligible to participate in the Plan for a Plan Year and/or may modify or terminate an Eligible Person’s participation in the Plan without the need for an amendment to the Plan.

 

  (ee)

Employee ” means an employee of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries.

 

  (ff)

Entry Date ” means, with respect to an Eligible Person, the first day of the pay period commencing on or following the effective date of such Eligible Person’s participation in the Plan.

 

  (gg)

Equity Account ” means a separate Account maintained for each Participant to record the Elective Equity Deferrals made to the Plan pursuant to Article  IV and all earnings and losses allocable thereto.

 

  (hh)

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

  (ii)

Fair Market Value ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the LTIP.

 

  (jj)

FICA Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section  10.01(c) .

 

  (kk)

Investment Option ” means an investment fund, index or vehicle selected by the Committee and made available to Participants for the deemed investment of their Cash Accounts.

 

4


  (ll)

LTIP ” means the Parsley Energy, Inc. 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan.

 

  (mm)

Matching Contribution ” means any amount the Company contributes to the Plan on behalf of any Participant pursuant to Section  5.01 .

 

  (nn)

Matching Contribution Account ” means a separate Cash Account maintained for each Participant to record the Matching Contributions made to the Plan, plus all earnings and losses allocable thereto.

 

  (oo)

Participant ” means an Eligible Person who elects to participate in the Plan by filing an Election Form in accordance with Section  4.01 and any former Eligible Person who continues to be entitled to a benefit under the Plan.

 

  (pp)

Payment Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.01 .

 

  (qq)

Plan ” has the meaning set forth in Section  1.01 .

 

  (rr)

Plan Administrator ” means the individual(s) or committee(s) appointed by the Committee to administer the Plan as set forth herein.

 

  (ss)

Plan Year ” means the calendar year.

 

  (tt)

Re-Deferral Election ” has the meaning set forth in Section  4.06 .

 

  (uu)

Restricted Stock Unit ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the LTIP.

 

  (vv)

Scheduled Payment Date ” means March 1 and September 1 of each Plan year or the next business day following either such date if either such date is not a business day.

 

  (ww)

Separation from Service ” has the meaning set forth in Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code and Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h).

 

  (xx)

Share ” means one share of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and such other securities as may be substituted (or resubstituted) therefore in accordance with the terms of the LTIP.

 

  (yy)

Specified Employee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code and Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(i).

 

  (zz)

Specified Employee Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section  8.05 .

 

  (aaa)

State, Local and Foreign Tax Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section  10.01(f) .

 

  (bbb)

Subsidiary ” means with respect to the Company, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.

 

5


  (ccc)

Unforeseeable Emergency ” means a severe financial hardship of the Participant resulting from (i) an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, or the Participant’s dependent; (ii) a loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty; or (iii) such other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant, all as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

 

  (ddd)

Valuation Date ” means each business day of the Plan Year.

ARTICLE III

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

3.01

Requirements for Participation . Before the beginning of each Plan Year, the Committee shall select those Employees who shall be Eligible Persons for such Plan Year. Any Eligible Person may participate in the Plan commencing as of the Entry Date occurring on or after the date on which he or she becomes an Eligible Person.

 

3.02

Election to Participate; Benefits of Participation . An Eligible Person may become a Participant in the Plan by making a Deferral Election in accordance with Article IV . An Eligible Person who elects to participate in the Plan by making a Deferral Election is eligible to receive Matching Contributions and Discretionary Contributions in accordance with Article  IV .

 

3.03

Cessation of Participation . If a Participant ceases to be an Eligible Person for a Plan Year, then the Participant’s Deferral Elections shall no longer be effective, and the Participant shall not receive any further Matching Contributions or Discretionary Contributions. However, such Participant’s Account(s) shall continue to be credited with earnings and losses until the applicable Determination Date.

ARTICLE IV

ELECTION PROCEDURES

 

4.01

Deferral Election . An Eligible Person may elect to defer Base Salary, Bonus Compensation, Director Fees, or Restricted Stock Units by completing an Election Form and filing it with the Committee during the Election Period. A Participant shall make a new Deferral Election with respect to each Plan Year. Each Election Form shall become irrevocable as of the last day of the Election Period. The Election Form must specify:

 

  (a)

The amount or percentage of Base Salary, Bonus Compensation, Director Fees, or Restricted Stock Units to be deferred, as applicable, (subject to any minimum and maximum amounts established by the Committee);

 

  (b)

The Distribution Date for the Participant’s Account(s) (subject to the provisions of the Plan);

 

  (c)

The form of payment for the Participant’s Account(s) (lump sum or annual installments); and

 

6


  (d)

The percentage or amount of the Participant’s Cash Account(s) to be allocated to each Investment Option available under the Plan.

 

4.02

Base Salary Deferrals . In accordance with the procedures established from time to time by the Plan Administrator, a Participant (or an Eligible Person who has not yet become a Participant) may elect to defer receipt of a designated amount or whole percentage up to a maximum of 80% of such Participant’s Base Salary earned for any Plan Year (which shall include any portion thereof that may be payable in a subsequent Plan Year) by making a Deferral Election in accordance with this Article IV . Base Salary deferrals shall be credited to a Participant’s Elective Cash Deferral Account as of the date the Base Salary otherwise would have been paid.

 

4.03

Bonus Compensation Deferrals . In accordance with the procedures established from time to time by the Plan Administrator, a Participant (or an Eligible Person who has not yet become a Participant) may elect to defer receipt of all or any designated amount or whole percentage of such Participant’s Bonus Compensation earned for any Plan Year (which shall include any portion thereof that may be payable in a subsequent Plan Year) by making a Deferral Election in accordance with this Article IV . Deferrals of Bonus Compensation shall be credited to the Participant’s Elective Cash Deferral Account as of the date the deferred Bonus Compensation otherwise would have been paid.

 

4.04

Director Fee Deferrals . In accordance with the procedures established from time to time by the Plan Administrator, a Participant (or an Eligible Person who has not yet become a Participant) may elect to defer receipt of all or any designated amount or whole percentage of such Participant’s Director Fees earned for a Plan Year (which shall include any portion thereof that may be payable in a subsequent Plan Year) by making a Deferral Election in accordance with this Article IV . Deferrals of Director Fees shall be credited to the Participant’s Elective Cash Deferral Account as of the date the deferred Director Fees otherwise would have been paid.

 

4.05

Restricted Stock Unit Deferrals .

 

  (a)

In accordance with the procedures established from time to time by the Plan Administrator, a Participant (or an Eligible Person who has not yet become a Participant) may elect to defer receipt of all or any designated number or whole percentage (rounded down to the nearest whole Share) of the Shares that would otherwise be issuable upon settlement of a Restricted Stock Unit granted to such Participant during a Plan Year by making a Deferral Election in accordance with this Article IV . Deferrals of a Restricted Stock Unit shall be credited to the Participant’s Equity Account as of the vesting date applicable to such Restricted Stock Unit, as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Any Dividend Equivalents representing the right to receive cash dividends or other cash distributions made to shareholders of the Company attributable to such Restricted Stock Units and any cash dividends or other cash distributions attributable to the notional Shares credited to the Participant’s Equity Account upon the vesting of such Restricted Stock Units shall be credited to the applicable Participant’s Elective Cash Deferral Account pursuant to Sections  6.03(b) and 6.03(c) , as

 

7


  applicable. Any Dividend Equivalents representing the right to receive Shares in connection with a Share dividend or other Share distributions made to shareholders of the Company attributable to such Restricted Stock Units and any Share dividends or other Share distributions attributable to the notional Shares credited to the Participant’s Equity Account upon the vesting of such Restricted Stock Units shall be credited to the applicable Participant’s Equity Account pursuant to Sections 6.03(b) and 6.03(c) , as applicable.

 

  (b)

Restricted Stock Units subject to a Deferral Election hereunder, including any Dividend Equivalents attributable to such Restricted Stock Units, shall be subject to the same terms and conditions regarding vesting and forfeiture to which the Participant would have been subject had the Participant not elected to defer receipt of such Restricted Stock Units pursuant to Section  4.05(a) , including any vesting or forfeiture provisions included in an employment agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the LTIP, the applicable Award Agreement or any other written agreement between such Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the “ Applicable Agreements ”). The portions of such Applicable Agreements that relate to the vesting and forfeiture of Restricted Stock Units subject to a Deferral Election hereunder are incorporated herein by reference.

 

  (c)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in an Applicable Agreement, Restricted Stock Units subject to a Deferral Election hereunder, including any Dividend Equivalents attributable to such Restricted Stock Units, shall be subject to the payment provisions set forth in the Plan, including all provisions of the Plan relating to timing, form and medium of payment.

 

4.06

Re-Deferrals and Changing the Form of Payment . The Participant may make an election to re-defer all or a portion of the amounts in his or her Account(s) until a later Distribution Date or to change the form of a payment (a “ Re-Deferral Election ”); provided that the following requirements are met:

 

  (a)

The Re-Deferral Election is made at least 12 months before the original Distribution Date;

 

  (b)

The Distribution Date for the re-deferred amounts is at least five years later than the original Distribution Date; and

 

  (c)

The Re-Deferral Election will not take effect for at least 12 months after the Re-Deferral Election is made.

 

  (d)

For purposes of this Section  4.06 , all payments, including installment payments, shall be treated as separate payments under Section 409A of the Code.

 

8


ARTICLE V

COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS

 

5.01

Matching Contributions . Each Plan Year the Company may, but need not, make a Matching Contribution to the Plan on behalf of any Participant. The Matching Contribution may be expressed as a percentage of the Participant’s Director Fee deferral, Base Salary deferral or Bonus Compensation deferral, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion. Any Matching Contribution shall be credited to the Participant’s Matching Contribution Account as soon as practicable following the last day of the Plan Year to which the Matching Contribution relates and in no event later than March 15 of the Plan Year immediately following the Plan Year to which such Matching Contribution relates. The Company is under no obligation to make a Matching Contribution for any Plan Year. Matching Contributions need not be uniform among Participants.

 

5.02

Discretionary Contributions . Each Plan Year the Company may, but need not, make a Discretionary Contribution to the Plan on behalf of a Participant in such amount as the Company shall determine in its sole discretion. Any Discretionary Contribution shall be credited to the Participant’s Discretionary Contribution Account as soon as practicable following the last day of the Plan Year to which the Discretionary Contribution relates and no later than March 15 of the Plan Year immediately following the Plan Year to which such Matching Contribution relates. The Company is under no obligation to make a Discretionary Contribution for any Plan Year. Discretionary Contributions need not be uniform among Participants.

ARTICLE VI

ACCOUNTS AND INVESTMENT OPTIONS

 

6.01

Establishment of Accounts . The Company shall establish and maintain an Account for each Participant. The Company may establish more than one Account on behalf of any Participant as deemed necessary by the Committee for administrative purposes.

 

6.02

Cash Accounts .

 

  (a)

Investment Options . The Committee shall select the Investment Options to be made available to Participants for the deemed investment of their Cash Accounts under the Plan. The Committee may change, discontinue, or add to the Investment Options made available under the Plan at any time in its sole discretion. A Participant must select the Investment Options for his or her Cash Account in the Participant’s Election Form and may make changes to his or her selections in accordance with procedures established by the Committee.

 

  (b)

Investment Earnings . Each Cash Account shall be adjusted for earnings or losses based on the performance of the Investment Options selected. Earnings and losses shall be computed on each Valuation Date. The amount paid to a Participant on the payment date shall be determined as of the applicable Determination Date.

 

6.03

Equity Accounts, Dividend Equivalents and Other Distributions .

 

9


  (a)

Restricted Stock Units . On the date that a Restricted Stock Unit award subject to a Deferral Election hereunder vests in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Applicable Agreements, a number of notional Shares equal to the number of Shares that would otherwise have been issuable in settlement of such Restricted Stock Unit award shall be credited to a Participant’s Equity Account and shall become Elective Equity Deferrals. All Elective Equity Deferrals shall be notionally invested in Shares from the vesting date applicable to the Restricted Stock Units subject to a Deferral Election through the applicable Distribution Date.

 

  (b)

Dividend Equivalents Accrued Prior to Deferral Date . If a Participant has elected to defer Restricted Stock Units pursuant to Article IV and any Dividend Equivalents representing the right to receive cash dividends or other cash distributions made to shareholders of the Company accrue with respect to such Restricted Stock Units prior to the vesting date applicable to such Restricted Stock Units, then such Dividend Equivalents shall be credited to the Participant’s Elective Cash Deferral Account as of the date the such Dividend Equivalents vest in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement. Any amounts credited to a Participant’s Elective Cash Deferral Account pursuant to the preceding sentence shall initially be deemed invested in accordance with the Participant’s election in effect at the time such amount is credited, and thereafter shall be subject to change in accordance with the provisions of Section  6.02 . If a Participant has elected to defer Restricted Stock Units pursuant to Article  IV and any Dividend Equivalents representing the right to receive Shares in connection with a Share dividend or other Share distributions made to shareholders of the Company accrue with respect to such Restricted Stock Units prior to the vesting date applicable to such Restricted Stock Units, then such Dividend Equivalents shall be credited to the Participant’s Equity Account as of the date the such Dividend Equivalents vest in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

 

  (c)

Dividends Accrued After Deferral Date . If any cash dividends or cash distributions are declared with respect to an outstanding Share, then each notional Share credited to a Participant’s Equity Account shall be deemed to have received a cash dividend or cash distribution in the same amount, and such amount shall be credited to the Participant’s Elective Cash Deferral Account as of the date the corresponding cash dividends or other cash distributions are paid to the holders of Shares. Any amounts credited to a Participant’s Elective Cash Deferral Account pursuant to the preceding sentence shall initially be deemed invested in accordance with the Participant’s election in effect at the time such amount is credited, and thereafter shall be subject to change in accordance with the provisions of Section  6.02 . If a Share dividend or Share distribution is declared with respect to an outstanding Share, then each notional Share credited to a Participant’s Equity Account shall be deemed to have received a number of notional Shares equal to the number of Shares delivered to the holder of one outstanding Share as a result of such Share dividend or Share distribution, and such notional Shares shall be credited to the Participant’s Elective Cash Deferral

 

10


  Account as of the date that the corresponding Share dividends or other Share distributions are delivered to the shareholders of the Company.

 

  (d)

Notional Shares Subject to Adjustment . Notional Shares credited to a Participant’s Equity Account shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee in the same manner and under the same circumstances as would apply to outstanding Restricted Stock Units under the LTIP; provided, however , that to the extent any such adjustment relates to a present or future cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Restricted Stock Unit under the LTIP, such cash amount shall be credited to the Participant’s Elective Cash Deferral Account as of the date determined by the Committee.

 

6.04

Nature of Accounts . Accounts are not actually invested in the Investment Options available under the Plan or in the Shares, as applicable, and Participants do not have any real or beneficial ownership in any Investment Option or Shares. A Participant’s Account is solely a device for the measurement and determination of the amounts to be paid to the Participant pursuant to the Plan and shall not constitute or be treated as a trust fund of any kind.

 

6.05

Statements . Each Participant shall be provided with statements setting out the amounts in his or her Account(s) which shall be delivered at such intervals determined by the Committee.

ARTICLE VII

VESTING

 

7.01

Vesting of Elective Cash Deferrals and Elective Equity Deferrals . Participants shall be fully vested at all times in their Elective Cash Deferrals and Elective Equity Deferrals and any earnings thereon.

 

7.02

Vesting of Matching Contributions and Discretionary Contributions . Participants shall be fully vested at all times in their Matching Contributions and Discretionary Contributions and any earnings thereon; provided, however, that the Committee may, in its discretion, establish a different vesting schedule that will apply to Matching Contributions and Discretionary Contributions made to the Plan on behalf of any Participant for any Plan Year. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, a Participant’s unvested Cash Account balance, if any, will be forfeited on the occurrence of a Payment Event and shall not be eligible for distribution under Article IX, X, or XI .

ARTICLE VIII

PAYMENT OF PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS

 

8.01

In General . Except as otherwise provided in Article, IX, X or XI , payment of a Participant’s Account(s) shall be made (or commence, in the case of installments) on the earliest to occur of the following events (each a “ Payment  Event ”):

 

11


  (a)

The Distribution Date specified in the Participant’s Deferral Election; provided that the Participant must select from among the available Distribution Date(s) designated by the Committee and set forth in the Election Form;

 

  (b)

The Participant’s Separation from Service;

 

  (c)

The Participant’s death;

 

  (d)

The Participant’s Disability; and

 

  (e)

The occurrence of a Change in Control.

 

8.02

Timing of Valuation . The value of a Participant’s Cash Account and the number of Shares deliverable pursuant to a Participant’s Equity Account on the payment date shall be determined as of the applicable Determination Date.

 

8.03

Timing of Payments . Except as otherwise provided in this Article VIII , payments shall be made or commence on the first Scheduled Payment Date following a Payment Event.

 

8.04

Timing of Payments to Specified Employees . Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, if any payment that is provided to a Participant in connection with the Participant’s Separation From Service constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the Participant is a Specified Employee as of the date of his or her Separation from Service, then no distribution of such Participant’s Account shall be made upon the Participant’s Separation from Service until the first payroll date to occur following the six-month anniversary of the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service (or, if earlier, upon the date of the Participant’s death) (the “ Specified Employee Payment Date ”). Any payments to which a Specified Employee otherwise would have been entitled under the Plan during the period between the Participant’s Separation from Service and the Specified Employee Payment date shall be accumulated and paid in a lump sum payment on the Specified Employee Payment Date.

 

8.05

Form of Payment . Each Participant shall specify in his or her Election Form the form of payment (lump sum or installments) for amounts in his or her Account that are covered by the election; provided that, if the Participant elects to have amounts paid in installments, the Participant must select from among the permissible installment schedules selected by the Committee and set forth in the Election Form. In the absence of a valid election with respect to form of payment, amounts will be paid in a single lump sum. For the avoidance of doubt, the Committee may limit the form or forms of payment available under the Plan without amending the Plan; provided, however , that such limitation may not alter any valid Deferral Election made prior to such limitation.

 

8.06

Medium of Payment . Benefit payments that are attributable to Cash Accounts shall be paid in the form of cash. Benefit payments that are attributable to the Equity Account shall be paid in the form of Shares (subject to adjustment as provided in Section  6.03(d) ), and the number of Shares distributable to the Participant shall equal the number of notional Shares credited to such account on the Distribution Date (subject to adjustment

 

12


  as provided in Section  6.03(d) ). Any Shares delivered upon settlement of an Equity Account shall be issued pursuant to the LTIP and subject to all of its terms and conditions.

ARTICLE IX

PAYMENTS DUE TO UNFORESEEABLE EMERGENCY

 

9.01

Request for Payment . If a Participant suffers an Unforeseeable Emergency, he or she may submit a written request to the Committee for payment of his or her Account.

 

9.02

No Payment if Other Relief Available . The Committee will evaluate the Participant’s request for payment due to an Unforeseeable Emergency taking into account the Participant’s circumstances and the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. In no event will payments be made pursuant to this Article IX to the extent that the Participant’s hardship can be relieved: (a) through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise; (b) by liquidation of the Participant’s assets, to the extent that liquidation of the Participant’s assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship; or (c) by the cessation of deferrals under the Plan.

 

9.03

Limitation on Payment Amount . The amount of any payment made on account of an Unforeseeable Emergency shall not exceed the amount reasonably necessary to satisfy the Participant’s financial need, including amounts necessary to pay any Federal, state or local income taxes or penalties reasonably anticipated to result from the payment, as determined by the Committee.

 

9.04

Timing of Payment . Payments shall be made from a Participant’s Account as soon as practicable and in any event within 30 days following the Committee’s determination that an Unforeseeable Emergency has occurred and authorization of payment from the Participant’s Account.

 

9.05

Cessation of Deferrals . If a Participant receives payment on account of an Unforeseeable Emergency, the Participant may make no more Elective Cash Deferrals for the remainder of the Plan Year.

ARTICLE X

ACCELERATION EVENTS

 

10.01

Permissible Acceleration Events . Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may accelerate payment of all or a portion of a Participant’s Account upon the occurrence of any of the events set forth in this Article X . The Committee’s determination of whether payment may be accelerated pursuant to this Article  X shall be made in accordance with Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4).

 

  (a)

Domestic Relations Orders . The Committee may accelerate payment of a Participant’s Account to the extent necessary to comply with a domestic relations order (as defined in Section 414(p)(1)(B) of the Code).

 

13


  (b)

Limited Cashouts . The Committee may accelerate payment of a Participant’s Account to the extent that (i) the aggregate amount in the Participant’s Account does not exceed the applicable dollar amount under Section 402(g)(1)(B) of the Code, (ii) the payment results in the termination of the Participant’s entire interest in the Plan and any plans that are aggregated with the Plan pursuant to Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(c)(2), and (iii) the Committee’s decision to cash out the Participant’s Account is evidenced in writing no later than the date of payment.

 

  (c)

Payment of Employment Taxes . The Committee may accelerate payment of all or a portion of a Participant’s Account (i) to pay the Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax imposed under Sections 3010, 3121(a) and 3121(v)(2) of the Code (the “ FICA Amount ”), or (ii) to pay the income tax at source on wages imposed under Section 3401 of the Code or the corresponding withholding provisions of applicable state, local or foreign tax laws as a result of the payment of the FICA Amount and the additional income tax at source on wages attributable to the pyramiding Section 3401 wages and taxes; provided, however , that the total payment under this Section  10.01(c) shall not exceed the FICA Amount and the income tax withholding related to the FICA Amount.

 

  (d)

Payment upon Income Inclusion . The Committee may accelerate payment of all or a portion of a Participant’s Account to the extent that the Plan fails to meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Code; provided that, the amount accelerated shall not exceed the amount required to be included in income as a result of the failure to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

 

  (e)

Termination of the Plan . The Committee may accelerate payment of all or a portion of a Participant’s Account upon termination of the Plan in accordance with Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix).

 

  (f)

Payment of State, Local or Foreign Taxes . The Committee may accelerate payment of all or a portion of a Participant’s Account for:

 

  (i)

the payment of state, local or foreign tax obligations arising from participation in the Plan that relate to an amount deferred under the Plan before the amount is paid or made available to the Participant (the “ State, Local and Foreign Tax Amount ”); provided, however , the accelerated payment amount shall not exceed the taxes due as a result of participation in the Plan, and/or

 

  (ii)

the payment of income tax at source on wages imposed under Section 3401 of the Code as a result of such payment and the payment of the additional income tax at source on wages imposed under Section 3401 of the Code attributable to the additional Section 3401 wages and taxes; provided however , the accelerated payment amount shall not exceed the aggregate of the State, Local and Foreign Tax Amount and the income tax withholding related to such amount.

 

14


  (g)

Certain Offsets . The Committee may accelerate payment of all or a portion of the Participant’s Account to satisfy a debt of the Participant to the Company or a Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of the service relationship between the Company and the Participant; provided, however , the amount accelerated shall not exceed $5,000 and the payment shall be made at the same time and in the same amount as the debt otherwise would have been due and collected from the Participant.

 

  (h)

Bona Fide Disputes as to Right to Payment . The Committee may accelerate payment of all or a portion of a Participant’s Account where the payment is part of a settlement between the Company or a Subsidiary and the Participant of an arm’s length, bona fide dispute as to the Participant’s right to the deferred amount.

 

  (i)

Ethics or Conflicts of Interest . The Committee may accelerate payment of all or a portion of a Participant’s Account to comply with bona fide foreign ethics or conflicts of interest laws.

 

  (j)

Federal Debt Collection Laws . The Committee may accelerate payment of all of a portion of a Participant’s Account to comply with federal debt collection laws.

ARTICLE XI

PAYMENTS TO BENEFICIARIES

 

11.01

Payments to Beneficiaries . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Committee may accelerate the payment of all or a portion of a Participant’s Account in connection with the death, Disability or Unforeseeable Emergency of a Beneficiary who has become entitled to payment of a Participant’s Account under the Plan pursuant to Section  15.07 hereof. Payments made pursuant to this Article  XI shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as payments made to Participants pursuant to Article  VIII hereof.

ARTICLE XII

ADMINISTRATION AND AUTHORITY

 

12.01

Administration by Committee . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee except to the extent the Board elects to administer the Plan, in which case references herein to the “Committee” shall be deemed to include references to the “Board.” Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, Rule 16b-3 and other applicable laws, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to:

 

  (a)

construe and interpret the Plan and apply its provisions;

 

  (b)

promulgate, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of the Plan;

 

  (c)

authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan;

 

15


  (d)

determine minimum or maximum amounts that Participants may elect to defer under the Plan;

 

  (e)

select the Investment Options that will be available for the deemed investment of Accounts under the Plan and establish procedures for permitting Participants to change their selected Investment Options;

 

  (f)

determine whether any Matching Contributions will be made to the Plan with respect to any Plan Year and the amount of any such contributions;

 

  (g)

determine whether any Discretionary Contributions will be made to the Plan on behalf of any Participants with respect to any Plan Year and the amount of any such contributions;

 

  (h)

select, subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan, those Employees who shall be Eligible Persons;

 

  (i)

evaluate whether a Participant who has requested payment from his or her Account on account of an Unforeseeable Emergency has experienced an Unforeseeable Emergency and the amount of any payment necessary to satisfy the Participant’s emergency need;

 

  (j)

calculate deemed investment earnings and losses;

 

  (k)

interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument, Election Form or agreement relating to the Plan;

 

  (l)

exercise discretion to make any and all other determinations which it determines to be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan; and

 

  (m)

adjust the Notional Shares credited to a Participant’s Equity Account in the same manner and under the same circumstances as would apply to outstanding Restricted Stock Units under the LTIP.

 

12.02

Non-Uniform Treatment . The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and any such determinations may be made selectively among Participants. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled, among other things, to make non-uniform and selective determinations with regard to: (a) the terms or conditions of any Elective Cash Deferral or Equity Deferral; (b) the amount, terms or conditions of any Matching Contribution or Discretionary Contribution; or (c) the availability of Investment Options.

 

12.03

Committee Decisions Final . Subject to Article XIV , all decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final and binding on the Company and the Participants, unless such decisions are determined by a court having jurisdiction to be arbitrary and capricious.

 

16


12.04

Indemnification . No member of the Board, the Committee or any designee shall be liable for any action, failure to act, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan except for any liability arising from his or her own willful malfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

13.01

Continuation . The Company intends to continue the Plan indefinitely, but nevertheless assumes no contractual obligation beyond the promise to pay the benefits described in the Plan.

 

13.02

Amendment of the Plan . The Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the consent of any Participant, amend, restate, supplement or otherwise modify the Plan in any respect at any time; provided, however , that without the consent of the applicable Participant(s), no such amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification shall adversely impact such Participant’s rights with respect to amounts credited to or accrued in such Participant’s Account up to the date of such amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification except to the extent required by applicable law.

 

13.03

Termination of Eligibility or the Plan . The Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the consent of any Participant, (i) limit the classification of Employees who are eligible to participate in the Plan for a Plan Year and/or modify or terminate an Eligible Person’s participation in the Plan, in each case without the need for an amendment to the Plan and (ii) suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part at any time; provided, however , that, without the consent of the applicable Participant(s), no such limitation, suspension or termination will deprive a Participant or Claimant of any amount credited to the applicable Participant’s Account(s) under the Plan up to the date of such limitation, suspension or termination, except as required by applicable law.

ARTICLE XIV

CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS

 

14.01

Filing a Claim . Any Participant or other person claiming an interest in the Plan (the “ Claimant ”) may file a claim in writing with the Committee. The Committee shall review the claim itself or appoint an individual or entity to review the claim.

 

14.02

Claim Decision . The Claimant shall be notified within 90 days after the claim is filed whether the claim is approved or denied, unless the Committee determines that special circumstances beyond the control of the Plan require an extension of time, in which case the Committee may have up to an additional 90 days to process the claim. If the Committee determines that an extension of time for processing is required, the Committee shall furnish written or electronic notice of the extension to the Claimant before the end of the initial 90-day period. Any notice of extension shall describe the special circumstances necessitating the additional time and the date by which the Committee expects to render its decision.

 

17


14.03

Notice of Denial . If the Committee denies the claim, it must provide to the Claimant, in writing or by electronic communication, a notice which includes:

 

  (a)

The specific reason(s) for the denial;

 

  (b)

Specific reference to the pertinent Plan provisions on which such denial is based;

 

  (c)

A description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect his or her claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary;

 

  (d)

A description of the Plan’s appeal procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following a denial of the claim on appeal; and

 

  (e)

If an internal rule was relied on to make the decision, either a copy of the internal rule or a statement that this information is available at no charge upon request.

 

14.04

Appeal Procedures . A request for appeal of a denied claim must be made in writing to the Committee within 60 days after receiving notice of denial. The decision on appeal will be made within 60 days after the Committee’s receipt of a request for appeal, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, in which case a decision will be rendered not later than 120 days after receipt of a request for appeal. A notice of such an extension must be provided to the Claimant within the initial 60-day period and must explain the special circumstances and provide an expected date of decision. The reviewer shall afford the Claimant an opportunity to review and receive, without charge, all relevant documents, information and records and to submit issues and comments in writing to the Committee. The reviewer shall take into account all comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the Claimant relating to the claim regardless of whether the information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

 

14.05

Notice of Decision on Appeal . If the Committee denies the appeal, it must provide to the Claimant, in writing or by electronic communication, a notice which includes:

 

  (a)

The specific reason(s) for the denial;

 

  (b)

Specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which such denial is based;

 

  (c)

A statement that the Claimant may receive on request all relevant records at no charge;

 

  (d)

A description of the Plan’s voluntary procedures and deadlines, if any;

 

  (e)

A statement of the Claimant’s right to sue under Section 502(a) of ERISA; and

 

18


  (f)

If an internal rule was relied on to make the decision, either a copy of the internal rule or a statement that this information is available at no charge upon request.

 

14.06

Claims Procedures Mandatory . The internal claims procedures set forth in this Article XIV are mandatory. If a Claimant fails to follow these claims procedures, or to timely file a request for appeal in accordance with this Article  XIV , the denial of the Claim shall become final and binding on all persons for all purposes.

ARTICLE XV

MISCELLANEOUS

 

15.01

Limitation on Rights Conferred under the Plan . None of the Plan, any instrument executed pursuant thereto or any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (a) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s employment or service relationship at any time, or (c) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be treated uniformly with other Eligible Persons or Participants.

 

15.02

Tax Withholding . The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have the right to deduct from any amounts otherwise payable or deliverable under the Plan any federal, state, local, or other applicable taxes required to be withheld. Section 10(b) of the LTIP shall apply with respect to the delivery of Shares attributable to a Participant’s Equity Account.

 

15.03

Governing Law . The Plan shall be administered, construed and governed in all respects by application of the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflict of law provisions thereof, except to the extent Delaware law is preempted by federal law.

 

15.04

Section  409A of the Code . The Company intends that the Plan comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be operated and interpreted consistent with that intent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation that the Plan complies with Section 409A of the Code and shall have no liability to any Participant for any failure to comply with Section 409A of the Code. Further, the Plan shall constitute an “account balance plan” as defined in Treas. Reg. Section 31.3121(v)(2)-1(c)(1)(ii)(A). For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, all amounts deferred under the Plan shall be aggregated with amounts deferred under other account balance plans.

 

15.05

General Assets/Trust . All amounts provided under the Plan shall be paid from the general assets of the Company and no separate fund shall be established to secure payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, but need not, establish a rabbi trust to assist it in funding any Plan obligations.

 

15.06

No Warranties . Neither the Company nor the Committee warrants or represents that the value of any Participant’s Account(s) will increase. Each Participant assumes the risk in connection with the deemed investment of his or her Account(s).

 

19


15.07

Beneficiary Designation . Each Participant under the Plan may from time to time name any Beneficiary or Beneficiaries to receive the Participant’s interest in the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form reasonably prescribed by the Committee and shall be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. If a Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary, then the Participant’s designated Beneficiary shall be deemed to be the Participant’s estate.

 

15.08

No Assignment . Neither a Participant nor any other person shall have any right to sell, assign, transfer, pledge, anticipate or otherwise encumber, transfer, hypothecate or convey any amounts payable hereunder prior to the date that such amounts are paid (except for the designation of beneficiaries pursuant to Section  15.07 ).

 

15.09

Expenses . The costs of administering the Plan shall be paid by the Company.

 

15.10

Severability . If any provision of the Plan is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, whether in whole or in part, such provision shall be deemed modified to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability and the remaining provisions shall not be affected.

 

15.11

ERISA Status . It is intended that the Plan will not constitute a “qualified plan” subject to the limitations of Section 401(a) of the Code, nor will it constitute a “funded plan,” for purposes of such requirements. It is also intended that the Plan will be exempt from the participation and vesting requirements of Part 2 of Title I of ERISA, the funding requirements of Part 3 of Title I of ERISA, and the fiduciary requirements of Part 4 of Title I of ERISA by reason of the exclusions afforded plans that are unfunded and maintained by an employer primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees.

 

15.12

Construction . Whenever the context requires, the gender of all words used in the Plan includes the masculine, feminine and neuter. The singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular whenever appropriate. Except as explicitly provided otherwise, all references to Articles and Sections refer to articles and sections of the Plan, all references to Exhibits are to Exhibits attached to the Plan, each of which is made a part of the Plan for all purposes and all references to “including” shall be construed as meaning “including without limitation.” All references to dollars refer to United States dollars. The words “hereof,” “hereto,” “hereby,” “herein,” “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in the Plan, shall refer to the Plan as a whole and not to any particular section or article in which such words appear. The word “or” shall not be exclusive. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to laws, regulations, contracts, agreements and instruments refer to such laws, regulations, contracts, agreements and instruments as they may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, and references to particular provisions of laws or regulations include a reference to the corresponding provisions of any succeeding law or regulation. The Table of Contents and the Article, Section and Exhibit titles and headings in the Plan are inserted for convenience only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, the Plan.

 

20

Exhibit 10.2

 

PARSLEY ENERGY OPERATIONS, LLC

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT

For good and valuable consideration set forth herein, this Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is effective as of January 1, 2019 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between: (i)  Parsley Energy Operations, LLC (“ Parsley ”) and (ii)  Matthew Gallagher , a natural person (“ Employee ”) (Employee and Parsley each a “ Party ” and collectively “ Parties ” herein).

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS , Parsley and Employee previously entered into an Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement, effective as of May 29, 2014 (the “ Prior Employment Agreement ”), and the First Amendment to the Prior Employment Agreement, effective as of September 30, 2016 (the “ First  Amendment ” and, together with the Prior Employment Agreement, the “ Prior Agreements ”);

WHEREAS , the Parties desire to amend and restate the Prior Employment Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment, by entering into this Agreement, which shall cancel and supersede the Prior Agreements, effective as of the Effective Date; and

WHEREAS , in the course of Employee’s employment, Parsley will provide Employee with internal confidential information, commercially obtained information, research resources, and other valuable and proprietary materials. Further, Employee’s position will be to develop and obtain such confidential information for the benefit of Parsley and its affiliates and subsidiaries (the “ Parsley Group ” and each individual entity, a “ member of the Parsley Group ”).

THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:

 

I.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

1.01     Initial Term. The term of this Agreement shall begin on the Effective Date and continue for a period of one year (the “ Initial Term ”) unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 1, provided that, on such one-year anniversary of the Effective Date, and each annual anniversary thereafter (such date and each annual anniversary thereof, a “ Renewal Date ”), the term of this Agreement shall be deemed to be automatically extended, upon the same terms and conditions, for successive periods of one year, unless either of the Parties provides written notice of its intention not to extend the term of the Agreement at least sixty (60) days prior to the applicable Renewal Date. The Initial Term and all periods beyond the Initial Term while this Agreement remains in effect shall collectively be referred to herein as the “ Term .”

1.02     Base Salary. During the Term, Parsley will pay Employee a base salary of at least $550,000 per year, in periodic installments in accordance with Parsley’s customary payroll practices as may exist from time to time, but no less frequently than monthly. During the Term, Parsley may not decrease Employee’s salary below the base salary enumerated in this Section 1.02, but may, in Parsley’s sole discretion, increase Employee’s salary as it sees fit from time to time. Employee’s annual base salary, as in effect from time to time, is hereinafter referred to as Employee’s “ Base Salary .”

1.03     Annual Bonus. Employee shall be eligible to earn an annual bonus (the “ Annual Bonus ”). However, the decision to provide any Annual Bonus and the amount and terms of any Annual Bonus shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the Compensation Committee (the “ Compensation Committee ”) of the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of Parsley Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee shall not be entitled to any Annual Bonus if Employee is not employed by Parsley on the date any such Annual Bonus is paid.


1.04     Benefits. At all times during Employee’s employment with Parsley, Employee will be eligible for all other benefits and conditions of employment generally available to employees of Parsley of the same level and responsibility. Furthermore, Parsley shall pay all costs (including all reasonable costs associated with travel and lodging) for Employee to obtain an annual physical examination at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas. In addition, Employee will be entitled to utilize aircraft owned or leased by the Parsley Group for reasonable personal use in North America for up to thirty (30) hours per calendar year and will not be required to reimburse the Parsley Group for any cost related to such use. This Section 1.04 shall be deemed to be amended in the event that the Parsley Group’s policies relating to corporate aircraft are amended, but only to the extent such amendments entitle Employee to increased usage of corporate aircraft.

1.05     Duties. During Employee’s employment, Employee agrees to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer and in such other position(s) as the Board and Employee shall mutually agree. Employee will have the duties that are normally required of an employee of Employee’s same level and responsibility in the exploration and production business and agrees to perform diligently and to the best of Employee’s abilities the duties and services appertaining to such position(s), as well as such additional duties and services which may be designated by Parsley or other members of the Parsley Group, at Parsley’s discretion, from time to time. Employee will also, at the reasonable discretion and request of Parsley, advise and assist in other ways to further the business of the Parsley Group, as may be requested. Initially, Employee shall report to and be subject to the supervision and direction of the Board.

1.06     Place of Work. Employee shall perform Employee’s services at Parsley’s principal office in Austin, Texas, or such other location to which Parsley relocates its principal office. If Employee is required to travel, Parsley agrees to reimburse Employee in accordance with Parsley’s expense reimbursement policy in effect from time to time.

1.07     No Privacy on Electronic Systems. Employee agrees and understands that the computer and email services provided by the Parsley Group are for the purpose of conducting work for the Parsley Group alone. Employee agrees and stipulates that Employee shall have no expectation of privacy with regard to emails or computer files on, or sent to or from, the computers or servers of the Parsley Group or otherwise made available to Employee through Employee’s employment with Parsley.

1.08     Employee Resources. Parsley agrees to pay for memberships, seminars, professional meetings and/or professional publications needed for the continuing development of prospects and education of Employee, but only as the same are pre-approved by Parsley in Parsley’s sole and absolute discretion.

1.09     Full-Time Employee. While employed by Parsley, Employee agrees to devote Employee’s entire and full-time productive ability and attention to the business of Parsley, provided that Employee may engage in passive personal investment and charitable activities that do not Compete (as defined below) with the business and affairs of Parsley or interfere with Employee’s performance of Employee’s duties hereunder. Employee warrants and agrees to not, directly or indirectly, render any services of a business, commercial, or professional nature to any other person or organization, including self-employment, without the prior written consent of Parsley. Employee warrants and agrees that Employee will not render any services as either an employee or independent consultant to any person or entity that is in competition with Parsley or, while employed, prepare or establish a business that would enable, further, or result in a breach of Employee’s non-compete restrictions set forth in Section 3.03.

1.10     Fiduciary Duties of Employee. At all times while an employee of Parsley, Employee warrants and agrees that Employee will perform and discharge the duties of Employee’s position fully

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 2 of 16


and faithfully and to the best of Employee’s abilities. Employee agrees Employee shall owe Parsley, and hereby voluntarily assumes, a duty of loyalty and utmost good faith; a duty of candor; a duty to refrain from any self-dealing; a duty to act with integrity of the strictest kind; a duty of fair and honest dealing; a duty of full disclosure, that is, a duty not to conceal matters that might influence Employee’s actions to Parsley’s prejudice; and any other and further duties imposed by law on employees to their employers, and specifically including under this Agreement a covenant not to solicit fellow Parsley employees for future employment, as set forth in Section 3.04.

1.11     Reporting Requirement. During the course of Employee’s employment with Parsley, Employee agrees that, if Employee learns or even suspects that any fellow employee is, or may be, breaching that employee’s fiduciary duties to Parsley, Employee agrees to alert Parsley promptly. Employee understands that this is a broad and general obligation in light of the difficulty to anticipate all possible circumstances. If Employee is in doubt, Employee agrees to resolve Employee’s doubts by reporting to Parsley the information that has come to Employee’s attention.

1.12     Corporate Opportunities. During Employee’s employment with Parsley, in the event that Employee, in Employee’s individual capacity, shall be presented with, or made aware of, any commercial proposal, prospect, solicitation, deal, transaction or opportunity relating to the oil and gas business (“ New Business Opportunity ”), Employee shall immediately notify and present the terms and conditions of such New Business Opportunity to Employee’s superiors at Parsley; whether or not any member of the Parsley Group elects to take advantage of such New Business Opportunity, Employee shall not present such New Business Opportunity to any person or entity other than the Parsley Group.

1.13     Termination by Non-Renewal, by Parsley for Cause or by Employee without Good Reason. Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated by (x) the provision of notice by either of the Parties that they do not wish to renew the Term on the next Renewal Date in accordance with Section 1.01 and shall terminate the employment relationship between the Parties on such date, (y) by Parsley for Cause, or (z) by Employee without Good Reason. If Employee’s employment is terminated for any of the reasons enumerated in this Section 1.13 then Employee shall be entitled to receive: (i) any accrued but unpaid Base Salary, which shall be paid, unless otherwise required by law, on the pay date immediately following the date of Employee’s termination of employment in accordance with Parsley’s customary payroll procedures; (ii) reimbursement for unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by Employee, which shall be subject to and paid in accordance with Parsley’s expense reimbursement policy in effect from time to time; and (iii) such employee benefits, if any, as to which Employee may be entitled under Parsley’s employee benefit plans as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment; provided that, in no event shall Employee be entitled to any payments in the nature of severance payments except as specifically provided herein (items (i) through (iii), the “ Accrued Obligations ”). If Employee’s employment is terminated for any of the reasons enumerated in this Section 1.13 then Parsley will not be obligated to make any payments other than the Accrued Obligations under this Agreement, and Employee will forfeit all unvested outstanding equity awards held by Employee as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment.

Cause ” shall mean: (i) violation of Parsley’s substance abuse policy; (ii) refusal or inability (other than by reason of death or Disability) to perform the duties assigned to Employee; (iii) acts or omissions evidencing a violation of Employee’s duties of loyalty and good faith; candor; fair and honest dealing; integrity; or full disclosure to Parsley, as well as any acts or omissions which constitute self-dealing; (iv) willful disobedience of lawful orders, policies, regulations, or directives issued to Employee by Parsley, including policies related to sexual harassment, discrimination, computer use or the like; (v) conviction or commission of a felony, a crime of moral turpitude, or a crime that could reasonably be expected to impair the ability of Employee to perform Employee’s job duties; (vi) breach of any part of this Agreement or any other written agreement between Employee and any member of the Parsley Group by Employee; (vii) revocation or suspension of any necessary license or certification; (viii) generation of

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 3 of 16


materially incorrect financial, geological, seismic or engineering projections, compilations or reports; or (ix) a false statement by Employee to obtain this position, in each case as determined by Parsley in good faith and in its sole and absolute discretion. For purposes of clarity, “Cause” shall not mean termination of Employee’s employment for death or Disability, which shall be governed by Section 1.15.

1.14     Termination by Employee for Good Reason or Termination by Parsley without Cause. Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated by Employee for Good Reason or by Parsley without Cause. If Employee’s employment is terminated by Employee for Good Reason or by Parsley without Cause then Employee shall be entitled to receive (i) the Accrued Obligations, (ii) provided that Employee has fulfilled the Severance Conditions (as defined below), a cash payment equal to two (2) times the sum of (A) Employee’s Base Salary and (B) the average of the three (3) most recent Annual Bonuses actually paid in the three (3)-year period preceding the date of Employee’s termination (or the period of Employee’s employment, if shorter), which amount shall be paid in a lump-sum on the first business day following the Release Consideration Period (as defined below) (such date, the “ Initial Payment Date ”), (iii) during the portion, if any, of the eighteen (18)-month period commencing on the date of such termination of employment that Employee is eligible to elect and elects to continue coverage for himself and his eligible dependents under the Parsley Group’s group health plan, as applicable, under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“ COBRA ”), Parsley shall promptly reimburse Employee on a monthly basis for the difference between the amount Employee pays to effect and continue such coverage and the employee contribution amount that similarly situated executives of the Parsley Group pay for the same or similar coverage under such group health plan at that time; provided, however, that such reimbursement shall not be paid if it would subject any member of the Parsley Group to sanctions imposed pursuant to Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act, and (iv) outplacement services provided by a company of Parsley’s choosing for up to twelve (12) months following the date of Employee’s termination or such time as Employee obtains reasonably comparable employment, whichever occurs earlier.

Further, if Employee is terminated pursuant to this Section 1.14 prior to the date on which all unvested outstanding equity awards held by Employee vest and Employee has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, then (i) at the end of the applicable performance period, a portion of each unvested grant of performance-based equity awards shall vest, such portion to be equal to the product of (A) the total number of such awards that would have vested based on the actual levels of performance over the applicable performance period had Employee continued to provide services to the Parsley Group through the end of such performance period and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of days in the applicable performance period for such award that elapsed prior to Employee’s termination of employment and the denominator of which is equal to the total number of days in the applicable performance period (the “ Performance-Based Pro-Rata Awards ”), and (ii) a portion of each unvested grant of time-based equity awards shall immediately vest as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment, such portion to be equal to the product of (A) the total number of awards included in such grant to Employee and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of days that elapsed from the date of grant of such award through the date of Employee’s termination of employment and the denominator of which is equal to the total number of days from the date of grant through the last vesting date applicable to such grant (the “ Time-Based Pro-Rata Awards ”); provided, however, that the Time-Based Pro-Rata Awards shall be reduced by the number of awards from the same grant that vested prior to Employee’s termination of employment, if any. The Performance-Based Pro-Rata Awards will be settled at the time they would have been settled if Employee had continued to provide services to the Parsley Group through the end of the applicable performance period; provided, however, that such settlement date shall not be earlier than the Initial Payment Date and shall not be later than sixty-five (65) days following the end of the applicable performance period. The Time-Based Pro-Rata Awards shall be settled on or following the Initial Payment Date but no later than sixty-five (65) days following Employee’s termination of employment.

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 4 of 16


Good Reason ” shall mean (i) a material diminution in Employee’s base compensation, (ii) a material diminution in Employee’s authority, duties, or responsibilities, or (iii) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by Parsley of the Agreement, in each case, without Employee’s consent. Employee cannot terminate Employee’s employment for Good Reason unless Employee has provided written notice to Parsley of the existence of the circumstances providing grounds for termination for Good Reason within sixty (60) days of the initial existence of such grounds and Parsley has had at least thirty (30) days from the date on which such notice is provided to cure such circumstances. If Employee does not terminate Employee’s employment for Good Reason within one hundred twenty (120) days after the first occurrence of the applicable grounds, then Employee will be deemed to have waived Employee’s right to terminate for Good Reason with respect to such grounds.

1.15     Death or Disability . Employee’s employment shall terminate automatically on the date of Employee’s death or immediately upon Parsley’s sending Employee a notice of termination of employment for “ Disability ,” which shall mean Employee’s inability to perform the essential functions of Employee’s position, with reasonable accommodation, due to an illness or physical or mental impairment or other incapacity that continues, or can reasonably be expected to continue, for a period in excess of ninety (90) days (whether or not consecutive) during any period of three hundred sixty-five (365) consecutive days. Upon termination of Employee’s employment by reason of death or Disability pursuant to this Section 1.15, Employee shall be entitled to receive (i) the Accrued Obligations and (ii) provided that Employee or Employee’s estate, as applicable, has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, following the applicable performance period, if any, a portion of Employee’s Annual Bonus for the calendar year in which death or Disability occurred, such portion equal to the product of (A) the Annual Bonus Employee would have been eligible to receive pursuant to Section 1.03 had Employee continued to provide services to the Parsley Group through the payment date of such Annual Bonus based on the actual achievement of the applicable performance conditions, if any, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of days in the calendar year that elapsed prior to Employee’s termination of employment by reason of death or Disability and the denominator of which is three hundred sixty-five (365) (the “ Death or Disability Bonus ”). The Death or Disability Bonus shall be paid in a lump-sum on or before the date annual bonuses for the calendar year in which death or Disability occurred are paid to employees of the same level and responsibility who have continued employment with the Parsley Group; provided, however, in no event shall the Death or Disability Bonus be paid prior to the Initial Payment Date or later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which death or Disability occurred. Further, if Employee is terminated pursuant to this Section 1.15 prior to the date on which all unvested outstanding equity awards held by Employee vest and Employee or Employee’s estate, as applicable, has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, then (A)(i) the target number of each grant of performance-based equity awards outstanding shall immediately vest as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment, and (ii) all unvested outstanding time-based equity awards held by Employee shall immediately vest as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment and (B) such awards shall be settled on or following the Initial Payment Date but no later than sixty-five (65) days following Employee’s termination of employment.

1.16     Vesting of Performance-Based Equity Awards Based on Actual Performance upon Change of Control. Provided that Employee remains continuously employed by Parsley from the date of grant of the award through the date that is immediately prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below), then upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each grant of performance-based equity awards outstanding shall immediately vest based on the actual achievement of the applicable performance conditions, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, measured from the first day of the applicable performance period through the date immediately prior to the Change of Control. Such awards shall be settled no later than thirty (30) days following the Change of Control. For the avoidance of doubt, no time-based equity awards shall vest as a result of this Section 1.16.

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 5 of 16


(i)    A “change in the ownership of the Company” which shall occur on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock in the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company; however, if any one person or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to own more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons will not be considered a “change in the ownership of the Company” (or to cause a “change in the effective control of the Company” within the meaning of paragraph (ii) below) and an increase of the effective percentage of stock owned by any one person, or persons acting as a group, as a result of a transaction in which the Company acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this paragraph; provided, further, however, that for purposes of this Section 1.16, any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company will not constitute a Change of Control. This paragraph (i) applies only when there is a transfer of the stock of the Company (or issuance of stock) and stock in the Company remains outstanding after the transaction.

(ii)    A “change in the effective control of the Company” which shall occur on the date that either (A) any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 35% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company, except for any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company; or (B) a majority of the members of the Board are replaced during any twelve (12)-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes of a “change in the effective control of the Company,” if any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to effectively control the Company within the meaning of this Section 1.16, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same person or persons is not considered a “change in the effective control of the Company,” or to cause a “change in the ownership of the Company” within the meaning of paragraph (i) above.

(iii)    A “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets” which shall occur on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets of the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of all the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. Any transfer of assets to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of the Company immediately after the transfer, as provided in guidance issued pursuant to Section 409A (as defined below), shall not constitute a Change of Control.

For purposes of the definition of Change of Control, the provisions of Section 318(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “ Code ”) regarding the constructive ownership of stock will apply to determine stock ownership; provided, that, stock underlying unvested options (including options exercisable for stock that is not substantially vested) will not be treated as owned by the individual who holds the option. In addition, for purposes of this Section 1.16, “Company” includes (x) Parsley, (y) the entity for whom Employee performs services, and (z) an entity that is a stockholder owning more than 50% of the total fair market value and total voting power (a “ Majority Shareholder ”) of Parsley or the entity identified in (y) above, or any entity in a chain of entities in which each entity is a Majority Shareholder of another entity in the chain, ending in Parsley or the entity identified in (y) above.

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 6 of 16


1.17     Termination by Parsley without Cause or by Employee for Good Reason following a Change of Control. If within the twelve (12) months following a Change of Control Employee’s employment is terminated by Employee for Good Reason or by Parsley (or a successor in interest to Parsley) without Cause then Employee shall be entitled to receive (i) the Accrued Obligations, (ii) provided that Employee has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, a cash payment equal to three (3) times the sum of (A) Employee’s Base Salary and (B) the average of the three (3) most recent Annual Bonuses actually paid in the three (3)-year period preceding the date of Employee’s termination (or the period of Employee’s employment, if shorter), which amount shall be paid in a lump-sum on the first business day following the Release Consideration Period, (iii) during the portion, if any, of the eighteen (18)-month period commencing on the date of such termination of employment that Employee is eligible to elect and elects to continue coverage for himself and his eligible dependents under the Parsley Group’s group health plan, as applicable, under COBRA, Parsley shall promptly reimburse Employee on a monthly basis for the difference between the amount Employee pays to effect and continue such coverage and the employee contribution amount that similarly situated executives of the Parsley Group pay for the same or similar coverage under such group health plan at that time; provided, however, that such reimbursement shall not be paid if it would subject any member of the Parsley Group to sanctions imposed pursuant to Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act, and (iv) outplacement services provided by a company of Parsley’s choosing for up to twelve (12) months following the date of Employee’s termination or such time as Employee obtains reasonably comparable employment, whichever occurs earlier.

Further, if Employee is terminated pursuant to this Section 1.17 prior to the date on which all unvested outstanding time-based equity awards held by Employee vest and Employee has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, then all unvested outstanding time-based equity awards held by Employee shall immediately vest as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment, and such time-based equity awards shall be settled on or following the Initial Payment Date but no later than sixty-five (65) days following Employee’s termination of employment. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Employee is terminated pursuant to this Section 1.17, then the treatment of each unvested grant of performance-based equity awards granted following a Change of Control shall be determined in accordance with the terms of the award agreement applicable to each such grant.

1.18     Release and Compliance with this Agreement . The obligation of the Parsley Group to pay any portion of the amounts due pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15, or 1.17, with the exception of the Accrued Obligations, shall be expressly conditioned on (i) Employee’s execution (and, if applicable, non-revocation) of a full general release, releasing all claims, known or unknown, that Employee may have against the Parsley Group, including those arising out of or in any way related to Employee’s employment or termination of employment with the Parsley Group no later than the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the date of Employee’s termination of employment (such sixty (60)-day period, the “ Release Consideration Period ”) and (ii) continued compliance with the requirements of Sections II and III (the “ Severance Conditions ”). If Parsley determines that Employee is eligible to receive any amounts pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15 or 1.17 but, after such determination, Parsley subsequently acquires evidence or determines that a Cause condition existed prior to the termination of Employee’s employment that, had Parsley been fully aware of such condition, would have given Parsley the right to terminate Employee’s employment for Cause pursuant to Section 1.13 or if Employee (x) does not execute the release described above during the Release Consideration Period, or (y) breaches Section II or III of this Agreement, then (i) Parsley shall immediately cease any payments owed pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15, or 1.17 (other than the Accrued Obligations) but not yet paid and shall have no obligation to make any further payments to Employee pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15, or 1.17 and (ii) Employee shall promptly pay to Parsley (or its successor) an amount equal to any payments Employee has received pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15, or 1.17 (other than the Accrued Obligations) as of the time of Employee’s breach or refusal to execute the general release (such repayment outlined in (ii) of this sentence, the “ Recoupment Payment ”).

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 7 of 16


1.19     Excise Taxes. If the Compensation Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that Section 280G of the Code applies to any compensation payable to Employee, then the provisions of this Section 1.19 shall apply. If any payments or benefits to which Employee is entitled from the Parsley Group, any successor to Parsley or another member of the Parsley Group, or any trusts established by any of the foregoing by reason of, or in connection with, any transaction that occurs after the Effective Date (collectively, the “ Payments ,” which shall include, without limitation, the vesting of any equity awards or other non-cash benefit or property) are, alone or in the aggregate, more likely than not, if paid or delivered to Employee, to be subject to the tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any successor provisions to that section, then the Payments (consistent with the requirements of Section 409A (as defined below) and beginning with any Payment to be paid in cash hereunder), shall be either (a) reduced (but not below zero) so that the present value of such total Payments received by Employee will be one dollar ($1.00) less than three (3) times Employee’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) and so that no portion of such Payments received by Employee shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or (b) paid in full, whichever of (a) or (b) produces the better net after tax position to Employee (taking into account any applicable excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code and any other applicable taxes). The determination as to whether any Payments are more likely than not to be subject to taxes under Section 4999 of the Code and as to whether reduction or payment in full of the amount of the Payments provided hereunder results in the better net after tax position to Employee shall be made by the Board and Employee in good faith.

1.20     Resignation. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Parsley and Employee prior to the termination of Employee’s employment, any termination of Employee’s employment shall constitute, to the extent applicable: (i) an automatic resignation of Employee as an officer of each member of the Parsley Group and (ii) an automatic resignation of Employee from the Board and the board of directors or board of managers of each member of the Parsley Group and from the board of directors or managers or similar governing body of any corporation, limited liability entity or other entity in which Parsley or another member of the Parsley Group holds an equity interest and with respect to which board or similar governing body Employee serves as a designee or other representative for a member of the Parsley Group.

1.21     No Conflicts. Employee hereby represents and warrants that Employee is not the subject of, or a party to, any employment agreement, non-competition covenant, nondisclosure agreement, or any other agreement, obligation, restriction or understanding that would prohibit Employee from executing this Agreement and fully performing each of Employee’s duties and responsibilities hereunder, or would in any manner, directly or indirectly, limit or affect any of the duties and responsibilities that may now or in the future be assigned to Employee.

 

  II.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

2.01     Return of Property. Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that all Personal Property and equipment furnished to Employee in the course of, or incident to, Employee’s employment by the Parsley Group belongs to the Parsley Group and shall be promptly returned to Parsley upon termination of employment or upon demand by the Parsley Group. “ Personal Property ” includes, without limitation, all automobiles, computers, phones, equipment, well reports, engineering data, geological and geophysical data, maps, credit cards, books, manuals, records, reports, notes, contracts, lists, blueprints, and other documents, or materials, or copies thereof (including computer files and other electronically stored information), and all other proprietary information relating to the business of any member of the Parsley Group. Following termination, Employee will not retain any written, computer files, or other tangible or intangible material containing any proprietary information, Confidential Information (as defined below) or trade secrets of the Parsley Group or any of

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 8 of 16


its agents, employees, and representatives.

2.02     Developed Intellectual Property. Employee also acknowledges and agrees that in connection with the performance of Employee’s duties, Employee may author, create, conceive, develop or reduce to practice Confidential Information, trade secrets, and other Intellectual Property (as defined below) in whole or in part, either alone or jointly with others. With respect to any and all such Intellectual Property and/or improvements to any of the same authored, created, conceived, developed, or reduced to practice by Employee or Parsley (whether alone or in combination with others) (a) during Employee’s working hours, or (b) at Parsley’s expense, or (c) using any of Parsley’s materials or facilities, or (d) that relates to the business of Parsley or to the research or development of Parsley (collectively, “ Developed Intellectual Property ”), Employee agrees that the same are, and shall be, the exclusive property of the Parsley Group. Employee further acknowledges that all original works of authorship made by Employee (alone or jointly with others) that constitute Developed Intellectual Property are “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act and to the extent allowed by law. Without limiting the immediately preceding sentence, to the extent Employee develops any interest in the Developed Intellectual Property, Employee agrees to and does hereby assign to Parsley, or its nominee, Employee’s entire right, title, and interest in and to all Developed Intellectual Property. For clarity, such assignment includes all registrations or applications for registration of such Developed Intellectual Property, including any U.S. or international applications for patents or copyright registrations filed during or after the Term of this Agreement. Employee shall promptly disclose all such works made for hire and other Developed Intellectual Property to Parsley and, both during and after the Term of this Agreement, agrees to execute, at Parsley’s expense, any and all documents that Parsley reasonably deems necessary to assign, obtain, maintain, protect and/or enforce its worldwide right to, title interest in, and ownership of such works made for hire and Developed Intellectual Property. Employee agrees to perform, during and after the Term of this Agreement, all acts deemed necessary or desirable by Parsley to permit and assist Parsley in evidencing, perfecting, obtaining, maintaining, defending, and enforcing rights and/or Employee’s assignment of such works made for hire and Developed Intellectual Property in any and all countries, at Parsley’s expense. Such acts may include, but are not limited to, execution of documents and assistance or cooperation in legal proceedings. Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Parsley and its duly authorized officers and agents, as Employee’s agents and attorneys-in-fact to act for and on behalf and instead of Employee, to execute and file any documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the above purposes with the same legal force and effects as if executed by Employee.

Intellectual Property ” means software, technical data, know-how, discoveries, conceptions, ideas, research, reports, patents, inventions (whether or not patentable), copyrights (including copyrights in software), trademarks, and trade secrets, including all forms and types of financial, business, scientific, technical, economic, or engineering information, including patterns, plans, compilations, program devices, formulas, designs, prototypes, methods, techniques, processes, procedures, programs, or codes, whether tangible or intangible, and whether or how stored, compiled, or memorialized physically, electronically, graphically, photographically, or in writing.

2.03     Confidential Information. During Employee’s employment, Parsley also agrees to provide, and Employee will develop as part of Employee’s duties, various trade secrets and other confidential information that are, or will be, owned by Parsley, and that Parsley expressly agrees to assist Employee in developing. Such trade secrets or confidential information includes (but is not limited to) internal confidential information previously developed or compiled by Parsley, commercially obtained information at substantial cost, research resources and other valuable and proprietary materials, and more specifically (but without limitation): financial information and company planning, strategic goals and plans of Parsley or another member of the Parsley Group, geological and geophysical data, engineering data and compilations, seismic and other geophysical data and interpretation, engineering data and analysis, maps, samples, cores, cuttings, well logs, well production records, well files, and the like

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 9 of 16


(“ Confidential Information ”). Employee stipulates and acknowledges: (i) that the Confidential Information is not generally known outside of Parsley’s business or by employees and others involved in the same business as Parsley; (ii) that Parsley takes significant measures to guard the secrecy of this information; (iii) that the information is extremely valuable to Parsley and would be valuable to Parsley’s competitors; (iv) that Parsley has expended material amounts of money and effort in developing this Confidential Information; and (v) that this Confidential Information could not be easily or properly acquired by others.

2.04     Confidentiality Obligation. Employee agrees to not disclose, directly or indirectly, any of the Confidential Information of Parsley, nor use it in any way, directly or indirectly, except in furtherance of Employee’s duties as an employee under this Agreement. Employee specifically agrees that Employee will not use any Confidential Information for Employee’s own benefit, the benefit of any other person, including competitors of Parsley, or for the disadvantage of Parsley. Employee will take care to guard the security of the Confidential Information at all times. In this regard, Employee agrees that Employee will not disclose any of this Confidential Information to any person that does not need to know and have the right to know the information, including other Parsley employees, and that Employee will take care in guarding electronic data. Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to Section 2.07, to the extent that Employee shall be required, by law or process of law, to disclose Confidential Information, Employee shall be entitled to do so only to the extent so required, subject to giving prompt, advance notice of such requirement in writing to the General Counsel of Parsley so that Parsley may pursue a protective order or other remedy, and Employee acknowledges and agrees to cooperate reasonably with Parsley’s efforts to obtain a confidentiality order or similar protection.

2.05     Duties Upon Termination. Employee agrees that at such time as Employee’s services are terminated or upon demand by the Parsley Group, for whatever reason, Employee shall promptly return: (i) all Confidential Information (however stored) and (ii) equipment in Employee’s possession belonging to Parsley.

2.06     These confidentiality duties survive the termination of Employee’s employment in perpetuity.

2.07     Whistleblowing. Nothing in this Agreement will prevent Employee from: (i) making a good faith report of possible violations of applicable law to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) or any other governmental agency or entity or (ii) making disclosures to the SEC or any other governmental agency or entity that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of applicable law, in each case, without notice to Parsley. Nothing in this Agreement limits Employee’s right, if any, to receive an award for information provided to the SEC. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall prevent Employee from making a disclosure of a trade secret that: (A) is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (2) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Further, an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer of reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose a trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (X) files any document containing the trade secret under seal and (Y) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

2.08     Legally Protected Activities. Nothing in this Agreement precludes Employee from engaging in legally protected activities, including those protected by the National Labor Relations Act.

2.09     Exclusive Knowledge. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee will obtain knowledge and skill relevant to the Parsley Group’s industry, methods of doing business and marketing strategies by virtue of Employee’s employment; and that the terms and conditions of this Agreement are

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 10 of 16


reasonable under these circumstances. Employee further acknowledges that Confidential Information has been and will be developed or acquired by the Parsley Group through the expenditure of substantial time, effort and money. Employee understands and acknowledges that this Confidential Information and the Parsley Group’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Parsley Group is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Parsley Group, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee might cause the Parsley Group to incur financial costs, loss of business advantage, liability under confidentiality agreements with third parties, civil damages and criminal penalties. Employee agrees that the Parsley Group’s substantial investments in its business interests, goodwill, and Confidential Information are worthy of protection, and that the Parsley Group’s need for the protection afforded by this Section 2.09 and Section III is greater than any hardship Employee might experience by complying with its terms.

 

III.

NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT AND NON-SOLICITATION

3.01     Ancillary. The non-competition obligations of Employee and the non-solicitation provisions in this Section III are ancillary to, and are supported by (and in support of), Parsley’s and Employee’s respective obligations set forth in this Agreement.

3.02     Definitions. Terms given special meaning in this Section III are:

Compete ” means: (i) to lease, purchase, or otherwise obtain a mineral estate (in whole or in part), including purchasing or obtaining a royalty interest, overriding royalty interest, working interest, or the like or (ii) to provide petroleum engineering or geology services, to serve in a supervisory role of persons performing such services, or to serve in a chief executive officer position for any corporate entity operating as an exploration and production business other than members of the Parsley Group.

Restricted Period ” means during such time as Employee is employed with Parsley and the one-year period commencing on the date Employee ceases employment with Parsley for any reason and ending on the first anniversary thereof; provided, however, that if Employee’s employment is terminated by Employee for Good Reason or by Parsley other than for Cause, the Restricted Period shall end six (6) months after the date of termination of Employee’s employment with Parsley.

Territory ” means all land within a three (3)-mile radius from the farthest outside edge of each oil or gas lease that is or was under lease, letter agreement, or operated by a member of the Parsley Group.

3.03     Non-Compete Obligation. In return for the consideration given in this Agreement and in support of the promises therein, Employee agrees that Employee will not Compete during the Restricted Period in the Territory.

3.04     Non-Solicitation. In return for the consideration given in this Agreement and in support of the promises therein, Employee agrees that Employee will not directly or indirectly solicit or hire any employee of the Parsley Group to be an employee or co-venturer in another matter that Competes or intends to Compete with Parsley during the Restricted Period in the Territory.

3.05     Non -Disparagement. Employee shall not, during the Term or any time thereafter, make any untrue, misleading, or defamatory statements concerning the Parsley Group or its directors or employees. Employee will not directly or indirectly make, repeat or publish any false, disparaging, negative, unflattering, accusatory, or derogatory remarks or references, whether oral or in writing, concerning the Parsley Group, or otherwise take any action which might reasonably be expected to cause damage or harm to the Parsley Group. However, nothing in this Agreement is intended to restrict actions or communications protected or required by law, such as enforcing rights under this Agreement or any other agreement, testifying truthfully as a witness, or complying with other legal obligations, including

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 11 of 16


communicating with or fully cooperating in the investigations of any governmental agency on matters within their jurisdictions.

3.06     Cooperation. Upon the receipt of reasonable notice from Parsley (including outside counsel), Employee agrees that while employed by Parsley and thereafter, Employee shall provide reasonable assistance to the Parsley Group and their respective representatives in defense of any claims that may be made against any member of the Parsley Group and shall assist in the prosecution of any claims that may be made by any member of the Parsley Group, to the extent that such claims relate to or arise out of Employee’s service to or employment by Parsley. Employee agrees to inform Parsley promptly if Employee becomes aware of any lawsuits involving such claims that may be filed or threatened against any member of the Parsley Group. Employee also agrees to inform Parsley promptly (to the extent legally permitted to do so) if Employee is asked to assist in any investigation of any member of the Parsley Group (or its actions), regardless of whether a lawsuit or other proceeding has then been filed against any member of the Parsley Group with respect to such investigation. Upon presentation of appropriate documentation, Parsley shall pay or reimburse Employee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee in complying with this Section 3.06. If at the time of compliance Employee is no longer an employee, officer or director (or functional equivalent) of any member of the Parsley Group, Parsley shall provide a reasonable per diem to Employee. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee’s cooperation pursuant to this Section 3.06 shall require Employee to provide truthful, complete information at all times in providing the applicable services.

3.07     Stipulation of Reasonable Scope and Term. Employee warrants, represents, and stipulates that the consideration given in this Agreement was good and valid consideration and that no bad faith existed in the negotiation of this Agreement. Employee further warrants, represents, and stipulates the duties imposed and rights granted in this Section III are necessary to protect legitimate interests of Parsley and the Parsley Group as set forth in this document and, in particular, that the non-compete obligations set forth in Section 3.03 are fair, appropriate, and reasonable in their limitations with respect to time, geographic area, and scope of activities and impose no more restraint than is necessary to protect Parsley’s legitimate business interest, nor are they oppressive, nor will they unreasonably deprive Employee of the ability to earn a living.

 

IV.

GENERAL

4.01     Enforcement by Injunction. Employee acknowledges that Employee’s violation or threatened or attempted violation of the covenants contained in Section III of this Agreement will cause irreparable harm to Parsley and that money damages would not be sufficient remedy for any breach of those covenants. Employee agrees that Parsley shall be entitled as a matter of right to specific performance of the covenants in Section III of this Agreement, including entry of an ex parte temporary restraining order in a state or federal court, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against activities in violation of this Agreement, or both, or other appropriate judicial remedy, writ, or order, in any court of competent jurisdiction, restraining any violation or further violation of such agreements by Employee or others acting on Employee’s behalf, without any showing of irreparable harm and without any showing that Parsley does not have an adequate remedy at law. In furtherance of the intent to allow for immediate injunctive relief in the event of a breach, or threatened breach, of this Agreement, Employee agrees that Parsley would be entitled to its attorneys’ fees if successful in seeking injunctive relief and that any temporary restraining order or temporary/preliminary injunction bond should not be more than $1,000. Injunction is expressly not the exclusive remedy hereunder.

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 12 of 16


4.02     Assignment. This Agreement is personal to Employee, and neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder shall be assignable or otherwise transferred by Employee. Parsley may assign this Agreement without Employee’s consent to any successor (whether by merger, purchase, or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the equity, assets, or businesses of Parsley. The rights and obligations of Parsley under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of Parsley.

4.03     Savings Clause. Should any court of competent jurisdiction hold any term, provision, covenant, or condition of this Agreement (or portion thereof) to be illegal, void, unenforceable, or otherwise invalid, such term, provision, covenant, or condition (or portion thereof), will be automatically conformed to the applicable law to give the provision(s) the greatest effectuation possible of the original intent allowed by law and equity, and this Agreement will otherwise continue in full force and effect.

4.04     Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement of the Parties regarding the employment of Employee and this Agreement cancels and supersedes all other prior written or oral agreements, including, without limitation, the Prior Employment Agreement, the First Amendment and any other prior non-disclosure, confidentiality, or employment agreements. The terms are contractual and not mere recitals. In entering into this Agreement, each Party stipulates, warrants, and represents that it or Employee has relied on the advice of its or Employee’s own attorneys and financial advisors concerning the legal and tax consequences of the Agreement; that its or Employee’s own attorneys have completely read and explained to it or Employee the terms of the Agreement; that each is a sophisticated business person with experience negotiating these types of transactions; that no special relationship of influence or trust existed among the Parties prior to the entry into this Agreement that caused it or Employee to enter this Agreement; that each fully understands and voluntarily accepts the terms of the Agreement without any duress or undue persuasion put upon it or Employee by the other or any other person, specifically including, but not limited to, counsel or accountants for either Party; and that no representations, promises, or statements outside the four corners of this Agreement by the opposite Party, nor any agent, employee, attorney, accountant, or other representative of the opposite Party has influenced it or Employee into entering this Agreement . Each Party has had access to counsel and an opportunity to read, review, and revise this Agreement. This Agreement is the result of the joint efforts of the Parties and each of the party’s respective counsel. Therefore, the Parties agree that this Agreement, and any given provision of it, should not be construed against either Party. Each of the Parties hereto recognize and stipulate that this provision is binding as a matter of law and fact and shall preclude said Party from asserting that Employee was wrongfully induced to enter into this Agreement by any representation, promise, or agreement, or statement of a past or existing fact, which is not found within the four corners of this Agreement.

4.05     Key Person Insurance. Parsley and Employee acknowledge that Employee is a “key person” and as such Parsley may take out life insurance on such Employee for the benefit of Parsley or its affiliates. Employee agrees to cooperate with Parsley and submit to the necessary medical examinations and tests reasonably required to obtain such insurance, but insurability is not a condition of employment or continuation of employment.

4.06     No Waiver. A waiver of any breach of any of the terms of this Agreement shall be effective only if in writing and signed by the Party against whom such waiver or breach is claimed. No waiver of any breach shall be deemed a waiver of any other subsequent breach.

4.07     Further Assurances. Each Party shall each execute such assignments, endorsements and other instruments and documents and shall give such further assurance as shall be reasonably necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

4.08     Third Party Beneficiaries. Each member of the Parsley Group, together with any

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 13 of 16


additional or future affiliates thereof, are expressly third-party beneficiaries of Employee’s representations herein and can enforce this Agreement as if a party hereto.

4.09     Clawback . Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement to the contrary, any incentive-based compensation, or any other compensation, paid to Employee pursuant to this Agreement or any other agreement or arrangement with Parsley or another member of the Parsley Group shall be subject to reduction, cancelation, forfeiture, recoupment, or recovery under any applicable law, government regulation, or stock exchange listing requirement, or clawback or recoupment policy adopted by Parsley or the Parsley Group, in each case, whether such application is mandatory or permissive and as each may be amended or adopted from time to time.

4.10     Section 409A.

(i)     This Agreement is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations issued thereunder (“ Section  409A ”) or an exemption thereunder and shall be construed and administered in accordance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, payments provided under this Agreement may only be made upon an event and in a manner that complies with Section 409A or an applicable exemption. Any payments under this Agreement that may be excluded from Section 409A either as separation pay due to an involuntary separation from service or as a short-term deferral shall be excluded from Section 409A to the maximum extent possible. For purposes of Section 409A, each installment payment provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. Any payments to be made under this Agreement upon a termination of employment shall only be made upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A. The amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, if any, under this Agreement during Employee’s taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or in in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year. Further, the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred and the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits, if any, is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parsley Group makes no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement comply with Section 409A and in no event shall the Parsley Group be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by Employee on account of non-compliance with Section 409A.

(ii)     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any payment or benefit provided to Employee in connection with Employee’s termination of employment is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A and Employee is determined to be a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(b)(i), then such payment or benefit shall not be paid until the first payroll date to occur following the six (6)-month anniversary of the date of Employee’s termination of employment (the “ Specified Employee Payment Date ”). The aggregate of any payments that would otherwise have been paid before the Specified Employee Payment Date shall be paid to Employee in a lump-sum on the Specified Employee Payment Date and thereafter, any remaining payments shall be paid without delay in accordance with their original schedule.

(iii)     Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent Employee has made an effective deferral election pursuant to the Parsley Energy, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (as may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Deferred Compensation Plan ”) with respect to any compensation otherwise payable to Employee, then the time and form of payment or settlement of such compensation shall be governed in all respects by the terms and conditions of such effective deferral election and the Deferred Compensation Plan.

4.11     Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Trial by Jury.

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 14 of 16


(i)     This Agreement and the rights of the Parties hereunder shall be governed by, interpreted, and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Texas without giving effect to any choice of law or conflicts of law rules or provisions thereof.

(ii)     Each Party irrevocably agrees that any action or proceeding involving any dispute or matter arising under or relating to this Agreement may only be brought in the state or federal courts of the State of Texas in Midland County. In accordance with the foregoing, each Party agrees that the courts of Midland County will be the exclusive venue for any dispute or matter arising under or relating to this Agreement, which such jurisdiction, forum, and venue each Party expressly acknowledges and agrees has a direct, reasonable relation to this Agreement and any controversy relating to or arising from this Agreement, and the Parties agree not to raise, and hereby waive, any objection to or defense based upon the jurisdiction or venue of any such court or forum non conveniens.

(iii)     TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY WAIVES, AND COVENANTS THAT IT SHALL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE), ITS RESPECTIVE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY PERMITTED CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER AND COVENANT IS INTENDED TO BE ALL ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, INCLUDING, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. THIS WAIVER AND COVENANT IS IRREVOCABLE AND SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS OR OTHER MODIFICATIONS TO THIS AGREEMENT.

(iv)    In the event of any action or proceeding involving any dispute or matter arising under or relating to this Agreement, the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be entitled to recover from the other party all reasonable and necessary attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such action or proceeding.

4.12     Multiple Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, or with counterpart signature pages, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signatures Follow]

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 15 of 16


Executed as of this 28th day of December, 2018.

 

  EMPLOYEE:

/s/ Matthew Gallagher

  Matthew Gallagher
  PARSLEY ENERGY OPERATIONS, LLC
  By:  

/s/ Colin W. Roberts

    Colin W. Roberts, EVP & General Counsel

Exhibit 10.3

PARSLEY ENERGY OPERATIONS, LLC

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT

For good and valuable consideration set forth herein, this Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is effective as of January 1, 2019 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between: (i)  Parsley Energy Operations, LLC (“ Parsley ”) and (ii) Ryan Dalton, a natural person (“ Employee ”) (Employee and Parsley each a “ Party ” and collectively “ Parties ” herein).

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS , Parsley and Employee previously entered into an Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement, effective as of February 4, 2014 (the “Prior Employment Agreement”), and the First Amendment to the Prior Employment Agreement, effective as of September 30, 2016 (the “First Amendment” and, together with the Prior Employment Agreement, the “Prior Agreements”);

WHEREAS , the Parties desire to amend and restate the Prior Employment Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment, by entering into this Agreement, which shall cancel and supersede the Prior Agreements, effective as of the Effective Date; and

WHEREAS , in the course of Employee’s employment, Parsley will provide Employee with internal confidential information, commercially obtained information, research resources, and other valuable and proprietary materials. Further, Employee’s position will be to develop and obtain such confidential information for the benefit of Parsley and its affiliates and subsidiaries (the “ Parsley Group ” and each individual entity, a “ member of the Parsley Group ”).

THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:

 

I.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

1.01     Initial Term. The term of this Agreement shall begin on the Effective Date and continue for a period of one year (the “ Initial Term ”) unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 1, provided that, on such one-year anniversary of the Effective Date, and each annual anniversary thereafter (such date and each annual anniversary thereof, a “ Renewal Date ”), the term of this Agreement shall be deemed to be automatically extended, upon the same terms and conditions, for successive periods of one year, unless either of the Parties provides written notice of its intention not to extend the term of the Agreement at least sixty (60) days prior to the applicable Renewal Date. The Initial Term and all periods beyond the Initial Term while this Agreement remains in effect shall collectively be referred to herein as the “ Term .”

1.02     Base Salary. During the Term, Parsley will pay Employee a base salary of at least $475,000 per year, in periodic installments in accordance with Parsley’s customary payroll practices as may exist from time to time, but no less frequently than monthly. During the Term, Parsley may not decrease Employee’s salary below the base salary enumerated in this Section 1.02, but may, in Parsley’s sole discretion, increase Employee’s salary as it sees fit from time to time. Employee’s annual base salary, as in effect from time to time, is hereinafter referred to as Employee’s “ Base Salary .”

1.03     Annual Bonus. Employee shall be eligible to earn an annual bonus (the “ Annual Bonus ”). However, the decision to provide any Annual Bonus and the amount and terms of any Annual Bonus shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the Compensation Committee (the “ Compensation Committee ”) of the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of Parsley Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee shall not be entitled to any Annual Bonus if Employee is not employed by Parsley on the date any such Annual Bonus is paid.


1.04     Benefits. At all times during Employee’s employment with Parsley, Employee will be eligible for all other benefits and conditions of employment generally available to employees of Parsley of the same level and responsibility. Furthermore, Parsley shall pay all costs (including all reasonable costs associated with travel and lodging) for Employee to obtain a bi-annual physical examination at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas.

1.05     Duties. During Employee’s employment, Employee agrees to serve as Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer and in such other position(s) as Employee’s supervisor and Employee shall mutually agree. Employee will have the duties that are normally required of an employee of Employee’s same level and responsibility in the exploration and production business and agrees to perform diligently and to the best of Employee’s abilities the duties and services appertaining to such position(s), as well as such additional duties and services which may be designated by Parsley or other members of the Parsley Group, at Parsley’s discretion, from time to time. Employee will also, at the reasonable discretion and request of Parsley, advise and assist in other ways to further the business of the Parsley Group, as may be requested. Initially, Employee shall report to and be subject to the supervision and direction of Parsley’s Chief Executive Officer.

1.06     Place of Work. Employee shall perform Employee’s services at Parsley’s principal office in Austin, Texas, or such other location to which Parsley relocates its principal office. If Employee is required to travel, Parsley agrees to reimburse Employee in accordance with Parsley’s expense reimbursement policy in effect from time to time.

1.07     No Privacy on Electronic Systems. Employee agrees and understands that the computer and email services provided by the Parsley Group are for the purpose of conducting work for the Parsley Group alone. Employee agrees and stipulates that Employee shall have no expectation of privacy with regard to emails or computer files on, or sent to or from, the computers or servers of the Parsley Group or otherwise made available to Employee through Employee’s employment with Parsley.

1.08     Employee Resources. Parsley agrees to pay for memberships, seminars, professional meetings and/or professional publications needed for the continuing development of prospects and education of Employee, but only as the same are pre-approved by Parsley in Parsley’s sole and absolute discretion.

1.09     Full-Time Employee. While employed by Parsley, Employee agrees to devote Employee’s entire and full-time productive ability and attention to the business of Parsley, provided that Employee may engage in passive personal investment and charitable activities that do not Compete (as defined below) with the business and affairs of Parsley or interfere with Employee’s performance of Employee’s duties hereunder. Employee warrants and agrees to not, directly or indirectly, render any services of a business, commercial, or professional nature to any other person or organization, including self-employment, without the prior written consent of Parsley. Employee warrants and agrees that Employee will not render any services as either an employee or independent consultant to any person or entity that is in competition with Parsley or, while employed, prepare or establish a business that would enable, further, or result in a breach of Employee’s non-compete restrictions set forth in Section 3.03.

1.10     Fiduciary Duties of Employee. At all times while an employee of Parsley, Employee warrants and agrees that Employee will perform and discharge the duties of Employee’s position fully and faithfully and to the best of Employee’s abilities. Employee agrees Employee shall owe Parsley, and hereby voluntarily assumes, a duty of loyalty and utmost good faith; a duty of candor; a duty to refrain from any self-dealing; a duty to act with integrity of the strictest kind; a duty of fair and honest dealing; a duty of full disclosure, that is, a duty not to conceal matters that might influence Employee’s actions to Parsley’s prejudice; and any other and further duties imposed by law on employees to their employers,

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 2 of 16


and specifically including under this Agreement a covenant not to solicit fellow Parsley employees for future employment, as set forth in Section 3.04.

1.11     Reporting Requirement. During the course of Employee’s employment with Parsley, Employee agrees that, if Employee learns or even suspects that any fellow employee is, or may be, breaching that employee’s fiduciary duties to Parsley, Employee agrees to alert Parsley promptly. Employee understands that this is a broad and general obligation in light of the difficulty to anticipate all possible circumstances. If Employee is in doubt, Employee agrees to resolve Employee’s doubts by reporting to Parsley the information that has come to Employee’s attention.

1.12     Corporate Opportunities. During Employee’s employment with Parsley, in the event that Employee, in Employee’s individual capacity, shall be presented with, or made aware of, any commercial proposal, prospect, solicitation, deal, transaction or opportunity relating to the oil and gas business (“ New Business Opportunity ”), Employee shall immediately notify and present the terms and conditions of such New Business Opportunity to Employee’s superiors at Parsley; whether or not any member of the Parsley Group elects to take advantage of such New Business Opportunity, Employee shall not present such New Business Opportunity to any person or entity other than the Parsley Group.

1.13     Termination by Non-Renewal, by Parsley for Cause or by Employee without Good Reason. Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated by (x) the provision of notice by either of the Parties that they do not wish to renew the Term on the next Renewal Date in accordance with Section 1.01 and shall terminate the employment relationship between the Parties on such date, (y) by Parsley for Cause, or (z) by Employee without Good Reason. If Employee’s employment is terminated for any of the reasons enumerated in this Section 1.13 then Employee shall be entitled to receive: (i) any accrued but unpaid Base Salary, which shall be paid, unless otherwise required by law, on the pay date immediately following the date of Employee’s termination of employment in accordance with Parsley’s customary payroll procedures; (ii) reimbursement for unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by Employee, which shall be subject to and paid in accordance with Parsley’s expense reimbursement policy in effect from time to time; and (iii) such employee benefits, if any, as to which Employee may be entitled under Parsley’s employee benefit plans as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment; provided that, in no event shall Employee be entitled to any payments in the nature of severance payments except as specifically provided herein (items (i) through (iii), the “ Accrued Obligations ”). If Employee’s employment is terminated for any of the reasons enumerated in this Section 1.13 then Parsley will not be obligated to make any payments other than the Accrued Obligations under this Agreement, and Employee will forfeit all unvested outstanding equity awards held by Employee as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment.

Cause ” shall mean: (i) violation of Parsley’s substance abuse policy; (ii) refusal or inability (other than by reason of death or Disability) to perform the duties assigned to Employee; (iii) acts or omissions evidencing a violation of Employee’s duties of loyalty and good faith; candor; fair and honest dealing; integrity; or full disclosure to Parsley, as well as any acts or omissions which constitute self-dealing; (iv) willful disobedience of lawful orders, policies, regulations, or directives issued to Employee by Parsley, including policies related to sexual harassment, discrimination, computer use or the like; (v) conviction or commission of a felony, a crime of moral turpitude, or a crime that could reasonably be expected to impair the ability of Employee to perform Employee’s job duties; (vi) breach of any part of this Agreement or any other written agreement between Employee and any member of the Parsley Group by Employee; (vii) revocation or suspension of any necessary license or certification; (viii) generation of materially incorrect financial, geological, seismic or engineering projections, compilations or reports; or (ix) a false statement by Employee to obtain this position, in each case as determined by Parsley in good faith and in its sole and absolute discretion. For purposes of clarity, “Cause” shall not mean termination of Employee’s employment for death or Disability, which shall be governed by Section 1.15.

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 3 of 16


1.14     Termination by Employee for Good Reason or Termination by Parsley without Cause. Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated by Employee for Good Reason or by Parsley without Cause. If Employee’s employment is terminated by Employee for Good Reason or by Parsley without Cause then Employee shall be entitled to receive (i) the Accrued Obligations, (ii) provided that Employee has fulfilled the Severance Conditions (as defined below), a cash payment equal to one and one-half (1.5) times the sum of (A) Employee’s Base Salary and (B) the average of the three (3) most recent Annual Bonuses actually paid in the three (3)-year period preceding the date of Employee’s termination, which amount shall be paid in a lump-sum on the first business day following the Release Consideration Period (as defined below) (such date, the “ Initial Payment Date ”), (iii) during the portion, if any, of the eighteen (18)-month period commencing on the date of such termination of employment that Employee is eligible to elect and elects to continue coverage for himself and his eligible dependents under the Parsley Group’s group health plan, as applicable, under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“ COBRA ”), Parsley shall promptly reimburse Employee on a monthly basis for the difference between the amount Employee pays to effect and continue such coverage and the employee contribution amount that similarly situated executives of the Parsley Group pay for the same or similar coverage under such group health plan at that time; provided, however, that such reimbursement shall not be paid if it would subject any member of the Parsley Group to sanctions imposed pursuant to Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act, and (iv) outplacement services provided by a company of Parsley’s choosing for up to six (6) months following the date of Employee’s termination or such time as Employee obtains reasonably comparable employment, whichever occurs earlier.

Further, if Employee is terminated pursuant to this Section 1.14 prior to the date on which all unvested outstanding equity awards held by Employee vest and Employee has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, then (i) at the end of the applicable performance period, a portion of each unvested grant of performance-based equity awards shall vest, such portion to be equal to the product of (A) the total number of such awards that would have vested based on the actual levels of performance over the applicable performance period had Employee continued to provide services to the Parsley Group through the end of such performance period and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of days in the applicable performance period for such award that elapsed prior to Employee’s termination of employment and the denominator of which is equal to the total number of days in the applicable performance period (the “ Performance-Based Pro-Rata Awards ”), and (ii) a portion of each unvested grant of time-based equity awards shall immediately vest as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment, such portion to be equal to the product of (A) the total number of awards included in such grant to Employee and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of days that elapsed from the date of grant of such award through the date of Employee’s termination of employment and the denominator of which is equal to the total number of days from the date of grant through the last vesting date applicable to such grant (the “ Time-Based Pro-Rata Awards ”); provided, however, that the Time-Based Pro-Rata Awards shall be reduced by the number of awards from the same grant that vested prior to Employee’s termination of employment, if any. The Performance-Based Pro-Rata Awards will be settled at the time they would have been settled if Employee had continued to provide services to the Parsley Group through the end of the applicable performance period; provided, however, that such settlement date shall not be earlier than the Initial Payment Date and shall not be later than sixty-five (65) days following the end of the applicable performance period. The Time-Based Pro-Rata Awards shall be settled on or following the Initial Payment Date but no later than sixty-five (65) days following Employee’s termination of employment.

Good Reason ” shall mean (i) a material diminution in Employee’s base compensation, (ii) a material diminution in Employee’s authority, duties, or responsibilities, or (iii) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by Parsley of the Agreement, in each case, without Employee’s consent. Employee cannot terminate Employee’s employment for Good Reason unless Employee has provided written notice to Parsley of the existence of the circumstances providing grounds for termination for Good

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 4 of 16


Reason within sixty (60) days of the initial existence of such grounds and Parsley has had at least thirty (30) days from the date on which such notice is provided to cure such circumstances. If Employee does not terminate Employee’s employment for Good Reason within one hundred twenty (120) days after the first occurrence of the applicable grounds, then Employee will be deemed to have waived Employee’s right to terminate for Good Reason with respect to such grounds.

1.15     Death or Disability . Employee’s employment shall terminate automatically on the date of Employee’s death or immediately upon Parsley’s sending Employee a notice of termination of employment for “ Disability ,” which shall mean Employee’s inability to perform the essential functions of Employee’s position, with reasonable accommodation, due to an illness or physical or mental impairment or other incapacity that continues, or can reasonably be expected to continue, for a period in excess of ninety (90) days (whether or not consecutive) during any period of three hundred sixty-five (365) consecutive days. Upon termination of Employee’s employment by reason of death or Disability pursuant to this Section 1.15, Employee shall be entitled to receive (i) the Accrued Obligations and (ii) provided that Employee or Employee’s estate, as applicable, has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, following the applicable performance period, if any, a portion of Employee’s Annual Bonus for the calendar year in which death or Disability occurred, such portion equal to the product of (A) the Annual Bonus Employee would have been eligible to receive pursuant to Section 1.03 had Employee continued to provide services to the Parsley Group through the payment date of such Annual Bonus based on the actual achievement of the applicable performance conditions, if any, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of days in the calendar year that elapsed prior to Employee’s termination of employment by reason of death or Disability and the denominator of which is three hundred sixty-five (365) (the “ Death or Disability Bonus ”). The Death or Disability Bonus shall be paid in a lump-sum on or before the date annual bonuses for the calendar year in which death or Disability occurred are paid to employees of the same level and responsibility who have continued employment with the Parsley Group; provided, however, in no event shall the Death or Disability Bonus be paid prior to the Initial Payment Date or later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which death or Disability occurred. Further, if Employee is terminated pursuant to this Section 1.15 prior to the date on which all unvested outstanding equity awards held by Employee vest and Employee or Employee’s estate, as applicable, has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, then (A)(i) the target number of each grant of performance-based equity awards outstanding shall immediately vest as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment, and (ii) all unvested outstanding time-based equity awards held by Employee shall immediately vest as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment and (B) such awards shall be settled on or following the Initial Payment Date but no later than sixty-five (65) days following Employee’s termination of employment.

1.16     Vesting of Performance-Based Equity Awards Based on Actual Performance upon Change of Control. Provided that Employee remains continuously employed by Parsley from the date of grant of the award through the date that is immediately prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below), then upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each grant of performance-based equity awards outstanding shall immediately vest based on the actual achievement of the applicable performance conditions, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, measured from the first day of the applicable performance period through the date immediately prior to the Change of Control. Such awards shall be settled no later than thirty (30) days following the Change of Control. For the avoidance of doubt, no time-based equity awards shall vest as a result of this Section 1.16.

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i)    A “change in the ownership of the Company” which shall occur on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock in the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company; however, if any one person or more than one person acting as

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 5 of 16


a group, is considered to own more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons will not be considered a “change in the ownership of the Company” (or to cause a “change in the effective control of the Company” within the meaning of paragraph (ii) below) and an increase of the effective percentage of stock owned by any one person, or persons acting as a group, as a result of a transaction in which the Company acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this paragraph; provided, further, however, that for purposes of this Section 1.16, any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company will not constitute a Change of Control. This paragraph (i) applies only when there is a transfer of the stock of the Company (or issuance of stock) and stock in the Company remains outstanding after the transaction.

(ii)    A “change in the effective control of the Company” which shall occur on the date that either (A) any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 35% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company, except for any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company; or (B) a majority of the members of the Board are replaced during any twelve (12)-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes of a “change in the effective control of the Company,” if any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to effectively control the Company within the meaning of this Section 1.16, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same person or persons is not considered a “change in the effective control of the Company,” or to cause a “change in the ownership of the Company” within the meaning of paragraph (i) above.

(iii)    A “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets” which shall occur on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets of the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of all the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. Any transfer of assets to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of the Company immediately after the transfer, as provided in guidance issued pursuant to Section 409A (as defined below), shall not constitute a Change of Control.

For purposes of the definition of Change of Control, the provisions of Section 318(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “ Code ”) regarding the constructive ownership of stock will apply to determine stock ownership; provided, that, stock underlying unvested options (including options exercisable for stock that is not substantially vested) will not be treated as owned by the individual who holds the option. In addition, for purposes of this Section 1.16, “Company” includes (x) Parsley, (y) the entity for whom Employee performs services, and (z) an entity that is a stockholder owning more than 50% of the total fair market value and total voting power (a “ Majority Shareholder ”) of Parsley or the entity identified in (y) above, or any entity in a chain of entities in which each entity is a Majority Shareholder of another entity in the chain, ending in Parsley or the entity identified in (y) above.

1.17     Termination by Parsley without Cause or by Employee for Good Reason following a Change of Control. If within the twelve (12) months following a Change of Control Employee’s employment is terminated by Employee for Good Reason or by Parsley (or a successor in interest to Parsley) without Cause then Employee shall be entitled to receive (i) the Accrued Obligations, (ii) provided that Employee has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, a cash payment equal to two and one-

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 6 of 16


quarter (2.25) times the sum of (A) Employee’s Base Salary and (B) the average of the three (3) most recent Annual Bonuses actually paid in the three (3)-year period preceding the date of Employee’s termination (or the period of Employee’s employment, if shorter), which amount shall be paid in a lump-sum on the first business day following the Release Consideration Period, (iii) during the portion, if any, of the eighteen (18)-month period commencing on the date of such termination of employment that Employee is eligible to elect and elects to continue coverage for himself and his eligible dependents under the Parsley Group’s group health plan, as applicable, under COBRA, Parsley shall promptly reimburse Employee on a monthly basis for the difference between the amount Employee pays to effect and continue such coverage and the employee contribution amount that similarly situated executives of the Parsley Group pay for the same or similar coverage under such group health plan at that time; provided, however, that such reimbursement shall not be paid if it would subject any member of the Parsley Group to sanctions imposed pursuant to Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act, and (iv) outplacement services provided by a company of Parsley’s choosing for up to six (6) months following the date of Employee’s termination or such time as Employee obtains reasonably comparable employment, whichever occurs earlier.

Further, if Employee is terminated pursuant to this Section 1.17 prior to the date on which all unvested outstanding time-based equity awards held by Employee vest and Employee has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, then all unvested outstanding time-based equity awards held by Employee shall immediately vest as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment, and such time-based equity awards shall be settled on or following the Initial Payment Date but no later than sixty-five (65) days following Employee’s termination of employment. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Employee is terminated pursuant to this Section 1.17, then the treatment of each unvested grant of performance-based equity awards granted following a Change of Control shall be determined in accordance with the terms of the award agreement applicable to each such grant.

1.18     Release and Compliance with this Agreement . The obligation of the Parsley Group to pay any portion of the amounts due pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15, or 1.17, with the exception of the Accrued Obligations, shall be expressly conditioned on (i) Employee’s execution (and, if applicable, non-revocation) of a full general release, releasing all claims, known or unknown, that Employee may have against the Parsley Group, including those arising out of or in any way related to Employee’s employment or termination of employment with the Parsley Group no later than the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the date of Employee’s termination of employment (such sixty (60)-day period, the “ Release Consideration Period ”) and (ii) continued compliance with the requirements of Sections II and III (the “ Severance Conditions ”). If Parsley determines that Employee is eligible to receive any amounts pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15 or 1.17 but, after such determination, Parsley subsequently acquires evidence or determines that a Cause condition existed prior to the termination of Employee’s employment that, had Parsley been fully aware of such condition, would have given Parsley the right to terminate Employee’s employment for Cause pursuant to Section 1.13 or if Employee (x) does not execute the release described above during the Release Consideration Period, or (y) breaches Section II or III of this Agreement, then (i) Parsley shall immediately cease any payments owed pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15, or 1.17 (other than the Accrued Obligations) but not yet paid and shall have no obligation to make any further payments to Employee pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15, or 1.17 and (ii) Employee shall promptly pay to Parsley (or its successor) an amount equal to any payments Employee has received pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15, or 1.17 (other than the Accrued Obligations) as of the time of Employee’s breach or refusal to execute the general release (such repayment outlined in (ii) of this sentence, the “ Recoupment Payment ”).

1.19     Excise Taxes. If the Compensation Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that Section 280G of the Code applies to any compensation payable to Employee, then the provisions of this Section 1.19 shall apply. If any payments or benefits to which Employee is entitled from the Parsley Group, any successor to Parsley or another member of the Parsley Group, or any trusts established by any of the foregoing by reason of, or in connection with, any transaction that occurs after the Effective Date

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 7 of 16


(collectively, the “ Payments ,” which shall include, without limitation, the vesting of any equity awards or other non-cash benefit or property) are, alone or in the aggregate, more likely than not, if paid or delivered to Employee, to be subject to the tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any successor provisions to that section, then the Payments (consistent with the requirements of Section 409A (as defined below) and beginning with any Payment to be paid in cash hereunder), shall be either (a) reduced (but not below zero) so that the present value of such total Payments received by Employee will be one dollar ($1.00) less than three (3) times Employee’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) and so that no portion of such Payments received by Employee shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or (b) paid in full, whichever of (a) or (b) produces the better net after tax position to Employee (taking into account any applicable excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code and any other applicable taxes). The determination as to whether any Payments are more likely than not to be subject to taxes under Section 4999 of the Code and as to whether reduction or payment in full of the amount of the Payments provided hereunder results in the better net after tax position to Employee shall be made by the Board and Employee in good faith.

1.20     Resignation. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Parsley and Employee prior to the termination of Employee’s employment, any termination of Employee’s employment shall constitute, to the extent applicable: (i) an automatic resignation of Employee as an officer of each member of the Parsley Group and (ii) an automatic resignation of Employee from the Board and the board of directors or board of managers of each member of the Parsley Group and from the board of directors or managers or similar governing body of any corporation, limited liability entity or other entity in which Parsley or another member of the Parsley Group holds an equity interest and with respect to which board or similar governing body Employee serves as a designee or other representative for a member of the Parsley Group.

1.21     No Conflicts. Employee hereby represents and warrants that Employee is not the subject of, or a party to, any employment agreement, non-competition covenant, nondisclosure agreement, or any other agreement, obligation, restriction or understanding that would prohibit Employee from executing this Agreement and fully performing each of Employee’s duties and responsibilities hereunder, or would in any manner, directly or indirectly, limit or affect any of the duties and responsibilities that may now or in the future be assigned to Employee.

 

  II.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

2.01     Return of Property. Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that all Personal Property and equipment furnished to Employee in the course of, or incident to, Employee’s employment by the Parsley Group belongs to the Parsley Group and shall be promptly returned to Parsley upon termination of employment or upon demand by the Parsley Group. “ Personal Property ” includes, without limitation, all automobiles, computers, phones, equipment, well reports, engineering data, geological and geophysical data, maps, credit cards, books, manuals, records, reports, notes, contracts, lists, blueprints, and other documents, or materials, or copies thereof (including computer files and other electronically stored information), and all other proprietary information relating to the business of any member of the Parsley Group. Following termination, Employee will not retain any written, computer files, or other tangible or intangible material containing any proprietary information, Confidential Information (as defined below) or trade secrets of the Parsley Group or any of its agents, employees, and representatives.

2.02     Developed Intellectual Property. Employee also acknowledges and agrees that in connection with the performance of Employee’s duties, Employee may author, create, conceive, develop or reduce to practice Confidential Information, trade secrets, and other Intellectual Property (as defined below) in whole or in part, either alone or jointly with others. With respect to any and all such Intellectual Property and/or improvements to any of the same authored, created, conceived, developed, or reduced to practice by Employee or Parsley (whether alone or in combination with others) (a) during

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 8 of 16


Employee’s working hours, or (b) at Parsley’s expense, or (c) using any of Parsley’s materials or facilities, or (d) that relates to the business of Parsley or to the research or development of Parsley (collectively, “ Developed Intellectual Property ”), Employee agrees that the same are, and shall be, the exclusive property of the Parsley Group. Employee further acknowledges that all original works of authorship made by Employee (alone or jointly with others) that constitute Developed Intellectual Property are “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act and to the extent allowed by law. Without limiting the immediately preceding sentence, to the extent Employee develops any interest in the Developed Intellectual Property, Employee agrees to and does hereby assign to Parsley, or its nominee, Employee’s entire right, title, and interest in and to all Developed Intellectual Property. For clarity, such assignment includes all registrations or applications for registration of such Developed Intellectual Property, including any U.S. or international applications for patents or copyright registrations filed during or after the Term of this Agreement. Employee shall promptly disclose all such works made for hire and other Developed Intellectual Property to Parsley and, both during and after the Term of this Agreement, agrees to execute, at Parsley’s expense, any and all documents that Parsley reasonably deems necessary to assign, obtain, maintain, protect and/or enforce its worldwide right to, title interest in, and ownership of such works made for hire and Developed Intellectual Property. Employee agrees to perform, during and after the Term of this Agreement, all acts deemed necessary or desirable by Parsley to permit and assist Parsley in evidencing, perfecting, obtaining, maintaining, defending, and enforcing rights and/or Employee’s assignment of such works made for hire and Developed Intellectual Property in any and all countries, at Parsley’s expense. Such acts may include, but are not limited to, execution of documents and assistance or cooperation in legal proceedings. Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Parsley and its duly authorized officers and agents, as Employee’s agents and attorneys-in-fact to act for and on behalf and instead of Employee, to execute and file any documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the above purposes with the same legal force and effects as if executed by Employee.

Intellectual Property ” means software, technical data, know-how, discoveries, conceptions, ideas, research, reports, patents, inventions (whether or not patentable), copyrights (including copyrights in software), trademarks, and trade secrets, including all forms and types of financial, business, scientific, technical, economic, or engineering information, including patterns, plans, compilations, program devices, formulas, designs, prototypes, methods, techniques, processes, procedures, programs, or codes, whether tangible or intangible, and whether or how stored, compiled, or memorialized physically, electronically, graphically, photographically, or in writing.

2.03     Confidential Information. During Employee’s employment, Parsley also agrees to provide, and Employee will develop as part of Employee’s duties, various trade secrets and other confidential information that are, or will be, owned by Parsley, and that Parsley expressly agrees to assist Employee in developing. Such trade secrets or confidential information includes (but is not limited to) internal confidential information previously developed or compiled by Parsley, commercially obtained information at substantial cost, research resources and other valuable and proprietary materials, and more specifically (but without limitation): financial information and company planning, strategic goals and plans of Parsley or another member of the Parsley Group, geological and geophysical data, engineering data and compilations, seismic and other geophysical data and interpretation, engineering data and analysis, maps, samples, cores, cuttings, well logs, well production records, well files, and the like (“ Confidential Information ”). Employee stipulates and acknowledges: (i) that the Confidential Information is not generally known outside of Parsley’s business or by employees and others involved in the same business as Parsley; (ii) that Parsley takes significant measures to guard the secrecy of this information; (iii) that the information is extremely valuable to Parsley and would be valuable to Parsley’s competitors; (iv) that Parsley has expended material amounts of money and effort in developing this Confidential Information; and (v) that this Confidential Information could not be easily or properly acquired by others.

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 9 of 16


2.04     Confidentiality Obligation. Employee agrees to not disclose, directly or indirectly, any of the Confidential Information of Parsley, nor use it in any way, directly or indirectly, except in furtherance of Employee’s duties as an employee under this Agreement. Employee specifically agrees that Employee will not use any Confidential Information for Employee’s own benefit, the benefit of any other person, including competitors of Parsley, or for the disadvantage of Parsley. Employee will take care to guard the security of the Confidential Information at all times. In this regard, Employee agrees that Employee will not disclose any of this Confidential Information to any person that does not need to know and have the right to know the information, including other Parsley employees, and that Employee will take care in guarding electronic data. Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to Section 2.07, to the extent that Employee shall be required, by law or process of law, to disclose Confidential Information, Employee shall be entitled to do so only to the extent so required, subject to giving prompt, advance notice of such requirement in writing to the General Counsel of Parsley so that Parsley may pursue a protective order or other remedy, and Employee acknowledges and agrees to cooperate reasonably with Parsley’s efforts to obtain a confidentiality order or similar protection.

2.05     Duties Upon Termination. Employee agrees that at such time as Employee’s services are terminated or upon demand by the Parsley Group, for whatever reason, Employee shall promptly return: (i) all Confidential Information (however stored) and (ii) equipment in Employee’s possession belonging to Parsley.

2.06     These confidentiality duties survive the termination of Employee’s employment in perpetuity.

2.07     Whistleblowing. Nothing in this Agreement will prevent Employee from: (i) making a good faith report of possible violations of applicable law to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) or any other governmental agency or entity or (ii) making disclosures to the SEC or any other governmental agency or entity that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of applicable law, in each case, without notice to Parsley. Nothing in this Agreement limits Employee’s right, if any, to receive an award for information provided to the SEC. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall prevent Employee from making a disclosure of a trade secret that: (A) is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (2) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Further, an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer of reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose a trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (X) files any document containing the trade secret under seal and (Y) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

2.08     Legally Protected Activities. Nothing in this Agreement precludes Employee from engaging in legally protected activities, including those protected by the National Labor Relations Act.

2.09     Exclusive Knowledge. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee will obtain knowledge and skill relevant to the Parsley Group’s industry, methods of doing business and marketing strategies by virtue of Employee’s employment; and that the terms and conditions of this Agreement are reasonable under these circumstances. Employee further acknowledges that Confidential Information has been and will be developed or acquired by the Parsley Group through the expenditure of substantial time, effort and money. Employee understands and acknowledges that this Confidential Information and the Parsley Group’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Parsley Group is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Parsley Group, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee might cause the Parsley Group to incur financial costs, loss of business advantage, liability under confidentiality agreements with third parties, civil damages and criminal penalties. Employee agrees that the Parsley Group’s substantial investments in its business

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 10 of 16


interests, goodwill, and Confidential Information are worthy of protection, and that the Parsley Group’s need for the protection afforded by this Section 2.09 and Section III is greater than any hardship Employee might experience by complying with its terms.

 

III.

NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT AND NON-SOLICITATION

3.01     Ancillary. The non-competition obligations of Employee and the non-solicitation provisions in this Section III are ancillary to, and are supported by (and in support of), Parsley’s and Employee’s respective obligations set forth in this Agreement.

3.02     Definitions. Terms given special meaning in this Section III are:

Compete ” means: (i) to lease, purchase, or otherwise obtain a mineral estate (in whole or in part), including purchasing or obtaining a royalty interest, overriding royalty interest, working interest, or the like or (ii) to provide the services of comptroller, chief financial officer, or similar financial professional or advisor to any corporate entity operating as an exploration and production business other than members of the Parsley Group.

Restricted Period ” means during such time as Employee is employed with Parsley and the one-year period commencing on the date Employee ceases employment with Parsley for any reason and ending on the first anniversary thereof; provided, however, that if Employee’s employment is terminated by Employee for Good Reason or by Parsley other than for Cause, the Restricted Period shall end six (6) months after the date of termination of Employee’s employment with Parsley.

Territory ” means all land within a three (3)-mile radius from the farthest outside edge of each oil or gas lease that is or was under lease, letter agreement, or operated by a member of the Parsley Group.

3.03     Non-Compete Obligation. In return for the consideration given in this Agreement and in support of the promises therein, Employee agrees that Employee will not Compete during the Restricted Period in the Territory.

3.04     Non-Solicitation. In return for the consideration given in this Agreement and in support of the promises therein, Employee agrees that Employee will not directly or indirectly solicit or hire any employee of the Parsley Group to be an employee or co-venturer in another matter that Competes or intends to Compete with Parsley during the Restricted Period in the Territory.

3.05     Non -Disparagement. Employee shall not, during the Term or any time thereafter, make any untrue, misleading, or defamatory statements concerning the Parsley Group or its directors or employees. Employee will not directly or indirectly make, repeat or publish any false, disparaging, negative, unflattering, accusatory, or derogatory remarks or references, whether oral or in writing, concerning the Parsley Group, or otherwise take any action which might reasonably be expected to cause damage or harm to the Parsley Group. However, nothing in this Agreement is intended to restrict actions or communications protected or required by law, such as enforcing rights under this Agreement or any other agreement, testifying truthfully as a witness, or complying with other legal obligations, including communicating with or fully cooperating in the investigations of any governmental agency on matters within their jurisdictions.

3.06     Cooperation. Upon the receipt of reasonable notice from Parsley (including outside counsel), Employee agrees that while employed by Parsley and thereafter, Employee shall provide reasonable assistance to the Parsley Group and their respective representatives in defense of any claims that may be made against any member of the Parsley Group and shall assist in the prosecution of any claims that may be made by any member of the Parsley Group, to the extent that such claims relate to or

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 11 of 16


arise out of Employee’s service to or employment by Parsley. Employee agrees to inform Parsley promptly if Employee becomes aware of any lawsuits involving such claims that may be filed or threatened against any member of the Parsley Group. Employee also agrees to inform Parsley promptly (to the extent legally permitted to do so) if Employee is asked to assist in any investigation of any member of the Parsley Group (or its actions), regardless of whether a lawsuit or other proceeding has then been filed against any member of the Parsley Group with respect to such investigation. Upon presentation of appropriate documentation, Parsley shall pay or reimburse Employee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee in complying with this Section 3.06. If at the time of compliance Employee is no longer an employee, officer or director (or functional equivalent) of any member of the Parsley Group, Parsley shall provide a reasonable per diem to Employee. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee’s cooperation pursuant to this Section 3.06 shall require Employee to provide truthful, complete information at all times in providing the applicable services.

3.07     Stipulation of Reasonable Scope and Term. Employee warrants, represents, and stipulates that the consideration given in this Agreement was good and valid consideration and that no bad faith existed in the negotiation of this Agreement. Employee further warrants, represents, and stipulates the duties imposed and rights granted in this Section III are necessary to protect legitimate interests of Parsley and the Parsley Group as set forth in this document and, in particular, that the non-compete obligations set forth in Section 3.03 are fair, appropriate, and reasonable in their limitations with respect to time, geographic area, and scope of activities and impose no more restraint than is necessary to protect Parsley’s legitimate business interest, nor are they oppressive, nor will they unreasonably deprive Employee of the ability to earn a living.

 

IV.

GENERAL

4.01     Enforcement by Injunction. Employee acknowledges that Employee’s violation or threatened or attempted violation of the covenants contained in Section III of this Agreement will cause irreparable harm to Parsley and that money damages would not be sufficient remedy for any breach of those covenants. Employee agrees that Parsley shall be entitled as a matter of right to specific performance of the covenants in Section III of this Agreement, including entry of an ex parte temporary restraining order in a state or federal court, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against activities in violation of this Agreement, or both, or other appropriate judicial remedy, writ, or order, in any court of competent jurisdiction, restraining any violation or further violation of such agreements by Employee or others acting on Employee’s behalf, without any showing of irreparable harm and without any showing that Parsley does not have an adequate remedy at law. In furtherance of the intent to allow for immediate injunctive relief in the event of a breach, or threatened breach, of this Agreement, Employee agrees that Parsley would be entitled to its attorneys’ fees if successful in seeking injunctive relief and that any temporary restraining order or temporary/preliminary injunction bond should not be more than $1,000. Injunction is expressly not the exclusive remedy hereunder.

4.02     Assignment. This Agreement is personal to Employee, and neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder shall be assignable or otherwise transferred by Employee. Parsley may assign this Agreement without Employee’s consent to any successor (whether by merger, purchase, or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the equity, assets, or businesses of Parsley. The rights and obligations of Parsley under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of Parsley.

4.03     Savings Clause. Should any court of competent jurisdiction hold any term, provision, covenant, or condition of this Agreement (or portion thereof) to be illegal, void, unenforceable, or otherwise invalid, such term, provision, covenant, or condition (or portion thereof), will be automatically conformed to the applicable law to give the provision(s) the greatest effectuation possible of the original intent allowed by law and equity, and this Agreement will otherwise continue in full force and effect.

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 12 of 16


4.04     Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement of the Parties regarding the employment of Employee and this Agreement cancels and supersedes all other prior written or oral agreements, including, without limitation, the Prior Employment Agreement, the First Amendment and any other prior non-disclosure, confidentiality, or employment agreements. The terms are contractual and not mere recitals. In entering into this Agreement, each Party stipulates, warrants, and represents that it or Employee has relied on the advice of its or Employee’s own attorneys and financial advisors concerning the legal and tax consequences of the Agreement; that its or Employee’s own attorneys have completely read and explained to it or Employee the terms of the Agreement; that each is a sophisticated business person with experience negotiating these types of transactions; that no special relationship of influence or trust existed among the Parties prior to the entry into this Agreement that caused it or Employee to enter this Agreement; that each fully understands and voluntarily accepts the terms of the Agreement without any duress or undue persuasion put upon it or Employee by the other or any other person, specifically including, but not limited to, counsel or accountants for either Party; and that no representations, promises, or statements outside the four corners of this Agreement by the opposite Party, nor any agent, employee, attorney, accountant, or other representative of the opposite Party has influenced it or Employee into entering this Agreement . Each Party has had access to counsel and an opportunity to read, review, and revise this Agreement. This Agreement is the result of the joint efforts of the Parties and each of the party’s respective counsel. Therefore, the Parties agree that this Agreement, and any given provision of it, should not be construed against either Party. Each of the Parties hereto recognize and stipulate that this provision is binding as a matter of law and fact and shall preclude said Party from asserting that Employee was wrongfully induced to enter into this Agreement by any representation, promise, or agreement, or statement of a past or existing fact, which is not found within the four corners of this Agreement.

4.05     Key Person Insurance. Parsley and Employee acknowledge that Employee is a “key person” and as such Parsley may take out life insurance on such Employee for the benefit of Parsley or its affiliates. Employee agrees to cooperate with Parsley and submit to the necessary medical examinations and tests reasonably required to obtain such insurance, but insurability is not a condition of employment or continuation of employment.

4.06     No Waiver. A waiver of any breach of any of the terms of this Agreement shall be effective only if in writing and signed by the Party against whom such waiver or breach is claimed. No waiver of any breach shall be deemed a waiver of any other subsequent breach.

4.07     Further Assurances. Each Party shall each execute such assignments, endorsements and other instruments and documents and shall give such further assurance as shall be reasonably necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

4.08     Third Party Beneficiaries. Each member of the Parsley Group, together with any additional or future affiliates thereof, are expressly third party beneficiaries of Employee’s representations herein and can enforce this Agreement as if a party hereto.

4.09     Clawback . Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement to the contrary, any incentive-based compensation, or any other compensation, paid to Employee pursuant to this Agreement or any other agreement or arrangement with Parsley or another member of the Parsley Group shall be subject to reduction, cancelation, forfeiture, recoupment, or recovery under any applicable law, government regulation, or stock exchange listing requirement, or clawback or recoupment policy adopted by Parsley or the Parsley Group, in each case, whether such application is mandatory or permissive and as each may be amended or adopted from time to time.

4.10     Section 409A.

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 13 of 16


(i)    This Agreement is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations issued thereunder (“ Section  409A ”) or an exemption thereunder and shall be construed and administered in accordance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, payments provided under this Agreement may only be made upon an event and in a manner that complies with Section 409A or an applicable exemption. Any payments under this Agreement that may be excluded from Section 409A either as separation pay due to an involuntary separation from service or as a short-term deferral shall be excluded from Section 409A to the maximum extent possible. For purposes of Section 409A, each installment payment provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. Any payments to be made under this Agreement upon a termination of employment shall only be made upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A. The amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, if any, under this Agreement during Employee’s taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or in in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year. Further, the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred and the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits, if any, is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parsley Group makes no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement comply with Section 409A and in no event shall the Parsley Group be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by Employee on account of non-compliance with Section 409A.

(ii)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any payment or benefit provided to Employee in connection with Employee’s termination of employment is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A and Employee is determined to be a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(b)(i), then such payment or benefit shall not be paid until the first payroll date to occur following the six (6)-month anniversary of the date of Employee’s termination of employment (the “ Specified Employee Payment Date ”). The aggregate of any payments that would otherwise have been paid before the Specified Employee Payment Date shall be paid to Employee in a lump-sum on the Specified Employee Payment Date and thereafter, any remaining payments shall be paid without delay in accordance with their original schedule.

(iii)    Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent Employee has made an effective deferral election pursuant to the Parsley Energy, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (as may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Deferred Compensation Plan ”) with respect to any compensation otherwise payable to Employee, then the time and form of payment or settlement of such compensation shall be governed in all respects by the terms and conditions of such effective deferral election and the Deferred Compensation Plan.

4.11     Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Trial by Jury.

(i)    This Agreement and the rights of the Parties hereunder shall be governed by, interpreted, and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Texas without giving effect to any choice of law or conflicts of law rules or provisions thereof.

(ii)    Each Party irrevocably agrees that any action or proceeding involving any dispute or matter arising under or relating to this Agreement may only be brought in the state or federal courts of the State of Texas in Midland County. In accordance with the foregoing, each Party agrees that the courts of Midland County will be the exclusive venue for any dispute or matter arising under or relating to this Agreement, which such jurisdiction, forum, and venue each Party expressly acknowledges and agrees has a direct, reasonable relation to this Agreement and any controversy relating to or arising from this Agreement, and the Parties agree not to raise, and hereby waive, any objection to or defense based upon the jurisdiction or venue of any such court or forum non conveniens.

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 14 of 16


(iii)    TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY WAIVES, AND COVENANTS THAT IT SHALL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE), ITS RESPECTIVE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY PERMITTED CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER AND COVENANT IS INTENDED TO BE ALL ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, INCLUDING, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. THIS WAIVER AND COVENANT IS IRREVOCABLE AND SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS OR OTHER MODIFICATIONS TO THIS AGREEMENT.

(iv)    In the event of any action or proceeding involving any dispute or matter arising under or relating to this Agreement, the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be entitled to recover from the other party all reasonable and necessary attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such action or proceeding.

4.12     Multiple Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, or with counterpart signature pages, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signatures Follow]

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 15 of 16


Executed as of this 28th day of December, 2018.

 

  EMPLOYEE:

/s/ Ryan Dalton

  Ryan Dalton

  PARSLEY ENERGY OPERATIONS, LLC
  By:  

/s/ Colin W. Roberts

   Colin W. Roberts, EVP & General Counsel

 

 

Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 16 of 16

Exhibit 10.4

PARSLEY ENERGY OPERATIONS, LLC

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT

For good and valuable consideration set forth herein, this Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is effective as of January 1, 2019 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between: (i)  Parsley Energy Operations, LLC (“ Parsley ”) and (ii) Colin Roberts, a natural person (“ Employee ”) (Employee and Parsley each a “ Party ” and collectively “ Parties ” herein).

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS , Parsley and Employee previously entered into an Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement, effective as of December 8, 2014 (the “Prior Employment Agreement”), and the First Amendment to the Prior Employment Agreement, effective as of September 30, 2016 (the “First Amendment” and, together with the Prior Employment Agreement, the “Prior Agreements”);

WHEREAS , the Parties desire to amend and restate the Prior Employment Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment, by entering into this Agreement, which shall cancel and supersede the Prior Agreements, effective as of the Effective Date; and

WHEREAS , in the course of Employee’s employment, Parsley will provide Employee with internal confidential information, commercially obtained information, research resources, and other valuable and proprietary materials. Further, Employee’s position will be to develop and obtain such confidential information for the benefit of Parsley and its affiliates and subsidiaries (the “ Parsley Group ” and each individual entity, a “ member of the Parsley Group ”).

THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:

 

I.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

1.01     Initial Term. The term of this Agreement shall begin on the Effective Date and continue for a period of one year (the “ Initial Term ”) unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 1, provided that, on such one-year anniversary of the Effective Date, and each annual anniversary thereafter (such date and each annual anniversary thereof, a “ Renewal Date ”), the term of this Agreement shall be deemed to be automatically extended, upon the same terms and conditions, for successive periods of one year, unless either of the Parties provides written notice of its intention not to extend the term of the Agreement at least sixty (60) days prior to the applicable Renewal Date. The Initial Term and all periods beyond the Initial Term while this Agreement remains in effect shall collectively be referred to herein as the “ Term .”

1.02     Base Salary. During the Term, Parsley will pay Employee a base salary of at least $393,000 per year, in periodic installments in accordance with Parsley’s customary payroll practices as may exist from time to time, but no less frequently than monthly. During the Term, Parsley may not decrease Employee’s salary below the base salary enumerated in this Section 1.02, but may, in Parsley’s sole discretion, increase Employee’s salary as it sees fit from time to time. Employee’s annual base salary, as in effect from time to time, is hereinafter referred to as Employee’s “ Base Salary .”

1.03     Annual Bonus. Employee shall be eligible to earn an annual bonus (the “ Annual Bonus ”). However, the decision to provide any Annual Bonus and the amount and terms of any Annual Bonus shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the Compensation Committee (the “ Compensation Committee ”) of the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of Parsley Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation. For


the avoidance of doubt, Employee shall not be entitled to any Annual Bonus if Employee is not employed by Parsley on the date any such Annual Bonus is paid.

1.04     Benefits. At all times during Employee’s employment with Parsley, Employee will be eligible for all other benefits and conditions of employment generally available to employees of Parsley of the same level and responsibility. Furthermore, Parsley shall pay all costs (including all reasonable costs associated with travel and lodging) for Employee to obtain a bi-annual physical examination at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas.

1.05     Duties. During Employee’s employment, Employee agrees to serve as Executive Vice President – General Counsel and in such other position(s) as Employee’s supervisor and Employee shall mutually agree. Employee will have the duties that are normally required of an employee of Employee’s same level and responsibility in the exploration and production business and agrees to perform diligently and to the best of Employee’s abilities the duties and services appertaining to such position(s), as well as such additional duties and services which may be designated by Parsley or other members of the Parsley Group, at Parsley’s discretion, from time to time. Employee will also, at the reasonable discretion and request of Parsley, advise and assist in other ways to further the business of the Parsley Group, as may be requested. Initially, Employee shall report to and be subject to the supervision and direction of Parsley’s Chief Executive Officer.

1.06     Place of Work. Employee shall perform Employee’s services at Parsley’s principal office in Austin, Texas, or such other location to which Parsley relocates its principal office. If Employee is required to travel, Parsley agrees to reimburse Employee in accordance with Parsley’s expense reimbursement policy in effect from time to time.

1.07     No Privacy on Electronic Systems. Employee agrees and understands that the computer and email services provided by the Parsley Group are for the purpose of conducting work for the Parsley Group alone. Employee agrees and stipulates that Employee shall have no expectation of privacy with regard to emails or computer files on, or sent to or from, the computers or servers of the Parsley Group or otherwise made available to Employee through Employee’s employment with Parsley.

1.08     Employee Resources. Parsley agrees to pay for memberships, seminars, professional meetings and/or professional publications needed for the continuing development of prospects and education of Employee, but only as the same are pre-approved by Parsley in Parsley’s sole and absolute discretion.

1.09     Full-Time Employee. While employed by Parsley, Employee agrees to devote Employee’s entire and full-time productive ability and attention to the business of Parsley, provided that Employee may engage in passive personal investment and charitable activities that do not Compete (as defined below) with the business and affairs of Parsley or interfere with Employee’s performance of Employee’s duties hereunder. Employee warrants and agrees to not, directly or indirectly, render any services of a business, commercial, or professional nature to any other person or organization, including self-employment, without the prior written consent of Parsley. Employee warrants and agrees that Employee will not render any services as either an employee or independent consultant to any person or entity that is in competition with Parsley or, while employed, prepare or establish a business that would enable, further, or result in a breach of Employee’s non-compete restrictions set forth in Section 3.03.

1.10     Fiduciary Duties of Employee. At all times while an employee of Parsley, Employee warrants and agrees that Employee will perform and discharge the duties of Employee’s position fully and faithfully and to the best of Employee’s abilities. Employee agrees Employee shall owe Parsley, and hereby voluntarily assumes, a duty of loyalty and utmost good faith; a duty of candor; a duty to refrain from any self-dealing; a duty to act with integrity of the strictest kind; a duty of fair and honest dealing; a

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 2 of 16


duty of full disclosure, that is, a duty not to conceal matters that might influence Employee’s actions to Parsley’s prejudice; and any other and further duties imposed by law on employees to their employers, and specifically including under this Agreement a covenant not to solicit fellow Parsley employees for future employment, as set forth in Section 3.04.

1.11     Reporting Requirement. During the course of Employee’s employment with Parsley, Employee agrees that, if Employee learns or even suspects that any fellow employee is, or may be, breaching that employee’s fiduciary duties to Parsley, Employee agrees to alert Parsley promptly. Employee understands that this is a broad and general obligation in light of the difficulty to anticipate all possible circumstances. If Employee is in doubt, Employee agrees to resolve Employee’s doubts by reporting to Parsley the information that has come to Employee’s attention.

1.12     Corporate Opportunities. During Employee’s employment with Parsley, in the event that Employee, in Employee’s individual capacity, shall be presented with, or made aware of, any commercial proposal, prospect, solicitation, deal, transaction or opportunity relating to the oil and gas business (“ New Business Opportunity ”), Employee shall immediately notify and present the terms and conditions of such New Business Opportunity to Employee’s superiors at Parsley; whether or not any member of the Parsley Group elects to take advantage of such New Business Opportunity, Employee shall not present such New Business Opportunity to any person or entity other than the Parsley Group.

1.13     Termination by Non-Renewal, by Parsley for Cause or by Employee without Good Reason. Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated by (x) the provision of notice by either of the Parties that they do not wish to renew the Term on the next Renewal Date in accordance with Section 1.01 and shall terminate the employment relationship between the Parties on such date, (y) by Parsley for Cause, or (z) by Employee without Good Reason. If Employee’s employment is terminated for any of the reasons enumerated in this Section 1.13 then Employee shall be entitled to receive: (i) any accrued but unpaid Base Salary, which shall be paid, unless otherwise required by law, on the pay date immediately following the date of Employee’s termination of employment in accordance with Parsley’s customary payroll procedures; (ii) reimbursement for unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by Employee, which shall be subject to and paid in accordance with Parsley’s expense reimbursement policy in effect from time to time; and (iii) such employee benefits, if any, as to which Employee may be entitled under Parsley’s employee benefit plans as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment; provided that, in no event shall Employee be entitled to any payments in the nature of severance payments except as specifically provided herein (items (i) through (iii), the “ Accrued Obligations ”). If Employee’s employment is terminated for any of the reasons enumerated in this Section 1.13 then Parsley will not be obligated to make any payments other than the Accrued Obligations under this Agreement, and Employee will forfeit all unvested outstanding equity awards held by Employee as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment.

Cause ” shall mean: (i) violation of Parsley’s substance abuse policy; (ii) refusal or inability (other than by reason of death or Disability) to perform the duties assigned to Employee; (iii) acts or omissions evidencing a violation of Employee’s duties of loyalty and good faith; candor; fair and honest dealing; integrity; or full disclosure to Parsley, as well as any acts or omissions which constitute self-dealing; (iv) willful disobedience of lawful orders, policies, regulations, or directives issued to Employee by Parsley, including policies related to sexual harassment, discrimination, computer use or the like; (v) conviction or commission of a felony, a crime of moral turpitude, or a crime that could reasonably be expected to impair the ability of Employee to perform Employee’s job duties; (vi) breach of any part of this Agreement or any other written agreement between Employee and any member of the Parsley Group by Employee; (vii) revocation or suspension of any necessary license or certification; (viii) generation of materially incorrect financial, geological, seismic or engineering projections, compilations or reports; or (ix) a false statement by Employee to obtain this position, in each case as determined by Parsley in good

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 3 of 16


faith and in its sole and absolute discretion. For purposes of clarity, “Cause” shall not mean termination of Employee’s employment for death or Disability, which shall be governed by Section 1.15.

1.14     Termination by Employee for Good Reason or Termination by Parsley without Cause. Employee’s employment hereunder may be terminated by Employee for Good Reason or by Parsley without Cause. If Employee’s employment is terminated by Employee for Good Reason or by Parsley without Cause then Employee shall be entitled to receive (i) the Accrued Obligations, (ii) provided that Employee has fulfilled the Severance Conditions (as defined below), a cash payment equal to one and one-half (1.5) times the sum of (A) Employee’s Base Salary and (B) the average of the three (3) most recent Annual Bonuses actually paid in the three (3)-year period preceding the date of Employee’s termination, which amount shall be paid in a lump-sum on the first business day following the Release Consideration Period (as defined below) (such date, the “ Initial Payment Date ”), (iii) during the portion, if any, of the eighteen (18)-month period commencing on the date of such termination of employment that Employee is eligible to elect and elects to continue coverage for himself and his eligible dependents under the Parsley Group’s group health plan, as applicable, under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“ COBRA ”), Parsley shall promptly reimburse Employee on a monthly basis for the difference between the amount Employee pays to effect and continue such coverage and the employee contribution amount that similarly situated executives of the Parsley Group pay for the same or similar coverage under such group health plan at that time; provided, however, that such reimbursement shall not be paid if it would subject any member of the Parsley Group to sanctions imposed pursuant to Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act, and (iv) outplacement services provided by a company of Parsley’s choosing for up to six (6) months following the date of Employee’s termination or such time as Employee obtains reasonably comparable employment, whichever occurs earlier.

Further, if Employee is terminated pursuant to this Section 1.14 prior to the date on which all unvested outstanding equity awards held by Employee vest and Employee has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, then (i) at the end of the applicable performance period, a portion of each unvested grant of performance-based equity awards shall vest, such portion to be equal to the product of (A) the total number of such awards that would have vested based on the actual levels of performance over the applicable performance period had Employee continued to provide services to the Parsley Group through the end of such performance period and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of days in the applicable performance period for such award that elapsed prior to Employee’s termination of employment and the denominator of which is equal to the total number of days in the applicable performance period (the “ Performance-Based Pro-Rata Awards ”), and (ii) a portion of each unvested grant of time-based equity awards shall immediately vest as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment, such portion to be equal to the product of (A) the total number of awards included in such grant to Employee and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of days that elapsed from the date of grant of such award through the date of Employee’s termination of employment and the denominator of which is equal to the total number of days from the date of grant through the last vesting date applicable to such grant (the “ Time-Based Pro-Rata Awards ”); provided, however, that the Time-Based Pro-Rata Awards shall be reduced by the number of awards from the same grant that vested prior to Employee’s termination of employment, if any. The Performance-Based Pro-Rata Awards will be settled at the time they would have been settled if Employee had continued to provide services to the Parsley Group through the end of the applicable performance period; provided, however, that such settlement date shall not be earlier than the Initial Payment Date and shall not be later than sixty-five (65) days following the end of the applicable performance period. The Time-Based Pro-Rata Awards shall be settled on or following the Initial Payment Date but no later than sixty-five (65) days following Employee’s termination of employment.

Good Reason ” shall mean (i) a material diminution in Employee’s base compensation, (ii) a material diminution in Employee’s authority, duties, or responsibilities, or (iii) any other action or inaction that

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 4 of 16


constitutes a material breach by Parsley of the Agreement, in each case, without Employee’s consent. Employee cannot terminate Employee’s employment for Good Reason unless Employee has provided written notice to Parsley of the existence of the circumstances providing grounds for termination for Good Reason within sixty (60) days of the initial existence of such grounds and Parsley has had at least thirty (30) days from the date on which such notice is provided to cure such circumstances. If Employee does not terminate Employee’s employment for Good Reason within one hundred twenty (120) days after the first occurrence of the applicable grounds, then Employee will be deemed to have waived Employee’s right to terminate for Good Reason with respect to such grounds.

1.15     Death or Disability . Employee’s employment shall terminate automatically on the date of Employee’s death or immediately upon Parsley’s sending Employee a notice of termination of employment for “ Disability ,” which shall mean Employee’s inability to perform the essential functions of Employee’s position, with reasonable accommodation, due to an illness or physical or mental impairment or other incapacity that continues, or can reasonably be expected to continue, for a period in excess of ninety (90) days (whether or not consecutive) during any period of three hundred sixty-five (365) consecutive days. Upon termination of Employee’s employment by reason of death or Disability pursuant to this Section 1.15, Employee shall be entitled to receive (i) the Accrued Obligations and (ii) provided that Employee or Employee’s estate, as applicable, has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, following the applicable performance period, if any, a portion of Employee’s Annual Bonus for the calendar year in which death or Disability occurred, such portion equal to the product of (A) the Annual Bonus Employee would have been eligible to receive pursuant to Section 1.03 had Employee continued to provide services to the Parsley Group through the payment date of such Annual Bonus based on the actual achievement of the applicable performance conditions, if any, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of days in the calendar year that elapsed prior to Employee’s termination of employment by reason of death or Disability and the denominator of which is three hundred sixty-five (365) (the “ Death or Disability Bonus ”). The Death or Disability Bonus shall be paid in a lump-sum on or before the date annual bonuses for the calendar year in which death or Disability occurred are paid to employees of the same level and responsibility who have continued employment with the Parsley Group; provided, however, in no event shall the Death or Disability Bonus be paid prior to the Initial Payment Date or later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which death or Disability occurred. Further, if Employee is terminated pursuant to this Section 1.15 prior to the date on which all unvested outstanding equity awards held by Employee vest and Employee or Employee’s estate, as applicable, has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, then (A)(i) the target number of each grant of performance-based equity awards outstanding shall immediately vest as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment, and (ii) all unvested outstanding time-based equity awards held by Employee shall immediately vest as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment and (B) such awards shall be settled on or following the Initial Payment Date but no later than sixty-five (65) days following Employee’s termination of employment.

1.16     Vesting of Performance-Based Equity Awards Based on Actual Performance upon Change of Control. Provided that Employee remains continuously employed by Parsley from the date of grant of the award through the date that is immediately prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below), then upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each grant of performance-based equity awards outstanding shall immediately vest based on the actual achievement of the applicable performance conditions, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, measured from the first day of the applicable performance period through the date immediately prior to the Change of Control. Such awards shall be settled no later than thirty (30) days following the Change of Control. For the avoidance of doubt, no time-based equity awards shall vest as a result of this Section 1.16.

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 5 of 16


(i)    A “change in the ownership of the Company” which shall occur on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock in the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company; however, if any one person or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to own more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons will not be considered a “change in the ownership of the Company” (or to cause a “change in the effective control of the Company” within the meaning of paragraph (ii) below) and an increase of the effective percentage of stock owned by any one person, or persons acting as a group, as a result of a transaction in which the Company acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this paragraph; provided, further, however, that for purposes of this Section 1.16, any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company will not constitute a Change of Control. This paragraph (i) applies only when there is a transfer of the stock of the Company (or issuance of stock) and stock in the Company remains outstanding after the transaction.

(ii)    A “change in the effective control of the Company” which shall occur on the date that either (A) any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 35% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company, except for any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company; or (B) a majority of the members of the Board are replaced during any twelve (12)-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes of a “change in the effective control of the Company,” if any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to effectively control the Company within the meaning of this Section 1.16, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same person or persons is not considered a “change in the effective control of the Company,” or to cause a “change in the ownership of the Company” within the meaning of paragraph (i) above.

(iii)    A “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets” which shall occur on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12)-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets of the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of all the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets. Any transfer of assets to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of the Company immediately after the transfer, as provided in guidance issued pursuant to Section 409A (as defined below), shall not constitute a Change of Control.

For purposes of the definition of Change of Control, the provisions of Section 318(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “ Code ”) regarding the constructive ownership of stock will apply to determine stock ownership; provided, that, stock underlying unvested options (including options exercisable for stock that is not substantially vested) will not be treated as owned by the individual who holds the option. In addition, for purposes of this Section 1.16, “Company” includes (x) Parsley, (y) the entity for whom Employee performs services, and (z) an entity that is a stockholder owning more than 50% of the total fair market value and total voting power (a “ Majority Shareholder ”) of Parsley or the entity identified in (y) above, or any entity in a chain of entities in which each entity is a Majority Shareholder of another entity in the chain, ending in Parsley or the entity identified in (y) above.

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 6 of 16


1.17     Termination by Parsley without Cause or by Employee for Good Reason following a Change of Control. If within the twelve (12) months following a Change of Control Employee’s employment is terminated by Employee for Good Reason or by Parsley (or a successor in interest to Parsley) without Cause then Employee shall be entitled to receive (i) the Accrued Obligations, (ii) provided that Employee has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, a cash payment equal to two and one-quarter (2.25) times the sum of (A) Employee’s Base Salary and (B) the average of the three (3) most recent Annual Bonuses actually paid in the three (3)-year period preceding the date of Employee’s termination (or the period of Employee’s employment, if shorter), which amount shall be paid in a lump-sum on the first business day following the Release Consideration Period, (iii) during the portion, if any, of the eighteen (18)-month period commencing on the date of such termination of employment that Employee is eligible to elect and elects to continue coverage for himself and his eligible dependents under the Parsley Group’s group health plan, as applicable, under COBRA, Parsley shall promptly reimburse Employee on a monthly basis for the difference between the amount Employee pays to effect and continue such coverage and the employee contribution amount that similarly situated executives of the Parsley Group pay for the same or similar coverage under such group health plan at that time; provided, however, that such reimbursement shall not be paid if it would subject any member of the Parsley Group to sanctions imposed pursuant to Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act, and (iv) outplacement services provided by a company of Parsley’s choosing for up to six (6) months following the date of Employee’s termination or such time as Employee obtains reasonably comparable employment, whichever occurs earlier.

Further, if Employee is terminated pursuant to this Section 1.17 prior to the date on which all unvested outstanding time-based equity awards held by Employee vest and Employee has fulfilled the Severance Conditions, then all unvested outstanding time-based equity awards held by Employee shall immediately vest as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment, and such time-based equity awards shall be settled on or following the Initial Payment Date but no later than sixty-five (65) days following Employee’s termination of employment. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Employee is terminated pursuant to this Section 1.17, then the treatment of each unvested grant of performance-based equity awards granted following a Change of Control shall be determined in accordance with the terms of the award agreement applicable to each such grant.

1.18     Release and Compliance with this Agreement . The obligation of the Parsley Group to pay any portion of the amounts due pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15, or 1.17, with the exception of the Accrued Obligations, shall be expressly conditioned on (i) Employee’s execution (and, if applicable, non-revocation) of a full general release, releasing all claims, known or unknown, that Employee may have against the Parsley Group, including those arising out of or in any way related to Employee’s employment or termination of employment with the Parsley Group no later than the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the date of Employee’s termination of employment (such sixty (60)-day period, the “ Release Consideration Period ”) and (ii) continued compliance with the requirements of Sections II and III (the “ Severance Conditions ”). If Parsley determines that Employee is eligible to receive any amounts pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15 or 1.17 but, after such determination, Parsley subsequently acquires evidence or determines that a Cause condition existed prior to the termination of Employee’s employment that, had Parsley been fully aware of such condition, would have given Parsley the right to terminate Employee’s employment for Cause pursuant to Section 1.13 or if Employee (x) does not execute the release described above during the Release Consideration Period, or (y) breaches Section II or III of this Agreement, then (i) Parsley shall immediately cease any payments owed pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15, or 1.17 (other than the Accrued Obligations) but not yet paid and shall have no obligation to make any further payments to Employee pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15, or 1.17 and (ii) Employee shall promptly pay to Parsley (or its successor) an amount equal to any payments Employee has received pursuant to Sections 1.14, 1.15, or 1.17 (other than the Accrued Obligations) as of the time of Employee’s breach or refusal to execute the general release (such repayment outlined in (ii) of this sentence, the “ Recoupment Payment ”).

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 7 of 16


1.19     Excise Taxes. If the Compensation Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that Section 280G of the Code applies to any compensation payable to Employee, then the provisions of this Section 1.19 shall apply. If any payments or benefits to which Employee is entitled from the Parsley Group, any successor to Parsley or another member of the Parsley Group, or any trusts established by any of the foregoing by reason of, or in connection with, any transaction that occurs after the Effective Date (collectively, the “ Payments ,” which shall include, without limitation, the vesting of any equity awards or other non-cash benefit or property) are, alone or in the aggregate, more likely than not, if paid or delivered to Employee, to be subject to the tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any successor provisions to that section, then the Payments (consistent with the requirements of Section 409A (as defined below) and beginning with any Payment to be paid in cash hereunder), shall be either (a) reduced (but not below zero) so that the present value of such total Payments received by Employee will be one dollar ($1.00) less than three (3) times Employee’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) and so that no portion of such Payments received by Employee shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or (b) paid in full, whichever of (a) or (b) produces the better net after tax position to Employee (taking into account any applicable excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code and any other applicable taxes). The determination as to whether any Payments are more likely than not to be subject to taxes under Section 4999 of the Code and as to whether reduction or payment in full of the amount of the Payments provided hereunder results in the better net after tax position to Employee shall be made by the Board and Employee in good faith.

1.20     Resignation. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Parsley and Employee prior to the termination of Employee’s employment, any termination of Employee’s employment shall constitute, to the extent applicable: (i) an automatic resignation of Employee as an officer of each member of the Parsley Group and (ii) an automatic resignation of Employee from the Board and the board of directors or board of managers of each member of the Parsley Group and from the board of directors or managers or similar governing body of any corporation, limited liability entity or other entity in which Parsley or another member of the Parsley Group holds an equity interest and with respect to which board or similar governing body Employee serves as a designee or other representative for a member of the Parsley Group.

1.21     No Conflicts. Employee hereby represents and warrants that Employee is not the subject of, or a party to, any employment agreement, non-competition covenant, nondisclosure agreement, or any other agreement, obligation, restriction or understanding that would prohibit Employee from executing this Agreement and fully performing each of Employee’s duties and responsibilities hereunder, or would in any manner, directly or indirectly, limit or affect any of the duties and responsibilities that may now or in the future be assigned to Employee.

 

  II.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

2.01     Return of Property. Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that all Personal Property and equipment furnished to Employee in the course of, or incident to, Employee’s employment by the Parsley Group belongs to the Parsley Group and shall be promptly returned to Parsley upon termination of employment or upon demand by the Parsley Group. “ Personal Property ” includes, without limitation, all automobiles, computers, phones, equipment, well reports, engineering data, geological and geophysical data, maps, credit cards, books, manuals, records, reports, notes, contracts, lists, blueprints, and other documents, or materials, or copies thereof (including computer files and other electronically stored information), and all other proprietary information relating to the business of any member of the Parsley Group. Following termination, Employee will not retain any written, computer files, or other tangible or intangible material containing any proprietary information, Confidential Information (as defined below) or trade secrets of the Parsley Group or any of its agents, employees, and representatives.

2.02     Developed Intellectual Property. Employee also acknowledges and agrees that in

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 8 of 16


connection with the performance of Employee’s duties, Employee may author, create, conceive, develop or reduce to practice Confidential Information, trade secrets, and other Intellectual Property (as defined below) in whole or in part, either alone or jointly with others. With respect to any and all such Intellectual Property and/or improvements to any of the same authored, created, conceived, developed, or reduced to practice by Employee or Parsley (whether alone or in combination with others) (a) during Employee’s working hours, or (b) at Parsley’s expense, or (c) using any of Parsley’s materials or facilities, or (d) that relates to the business of Parsley or to the research or development of Parsley (collectively, “ Developed Intellectual Property ”), Employee agrees that the same are, and shall be, the exclusive property of the Parsley Group. Employee further acknowledges that all original works of authorship made by Employee (alone or jointly with others) that constitute Developed Intellectual Property are “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act and to the extent allowed by law. Without limiting the immediately preceding sentence, to the extent Employee develops any interest in the Developed Intellectual Property, Employee agrees to and does hereby assign to Parsley, or its nominee, Employee’s entire right, title, and interest in and to all Developed Intellectual Property. For clarity, such assignment includes all registrations or applications for registration of such Developed Intellectual Property, including any U.S. or international applications for patents or copyright registrations filed during or after the Term of this Agreement. Employee shall promptly disclose all such works made for hire and other Developed Intellectual Property to Parsley and, both during and after the Term of this Agreement, agrees to execute, at Parsley’s expense, any and all documents that Parsley reasonably deems necessary to assign, obtain, maintain, protect and/or enforce its worldwide right to, title interest in, and ownership of such works made for hire and Developed Intellectual Property. Employee agrees to perform, during and after the Term of this Agreement, all acts deemed necessary or desirable by Parsley to permit and assist Parsley in evidencing, perfecting, obtaining, maintaining, defending, and enforcing rights and/or Employee’s assignment of such works made for hire and Developed Intellectual Property in any and all countries, at Parsley’s expense. Such acts may include, but are not limited to, execution of documents and assistance or cooperation in legal proceedings. Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Parsley and its duly authorized officers and agents, as Employee’s agents and attorneys-in-fact to act for and on behalf and instead of Employee, to execute and file any documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the above purposes with the same legal force and effects as if executed by Employee.

Intellectual Property ” means software, technical data, know-how, discoveries, conceptions, ideas, research, reports, patents, inventions (whether or not patentable), copyrights (including copyrights in software), trademarks, and trade secrets, including all forms and types of financial, business, scientific, technical, economic, or engineering information, including patterns, plans, compilations, program devices, formulas, designs, prototypes, methods, techniques, processes, procedures, programs, or codes, whether tangible or intangible, and whether or how stored, compiled, or memorialized physically, electronically, graphically, photographically, or in writing.

2.03     Confidential Information. During Employee’s employment, Parsley also agrees to provide, and Employee will develop as part of Employee’s duties, various trade secrets and other confidential information that are, or will be, owned by Parsley, and that Parsley expressly agrees to assist Employee in developing. Such trade secrets or confidential information includes (but is not limited to) internal confidential information previously developed or compiled by Parsley, commercially obtained information at substantial cost, research resources and other valuable and proprietary materials, and more specifically (but without limitation): financial information and company planning, strategic goals and plans of Parsley or another member of the Parsley Group, geological and geophysical data, engineering data and compilations, seismic and other geophysical data and interpretation, engineering data and analysis, maps, samples, cores, cuttings, well logs, well production records, well files, and the like (“ Confidential Information ”). Employee stipulates and acknowledges: (i) that the Confidential Information is not generally known outside of Parsley’s business or by employees and others involved in the same business as Parsley; (ii) that Parsley takes significant measures to guard the secrecy of this

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 9 of 16


information; (iii) that the information is extremely valuable to Parsley and would be valuable to Parsley’s competitors; (iv) that Parsley has expended material amounts of money and effort in developing this Confidential Information; and (v) that this Confidential Information could not be easily or properly acquired by others.

2.04     Confidentiality Obligation. Employee agrees to not disclose, directly or indirectly, any of the Confidential Information of Parsley, nor use it in any way, directly or indirectly, except in furtherance of Employee’s duties as an employee under this Agreement. Employee specifically agrees that Employee will not use any Confidential Information for Employee’s own benefit, the benefit of any other person, including competitors of Parsley, or for the disadvantage of Parsley. Employee will take care to guard the security of the Confidential Information at all times. In this regard, Employee agrees that Employee will not disclose any of this Confidential Information to any person that does not need to know and have the right to know the information, including other Parsley employees, and that Employee will take care in guarding electronic data. Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to Section 2.07, to the extent that Employee shall be required, by law or process of law, to disclose Confidential Information, Employee shall be entitled to do so only to the extent so required, subject to giving prompt, advance notice of such requirement in writing to the General Counsel of Parsley so that Parsley may pursue a protective order or other remedy, and Employee acknowledges and agrees to cooperate reasonably with Parsley’s efforts to obtain a confidentiality order or similar protection.

2.05     Duties Upon Termination. Employee agrees that at such time as Employee’s services are terminated or upon demand by the Parsley Group, for whatever reason, Employee shall promptly return: (i) all Confidential Information (however stored) and (ii) equipment in Employee’s possession belonging to Parsley.

2.06     These confidentiality duties survive the termination of Employee’s employment in perpetuity.

2.07     Whistleblowing. Nothing in this Agreement will prevent Employee from: (i) making a good faith report of possible violations of applicable law to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) or any other governmental agency or entity or (ii) making disclosures to the SEC or any other governmental agency or entity that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of applicable law, in each case, without notice to Parsley. Nothing in this Agreement limits Employee’s right, if any, to receive an award for information provided to the SEC. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall prevent Employee from making a disclosure of a trade secret that: (A) is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (2) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Further, an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer of reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose a trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (X) files any document containing the trade secret under seal and (Y) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

2.08     Legally Protected Activities. Nothing in this Agreement precludes Employee from engaging in legally protected activities, including those protected by the National Labor Relations Act.

2.09     Exclusive Knowledge. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee will obtain knowledge and skill relevant to the Parsley Group’s industry, methods of doing business and marketing strategies by virtue of Employee’s employment; and that the terms and conditions of this Agreement are reasonable under these circumstances. Employee further acknowledges that Confidential Information has been and will be developed or acquired by the Parsley Group through the expenditure of substantial time, effort and money. Employee understands and acknowledges that this Confidential Information and the

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 10 of 16


Parsley Group’s ability to reserve it for the exclusive knowledge and use of the Parsley Group is of great competitive importance and commercial value to the Parsley Group, and that improper use or disclosure of the Confidential Information by Employee might cause the Parsley Group to incur financial costs, loss of business advantage, liability under confidentiality agreements with third parties, civil damages and criminal penalties. Employee agrees that the Parsley Group’s substantial investments in its business interests, goodwill, and Confidential Information are worthy of protection, and that the Parsley Group’s need for the protection afforded by this Section 2.09 and Section III is greater than any hardship Employee might experience by complying with its terms.

 

III.

NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT AND NON-SOLICITATION

3.01     Ancillary. The non-competition obligations of Employee and the non-solicitation provisions in this Section III are ancillary to, and are supported by (and in support of), Parsley’s and Employee’s respective obligations set forth in this Agreement.

3.02     Definitions. Terms given special meaning in this Section III are:

Compete ” means: (i) to lease, purchase, or otherwise obtain a mineral estate (in whole or in part), including purchasing or obtaining a royalty interest, overriding royalty interest, working interest, or the like or (ii) to provide legal services, or serve in a supervisory role of persons performing such services, to any corporate entity operating as an exploration and production business other than members of the Parsley Group.

Restricted Period ” means during such time as Employee is employed with Parsley and the one-year period commencing on the date Employee ceases employment with Parsley for any reason and ending on the first anniversary thereof; provided, however, that if Employee’s employment is terminated by Employee for Good Reason or by Parsley other than for Cause, the Restricted Period shall end six (6) months after the date of termination of Employee’s employment with Parsley.

Territory ” means all land within a three (3)-mile radius from the farthest outside edge of each oil or gas lease that is or was under lease, letter agreement, or operated by a member of the Parsley Group.

3.03     Non-Compete Obligation. In return for the consideration given in this Agreement and in support of the promises therein, Employee agrees that Employee will not Compete during the Restricted Period in the Territory.

3.04     Non-Solicitation. In return for the consideration given in this Agreement and in support of the promises therein, Employee agrees that Employee will not directly or indirectly solicit or hire any employee of the Parsley Group to be an employee or co-venturer in another matter that Competes or intends to Compete with Parsley during the Restricted Period in the Territory.

3.05     Non -Disparagement. Employee shall not, during the Term or any time thereafter, make any untrue, misleading, or defamatory statements concerning the Parsley Group or its directors or employees. Employee will not directly or indirectly make, repeat or publish any false, disparaging, negative, unflattering, accusatory, or derogatory remarks or references, whether oral or in writing, concerning the Parsley Group, or otherwise take any action which might reasonably be expected to cause damage or harm to the Parsley Group. However, nothing in this Agreement is intended to restrict actions or communications protected or required by law, such as enforcing rights under this Agreement or any other agreement, testifying truthfully as a witness, or complying with other legal obligations, including communicating with or fully cooperating in the investigations of any governmental agency on matters within their jurisdictions.

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 11 of 16


3.06     Cooperation. Upon the receipt of reasonable notice from Parsley (including outside counsel), Employee agrees that while employed by Parsley and thereafter, Employee shall provide reasonable assistance to the Parsley Group and their respective representatives in defense of any claims that may be made against any member of the Parsley Group and shall assist in the prosecution of any claims that may be made by any member of the Parsley Group, to the extent that such claims relate to or arise out of Employee’s service to or employment by Parsley. Employee agrees to inform Parsley promptly if Employee becomes aware of any lawsuits involving such claims that may be filed or threatened against any member of the Parsley Group. Employee also agrees to inform Parsley promptly (to the extent legally permitted to do so) if Employee is asked to assist in any investigation of any member of the Parsley Group (or its actions), regardless of whether a lawsuit or other proceeding has then been filed against any member of the Parsley Group with respect to such investigation. Upon presentation of appropriate documentation, Parsley shall pay or reimburse Employee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee in complying with this Section 3.06. If at the time of compliance Employee is no longer an employee, officer or director (or functional equivalent) of any member of the Parsley Group, Parsley shall provide a reasonable per diem to Employee. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee’s cooperation pursuant to this Section 3.06 shall require Employee to provide truthful, complete information at all times in providing the applicable services.

3.07     Stipulation of Reasonable Scope and Term. Employee warrants, represents, and stipulates that the consideration given in this Agreement was good and valid consideration and that no bad faith existed in the negotiation of this Agreement. Employee further warrants, represents, and stipulates the duties imposed and rights granted in this Section III are necessary to protect legitimate interests of Parsley and the Parsley Group as set forth in this document and, in particular, that the non-compete obligations set forth in Section 3.03 are fair, appropriate, and reasonable in their limitations with respect to time, geographic area, and scope of activities and impose no more restraint than is necessary to protect Parsley’s legitimate business interest, nor are they oppressive, nor will they unreasonably deprive Employee of the ability to earn a living.

 

IV.

GENERAL

4.01     Enforcement by Injunction. Employee acknowledges that Employee’s violation or threatened or attempted violation of the covenants contained in Section III of this Agreement will cause irreparable harm to Parsley and that money damages would not be sufficient remedy for any breach of those covenants. Employee agrees that Parsley shall be entitled as a matter of right to specific performance of the covenants in Section III of this Agreement, including entry of an ex parte temporary restraining order in a state or federal court, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against activities in violation of this Agreement, or both, or other appropriate judicial remedy, writ, or order, in any court of competent jurisdiction, restraining any violation or further violation of such agreements by Employee or others acting on Employee’s behalf, without any showing of irreparable harm and without any showing that Parsley does not have an adequate remedy at law. In furtherance of the intent to allow for immediate injunctive relief in the event of a breach, or threatened breach, of this Agreement, Employee agrees that Parsley would be entitled to its attorneys’ fees if successful in seeking injunctive relief and that any temporary restraining order or temporary/preliminary injunction bond should not be more than $1,000. Injunction is expressly not the exclusive remedy hereunder.

4.02     Assignment. This Agreement is personal to Employee, and neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder shall be assignable or otherwise transferred by Employee. Parsley may assign this Agreement without Employee’s consent to any successor (whether by merger, purchase, or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the equity, assets, or businesses of Parsley. The rights and obligations of Parsley under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of Parsley.

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 12 of 16


4.03     Savings Clause. Should any court of competent jurisdiction hold any term, provision, covenant, or condition of this Agreement (or portion thereof) to be illegal, void, unenforceable, or otherwise invalid, such term, provision, covenant, or condition (or portion thereof), will be automatically conformed to the applicable law to give the provision(s) the greatest effectuation possible of the original intent allowed by law and equity, and this Agreement will otherwise continue in full force and effect.

4.04     Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement of the Parties regarding the employment of Employee and this Agreement cancels and supersedes all other prior written or oral agreements, including, without limitation, the Prior Employment Agreement, the First Amendment and any other prior non-disclosure, confidentiality, or employment agreements. The terms are contractual and not mere recitals. In entering into this Agreement, each Party stipulates, warrants, and represents that it or Employee has relied on the advice of its or Employee’s own attorneys and financial advisors concerning the legal and tax consequences of the Agreement; that its or Employee’s own attorneys have completely read and explained to it or Employee the terms of the Agreement; that each is a sophisticated business person with experience negotiating these types of transactions; that no special relationship of influence or trust existed among the Parties prior to the entry into this Agreement that caused it or Employee to enter this Agreement; that each fully understands and voluntarily accepts the terms of the Agreement without any duress or undue persuasion put upon it or Employee by the other or any other person, specifically including, but not limited to, counsel or accountants for either Party; and that no representations, promises, or statements outside the four corners of this Agreement by the opposite Party, nor any agent, employee, attorney, accountant, or other representative of the opposite Party has influenced it or Employee into entering this Agreement . Each Party has had access to counsel and an opportunity to read, review, and revise this Agreement. This Agreement is the result of the joint efforts of the Parties and each of the party’s respective counsel. Therefore, the Parties agree that this Agreement, and any given provision of it, should not be construed against either Party. Each of the Parties hereto recognize and stipulate that this provision is binding as a matter of law and fact and shall preclude said Party from asserting that Employee was wrongfully induced to enter into this Agreement by any representation, promise, or agreement, or statement of a past or existing fact, which is not found within the four corners of this Agreement.

4.05     Key Person Insurance. Parsley and Employee acknowledge that Employee is a “key person” and as such Parsley may take out life insurance on such Employee for the benefit of Parsley or its affiliates. Employee agrees to cooperate with Parsley and submit to the necessary medical examinations and tests reasonably required to obtain such insurance, but insurability is not a condition of employment or continuation of employment.

4.06     No Waiver. A waiver of any breach of any of the terms of this Agreement shall be effective only if in writing and signed by the Party against whom such waiver or breach is claimed. No waiver of any breach shall be deemed a waiver of any other subsequent breach.

4.07     Further Assurances. Each Party shall each execute such assignments, endorsements and other instruments and documents and shall give such further assurance as shall be reasonably necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

4.08     Third Party Beneficiaries. Each member of the Parsley Group, together with any additional or future affiliates thereof, are expressly third party beneficiaries of Employee’s representations herein and can enforce this Agreement as if a party hereto.

4.09     Clawback . Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement to the contrary, any incentive-based compensation, or any other compensation, paid to Employee pursuant to this Agreement or any other agreement or arrangement with Parsley or another member of the Parsley Group shall be subject to reduction, cancelation, forfeiture, recoupment, or recovery under any applicable law,

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 13 of 16


government regulation, or stock exchange listing requirement, or clawback or recoupment policy adopted by Parsley or the Parsley Group, in each case, whether such application is mandatory or permissive and as each may be amended or adopted from time to time.

4.10     Section 409A.

(i)     This Agreement is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations issued thereunder (“ Section  409A ”) or an exemption thereunder and shall be construed and administered in accordance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, payments provided under this Agreement may only be made upon an event and in a manner that complies with Section 409A or an applicable exemption. Any payments under this Agreement that may be excluded from Section 409A either as separation pay due to an involuntary separation from service or as a short-term deferral shall be excluded from Section 409A to the maximum extent possible. For purposes of Section 409A, each installment payment provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. Any payments to be made under this Agreement upon a termination of employment shall only be made upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A. The amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, if any, under this Agreement during Employee’s taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or in in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year. Further, the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred and the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits, if any, is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parsley Group makes no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement comply with Section 409A and in no event shall the Parsley Group be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by Employee on account of non-compliance with Section 409A.

(ii)     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any payment or benefit provided to Employee in connection with Employee’s termination of employment is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A and Employee is determined to be a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(b)(i), then such payment or benefit shall not be paid until the first payroll date to occur following the six (6)-month anniversary of the date of Employee’s termination of employment (the “ Specified Employee Payment Date ”). The aggregate of any payments that would otherwise have been paid before the Specified Employee Payment Date shall be paid to Employee in a lump-sum on the Specified Employee Payment Date and thereafter, any remaining payments shall be paid without delay in accordance with their original schedule.

(iii)     Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent Employee has made an effective deferral election pursuant to the Parsley Energy, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (as may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Deferred Compensation Plan ”) with respect to any compensation otherwise payable to Employee, then the time and form of payment or settlement of such compensation shall be governed in all respects by the terms and conditions of such effective deferral election and the Deferred Compensation Plan.

4.11     Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Trial by Jury.

(i)     This Agreement and the rights of the Parties hereunder shall be governed by, interpreted, and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Texas without giving effect to any choice of law or conflicts of law rules or provisions thereof.

(ii)     Each Party irrevocably agrees that any action or proceeding involving any dispute or matter arising under or relating to this Agreement may only be brought in the state or federal courts of the State of Texas in Midland County. In accordance with the foregoing, each Party agrees that the courts of

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 14 of 16


Midland County will be the exclusive venue for any dispute or matter arising under or relating to this Agreement, which such jurisdiction, forum, and venue each Party expressly acknowledges and agrees has a direct, reasonable relation to this Agreement and any controversy relating to or arising from this Agreement, and the Parties agree not to raise, and hereby waive, any objection to or defense based upon the jurisdiction or venue of any such court or forum non conveniens.

(iii)     TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY WAIVES, AND COVENANTS THAT IT SHALL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE), ITS RESPECTIVE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY PERMITTED CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER AND COVENANT IS INTENDED TO BE ALL ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, INCLUDING, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. THIS WAIVER AND COVENANT IS IRREVOCABLE AND SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS OR OTHER MODIFICATIONS TO THIS AGREEMENT.

(iv)    In the event of any action or proceeding involving any dispute or matter arising under or relating to this Agreement, the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be entitled to recover from the other party all reasonable and necessary attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such action or proceeding.

4.12     Multiple Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, or with counterpart signature pages, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signatures Follow]

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 15 of 16


Executed as of this 28th day of December, 2018.

 

  EMPLOYEE:

/s/ Colin Roberts

  Colin Roberts, an individual
  PARSLEY ENERGY OPERATIONS, LLC
  By:  

/s/ Matt Gallagher

    Matt Gallagher, President

 

 

Second Amended and Restated Employment, Confidentiality, and Non-Competition Agreement   Page 16 of 16