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): April 22, 2019 (April 17, 2019)

 

 

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-38870   81-1106283

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

5914 Courtyard Drive, Suite 100
Houston, TX 77024
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (512) 220-1235

 

 

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 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Underwriting Agreement

On April 17, 2019, Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co. as representatives of the several underwrites named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to the offer and sale of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”). The Underwriting Agreement provides for the offer and sale (the “Offering”) by the Company, and purchase by the Underwriters, of 14,500,000 shares of Common Stock at a price to the public of $18.00 per share. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company has granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 2,175,000 additional shares of Common Stock to cover over-allotments. The material terms of the Offering are described in the prospectus, dated April 17, 2019 (the “Prospectus”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on April 19, 2019, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Offering is registered with the Commission pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-230373), initially filed by the Company on March 18, 2019 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”).

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

The Offering is expected to close on April 23, 2019, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, and the Company expects to receive proceeds from the Offering of approximately $240.6 million (net of underwriting discounts, commissions and estimated offering expenses), assuming the Underwriters do not exercise the option to purchase additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement. As described in the Prospectus, the Company intends to contribute all of the net proceeds from the Offering to Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Brigham LLC”), in exchange for units in Brigham LLC (“Brigham LLC Units”). Brigham LLC will use the net proceeds to repay the outstanding indebtedness under the Company’s credit facility and the remaining net proceeds to fund future mineral and royalty acquisitions.

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

Relationships

As more fully described under the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus, certain of the Underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking services for the Company, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

Master Reorganization Agreement

On April 17, 2019, the Company entered into a Master Reorganization Agreement (the “Master Reorganization Agreement”) with Brigham LLC, Brigham Equity Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Brigham Equity Holdings”), Brigham Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Brigham LLC (“Brigham Resources”), Brigham Minerals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Brigham Resources (“Brigham Minerals”), and certain other parties thereto.

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Master Reorganization Agreement, in connection with the consummation of the Offering, (i) all of the outstanding membership interests in Brigham LLC will be converted into Brigham LLC Units, (ii) Brigham Minerals will issue shares of Class A common stock to certain of Brigham Equity Holdings’ existing owners (“Existing Owners”) in exchange for incentive units in Brigham Equity Holdings, (iii) Brigham Equity Holdings will distribute all of its equity interests in Brigham LLC, other than its interests in Brigham LLC attributable to certain unvested incentive units in Brigham Equity Holdings, to the Existing Owners and Brigham Minerals (which will result in the ownership in Brigham LLC of Existing Owners with respect to

 

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unvested incentive units remaining consolidated in Brigham Equity Holdings), (iv) Brigham Minerals will issue the shares of Common Stock sold to purchasers in the Offering in exchange for the proceeds of the Offering, (v) each holder of Brigham LLC Units following the restructuring (a “Brigham Unit Holder”), other than the Company and its subsidiaries, will receive a number of shares of Class B common stock equal to the number of Brigham LLC Units held by such Brigham Unit Holder following the Offering, and (vi) Brigham Minerals will contribute, directly or indirectly, the net proceeds of the Offering to Brigham LLC in exchange for an additional number of Brigham LLC Units such that Brigham Minerals holds, directly or indirectly, a total number of Brigham LLC Units equal to the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding following the Offering.

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Master Reorganization Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Item 3.02

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The information set forth under Item 1.01 under “Master Reorganization Agreement” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.02

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

Appointment of Directors

On April 17, 2019, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) appointed Harold D. Carter, John A. Holland, W. Howard Keenan, Jr. and Richard Stoneburner as members of the Board.

As compensation for services provided as a member of the Board, Messrs. Carter, Holland, Keenan and Stoneburner will receive (i) an annual cash retainer of $65,000 and (ii) an annual equity-based award with an aggregate fair market value of approximately $140,000 on the date of grant. In connection with the Offering, the Company intends to grant to Messrs. Carter, Holland, Keenan and Stoneburner an award of restricted stock units subject to time-based vesting, which award will represent the annual equity-based award described above for calendar year 2019 and is expected to have an aggregate fair market value of approximately $140,000 on the date of grant.

Messrs. Carter and Keenan will serve on the Board’s Nominating and Governance Committee, Messrs. Carter, Keenan and Stoneburner will serve on the Board’s Compensation Committee and Messrs. Carter and Holland will serve on the Board’s Audit Committee. Mr. Carter will serve as the chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and Compensation Committee. As chairman of these committees, Mr. Carter will receive an additional annual cash retainer of $10,000 and $15,000, respectively.

Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no arrangements or understandings between Messrs. Carter, Holland, Keenan and Stoneburner and any other person pursuant to which any such individual was selected as a director. Messrs. Carter, Holland, Keenan and Stoneburner have no family relationship with any director or executive officer of the Company or any person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer. There are no transactions in which Messrs. Carter, Holland, Keenan and Stoneburner have an interest requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Indemnification Agreements

Also on April 17, 2019, in connection with the Offering, the Company entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and officers (the “Indemnification Agreements”). The Indemnification Agreements require the Company to indemnify each such individual to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liability that may arise by reason of such individual’s service to the Company, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against such individual as to which he or she could be indemnified.

 

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The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Indemnification Agreements, which are attached as Exhibits 10.1 through 10.9 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated as of April 17, 2019, by and among Brigham Minerals, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman, Sachs  & Co. as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
  2.1    Master Reorganization Agreement, dated April 17, 2019, by and among Brigham Minerals, Inc. and the other parties named therein.
10.1    Indemnification Agreement (Ben M. Brigham).
10.2    Indemnification Agreement (Robert M. Roosa).
10.3    Indemnification Agreement (Blake C. Williams).
10.4    Indemnification Agreement (Harold D. Carter).
10.5    Indemnification Agreement (John Holland).
10.6    Indemnification Agreement (W. Howard Keenan, Jr.).
10.7    Indemnification Agreement (James R. Levy).
10.8    Indemnification Agreement (Richard Stoneburner).
10.9    Indemnification Agreement (John R. Sult).

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Blake C. Williams

Name:   Blake C. Williams
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Dated: April 22, 2019

 

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Exhibit 1.1

Execution Version

14,500,000 Shares

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.

Class A Common Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

April 17, 2019

C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC

G OLDMAN S ACHS  & C O . LLC

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

named in Schedule A hereto

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue,

New York, New York 10010-3629

c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street,

New York, New York 10282

Ladies and Gentlemen:

1. Introductory . Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), agrees with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, as representatives (the “ Representatives ”) of the several underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (the “ Underwriters ”), to issue and sell to the Underwriters 14,500,000 shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Securities ”) (such 14,500,000 shares of Securities being hereinafter referred to as the “ Firm Securities ”). The Company also agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriters, at the option of the Underwriters, an aggregate of not more than 2,175,000 additional shares of its Securities (the “ Optional Securities ”) as set forth below. The Firm Securities and the Optional Securities are herein collectively called the “ Offered Securities .” As part of the offering contemplated by this agreement (this “Agreement”), UBS Securities LLC (the “ Designated Underwriter ”) has agreed to reserve out of the Firm Securities purchased by it under this Agreement up to 725,000 shares for sale to the Company’s directors, officers, employees and other parties associated with the Company (collectively, “ Participants ”), as set forth in the Final Prospectus (as defined herein) under the heading “Underwriting” (the “ Directed Share Program ”). The Firm Securities to be sold by UBS Financial Services Inc., a selected dealer affiliated with the Designated Underwriter, pursuant to the Directed Share Program (the “ Directed Shares ”) will be sold by UBS Financial Services Inc. pursuant to this Agreement at the public offering price. Any Directed Shares not subscribed for by the end of the business day on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the Underwriters as set forth in the Final Prospectus.

The Company is a Delaware corporation that was formed in contemplation of the proposed issuance and sale of the Offered Securities (the “ Offering ”). It is understood and agreed to by all parties that immediately prior to the initial closing of the Offering, the Company will enter into certain corporate reorganization transactions (the “ Reorganization Transactions ”), pursuant to which the following transactions, among others, will occur (as further described under the headings “Corporate Reorganization” and “Use of Proceeds” in the General Disclosure Package (as defined below)):

 

  (a)

all of the outstanding membership interests in Brigham LLC will be converted into a single class of common units in Brigham LLC (“ Brigham LLC Units ”);


  (b)

the Company will issue shares of Class A common stock to certain of its Existing Owners (as defined below) in exchange for incentive units in Brigham Equity Holdings, LLC (“ Brigham Equity Holdings ”);

 

  (c)

Brigham Equity Holdings will distribute all of its equity interests in Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC (“ Brigham LLC ”), other than its interests in Brigham LLC attributable to certain unvested incentive units in Brigham Equity Holdings, to the Company, the Company’s management team and other investors and certain entities affiliated with Warburg Pincus LLC, Yorktown Partners LLC and Pine Brook Road Advisors, LP (collectively, the “ Existing Owners ”) (which will result in the ownership in Brigham LLC of the Company’s Existing Owners who hold unvested incentive units remaining consolidated in Brigham Equity Holdings);

 

  (d)

the Company will issue and sell the Offered Securities to the Underwriters;

 

  (e)

each holder of Brigham LLC Units following the restructuring (a “ Brigham Unit Holder ”) other than the Company and its Subsidiaries, will receive a number of shares of the Company’s Class B common stock equal to the number of Brigham LLC Units held by such Brigham Unit Holder following the Offering; and

 

  (f)

the Company will contribute the net proceeds of the Offering to Brigham LLC in exchange for an additional number of Brigham LLC Units such that the Company holds a total number of Brigham LLC Units equal to the number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock outstanding following the Offering.

2. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:

(a) Filing and Effectiveness of Registration Statements; Certain Defined Terms . The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-230373) covering the registration of the Offered Securities under the Act, including a related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses. At any particular time, this initial registration statement, in the form then on file with the Commission, including all information contained in the registration statement (if any) pursuant to Rule 462(b) and then deemed to be a part of the initial registration statement, and all 430A Information and all 430C Information, that in any case has not then been superseded or modified, shall be referred to as the “ Initial Registration Statement .” The Company also has filed with the Commission, a Rule 462(b) registration statement covering the registration of Offered Securities. At any particular time, this Rule 462(b) registration statement, in the form then on file with the Commission, including the contents of the Initial Registration Statement incorporated by reference therein and including all 430A Information and all 430C Information, that in any case has not then been superseded or modified, shall be referred to as the “ Additional Registration Statement .”

As of the time of execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Initial Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Act and is not proposed to be amended. The Additional Registration Statement has become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) and is not proposed to be amended. The Offered Securities all have been or will be duly registered under the Act pursuant to the Initial Registration Statement and the Additional Registration Statement.

 

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For purposes of this Agreement:

430A Information ,” with respect to any registration statement, means information included in a prospectus and retroactively deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430A(b).

430C Information ,” with respect to any registration statement, means information included in a prospectus then deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430C.

Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Applicable Time ” means 4:45 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement.

Closing Date” has the meaning defined in Section 3 hereof.

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Effective Time ” with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or, if filed prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Additional Registration Statement, means the date and time as of which such Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission or has become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(c). If an Additional Registration Statement has not been filed prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement but the Company has advised the Representatives that it proposes to file one, “ Effective Time ” with respect to such Additional Registration Statement means the date and time as of which such Registration Statement is filed and becomes effective pursuant to Rule 462(b).

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Final Prospectus ” means the Statutory Prospectus that discloses the public offering price, other 430A Information and other final terms of the Offered Securities and otherwise satisfies Section 10(a) of the Act.

General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being so specified in Schedule B to this Agreement.

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Offered Securities in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not a General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

The Initial Registration Statement and the Additional Registration Statement are referred to collectively as the “ Registration Statements ” and individually as a “ Registration Statement .” A “ Registration Statement ” with reference to a particular time means the Initial Registration Statement and any Additional Registration Statement as of such time. A “ Registration Statement ” without reference to a time means such Registration Statement as of its Effective Time. For purposes of the foregoing definitions, 430A Information with respect to a Registration Statement shall be considered to be included in such Registration Statement as of the time specified in Rule 430A.

Rules and Regulations ” means the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Securities Laws ” means, collectively, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (“ Sarbanes-Oxley ”), the Act, the Exchange Act, the Rules and Regulations, the auditing principles, rules, standards and practices applicable to auditors of “issuers” (as defined in Sarbanes-Oxley) promulgated or approved by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and, as applicable, the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“ Exchange Rules ”).

Statutory Prospectus ” with reference to a particular time means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement immediately prior to that time, including any 430A Information or 430C Information with respect to such Registration Statement. For purposes of the foregoing definition, 430A Information shall be considered to be included in the Statutory Prospectus as of the actual time that form of prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 462(c) and not retroactively.

 

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Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act.

Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act.

Unless otherwise specified, a reference to a “rule” is to the indicated rule under the Act.

(b) Compliance with Securities Act Requirements . (i) (A) At their respective Effective Times, (B) on the date of this Agreement and (C) on each Closing Date, each Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, (ii) at their respective Effective Times, each Registration Statement did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (iii) on its date, at the time of filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (if no such filing is required) at the Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement in which the Final Prospectus is included, and on each Closing Date, the Final Prospectus will conform in all respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any such document based upon written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(c) Ineligible Issuer Status. (i) At the time of the initial filing of the Initial Registration Statement and (ii) at the date of this Agreement, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405.

(d) General Disclosure Package . As of the Applicable Time, none of (i) the General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the preliminary prospectus, dated April 9, 2019 (the “ Preliminary Prospectus ”) (which is the most recent Statutory Prospectus distributed to investors generally) and the other information, if any, stated in Schedule B to this Agreement to be included in the General Disclosure Package, all considered together (collectively, the “ General Disclosure Package ”), (ii) any individual Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, or (iii) any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Statutory Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(e) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Offered Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statements. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, at a time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption of Rule 172 would be) required to be delivered under the Act by any Underwriter or dealer, there occurred or occurs an

 

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event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statements or as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if republished immediately following such event or development, would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (i) the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representatives and (ii) the Company has promptly amended or supplemented or will promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

(f) Good Standing of the Company . The Company has been duly incorporated and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions listed on Schedule D hereto in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”). After giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the Company will not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed on Schedule C hereto (“ Subsidiaries ”).

(g) Subsidiaries . Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated or formed, as applicable, and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, as applicable, with power and authority (corporate, limited liability company or limited partnership, as applicable) to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; and each Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, foreign limited liability company or foreign limited partnership, as applicable, in good standing in all other jurisdictions listed on Schedule D hereto in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be duly qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock, limited liability company interests or limited partner interests, as applicable, of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and, in the case of any such corporation, are fully paid and nonassessable; and, following the Reorganization Transactions, the capital stock, limited partner interests or limited liability company interests, as applicable, of each Subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, will be owned free from liens, encumbrances and defects except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(h) Authorization of Agreement . The Company has all requisite corporate power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company.

(i) Offered Securities . The Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, will have been duly authorized; after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the authorized equity capitalization of the Company will be as set forth in the General Disclosure Package; after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company will be, and, when the Offered Securities have been delivered and paid for in accordance with this Agreement on each Closing Date, such Offered Securities will have been, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and will conform to the information in the General Disclosure Package and to the description of such Offered Securities contained in the Final Prospectus in all material respects; the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Offered Securities; and none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any security holder.

 

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(j) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts Resulting from Transaction . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) their respective charter, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement, limited partnership agreement or by-laws (or similar organizational or governing documents) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (iii) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; a “ Debt Repayment Triggering Event ” means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture, or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(k) Absence of Further Requirements . No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing or registration with, any person (including any governmental agency or body or any court) is required to be obtained or made by the Company for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the offering, issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the Company, except for (i) such as have been, or prior to the Closing Date, will be, obtained or made, (ii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities laws or Blue Sky laws or by FINRA in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters and (iii) such consents that, if not obtained, have not or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(l) Historical Financial Statements; Pro Forma Financial Statements . The historical financial statements (including the related notes) included in each Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby, at the dates and for the periods indicated, and, except as otherwise disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, have been prepared in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“ GAAP ”) applied on a consistent basis. The unaudited pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included in each Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information contained therein and have been properly presented on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. The unaudited pro forma financial statements comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X under the Act and the pro forma adjustments have been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements. The other financial information and data included in each Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the captions “Prospectus Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Financial Data,” “Selected Historical and Pro Forma Financial Data” and “Business—Oil, Natural Gas and NGL Production Prices and Costs” has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby. The Company does not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations or any “variable interest entities” within the meaning of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46), not disclosed in each Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

 

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(n) Auditors . KPMG LLP (“ KPMG ”), who has certified certain financial statements of the Company or assets acquired by the Company, whose reports appears in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and who has delivered the initial letters referred to in Section 7(a) hereof, is an independent public accounting firm within the meaning of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “ PCAOB ”).

(o) Internal Controls and Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley . Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company, its Subsidiaries and the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) are in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and all applicable Exchange Rules. Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company maintains a system of internal controls, including, but not limited to, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over accounting matters and financial reporting and legal and regulatory compliance controls (collectively, “ Internal Controls ”) that comply with the Securities Laws and are sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Internal Controls are, or upon consummation of the offering of the Offered Securities will be, overseen by the Audit Committee (the “ Audit Committee ”) of the Board in accordance with Exchange Rules. Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company has not publicly disclosed or reported to the Audit Committee or the Board a significant deficiency, material weakness, change in Internal Controls or fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in Internal Controls.

(p) No Material Adverse Change in Business . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, since the end of the period covered by the latest audited financial statements included in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (i) there has been no change, nor any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that is material and adverse, (ii) except as disclosed in or contemplated by the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock and (iii) except as disclosed in or contemplated by the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change in the capital stock, short-term indebtedness, long-term indebtedness, net current assets or net assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(q) Title to Property . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the Company and its Subsidiaries will have (i) good and defensible title to all of the interests in oil and gas properties underlying the Company’s estimates of its net proved reserves contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and (ii) good and marketable title to all other real and personal property reflected in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus as assets owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as (w) are described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, (x) are liens and encumbrances under operating agreements, unitization and pooling agreements, production sales contracts, farmout agreements and other oil and gas exploration, participation and production agreements, in each case that secure payment of amounts not yet due and payable for the performance of other unmatured obligations and are of a scope and nature customary in the oil and gas industry or arise in connection with drilling and production operations, (y) do not materially affect the value of the properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries and do not interfere in any material respect with the use made or proposed to be made of such properties by the Company or its Subsidiaries or (z) as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; any other real property and buildings held

 

7


under lease by the Company and its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere in any material respect with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company or its Subsidiaries. With respect to interests in oil and gas properties obtained by or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries that have not yet been drilled or included in a unit for drilling, the Company and its Subsidiaries have carried out such title investigations in accordance with the customary practice in the oil and gas industry in the areas in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate.

(r) Possession of Licenses and Permits . After giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the Company and its Subsidiaries will have such permits, licenses, patents, franchises, certificates of need and other approvals or authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (“ Permits ”) as are necessary or material to the conduct of the business now conducted or proposed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, except for any of the foregoing that would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. After giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the Company and its Subsidiaries will have fulfilled and performed all of their obligations with respect to the Permits, and no event will have occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other impairment of the rights of the holder or any such Permits, except for any of the foregoing that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have received notice of any revocation or modification of any such Permits or has any reason to believe that any such Permits will not be renewed in the ordinary course.

(s) Possession of Intellectual Property . After giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the Company and its Subsidiaries will own, possess, or will be able to acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, know-how, software, systems and technology (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) and other intellectual property (collectively, “ intellectual property rights ”) necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or presently employed by them, and have no reason to believe that the conduct of their business will conflict with, and will have not received any notice of infringement of or any claim of conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) Litigation . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings (including any inquiries or investigations by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign) against or affecting the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement. To the Company’s knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings (including any inquiries or investigations by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign) are threatened or contemplated.

(u) Absence of Existing Defaults and Conflicts . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership, limited liability company agreement, limited partnership agreement or by-laws (or similar organizational or governing documents) or in default (or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would be in default) under any existing obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of the properties of any of them is subject, except such defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(v) Environmental Laws . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, (i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (A) is or has been in violation of any foreign, federal, state or local statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order, decree, decision, ordinance, code or other legally binding requirement (including common law) relating to the pollution, protection or restoration of the environment, wildlife or natural resources; occupational health or workplace safety; or the generation, use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, discharge, disposal or release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Substance (as defined below) (collectively, “ Environmental Laws ”), (B) is conducting or funding, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation, monitoring or other corrective action pursuant to any Environmental Law, including to address any actual or suspected Hazardous Substance, (C) has received notice of, or is subject to any action, suit, claim or proceeding alleging, any actual or potential liability under, or violation of, any Environmental Law, including with respect to any Hazardous Substance, (D) is party to any order, decree or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under applicable Environmental Law, or (E) is or has been in violation of, or has failed to obtain and maintain, any permit, license, authorization, identification number or other approval required under applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, there are no facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in any violation of or liability under any Environmental Law, including with respect to any Hazardous Substance, except in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, for such matters as would not individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (A) is subject to any pending proceeding pursuant to any Environmental Law in which any foreign, federal, state or local governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, nor does the Company or any of its Subsidiaries know any such proceeding is contemplated, (B) is aware of any material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company and its Subsidiaries resulting from compliance with Environmental Laws, or (C) anticipates any material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws. For purposes of this subsection, “ Hazardous Substance ” means (y) any pollutant, contaminant, petroleum and petroleum products, by-products or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls or toxic mold, and (z) any other toxic, radioactive, ignitable, corrosive, reactive or otherwise hazardous chemical, material, waste or substance.

(w) Taxes . The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date of this Agreement, subject to permitted extensions, and have paid all taxes required to be paid thereon (except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by GAAP have been created in the financial statements of the Company or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), and no material tax deficiency has been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(x) Investment Company Act . The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in each of the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(y) Reserve Engineer . Cawley Gillespie & Associates, Inc. (“ Cawley ”), whose reports appear in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and who has delivered the letter referred to in Section 7(b) hereof, was, as of the date of such report, and is, as of the date hereof, an independent petroleum engineer with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(z) Reserve Report Information. The information contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus regarding estimated proved reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries is based upon the reserve reports prepared by Cawley. The information provided to Cawley, by the Company and its Subsidiaries was true and correct in all material respects on the dates the reports were made. Such information was provided to Cawley in accordance with all customary industry practices.

 

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(aa) Reserve Reports; Production Estimates. The factual information underlying the estimates of reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries included in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, including, without limitation, production, costs of operation and development, current prices for production, agreements relating to current and future operations and sales of production, was true and correct in all material respects on the dates such estimates were made and such information was supplied and was prepared in accordance with customary industry practices. Other than normal production of reserves, intervening market commodity price fluctuations, fluctuations in demand for such products, adverse weather conditions, unavailability or increased costs of rigs, equipment, supplies or personnel, the timing of third party operations and other factors, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and except as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, neither of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is aware of any facts or circumstances that would result in a material adverse change in the aggregate net reserves, or the aggregate present value of future net cash flows therefrom, as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(bb) Absence of Manipulation . The Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, its affiliates have not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.

(cc) Anti-Corruption . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any director, officer or employee, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent or representative of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any “government official” (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) to unlawfully influence official action or secure an improper advantage; and the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and will maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representation and warranty contained herein.

(dd) Anti -Money Laundering . The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Anti-Money Laundering Laws ”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(ee) Economic Sanctions.

 

  (i)

Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer or employee thereof, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, affiliate or representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“ Person ”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is:

 

  (A)

the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the United Nations Security Council (UN), the European Union (EU), Her Majesty’s Treasury (UK HMT), the Swiss Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”); nor

 

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  (B)

located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Crimea and Syria).

 

  (ii)

The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person:

 

  (A)

to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or

 

  (B)

in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

  (iii)

For the past five years, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

(ff) Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions. No relationship, direct or indirect, that would be required to be described in a registration statement of the Company pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K, exists between or among the Company or its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, that has not been described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(gg) Absence of Labor Dispute . No labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(hh) Accurate Disclosure . The statements made in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” “Description of Capital Stock,” “Business—Legal Proceedings,” “Business—Regulation of Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters,” “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders,” “Certain ERISA Considerations,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital Requirements and Sources of Liquidity—Our Term Loan Facility” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital Requirements and Sources of Liquidity—Prior Revolving Credit Facility,” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings and present the information required to be shown, in each case in all material respects.

(ii) Insurance . Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company

 

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and its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers with appropriately rated claims paying abilities against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are adequate and customary for the businesses in which they are engaged; all policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no claims by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has been refused any material insurance coverage sought or applied for; neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; and the Company will obtain directors’ and officers’ insurance in such amounts as is customary for an initial public offering.

(jj) Cybersecurity . (i)(A) To the knowledge of the Company, there has been no security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure, or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data and databases (including the data and information of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third-party data maintained, processed or stored by the Company and its Subsidiaries, and any such data processed or stored by third parties on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries), equipment or technology (collectively, “ IT Systems and Data ”) and (B) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure or other compromise to their IT Systems and Data; (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification; and (iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have implemented appropriate controls, policies, procedures and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of their IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards.

(kk) Compliance with ERISA . Except, in each case, for any such matter as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and as set forth in or contemplated by the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, (i) each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”)) for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) the “ Controlled Group ”) would have any material liability (each a “ Plan ”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations including ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (iii) with respect to each Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, (A) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, excluding any reportable event for which a waiver could apply, (B) no Plan is or is reasonably expected to be in “at-risk status” (within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303(i) of ERISA), (C) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, there has been no filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan or the receipt by the Company or any member of the Controlled Group from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or the plan administrator of any notice relating to the intention to terminate any Plan or

 

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Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, (D) no conditions contained in Section 303(k)(1)(A) of ERISA for imposition of a lien shall have been met with respect to any Plan and (E) neither the Company nor any member of its Controlled Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any material liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan,” within the meaning of Section 4001(c)(3) of ERISA) (a “ Multiemployer Plan ”)); (iv) no Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, “insolvent” (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA), in “reorganization” (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), or in “endangered” or “critical” status (within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 304 of ERISA); and (v) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, that could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification.

(ll) No Restriction on Dividends . No Subsidiary is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on its limited partner or limited liability company interests, as applicable, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to it from the Company or from transferring any of its property or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary, except as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(mm) Statistical and Market-Related Data . Any third-party statistical and market-related data included in a Registration Statement, a Statutory Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication is based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate.

(nn) Registration Rights. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to a Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company under the Act (collectively, “ registration rights ”), and any person to whom the Company has granted registration rights has agreed not to exercise such rights until after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period referred to in Section 5 hereof.

(oo) No Finder’s Fee . Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with this offering.

(pp) Listing . The Offered Securities have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange (“ NYSE ”), subject to notice of issuance.

(qq) Emerging Growth Company Status . From the time of the initial confidential submission of the Initial Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Act (an “ Emerging Growth Company ”).

(rr) Testing-the-Waters Communication . The Company (a) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication and (b) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in any Testing-the-Waters Communication. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communication. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication.

 

13


(ss) Absence of Unlawful Influence. The Company has not offered or sold, or caused the Underwriters to offer or sell, any Offered Securities to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or its products.

3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities . On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $16.92 per share, the respective number of Firm Securities set forth opposite the names of such Underwriter in Schedule  A hereto.

The Company will deliver the Firm Securities to or as instructed by the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representatives against payment of the purchase price by the Underwriters in Federal (same day) funds by wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to the Representatives drawn to the order of the Company, at the office of Latham & Watkins LLP, 811 Main Street, Suite 3700, Houston, Texas 77002, at 9:00 A.M., New York time, on April 23, 2019, or at such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as the Representatives and the Company determine, such time being herein referred to as the “ First Closing Date .” For purposes of Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, the First Closing Date (if later than the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be the settlement date for payment of funds and delivery of securities for all the Offered Securities sold pursuant to the offering. Delivery of the Firm Securities will be made through the facilities of the Depositary Trust Company (the “ DTC ”) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

In addition, upon written notice from the Representatives given to the Company from time to time not more than 30 days subsequent to the date of the Final Prospectus, the Underwriters may purchase all or less than all of the Optional Securities at the purchase price per Security to be paid for the Firm Securities. Such notice shall set forth (i) the aggregate number of shares of Optional Securities as to which the Underwriters are exercising the option and (ii) the time, date and place at which the Optional Securities will be delivered (each time for the delivery of and payment for the Optional Securities being herein referred to as an “ Optional Closing Date ,” which may be the First Closing Date) (the First Closing Date and each Optional Closing Date, if any, being sometimes referred to as a “ Closing Date ”). The Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters the number of shares of Optional Securities specified in such notice and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase such Optional Securities. Such Optional Securities shall be purchased for the account of each Underwriter in the same proportion as the number of Firm Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name bears to the total number of Firm Securities (subject to adjustment by the Representatives to eliminate fractions) and may be purchased by the Underwriters only for the purpose of covering over allotments made in connection with the sale of the Firm Securities. No Optional Securities shall be sold or delivered unless the Firm Securities previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Optional Securities or any portion thereof may be exercised from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by the Representatives to the Company.

Each Optional Closing Date shall be determined by the Representatives but shall be not later than five full business days after written notice of election to purchase Optional Securities is given. The Company will deliver the Optional Securities being purchased on each Optional Closing Date to or as instructed by the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representatives, against payment of the purchase price therefor in Federal (same day) funds by wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to the Representatives drawn to the order of the Company, at the above office of Latham & Watkins LLP. The delivery of any Optional Securities will be made through the facilities of the DTC unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

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

 

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

(a) Additional Filings. Unless filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) as part of the Additional Registration Statement in accordance with the next sentence, the Company will file the Final Prospectus, in a form approved by the Representatives, with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with subparagraph (1) (or, if applicable and if consented to by the Representatives, subparagraph (4)) of Rule 424(b) not later than the earlier of (A) the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement or (B) the fifteenth business day after the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of any such filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and provide satisfactory evidence to the Representatives of such timely filing. If an Additional Registration Statement is necessary to register a portion of the Offered Securities under the Act but the Effective Time thereof has not occurred as of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will file the Additional Registration Statement or, if filed, will file a post-effective amendment thereto with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 462(b) on or prior to 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or, if earlier, on or prior to the time the Final Prospectus is finalized and distributed to any Underwriter, or will make such filing at such later date as shall have been consented to by the Representatives.

(b) Filing of Amendments; Response to Commission Requests. The Company will promptly advise the Representatives of any proposal to amend or supplement at any time the Initial Registration Statement, any Additional Registration Statement or any Statutory Prospectus and will not effect such amendment or supplementation without the Representatives’ consent; and the Company will also advise the Representatives promptly of (i) the effectiveness of any Additional Registration Statement (if its Effective Time is subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement), (ii) any amendment or supplementation of a Registration Statement or any Statutory Prospectus, (iii) any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment to any Registration Statement, for any supplement to any Statutory Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) the institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of a Registration Statement or the threatening of any proceeding for that purpose, and (v) the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Offered Securities in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceedings for such purpose. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the suspension of any such qualification and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(c) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 would be) required to be delivered under the Act by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend a Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and the dealers and any other dealers upon request of the Representatives, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance. Neither the Representatives’ consent to, nor the Underwriters’ delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7 hereof.

(d) Rule 158. As soon as practicable, but not later than the Availability Date (as defined below), the Company will make generally available to its securityholders an earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement (or, if later, the Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement), which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 under the Act. For the purpose of the preceding sentence, “ Availability Date ” means the day after the end of the fourth fiscal quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes such Effective Time on which the Company is required to

 

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file its Form 10-Q for such fiscal quarter except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is the last quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, “ Availability Date ” means the day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter on which the Company is required to file its Form 10-K.

(e) Furnishing of Prospectuses. The Company will furnish, upon request, to the Representatives copies of each Registration Statement (three of which will be signed and will include all exhibits), each related Statutory Prospectus, and, so long as a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 would be) required to be delivered under the Act, the Final Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case in such quantities as the Representatives request. The Final Prospectus shall be so furnished within two business days following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, unless otherwise agreed by the Company and the Representatives. All other such documents shall be so furnished as soon as available. The Company will pay the expenses of printing and distributing to the Underwriters all such documents.

(f) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will arrange for the qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives designate and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution.

(g) Reporting Requirements. During the period of five years hereafter, the Company will, upon request, furnish to the Representatives and to each of the other Underwriters, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to stockholders for such year; and the Company will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as available, upon request, a copy of each report and any definitive proxy statement of the Company filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act or mailed to stockholders, and (ii) from time to time, such other information concerning the Company as the Representatives may reasonably request. However, so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and is timely filing reports with the Commission on its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“ EDGAR ”) or any successor system, it is not required to furnish such reports or statements to the Underwriters.

(h) Payment of Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to any filing fees and other expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters) incurred in connection with qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives designate and the preparation and printing of memoranda relating thereto, costs and expenses related to the review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”) of the Offered Securities (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters not to exceed $30,000 relating to such review), costs and expenses relating to investor presentations or any “road show” in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Securities including, without limitation, any travel expenses of the Company’s officers and employees; provided, however , that the Underwriters shall be responsible for 50% of the costs of any private aircraft chartered by or on behalf of the Company in connection with such presentations, and any other expenses of the Company including, fees and expenses incident to listing the Offered Securities on the NYSE, fees and expenses in connection with the registration of the Offered Securities under the Exchange Act, and expenses incurred in distributing preliminary prospectuses and the Final Prospectus (including any amendments and supplements thereto) to the Underwriters and for expenses incurred for preparing, printing and distributing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses to investors or prospective investors. It is understood, however, that except as provided herein, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel and any road show expenses incurred by them (other than costs and expenses incurred by the Underwriters on behalf of the Company).

(i) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received in connection with the Offering in the manner described in the “Use of Proceeds” section of the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and, except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any Underwriter or affiliate of any Underwriter.

 

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(j) Absence of Manipulation. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.

(k) (i) Restriction on Sale of Securities. For the period specified below (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), the Company will not, directly or indirectly, take any of the following actions with respect to its Securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any of its Securities (“ Lock-Up Securities ”): (A) offer, sell, issue, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of Lock-Up Securities, (B) offer, sell, issue, contract to sell, contract to purchase or grant any option, right or warrant to purchase Lock-Up Securities, (C) enter into any swap, hedge or any other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequences of ownership of Lock-Up Securities, (D) establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position in Lock-Up Securities within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act or (E) file with or confidentially submit to the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to Lock-Up Securities, or publicly disclose the intention to take any such action, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, except (1) the sale of Securities to the Underwriters as contemplated by this Agreement, (2) the issuance of Securities in connection with the Reorganization Transactions (3) issuances of Lock-Up Securities pursuant to the conversion, exchange or redemption of convertible, exchangeable or redeemable securities or the exercise of warrants or options, in each case outstanding on the date hereof, (4) grants of employee stock options or other compensatory awards pursuant to the terms of a plan in effect on the date hereof or otherwise described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus or issuances of Lock-Up Securities pursuant to the exercise or vesting of such options or other compensatory awards (5) the filing of a registration statement on Form S-8 relating to issuances of Lock-Up Securities pursuant to the terms of a plan described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus or (6) issuances of Lock-Up Securities as consideration for the acquisition of equity interests or assets of any person, or the acquiring by the Company by any other manner of any business, properties, assets or persons, in one transaction or a series of related transactions or the filing of a registration statement relating to such Lock-Up Securities , provided that (x) no more than an aggregate of 10% of the number of shares of the Company’s capital stock outstanding immediately after the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities pursuant to this Agreement are issued and (y) prior to the issuance of such shares of the Company’s capital stock, each recipient of such shares agrees in writing to be subject to the “lock-up” described in this Section 5(k)(i) for the remaining term of the Lock-Up Period. The Company shall not make a public announcement or make any public filing with the Commission in connection with the actions described in clauses (1) and (2) above without prior consent of the Representatives. Further, if the Company is required to file a registration statement with the Commission in connection with an action described in clauses (1), (2) and (6) above, the Company shall provide the Representatives with notice of such filing at least three business days prior to such filing. The Lock-Up Period will commence on the date hereof and continue for 180 days after the date hereof or such earlier date that the Representatives consent to in writing.

(ii) Agreement to Announce Lock-Up Waiver. If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up letter described in Section 7(h) hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

 

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(l) Testing-the-Waters Communication. If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such statement or omission.

(m) Emerging Growth Company Status . The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Offered Securities within the meaning of the Act and (ii) completion of the Lock-Up Period.

(n) Transfer Restrictions. In connection with the Directed Share Program, the Company will ensure that the Directed Shares will be restricted to the extent required by FINRA or the FINRA rules from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation for a period of three months following the date of the effectiveness of the Additional Registration Statement. The Designated Underwriter will notify the Company as to which Participants will need to be so restricted. The Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon such securities for such period of time.

(o) Payment of Expenses Related to Directed Share Program. The Company will pay all fees and disbursements of counsel (including non-U.S. counsel) incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program.

6. Free Writing Prospectuses . The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Offered Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Representatives is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .” The Company and the Representatives agree that any such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus is listed on Schedule B hereto. The Company represents that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping. The Company represents that it has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the conditions in Rule 433 to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, at a time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption of Rule 172 would be) required to be delivered under the Act by any Underwriter or dealer, there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statements or as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if republished immediately following such event or development, would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

 

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7. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters . The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Securities on the First Closing Date and the Optional Securities to be purchased on each Optional Closing Date will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein (as though made on such Closing Date), to the accuracy of the statements of Company officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

(a) Auditor Comfort Letters. The Representatives shall have received “comfort letters,” dated the date hereof, of KPMG in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, covering the financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statements, the General Disclosure Package and other customary matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings. In addition, on each Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received from KPMG “bring-down comfort letters” dated such Closing Date addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, in the form of the “comfort letters” delivered on the date hereof, except that (i) it shall state the conclusions and findings of KPMG with respect to the financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statements and the Final Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and other customary matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings and (ii) procedures shall be brought down to a date no more than three (3) business days prior to such Closing Date, except as otherwise agreed by the Representatives.    

(b) Cawley Comfort Letters . The Representatives shall have received a “comfort letter,” dated the date hereof, of Cawley, independent petroleum engineers, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, covering the oil and gas reserves information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statements, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and other customary matters. In addition, on each Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received from Cawley a “bring-down comfort letter” dated such Closing Date addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, in the form of the “comfort letter” delivered on the date hereof, except that (i) it shall cover the oil and gas reserves information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statements and the Final Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and (ii) procedures shall be brought down to a date no more than three (3) business days prior to the Closing Date, except as otherwise agreed by the Representatives.

(c) Effectiveness of Registration Statements. If the Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement (if any) is not prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, such Effective Time shall have occurred not later than 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or, if earlier, the time the Final Prospectus is finalized and distributed to any Underwriter, or shall have occurred at such later time as shall have been consented to by the Representatives. The Final Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Section 5(a) hereof. Prior to such Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Representatives, shall be contemplated by the Commission.

(d) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, which, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to market the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities of the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating) or any announcement that the Company has been placed on negative outlook; (iii) any change in U.S. or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impractical to market or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities, whether in the primary market

 

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or in respect of dealings in the secondary market; (iv) any suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on the NYSE, or any setting of minimum or maximum prices for trading on such exchange; (v) or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (vi) any banking moratorium declared by any U.S. federal or New York authorities; (vii) any major disruption of settlements of securities, payment or clearance services in the United States or any other country where such securities are listed or (viii) any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of the Representatives, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation, act, declaration, calamity or emergency is such as to make it impractical or inadvisable to market the Offered Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities.

(e) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated such Closing Date, of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Company, as to the matters described in Schedule E hereto.

(f) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received from Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated such Closing Date, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(g) Officers’ Certificate. The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated such Closing Date, of an executive officer of the Company and a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company in which such officers shall state that: the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct; the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the best of their knowledge and after reasonable investigation, are contemplated by the Commission; the Additional Registration Statement satisfying the requirements of subparagraphs (1) and (3) of Rule 462(b) was timely filed pursuant to Rule 462(b), including payment of the applicable filing fee in accordance with Rule 111(a) or (b) of Regulation S-T of the Commission; and subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the General Disclosure Package, there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package or as described in such certificate.

(h) Lock-Up Agreements. On or prior to the date hereof, the Representatives shall have received lockup letters in the form of Exhibit B from each of the parties listed on Schedule F hereto.

The Company will furnish the Representatives with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Representatives may in their sole discretion waive on behalf of the Underwriters compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, whether in respect of an Optional Closing Date or otherwise.

8. Indemnification and Contribution . (a)  Indemnification of Underwriters by Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, members, directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”), against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, other Federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any part of any Registration Statement at any time, any Statutory Prospectus as of any time, the Final Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing

 

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Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and will reimburse each Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against any loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, and in connection with the enforcement of this provision with respect to any of the above as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Designated Underwriter and its affiliates and each person, if any, who controls the Designated Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (the “ Designated Entities ”), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) (i) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (ii) arising out of or based upon the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the Participant agreed to purchase; or (iii) arising out of, related to, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Designated Entities.

(b) Indemnification of Company. Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and each of its officers who signs a Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, an “ Underwriter Indemnified Party ”), against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any part of any Registration Statement at any time, any Statutory Prospectus as of any time, the Final Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Underwriter Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Final Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession figures appearing in the fourth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” and the fifteenth and sixteenth paragraph relating to stabilization by the Underwriters under the caption “Underwriting.”

(c) Actions against Parties; Notification. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the

 

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indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if indemnity may be sought pursuant to the last paragraph in Section 8(a) hereof in respect of such action or proceeding, then in addition to such separate firm for the indemnified parties, the indemnifying party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Designated Underwriter for the defense of any losses, claims, damages and liabilities arising out of the Directed Share Program, and all persons, if any, who control the Designated Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act of Section 20 of the Exchange Act. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.

(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 8(d).

 

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9. Default of Underwriters . If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder on either the First Closing Date or any Optional Closing Date and the aggregate number of shares of Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, the Representatives may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by such Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate number of shares of Offered Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except as provided in Section 10 hereof (provided that if such default occurs with respect to Optional Securities after the First Closing Date, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Securities or any Optional Securities purchased prior to such termination). As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

10. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations . The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9 hereof or the occurrence of any event specified in Section 7(d)(iv), (vi), (vii) or (viii) hereof, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable, documented fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities, and the respective obligations of the Company and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 8 hereof shall remain in effect. In addition, if any Offered Securities have been purchased hereunder, the representations and warranties in Section 2 hereof and all obligations under Section 5 hereof shall also remain in effect.

11. Notices . All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the Representatives at Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010-3629, Attention: LCD-IBD; and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282-2198, Attention: Registration Department; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to it at 5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78730, Attention: Blake C. Williams, with copies to Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., 1001 Fannin, Suite 2500, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention: Douglas E. McWilliams (Fax: (713) 615-5725) and Thomas G. Zentner III (Fax: (713) 615-5669).

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

13. Representation of Underwriters . The Representatives will act for the several Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and any action under this Agreement taken by the Representatives jointly will be binding upon all the Underwriters.

14. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

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15. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) No Other Relationship. The Representatives have been retained solely to act as underwriters in connection with the sale of Offered Securities and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Representatives has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Final Prospectus, irrespective of whether the Representatives have advised or are advising the Company on other matters;

(b) Arms’ Length Negotiations. The price of the Offered Securities set forth in this Agreement was established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Representatives, and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(c) Absence of Obligation to Disclose. The Company has been advised that the Representatives and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions, which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Representatives have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

(d) Waiver. The Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Representatives for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the Representatives shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.

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

The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York and irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

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

18. Patriot Act . In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

19. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

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(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

For purposes of this Section 19:

BHC Act Affiliate ” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

Covered Entity ” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Default Right ” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

U.S. Special Resolution Regime ” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with the Representatives’ understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the counterparts hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
B RIGHAM M INERALS , I NC .
By:          /s/ Blake C. Williams
  Name: Blake C. Williams
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement


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

 

C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC
By:          /s/ Blake London
  Name: Blake London
  Title: Managing Director
Acting on behalf of itself and as a Representative of the several Underwriters.

Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement


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

 

Goldman Sachs & C O . LLC
By:   /s/ Goldman Sachs  & Co. LLC
  Name: William Lambert
  Title: Managing Director
Acting on behalf of itself and as a Representative of the several Underwriters.

Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement


SCHEDULE A

 

Underwriter

   Number of
Firm Securities
to be Purchased
 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     5,965,351  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

     4,260,965  

Barclays Capital Inc.

     801,316  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

     801,316  

UBS Securities LLC

     801,316  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     801,316  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

     267,105  

Piper Jaffray & Co.

     267,105  

Seaport Global Securities LLC

     267,105  

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

     267,105  
  

 

 

 

Total

     14,500,000  
  

 

 

 


SCHEDULE B

 

1.

General Use Free Writing Prospectuses (included in the General Disclosure Package)

“General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” includes each of the following documents:

1. None.

 

2.

Other Information Included in the General Disclosure Package

The following information is also included in the General Disclosure Package:

Price per share to the public: $18.00


SCHEDULE C

Subsidiaries

 

Entity    Jurisdiction of Incorporation/Formation
Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC    Delaware
Brigham Resources, LLC    Delaware
Brigham Resources Management, LLC    Delaware
Brigham Resources Management Holdings, Inc.    Delaware
Brigham Minerals, LLC    Delaware
Rearden Minerals, LLC    Delaware
Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI (Brigham), LLC    Delaware
Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) (Brigham), LLC    Delaware
WP Energy Partners (E&P) (Brigham), LLC    Delaware
Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC    Delaware
Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC    Delaware


SCHEDULE D

Jurisdictions of Foreign Qualification

 

Entity    Jurisdiction(s)
Brigham Minerals, Inc.    None
Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC    None
Brigham Resources, LLC    None
Brigham Resources Management, LLC    Texas
Brigham Resources Management Holdings, Inc.    None
Brigham Minerals, LLC    Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming
Rearden Minerals, LLC    Colorado, North Dakota
Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI (Brigham), LLC    None
Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) (Brigham), LLC    None
WP Energy Partners (E&P) (Brigham), LLC    None
Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC    None
Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC    None


SCHEDULE E

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

 

1.

Good Standing of the Company . The Company has been duly incorporated and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all jurisdictions set forth opposite its name on Schedule I hereto.

 

2.

Subsidiaries. Each of the Subsidiaries is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, with power and authority (limited liability company or corporate, as applicable) to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; and each of the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign limited liability company in good standing in all jurisdictions set forth opposite its name on Schedule I hereto.

 

3.

Offered Securities; Capitalization. The Offered Securities delivered on such Closing Date have been duly authorized in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws (together, the “ Governing Documents ”) and when issued and delivered by the Company to the Underwriters upon payment therefor in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued in accordance with the Governing Documents and fully paid and nonassessable, conform to the information in the General Disclosure Package and to the description of such Offered Securities contained in the Final Prospectus in all material respects; and the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Offered Securities under federal law, the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”) the Company’s Governing Documents or other instrument filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statements to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound.

 

4.

Registration Rights. Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no persons with registration rights, or other similar rights, created pursuant to any agreement filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statements to have any securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statements or registered by the Company under the Securities Act or otherwise .

 

5.

Investment Company Act. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds,” will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act.

 

6.

Absence of Further Requirements. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any federal or New York court, Delaware court or governmental agency is required to be obtained or made by the Company for the execution and delivery by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, except (a) such as have been obtained or made, (b) for the registration of the offering and sale of the Offered Securities under the Securities Act, (c) for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as may be required under applicable federal or state securities or Blue Sky laws and the approval by FINRA of the underwriting terms and arrangements in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters or (d) for such consents that, if not obtained, have not or would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.

Absence of Defaults and Conflicts Resulting from Transaction. The execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting Agreement and the consummation of the transactions therein contemplated will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries pursuant to (a) the Governing Documents of the Company or the similar organizational documents of any of the Subsidiaries, (b) any federal or New York statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company, the DGCL or the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act or (c) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statements, except, with respect to clauses (b) and (c),


  as would not reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability of the Company and the Subsidiaries to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement in connection with the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the Company; it being understood that we express no opinion in clause (b) of this paragraph with respect to any federal or state securities, blue sky or anti-fraud laws, rules or regulations.

 

8.

Compliance with Registration Requirements: Effectiveness. The Initial Registration Statements has been declared effective under the Act and the Additional Registration Statement has become effective under the Act; to our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statements have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened by the Commission; and any required filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act has been made in the manner and within the time period required by such rule.

 

9.

Authority. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement and to issue and sell the Offered Securities.

 

10.

Authorization of Agreement. The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

11.

Reorganization Transactions. The Reorganization Transactions have been duly authorized by the Company, Brigham Resources, LLC, Brigham Equity Holdings, LLC and Brigham LLC.

 

12.

Accurate Summaries. The statements set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the headings “Business—Regulation of Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters,” “Description of Capital Stock” and “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” and in the Registration Statements in Item 14, to the extent that they constitute descriptions or summaries of the terms of the Offered Securities or the documents referred to therein, or refer to statements of federal law, the laws of the State of Delaware or legal conclusions, are accurate in all material respects, subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth therein.

 

13.

Accurate Summaries. The statements contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders,” insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of matters of United States federal tax law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute accurate summaries of the matters described therein in all material respects, subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth therein.

 

14.

Compliance as to Form. Each of the Registration Statements, at the time it was declared or became effective, as applicable, the General Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, and the Final Prospectus, when filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and at the Closing Date (in each case other than (a) the financial statements and related schedules, including the notes and schedules thereto and the auditor’s report thereon, (b) the other financial data derived therefrom and (c) oil and natural gas reserve data or reports, in each case included in or omitted from the Registration Statements, or contained in or omitted from the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, as to which we express no opinion), appeared on their face to comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act.

 

15.

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

We have participated in conferences with representatives of the Company and with representatives of its independent accountants and counsel for the Underwriters at which conferences the contents of the Registration Statements, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and any amendment and supplement thereto and related matters were discussed. Although we have not independently verified, are not passing upon, and are not assuming any responsibility for or expressing any opinion regarding the accuracy, completeness, or fairness of the


statements contained or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statements, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (except to the extent specified in paragraphs (12) and (13) above), based on the foregoing, in participation in this transaction (and relying as to factual matters on officers, employees, and other representatives of the Company), no facts have come to our attention that have caused us to believe that:

(a) each Registration Statement, at the time it was declared or became effective, as applicable (including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A to be part of the Registration Statements at the time of effectiveness), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

(b) the General Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or

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

except that in each case such counsel need not express any belief with respect to (i) the financial statements and related schedules, including the notes and schedules thereto and the auditor’s report thereon, (ii) any other financial or accounting information, or (iii) any oil and natural gas reserve data or reports, in each case included in or omitted from the Registration Statements, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.


SCHEDULE F

Parties Signing Lock-Up Agreement

Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI-A (Brigham), LLC

Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI (Brigham), LLC

Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-A (Brigham), LLC

WP Brigham Holdings, L.P.

Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC

WP Energy Brigham Holdings, L.P.

WP Energy Partners Brigham Holdings, L.P.

Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC

WP Energy Partners (E&P) (Brigham), LLC

Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) (Brigham), LLC

Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-A (Brigham), LLC

Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P)-A (Brigham), LLC

Pine Brook BXP Intermediate, L.P.

Pine Brook BXP II Intermediate, L.P.

Pine Brook PD Intermediate, L.P.

Yorktown Energy Partners IX, L.P.

Yorktown Energy Partners X, L.P.

Yorktown Energy Partners XI, L.P.

YT Brigham Co Investment Partners, LP

Ben “Bud” M. Brigham

Robert M. Roosa

Blake C. Williams

Harold D. Carter

John Holland

W. Howard Keenan, Jr.

James R. Levy

Richard Stoneburner

John R. Sult


SCHEDULE G

Schedule of Written Testing-the-Waters Communication

Brigham Minerals, Inc. Testing the Waters Presentation October 2018

Brigham Minerals, Inc. Testing the Waters Presentation March 2019


Exhibit A

Form of Press Release

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

[Date]

Brigham Minerals, Inc. (“Company”) announced today that Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, the lead book-running managers in the Company’s recent public sale of                shares of common stock, are [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to    shares of the Company’s Class A common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on                ,                20    , and the shares may be sold on or after such date.    

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


Exhibit B

Form of Lock-Up Letter

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100

Austin, Texas 78730

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

As Representatives of the Several Underwriters

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue,

New York, New York 10010-3629

c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street,

New York, New York 10282

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As an inducement to the Underwriters to execute the Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), pursuant to which an offering will be made that is intended to result in the establishment of a public market for the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Securities ”), of Brigham Minerals, Inc., and any successor (by merger or otherwise) thereto (the “ Company ”), the undersigned hereby agrees that during the period specified in the following paragraph (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), the undersigned will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any Securities, enter into a transaction which would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Securities, whether any such aforementioned transaction is to be settled by delivery of the Securities or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any such transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, without, in each case, the prior written consent of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (collectively, the “ Representatives ”). In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Securities or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for the Securities. Capitalized terms not defined but otherwise used herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

The Lock-Up Period will commence on the date of this Lock-Up Agreement and continue and include the date that is 180 days after the public offering date set forth on the final prospectus used to sell the Securities (the “ Public Offering Date ”) pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

The restrictions in this Lock-Up Agreement shall not apply to: (a) any Securities acquired by the undersigned in the open market, (b) any transfer of Securities as a bona fide gift or to a family member, trust, family limited partnership or family limited liability company for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or his or her family members or, in the case of an entity, to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with such entity, provided that (i) the donee or transferee agrees to be bound in writing by the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement prior to such transfer and (ii) no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), or otherwise, showing a reduction in ownership shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such transfer (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period)) and (c) any exercise of options or vesting or exercise of any other equity-based award, in each case under the Company’s equity incentive plan or any other plan or agreement described in the prospectus included in each Registration Statement, including any Securities withheld by the Company to pay the


applicable exercise price or taxes associated with such awards (provided that (i) no filing or public announcement by any party under the Exchange Act or otherwise shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such exercise or vesting and (ii) any Securities received upon such exercise or vesting, following any applicable net settlement or net withholding, will also be subject to this Lock-Up Agreement). For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, a “ family member ” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage, domestic partnership or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the undersigned may enter into a written trading plan established pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act during the Lock-Up Period; provided that no direct or indirect offers, pledges, sales, contracts to sell, sales of any option or contract to purchase, purchases of any option or contract to sell, grants of any option, right or warrant to purchase, loans, or other transfers or disposals of any Securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Securities may be effected pursuant to such plan during the Lock-Up Period; and provided that no public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act regarding the establishment of such plan shall be required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company during the Lock-Up Period.

In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent and registrar are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of Securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Lock-Up Agreement.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing restrictions in this Lock-Up Agreement shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed Securities the undersigned may purchase in the above-referenced offering.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the Representatives agree that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of Securities, the Representatives will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representatives hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Lock-Up Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

This Lock-Up Agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and the successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns of the undersigned. It is understood that if the Underwriting Agreement is executed yet terminates (other than the provisions thereof that survive termination) prior to payment for and delivery of the Offered Securities, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Lock-Up Agreement. Further, this Lock-Up Agreement shall lapse and become null and void if the Public Offering Date shall not have occurred on or before October 17, 2019. This agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York .

[ Signature Page Follows ]


Very truly yours,
 

 

[ Name of officer, director or stockholder ]

Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement

Exhibit 2.1

MASTER REORGANIZATION AGREEMENT

This Master Reorganization Agreement (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of April 17, 2019 (the “ Effective Date ”), is entered into by and among Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Brigham LLC ”), Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Brigham Inc. ”), Brigham Equity Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Brigham Equity Holdings ”), Brigham Resources, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Brigham LLC (“ Brigham Resources ”), Brigham Minerals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Brigham Resources (“ Brigham Minerals ”), Brigham Parent Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Brigham Parent ”), Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Brigham Private Equity ”), Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) (Brigham) LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ WPE Main Brigham Blocker ”), WP Energy Partners (E&P) (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ WPE FAF Brigham Blocker ”), Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ WP XI Professionals Brigham Blocker ”), Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-B (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ WPE Professionals Brigham Blocker ”), Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI-A (Brigham), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Warburg XI-A ”), Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-A (Brigham) LLC, a Delaware limited liability partners (“ Warburg XI Partners-A ”), Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P)-A (Brigham) LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Warburg-A ”), Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-A (Brigham) LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Warburg Partners-A ”), WP Brigham Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ WP Brigham Holdings ”), WP Energy Brigham Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ WP Energy Brigham Holdings ”), WP Energy Partners Brigham Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ WP Energy Partners Brigham Holdings ”), Yorktown Energy Partners, IX, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Yorktown IX ”), Yorktown Energy Partners, X, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Yorktown X ”), Yorktown Energy Partners, XI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Yorktown XI ”), YT Brigham Co Investment Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ YT Brigham Co ”), Pine Brook BXP Intermediate, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Pine Brook BXP ”), Pine Brook BXP II Intermediate, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Pine Brook BXP II ”), Pine Brook PD Intermediate, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“ Pine Brook PD ”), and certain members of Brigham Equity Holdings as set forth on the signature pages hereto. Brigham LLC, Brigham Inc., Brigham Equity Holdings, Brigham Resources, Brigham Minerals, Brigham Parent, Brigham Private Equity, WPE Main Brigham Blocker, WPE FAF Brigham Blocker, WP XI Professionals Brigham Blocker, WPE Professionals Brigham Blocker, Warburg XI-A, Warburg XI Partners-A, Warburg-A, Warburg Partners-A, WP Brigham Holdings, WP Energy Brigham Holdings, WP Energy Partners Brigham Holdings, Yorktown IX, Yorktown X, Yorktown XI, YT Brigham Co, Pine Brook BXP, Pine Brook BXP II, Pine Brook PD and the certain members of Brigham Equity Holdings as set forth on the signature pages hereto are each individually referred to herein as a “ Party ” and collectively, the “ Parties .”

RECITALS

WHEREAS , in connection with the Offering (as defined herein) pursuant to, and as more fully described in, a registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Registration No. 333-230373 (the “ Registration Statement ”), the Parties shall enter into certain restructuring transactions (the “ Reorganization ”) as more particularly described herein;


WHEREAS , in connection with the Offering and the Reorganization, the Parties desire to, among other things, (i) establish the economic terms of the Reorganization and (ii) enter into certain agreements to effectuate the foregoing;

WHEREAS , prior to the transactions described in Section  1.4 , the Parties contemplate completing certain other restructuring transactions related to a redemption in certain interests in Brigham Equity Holdings; and

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereby agree as follows and further agree that the actions set forth in Article  I and Article II shall be deemed to have been taken and become effective in the order set forth therein.

ARTICLE I

RESTRUCTURING TRANSACTIONS

Section  1.1.      Underwriting Agreement . Upon final approval of the Board of Directors of Brigham Inc., or an authorized committee thereof (the “ Board ”), of the terms of an Offering, Brigham Inc. and Brigham LLC shall enter into a firm commitment underwriting agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) with the representatives of the underwriters named in the Registration Statement (the “ Underwriters ”), pursuant to which Brigham Inc. shall agree to issue and sell shares of its Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Class  A Common Stock ”), to the Underwriters at a price per share equal to a price to be offered to the public less the per-share underwriting discount and commissions to be set forth in the Underwriting Agreement. The Parties acknowledge that it is currently contemplated that Brigham Inc. will offer and sell up to 16,675,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock, including 2,175,000 shares pursuant to the Underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares in the offering (the “ Underwriters Option ”), at a price to the public between $15.00 and $18.00 per share. The Parties further acknowledge that the Board shall have the authority to approve the ultimate number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (including any increase or decrease from the number contemplated above) and the terms, including the price to the public (including a price that is lower than the range of prices set forth above) and the underwriting discount and commissions, under which such shares of Class A Common Stock shall be so issued to the Underwriters. The offering and sale of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement shall be referred to herein as the “ Offering .”

Section  1.2.      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Brigham Inc. . Prior to the consummation of the first sale by Brigham Inc. to the Underwriters of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Offering (the “ Initial Offering Closing ”), Brigham Inc. shall (i) file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Brigham Inc. (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and (ii) adopt Amended and Restated Bylaws of Brigham Inc. (the “ Bylaws ”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B .

 

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Section  1.3.      Amended and Restated LLC Agreement of Brigham LLC . Prior to the transactions described in Section  1.4 , the limited liability company agreement of Brigham LLC will be amended and restated in the form attached hereto as Exhibit  C to provide for, among other items, (i) a recapitalization of the membership interests in Brigham LLC into a single class of 48,600,000 common units in Brigham LLC (“ Brigham LLC Units ”), (ii) WPE Main Brigham Blocker as its sole managing member, and (iii) the Brigham LLC Units held by its members, other than Brigham Inc. and its subsidiaries, to be redeemable for Class A Common Stock or an equivalent amount of cash, upon the terms set forth therein.

Section  1.4.      Pre-IPO Units . Prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement, Brigham Equity Holdings issued certain Series M Units and Series Z Units (each as defined in the First Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Brigham Equity Holdings, dated November 20, 2018 (the “ Brigham Equity Holdings LLC Agreement ”)) to WPE Main Brigham Blocker and certain former service providers of Brigham Equity Holdings or one or more of its affiliates (the “ Pre-IPO Units ”) pursuant to Restricted Unit Agreements entered into between Brigham Equity Holdings and each such person (the “ Pre-IPO Unit RUAs ”), which provided, among other things, that (a) with respect to Pre-IPO Units issued to persons other than WPE Main Brigham Blocker, WPE Main Brigham Blocker has the right to acquire such Pre-IPO Units in exchange for a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of Brigham LLC Units such holder would have received pursuant to Section  1.5 had such right not been exercised (the “ Pre-IPO Unit Call Right “), (b) the issuance of the Pre-IPO Units to WPE Main Brigham Blocker shall be in consideration for a grant by Brigham Inc. of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock to certain service providers of Brigham Equity Holdings or its subsidiaries equal to the number of Brigham LLC Units WPE Main Brigham Blocker will receive pursuant to Section  1.5 in respect of such Pre-IPO Units, (c) the distribution of Brigham LLC Units in respect of the Pre-IPO Units pursuant to Section  1.5 of this Agreement is in complete redemption of such Pre-IPO Units and the holder of such Pre-IPO Units shall not be entitled to receive any Residual Units (as defined in the Second A&R Brigham Equity Holdings LLC Agreement) in respect of the Pre-IPO Units and (d) with respect to the Brigham LLC Units issued to WPE Main Brigham Blocker pursuant to Section  1.5 in respect of the Pre-IPO Units issued by Brigham Equity Holdings directly to WPE Main Brigham Blocker (and not acquired by WPE Main Brigham Blocker through exercise of the Pre-IPO Unit Call Right), such Brigham LLC Units shall be subject to the vesting provisions set forth in the Pre-IPO Unit RUA pursuant to which such Pre-IPO Units were issued (the “ Vesting Condition ”). Effective immediately prior to the transactions described in Section  1.5 , WPE Main Brigham Blocker hereby exercises the Pre-IPO Unit Call Right.

Section  1.5.      Distribution of Brigham LLC Units . Effective immediately prior to the transactions described in Section  1.6 , Brigham Equity Holdings will distribute to each of its members that holds Capital Units (as defined in the Brigham Equity Holdings LLC Agreement), Vested Incentive Units (as defined in the Brigham Equity Holdings LLC Agreement) or Pre-IPO Units (whether or not vested) such number of Brigham LLC Units having a value (assuming each such Brigham LLC Unit has a value equal to the Brigham LLC Unit Value (as defined below)) equal to the amount of cash such member would have received pursuant to Section 6.2 and, to the extent related to distributions of Tier II Minerals Available Cash (as defined in the Brigham Equity Holdings LLC Agreement), Section 6.3 of the Brigham Equity Holdings LLC Agreement if Brigham Equity Holdings were to make a cash distribution to its members in an aggregate amount (the “ Pre-IPO Value ”) equal to (a) the product of (i) 34,100,000 and (ii) the per share initial public

 

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offering price of the Class A Common Stock to be sold in the Offering before underwriting discounts and commissions or other offering expenses (the “ Gross IPO Price ”), less (b) the sum of (i) the aggregate underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid in connection with the initial public offering of the Class A Common Stock (excluding any underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid in connection with any exercise of the underwriters’ 30-day option to purchase additional shares) and (ii) $4,700,000 in estimated offering expenses (the Pre-IPO Value divided by 34,100,000 being referred to herein as the “ Brigham LLC Unit Value ”) in (x) complete redemption of such Capital Units in Brigham Equity Holdings, (y) partial redemption of such Vested Incentive Units in Brigham Equity Holdings that do not constitute Pre-IPO Units, such that each member holding such Vested Incentive Units retains its interest in Brigham Equity Holdings to the extent of its right to receive the Residual Units (as defined in the Second A&R Brigham Equity Holdings LLC Agreement (as defined below)) and share in any Brigham LLC Units attributable to Unvested Incentive Units (as defined in the Brigham Equity Holdings LLC Agreement) other than Pre-IPO Units that may be forfeited in the future and (z) complete redemption of such Pre-IPO Units, with such Brigham LLC Units that are distributed to WPE Main Brigham Blocker in respect of Pre-IPO Units that were issued by Brigham Equity Holdings directly to WPE Main Brigham Blocker (and not acquired by WPE Main Brigham Blocker pursuant to an exercise of the Pre-IPO Unit Call Right) being subject to the Vesting Condition. In connection with the transactions described in the previous sentence, Brigham Equity Holdings will enter into a Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit  D (the “ Second A&R Brigham Equity Holdings LLC Agreement ”) and retain the Brigham LLC Units allocated to the Unvested Incentive Units other than Pre-IPO Units.

Section  1.6.      Offering; Use of Offering Proceeds and Post-Closing Steps . Following the completion of the transactions contemplated by Section  1.5 , at the Initial Offering Closing and immediately thereafter the following steps will occur in the following order:

(a)    Brigham Inc. will distribute to Brigham Parent a number of shares of Class A Common Stock in the form of a stock dividend such that Brigham Parent shall receive a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equivalent to the number of Brigham LLC Units distributed to Brigham Inc. and its subsidiaries pursuant to Section  1.5 other than in respect of Pre-IPO Units.

(b)    Brigham Inc. will issue shares of its Class A Common Stock to the Underwriters in the manner and for the consideration set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

(c)    Brigham Inc. will contribute all of the net proceeds received by it in the Offering and an aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Class  B Common Stock ”), equal to the number of Brigham LLC Units outstanding (excluding any Brigham LLC Units held by Brigham Inc. and its subsidiaries) to WPE Main Brigham Blocker, and WPE Main Brigham Blocker will contribute such net proceeds and shares of Class B Common Stock to Brigham LLC. If the underwriters exercise the Underwriters’ Option, in whole or in part (whether at the Initial Offering Closing or thereafter), the amount of the net proceeds received pursuant to the exercise of the Option will also be contributed to Brigham LLC as described in the previous sentence.

 

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(d)    In exchange for the contributions described in Section  1.6(c) , Brigham LLC will issue to WPE Main Brigham Blocker an aggregate number of Brigham LLC Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued to the public pursuant to the Offering. If the underwriters exercise the Underwriters’ Option, an additional amount of Brigham LLC Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to the Underwriters’ Option will be issued to WPE Main Brigham Blocker.

(e)    Brigham LLC will distribute the shares of Class B Common Stock received from WPE Main Brigham Blocker pursuant to the transactions described in Section  1.6(c) to its members (other than Brigham Inc. and its subsidiaries) so that each such member shall receive a number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to the number of Brigham LLC Units held by such member.

(f)    Brigham LLC will further contribute all or a portion of the net proceeds of the Offering received in Section  1.6(c) to Brigham Resources, which in turn will contribute such amount received from Brigham LLC to Brigham Minerals in order for Brigham Minerals to repay the outstanding borrowings under the term loan portion of its credit facility as described in the section of the Registration Statement titled “Use of Proceeds.”

ARTICLE II

ADDITIONAL TRANSACTION AGREEMENTS

Section  2.1.      Registration Rights Agreement . Prior to the Initial Offering Closing, Brigham Inc. and the other parties listed on the signature pages therein shall enter into the Registration Rights Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E .

Section  2.2.      Stockholders’ Agreement . Prior to the Initial Offering Closing, Brigham Inc., and the stockholders listed in the signature pages therein shall enter into the Stockholders’ Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F .

Section  2.3.      Long Term Incentive Plan . Prior to the Initial Offering Closing, Brigham Inc. will adopt the 2019 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”), providing for the issuance of up to 5,999,600 shares of Class A Common Stock as further described in the Registration Statement, which has been previously approved by the Board and the stockholders of Brigham Inc. Following the adoption of the Plan, Brigham Inc. will issue shares of its Class A Common Stock under the Plan as contemplated by Section  1.5 and Section  1.6 . In addition, Brigham Inc. will make certain grants to its officers and employees of restricted stock units and performance units under the Plan in accordance with terms disclosed in the Registration Statement.

ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS

Section  3.1.     The terms set forth below in this Section  3.1 shall have the meanings ascribed to them below:

(a)    “ Affiliate ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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(b)    “ Common Stock ” means shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

Section  3.2.      Headings; References; Interpretation . All Article and Section headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole, including, without limitation, all Schedules and Exhibits attached hereto, and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. All references herein to Articles, Sections, Schedules and Exhibits shall, unless the context requires a different construction, be deemed to be references to the Articles and Sections of this Agreement and the Schedules and Exhibits attached hereto, and all such Schedules and Exhibits attached hereto are hereby incorporated herein and made a part hereof for all purposes. All personal pronouns used in this Agreement, whether used in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender, shall include all other genders, and the singular shall include the plural and vice versa. The use herein of the word “including” following any general statement, term or matter shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation,” “but not limited to,” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter.

Section  3.3.      Consent and Amendment . To the extent required under applicable law or the governing documents of any of the Parties, the Parties acknowledge that this Agreement constitutes the written consent of the relevant Parties to each of the agreements and transactions described herein, including by each of the Parties in its capacity as a member or manager of any other Party. Furthermore, each of the undersigned, in his, her or its capacity as a member of Brigham Equity Holdings, consents to the amendment of the Brigham Equity Holdings LLC Agreement to the extent necessary to effect the foregoing transactions, including the Reorganization and the issuance and terms (including the Pre-IPO Unit Call Right where applicable) of the Pre-IPO Units, and the Brigham Equity Holdings LLC Agreement is by this Agreement automatically amended to such extent without any further action required on the part of any member of Brigham Equity Holdings or the Board of Directors of Brigham Equity Holdings.

Section  3.4.      Deed; Bill of Sale; Assignment . To the extent required and permitted by applicable law, this Agreement shall also constitute a “deed,” “bill of sale” or “assignment” of the interests referenced herein.

Section  3.5.      Further Assurances . From time to time after the Effective Date, and without any further consideration, the Parties agree to execute, acknowledge and deliver all such additional assignments, conveyances, instruments, notices and other documents, and to do all such other acts and things, all in accordance with applicable law, as may be necessary or appropriate (a) more fully to assure that the applicable Parties own all of the properties, rights, titles, interests, estates, remedies, powers and privileges granted by this Agreement, or which are intended to be so granted, (b) more fully and effectively to vest in the applicable Parties and their respective successors and assigns beneficial and record title to the interests contributed, redeemed and assigned by this Agreement or intended to be so and (c) more fully and effectively to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement

 

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Section  3.6.      Tax Treatment of Certain of the Transactions . The Parties intend that, for U.S. federal income and applicable state and local tax purposes, (a) the issuance of Pre-IPO Units to WPE Main Brigham Blocker and the corresponding grant by Brigham Inc. of shares of Class A Common Stock to certain service providers of Brigham Equity Holdings or its subsidiaries described in Section  1.4 is treated as (i) the contribution of cash equal to the fair market value of such shares of Class A Common Stock by Brigham Inc. to WPE Main Brigham Blocker, and by WPE Main Brigham Blocker to Brigham Equity Holdings in exchange for such Pre-IPO Units, followed by (ii) the purchase by Brigham Equity Holdings of such Class A Common Stock from Brigham Inc. in exchange for such contributed cash, followed by (iii) the transfer of such shares of Class A Common Stock by Brigham Equity Holdings to the relevant service providers as compensation for services, in accordance with United States Treasury Regulations Sections 1.83-6(d) and 1.1032-3 and Revenue Ruling 99-57, 1999-51 I.R.B. 678; and (b) the distribution of Brigham LLC Units pursuant to Section  1.5 is treated as a distribution by Brigham Equity Holdings of undivided interests in its assets and liabilities in complete or partial redemption of certain of its members, followed by a contribution by Brigham Equity Holdings and such members of such assets and liabilities to Brigham LLC, a newly formed partnership, in exchange for their respective Brigham LLC Units, in accordance with Situation 1 of Revenue Ruling 99-5, 1999-1 C.B. 434. The Parties agree to report consistently with the foregoing unless otherwise required by applicable law.

Section  3.7.      Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Rights . The Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and assigns. This Agreement is not intended to, and does not, create rights in any other person, and no person is or is intended to be a third-party beneficiary of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

Section  3.8.      Severability . If any of the provisions of this Agreement are held by any court of competent jurisdiction to contravene, or to be invalid under, the laws of any political body having jurisdiction over the subject matter hereof, such contravention or invalidity shall not invalidate the entire Agreement. Instead, this Agreement shall be construed as if it did not contain the particular provision or provisions held to be invalid, and an equitable adjustment shall be made and necessary provision added so as to give effect to the intention of the Parties as expressed in this Agreement at the time of execution of this Agreement.

Section  3.9.      Waivers and Amendments . Any waiver of any term or condition of this Agreement, or any amendment or supplement to this Agreement, shall be effective only if in writing and signed by the Parties. A waiver of any breach or failure to enforce any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement shall not in any way affect, limit or waive a Party’s rights hereunder at any time to enforce strict compliance thereafter with every term or condition of this Agreement.

Section  3.10.      Entire Agreement . This Agreement (together with each of the Exhibits attached hereto) constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties pertaining to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the Parties pertaining thereto.

 

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Section 3.11.     Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TRANSACTIONS BY THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES.

Section 3.12.     Jurisdiction and Venue . THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE DELAWARE CHANCERY COURTS LOCATED IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, OR, IF SUCH COURT SHALL NOT HAVE JURISDICTION, ANY FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OR OTHER DELAWARE STATE COURT LOCATED IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, AND APPROPRIATE APPELLATE COURTS THEREFROM, OVER ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN ANY OTHER AGREEMENT), AND EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH DISPUTE MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH COURTS. THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH THEY MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY BROUGHT IN SUCH COURTS OR ANY DEFENSE OF INCONVENIENT FORUM FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH DISPUTE. EACH OF THE PARTIES AGREES THAT A JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH DISPUTE MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. THIS CONSENT TO JURISDICTION IS BEING GIVEN SOLELY FOR PURPOSES OF THIS AGREEMENT AND IS NOT INTENDED TO, AND SHALL NOT, CONFER CONSENT TO JURISDICTION WITH RESPECT TO ANY OTHER DISPUTE IN WHICH A PARTY MAY BECOME INVOLVED.

Section 3.13.     Waiver of Jury Trial . TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS OR REMEDIES ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT.

Section  3.14.      Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic means) with the same effect as if all Parties had signed the same document.

*        *        *         *        *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by each of the Parties as of the date first written above.

 

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.
By:   /s/ Robert M. Roosa
Name:   Robert M. Roosa
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

BRIGHAM EQUITY HOLDINGS, LLC

BRIGHAM MINERALS HOLDINGS, LLC

BRIGHAM RESOURCES, LLC

BRIGHAM MINERALS, LLC

By:   /s/ Robert M. Roosa
Name:   Robert M. Roosa
Title:   Chief Executive Officer and Management Director of Brigham Equity Holdings, LLC, the sole member of Brigham Minerals Holdings, LLC, the sole member of Brigham Resources, LLC, the sole member of Brigham Minerals, LLC

 

Signature Page to

Master Reorganization Agreement


BRIGHAM PARENT HOLDINGS, L.P.

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P., its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC, its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus Partners (E&P) XI LLC, its sole member

 

By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member

 

By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner

By:   /s/ Steven Glenn
Name:   Steven Glenn
Title:   Authorized Signatory
WARBURG PINCUS PRIVATE EQUITY (E&P) XI (BRIGHAM), LLC
By:    Brigham Minerals, Inc., its sole member
By:   /s/ James Levy
Name:   James Levy
Title:   Authorized Signatory
WARBURG PINCUS ENERGY (E&P) (BRIGHAM), LLC
By:    Brigham Minerals, Inc., its sole member
By:   /s/ James Levy
Name:   James Levy
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to

Master Reorganization Agreement


WP ENERGY PARTNERS (E&P) (BRIGHAM), LLC
By:    Brigham Minerals, Inc., its sole member
By:   /s/ James Levy
Name:   James Levy
Title:   Authorized Signatory
WARBURG PINCUS XI (E&P) PARTNERS-B (BRIGHAM), LLC
By:    Brigham Minerals, Inc., its sole member
By:   /s/ James Levy
Name:   James Levy
Title:   Authorized Signatory
WARBURG PINCUS ENERGY (E&P) PARTNERS-B (BRIGHAM), LLC
By:    Brigham Minerals, Inc., its sole member
By:   /s/ James Levy
Name:   James Levy
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to

Master Reorganization Agreement


WARBURG PINCUS PRIVATE EQUITY (E&P) XI-A (BRIGHAM), LLC

By:    Warburg Pincus Private Equity (E&P) XI-A, L.P., its sole member

 

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P., its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC, its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member

 

By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner

By:   /s/ Steven Glenn
Name:   Steven Glenn
Title:   Authorized Signatory
WARBURG PINCUS XI (E&P) PARTNERS-A (BRIGHAM), LLC

By:    Warburg Pincus XI (E&P) Partners-A, L.P., its sole member

 

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P., its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC, its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member

 

By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner

By:   /s/ Steven Glenn
Name:   Steven Glenn
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to

Master Reorganization Agreement


WARBURG PINCUS ENERGY (E&P)-A (BRIGHAM), LLC

By:    Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P)-A, L.P.

 

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy, L.P., its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy LLC, its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member

 

By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner

By:   /s/ Steven Glenn
Name:   Steven Glenn
Title:   Authorized Signatory
WARBURG PINCUS ENERGY (E&P) PARTNERS-A (BRIGHAM), LLC

By:    Warburg Pincus Energy (E&P) Partners-A, L.P.

 

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy, L.P., its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy LLC, its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member

 

By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner

By:   /s/ Steven Glenn
Name:   Steven Glenn
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to

Master Reorganization Agreement


WP BRIGHAM HOLDINGS, L.P.

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI, L.P., its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) XI LLC, its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member

 

By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner

By:   /s/ Steven Glenn
Name:   Steven Glenn
Title:   Authorized Signatory
WP ENERGY BRIGHAM HOLDINGS, L.P.

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy, L.P., its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy LLC, its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member

 

By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner

By:   /s/ Steven Glenn
Name:   Steven Glenn
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to

Master Reorganization Agreement


WP ENERGY PARTNERS BRIGHAM HOLDINGS, L.P.

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy, L.P., its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus (E&P) Energy LLC, its general partner

 

By:    Warburg Pincus Partners II (US), L.P., its managing member

 

By:    Warburg Pincus & Company US, LLC, its general partner

By:   /s/ Steven Glenn
Name:   Steven Glenn
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to

Master Reorganization Agreement


YORKTOWN ENERGY PARTNERS IX, L.P.

By: Yorktown IX Company LP, its general partner

 

By: Yorktown IX Associates LLC, its general partner

By:   /s/ W. Howard Keenan, Jr.
Name:   W. Howard Keenan, Jr.
Title:   Member
YORKTOWN ENERGY PARTNERS X, L.P.

By: Yorktown X Company LP, its general partner

 

By: Yorktown X Associates LLC, its general partner

By:   /s/ W. Howard Keenan, Jr.
Name:   W. Howard Keenan, Jr.
Title:   Member

 

Signature Page to

Master Reorganization Agreement


YORKTOWN ENERGY PARTNERS XI, L.P.

By: Yorktown XI Company LP, its general partner

 

By: Yorktown XI Associates LLC, its general partner

By:   /s/ W. Howard Keenan, Jr.
Name:   W. Howard Keenan, Jr.
Title:   Member
YT BRIGHAM CO INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LP
By:  

YT Brigham Company LP,

Its general partner

By:  

YT Brigham Associates LLC,

Its general partner

By:   /s/ W. Howard Keenan, Jr.
Name:   W. Howard Keenan, Jr.
Title:   Member

 

Signature Page to

Master Reorganization Agreement


PINE BROOK BXP INTERMEDIATE, L.P.
By: PBRA, LLC, its general partner
By:   /s/ Richard Stoneburner
Name:   Richard Stoneburner
Title:   Executive Vice President
PINE BROOK BXP II INTERMEDIATE, L.P.
By: PBRA, LLC, its general partner
By:   /s/ Richard Stoneburner
Name:   Richard Stoneburner
Title:   Executive Vice President
PINE BROOK BD INTERMEDIATE, L.P.
By: PBRA, LLC, its general partner
By:   /s/ Richard Stoneburner
Name:   Richard Stoneburner
Title:   Executive Vice President

 

Signature Page to

Master Reorganization Agreement


Exhibit A

Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Brigham Inc.

See attached.


Exhibit B

Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Brigham Inc.

See attached.


Exhibit C

Form of Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Brigham LLC

See attached.


Exhibit D

Form of Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Brigham Equity Holdings, LLC

See attached.


Exhibit E

Form of Registration Rights Agreement

See attached.


Exhibit F

Form of Stockholders’ Agreement

See attached.

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made as of April 17, 2019 by and between Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Ben M. Brigham (“ Indemnitee ”).

RECITALS:

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

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

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

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

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

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


AGREEMENT:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Section 2.     Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding (other than any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, which is provided for in Section  3 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Section 7.     Exclusions . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee, or, in the case of (a) and (d), to advance Expenses to Indemnitee:

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

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

(c)    for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Corporation, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Corporation pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), or the payment to the Corporation of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements) or in respect of claw-back provisions promulgated under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;

(d)    except as provided in Section  12(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of (A) having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or (B) having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

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

Section 8.     Advancement . In accordance with the pre-existing requirements of the Bylaws, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Expenses and Liabilities reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made

 

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within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all Expenses reasonably incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Nothing in this Section  8 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section  12(d) of this Agreement. This Section  8 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Sections  7(a) or (d)  hereof.

Section 9.     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

(a)    Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement hereunder following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof (the date of such notification, the “ Submission Date ”). The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding, including any appeal therein. Any delay or failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay or failure in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b)    In the event Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and/or advancement with respect to any Proceeding, Indemnitee may, at Indemnitee’s option, (i) retain counsel (including local counsel) selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company to defend Indemnitee in such Proceeding, at the sole expense of the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or (ii) have the Company assume the defense of Indemnitee in such Proceeding, in which case the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel selected by the Company and approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of written notice of Indemnitee’s election to cause the Company to do so. If the Company is required to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, it shall engage legal counsel for such defense, and the Company shall be solely responsible for all fees and expenses of such legal counsel and otherwise of such defense. Such legal counsel may represent both Indemnitee and the Company (and any other party or parties entitled to be indemnified by the

 

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Company with respect to such matter) unless, in the reasonable opinion of legal counsel to Indemnitee, there is a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company (or any other such party or parties) or there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are not available to the Company (or any such other party or parties). Notwithstanding either party’s assumption of responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, each party shall have the right to engage separate counsel at its own expense. If the Company has responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, the Company shall provide the Indemnitee and its counsel with all copies of pleadings and material correspondence relating to the Proceeding. Indemnitee and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the defense of any Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought hereunder, regardless of whether the Company or Indemnitee assumes the defense thereof. Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

Section 10.     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

(a)    Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section  9(a) hereof, if any determination by the Company is required by applicable law with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto, such determination shall be made (i) if Indemnitee shall request such determination be made by Independent Counsel, by Independent Counsel, and (ii) in all other circumstances, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company holding a majority of the securities of the Company present at a meeting of the stockholders and entitled to vote; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company will not deny any written request for indemnification hereunder made in good faith by Indemnitee unless a determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification described in this Section  10(a) has been made. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Liabilities and Expenses arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

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(b)    In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section  10(a) hereof, (i) the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company within ten (10) days of the Submission Date (the cost of such Independent Counsel to be paid by the Company), (ii) the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and (iii) Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company Indemnitee’s written objection to such selection. Such objection by Indemnitee may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement. If such written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected shall not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until Indemnitee withdraws the objection or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. Absent a timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to before the later of (A) thirty (30) days after the Submission Date and (B) ten (10) days after the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein, each of the Company and Indemnitee shall select a law firm or member of a law firm meeting the qualifications to serve as Independent Counsel, and such law firms or members of law firms shall select the Independent Counsel.

Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

Section 11.     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

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

(b)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section  10 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefore, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a prohibition of such

 

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indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if (i) the determination is to be made by Independent Counsel and Indemnitee objects to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and (ii) the Independent Counsel ultimately selected requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation or information relating thereto; provided further, however, that such 60-day period may also be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders of the Company.

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

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

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

Section 12.     Remedies of Indemnitee .

(a)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section  10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section  8 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been timely made pursuant to Section  10(a) of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 4 or 5 or the third to the last sentence of Section  10(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Sections  2 , 3 or 6 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other Person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be

 

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provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

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

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

(d)    The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Company under this Agreement or the Bylaws, or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

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

 

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

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

(b)    The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i)  the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations, (ii)  the Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii)  any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv)  the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v)  the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of

 

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Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement.

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

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

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

Section 14.     Duration of Agreement; Not Employment Contract . This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other Enterprise, (ii) one (1) year after the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section  12 of this Agreement relating thereto or (iii) the expiration of all statutes of limitation applicable to possible Proceedings to which Indemnitee may be subject arising out of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he or she may have ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or of any of the Company’s direct or indirect subsidiaries or to have Corporate Status. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect

 

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parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), if any, is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the DGCL.

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

Section 16.     Enforcement .

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

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

Section 17.     Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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

 

  (i)

If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

  (ii)

If to the Company to

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100

Austin, TX 78730

Attention: Board of Directors

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

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

Section 20.     Applicable Law . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

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

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

 

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[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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

 

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.     INDEMNITEE
By:   /s/ Blake C. Williams     By:   /s/ Ben M. Brigham
Name: Blake C. Williams     Name: Ben M. Brigham
Title:   Chief Financial Officer     Title:   Executive Chairman

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO I NDEMNIFICATION A GREEMENT

Exhibit 10.2

Execution Version

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made as of April 17, 2019 by and between Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Robert M. Roosa (“ Indemnitee ”).

RECITALS :

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

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

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

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

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

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


AGREEMENT :

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Section 2.     Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding (other than any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, which is provided for in Section  3 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

4


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

Section 7.     Exclusions . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee, or, in the case of (a) and (d), to advance Expenses to Indemnitee:

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

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

(c)    for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Corporation, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Corporation pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), or the payment to the Corporation of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements) or in respect of claw-back provisions promulgated under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;

(d)    except as provided in Section  12(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of (A) having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or (B) having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

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

Section 8.     Advancement . In accordance with the pre-existing requirements of the Bylaws, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Expenses and Liabilities reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made

 

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within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all Expenses reasonably incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Nothing in this Section  8 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section  12(d) of this Agreement. This Section  8 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Sections  7(a) or (d)  hereof.

Section 9.     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

(a)    Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement hereunder following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof (the date of such notification, the “ Submission Date ”). The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding, including any appeal therein. Any delay or failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay or failure in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b)    In the event Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and/or advancement with respect to any Proceeding, Indemnitee may, at Indemnitee’s option, (i) retain counsel (including local counsel) selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company to defend Indemnitee in such Proceeding, at the sole expense of the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or (ii) have the Company assume the defense of Indemnitee in such Proceeding, in which case the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel selected by the Company and approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of written notice of Indemnitee’s election to cause the Company to do so. If the Company is required to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, it shall engage legal counsel for such defense, and the Company shall be solely responsible for all fees and expenses of such legal counsel and otherwise of such defense. Such legal counsel may represent both Indemnitee and the Company (and any other party or parties entitled to be indemnified by the

 

6


Company with respect to such matter) unless, in the reasonable opinion of legal counsel to Indemnitee, there is a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company (or any other such party or parties) or there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are not available to the Company (or any such other party or parties). Notwithstanding either party’s assumption of responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, each party shall have the right to engage separate counsel at its own expense. If the Company has responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, the Company shall provide the Indemnitee and its counsel with all copies of pleadings and material correspondence relating to the Proceeding. Indemnitee and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the defense of any Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought hereunder, regardless of whether the Company or Indemnitee assumes the defense thereof. Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

Section 10.     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

(a)    Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section  9(a) hereof, if any determination by the Company is required by applicable law with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto, such determination shall be made (i) if Indemnitee shall request such determination be made by Independent Counsel, by Independent Counsel, and (ii) in all other circumstances, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company holding a majority of the securities of the Company present at a meeting of the stockholders and entitled to vote; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company will not deny any written request for indemnification hereunder made in good faith by Indemnitee unless a determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification described in this Section  10(a) has been made. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Liabilities and Expenses arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

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(b)    In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section  10(a) hereof, (i) the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company within ten (10) days of the Submission Date (the cost of such Independent Counsel to be paid by the Company), (ii) the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and (iii) Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company Indemnitee’s written objection to such selection. Such objection by Indemnitee may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement. If such written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected shall not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until Indemnitee withdraws the objection or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. Absent a timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to before the later of (A) thirty (30) days after the Submission Date and (B) ten (10) days after the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein, each of the Company and Indemnitee shall select a law firm or member of a law firm meeting the qualifications to serve as Independent Counsel, and such law firms or members of law firms shall select the Independent Counsel.

Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

Section 11.     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

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

(b)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section  10 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefore, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a prohibition of such

 

8


indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if (i) the determination is to be made by Independent Counsel and Indemnitee objects to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and (ii) the Independent Counsel ultimately selected requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation or information relating thereto; provided further, however, that such 60-day period may also be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders of the Company.

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

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

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

Section 12.     Remedies of Indemnitee .

(a)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section  10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section  8 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been timely made pursuant to Section  10(a) of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 4 or 5 or the third to the last sentence of Section  10(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Sections  2 , 3 or 6 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other Person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be

 

9


provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

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

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

(d)    The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Company under this Agreement or the Bylaws, or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

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

 

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

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

(b)    The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i)  the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations, (ii)  the Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii)  any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv)  the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v)  the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of

 

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Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement.

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

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

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

Section 14.     Duration of Agreement; Not Employment Contract . This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other Enterprise, (ii) one (1) year after the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section  12 of this Agreement relating thereto or (iii) the expiration of all statutes of limitation applicable to possible Proceedings to which Indemnitee may be subject arising out of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he or she may have ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or of any of the Company’s direct or indirect subsidiaries or to have Corporate Status. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect

 

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parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), if any, is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the DGCL.

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

Section 16.     Enforcement .

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

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

Section 17.     Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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

 

  (i)

If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

  (ii)

If to the Company to

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100

Austin, TX 78730

Attention: Board of Directors

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

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

Section 20.     Applicable Law . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

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

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

 

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[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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

 

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.     INDEMNITEE
By:   /s/ Blake C. Williams     By:   /s/ Robert M. Roosa
Name: Blake C. Williams     Name: Robert M. Roosa
Title:   Chief Financial Officer     Title:   Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO I NDEMNIFICATION A GREEMENT

Exhibit 10.3

Execution Version

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made as of April 17, 2019 by and between Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Blake C. Williams (“ Indemnitee ”).

RECITALS :

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

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

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

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

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

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


AGREEMENT :

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Section 2.     Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding (other than any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, which is provided for in Section  3 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Section 7.     Exclusions . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee, or, in the case of (a) and (d), to advance Expenses to Indemnitee:

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

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

(c)    for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Corporation, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Corporation pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), or the payment to the Corporation of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements) or in respect of claw-back provisions promulgated under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;

(d)    except as provided in Section  12(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of (A) having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or (B) having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

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

Section 8.     Advancement . In accordance with the pre-existing requirements of the Bylaws, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Expenses and Liabilities reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made

 

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within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all Expenses reasonably incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Nothing in this Section  8 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section  12(d) of this Agreement. This Section  8 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Sections  7(a) or (d)  hereof.

Section 9.     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

(a)    Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement hereunder following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof (the date of such notification, the “ Submission Date ”). The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding, including any appeal therein. Any delay or failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay or failure in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b)    In the event Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and/or advancement with respect to any Proceeding, Indemnitee may, at Indemnitee’s option, (i) retain counsel (including local counsel) selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company to defend Indemnitee in such Proceeding, at the sole expense of the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or (ii) have the Company assume the defense of Indemnitee in such Proceeding, in which case the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel selected by the Company and approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of written notice of Indemnitee’s election to cause the Company to do so. If the Company is required to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, it shall engage legal counsel for such defense, and the Company shall be solely responsible for all fees and expenses of such legal counsel and otherwise of such defense. Such legal counsel may represent both Indemnitee and the Company (and any other party or parties entitled to be indemnified by the

 

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Company with respect to such matter) unless, in the reasonable opinion of legal counsel to Indemnitee, there is a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company (or any other such party or parties) or there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are not available to the Company (or any such other party or parties). Notwithstanding either party’s assumption of responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, each party shall have the right to engage separate counsel at its own expense. If the Company has responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, the Company shall provide the Indemnitee and its counsel with all copies of pleadings and material correspondence relating to the Proceeding. Indemnitee and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the defense of any Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought hereunder, regardless of whether the Company or Indemnitee assumes the defense thereof. Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

Section 10.     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

(a)    Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section  9(a) hereof, if any determination by the Company is required by applicable law with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto, such determination shall be made (i) if Indemnitee shall request such determination be made by Independent Counsel, by Independent Counsel, and (ii) in all other circumstances, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company holding a majority of the securities of the Company present at a meeting of the stockholders and entitled to vote; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company will not deny any written request for indemnification hereunder made in good faith by Indemnitee unless a determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification described in this Section  10(a) has been made. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Liabilities and Expenses arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

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(b)    In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section  10(a) hereof, (i) the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company within ten (10) days of the Submission Date (the cost of such Independent Counsel to be paid by the Company), (ii) the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and (iii) Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company Indemnitee’s written objection to such selection. Such objection by Indemnitee may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement. If such written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected shall not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until Indemnitee withdraws the objection or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. Absent a timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to before the later of (A) thirty (30) days after the Submission Date and (B) ten (10) days after the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein, each of the Company and Indemnitee shall select a law firm or member of a law firm meeting the qualifications to serve as Independent Counsel, and such law firms or members of law firms shall select the Independent Counsel.

Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

Section 11.     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

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

(b)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section  10 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefore, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a prohibition of such

 

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indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if (i) the determination is to be made by Independent Counsel and Indemnitee objects to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and (ii) the Independent Counsel ultimately selected requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation or information relating thereto; provided further, however, that such 60-day period may also be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders of the Company.

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

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

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

Section 12.     Remedies of Indemnitee .

(a)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section  10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section  8 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been timely made pursuant to Section  10(a) of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 4 or 5 or the third to the last sentence of Section  10(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Sections  2 , 3 or 6 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other Person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be

 

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provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

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

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

(d)    The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Company under this Agreement or the Bylaws, or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

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

 

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

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

(b)    The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i)  the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations, (ii)  the Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii)  any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv)  the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v)  the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of

 

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Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement.

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

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

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

Section 14.     Duration of Agreement; Not Employment Contract . This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other Enterprise, (ii) one (1) year after the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section  12 of this Agreement relating thereto or (iii) the expiration of all statutes of limitation applicable to possible Proceedings to which Indemnitee may be subject arising out of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he or she may have ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or of any of the Company’s direct or indirect subsidiaries or to have Corporate Status. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect

 

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parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), if any, is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the DGCL.

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

Section 16.     Enforcement .

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

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

Section 17.     Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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

 

  (i)

If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

  (ii)

If to the Company to

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100

Austin, TX 78730

Attention: Board of Directors

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

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

Section 20.     Applicable Law . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

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

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

 

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[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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

 

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.     INDEMNITEE
By:   /s/ Robert M. Roosa     By:   /s/ Blake C. Williams
Name: Robert M. Roosa     Name: Blake C. Williams
Title:   Chief Executive Officer and Director     Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO I NDEMNIFICATION A GREEMENT

Exhibit 10.4

Execution Version

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made as of April 17, 2019 by and between Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Harold D. Carter (“ Indemnitee ”).

RECITALS :

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

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

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

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

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

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


AGREEMENT :

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Section 2.     Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding (other than any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, which is provided for in Section  3 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Section 7.     Exclusions . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee, or, in the case of (a) and (d), to advance Expenses to Indemnitee:

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

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

(c)    for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Corporation, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Corporation pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), or the payment to the Corporation of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements) or in respect of claw-back provisions promulgated under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;

(d)    except as provided in Section  12(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of (A) having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or (B) having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

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

Section 8.     Advancement . In accordance with the pre-existing requirements of the Bylaws, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Expenses and Liabilities reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made

 

5


within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all Expenses reasonably incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Nothing in this Section  8 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section  12(d) of this Agreement. This Section  8 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Sections  7(a) or (d)  hereof.

Section 9.     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

(a)    Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement hereunder following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof (the date of such notification, the “ Submission Date ”). The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding, including any appeal therein. Any delay or failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay or failure in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b)    In the event Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and/or advancement with respect to any Proceeding, Indemnitee may, at Indemnitee’s option, (i) retain counsel (including local counsel) selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company to defend Indemnitee in such Proceeding, at the sole expense of the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or (ii) have the Company assume the defense of Indemnitee in such Proceeding, in which case the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel selected by the Company and approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of written notice of Indemnitee’s election to cause the Company to do so. If the Company is required to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, it shall engage legal counsel for such defense, and the Company shall be solely responsible for all fees and expenses of such legal counsel and otherwise of such defense. Such legal counsel may represent both Indemnitee and the Company (and any other party or parties entitled to be indemnified by the

 

6


Company with respect to such matter) unless, in the reasonable opinion of legal counsel to Indemnitee, there is a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company (or any other such party or parties) or there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are not available to the Company (or any such other party or parties). Notwithstanding either party’s assumption of responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, each party shall have the right to engage separate counsel at its own expense. If the Company has responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, the Company shall provide the Indemnitee and its counsel with all copies of pleadings and material correspondence relating to the Proceeding. Indemnitee and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the defense of any Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought hereunder, regardless of whether the Company or Indemnitee assumes the defense thereof. Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

Section 10.     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

(a)    Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section  9(a) hereof, if any determination by the Company is required by applicable law with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto, such determination shall be made (i) if Indemnitee shall request such determination be made by Independent Counsel, by Independent Counsel, and (ii) in all other circumstances, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company holding a majority of the securities of the Company present at a meeting of the stockholders and entitled to vote; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company will not deny any written request for indemnification hereunder made in good faith by Indemnitee unless a determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification described in this Section  10(a) has been made. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Liabilities and Expenses arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

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(b)    In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section  10(a) hereof, (i) the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company within ten (10) days of the Submission Date (the cost of such Independent Counsel to be paid by the Company), (ii) the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and (iii) Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company Indemnitee’s written objection to such selection. Such objection by Indemnitee may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement. If such written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected shall not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until Indemnitee withdraws the objection or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. Absent a timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to before the later of (A) thirty (30) days after the Submission Date and (B) ten (10) days after the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein, each of the Company and Indemnitee shall select a law firm or member of a law firm meeting the qualifications to serve as Independent Counsel, and such law firms or members of law firms shall select the Independent Counsel.

Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

Section 11.     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

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

(b)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section  10 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefore, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a prohibition of such

 

8


indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if (i) the determination is to be made by Independent Counsel and Indemnitee objects to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and (ii) the Independent Counsel ultimately selected requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation or information relating thereto; provided further, however, that such 60-day period may also be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders of the Company.

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

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

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

Section 12.     Remedies of Indemnitee .

(a)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section  10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section  8 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been timely made pursuant to Section  10(a) of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 4 or 5 or the third to the last sentence of Section  10(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Sections  2 , 3 or 6 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other Person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be

 

9


provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

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

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

(d)    The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Company under this Agreement or the Bylaws, or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

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

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

(a)    The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at

 

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

(b)    The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i)  the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations, (ii)  the Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii)  any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv)  the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v)  the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of

 

11


Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement.

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

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

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

Section 14.     Duration of Agreement; Not Employment Contract . This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other Enterprise, (ii) one (1) year after the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section  12 of this Agreement relating thereto or (iii) the expiration of all statutes of limitation applicable to possible Proceedings to which Indemnitee may be subject arising out of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he or she may have ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or of any of the Company’s direct or indirect subsidiaries or to have Corporate Status. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect

 

12


parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), if any, is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the DGCL.

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

Section 16.     Enforcement .

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

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

Section 17.     Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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

 

  (i)

If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

  (ii)

If to the Company to

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100

Austin, TX 78730

Attention: Board of Directors

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

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

Section 20.     Applicable Law . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

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

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

 

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[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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

 

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.     INDEMNITEE
By:   /s/ Blake C. Williams     By:   /s/ Harold D. Carter
Name:   Blake C. Williams     Name:   Harold D. Carter
Title:   Chief Financial Officer     Title:   Director

S IGNATURE P AGE TO I NDEMNIFICATION A GREEMENT

Exhibit 10.5

Execution Version

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made as of April 17, 2019 by and between Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and John Holland (“ Indemnitee ”).

RECITALS :

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

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

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

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

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

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


AGREEMENT :

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Section 2.     Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding (other than any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, which is provided for in Section  3 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Section 7.     Exclusions . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee, or, in the case of (a) and (d), to advance Expenses to Indemnitee:

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

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

(c)    for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Corporation, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Corporation pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), or the payment to the Corporation of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements) or in respect of claw-back provisions promulgated under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;

(d)    except as provided in Section  12(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of (A) having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or (B) having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

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

Section 8.     Advancement . In accordance with the pre-existing requirements of the Bylaws, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Expenses and Liabilities reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made

 

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within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all Expenses reasonably incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Nothing in this Section  8 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section  12(d) of this Agreement. This Section  8 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Sections  7(a) or (d)  hereof.

Section 9.     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

(a)    Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement hereunder following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof (the date of such notification, the “ Submission Date ”). The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding, including any appeal therein. Any delay or failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay or failure in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b)    In the event Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and/or advancement with respect to any Proceeding, Indemnitee may, at Indemnitee’s option, (i) retain counsel (including local counsel) selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company to defend Indemnitee in such Proceeding, at the sole expense of the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or (ii) have the Company assume the defense of Indemnitee in such Proceeding, in which case the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel selected by the Company and approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of written notice of Indemnitee’s election to cause the Company to do so. If the Company is required to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, it shall engage legal counsel for such defense, and the Company shall be solely responsible for all fees and expenses of such legal counsel and otherwise of such defense. Such legal counsel may represent both Indemnitee and the Company (and any other party or parties entitled to be indemnified by the

 

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Company with respect to such matter) unless, in the reasonable opinion of legal counsel to Indemnitee, there is a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company (or any other such party or parties) or there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are not available to the Company (or any such other party or parties). Notwithstanding either party’s assumption of responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, each party shall have the right to engage separate counsel at its own expense. If the Company has responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, the Company shall provide the Indemnitee and its counsel with all copies of pleadings and material correspondence relating to the Proceeding. Indemnitee and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the defense of any Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought hereunder, regardless of whether the Company or Indemnitee assumes the defense thereof. Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

Section 10.     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

(a)    Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section  9(a) hereof, if any determination by the Company is required by applicable law with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto, such determination shall be made (i) if Indemnitee shall request such determination be made by Independent Counsel, by Independent Counsel, and (ii) in all other circumstances, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company holding a majority of the securities of the Company present at a meeting of the stockholders and entitled to vote; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company will not deny any written request for indemnification hereunder made in good faith by Indemnitee unless a determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification described in this Section  10(a) has been made. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Liabilities and Expenses arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

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(b)    In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section  10(a) hereof, (i) the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company within ten (10) days of the Submission Date (the cost of such Independent Counsel to be paid by the Company), (ii) the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and (iii) Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company Indemnitee’s written objection to such selection. Such objection by Indemnitee may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement. If such written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected shall not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until Indemnitee withdraws the objection or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. Absent a timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to before the later of (A) thirty (30) days after the Submission Date and (B) ten (10) days after the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein, each of the Company and Indemnitee shall select a law firm or member of a law firm meeting the qualifications to serve as Independent Counsel, and such law firms or members of law firms shall select the Independent Counsel.

Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

Section 11.     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

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

(b)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section  10 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefore, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a prohibition of such

 

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indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if (i) the determination is to be made by Independent Counsel and Indemnitee objects to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and (ii) the Independent Counsel ultimately selected requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation or information relating thereto; provided further, however, that such 60-day period may also be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders of the Company.

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

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

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

Section 12.     Remedies of Indemnitee .

(a)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section  10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section  8 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been timely made pursuant to Section  10(a) of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 4 or 5 or the third to the last sentence of Section  10(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Sections  2 , 3 or 6 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other Person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be

 

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provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

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

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

(d)    The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Company under this Agreement or the Bylaws, or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

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

 

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

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

(b)    The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i)  the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations, (ii)  the Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii)  any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv)  the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v)  the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of

 

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Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement.

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

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

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

Section 14.     Duration of Agreement; Not Employment Contract . This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other Enterprise, (ii) one (1) year after the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section  12 of this Agreement relating thereto or (iii) the expiration of all statutes of limitation applicable to possible Proceedings to which Indemnitee may be subject arising out of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he or she may have ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or of any of the Company’s direct or indirect subsidiaries or to have Corporate Status. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect

 

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parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), if any, is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the DGCL.

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

Section 16.     Enforcement .

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

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

Section 17.     Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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

 

(i)

If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

(ii)

If to the Company to

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100

Austin, TX 78730

Attention: Board of Directors

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

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

Section 20.     Applicable Law . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

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

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

 

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[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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

 

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.     INDEMNITEE
By:   /s/ Blake C. Williams     By:   /s/ John Holland
Name: Blake C. Williams     Name: John Holland
Title:   Chief Financial Officer     Title:   Director

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO I NDEMNIFICATION A GREEMENT

Exhibit 10.6

Execution Version

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made as of April 17, 2019 by and between Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and W. Howard Keenan, Jr. (“ Indemnitee ”).

RECITALS :

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

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

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

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

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

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


AGREEMENT :

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Section 2.     Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding (other than any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, which is provided for in Section  3 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

4


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

Section 7.     Exclusions . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee, or, in the case of (a) and (d), to advance Expenses to Indemnitee:

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

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

(c)    for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Corporation, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Corporation pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), or the payment to the Corporation of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements) or in respect of claw-back provisions promulgated under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;

(d)    except as provided in Section  12(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of (A) having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or (B) having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

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

Section 8.     Advancement . In accordance with the pre-existing requirements of the Bylaws, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Expenses and Liabilities reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made

 

5


within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all Expenses reasonably incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Nothing in this Section  8 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section  12(d) of this Agreement. This Section  8 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Sections  7(a) or (d)  hereof.

Section 9.     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

(a)    Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement hereunder following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof (the date of such notification, the “ Submission Date ”). The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding, including any appeal therein. Any delay or failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay or failure in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b)    In the event Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and/or advancement with respect to any Proceeding, Indemnitee may, at Indemnitee’s option, (i) retain counsel (including local counsel) selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company to defend Indemnitee in such Proceeding, at the sole expense of the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or (ii) have the Company assume the defense of Indemnitee in such Proceeding, in which case the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel selected by the Company and approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of written notice of Indemnitee’s election to cause the Company to do so. If the Company is required to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, it shall engage legal counsel for such defense, and the Company shall be solely responsible for all fees and expenses of such legal counsel and otherwise of such defense. Such legal counsel may represent both Indemnitee and the Company (and any other party or parties entitled to be indemnified by the

 

6


Company with respect to such matter) unless, in the reasonable opinion of legal counsel to Indemnitee, there is a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company (or any other such party or parties) or there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are not available to the Company (or any such other party or parties). Notwithstanding either party’s assumption of responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, each party shall have the right to engage separate counsel at its own expense. If the Company has responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, the Company shall provide the Indemnitee and its counsel with all copies of pleadings and material correspondence relating to the Proceeding. Indemnitee and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the defense of any Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought hereunder, regardless of whether the Company or Indemnitee assumes the defense thereof. Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

Section 10.     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

(a)    Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section  9(a) hereof, if any determination by the Company is required by applicable law with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto, such determination shall be made (i) if Indemnitee shall request such determination be made by Independent Counsel, by Independent Counsel, and (ii) in all other circumstances, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company holding a majority of the securities of the Company present at a meeting of the stockholders and entitled to vote; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company will not deny any written request for indemnification hereunder made in good faith by Indemnitee unless a determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification described in this Section  10(a) has been made. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Liabilities and Expenses arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

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(b)    In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section  10(a) hereof, (i) the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company within ten (10) days of the Submission Date (the cost of such Independent Counsel to be paid by the Company), (ii) the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and (iii) Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company Indemnitee’s written objection to such selection. Such objection by Indemnitee may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement. If such written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected shall not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until Indemnitee withdraws the objection or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. Absent a timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to before the later of (A) thirty (30) days after the Submission Date and (B) ten (10) days after the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein, each of the Company and Indemnitee shall select a law firm or member of a law firm meeting the qualifications to serve as Independent Counsel, and such law firms or members of law firms shall select the Independent Counsel.

Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

Section 11.     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

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

(b)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section  10 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefore, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a prohibition of such

 

8


indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if (i) the determination is to be made by Independent Counsel and Indemnitee objects to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and (ii) the Independent Counsel ultimately selected requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation or information relating thereto; provided further, however, that such 60-day period may also be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders of the Company.

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

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

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

Section 12.     Remedies of Indemnitee .

(a)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section  10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section  8 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been timely made pursuant to Section  10(a) of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 4 or 5 or the third to the last sentence of Section  10(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Sections  2 , 3 or 6 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other Person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be

 

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provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

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

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

(d)    The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Company under this Agreement or the Bylaws, or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

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

 

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

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

(b)    The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i)  the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations, (ii)  the Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii)  any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv)  the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v)  the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of

 

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Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement.

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

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

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

Section 14.     Duration of Agreement; Not Employment Contract . This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other Enterprise, (ii) one (1) year after the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section  12 of this Agreement relating thereto or (iii) the expiration of all statutes of limitation applicable to possible Proceedings to which Indemnitee may be subject arising out of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he or she may have ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or of any of the Company’s direct or indirect subsidiaries or to have Corporate Status. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect

 

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parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), if any, is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the DGCL.

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

Section 16.     Enforcement .

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

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

Section 17.     Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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

 

  (i)

If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

  (ii)

If to the Company to

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100

Austin, TX 78730

Attention: Board of Directors

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

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

Section 20.     Applicable Law . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

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

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

 

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[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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

 

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.     INDEMNITEE
By:   /s/ Blake C. Williams     By:   /s/ W. Howard Keenan, Jr.
Name: Blake C. Williams     Name: W. Howard Keenan, Jr.
Title:   Chief Financial Officer     Title:   Director

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO I NDEMNIFICATION A GREEMENT

Exhibit 10.7

Execution Version

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made as of April 17, 2019 by and between Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and James R. Levy (“ Indemnitee ”).

RECITALS :

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

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

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

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

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

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


AGREEMENT :

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Section 2.     Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding (other than any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, which is provided for in Section  3 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Section 7.     Exclusions . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee, or, in the case of (a) and (d), to advance Expenses to Indemnitee:

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

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

(c)    for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Corporation, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Corporation pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), or the payment to the Corporation of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements) or in respect of claw-back provisions promulgated under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;

(d)    except as provided in Section  12(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of (A) having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or (B) having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

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

Section 8.     Advancement . In accordance with the pre-existing requirements of the Bylaws, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Expenses and Liabilities reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made

 

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within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all Expenses reasonably incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Nothing in this Section  8 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section  12(d) of this Agreement. This Section  8 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Sections  7(a) or (d)  hereof.

Section 9.     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

(a)    Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement hereunder following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof (the date of such notification, the “ Submission Date ”). The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding, including any appeal therein. Any delay or failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay or failure in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b)    In the event Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and/or advancement with respect to any Proceeding, Indemnitee may, at Indemnitee’s option, (i) retain counsel (including local counsel) selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company to defend Indemnitee in such Proceeding, at the sole expense of the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or (ii) have the Company assume the defense of Indemnitee in such Proceeding, in which case the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel selected by the Company and approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of written notice of Indemnitee’s election to cause the Company to do so. If the Company is required to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, it shall engage legal counsel for such defense, and the Company shall be solely responsible for all fees and expenses of such legal counsel and otherwise of such defense. Such legal counsel may represent both Indemnitee and the Company (and any other party or parties entitled to be indemnified by the

 

6


Company with respect to such matter) unless, in the reasonable opinion of legal counsel to Indemnitee, there is a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company (or any other such party or parties) or there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are not available to the Company (or any such other party or parties). Notwithstanding either party’s assumption of responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, each party shall have the right to engage separate counsel at its own expense. If the Company has responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, the Company shall provide the Indemnitee and its counsel with all copies of pleadings and material correspondence relating to the Proceeding. Indemnitee and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the defense of any Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought hereunder, regardless of whether the Company or Indemnitee assumes the defense thereof. Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

Section 10.     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

(a)    Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section  9(a) hereof, if any determination by the Company is required by applicable law with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto, such determination shall be made (i) if Indemnitee shall request such determination be made by Independent Counsel, by Independent Counsel, and (ii) in all other circumstances, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company holding a majority of the securities of the Company present at a meeting of the stockholders and entitled to vote; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company will not deny any written request for indemnification hereunder made in good faith by Indemnitee unless a determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification described in this Section  10(a) has been made. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Liabilities and Expenses arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

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(b)    In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section  10(a) hereof, (i) the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company within ten (10) days of the Submission Date (the cost of such Independent Counsel to be paid by the Company), (ii) the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and (iii) Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company Indemnitee’s written objection to such selection. Such objection by Indemnitee may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement. If such written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected shall not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until Indemnitee withdraws the objection or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. Absent a timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to before the later of (A) thirty (30) days after the Submission Date and (B) ten (10) days after the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein, each of the Company and Indemnitee shall select a law firm or member of a law firm meeting the qualifications to serve as Independent Counsel, and such law firms or members of law firms shall select the Independent Counsel.

Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

Section 11.     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

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

(b)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section  10 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefore, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a prohibition of such

 

8


indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if (i) the determination is to be made by Independent Counsel and Indemnitee objects to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and (ii) the Independent Counsel ultimately selected requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation or information relating thereto; provided further, however, that such 60-day period may also be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders of the Company.

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

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

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

Section 12.     Remedies of Indemnitee .

(a)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section  10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section  8 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been timely made pursuant to Section  10(a) of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 4 or 5 or the third to the last sentence of Section  10(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Sections  2 , 3 or 6 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other Person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be

 

9


provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

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

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

(d)    The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Company under this Agreement or the Bylaws, or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

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

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

(a)    The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at

 

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

(b)    The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i)  the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations, (ii)  the Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii)  any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv)  the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v)  the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of

 

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Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement.

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

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

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

Section 14.     Duration of Agreement; Not Employment Contract . This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other Enterprise, (ii) one (1) year after the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section  12 of this Agreement relating thereto or (iii) the expiration of all statutes of limitation applicable to possible Proceedings to which Indemnitee may be subject arising out of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he or she may have ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or of any of the Company’s direct or indirect subsidiaries or to have Corporate Status. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect

 

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parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), if any, is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the DGCL.

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

Section 16.     Enforcement .

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

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

Section 17.     Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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

 

  (i)

If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

  (ii)

If to the Company to

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100

Austin, TX 78730

Attention: Board of Directors

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

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

Section 20.     Applicable Law . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

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

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

 

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[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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

 

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.     INDEMNITEE
By:   /s/ Blake C. Williams     By:   /s/ James R. Levy
Name:   Blake C. Williams     Name:   James R. Levy
Title:   Chief Financial Officer     Title:   Director

S IGNATURE P AGE TO I NDEMNIFICATION A GREEMENT

Exhibit 10.8

Execution Version

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made as of April 17, 2019 by and between Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Richard Stoneburner (“ Indemnitee ”).

RECITALS :

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

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

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

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

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

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


AGREEMENT :

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Section 2.     Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding (other than any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, which is provided for in Section  3 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Section 7.     Exclusions . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee, or, in the case of (a) and (d), to advance Expenses to Indemnitee:

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

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

(c)    for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Corporation, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Corporation pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), or the payment to the Corporation of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements) or in respect of claw-back provisions promulgated under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;

(d)    except as provided in Section  12(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of (A) having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or (B) having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

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

Section 8.     Advancement . In accordance with the pre-existing requirements of the Bylaws, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Expenses and Liabilities reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made

 

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within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all Expenses reasonably incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Nothing in this Section  8 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section  12(d) of this Agreement. This Section  8 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Sections  7(a) or (d)  hereof.

Section 9.     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

(a)    Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement hereunder following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof (the date of such notification, the “ Submission Date ”). The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding, including any appeal therein. Any delay or failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay or failure in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b)    In the event Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and/or advancement with respect to any Proceeding, Indemnitee may, at Indemnitee’s option, (i) retain counsel (including local counsel) selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company to defend Indemnitee in such Proceeding, at the sole expense of the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or (ii) have the Company assume the defense of Indemnitee in such Proceeding, in which case the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel selected by the Company and approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of written notice of Indemnitee’s election to cause the Company to do so. If the Company is required to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, it shall engage legal counsel for such defense, and the Company shall be solely responsible for all fees and expenses of such legal counsel and otherwise of such defense. Such legal counsel may represent both Indemnitee and the Company (and any other party or parties entitled to be indemnified by the

 

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Company with respect to such matter) unless, in the reasonable opinion of legal counsel to Indemnitee, there is a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company (or any other such party or parties) or there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are not available to the Company (or any such other party or parties). Notwithstanding either party’s assumption of responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, each party shall have the right to engage separate counsel at its own expense. If the Company has responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, the Company shall provide the Indemnitee and its counsel with all copies of pleadings and material correspondence relating to the Proceeding. Indemnitee and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the defense of any Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought hereunder, regardless of whether the Company or Indemnitee assumes the defense thereof. Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

Section 10.     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

(a)    Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section  9(a) hereof, if any determination by the Company is required by applicable law with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto, such determination shall be made (i) if Indemnitee shall request such determination be made by Independent Counsel, by Independent Counsel, and (ii) in all other circumstances, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company holding a majority of the securities of the Company present at a meeting of the stockholders and entitled to vote; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company will not deny any written request for indemnification hereunder made in good faith by Indemnitee unless a determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification described in this Section  10(a) has been made. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Liabilities and Expenses arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

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(b)    In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section  10(a) hereof, (i) the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company within ten (10) days of the Submission Date (the cost of such Independent Counsel to be paid by the Company), (ii) the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and (iii) Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company Indemnitee’s written objection to such selection. Such objection by Indemnitee may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement. If such written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected shall not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until Indemnitee withdraws the objection or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. Absent a timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to before the later of (A) thirty (30) days after the Submission Date and (B) ten (10) days after the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein, each of the Company and Indemnitee shall select a law firm or member of a law firm meeting the qualifications to serve as Independent Counsel, and such law firms or members of law firms shall select the Independent Counsel.

Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

Section 11.     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

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

(b)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section  10 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefore, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a prohibition of such

 

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indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if (i) the determination is to be made by Independent Counsel and Indemnitee objects to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and (ii) the Independent Counsel ultimately selected requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation or information relating thereto; provided further, however, that such 60-day period may also be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders of the Company.

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

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

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

Section 12.     Remedies of Indemnitee .

(a)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section  10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section  8 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been timely made pursuant to Section  10(a) of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 4 or 5 or the third to the last sentence of Section  10(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Sections  2 , 3 or 6 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other Person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be

 

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provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

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

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

(d)    The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Company under this Agreement or the Bylaws, or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

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

 

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

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

(b)    The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i)  the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations, (ii)  the Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii)  any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv)  the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v)  the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of

 

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Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement.

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

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

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

Section 14.     Duration of Agreement; Not Employment Contract . This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other Enterprise, (ii) one (1) year after the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section  12 of this Agreement relating thereto or (iii) the expiration of all statutes of limitation applicable to possible Proceedings to which Indemnitee may be subject arising out of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he or she may have ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or of any of the Company’s direct or indirect subsidiaries or to have Corporate Status. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect

 

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parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), if any, is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the DGCL.

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

Section 16.     Enforcement .

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

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

Section 17.     Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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

 

  (i)

If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

  (ii)

If to the Company to

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100

Austin, TX 78730

Attention: Board of Directors

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

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

Section 20.     Applicable Law . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

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

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

 

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[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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

 

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.     INDEMNITEE
By:   /s/ Blake C. Williams     By:   /s/ Richard Stoneburner
Name: Blake C. Williams     Name: Richard Stoneburner
Title:   Chief Financial Officer     Title:   Director

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO I NDEMNIFICATION A GREEMENT

Exhibit 10.9

Execution Version

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is made as of April 17, 2019 by and between Brigham Minerals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and John R. Sult (“ Indemnitee ”).

RECITALS :

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

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

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

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

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

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


AGREEMENT :

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Section 2.     Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Liabilities and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred (and, in the case of retainers, reasonably expected to be incurred) by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding (other than any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, which is provided for in Section  3 below), or any claim, issue or matter therein.

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Section 7.     Exclusions . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to indemnify or hold harmless Indemnitee, or, in the case of (a) and (d), to advance Expenses to Indemnitee:

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

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

(c)    for any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Corporation, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Corporation pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), or the payment to the Corporation of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements) or in respect of claw-back provisions promulgated under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act;

(d)    except as provided in Section  12(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law or (iii) such Proceeding is being brought by Indemnitee to assert, interpret or enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of (A) having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or (B) having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee); or

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

Section 8.     Advancement . In accordance with the pre-existing requirements of the Bylaws, and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, the Expenses and Liabilities reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made

 

5


within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. Advances shall include any and all Expenses reasonably incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Nothing in this Section  8 shall limit Indemnitee’s right to advancement pursuant to Section  12(d) of this Agreement. This Section  8 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Sections  7(a) or (d)  hereof.

Section 9.     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

(a)    Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement hereunder following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof (the date of such notification, the “ Submission Date ”). The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding, including any appeal therein. Any delay or failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay or failure in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b)    In the event Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and/or advancement with respect to any Proceeding, Indemnitee may, at Indemnitee’s option, (i) retain counsel (including local counsel) selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Company to defend Indemnitee in such Proceeding, at the sole expense of the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or (ii) have the Company assume the defense of Indemnitee in such Proceeding, in which case the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding with counsel selected by the Company and approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of written notice of Indemnitee’s election to cause the Company to do so. If the Company is required to assume the defense of any such Proceeding, it shall engage legal counsel for such defense, and the Company shall be solely responsible for all fees and expenses of such legal counsel and otherwise of such defense. Such legal counsel may represent both Indemnitee and the Company (and any other party or parties entitled to be indemnified by the

 

6


Company with respect to such matter) unless, in the reasonable opinion of legal counsel to Indemnitee, there is a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company (or any other such party or parties) or there are legal defenses available to Indemnitee that are not available to the Company (or any such other party or parties). Notwithstanding either party’s assumption of responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, each party shall have the right to engage separate counsel at its own expense. If the Company has responsibility for defense of a Proceeding, the Company shall provide the Indemnitee and its counsel with all copies of pleadings and material correspondence relating to the Proceeding. Indemnitee and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the defense of any Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought hereunder, regardless of whether the Company or Indemnitee assumes the defense thereof. Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Company may not settle or compromise any Proceeding without the prior written consent of Indemnitee.

Section 10.     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

(a)    Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section  9(a) hereof, if any determination by the Company is required by applicable law with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto, such determination shall be made (i) if Indemnitee shall request such determination be made by Independent Counsel, by Independent Counsel, and (ii) in all other circumstances, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company holding a majority of the securities of the Company present at a meeting of the stockholders and entitled to vote; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company will not deny any written request for indemnification hereunder made in good faith by Indemnitee unless a determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification described in this Section  10(a) has been made. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Liabilities and Expenses arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

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(b)    In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section  10(a) hereof, (i) the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Company within ten (10) days of the Submission Date (the cost of such Independent Counsel to be paid by the Company), (ii) the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected and (iii) Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company Indemnitee’s written objection to such selection. Such objection by Indemnitee may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement. If such written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected shall not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until Indemnitee withdraws the objection or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. Absent a timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to before the later of (A) thirty (30) days after the Submission Date and (B) ten (10) days after the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein, each of the Company and Indemnitee shall select a law firm or member of a law firm meeting the qualifications to serve as Independent Counsel, and such law firms or members of law firms shall select the Independent Counsel.

Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

Section 11.     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

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

(b)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section  10 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefore, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent a prohibition of such

 

8


indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if (i) the determination is to be made by Independent Counsel and Indemnitee objects to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and (ii) the Independent Counsel ultimately selected requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation or information relating thereto; provided further, however, that such 60-day period may also be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders of the Company.

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

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

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

Section 12.     Remedies of Indemnitee .

(a)    Subject to Section  12(e) hereof, in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section  10 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement is not timely made pursuant to Section  8 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been timely made pursuant to Section  10(a) of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 4 or 5 or the third to the last sentence of Section  10(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Sections  2 , 3 or 6 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other Person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be

 

9


provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

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

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

(d)    The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement from the Company under this Agreement or the Bylaws, or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

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

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

(a)    The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at

 

10


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

(b)    The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i)  the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations, (ii)  the Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, Liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii)  any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv)  the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or Liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v)  the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of

 

11


Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement.

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

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

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

Section 14.     Duration of Agreement; Not Employment Contract . This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the latest of: (i) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other Enterprise, (ii) one (1) year after the date of final termination of any Proceeding, including any appeal, then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement hereunder and of any proceeding, including any appeal, commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section  12 of this Agreement relating thereto or (iii) the expiration of all statutes of limitation applicable to possible Proceedings to which Indemnitee may be subject arising out of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to the Indemnitee even though he or she may have ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or of any of the Company’s direct or indirect subsidiaries or to have Corporate Status. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect

 

12


parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), if any, is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the DGCL.

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

Section 16.     Enforcement .

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

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

Section 17.     Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

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

 

  (i)

If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

  (ii)

If to the Company to

Brigham Minerals, Inc.

5914 W. Courtyard Drive, Suite 100

Austin, TX 78730

Attention: Board of Directors

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

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

Section 20.     Applicable Law . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

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

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

 

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[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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

 

BRIGHAM MINERALS, INC.     INDEMNITEE
By:        /s/ Blake C. Williams     By:        /s/ John R. Sult
Name:  Blake C. Williams     Name:  John R. Sult
Title:    Chief Financial Officer     Title:    Director

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO I NDEMNIFICATION A GREEMENT