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): January 2, 2018

Concho Resources Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

 

 

 

001-33615  

 

76-0818600

 

 

 

(Commission File Number)

 

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

 

 

 

  One Concho Center

 

 

600 West Illinois Avenue

 

 

Midland, Texas

 

79701  

 

 

 

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (432) 683-7443

 

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐   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))

 

 

 

  

 


 

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

 

On January 2, 2018, the Compensation Committee (the “ Compensation Committee ”) of the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of Concho Resources Inc. (the “ Company ”) took certain actions with respect to the compensation of its executive officers, including (i) a grant of performance units (the “ Performance Units ”) to officers of the Company and (ii) making restricted stock grants.  The Performance Units and restricted stock grants were made under the Company’s 2015 Stock Incentive Plan, which was approved by the Company’s stockholders in June 2015.

Performance Unit Awards

The Performance Units granted to each recipient are payable in shares of the Company’s common stock (“ Common Stock ”) based upon the achievement by the Company over a performance period commencing on January 1, 2018 and ending on December 31, 2020 of performance goals established by the Compensation Committee.  The number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to an award will be determined by multiplying the number of Performance Units granted under the award by the result of multiplying the “Relative TSR Percentage” by the “Absolute TSR Percentage.”  The “ Relative TSR Percentage ” is the percentage, if any, achieved by attainment of the following performance goals for the performance period, as certified by the Compensation Committee: (i) if the Company’s total shareholder return (“ TSR ”) measured against the Company’s peer group is below the 25th percentile, the Relative TSR Percentage is 0%; (ii) if the TSR measured against the Company’s peer group is at the 25th percentile, the Relative TSR Percentage is 50%; (iii) if the TSR measured against the Company’s peer group is at the 50th percentile, the Relative TSR Percentage is 100%; (iv) if the TSR measured against the Company’s peer group is at the 70th percentile, the Relative TSR Percentage is 150%; and (v) if the TSR measured against the Company’s peer group is in the 90th percentile or above, the Relative TSR Percentage is 200%, with 200% being the maximum and the Compensation Committee applying straight line interpolation for all points between such performance levels.  The “ Absolute TSR Percentage ” is the percentage achieved by attainment of the following performance goals for the performance period, as certified by the Compensation Committee: (a) if the Company’s absolute annualized TSR is less than 0%, the Absolute TSR Percentage is 50%; (b) if the Company’s absolute annualized TSR is at least 0% and not greater than 15%, the Absolute TSR Percentage is 100%; and (c) if the Company’s absolute annualized TSR is greater than 15%, the Absolute TSR Percentage is 150%. TSR for the Company and each of the peer companies is generally determined by dividing (A) the average closing stock prices on each trading day during the period beginning on the first day of the calendar month in which the last day of the performance period occurs and ending on the last day of the performance period plus   cash dividends paid over the performance period minus   the starting average stock price by (B) the starting average stock price, with the starting average stock price being the average of the closing stock prices on each trading day in the calendar month immediately preceding the first day of the performance period.

 

 


 

 

Dividend equivalents with respect to any cash dividends paid during the performance period are paid at the same time, and subject to the same terms and conditions, as are applicable to Performance Units, except that if more than one share of Common Stock becomes payable in respect of a Performance Unit, then the maximum amount of dividend equivalents payable with respect to such unit equals the aggregate amount of cash dividends paid during the performance period on one share of Common Stock.

Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee, each recipient will forfeit his or her Performance Units if the recipient’s employment with the Company terminates during the performance period for any reason other than for death, disability or retirement.  For this purpose, the term “retirement” means (i) for recipients other than E. Joseph Wright, a termination of employment on or after attaining age 65, and (ii) for Mr. Wright, his retirement from the Company on January 5, 2019 (which is the expected date of Mr. Wright’s retirement, subject to the potential deferment of his retirement date for up to six months under certain circumstances as provided in the Retirement Agreement dated May 17, 2017, between the Company and Mr. Wright (the “ Retirement Agreement ”) previously approved by the Compensation Committee that was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on May 19, 2017).  If employment is terminated during the performance period due to death, disability or such retirement, the recipient is entitled to receive payment with respect to his or her Performance Units based on actual performance for the performance period (which payment will be pro-rated in the event of retirement, except in the case of Mr. Wright as the Retirement Agreement provides that pro-ration will not apply in the case of his retirement (and that he will be entitled to retain his Performance Units after his retirement) only if he executes and does not revoke a release agreement in connection with his retirement).  In the event of a change of control of the Company during the performance period, the Relative TSR Percentage and the Absolute TSR Percentage will be determined based on actual performance as if the performance period ended on the date of the change of control, and outstanding Performance Units will be settled immediately following such date.

The number of Performance Units granted on January 2, 2018 by the Compensation Committee to the Company’s named executive officers is as follows: Timothy A. Leach, 34,200 Performance Units; E. Joseph Wright, 11,253 Performance Units; Jack F. Harper, 12,412 Performance Units; C. William Giraud, 11,584 Performance Units; and J. Steve Guthrie, 4,965 Performance Units.

 The foregoing description of the award of Performance Units on January 2, 2018, to the Company’s named executive officers is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of a Performance Unit Award Agreement which contains the terms of the award.  The Performance Units awarded to each of Messrs. Leach, Harper, Giraud and Guthrie are based on a form Performance Unit Award Agreement previously approved by the Compensation Committee that was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on January 4, 2013 and is incorporated herein by reference.  The Performance Unit Award Agreement for Mr. Wright is different than the form described in the preceding sentence in order to incorporate the special retirement provisions that apply to Mr. Wright as described above, and a copy of the Performance Unit Award Agreement for Mr. Wright that was approved by the Compensation Committee is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 


 

Restricted Stock Awards

The restricted stock awards for each of Messrs. Leach, Harper, Giraud and Guthrie vest in four equal annual installments beginning on January 2, 2019. In accordance with the terms of the Retirement Agreement and subject to Mr. Wright’s execution and non-revocation of a release agreement in connection with his retirement, the restricted stock award for Mr. Wright vests in full on January 2, 2019.  The number of shares subject to the restricted stock awards granted on January 2, 2018 by the Compensation Committee to the Company’s named executive officers is as follows: Timothy A. Leach, 17,100 shares of restricted stock; E. Joseph Wright, 11,253 shares of restricted stock; Jack F. Harper, 12,412 shares of restricted stock; C. William Giraud, 11,584 shares of restricted stock; and J. Steve Guthrie, 4,965 shares of restricted stock.

The foregoing description of the restricted stock awards on January 2, 2018, to the Company’s named executive officers is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of a Restricted Stock Agreement which contains the terms of the award.  The restricted stock awards to each of Messrs. Leach, Harper, Giraud and Guthrie are based on a form Restricted Stock Agreement previously approved by the Compensation Committee that was filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K on February 22, 2013 and is incorporated herein by reference.  The Restricted Stock Agreement for Mr. Wright is different than the form described in the preceding sentence in order to incorporate the special retirement provisions that apply to Mr. Wright as described above, and a copy of the Restricted Stock Agreement for Mr. Wright that was approved by the Compensation Committee is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.03  Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.

            On January 2, 2018, the Company’s Board approved amending and restating the Company’s bylaws (as so amended and restated, the Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws, or “ Bylaws ”) to implement proxy access and to make certain other changes as follows: 

·         A new Section 1.11 has been added to the Bylaws to permit a stockholder, or group of up to 20 stockholders, owning at least 3% of the Company’s outstanding shares that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors continuously for at least three years, to nominate and include in the Company’s proxy materials for an annual meeting of the stockholders, director nominees not to exceed the greater of (i) two directors, or (ii) 20% of the Board, provided that the stockholder(s) and the director nominee(s) satisfy the requirements specified in the Bylaws.  

·         A new Section 1.9 has been added to the Bylaws to require all director nominees, in connection with being nominated, to provide the Company with completed and signed questionnaires required of the Company’s directors and make certain representations to the Company regarding matters including disclosure of third-party compensation and compliance with Company policies. 

·         In addition, the Bylaw amendments updated the advance notice provision in Section 1.10.  Among other things, the amendments: (i) accommodate the adoption of proxy access, (ii) extend certain disclosure requirements to “control persons” to provide the Company and other stockholders with complete information about the economic

 


 

and voting interests of stockholders seeking to submit nominations and other business through the advance notice process, (iii) in the case of business other than nominations, require stockholders to provide the text of a proposal or business, (iv) include certain defined terms, and (v) make certain other minor administrative, clarifying and conforming changes.

·          Various provisions of the Bylaws were updated to address matters relating to the conduct of stockholder meetings, including the authority of the Board and the meeting chair to adopt rules with respect to meetings, and to reflect that stockholder meetings can be recessed. 

            The Bylaws were effective upon approval by the Board and were also amended to make certain other clarifications and technical or non-substantive changes.  The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Bylaws filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Report.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)  Exhibits.

Exhibit

Number                                                                       Description 

3.1                    Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of Concho Resources Inc., dated January 2, 2018.

10.1                  Performance Unit Award Agreement dated January 2, 2018, by and between Concho Resources Inc. and E. Joseph Wright.

10.2                  Restricted Stock Agreement dated January 2, 2018, by and between Concho Resources Inc. and E. Joseph Wright.

 


 

.

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.

                                                CONCHO RESOURCES INC.

 

Date:    January 4, 2018                       By:       /s/ Travis L. Counts                            

                                                            Name:  Travis L. Counts

Title:    Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 


 

Exhibit 3.1

 

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

 

OF

 

 

CONCHO RESOURCES INC.

 

 

 

 

A Delaware Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

As Amended:

January 2, 2018

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

Article I

 

STOCKHOLDERS

1

 

 

 

 

 

Section 1.1

Annual Meeting

1

 

Section 1.2

Special Meetings

1

 

Section 1.3

Notice of Meetings

1

 

Section 1.4

Quorum

2

 

Section 1.5

Organization

2

 

Section 1.6

Conduct of Business

2

 

Section 1.7

Proxies and Voting

3

 

Section 1.8

Stock List

3

 

Section 1.9

Submission of Information by Director Nominees

3

 

Section 1.10

Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations

4

 

Section 1.11

Proxy Access for Director Nominations

9

 

 

 

 

Article II

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

16

 

 

 

 

 

Section 2.1

Number, Election and Term of Directors

16

 

Section 2.2

Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies

16

 

Section 2.3

Regular Meetings

17

 

Section 2.4

Special Meetings

17

 

Section 2.5

Quorum

17

 

Section 2.6

Participation in Meetings By Conference Telephone

17

 

Section 2.7

Conduct of Business

17

 

Section 2.8

Compensation of Directors

17

 

Section 2.9

Powers and Duties of the Chairman of the Board

17

 

 

 

 

Article III

 

COMMITTEES

18

 

 

 

 

 

Section 3.1

Committees of the Board of Directors

18

 

Section 3.2

Conduct of Business

18

 

 

 

 

Article IV

 

OFFICERS

18

 

 

 

 

 

Section 4.1

Generally

18

 

Section 4.2

Resignation and Removal

19

 

Section 4.3

Powers and Duties of the Chief Executive Officer

19

 

Section 4.4

Powers and Duties of the President

19

 

Section 4.5

Vice Presidents

19

 

Section 4.6

Treasurer

19

 

Section 4.7

Assistant Treasurers

20

 

Section 4.8

Secretary

20

 

Section 4.9

Assistant Secretaries

20

 

Section 4.10

Delegation of Authority

20

 

Section 4.11

Action with Respect to Securities of Other Entities

20

 

 

 

 

i

           

 


 

Article V

 

STOCK

20

 

 

 

 

 

Section 5.1

Form and Issuance of Stock

20

 

Section 5.2

Transfers of Stock

20

 

Section 5.3

Record Date

21

 

Section 5.4

Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates

21

 

Section 5.5

Regulations

21

 

 

 

 

Article VI

 

NOTICES

21

 

 

 

 

 

Section 6.1

Notices

21

 

Section 6.2

Waivers

22

 

 

 

 

Article VII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

22

 

 

 

 

 

Section 7.1

Facsimile Signatures

22

 

Section 7.2

Corporate Seal

22

 

Section 7.3

Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records

22

 

Section 7.4

Fiscal Year

22

 

Section 7.5

Time Periods

22

 

 

 

 

Article VIII

 

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

23

 

 

 

 

 

Section 8.1

Mandatory Indemnification of Directors and Officers

23

 

Section 8.2

Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit

23

 

Section 8.3

Permissive Indemnification of Non-Officer Employees and Agents

24

 

Section 8.4

General Provisions

24

 

 

 

 

Article IX

 

AMENDMENTS

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ii

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 


 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

CONCHO RESOURCES INC.

Incorporated under the Laws of the State of Delaware

ARTICLE I

STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1.1      Annual Meeting .  An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, if any, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall each year fix.

Section 1.2      Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the stockholders, other than those required by statute, may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or by the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board.  For purposes of these Bylaws, the term “ Whole Board ” shall mean the total number of authorized directors regardless of whether there exist any vacancies in such authorized directorships.  The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled special meeting.

Section 1.3      Notice of Meetings .  Notice of the place, if any, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose for which the meeting is called, shall be given, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ GCL ”) or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation).

Any meeting of the stockholders, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned or recessed for any reason from time to time by the chairman of the meeting, subject to any rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 1.6 .  When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than thirty (30) days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the place, if any, date, and time of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, shall be given in conformity herewith.  At any adjourned or recessed meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

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Section 1.4      Quorum .  At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law.  Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.

If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting, or the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote thereon who are present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn or recess the meeting to another place, if any, date, or time.

Section 1.5      Organization .  The Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence, the President of the Corporation or, in his or her absence, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chairman of the meeting.  In the absence of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chairman of the meeting appoints.

Section 1.6      Conduct of Business .  The Board of Directors may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate.  Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the meeting shall have the authority to adopt and enforce such rules and regulations for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders and the safety of those in attendance as, in the judgment of the chairman, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the conduct of the meeting.  Rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or by the chairman of the meeting, may include without limitation, establishing (A) an agenda or order of business for the meeting, (B) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present, (C) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies and such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall permit, (D) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, (E) limitations on the time allotted for consideration of each agenda item and for questions and comments by participants, (F) regulations for the opening and closing of the polls for balloting and matters which are to be voted on by ballot (if any) and (G) procedures (if any) requiring attendees to provide the Corporation advance notice of their intent to attend the meeting. 

Subject to any rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors, (A) the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in order, and (B) the chairman of the meeting shall have the power to adjourn or recess the meeting, for any reason, to another place, if any, date and time.  The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.

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Section 1.7      Proxies and Voting .  At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting.  Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this paragraph may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

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

At any meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected, each nominee for election as a director in an uncontested election shall be elected if the number of votes cast for the nominee’s election exceeds the number of votes cast against the nominee’s election.  In all director elections other than uncontested elections, the nominees for election as a director shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast.  Except as otherwise required by law or these Bylaws, for all other matters, action on a matter shall be approved if the number of votes cast in favor of the action exceeds the number of votes cast against the action.

Section 1.8      Stock List .  A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his or her name, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting in the manner provided by law.

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

Section 1.9      Submission of Information by Director Nominees

(A)       To be eligible to be a nominee for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation the following information: 

(i)         a written representation and agreement, which shall be signed by such person and pursuant to which such person shall represent and agree that such person (a) consents to serving as a director if elected and to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement and form of proxy as a nominee, and currently intends to serve as a director for the full

3


 

term for which such person is standing for election, (b) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity (1) as to how the person, if elected as a director, will act or vote on any issue or question, where such agreement, arrangement or understanding has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (2) that could limit or interfere with the person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (c) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding that has not been disclosed to the Corporation with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director or nominee and (d) if elected as a director, will comply with all of the Corporation’s corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines, and any other Corporation policies and guidelines applicable to directors (which will be provided to such person promptly following a request therefor to the Secretary), and

(ii)        all completed and signed questionnaires required of the Corporation’s directors (which will be provided to such person promptly following a request therefor to the Secretary).

(B)       A nominee for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation shall also provide to the Corporation such additional information as the Corporation may reasonably request.  The Corporation may request such additional information as necessary to permit the Board of Directors to determine the eligibility of such person to serve as a director of the Corporation, including information relevant to a determination whether such person can be considered an independent director. 

(C)       All written and signed representations and agreements and all completed and signed questionnaires required pursuant to paragraph (A) of this Section 1.9 , and the additional information described in paragraph (B) of this Section 1.9 , shall be considered timely for a nominee for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation under Section 1.10 or Section 1.11 if provided to the Corporation by the deadlines specified in Section 1.10 or Section 1.11 , as applicable.  All information provided pursuant to this Section 1.9 by a nominee for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation under Section 1.10 or Section 1.11 shall be deemed part of the stockholder’s notice submitted pursuant to Section 1.10 or a Stockholder Notice (as defined in Section 1.11 ), as applicable. 

Section 1.10    Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations

(A)       Annual Meetings of Stockholders .     

(i)         Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of business other than nominations to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting delivered pursuant to Section 1.3 of these Bylaws (or any supplement thereto), (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complied with the notice procedures set forth in paragraphs (A)(ii) and (A)(iii) of this Section 1.10 and who was a

 

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stockholder of record at the time such notice was delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, or (d) by any Eligible Stockholder (as defined in Section 1.11 ) whose Stockholder Nominee (as defined in Section 1.11 ) is included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for the relevant annual meeting.  For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clauses (c) and (d) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make director nominations and the foregoing clause (c) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose any other business (other than a proposal included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), at an annual meeting of stockholders.

(ii)        For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (A)(i) of this Section 1.10 , (a) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (b) in the case of business other than nominations, such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under the GCL, (c) if the stockholder, or the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf any such nomination is made or such business is proposed, has provided the Corporation with a Solicitation Notice, as that term is defined below in clause (c)(4) of this paragraph (A)(ii), such stockholder or beneficial owner must, in the case of a proposal, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s shares required under applicable law or these Bylaws to carry any such proposal, or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least 50% of the voting power of the Corporation’s shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, and must, in either case, have included in such materials the Solicitation Notice and (d) if no Solicitation Notice relating thereto has been timely provided pursuant to this Section, the stockholder or beneficial owner proposing such business or nomination must not have solicited a number of proxies sufficient to have required the delivery of such a Solicitation Notice under this Section.  To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business (as defined in paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 1.10 ) ninety (90) days and not earlier than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to or delayed by more than thirty (30) days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not later than the close of business on the later of (1) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or (2) the tenth day following the day on which public announcement (as defined in paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 1.10 ) of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation.  In no event shall an adjournment or recess of an annual meeting, or a postponement of an annual meeting for which notice of the meeting has already been given to stockholders or a public announcement of the meeting date has already been made, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.  Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: 

(a)        as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (1) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Exchange Act Regulation 14A and (2)

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all written and signed representations and agreements and all completed and signed questionnaires required pursuant to paragraph (A) of Section 1.9 above,

(b)        as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any substantial interest (within the meaning of Item 5 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made,

(c)        as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (1) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and the name and address of such beneficial owner, (2) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner as of the date of the notice, (3) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and that the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder, as defined in paragraph (C)(i) of this Section 1.10 ) intends to appear at the meeting to make such nomination or propose such business and (4) whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of the Corporation’s shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, at least 50% of the voting power of the Corporation’s shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (an affirmative statement of such intent, a “ Solicitation Notice ”), and 

(d)       as to the stockholder giving the notice or the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, and if such stockholder or beneficial owner is an entity, as to each director, executive, managing member or control person of such entity (any such individual or control person, a “ control person ”) (1) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned (as defined in paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 1.10 ) by such stockholder or beneficial owner and by any control person as of the date of the notice, (2) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or other business between or among such stockholder, beneficial owner or control person and any other person, including without limitation any agreements that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of Exchange Act Schedule 13D (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable), and (3) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, without limitation, any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such stockholder,  beneficial owner or control person, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of capital stock of the Corporation, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or maintain, increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder, beneficial owner, or control person, with respect to securities of the Corporation. 

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(iii)       In addition to the information required in a stockholder’s notice, a stockholder’s notice shall, if necessary, be updated and supplemented in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting, and the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be current as of the record date for the meeting.  At the request of the Corporation, a proposed nominee must promptly, but in any event within five (5) business days after such request (or by the day prior to the day of the annual meeting, if earlier), provide to the Corporation such additional information as it may reasonably request.  All information provided pursuant to this paragraph (A)(iii) shall be deemed part of a stockholder’s notice for purposes of paragraph (A)(ii) of this Section 1.10 .   

(iv)       The foregoing notice requirements of paragraph (A)(ii) of this Section 1.10 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with and pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.

(v)        Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (A)(ii) of this Section 1.10 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least ten (10) days prior to the last day a stockholder may deliver a notice in accordance with the second sentence of paragraph (A)(ii) of this Section 1.10 , a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 1.10 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

(B)       Special Meeting of Stockholders .  Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting pursuant to Section 1.3 of these Bylaws.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth above in this Section 1.10 and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation.  Nominations by stockholders of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at such a special meeting of stockholders if the stockholder’s notice as required by paragraph (A) (ii) of this Section 1.10 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the ninetieth day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business (as defined in paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 1.10 ) on the later of the seventieth day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made by the Corporation of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.  In no event shall an adjournment, recess or postponement of a special meeting

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commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(C)       General

(i)         Except as otherwise required by law, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.10 , or with respect to annual meetings only, Section 1.11 , shall be eligible to be elected at any meeting of stockholders to serve as directors and only such other business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws.  Except as otherwise required by law, the Chairman of the Board, the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws. If any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, then except as otherwise required by law, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such other business shall not be transacted.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.10 , unless otherwise required by law, or otherwise determined by the Chairman of the Board, the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, if the stockholder does not provide the information required under paragraph (A)(iii) of this Section 1.10 to the Corporation within the time frames specified therein or if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or other business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such other business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.  For purposes of these Bylaws, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

(ii)        For purposes of these Bylaws, “ close of business ” shall mean 6:00 p.m. local time at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, whether or not the day is a business day, and a “ public announcement ” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.  For purposes of clause (d)(1) of paragraph (A)(ii) of this Section 1.10 , shares shall be treated as “ beneficially owned ” by a person if the person beneficially owns such shares, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Regulations 13D and 13G thereunder or has or shares pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) (A) the right to acquire such shares (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the fulfillment of a condition or both), (B) the right to vote such shares, alone or in concert with others and/or (C) investment power with respect to such shares, including the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such shares.(iii)       Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.10 , a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the

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Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.10 .  Nothing in this Section 1.10 shall be deemed to affect any rights (a) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (b) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation. 

Section 1.11    Proxy Access for Director Nominations

(A)       Subject to the terms and conditions of these Bylaws, in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected, the Corporation (i) shall include in its proxy statement and on its form of proxy the names of, and (ii) shall include in its proxy statement the “ Additional Information ” (as defined below) relating to, a number of nominees specified pursuant to paragraph (B) of this Section 1.11 (the “ Authorized Number ”) for election to the Board of Directors submitted pursuant to this Section 1.11 (each, a “ Stockholder Nominee ”), if (i) the Stockholder Nominee satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 1.11 , (ii) the Stockholder Nominee is identified in a timely notice (the “ Stockholder Notice ”) that satisfies this Section 1.11 and is delivered by a stockholder that qualifies as, or is acting on behalf of, an Eligible Stockholder (as defined in paragraph (C) of this Section 1.11 ), (iii) the Eligible Stockholder satisfies the requirements in this Section 1.11 and expressly elects at the time of the delivery of the Stockholder Notice to have the Stockholder Nominee included in the Corporation’s proxy materials and (iv) the additional requirements of these Bylaws are met. 

(B)       The maximum number of Stockholder Nominees appearing in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders (the “ Authorized Number ”) shall not exceed the greater of (i) two (2) or (ii) 20% of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which a Stockholder Notice may be delivered pursuant to this Section 1.11 with respect to the annual meeting, or if such amount is not a whole number, the closest whole number (rounding down) below 20%; provided that the Authorized Number shall be reduced, but not below one (1), (i) by any Stockholder Nominee whose name was submitted for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.11 but whom the Board of Directors decides to nominate as a Board nominee, (ii) by any directors in office or director nominees that in either case shall be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to the annual meeting as an unopposed (by the Corporation) nominee pursuant to an agreement, arrangement or other understanding between the Corporation and a stockholder or group of stockholders (other than any such agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with an acquisition of capital stock, by the stockholder or group of stockholders, from the Corporation), (iii) by any directors currently serving on the Board of Directors who were Stockholder Nominees at any of the preceding two (2) annual meetings and who are nominated for election at the annual meeting by the Board as a Board nominee, and (iv) by any Stockholder Nominee who is not included in the Corporation’s proxy materials or is not submitted for director election for any reason, in accordance with the last sentence of paragraph (L) of this Section 1.11 .  In the event that one (1) or more vacancies for any reason occurs after the date of the Stockholder Notice but before the annual meeting and the Board of Directors resolves to reduce the size of the Board of Directors in connection therewith, the Authorized Number shall be calculated based on the number of directors in office as so reduced.  

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(C)       To qualify as an “ Eligible Stockholder ,” a stockholder or a group as described in this Section 1.11 must:

(i)         Own and have Owned (as defined in paragraph (D) of this Section 1.11 ), continuously for at least three (3) years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice, a number of shares (as adjusted to account for any stock dividend, stock split, subdivision, combination, reclassification or recapitalization of shares of the Corporation that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors) that represents at least 3% of the outstanding shares of the Corporation that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors as of the date of the Stockholder Notice (the “ Required Shares ”), and

(ii)        thereafter continue to Own the Required Shares through such annual meeting of stockholders. 

For purposes of satisfying the ownership requirements of paragraph (C) this Section 1.11 , a group of not more than twenty (20) stockholders and/or beneficial owners may aggregate the number of shares of the Corporation that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors that each group member has individually Owned continuously for at least three (3) years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice if all other requirements and obligations for an Eligible Stockholder set forth in this Section 1.11 are satisfied by and as to each stockholder or beneficial owner comprising the group whose shares are aggregated.  No shares may be attributed to more than one (1) Eligible Stockholder, and no stockholder or beneficial owner, alone or together with any of its affiliates, may individually or as a member of a group qualify as or constitute more than one (1) Eligible Stockholder under this Section 1.11 .  A group of any two (2) or more funds shall be treated as only one (1) stockholder or beneficial owner for this purpose if they are (a) under common management and investment control, (b) under common management and funded primarily by a single employer, or (c) part of a “group of investment companies,” as such term is defined in Section 12(d)(1)(G)(ii) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.  For purposes of this Section 1.11 , the term “ affiliate ” or “ affiliates ” shall have the meanings ascribed thereto under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. For purposes of determining the denominator to be used in calculating whether an Eligible Stockholder meets the three percent (3%) threshold in paragraph (C)(i) of this Section 1.11 , the Eligible Stockholder may rely on information about the outstanding shares of the Corporation, as set forth in Corporation’s most recent quarterly or annual report, and any current report subsequent thereto, filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, unless the Eligible Stockholder knows or has reason to know that the information contained therein is inaccurate.

(D)       For purposes of this Section 1.11

(i)         A stockholder or beneficial owner is deemed to “Own” only those outstanding shares of the Corporation that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors as to which the person possesses both (a) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (b) the full economic interest in (including the opportunity for profit and risk of loss on) such shares, except that the number of shares calculated in accordance with clauses (a) and (b) shall not include any shares (1) sold by such person in any transaction that has not been settled or closed, (2) borrowed by the person for any purposes or purchased by the person pursuant to an agreement to resell or (3) subject to any option, warrant, forward contract,

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swap, contract of sale, or other derivative or similar agreement entered into by the person, whether the instrument or agreement is to be settled with shares or with cash based on the notional amount or value of outstanding shares of the Corporation that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, if the instrument or agreement has, or is intended to have, or if exercised would have, the purpose or effect of (x) reducing in any manner, to any extent or at any time in the future, the person’s full right to vote or direct the voting of the shares and/or (y) hedging, offsetting or altering to any degree any gain or loss arising from the full economic ownership of the shares by the person.  The terms “Owned,” “Owning” and other variations of the word “Own,” when used with respect to a stockholder or beneficial owner, have correlative meanings.  For purposes of clauses (1) through (3), the term “person” includes its affiliates.

(ii)        A stockholder or beneficial owner “Owns” shares held in the name of a nominee or other intermediary so long as the person retains both (a) the full voting and investment rights pertaining to the shares and (b) the full economic interest in the shares.  The person’s Ownership of shares is deemed to continue during any period in which the person has delegated any voting power by means of a proxy, power of attorney, or other instrument or arrangement that is revocable at any time by the stockholder. 

(iii)       A stockholder or beneficial owner’s Ownership of shares shall be deemed to continue during any period in which the person has loaned the shares if the person has the power to recall the loaned shares on not more than five (5) business days’ notice and (a) the person recalls the loaned shares within five (5) business days of being notified that its Stockholder Nominee shall be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for the relevant annual meeting and (b) the person holds the recalled shares through the annual meeting.

(E)       For purposes of this Section 1.11 , the “ Additional Information ” referred to in paragraph (A) of this Section 1.11 that the Corporation will include in its proxy statement is:

(i)         the information set forth in the Schedule 14N provided with the Stockholder Notice concerning each Stockholder Nominee and the Eligible Stockholder that is required to be disclosed in the Corporation’s proxy statement by the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and

(ii)        if the Eligible Stockholder so elects, a written statement of the Eligible Stockholder (or, in the case of a group, a written statement of the group), not to exceed 500 words, for each of its Stockholder Nominee(s), which must be provided at the same time as the Stockholder Notice (the “ Statement ”).   

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 1.11 , the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any information or Statement that it, in good faith, believes is untrue in any material respect (or omits a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading) or would violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard.  Nothing in this Section 1.11 shall limit the Corporation’s ability to solicit against and include in its proxy materials its own statements relating to any Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee. 

                                     

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(F)       The Stockholder Notice shall set forth all information, representations and agreements required under paragraph (A)(ii) of Section 1.10 , including the information required with respect to (i) any nominee for election as a director, (ii) any stockholder giving notice of an intent to nominate a candidate for election and (iii) any stockholder, beneficial owner or other person on whose behalf the nomination is made under this Section 1.11 .  In addition, such Stockholder Notice shall include:

(i)         a copy of the Schedule 14N that has been or concurrently is filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act, 

(ii)        written statement of the Eligible Stockholder (and in the case of a group, the written statement of each stockholder or beneficial owner whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Stockholder), which statement(s) shall also be included in the Schedule 14N filed with the SEC (a) setting forth and certifying to the number of shares of the Corporation that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors the Eligible Stockholder Owns and has Owned (as defined in paragraph (D) of this Section 1.11 ) continuously for at least three (3) years as of the date of the Stockholder Notice, (b) agreeing to continue to Own such shares through the annual meeting and (c) regarding whether or not it intends to maintain Ownership of the Required Shares for at least one (1) year following the annual meeting, 

(iii)       the written agreement of the Eligible Stockholder (and in the case of a group, the written agreement of each stockholder or beneficial owner whose shares are aggregated for purposes of constituting an Eligible Stockholder) addressed to the Corporation, setting forth the following additional agreements, representations, and warranties: 

(a)        it shall provide (1) within five (5) business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, one (1) or more written statements from the record holder(s) of the Required Shares and from each intermediary through which the Required Shares are or have been held, in each case during the requisite three- (3)-year holding period, specifying the number of shares that the Eligible Stockholder Owns, and has Owned continuously in compliance with this Section 1.11 , (2) within five (5) business days after the record date for the annual meeting both the information required under clauses (c)(2) and (d) of paragraph (A)(ii) of Section 1.10 and written statements from the record holder(s) and intermediaries as required under clause (a)(1) verifying the Eligible Stockholder’s continuous Ownership of the Required Shares, in each case, as of such date and (3) immediate notice to the Corporation if the Eligible Stockholder ceases to own any of the Required Shares prior to the annual meeting,

(b)        it (1) acquired the Required Shares in the ordinary course of business and not with the intent to change or influence control at the Corporation, and does not presently have this intent, (2) has not nominated and shall not nominate for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting any person other than the Stockholder Nominee(s) being nominated pursuant to this Section 1.11 , (3) has not engaged and shall not engage in, and has not been and shall not be a participant (as defined in Item 4 of Exchange Act Schedule 14A) in, a solicitation within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 14a-1(l), in support of the election of any individual as a director at the annual meeting other than its Stockholder Nominee(s) or any

 

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nominee(s) of the Board of Directors and (4) shall not distribute to any stockholder any form of proxy for the annual meeting other than the form distributed by the Corporation, and

(c)        it will (1) assume all liability stemming from any legal or regulatory violation arising out of the Eligible Stockholder’s communications with the stockholders of the Corporation or out of the information that the Eligible Stockholder provided to the Corporation, (2) indemnify and hold harmless the Corporation and each of its directors, officers and employees individually against any liability, loss or damages in connection with any threatened or pending action, suit or proceeding, whether legal, administrative or investigative, against the Corporation or any of its directors, officers or employees arising out of the nomination or solicitation process pursuant to this Section 1.11 , (3) comply with all laws, rules, regulations and listing standards applicable to its nomination or any solicitation in connection with the annual meeting, (4) file with the SEC any solicitation materials by or on behalf of the Eligible Stockholder relating to any Stockholder Nominee, one (1) or more of the Corporation’s directors or director nominees, or the relevant annual meeting of stockholders, regardless of whether the filing is required under Exchange Act Regulation 14A, or whether any exemption from filing is available for the materials under Exchange Act Regulation 14A and (5) at the request of the Corporation, promptly, but in any event within five (5) business days after such request (or by the day prior to the day of the annual meeting, if earlier), provide to the Corporation such additional information as it may reasonably request, and

(iv)       in the case of a nomination by a group, the designation by all group members of one (1) group member that is authorized to act on behalf of all members of the group with respect to the nomination and matters related thereto, including withdrawal of the nomination, and the written agreement, representation, and warranty of the Eligible Stockholder that it shall provide, within five (5) business days after the date of the Stockholder Notice, documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation demonstrating that the number of stockholders and/or beneficial owners within such group does not exceed twenty (20), including whether a group of funds qualifies as one (1) stockholder or beneficial owner within the meaning of paragraph (C) of this Section 1.11 .   

(G)       To be timely under this Section 1.11 , the Stockholder Notice shall be delivered by a stockholder to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business (as defined in paragraph (C)(ii) of Section 1.10 ) one hundred twenty (120) days and not earlier than one hundred fifty (150) days prior to the first anniversary of the date (as stated in the Corporation’s proxy materials) the definitive proxy statement was first released to stockholders in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to or delayed by more than thirty (30) days after the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, to be timely, the Stockholder Notice must be so delivered not earlier than one hundred fifty (150) days prior to the date of the annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the one hundred twentieth (120th) days prior to the date of the annual meeting or (ii) the tenth day on which public announcement (as defined in paragraph (C)(ii) of Section 1.10 ) of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation.  In no event shall an adjournment or recess of an annual meeting, or a postponement of an annual meeting for which notice of the meeting has already been given to stockholders or a public announcement of the

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meeting date has already been made, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of the Stockholder Notice as described above.

(H)       The Stockholder Notice shall include, for each Stockholder Nominee, all written and signed representations and agreements and all completed and signed questionnaires required pursuant to paragraph (A) of Section 1.9 above.  At the request of the Corporation, the Stockholder Nominee must promptly, but in any event within five (5) business days after such request, provide to the Corporation such additional information as it may reasonably request.  The Corporation may request such additional information as necessary to permit the Board of Directors to determine if each Stockholder Nominee satisfies the requirements of this Section 1.11 .   

(I)        In the event that any information or communications provided by the Eligible Stockholder or any Stockholder Nominees to the Corporation or its stockholders is not, when provided, or thereafter ceases to be, true, correct and complete in all material respects (including omitting a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading), such Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Secretary and provide the information that is required to make such information or communication true, correct, complete and not misleading; it being understood that providing any such notification shall not be deemed to cure any defect or limit the Corporation’s right to omit a Stockholder Nominee from its proxy materials as provided in this Section 1.11 .  

(J)        All information provided pursuant to paragraphs (F), (H) and (I) of this Section 1.11 shall be deemed part of the Stockholder Notice for purposes of this Section 1.11

(K)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 1.11 , the Corporation may omit from its proxy materials any Stockholder Nominee, and such nomination shall be disregarded and no vote on such Stockholder Nominee shall occur, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation, if:

(i)         the Eligible Stockholder or Stockholder Nominee breaches any of its agreements, representations or warranties set forth in the Stockholder Notice or otherwise submitted pursuant to this Section 1.11 , any of the information in the Stockholder Notice or otherwise submitted pursuant to this Section 1.11 was not, when provided, true, correct and complete, or the Eligible Stockholder or applicable Stockholder Nominee otherwise fails to comply with its obligations pursuant to these Bylaws, including, but not limited to, its obligations under this Section 1.11 ,  

(ii)        the Stockholder Nominee (a) is not independent under any applicable listing standards, any applicable rules of the SEC and any publicly disclosed standards used by the Board of Directors in determining and disclosing the independence of the Corporation’s directors, (b) does not qualify as independent under the audit committee independence requirements set forth in the rules of the principal U.S. exchange on which shares of the Corporation are listed, as a “non-employee director” under Exchange Act Rule 16b-3, or as an “outside director” for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (or any

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successor provision), (c) is or has been, within the past three (3) years, an officer or director of a competitor, as defined for the purposes of Section 8 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, as amended, (d) is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) or has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses) within the past ten (10) years or (e) is subject to any order of the type specified in Rule 506(d) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,

(iii)       the Corporation has received a notice (whether or not subsequently withdrawn) that a stockholder intends to nominate any candidate for election to the Board of Directors pursuant to the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees for director in Section 1.10 , or

(iv)       the election of the Stockholder Nominee to the Board of Directors would cause the Corporation to violate the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, these Bylaws, or any applicable law, rule, regulation or listing standard.

(L)       An Eligible Stockholder submitting more than one (1) Stockholder Nominee for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to this Section 1.11 shall rank such Stockholder Nominees based on the order that the Eligible Stockholder desires such Stockholder Nominees to be selected for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials and include such assigned rank in its Stockholder Notice submitted to the Corporation.  In the event that the number of Stockholder Nominees submitted by Eligible Stockholders pursuant to this Section 1.11 exceeds the Authorized Number, the Stockholder Nominees to be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:  one (1) Stockholder Nominee who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 1.11 shall be selected from each Eligible Stockholder for inclusion in the Corporation’s proxy materials until the Authorized Number is reached, going in order of the amount (largest to smallest) of shares of the Corporation each Eligible Stockholder disclosed as Owned in its Stockholder Notice submitted to the Corporation and going in the order of the rank (highest to lowest) assigned to each Stockholder Nominee by such Eligible Stockholder.  If the Authorized Number is not reached after one (1) Stockholder Nominee who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 1.11 has been selected from each Eligible Stockholder, this selection process shall continue as many times as necessary, following the same order each time, until the Authorized Number is reached.  Following such determination, if any Stockholder Nominee who satisfies the eligibility requirements in this Section 1.11 thereafter is nominated by the Board of Directors, thereafter is not included in the Corporation’s proxy materials or thereafter is not submitted for director election for any reason (including the Eligible Stockholder’s or Stockholder Nominee’s failure to comply with this Section 1.11 ), no other nominee or nominees shall be included in the Corporation’s proxy materials or otherwise submitted for election as a director at the applicable annual meeting in substitution for such Stockholder Nominee.

(M)      Any Stockholder Nominee who is included in the Corporation’s proxy materials for a particular annual meeting of stockholders but either (i) withdraws from or becomes ineligible or unavailable for election at the annual meeting for any reason, including for the failure to comply with any provision of these Bylaws (provided that in no event shall any such withdrawal, ineligibility or unavailability commence a new time period (or extend any time

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period) for the giving of a Stockholder Notice) or (ii) does not receive a number of votes cast in favor of his or her election that is at least equal to 20% of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote in the election of directors, shall be ineligible to be a Stockholder Nominee pursuant to this Section 1.11 for the next two (2) annual meetings.

(N)       Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.11 , unless otherwise required by law or otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting or the Board of Directors, if the stockholder delivering the Stockholder Notice (or a qualified representative of the stockholder, as defined in paragraph (C)(i) of Section 1.10 ) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present its Stockholder Nominee or Stockholder Nominees, such nomination or nominations shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of the election of the Stockholder Nominee or Stockholder Nominees may have been received by the Corporation.  This Section 1.11 shall be the exclusive method for stockholders to include nominees for director election in the Corporation’s proxy materials. 

ARTICLE II

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 2.1      Number, Election and Term of Directors .  The number, election and term of directors shall be as, or shall be determined in the manner, set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation or, to the extent not set forth therein, in a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board.

Section 2.2      Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies .  Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors (and not by stockholders).

Section 2.3      Regular Meetings .  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors.  A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.

Section 2.4      Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President or by a majority of the Whole Board and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as they, he or she shall fix.  Notice of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given to each director by whom it is not waived by mailing written notice not less than five (5) days before the meeting or by telephone or by telegraphing or telexing or by facsimile or electronic transmission of the same not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting.  Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

Section 2.5      Quorum .  At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes.  If a quorum shall fail to

 

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attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.

Section 2.6      Participation in Meetings By Conference Telephone .  Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board of Directors or committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2.7      Conduct of Business .  At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the directors present, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law.  Action may be taken by the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.  Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

Section 2.8      Compensation of Directors .  Unless otherwise restricted by law, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of the directors.  The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or paid a stated salary or paid other compensation as director.  No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.  Members of special or standing committees may also be paid their expenses, if any, of and allowed compensation for attending committee meetings.

Section 2.9      Powers and Duties of the Chairman of the Board .  If elected, the Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors; and shall have such other powers and duties as designated in these Bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE III

COMMITTEES

Section 3.1      Committees of the Board of Directors .  The Board of Directors may from time to time designate committees of the Board of Directors, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers and to the full extent permitted by Section 141(c)(2) of the GCL, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and shall, for those committees and any others provided for herein, elect a director or directors to serve as the member or members, designating, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.  In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.

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Section 3.2      Conduct of Business .  Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law.  Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings; one-third (1/3) of the members shall constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one (1) or two (2) members, in which event one (1) member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present.  Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 4.1      Generally .  The officers of the Corporation shall include a Chief Executive Officer, a President, and a Secretary, and may also include a Vice Chairman, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, a Treasurer, one or more Vice Presidents (who may be further classified by such descriptions as “executive,” “senior,” “assistant,” “staff” or otherwise, as the Board of Directors shall determine), one or more Assistant Secretaries and one or more Assistant Treasurers.  Officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors, which shall consider that subject at its first meeting after every annual meeting of stockholders.  Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person.  The salaries of officers elected by the Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof or by such officers as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.

Section 4.2      Resignation and Removal .  Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation.  Any officer, agent or employee of the Corporation may be removed by the Board of Directors with or without cause at any time.  The Board of Directors may delegate the power of removal as to officers, agents and employees who have not been appointed by the Board of Directors.  Such removal shall be without prejudice to a person’s contract rights, if any, but the appointment of any person as an officer, agent or employee of the Corporation shall not of itself create contract rights.

Section 4.3      Powers and Duties of the Chief Executive Officer .  The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation unless the Board of Directors designates the Chairman of the Board as Chief Executive Officer.  Subject to the control of the Board of Directors and the executive committee (if any), the Chief Executive Officer shall have general executive charge, management and control of the properties, business and operations of the Corporation with all such powers as may be reasonably incident to such responsibilities; he or she may employ and discharge employees and agents of the Corporation, except such as shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, and he or she may delegate these powers; he or she may agree upon and execute all leases, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other obligations in the name of the Corporation; and shall have such other powers and duties as designated in

 

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accordance with these Bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.

Section 4.4      Powers and Duties of the President .  Unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, the President shall have the authority to agree upon and execute all leases, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other obligations in the name of the Corporation; and, unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board or if there be no Chairman of the Board, preside at all meetings of the stockholders and (should he or she be a director) of the Board of Directors; and he or she shall have such other powers and duties as designated in accordance with these Bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.

Section 4.5      Vice Presidents .  In the absence of the President, or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, a Vice President designated by the Board of Directors shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President.  In the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors of a Vice President to perform the duties of the President, or in the event of his or her absence or inability or refusal to act, the Vice President who is present and who is senior in terms of time as a Vice President of the Corporation shall so act.  The Vice Presidents shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.  Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, each Vice President will have authority to act within his or her respective areas and to sign contracts relating thereto.

Section 4.6      Treasurer .  If elected, the Treasurer shall have responsibility for the custody and control of all the funds and securities of the Corporation, and shall have such other powers and duties as designated in these Bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned to the Treasurer by the Board of Directors.  The Treasurer shall perform all acts incident to the position of Treasurer, subject to the control of the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors; and shall, if required by the Board of Directors, give such bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such form as the Board of Directors may require.

Section 4.7      Assistant Treasurers .  Each Assistant Treasurer shall have the usual powers and duties pertaining to his or her office, together with such other powers and duties as designated in these Bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.  The Assistant Treasurers shall exercise the powers of the Treasurer during that officer’s absence or inability or refusal to act.

Section 4.8      Secretary .  The Secretary shall issue all authorized notices for, and shall keep minutes of, all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors.  He or she shall have charge of the corporate books and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

Section 4.9      Assistant Secretaries .  In the absence or inability to act of the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary may perform all the duties and exercise all the powers of the Secretary.  The performance of any such duty shall, in respect of any other person dealing with the Corporation, be conclusive evidence of his or her power to act.  An Assistant Secretary shall also perform such other duties as the Secretary or the Board of Directors may assign to him or her.

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Section 4.10    Delegation of Authority .  The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

Section 4.11    Action with Respect to Securities of Other Entities .  Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the General Counsel (provided the General Counsel is also an officer of the Corporation), the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the Chief Executive Officer shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of security holders of or with respect to any action of security holders of any other entity in which this Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other entity.

ARTICLE V

STOCK

Section 5.1      Form and Issuance of Stock .  Shares of stock of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided under the Delaware General Corporation Law.  Each holder of stock represented by certificates, if any, shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board or Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her.  Any or all of the signatures on the certificate, if any, may be by facsimile.

Section 5.2      Transfers of Stock .  Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation.  Except where a certificate, if any, is issued in accordance with Section 5.4 of these Bylaws, an outstanding certificate, if any, for the number of shares involved shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate, or evidence of the issuance of uncertified shares, is issued therefor.  Upon the receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of uncertificated shares, if any, such uncertificated shares shall be cancelled, issuance of new equivalent uncertificated shares or certificated shares shall be made to the person entitled thereto and the transaction shall be recorded upon the books of the Corporation.

Section 5.3      Record Date .  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the time for such other action as hereinbefore described; provided, however, that if no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business (as defined in paragraph (C)(ii) of

 

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Section 1.10 ) on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held, and, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of rights or to exercise any rights of change, conversion or exchange of stock or for any other purpose, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts a resolution relating thereto.

A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

Section 5.4      Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates .  In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock, a new certificate or uncertificated shares may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.

Section 5.5      Regulations .  The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of shares of stock of the Corporation or the replacement of certificates in the case of certificated shares of stock of the Corporation shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.

ARTICLE VI

NOTICES

Section 6.1      Notices .  If mailed, notice to stockholders shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.  Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission to the extent permitted by Section 232 of the GCL.

Section 6.2      Waivers .  A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person.  Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.  Attendance at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice except if the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business at the meeting because it has not been lawfully called or convened.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1      Facsimile Signatures .  In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.

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Section 7.2      Corporate Seal .  The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary.  If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.

Section 7.3      Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records .  Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

Section 7.4      Fiscal Year .     The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year unless otherwise fixed by the Board of Directors.

Section 7.5      Time Periods .  In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, except as otherwise provided herein, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

ARTICLE VIII

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Section 8.1      Mandatory Indemnification of Directors and Officers .  The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless to the full extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware as from time to time in effect any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (whether or not an action by or in the right of the Corporation) (hereinafter a “ proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or, while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (hereinafter an “ indemnitee ”), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 8.2 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.  The right to indemnification conferred by this Section 8.1 also shall include the right of such persons described in this Section 8.1 to be paid in advance by the Corporation for their expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “ advancement of expenses ”) to the full extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, as from time to time in effect;

 

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provided, however, that, if the GCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “ undertaking ”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “ final adjudication ”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 8.1 or otherwise. The right to indemnification conferred on such persons by this Section 8.1 shall be a contract right.

Section 8.2      Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit .  If a claim under Section 8.1 of these Bylaws is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim.  If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit.  In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the GCL.  Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the GCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit.  In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VIII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

Section 8.3      Permissive Indemnification of Non-Officer Employees and Agents .  The Corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (whether or not an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was an employee (other than an officer) or agent of the Corporation, or, while serving as an employee (other than an officer) or agent of the Corporation,  is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, to the extent (i) permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware as from time to time in effect, and (ii) authorized

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in the sole discretion of the Chief Executive Officer and at least one other of the following officers:  the President, the Chief Financial Officer, or the General Counsel of the Corporation (the Chief Executive Officer and any of such other officers so authorizing such indemnification, the “ Authorizing Officers ”).  The Corporation may, to the extent permitted by Delaware law and authorized in the sole discretion of the Authorizing Officers, pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by any such employee or agent in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, upon such terms and conditions as the Authorizing Officers authorizing such expense advancement  determine in their sole discretion.  The provisions of this Section 8.3 shall not constitute a contract right for any such employee or agent.

Section 8.4      General Provisions .  The rights and authority conferred in any of the Sections of this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.  Neither the amendment or repeal of this Article VIII or any of the Sections thereof nor the adoption of any provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws or of any statute inconsistent with this Article VIII or any of the Sections thereof shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article VIII or any of the Sections thereof in respect of any acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption or an inconsistent provision.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend and repeal these Bylaws by the approval of a majority of the Whole Board, subject to the power of the holders of capital stock of the Corporation to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws; provided, however, that, with respect to the power of holders of capital stock to adopt, amend and repeal Bylaws of the Corporation, in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation required by law or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws.

 

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.

Exhibit 10.1

 

CONCHO RESOURCES INC.

2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

JANUARY 2, 2018

  

To:       E. Joseph Wright

 

            Concho Resources Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), is pleased to grant you an award (the “ Award ”) consisting of an aggregate of 11,253 performance units (each, a “ Performance  Unit ”) that have a performance period beginning on January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020 (the “ Performance  Period ”). The Award is subject to your acceptance of and agreement to all the applicable terms, conditions and restrictions described in this Performance Unit Award Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) and the Concho Resources Inc. 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (as such plan may be amended or restated thereafter from time to time, the “ Plan ”). A copy of the Plan is available upon request. To the extent that any provision of this Agreement conflicts with the expressly applicable terms of the Plan, you acknowledge and agree that those terms of the Plan shall control and, if necessary, the applicable provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed amended so as to carry out the purpose and intent of the Plan. The Performance Units contemplated herein are granted as Performance Awards under the Plan and are subject to the award limitations applicable to awards denominated in shares of the Company’s common stock (the “ Common  Stock ”) that are set forth in Paragraph V(a) of the Plan.

 

Terms that have their initial letters capitalized, but that are not otherwise defined in this Agreement, shall have the meanings given to them in the Plan in effect as of the date of this Agreement. In addition to the terms defined in the body of this Agreement, the following capitalized words and terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

 

(a)        “Employment Agreement” means that certain Employment Agreement between you and the Company as in effect on the date of this Agreement, including as amended by (i) that certain First Amendment to Employment Agreement between you and the Company dated as of November 19, 2010, and (ii) that certain Retirement Agreement between you and the Company entered into as of May 17, 2017.

 

(b)        “Retirement Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term under the Employment Agreement.

 

            This Agreement sets forth the terms of the agreement between you and the Company with respect to the Performance Units. By accepting this Agreement, you agree to be bound by all of the terms hereof.

 


 

            1.         Overview of Performance Units

 

            (a)        Performance Units Generally . Each Performance Unit represents a contractual right to receive one share of Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; provided that, based on the achievement of the performance objective outlined in Section 2 hereof (the “ Performance  Objective ”), the number of shares of Common Stock that may be deliverable hereunder in respect of the Performance Units may range from 0% to 300% of the number of Performance Units stated in the preamble to this Agreement (such stated number of Performance Units hereafter called the “ Initial  Performance  Units ”). Your right to receive Common Stock in respect of Performance Units is generally contingent, in whole or in part, upon (i) the achievement of the Performance Objective and (ii) except as provided in Section 4(a) or Section 5 hereof, your continued employment with the Company through the end of the Performance Period.

 

            (b)        Dividend Equivalents . With respect to each outstanding Performance Unit, the Company shall credit a book entry account with an amount equal to the amount of any cash dividend paid during the Performance Period on one share of Common Stock. The amount credited to such book entry account shall be payable to you at the same time or times, and subject to the same terms and conditions as are applicable to, your Performance Units; provided that, if more than the Initial Performance Units shall become payable in accordance with this Agreement, then the maximum amount payable in respect of such dividend equivalents shall be the amount credited to your book entry account. Dividends and distributions payable on Common Stock other than in cash shall have a value equal to the amount of such dividends reported by the issuer to its shareholders for purposes of Federal income taxation and will be addressed in accordance with Section 9 hereof.

 

            2.         Performance Objective . The Performance Objective with respect to the Initial Performance Units is based on both (a) the Total Shareholder Return achieved by the Company relative to the Peer Companies (as defined below) for the Performance Period (the “ Relative Total Shareholder Return ”) and (b) the absolute annualized Total Shareholder Return achieved by the Company for the Performance Period (the “ Absolute Total Shareholder Return ”). “ Total Shareholder Return ” shall mean, as to the Company and each of the Peer Companies, the percentage rate of return shareholders receive through stock price changes and the receipt of cash dividends paid over the Performance Period, determined in accordance with the following formula:  ( Closing Value minus  Initial Value plus  Cash Dividends ) divided by Initial Value , where:

 

Closing Value means the average of the closing stock prices of the Company or such Peer Company, as applicable, on each trading day during the period beginning on the first day of the calendar month in which the last day of the Performance Period occurs and ending on the last day of the Performance Period; provided, however, that if a Peer Company ceases to have a class of common equity securities listed to trade under Section 12(b) or Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act during the Performance Period (determined after any applicable adjustment by the Committee pursuant to Section 9 hereof), then the Total Shareholder Return for such Peer Company shall be determined by the Committee as provided in the preceding provisions of this sentence but, from and after the date of


such cessation, the price per share of such Peer Company’s common stock shall be deemed to be equal to the price per share of such common stock immediately prior to such cessation increased by the interest that would be earned on such amount if it were invested in U.S. Treasury securities of approximate equal duration to the portion of the Performance Period remaining after such cessation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Total Shareholder Return for the Company is required to be determined for purposes of Section 5(a) hereof, then the Closing Value with respect to the Company shall mean the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Committee) of the consideration received by the stockholders of the Company with respect to each share of Common Stock as of the effective time of the Change of Control (as defined in Section 5(e) hereof); provided, however, that if such Change of Control is effected in a manner that does not result in the stockholders of the Company receiving consideration in exchange for their Common Stock, then such Closing Value shall mean the Fair Market Value on the Change of Control Date (as defined in Section 5 hereof).

Initial Value means the average of the closing stock prices of the Company or such Peer Company, as applicable, on each trading day in the calendar month immediately preceding the first day of the Performance Period. The Initial Value of the Common Stock to be used to determine the Company’s Total Shareholder Return over the Performance Period is $142.96 per share.

Cash Dividends means the aggregate amount of cash dividends per share paid over the Performance Period by the Company or such Peer Company, as applicable.

Achievement with respect to the portion of the Performance Objective that is based on Relative Total Shareholder Return shall be determined by the Committee based on the Company’s relative ranking in respect of the Performance Period with regard to Total Shareholder Return as compared to Total Shareholder Return of the Peer Companies, and shall be a percentage determined in accordance with the table set forth in Appendix A hereto. A company shall be a “ Peer Company ” if it is one of the companies listed on Appendix A hereto. Achievement with respect to the portion of the Performance Objective that is based on Absolute Total Shareholder Return shall be determined by the Committee based on the Company’s annualized Total Shareholder Return achieved over the Performance Period, and shall be a percentage determined in accordance with the provisions set forth in Appendix A hereto. As soon as administratively practicable following the end of the Performance Period (but in no event later than the 15 th day of the third calendar month following the calendar month in which the Performance Period ends), the Committee shall certify whether and to the extent that the Performance Objective has been achieved and will determine the number of Performance Units, if any, determined to be earned for the Performance Period (which number of Performance Units shall equal the product of the Initial Performance Units (subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 9 hereof) multiplied by the percentage determined with respect to Relative Total Shareholder Return pursuant to the table set forth in Appendix A hereto multiplied by the percentage determined with respect to Absolute Total Shareholder Return in accordance with the provisions set forth in Appendix A hereto). The number of Performance Units, if any, determined by the Committee to be earned pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Section 2 shall be referred to as the “ Earned Performance Units .” 

 


 

            3.         Conversion of Performance Units; Delivery of Common Stock with respect to Performance Units . Unless an earlier date applies pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof, payment in respect of Earned Performance Units shall be made not later than the 15 th day of the third calendar month following the calendar month in which the Performance Period ends. All payments in respect of Earned Performance Units shall be made in freely transferable shares of Common Stock. Neither this Section 3 nor any action taken pursuant to or in accordance with this Section 3 shall be construed to create a trust of any kind. Any shares of Common Stock issued to you pursuant to this Agreement in settlement of Earned Performance Units shall be in book entry form registered in your name. Any fractional Earned Performance Units shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share of Common Stock.

 

            4.         Termination of Employment

 

            (a)        Death, Disability or Retirement . In the event that your employment with the Company terminates during the Performance Period due to your death, due to your Disability (as defined below), or, subject to the provisions of Section 4(d) hereof, on your Retirement Date by reason of your retirement as provided in Section 3.1 of the Employment Agreement, then you shall be deemed to have earned, as of the end of the Performance Period, that number of Performance Units equal to the number of Earned Performance Units that you would have earned in accordance with Section 2 hereof had you remained employed through the end of the Performance Period. Any portion of your Performance Units that is eligible to be earned pursuant to the preceding sentence, but is not earned as of the end of the Performance Period, shall terminate and be canceled upon the expiration of the Performance Period.  Distribution of shares of Common Stock in respect of the Performance Units determined to be earned by reason of this Section 4(a) shall be made at the time provided in Section 3 hereof.

 

            (b)        Other Termination of Employment . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after grant, in the event that your employment with the Company terminates prior to the end of the Performance Period for any reason other than those listed in Section 4(a) hereof, all of your Performance Units shall terminate and automatically be canceled upon such termination of employment.

 

            (c)        Definition of Disability . As used in this Agreement, the term “ Disability ” shall mean that as a result of your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, you shall have been absent from the full-time performance of your duties for six consecutive months, and you shall not have returned to full-time performance of your duties within 30 days after written notice of termination is given to you by the Company (provided, however, that such notice may not be given prior to 30 days before the expiration of such six-month period).

            (d)       Release Requirement .  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4(a) hereof, if (i) your employment with the Company terminates on the Retirement Date by reason of your retirement as provided in Section 3.1 of the Employment Agreement and (ii) either (1) you fail to timely execute the release described in Section 5.10(c) of the Employment Agreement or (2) you revoke such release in a timely manner in accordance with the provisions of such release, then, pursuant to Section 5.10(c) of the Employment Agreement, all of your Performance Units shall terminate and automatically be canceled effective as of the Retirement Date.

 


(e)        Termination of Employment . For all purposes of this Agreement, you will be considered to have terminated from employment with the Company when you incur a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code and applicable administrative guidance thereunder; provided, however, that whether such a separation from service has occurred shall be determined based upon a reasonably anticipated permanent reduction in the level of bona fide services to be performed to no more than 49% of the average level of bona fide services provided in the immediately preceding 36 months.

 

            5.         Change of Control . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1 through Section 4 hereof or the terms of any employment agreement between you and the Company or any Affiliate, if you have been continuously employed from the grant date specified above until the date that a Change of Control (as defined below) occurs (the “ Change of Control Date ”), then upon the occurrence of a Change of Control your rights in respect of the Performance Units shall be determined as provided in Section 5(a) hereof. If your employment shall have terminated prior to the Change of Control Date, but your Performance Units remain outstanding pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof, then your rights in respect of your outstanding Performance Units shall be determined as provided in Section 5(b) hereof.

 

            (a)        Continuous Employment .  If a Change of Control occurs and your employment has not terminated prior to the Change of Control Date, then you will be issued a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Performance Units that would have become Earned Performance Units in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 hereof assuming that:

 

            (i)         the Performance Period ended on the Change of Control Date; and

 

            (ii)        the determination of whether, and to what extent, the Performance Objective is achieved is based on actual performance against the stated performance criteria through the Change of Control Date.

            (b)        Prior Termination of Employment .  If your employment terminated prior to the Change of Control Date, but your Performance Units are still outstanding on such date pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof, then you shall receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued to you determined as though Section 5(a) hereof was applicable to you.

 

            (c)        Time and Form of Payment .  Any shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Section 5 shall be issued immediately following (and not later than five business days after) the Change of Control Date and shall be fully earned and freely transferable as of the Change of Control Date. Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Section 5 to the contrary (other than Section 5(d)), if the Change of Control involves a merger, reclassification or other reorganization or business combination pursuant to which the Common Stock is exchanged for or converted to stock of the surviving or continuing corporation in such transaction, the successor or continuing entity to the Company or the direct or indirect parent of the Company (collectively, the “ Successor Corporation ”), then you shall receive, instead of each share of Common Stock otherwise deliverable hereunder, the same consideration (whether stock, cash or other property) payable or distributable in such transaction in respect of a share of Common Stock. Any property distributed pursuant to this Section 5(c), whether in shares of the Successor


Corporation or otherwise, shall in all cases be freely transferable without any restriction (other than any such restriction that may be imposed by applicable law), and any securities issued hereunder shall be registered to trade under the Exchange Act, and shall have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”). 

 

            (d)       Alternative Form of Payment .  Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Section 5 to the contrary, the Committee may elect, at its sole discretion by resolution adopted prior to the Change of Control Date, to have the Company satisfy your rights in respect of the Performance Units (as determined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 5), in whole or in part, by having the Company make a cash payment to you within five business days of the Change of Control Date in respect of all such Performance Units or such portion of such Performance Units as the Committee shall determine. Any cash payment for any Performance Unit shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the number of shares of Common Stock into which it would convert, determined on the Change of Control Date.

(e)        Definition of Change of Control .  As used in this Agreement, the term “ Change of Control ” shall mean:

(i)         a merger of the Company with another entity, a consolidation involving the Company, or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to another entity if, in any such case, (1) the holders of equity securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or event do not beneficially own immediately after such transaction or event equity securities of the resulting entity entitled to 50% or more of the votes then eligible to be cast in the election of directors generally (or comparable governing body) of the resulting entity in substantially the same proportions that they owned the equity securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or event or (2) the persons who were members of the Board immediately prior to such transaction or event shall not constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the resulting entity immediately after such transaction or event;

(ii)        the dissolution or liquidation of the Company;

(iii)       when any person or entity, including a “group” as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, acquires or gains ownership or control (including, without limitation, power to vote) of more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of the Company; or

(iv)       individuals, who, as of the grant date specified above, constitute members of the Board (the “ Incumbent Board ”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to such grant date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered for purposes of this definition as though such individual was a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for these purposes, any such individual whose initial assumption of office as a director occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of

 


directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any individual, entity or group other than the Board.

For purposes of the preceding sentence, (1) “resulting entity” in the context of a transaction or event that is a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all assets shall mean the surviving entity (or acquiring entity in the case of an asset sale) unless the surviving entity (or acquiring entity in the case of an asset sale) is a subsidiary of another entity and the holders of common stock of the Company receive capital stock of such other entity in such transaction or event, in which case the resulting entity shall be such other entity, and (2) subsequent to the consummation of a merger or consolidation that does not constitute a Change of Control, the term “Company” shall refer to the resulting entity and the term “Board” shall refer to the board of directors (or comparable governing body) of the resulting entity.

6.         Clawback and Forfeiture under Certain Circumstances   Notwithstanding any provisions in this Agreement to the contrary, any portion of the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement or the sale of shares of Common Stock shall be subject to a clawback to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law including, without limitation, the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or any Securities and Exchange Commission rule. In addition, notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, the Committee may terminate your Award if it determines that you have engaged in conduct that would permit the Company to terminate your employment for cause. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “cause” has the meaning assigned to such term in your employment agreement with the Company or an Affiliate; provided, however, that in the absence of such an employment agreement or if such employment agreement does not define the term “cause,” then “cause” means a determination by the Company that you have (a) engaged in conduct that is injurious (monetarily or otherwise) to the Company or any Affiliate (including, without limitation, misuse of any of the Company’s funds or other property), (b) been convicted of, or pleaded no contest to, or received adjudicated probation or deferred adjudication in connection with any felony or any other crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude, (c) breached any material provision of the Plan, this Agreement or any other written agreement or corporate policy or code of conduct established by the Company or its Affiliates, (d) engaged in gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of your duties, or (e) refused without proper legal reason to perform your duties.

            7.         Nontransferability of Awards . The Performance Units granted hereunder may not be sold, assigned, pledged, exchanged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred, encumbered or disposed of, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Following your death, any shares distributable (or cash payable) in respect of Performance Units will be delivered or paid, at the time specified in Section 3 hereof or, if applicable, Section 5 hereof, to your beneficiary in accordance with, and subject to, the terms and conditions hereof and of the Plan.

 

            8.         Beneficiary Designation . You may from time to time name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom shall be delivered or paid under this Agreement following your death any shares that are distributable or cash payable hereunder in respect of your Performance Units at the time specified in Section 3 hereof or, if applicable, Section 5 hereof. Each designation will revoke all prior designations, shall be in a form prescribed by the Committee, and will be effective only when filed in writing with the


Committee during your lifetime. In the absence of any such effective designation, shares issuable and cash payable in connection with your death shall be paid to your surviving spouse, if any, or otherwise to your estate.

 

            9.         Adjustments in Respect of Performance Units . In the event of any common stock dividend or common stock split, recapitalization (including, but not limited to, the payment of an extraordinary dividend), merger, consolidation, combination, spin-off, distribution of assets to stockholders, exchange of shares, or other similar corporate change with regard to the Company or any Peer Company (other than the payment of cash dividends), appropriate adjustments shall be made by the Committee to the Initial Value of the corresponding common stock, and, if any such event occurs with respect to the Company, in the aggregate number of Performance Units subject to this Agreement. The Committee’s determination with respect to any such adjustment shall be conclusive.

 

            10.       Effect of Settlement . Upon conversion into shares of Common Stock (or Successor Corporation common stock) pursuant to Section 3 or Section 5 hereof, a cash settlement of your rights, at the election of the Committee at its sole discretion pursuant to Section 5(d) hereof, or a combination of the issuance of Common Stock and the payment of cash in accordance with any applicable provisions of this Agreement, all of your Performance Units subject to the Award shall be cancelled and terminated. If and to the extent that you are still employed at the end of the Performance Period, and none of your Performance Units shall have become earned in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, all such Performance Units subject to the Award shall be cancelled and terminated.

 

            11.       Furnish Information . You agree to furnish to the Company all information requested by the Company to enable it to comply with any reporting or other requirements imposed upon the Company by or under any applicable statute or regulation.

 

            12.       Remedies . The parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to recover from each other reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with the enforcement of the terms and provisions of this Agreement whether by an action to enforce specific performance or for damages for its breach or otherwise.

 

            13.       Information Confidential . As partial consideration for the granting of the Award hereunder, you hereby agree with the Company that you will keep confidential all information and knowledge, except that which has been disclosed in any public filings required by law, that you have relating to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; provided, however, that such information may be disclosed as required by law and may be given in confidence to your spouse, tax and financial advisors, or to a financial institution to the extent that such information is necessary to secure a loan.

 

            14.       Payment of Taxes . The Company may from time to time require you to pay to the Company (or an Affiliate if you are an employee of an Affiliate) the amount that the Company deems necessary to satisfy the Company’s or its Affiliate’s current or future obligation to withhold federal, state or local income or other taxes that you incur as a result of the Award. With respect to any required tax withholding, unless another arrangement is permitted by the


Company in its discretion, the Company shall withhold from the shares of Common Stock to be issued to you the number of shares necessary to satisfy the Company’s obligation to withhold taxes, that determination to be based on the shares’ Fair Market Value at the time as of which such determination is made. In the event the Company subsequently determines that the aggregate Fair Market Value of any shares of Common Stock withheld as payment of any tax withholding obligation is insufficient to discharge that tax withholding obligation, then you shall pay to the Company, immediately upon the Company’s request, the amount of that deficiency.

 

            15.       Right of the Company and Affiliates to Terminate Your Employment . Nothing contained in this Agreement shall confer upon you the right to continue in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate, or interfere in any way with the rights of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate your employment at any time for any or no reason; provided, however, that any such termination shall be subject to the terms and conditions of any employment agreement between you and the Company or any Affiliate.

 

            16.       No Liability for Good Faith Determinations . Neither the Company nor the members of the Board and the Committee shall be liable for any act, omission or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to this Agreement or the Performance Units granted hereunder.

 

            17.       No Guarantee of Interests . The Board, the Committee and the Company do not guarantee the Common Stock of the Company from loss or depreciation.

 

            18.       Company Records . Records of the Company or its Affiliates regarding your period of employment, termination of employment and the reason therefor, leaves of absence, re-employment, and other matters shall be conclusive for all purposes hereunder, unless determined by the Company to be incorrect.

 

            19.       Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof, but such provision shall be fully severable and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein.

 

            20.       Notices . Whenever any notice is required or permitted hereunder, such notice must be in writing and personally delivered or sent by mail. Any such notice required or permitted to be delivered hereunder shall be deemed to be delivered on the date on which it is personally delivered, or, whether actually received or not, on the third business day after it is deposited in the United States mail, certified or registered, postage prepaid, addressed to the person who is to receive it at the address which such person has theretofore specified by written notice delivered in accordance herewith. The Company or you may change, at any time and from time to time, by written notice to the other, the address which it or you had previously specified for receiving notices.

 

            The Company and you agree that any notices shall be given to the Company or to you at the following addresses:

 

 


Company:

Concho Resources Inc.

Attn: Corporate Secretary

One Concho Center

600 W. Illinois Avenue

Midland, Texas 79701

 

Holder:            At your current address as shown in the Company’s records.

 

            21.       Waiver of Notice . Any person entitled to notice hereunder may waive such notice in writing.

 

            22.       Successor . This Agreement shall be binding upon you, your legal representatives, heirs, legatees and distributees, and upon the Company, its successors and assigns.

 

            23.       Headings . The titles and headings of Sections and paragraphs are included for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construction of the provisions hereof.

 

            24.       Governing Law . All questions arising with respect to the provisions of this Agreement shall be determined by application of the laws of the State of Texas except to the extent Texas law is preempted by federal law. The obligation of the Company to sell and deliver Common Stock hereunder is subject to applicable laws and to the approval of any governmental or regulatory authority (including any applicable stock exchange) required in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale, or delivery of such Common Stock.

 

            25.       Execution of Receipts and Releases . Any payment of cash or any issuance or transfer of shares of Common Stock or other property to you, or to your legal representative, heir, legatee or distributee, in accordance with the provisions hereof, shall, to the extent thereof, be in full satisfaction of all claims of such persons hereunder. The Company may require you or your legal representative, heir, legatee or distributee, as a condition precedent to such payment or issuance, to execute a release and receipt therefor in such form as it shall determine.

 

            26.       Amendment . This Agreement may be amended at any time unilaterally by the Company provided that such amendment is consistent with all applicable laws and does not reduce any rights or benefits you have accrued pursuant to this Agreement. This Agreement may also be amended at any time unilaterally by the Company to the extent the Company believes in good faith that such amendment is necessary or advisable to bring this Agreement into compliance with any applicable laws, including Section 409A of the Code.

 

            27.       The Plan . This Agreement is subject to all the terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions contained in the Plan.

 

            28.       Agreement Respecting Securities Act . You represent and agree that you will not sell the Common Stock that may be issued to you pursuant to your Performance Units except


pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act (including Rule 144).

 

            29.       No Stockholder Rights . The Performance Units granted pursuant to this Agreement do not and shall not entitle you to any rights as a stockholder of Common Stock until such time as you receive shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement. Your rights with respect to the Performance Units shall remain forfeitable at all times prior to the date on which rights become earned in accordance with this Agreement.

 

[Signatures on the following page.]


If you accept this Performance Unit Award Agreement and agree to its terms and conditions, please so confirm by signing and returning the duplicate of this Agreement enclosed for that purpose.

 

Very Truly Yours,

 

                                                            CONCHO RESOURCES INC.

                                                                         

                                                            By: /s/ Timothy A. Leach     

                                                            Name:  Timothy A. Leach

                                                            Title:    Chief Executive Officer

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED:

 

 

 

By: /s/ E. Joseph Wright     

      E. Joseph Wright

 


Appendix A

Determination of Earned Performance Units

A.        Relative Total Shareholder Return

Peer Companies

OXY    Occidental Petroleum Corporation

EOG    EOG Resources, Inc.

APC     Anadarko Petroleum Corporation

DVN    Devon Energy Corporation                 

APA     Apache Corporation               

MRO    Marathon Oil Corporation

PXD     Pioneer Natural Resources

CLR     Continental Resources, Inc.

NBL     Noble Energy, Inc.

HES     Hess Corporation

COG    Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation

SWN    Southwestern Energy Company

XEC     Cimarex Energy Co.

RRC     Range Resources Corporation

NFX     Newfield Exploration Company

FANG  Diamondback Energy, Inc.

Determination of Percentage Attributable to Relative Total Shareholder Return

The percentage attributable to the achievement of Relative Total Shareholder Return shall be determined in accordance with the following table based on the Company’s relative ranking in respect of the Performance Period with regard to Total Shareholder Return as compared to Total Shareholder Return of the Peer Companies (straight line interpolation will be used between levels):

 

Company’s Relative Ranking

Applicable Percentage

90 th Percentile or Above

200%

70 th Percentile

150%

50 th Percentile

100%

25 th Percentile

50%

Below the 25 th Percentile

0%

 

 

 


 

B.         Absolute Total Shareholder Return

The percentage attributable to the achievement of Absolute Total Shareholder Return shall be determined in accordance with the following table based on the Company’s annualized Total Shareholder Return for the Performance Period:

 

Company’s annualized Total Shareholder Return for the Performance Period

Applicable Percentage

Less than 0%

50%

0% to 15%

100%

Greater than 15%

150%

 

 

 

 

 


 

RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.2

 

THIS RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made on January 02, 2018 (the “Date of Grant”), between CONCHO RESOURCES INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and E. JOSEPH WRIGHT (the “Employee”). 

1.                   Award .  Pursuant to the CONCHO RESOURCES INC. 2015 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (the “Plan”), as of the Date of Grant, 11,253 shares (the “Restricted Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, shall be issued as hereinafter provided in the Employee’s name subject to certain restrictions thereon.  The Restricted Shares shall be issued upon acceptance hereof by the Employee and upon satisfaction of the conditions of this Agreement.  The Employee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan, and agrees that this award of Restricted Shares shall be subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan, including future amendments thereto, if any, pursuant to the terms thereof.

2.                   Definitions .  Capitalized terms used in this Agreement that are not defined below or in the body of this Agreement shall have the meanings given to them in the Plan.  In addition to the terms defined in the body of this Agreement, the following capitalized words and terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

(a)        “Change of Control” shall mean:

(i)         a merger of the Company with another entity, a consolidation involving the Company, or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to another entity if, in any such case, (1) the holders of equity securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or event do not beneficially own immediately after such transaction or event equity securities of the resulting entity entitled to 50% or more of the votes then eligible to be cast in the election of directors generally (or comparable governing body) of the resulting entity in substantially the same proportions that they owned the equity securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or event or (2) the persons who were members of the Board immediately prior to such transaction or event shall not constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the resulting entity immediately after such transaction or event;

(ii)        the dissolution or liquidation of the Company;

(iii)       when any person or entity, including a “group” as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, acquires or gains ownership or control (including, without limitation, power to vote) of more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of the Company; or

(iv)       individuals, who, as of April 14, 2015 (the “Effective Date”), constitute members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered for purposes of this definition

 


as though such individual was a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for these purposes, any such individual whose initial assumption of office as a director occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any individual, entity or group other than the Board.

For purposes of the preceding sentence, (1) “resulting entity” in the context of a transaction or event that is a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all assets shall mean the surviving entity (or acquiring entity in the case of an asset sale) unless the surviving entity (or acquiring entity in the case of an asset sale) is a subsidiary of another entity and the holders of common stock of the Company receive capital stock of such other entity in such transaction or event, in which case the resulting entity shall be such other entity, and (2) subsequent to the consummation of a merger or consolidation that does not constitute a Change of Control, the term “Company” shall refer to the resulting entity and the term “Board” shall refer to the board of directors (or comparable governing body) of the resulting entity.

(b)        “Disability” shall have the meaning assigned to such term under the Employment Agreement.

(c)        “Earned Shares” means the Restricted Shares after the lapse of the Forfeiture Restrictions without forfeiture.

(d)       “Employment Agreement” means that certain Employment Agreement between the Company and the Employee as in effect on the Date of Grant, including as amended by (i) that certain First Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and the Employee dated as of November 19, 2010, and (ii) that certain Retirement Agreement between the Company and the Employee entered into as of May 17, 2017.

(e)        “Forfeiture Restrictions” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3(a) hereof.

(f)        “Involuntary Termination” shall have the meaning assigned to such term under the Employment Agreement.

(g)        “Retirement Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term under the Employment Agreement.

(h)        “Return Obligation” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3(c) hereof.

3.         Restricted Shares .  The Employee hereby accepts the Restricted Shares when issued and agrees with respect thereto as follows:

(a)        Forfeiture Restrictions .  The Restricted Shares may not be sold, assigned, pledged, exchanged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred, encumbered or disposed of, and in the event of termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company for any reason other than death, Disability, or Involuntary Termination within the two-year period beginning on the date upon which a Change of Control occurs, the Employee shall, for no consideration, forfeit to the Company all Restricted Shares.  The prohibition against transfer and the obligation to forfeit and surrender Restricted Shares to the Company upon termination of employment as provided in


the preceding sentence are herein referred to as the “Forfeiture Restrictions.”  The Forfeiture Restrictions shall be binding upon and enforceable against any transferee of Restricted Shares.

(b)        Lapse of Forfeiture Restrictions .  Provided that the Employee has been continuously employed by the Company from the Date of Grant through the lapse date set forth in the following schedule, the Forfeiture Restrictions shall lapse with respect to a percentage of the Restricted Shares determined in accordance with the following schedule:

 

Lapse Date

Percentage of Total Number of Restricted Shares as to Which Forfeiture Restrictions Lapse

January 02, 2019

100%

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated by reason of death or Disability, then the Forfeiture Restrictions shall lapse with respect to 100% of the Restricted Shares effective as of the date of such termination, and (ii) subject to the provisions of Section 5.5 (relating to parachute payments) and Section 5.6 (relating to a release agreement) of the Employment Agreement, if the Employee’s employment with the Company shall be subject to an Involuntary Termination within the two-year period beginning on the date upon which a Change of Control occurs, then the Forfeiture Restrictions shall lapse with respect to 100% of the Restricted Shares effective as of the date of such Involuntary Termination.  Any shares with respect to which the Forfeiture Restrictions do not lapse in accordance with the preceding provisions of this Section 3(b) shall be forfeited to the Company for no consideration as of the date of the termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company.

(c)        Return Obligation .  If the Employee’s employment with the Company terminates on the Retirement Date by reason of the Employee’s retirement as provided in Section 3.1 of the Employment Agreement, then, pursuant to Section 5.10(c) of the Employment Agreement, the Employee shall immediately return to the Company all Earned Shares (as adjusted pursuant to Section 3(e) hereof and including any dividends as provided in Section 3(d) hereof) in the event that the Employee either (i) fails to timely execute the release described in Section 5.10(c) of the Employment Agreement or (ii) revokes such release in a timely manner in accordance with the provisions of such release.  The Employee’s obligation pursuant to the preceding sentence is herein referred to as the “Return Obligation.”  The Return Obligation shall be binding and enforceable against any transferee of Earned Shares.

(d)       Certificates .  A certificate evidencing the Restricted Shares shall be issued by the Company in the Employee’s name, pursuant to which the Employee shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Restricted Shares, including, without limitation, voting rights and the right to receive dividends (provided, however, that dividends paid in shares of the Company’s stock shall be subject to the Forfeiture Restrictions and the Return Obligation and further provided that dividends that are paid other than in shares of the Company’s stock shall be paid no later than the end of the calendar year in which the dividend


for such class of stock is paid to stockholders of such class or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date the dividend is paid to stockholders of such class of stock).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, in its discretion, elect to complete the delivery of the Restricted Shares by means of electronic, book-entry statement, rather than issuing physical share certificates.  The Employee may not sell, transfer, pledge, exchange, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of the stock until the Forfeiture Restrictions and the Return Obligation have expired, and a breach of the terms of this Agreement shall cause a forfeiture of the Restricted Shares or the application of the Return Obligation, as applicable.  The certificate, if any, shall be delivered upon issuance to the Secretary of the Company or to such other depository as may be designated by the Committee as a depository for safekeeping until the forfeiture of such Restricted Shares occurs or the Forfeiture Restrictions lapse pursuant to the terms of the Plan and this Agreement.  At the Company’s request, the Employee shall deliver to the Company a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Shares.  Upon the lapse of the Forfeiture Restrictions without forfeiture, the Company shall cause a new certificate or certificates to be issued without legend (except for any legend required pursuant to applicable securities laws or any other agreement to which the Employee is a party or to reflect the Return Obligation) in the name of the Employee in exchange for the certificate evidencing the Restricted Shares or, as may be the case, the Company shall issue appropriate instructions to the transfer agent if the electronic, book-entry method is utilized.

(e)        Corporate Acts .  The existence of the Restricted Shares shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.  The restrictions in the preceding provisions of this Section 3 hereof shall not apply to the transfer of Restricted Shares or Earned Shares pursuant to a plan of reorganization of the Company, but the stock, securities or other property received in exchange therefor shall also become subject to the Forfeiture Restrictions, the provisions governing the lapsing of such Forfeiture Restrictions applicable to the original Restricted Shares, and the Return Obligation, as applicable, for all purposes of this Agreement, and the certificates, if any, representing such stock, securities or other property shall be legended to show such restrictions.

4.         Withholding of Tax .  To the extent that the receipt of the Restricted Shares or the lapse of any Forfeiture Restrictions results in compensation income or wages to the Employee for federal, state or local tax purposes, the Employee shall deliver to the Company at the time of such receipt or lapse, as the case may be, such amount of money as the Company may require to meet its minimum obligation under applicable tax laws or regulations, and if the Employee fails to do so, the Company is authorized to withhold from any cash or stock remuneration (including withholding any Restricted Shares or Earned Shares distributable to the Employee under this Agreement) then or thereafter payable to the Employee any tax required to be withheld by reason of such resulting compensation income or wages.  The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Company is making no representation or warranty as to the tax consequences to the Employee as a result of the receipt of the Restricted Shares, the lapse of any Forfeiture Restrictions, the forfeiture of any Restricted Shares pursuant to the Forfeiture Restrictions or any return of property to the Company pursuant to the Return Obligation.


 

5.         Status of Stock .  The Employee agrees that the Restricted Shares and Earned Shares issued under this Agreement will not be sold or otherwise disposed of in any manner which would constitute a violation of any applicable federal or state securities laws.  The Employee also agrees that (a) the certificates, if any, representing the Restricted Shares and Earned Shares may bear such legend or legends as the Committee deems appropriate in order to reflect the Forfeiture Restrictions and the Return Obligation and to assure compliance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and applicable securities laws, (b) the Company may refuse to register the transfer of the Restricted Shares or Earned Shares on the stock transfer records of the Company if such proposed transfer would constitute a violation of the Forfeiture Restrictions or other restrictions set forth in Section 3 hereof or, in the opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company, of any applicable securities law, and (c) the Company may give related instructions to its transfer agent, if any, to stop registration of the transfer of the Restricted Shares and Earned Shares, as applicable.

6.         Employment Relationship .  For purposes of this Agreement, the Employee shall be considered to be in the employment of the Company as long as the Employee remains an employee of either the Company or an Affiliate.  Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, it is specifically provided that the Employee shall be considered to have terminated employment with the Company at the time of the termination of the “Affiliate” status of the entity or other organization that employs the Employee.  Nothing in the adoption of the Plan, nor the award of the Restricted Shares thereunder pursuant to this Agreement, shall confer upon the Employee the right to continued employment by the Company or affect in any way the right of the Company to terminate such employment at any time.  Unless otherwise provided in a written employment agreement or by applicable law, the Employee’s employment by the Company shall be on an at-will basis, and the employment relationship may be terminated at any time by either the Employee or the Company for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause or notice.  Any question as to whether and when there has been a termination of such employment, and the cause of such termination, shall be determined by the Committee or its delegate, and its determination shall be final.

7.         Notices .  Any notices or other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing.  In the case of the Employee, such notices or communications shall be effectively delivered if hand delivered to the Employee at the Employee’s principal place of employment or if sent by registered or certified mail to the Employee at the last address the Employee has filed with the Company.  In the case of the Company, such notices or communications shall be effectively delivered if sent by registered or certified mail to the Company at its principal executive offices.

8.         Entire Agreement; Amendment .  This Agreement replaces and merges all previous agreements and discussions relating to the same or similar subject matters between the Employee and the Company and constitutes the entire agreement between the Employee and the Company with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.  This Agreement may not be modified in any respect by any verbal statement, representation or agreement made by any employee, officer, or representative of the Company or by any written agreement unless signed by an officer of the Company who is expressly authorized by the Company to execute such document.


9.         Binding Effect; Survival .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successors to the Company and all persons lawfully claiming under the Employee.  The provisions of Sections 3(c) and 5 shall survive the lapse of the Forfeiture Restrictions without forfeiture.

10.       Controlling Law This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflicts of law principles thereof, or, if applicable, the laws of the United States.

 

 

[Signatures begin on next page.]


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Company has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by an officer thereunto duly authorized, and the Employee has executed this Agreement, all as of the date first above written.

             

                                                                                    CONCHO RESOURCES INC.

 

 

                         

                                                                                                             

                                                                                    By:      /s/ Timothy A. Leach

                                                                                    Name:  Timothy A. Leach

                                                                                    Title:    Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

                                                                                    /s/ E. Joseph Wright __________________ 

                                                                                    E. JOSEPH WRIGHT