As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 3, 2018

Registration No. 333-                  

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-8

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   82-0820780
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     
1845 Walnut Street, 10th Floor, Philadelphia, PA   19103
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

  

Falcon Minerals Corporation 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

(Full title of the plan)

 

Daniel C. Herz

Chief Executive Officer

1845 Walnut Street, 10 th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103

 

 (Name and address of agent for service)

 

(215) 832-4161

 

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

 

Copy to:

Mark E. Rosenstein, Esquire

Ledgewood

Two Commerce Square, Suite 3400

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(215) 731-9450 

  

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

  

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer                          
Non-accelerated filer      þ   Smaller Reporting Company     
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Emerging growth company       þ  

 

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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.     ☐

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                        

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of securities to be registered  

Amount to be

registered(1)

   

Proposed maximum

offering price

per share(2)

   

Proposed maximum

aggregate offering

price(2)

   

Amount of

registration fee

 
Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share     8,600,000     $ 7.445     $ 64,027,000     $ 7,761  

 

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement also shall be deemed to cover any additional shares of Class A common stock of Falcon Minerals Corporation (the “Registrant”) which may be issuable under the Falcon Minerals Corporation 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”) to reflect stock splits, stock dividends, mergers and other capital changes.

 

(2) Estimated solely for purposes of determining the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based upon the average of the high and low sales prices of the Registrant’s Class A common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Capital Market on November 28, 2018.

     

 

 

 

 

 

PART I

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

The Registrant will provide all participants in the Plan with the document(s) containing the information required by Part I of Form S-8, as specified in Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act. In accordance with Rule 428(a)(2) of the Securities Act, the Registrant has not filed such document(s) with the Commission, but such documents (along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Form S-8 registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof) shall constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act. The Registrant shall maintain a file of such documents in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Upon request, the Registrant shall furnish to the Commission or its staff a copy or copies of all of the documents included in such file.

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

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

 

(a) The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.
(b) The Registrant’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2018.
(c) The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on June 4, 2018, July 20, 2018, August 10, 2018, August 23, 2018, August 29, 2018 and October 5, 2018.
(d) The Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on August 3, 2018.
(e) The description of the Registrant’s Class A common stock set forth in its registration statement on Form 8-A filed on July 19, 2017 pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating that description.

 

All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than current reports on Form 8−K furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8−K, including any exhibits included with such information, unless otherwise indicated therein), prior to the filing of a post−effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

 

Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, or any document forming any part of the Section 10(a) prospectus to be delivered to participants in connection herewith, modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute part of this registration statement.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

Not applicable.

 

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Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Section 145 of the DGCL, as amended, authorizes the Registrant to indemnify any director or officer under certain prescribed circumstances and subject to certain limitations against certain costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, to which a person is a party by reason of being one of the Registrant’s directors or officers if it is determined that such person acted in accordance with the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such statutory provisions.

 

The Registrant’s A&R Charter provides that its officers and directors are indemnified by the Registrant to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, the A&R Charter provides that the Registrant’s directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to the Registrant or its stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived an improper personal benefit from their actions as directors.

 

The Registrant’s bylaws permit it to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. The Registrant has purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures its officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures the Registrant against its obligations to indemnify its officers and directors. In addition, the Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its officers and directors. These agreements require the Registrant to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to the Registrant, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

 

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

 

Not applicable.

 

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Item 8. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
4.1   Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-38158) filed with the SEC on August 29, 2018).
4.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Falcon Minerals Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-38158) filed with the SEC on August 29, 2018).
4.3   Shareholders’ Agreement, dated August 23, 2018, by and among Falcon Minerals Corporation, Osprey Sponsor, LLC, Edward Cohen, Jonathan Z. Cohen, Daniel C. Herz, Jeffrey F. Brotman, Royal Resources L.P., Royal Resources GP L.L.C., Noble Royalties Acquisition Co. L.P., Hooks Ranch Holdings LP, DGK ORRI Holdings, LP and Blackstone Management Partners, L.L.C. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-38158) filed with the SEC on August 29, 2018).
4.4   Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 23, 2018, by and among Falcon Minerals Corporation, Royal Resources L.P., Noble Royalties Acquisition Co., L.P., Hooks Ranch Holdings LP, DGK ORRI Holdings, LP, DGK ORRI GP LLC and Hooks Holdings Company GP, LLC. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-38158) filed with the SEC on August 29, 2018).
4.5   Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 20, 2017, by and among Falcon Minerals Corporation and Osprey Sponsor, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-38158) filed with the SEC on July 26, 2017).
4.6   Specimen Common Stock Certificate. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-219025) filed with the SEC on June 28, 2017).
4.7   Falcon Minerals Corporation 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (file No. 001-38158) filed with the SEC on August 29, 2018).
4.8*   Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement
4.9*   Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement
4.10*   Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement
4.11*   Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement
5.1*   Opinion of Ledgewood P.C.
23.1*   Consent of Marcum LLP .
23.2*   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.3*   Consent of Ryder Scott Company, L.P.
23.4*   Consent of Ledgewood P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1*   Power of Attorney (contained on the signature page)
99.1   Reserve Report, dated May 18, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Annex I of the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on August 3, 2018).

 

* Filed herewith

 

Item 9. Undertakings.

 

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on December 3, 2018.

 

  FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION
     
  By: /s/ Jeffrey F. Brotman
    Name: Jeffrey F. Brotman 
    Title: Chief Financial Officer,
Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

 

KNOW BY ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Daniel C. Herz and Jeffrey F. Brotman, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents with full and several power of substitution, for him or her and his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done. 

 

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

 

Name   Title   Date
         
/s/ Daniel C. Herz   Chief Executive Officer and President   December 3, 2018
Daniel C. Herz   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ Jeffrey F. Brotman   Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal Officer   December 3, 2018
Jeffrey F. Brotman   and Secretary (Principal Financial Officer)    
         
/s/ Stephen J. Pilatzke   Chief Accounting Officer   December 3, 2018
Stephen J. Pilatzke    (Principal Accounting Officer)    
         
/s/ Jonathan Z. Cohen   Director   December 3, 2018
Jonathan Z. Cohen        
         
/s/ Edward E. Cohen   Director   December 3, 2018
Edward E. Cohen        
         
/s/ Angelo G. Acconcia   Director   December 3, 2018
Angelo G. Acconcia        
         
/s/ Adam M. Jenkins   Director   December 3, 2018
Adam M. Jenkins        
         
/s/ Jonathan R. Hamilton   Director   December 3, 2018
Jonathan R. Hamilton        
         
/s/ William D. Anderson   Director   December 3, 2018
William D. Anderson        
         
/s/ Brian L. Frank   Director   December 3, 2018
Brian L. Frank        
         
/s/ Steven R. Jones   Director   December 3, 2018
Steven R. Jones        

 

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Exhibit 4.8

 

FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT

PURSUANT TO THE

FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION

2018 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

* * * * *

 

Participant:

 

Grant Date:

 

Number of Shares of

Restricted Stock Granted:

 

* * * * *

 

THIS RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of the Grant Date specified above, is entered into by and between Falcon Minerals Corporation, a Delaware (the “ Company ”), and the Participant specified above, pursuant to the Falcon Minerals Corporation 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as in effect and as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), which is administered by the Committee; and

 

WHEREAS, it has been determined under the Plan that it would be in the best interests of the Company to grant the shares of Restricted Stock provided herein to the Participant.

 

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

 

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

 

2. Grant of Restricted Stock Award . The Company hereby grants to the Participant, as of the Grant Date specified above, the number of shares of Restricted Stock specified above. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, the Participant agrees and understands that nothing contained in this Agreement provides, or is intended to provide, the Participant with any protection against potential future dilution of the Participant’s interest in the Company for any reason, and no adjustments shall be made for dividends in cash or other property, distributions or other rights in respect of any such shares, except as otherwise specifically provided for in the Plan or this Agreement. Subject to Section 5 hereof, the Participant shall not have the rights of a stockholder in respect of the shares underlying this Award until such shares are delivered to the Participant in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

 

3. Vesting .

 

(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) and 3(c) hereof, the Restricted Stock subject to this grant shall become unrestricted and vested as follows, provided that the Participant has not incurred a Termination prior to each such vesting date:

 

Vesting Date

  Number of Shares
[●]   [●]

 

 

 

 

There shall be no proportionate or partial vesting in the periods prior to each vesting date and all vesting shall occur only on the appropriate vesting date, subject to the Participant’s continued service with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on each applicable vesting date.

 

(b) Committee Discretion to Accelerate Vesting . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for accelerated vesting of the Restricted Stock at any time and for any reason.

 

(c) [Change in Control.]

 

(d) Forfeiture . Subject to the Committee’s discretion to accelerate vesting hereunder,

 

(i) Except as set forth in (ii) below, upon the Participant’s termination of employment with the Company (“ Termination of Employment ”) or termination of service (“ Termination of Service ”) to the Company for any reason before all of the Restricted Stock subject to this Grant vests, any unvested Restricted Stock shall automatically terminate and shall be forfeited as of the date of the Participant’s Termination of Employment.

 

(ii) Upon the Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Service by reason of death or Disability, any unvested Restricted Stock shall immediately vest.

 

4. Period of Restriction; Delivery of Unrestricted Shares . Until the Restricted Stock vests in accordance with Section 3, the Restricted Stock shall bear a legend as described in Section 8.2(c) of the Plan. When shares of Restricted Stock awarded by this Agreement become vested, the Participant shall be entitled to receive unrestricted shares and if the Participant’s stock certificates contain legends restricting the transfer of such shares, the Participant shall be entitled to receive new stock certificates free of such legends (except any legends requiring compliance with securities laws).

 

5. Dividends and Other Distributions; Voting . Participants holding Restricted Stock shall be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such shares, provided that any such dividends or other distributions will be subject to the same vesting requirements as the underlying Restricted Stock and may be paid at the time the Restricted Stock becomes vested pursuant to Section 3 hereof. If any dividends or distributions are paid in shares, the shares shall be deposited with the Company and shall be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid. The Participant may exercise full voting rights with respect to the Restricted Stock granted hereunder.

 

6. Non-Transferability . The shares of Restricted Stock, and any rights and interests with respect thereto, issued under this Agreement and the Plan shall not, prior to vesting, be sold, exchanged, transferred, assigned or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant (or any beneficiary of the Participant), other than by testamentary disposition by the Participant or the laws of descent and distribution. Any attempt to sell, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of or hypothecate in any way any of the Restricted Stock, or the levy of any execution, attachment or similar legal process upon the Restricted Stock, contrary to the terms and provisions of this Agreement and/or the Plan shall be null and void and without legal force or effect.

 

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

 

8. Withholding of Tax . The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign taxes of any kind (including, but not limited to, the Participant’s FICA and SDI obligations) which the Company, in its sole discretion, deems necessary to be withheld or remitted to comply with the Code and/or any other applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to the Restricted Stock and, if the Participant fails to do so, the Company may otherwise refuse to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock otherwise required to be issued pursuant to this Agreement. Any minimum statutorily required withholding obligation with regard to the Participant may be satisfied by reducing the amount of cash or shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable to the Participant hereunder.

 

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9. Section 83(b) . If the Participant properly elects (as required by Section 83(b) of the Code) within 30 days after the issuance of the Restricted Stock to include in gross income for federal income tax purposes in the year of issuance the Fair Market Value of such shares of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall pay to the Company or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company to pay to the Company upon such election, any federal, state or local taxes required to be withheld with respect to the Restricted Stock. If the Participant shall fail to make such payment, the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the Restricted Stock, as well as the rights set forth in Section 8 hereof. The Participant acknowledges that it is the Participant’s sole responsibility, and not the Company’s, to file timely and properly the election under Section 83(b) of the Code and any corresponding provisions of state tax laws if the Participant elects to make such election, and the Participant agrees to timely provide the Company with a copy of any such election.

 

10. Legend . All certificates, if any, representing the Restricted Stock shall have endorsed thereon the legend set forth in Section 8.2(c) of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be obligated to deliver to the Participant a certificate representing the Restricted Stock prior to the vesting dates set forth above.

 

11. Securities Representations . The shares of Restricted Stock are being issued to the Participant and this Agreement is being made by the Company in reliance upon the following express representations and warranties of the Participant. The Participant acknowledges, represents and warrants that:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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14. Acceptance . As required by Section 8.2 of the Plan, the Participant shall forfeit the Restricted Stock if the Participant does not execute this Agreement within a period of sixty (60) days from the date that the Participant receives this Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

18. Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Plan to the contrary, the shares of Restricted Stock are intended to be exempt from the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent.

 

19. Binding Agreement; Assignment . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, be binding upon, and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns. The Participant shall not assign (except in accordance with Section 6 hereof) any part of this Agreement without the prior express written consent of the Company.

 

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

 

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

 

22. Further Assurances . Each party hereto shall do and perform (or shall cause to be done and performed) all such further acts and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as either party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the Plan and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder.

 

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

 

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

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

4

 

 

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

 

 

FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION

   
  By:                           
  Name:  
  Title:  
   
  PARTICIPANT
   
   
  Name:  

 

5

Exhibit 4.9

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

PURSUANT TO THE

FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION

2018 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

Participant: 

 

Grant Date: 

 

Number of Restricted Stock Units Granted: 

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

THIS RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of the Grant Date specified above, is entered into by and between Falcon Minerals Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and the Participant specified above, pursuant to the Falcon Minerals Corporation 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as in effect and as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), which is administered by the Committee; and

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

3.  Vesting .

 

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

 

Vesting Date   Number of RSUs
[●]   [●]

 

 

 

 

There shall be no proportionate or partial vesting in the periods prior to each vesting date and all vesting shall occur only on the appropriate vesting date, subject to the Participant’s continued service with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on each applicable vesting date.

 

(b)  Committee Discretion to Accelerate Vesting .  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for accelerated vesting of the RSUs at any time and for any reason.

 

(c)  [Change in Control .]

 

(d)  Forfeiture .  Subject to the Committee’s discretion to accelerate vesting hereunder,

 

(i) Except as set forth in (ii) below, upon the Participant’s termination of employment with the Company (“ Termination of Employment ”) or termination of service (“ Termination of Service ”) to the Company for any reason before all of the Restricted Stock subject to this Grant vests, any unvested Restricted Stock shall automatically terminate and shall be forfeited as of the date of the Participant’s Termination of Employment.

 

(ii) Upon the Participant’s Termination of Employment or Termination of Service by reason of death or Disability, any unvested Restricted Stock shall immediately vest.

 

4.  Delivery of Shares [Cash] .

 

(a)  General .  Subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b) and 4(c) hereof, within thirty (30) days following the vesting of the RSUs, the Participant shall receive the number of shares of Common Stock that correspond to the number of RSUs that have become vested on the applicable vesting date [or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of vesting for each RSU]. Whether payment is made in the form of Common Stock or cash, or a combination thereof, shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

 

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

 

(c)  Deferrals .  If permitted by the Company, the Participant may elect, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and any other applicable written plan or procedure adopted by the Company from time to time for purposes of such election, to defer the distribution of all or any portion of the shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be distributed to the Participant hereunder (the “ Deferred Shares ”), consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  Upon the vesting of RSUs that have been so deferred, the applicable number of Deferred Shares shall be credited to a bookkeeping account established on the Participant’s behalf (the “ Account ”).  Subject to Section 5 hereof, the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Deferred Shares credited to the Participant’s Account shall be distributed to the Participant in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and the other applicable written plans or procedures of the Company, consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

5.  Dividends; Rights as Stockholder .  Cash dividends on shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder shall be [paid with respect to such RSUs on the dividend payment date in cash [in shares of unrestricted Stock] having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends] [deferred with respect to such RSUs and the amount or value thereof automatically deemed reinvested in additional RSUs.] Stock dividends on shares of Common Stock shall be credited to a dividend book entry account on behalf of the Participant with respect to each RSU granted to the Participant, provided that such stock dividends shall be paid in shares of Common Stock at the same time that the shares of Common Stock underlying the RSUs are delivered to the Participant in accordance with the provisions hereof.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock covered by any RSU unless and until the Participant has become the holder of record of such shares.

 

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6.  Non-Transferability .  No portion of the RSUs may be sold, assigned, transferred, encumbered, hypothecated or pledged by the Participant, other than to the Company as a result of forfeiture of the RSUs as provided herein, unless and until payment is made in respect of vested RSUs in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Participant has become the holder of record of the vested shares of Common Stock issuable hereunder.

 

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

 

8.  Withholding of Tax .  The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign taxes of any kind (including, but not limited to, the Participant’s FICA and SDI obligations) which the Company, in its sole discretion, deems necessary to be withheld or remitted to comply with the Code and/or any other applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to the RSUs and, if the Participant fails to do so, the Company may otherwise refuse to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock otherwise required to be issued pursuant to this Agreement.  Any minimum statutorily required withholding obligation with regard to the Participant may be satisfied by reducing the amount of cash or shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable to the Participant hereunder.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

3

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

16.  Binding Agreement; Assignment .  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, be binding upon, and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns.  The Participant shall not assign (except in accordance with Section 6 hereof) any part of this Agreement without the prior express written consent of the Company.

 

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

 

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

 

19.  Further Assurances .  Each party hereto shall do and perform (or shall cause to be done and performed) all such further acts and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as either party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the Plan and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder.

 

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

 

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

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

4

 

 

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

 

 

FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION

   
  By:                           
  Name:  
  Title:  
   
  PARTICIPANT
   
   
  Name:  

 

5

Exhibit 4.10

 

INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

PURSUANT TO THE

FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION

2018 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

Participant:       

 

Grant Date: 

 

Per Share Exercise Price:  $ 

 

Number of Shares subject to this Option: 

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

THIS INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of the Grant Date specified above, is entered into by and between Falcon Minerals Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and the Participant specified above, pursuant to the Falcon Minerals Corporation 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as in effect and as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), which is administered by the Committee; and

 

WHEREAS, it has been determined under the Plan that it would be in the best interests of the Company to grant the Incentive Stock Option provided for herein to the Participant.

 

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

 

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

 

2.  Grant of Option .  The Company hereby grants to the Participant, as of the Grant Date specified above, an Incentive Stock Option (this “ Option ”) to acquire from the Company at the Per Share Exercise Price specified above, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock specified above (the “ Option Shares ”).  Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, the Participant agrees and understands that nothing contained in this Agreement provides, or is intended to provide, the Participant with any protection against potential future dilution of the Participant’s interest in the Company for any reason.  The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock covered by the Option unless and until the Participant has become the holder of record of such shares, and no adjustments shall be made for dividends in cash or other property, distributions or other rights in respect of any such shares, except as otherwise specifically provided for in the Plan or this Agreement.

 

3.  Tax Matters .  The Option granted hereunder is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Option will not qualify as an “incentive stock option,” in certain situations, including, but not limited to, (a) if the Participant disposes of the Option Shares at any time during the two-year period following the date of this Agreement or the one-year period following the date of any exercise of the Option; (b) except in the event of the Participant’s death or Disability, if the Participant is not employed by the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary at all times during the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on the day that is three months before the date of any exercise of the Option; or (c) to the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the Common Stock subject to “incentive stock options” held by the Participant which become exercisable for the first time in any calendar year (under all plans of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000.  For purposes of clause (c) above, the “fair market value” of the Common Stock shall be determined as of the Grant Date.  To the extent that the Option does not qualify as an “incentive stock option,” it shall not affect the validity of the Option and shall constitute a separate non-qualified stock option.  In the event that the Participant disposes of the Option Shares within either two (2) years following the Grant Date or one year following the date of exercise of the Option, the Participant must deliver to the Company, within seven (7) days following such disposition, a written notice specifying the date on which such shares were disposed of, the number of shares so disposed, and, if such disposition was by a sale or exchange, the amount of consideration received.

 

 

 

 

4.  Vesting and Exercise .

 

(a)  Vesting .  Subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b) and 4(c) hereof, the Option shall vest and become exercisable as follows, provided that the Participant has not incurred a Termination prior to each such vesting date:

 

Vesting Date   Number of Shares
[●]   [●]

 

There shall be no proportionate or partial vesting in the periods prior to each vesting date and all vesting shall occur only on the appropriate vesting date, subject to the Participant’s continued service with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on each applicable vesting date.  Upon expiration of the Option, the Option shall be cancelled and no longer exercisable.

 

(b)  Committee Discretion to Accelerate Vesting .  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for accelerated vesting of the Option at any time and for any reason.

 

(c)  [Change in Control .]

 

(d)  Expiration .  Unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan and/or this Agreement, all portions of the Option (whether vested or not vested) shall expire and shall no longer be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the Grant Date.

 

5.  Termination .  Subject to the terms of the Plan and this Agreement, the Option, to the extent vested at the time of the Participant’s Termination, shall remain exercisable as follows:

 

(a)  Termination due to Death or Disability .  In the event of the Participant’s Termination by reason of death or Disability, the vested portion of the Option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) one (1) year from the date of such Termination, and (ii) the expiration of the stated term of the Option pursuant to Section 4(d) hereof.

 

(b)  Involuntary Termination Without Cause .  In the event of the Participant’s involuntary Termination by the Company without Cause, the vested portion of the Option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days from the date of such Termination, and (ii) the expiration of the stated term of the Option pursuant to Section 4(d) hereof.

 

(c)  Voluntary Resignation .  In the event of the Participant’s voluntary Termination (other than a voluntary Termination described in Section 5(d) hereof), the vested portion of the Option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days from the date of such Termination, and (ii) the expiration of the stated term of the Option pursuant to Section 4(d) hereof.

 

(d)  Termination for Cause .  In the event of the Participant’s Termination for Cause or in the event of the Participant’s voluntary Termination (as provided in Section 5(c) hereof) after an event that would be grounds for a Termination for Cause, the Participant’s entire Option (whether or not vested) shall terminate and expire upon such Termination.

 

2  

 

 

(e)  Treatment of Unvested Options upon Termination .  Any portion of the Option that is not vested as of the date of the Participant’s Termination for any reason shall terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination.

 

6.  Method of Exercise and Payment .  Subject to Section 9 hereof, to the extent that the Option has become vested and exercisable with respect to a number of shares of Common Stock as provided herein, the Option may thereafter be exercised by the Participant, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time prior to the expiration of the Option as provided herein and in accordance with Sections 6.4(c) and 6.4(d) of the Plan, including, without limitation, by the filing of any written form of exercise notice as may be required by the Committee and payment in full of the Per Share Exercise Price specified above multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the portion of the Option exercised.

 

7.  Non-Transferability .  The Option, and any rights and interests with respect thereto, issued under this Agreement and the Plan shall not be sold, exchanged, transferred, assigned or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant (or any beneficiary(ies) of the Participant), other than by testamentary disposition by the Participant or the laws of descent and distribution.  Any attempt to sell, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of or hypothecate in any way the Option, or the levy of any execution, attachment or similar legal process upon the Option, contrary to the terms and provisions of this Agreement and/or the Plan shall be null and void and without legal force or effect.

 

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

 

9.  Withholding of Tax .  The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign taxes of any kind (including, but not limited to, the Participant’s FICA and SDI obligations) which the Company, in its sole discretion, deems necessary to be withheld or remitted to comply with the Code and/or any other applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to the Option and, if the Participant fails to do so, the Company may otherwise refuse to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock otherwise required to be issued pursuant to this Agreement. Any minimum statutorily required withholding obligation with regard to the Participant may be satisfied by reducing the amount of cash or shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise of the Option.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

3  

 

 

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

 

14.  Compliance with Laws .  The issuance of the Option (and the Option Shares upon exercise of the Option) pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to, and shall comply with, any applicable requirements of any foreign and U.S. federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations (including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and in each case any respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) and any other law or regulation applicable thereto.  The Company shall not be obligated to issue the Option or any of the Option Shares pursuant to this Agreement if any such issuance would violate any such requirements.

 

15.  Section 409A .  Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Plan to the contrary, the Option is intended to be exempt from the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent.

 

16.  Binding Agreement; Assignment .  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, be binding upon, and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns.  The Participant shall not assign (except in accordance with Section 7 hereof) any part of this Agreement without the prior express written consent of the Company.

 

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

 

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

 

19.  Further Assurances .  Each party hereto shall do and perform (or shall cause to be done and performed) all such further acts and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as either party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the Plan and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder.

 

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

 

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

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

4  

 

 

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

 

 

FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION

   
  By:                           
  Name:  
  Title:  
   
  PARTICIPANT
   
   
  Name:  

 

5  

 

Exhibit 4.11

 

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

PURSUANT TO THE

FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION

2018 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

Participant:   

 

Grant Date:    

 

Per Share Exercise Price:  $ 

 

Number of Shares subject to this Option:    

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

THIS NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of the Grant Date specified above, is entered into by and between Falcon Minerals Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and the Participant specified above, pursuant to the Falcon Minerals Corporation 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as in effect and as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), which is administered by the Committee; and

 

WHEREAS, it has been determined under the Plan that it would be in the best interests of the Company to grant the Non-Qualified Stock Option provided for herein to the Participant.

 

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

 

1.  Incorporation By Reference; Plan Document Receipt .  This Agreement is subject in all respects to the terms and provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, any amendments thereto adopted at any time and from time to time unless such amendments are expressly intended not to apply to the Award provided hereunder), all of which terms and provisions are made a part of and incorporated in this Agreement as if they were each expressly set forth herein.  Any capitalized term not defined in this Agreement shall have the same meaning as is ascribed thereto in the Plan.  The Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a true copy of the Plan and that the Participant has read the Plan carefully and fully understands its content.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.  No part of the Option granted hereby is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code.

 

2.  Grant of Option .  The Company hereby grants to the Participant, as of the Grant Date specified above, a Non-Qualified Stock Option (this “ Option ”) to acquire from the Company at the Per Share Exercise Price specified above, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock specified above (the “ Option Shares ”).  Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, the Participant agrees and understands that nothing contained in this Agreement provides, or is intended to provide, the Participant with any protection against potential future dilution of the Participant’s interest in the Company for any reason.  The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock covered by the Option unless and until the Participant has become the holder of record of such shares, and no adjustments shall be made for dividends in cash or other property, distributions or other rights in respect of any such shares, except as otherwise specifically provided for in the Plan or this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

3.  Vesting and Exercise .

 

(a)  Vesting .  Subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) and 3(c) hereof, the Option shall vest and become exercisable as follows, provided that the Participant has not incurred a Termination prior to each such vesting date:

 

  Vesting Date   Number of Shares
  [●]   [●]

 

There shall be no proportionate or partial vesting in the periods prior to each vesting date and all vesting shall occur only on the appropriate vesting date, subject to the Participant’s continued service with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on each applicable vesting date.  Upon expiration of the Option, the Option shall be cancelled and no longer exercisable.

 

(b)  Committee Discretion to Accelerate Vesting .  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for accelerated vesting of the Option at any time and for any reason.

 

(c)  [Change in Control .]

 

(d)  Expiration .  Unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan and/or this Agreement, all portions of the Option (whether vested or not vested) shall expire and shall no longer be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the Grant Date.

 

4.  Termination .  Subject to the terms of the Plan and this Agreement, the Option, to the extent vested at the time of the Participant’s Termination, shall remain exercisable as follows:

 

(a)  Termination due to Death or Disability .  In the event of the Participant’s Termination by reason of death or Disability, the vested portion of the Option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) one (1) year from the date of such Termination, and (ii) the expiration of the stated term of the Option pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof; provided , however , that in the case of a Termination due to Disability, if the Participant dies within such one (1) year exercise period, any unexercised Option held by the Participant shall thereafter be exercisable by the legal representative of the Participant’s estate, to the extent to which it was exercisable at the time of death, for a period of one (1) year from the date of death, but in no event beyond the expiration of the stated term of the Option pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof.

 

(b)  Involuntary Termination Without Cause .  In the event of the Participant’s involuntary Termination by the Company without Cause, the vested portion of the Option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days from the date of such Termination, and (ii) the expiration of the stated term of the Option pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof.

 

(c)  Voluntary Resignation .  In the event of the Participant’s voluntary Termination (other than a voluntary Termination described in Section 4(d) hereof), the vested portion of the Option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days from the date of such Termination, and (ii) the expiration of the stated term of the Option pursuant to Section 3(d) hereof.

 

(d)  Termination for Cause .  In the event of the Participant’s Termination for Cause or in the event of the Participant’s voluntary Termination (as provided in Section 4(c) hereof) after an event that would be grounds for a Termination for Cause, the Participant’s entire Option (whether or not vested) shall terminate and expire upon such Termination.

 

(e)  Treatment of Unvested Options upon Termination .  Any portion of the Option that is not vested as of the date of the Participant’s Termination for any reason shall terminate and expire as of the date of such Termination.

 

2

 

 

5.  Method of Exercise and Payment .  Subject to Section 8 hereof, to the extent that the Option has become vested and exercisable with respect to a number of shares of Common Stock as provided herein, the Option may thereafter be exercised by the Participant, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time prior to the expiration of the Option as provided herein and in accordance with Sections 6.4(c) and 6.4(d) of the Plan, including, without limitation, by the filing of any written form of exercise notice as may be required by the Committee and payment in full of the Per Share Exercise Price specified above multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the portion of the Option exercised.

 

6.  Non-Transferability .  The Option, and any rights and interests with respect thereto, issued under this Agreement and the Plan shall not be sold, exchanged, transferred, assigned or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant (or any beneficiary of the Participant), other than by testamentary disposition by the Participant or the laws of descent and distribution.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit the Option to be Transferred to a Family Member for no value, provided that such Transfer shall only be valid upon execution of a written instrument in form and substance acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion evidencing such Transfer and the transferee’s acceptance thereof signed by the Participant and the transferee, and provided, further, that the Option may not be subsequently Transferred other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or to another Family Member (as permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion) in accordance with the terms of the Plan and this Agreement, and shall remain subject to the terms of the Plan and this Agreement.  Any attempt to sell, exchange, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of or hypothecate in any way the Option, or the levy of any execution, attachment or similar legal process upon the Option, contrary to the terms and provisions of this Agreement and/or the Plan shall be null and void and without legal force or effect.

 

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

 

8.  Withholding of Tax .  The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state, local and foreign taxes of any kind (including, but not limited to, the Participant’s FICA and SDI obligations) which the Company, in its sole discretion, deems necessary to be withheld or remitted to comply with the Code and/or any other applicable law, rule or regulation with respect to the Option and, if the Participant fails to do so, the Company may otherwise refuse to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock otherwise required to be issued pursuant to this Agreement.  Any minimum statutorily required withholding obligation with regard to the Participant may be satisfied by reducing the amount of cash or shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise of the Option.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

3

 

 

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

 

13.  Compliance with Laws .  The issuance of the Option (and the Option Shares upon exercise of the Option) pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to, and shall comply with, any applicable requirements of any foreign and U.S. federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations (including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and in each case any respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) and any other law or regulation applicable thereto.  The Company shall not be obligated to issue the Option or any of the Option Shares pursuant to this Agreement if any such issuance would violate any such requirements.

 

14.  Section 409A .  Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Plan to the contrary, the Option is intended to be exempt from the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent.

 

15.  Binding Agreement; Assignment .  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, be binding upon, and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns.  The Participant shall not assign (except in accordance with Section 6 hereof) any part of this Agreement without the prior express written consent of the Company.

 

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

 

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

 

18.  Further Assurances .  Each party hereto shall do and perform (or shall cause to be done and performed) all such further acts and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as either party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the Plan and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder.

 

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

 

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

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

4

 

 

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

 

 

FALCON MINERALS CORPORATION

   
  By:                           
  Name:  
  Title:  
   
  PARTICIPANT
   
   
  Name:  

 


5

Exhibit 5.1

 

LEDGEWOOD, P.C.

Two Commerce Square, Suite 3400

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

 

December 3, 2018

 

Falcon Minerals Corporation
1845 Walnut Street, 10 th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Falcon Minerals Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the registration of 8,600,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), issuable in connection with the Falcon Minerals Corporation 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). In connection therewith, you have requested our opinion as to certain matters referred to below.

 

In our capacity as such counsel, we have familiarized ourselves with the actions taken by the Company in connection with the registration of the Common Stock. We have examined the originals or certified copies of such records, agreements, certificates of public officials and others, and such other documents, including the Registration Statement, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed.

 

We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of the documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as certified, facsimile or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that when the Common Stock has been issued and delivered in accordance with the Registration Statement and the Plan, such Common Stock will be duly authorized and validly issued and such Common Stock will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

This opinion is limited in all respects to federal laws, the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, and the Constitution of the State of Delaware, as interpreted by the courts of the State of Delaware and the United States.

 

We consent to the inclusion of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Ledgewood
  LEDGEWOOD
  a professional corporation

Exhibit 23.1

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Falcon Minerals Corporation on Form S-8 of our report dated March 16, 2018, with respect to our audits of the financial statements of Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp. (now known as Falcon Minerals Corporation) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2017 and for the period from June 13, 2016 (inception) through December 31, 2016 appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Osprey Energy Acquisition Corp. for the year ended December 31, 2017. We were dismissed as auditors on August 27, 2018 and, accordingly, we have not performed any audit or review procedures with respect to any financial statements incorporated by reference in such Prospectus for the periods after the date of our dismissal.

 

/s/ Marcum llp

 

Marcum llp

 

New York, New York

December 3, 2018

Exhibit 23.2

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated July 30, 2018, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Royal Resources L.P. as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, incorporated by reference in the Current Report on Form 8-K of Falcon Minerals Corporation dated August 29, 2018.

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

Houston, Texas

December 3, 2018

Exhibit 23.3

 

       
  TBPE REGISTERED ENGINEERING FIRM F-1580 FAX (713) 651-0849
  1100 LOUISIANA SUITE 4600 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-5294 TELEPHONE (713) 651-9191

 

 

 

CONSENT OF RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.

 

As independent petroleum engineers, we hereby consent to the inclusion in Falcon Minerals Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”), of our reserves reports of Falcon Minerals Corporation’s proved oil and natural gas reserves estimates and associated estimates of future net revenues and their present value as of December 31, 2017, included in or made a part of the Registration Statement.

 

 

 

    /s/ Ryder Scott Company, L.P.
     
    RYDER SCOTT COMPANY, L.P.
    TBPE Firm Registration No. F-1580

 

Houston, Texas

December 3, 2018