Retention Payment Subject to your compliance with Sections 6 and 7 of this letter agreement, if you remain an active full-time employee of the Company, Parent or any of their respective subsidiaries through the expiration of the 6-month period beginning on the day following the Closing Date (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (the “Vesting Date”), you will receive a cash payment equal to (i) the aggregate amount described in Section 6.2(a) of the Employment Agreement, determined as if your employment with the Company was terminated by the Company without Cause as of the Closing plus (ii) an amount equal to the portion of the premiums the Company would need to pay to provide you with the benefits under Sections 6.2(b) and (c) for the 12 month period following the Vesting Date, based on the premium costs in effect as of the Closing and assuming for this purpose that your employment terminated on the Vesting Date and that you timely elected to receive all such benefits, plus (iii) the Retention Bonus. The aggregate of these amounts will be paid to you in a lump sum on the third business day following the Release Effective Date (as defined below). You hereby agree that, notwithstanding anything contained in the Employment Agreement or any other agreement between you and the Company providing for severance or separation payments or benefits, you may either receive payment of amounts set forth in Section 2(a) or in Section 4, but in no event shall you be entitled to receive payment of both amounts; furthermore, you shall not be entitled to any severance or separation payments or benefits under the Employment Agreement (including under Sections 5 and 6 thereof) or under any other plan, program, policy, agreement or arrangement maintained by the Company, Parent or any of their respective affiliates, and all of your rights to such payments and benefits under the Employment Agreement and any such other plan, program, policy, agreement or arrangement will immediately terminate, in each case, except as otherwise provided herein. If you continue to be employed by Parent or its subsidiaries following the Vesting Date, you shall be eligible for severance benefits under either the applicable severance policy of Parent or one of its subsidiaries, as determined by Parent; provided, however, that you shall not receive credit for your service with Parent or the Company, or any of their respective subsidiaries, for the periods of employment that precede the Closing Date for any purpose under such policy, including eligibility, vesting or calculation of benefits.
Retention Bonus (a) Subject to Sections 2(b), 2(c) and 2(d) below and your continued employment through the Determination Date (as defined below), you will be eligible to receive a Retention Bonus equal to the annual bonus you would have been eligible to receive under the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan based on the Company’s actual performance for 2023, as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) following the completion of 2023, had you been a participant in the Annual Incentive Plan with a target bonus opportunity of up to 40% of your base salary (such amount as determined by the Committee, the “Retention Bonus”), which determination shall occur between January 1, 2024 and March 15, 2024 (the date of such determination, the “Determination Date”). The Retention Bonus, if any, will be paid in cash in a lump sum between January 1, 2025 and March 15, 2025. You will continue to be considered an employee of the Company for purposes of this letter agreement if you are on a Company- approved leave of absence.
(b) In the event of a Change in Control during 2024, subject to your continued employment through the earlier of: (1) the Determination Date; or (2) the date of the Change in Control, you will be eligible to receive your Retention Bonus in cash in a lump sum within 10 days following the date of the Change in Control.
(c) In the event of your Involuntary Termination (as defined in the Employment Agreement) on or after the Determination Date but on or prior to the date you have received the Retention Bonus, you will be eligible to receive your Retention Bonus in cash in a lump sum within 10 days following the effective date of your Release (as defined below). As a condition to your receipt of the Retention Bonus pursuant to this Section 2(c), you shall execute and not revoke a general release of all claims in favor of the Company and its affiliates (the “Release”) in the form attached to the Employment Agreement as Exhibit A. In the event the Release does not become effective within the 55-day period following the date of your Involuntary Termination, you shall not be entitled to the Retention Bonus.
(d) If your employment terminates prior to the Determination Date for any reason, then this letter agreement will terminate, and you will forfeit any right you may have to receive the Retention Bonus.
Earn-Out In addition to the Closing Purchase Price, the earn-out amounts set forth below can be earned and shall be paid, if earned, to Sellers.
(a) Up to an aggregate of One Million Three Hundred Thirty Three Thousand Dollars ($1,333,000) (the “Annual Maximum”) can be earned based on the AEBITDA of the Sellers’ Operations during each of the twelve (12) month periods (each a “Measurement Period”) ending June 30 of 2011 through and including 2015.
(i) If the AEBITDA for any applicable Measurement Period is equal to or greater than the Target AEBITDA, then earn-out amount for such Measurement Period shall be equal to the Annual Maximum for such Measurement Period and such amount shall be deemed earned as of the expiration of such Measurement Period and be payable by Purchaser to Sellers as and when provided in Section 2.7(c) hereof.
(ii) If the AEBITDA for any applicable Measurement Period is less than the Target AEBITDA, then the earn-out amount for such Measurement Period shall be equal to (A) the Annual Maximum for such Measurement Period, minus (B) the amount by which the actual AEBITDA for such Measurement Period is less than the Target AEBITDA, and such amount shall be deemed earned as of the expiration of such Measurement Period and be payable by Purchaser to Sellers as and when provided in Section 2.7(c) hereof.
(iii) Subject to Section 2.7(b) hereof, if the AEBITDA for any applicable Measurement Period is zero or negative then no earn-out amount for such Measurement Period shall be deemed earned or be payable by Purchasers to Sellers.
(b) If the Annual Maximum is not earned for any of the first four (4) Measurement Periods, then up to Two Hundred Sixty Six Thousand Dollars ($266,000) of the amount not earned may be recaptured (the “Recapture Maximum”) to the extent that the AEBITDA in the immediately subsequent Measurement Period is greater than the Target AEBITDA, in which case, the amount of the recapture earn-out shall be equal to the amount that the applicable AEBITDA exceeds the Target AEBITDA on a dollar for dollar basis, up to the Recapture Maximum for such immediately subsequent Measurement Period. Similarly, if the Annual Maximum is not earned in any of the final four (4) Measurement Periods, then up to Two Hundred Sixty Six Thousand Dollars ($266,000) of the amount not earned may carried forward (the “Carry-forward Maximum”) to the extent that the AEBITDA in the immediately prior Measurement Period is greater than the Target AEBITDA, in which case, the amount of the carry forward earn-out shall be equal to the amount that the applicable AEBITDA exceeded the Target AEBITDA in the prior period on a dollar for dollar basis, up to the Carry-forward Maximum for such immediately prior Measurement Period. Any such recapture earn-out amount or carry-forward earn-out amount for any applicable Measurement Period shall be in addition to any earn-out amount earned by Sellers pursuant to Section 2.7(a)(i) hereof for such applicable Measurement Period and shall be payable by Purchaser to Sellers as and when provided in Section 2.7(c)If the Annual Maximum is not earned for any of the first four (4) Measurement Periods, then up to Two Hundred Sixty Six Thousand Dollars ($266,000) of the amount not earned may be recaptured (the “Recapture Maximum”) to the extent that the AEBITDA in the subsequent Measurement Period is greater than the Target AEBITDA, in which case, the amount of the recapture earn-out shall be equal to the amount that the applicable AEBITDA exceeds the Target AEBITDA on a dollar for dollar basis, up to the Recapture Maximum for such Measurement Period. Any such recapture earn-out amount for any Measurement Period shall be in addition to any earn-out amount earned by Sellers pursuant to Section 2.7(a)(i) hereof for such Measurement Period and shall be payable by Purchaser to Sellers as and when provided in Section 2.7(c) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the total aggregate recapture earn-out and/or carry-forward earn-out for all measurement periods exceed Two Hundred Sixty Six Thousand Dollars ($266,000). By way of illustration only, if AEBITDA (x) for the first Measurement Period is $100,000 less than the Target AEBITDA, (y) for the second Measurement Period exceeds the Target AEBITDA by $350,000, and (z) for the third Measurement Period is $200,000 less than the Target AEBITDA, then Sellers shall be entitled to the following: for the first Measurement Period, the Annual Maximum earn-out, less $100,000 (i.e., a dollar for dollar reduction by the amount that the actual AEBITDA for the first Measurement Period is less than the Target AEBITDA); for second Measurement Period, the Annual Maximum earn-out, plus a recapture earn-out of $100,000 (i.e., a dollar for dollar recapture (up to the maximum aggregate recapture and carry-forward earn-out amount for all Measurement Periods of $266,000) by the amount that the AEBITDA for the second Measurement Period exceeded the Target AEBITDA as a recapture for the first Measurement Period by the amount that the Annual Maximum was not earned for the first Measurement Period); and for the third Measurement Period, the Annual Maximum earn-out, less $200,000 (i.e., a dollar for dollar reduction by the amount that the actual AEBITDA for the third Measurement Period was less than the Target AEBITDA), plus a carry-forward earn-out amount of $166,000 (i.e., a dollar for dollar carry-forward (up to the maximum aggregate recapture and carry-forward earn-out for all Measurement Periods amount of $266,000) by the amount that the AEBITDA for the second Measurement Period exceeded the Target AEBITDA as a carry-forward for the third Measurement Period by the amount that the Annual Maximum was not earned for the third Measurement Period, but limited so that the total aggregate recapture earn-out paid for the first Measurement Period and the carry-forward earn-out for the third Measurement Period does not exceed $266,000.00).
(c) Except as expressly provided in Section 2.7(b) hereof, each earn-out amount (and/or recapture or carry-forward earn-out amounts) for each Measurement Period will stand alone and shall be achieved, if at all, and be calculated separately based upon the AEBITDA for such Measurement Period. Each earn-out amount earned by Sellers for any Measurement Period pursuant to Section 2.7(a) hereof, together with any recapture or carry-forward earn-out amounts earned by Sellers for such Measurement Period pursuant to Section 2.7(b) hereof, shall be paid by Purchaser to Sellers within sixty (60) days after the applicable Measurement Period ends (except that the for the last Measurement Period, such payment shall be made within fifteen (15) days after the expiration of the Medicare Cap Year immediately following such Measurement Period, or such earlier date as Purchaser and Sellers may mutually agree) (each, an “Earn-Out Payment Date”) by wire transfer to the accounts set forth on Schedule 2.7(c), and the allocation such earn-out amounts among Sellers shall be in accordance with Schedule 2.3 regardless of the amount that each Seller’s former Operations contributed to the AEBITDA. Sellers acknowledge and agree that the achievement of any earn-out amounts pursuant to this Section 2.7 is contingent upon the AEBITDA with respect to Seller’s Operations as a whole after the Closing Date and neither Purchaser nor its Representatives is guaranteeing that any level of AEBITDA will be achieved or that any of the earn-out amounts will be earned by Sellers.
(d) On or before each applicable Earn-Out Payment Date, Purchaser shall deliver Sellers’ Representative a written notice stating the amount, if any, of the applicable earn-out amount deemed earned during any applicable Measurement Period as determined by Purchaser (each an “Earn-Out Notice”), together with a reasonably detailed calculation of AEBITDA for the applicable Measurement Period. In the event Sellers’ Representative objects to any earn-out amount set forth an Earn-Out Notice, Sellers’ Representative must deliver to Purchaser within fifteen (15) days of the date of such Earn-Out Notice a written notice setting forth the basis for such objections (an “Objection Notice”). If Sellers’ Representative delivers an Objection Notice, Purchaser and Sellers shall attempt in good faith to agree upon the applicable earn-out amount. If Purchaser and Sellers so agree in writing to the applicable earn-out amount, Purchaser shall, within five (5) business days of reaching such agreement pay to Sellers any additional amounts agreed upon. If, however, no agreement is reached after good-faith negotiations, either Purchaser or Sellers may demand arbitration of the dispute and the matters shall be resolved by confidential arbitration conducted by three independent arbitrators, one selected by Purchaser, one selected by Sellers, and the third (who must be independent of the parties hereto) selected jointly by the two arbitrators previously so selected. All arbitrators must be members of the CPR National Panel or CPR California Panel. The arbitrators shall set a limited time period and establish procedures designed to reduce the cost and time for discovery of information relating to any dispute while allowing the parties an opportunity, adequate as determined in the sole judgment of the arbitrators, to discover relevant information from the opposing parties about the subject matter of the dispute. The arbitrators shall rule upon motions to compel, limit or allow discovery as they shall deem appropriate given the nature and extent of the disputed claim. The arbitrators shall also have the authority to impose sanctions, including attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred by the parties, to the same extent as a court of law or equity, if the arbitrators determine that discovery was sought without substantial justification or that discovery was refused or objected to by a party without substantial justification. The decision of a majority of the three arbitrators as to the earn-out amount related to the applicable Earn-Out Notice shall be binding and conclusive upon the parties. Such decision shall be written and shall be supported by written findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding the dispute, which shall set forth the award, judgment, decree or order of the arbitrators. Judgment upon any award, judgment, decree or order rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having competent jurisdiction. Any such arbitration shall be held in the City and County of Orange, California under the CPR Rules for Non-Administered Arbitration then currently in effect. The non-prevailing party (as determined by the arbitrators) to any arbitration under this Section 2.7 shall pay its own expenses, the fees of each arbitrator, the administrative costs of the arbitration and the expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, incurred by the other party to the arbitration. Purchaser shall pay to Seller the amount of any additional earn-out amount deemed earned by the arbitrators within five (5) business days of notice of the arbitrators decision. If Sellers are the determined to be the non-prevailing party, Purchaser may deduct the fees of the arbitrators, the administrative costs of the arbitration and the expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, incurred by Purchaser out any amounts then owing to Sellers hereunder prior to payment of such amounts to Sellers. Any remaining amounts owing by Sellers to Purchaser on account of the fees of the arbitrators, the administrative costs of the arbitration and the expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, incurred by Purchaser, after any such deduction of amounts then owing by Purchaser to Sellers hereunder (if applicable), shall be paid by Sellers to Purchaser within five (5) business days of notice of the arbitrators decision.
Retention Bonuses Provided Executive becomes and remains an active employee of Mercantile, Mercantile will pay Executive retention bonuses in accordance with the following schedule:
(i) $42,750.00 [25% of salary and target incentive compensation], to be paid on the first payroll period following the Effective Time,
(ii) $42,750.00 [25% of salary and target incentive compensation], to be paid on the first payroll period following six (6) months of Executive’s employment with Mercantile,
(iii) $42,750.00 [25% of salary and target incentive compensation], to be paid on the first payroll period following twelve (12) months of Executive’s employment with Mercantile. After twelve (12) months of Executive’s employment with Mercantile, Executive will not be entitled to any further Severance or Retention benefits. The above-listed payments and benefits are in lieu of any and all payments and benefits to which Executive may otherwise have been entitled under the CIC Agreement or any other agreement or practice.
Retention Period The Engineer shall maintain all books, documents, papers, accounting records and other evidence pertaining to costs incurred and services provided (hereinafter called the Records). The Engineer shall make the records available at its office during the contract period and for seven (7) years from the date of final payment under this contract, until completion of all audits, or until pending litigation has been completely and fully resolved, whichever occurs last.
Severance Amount If the Company is required to pay Executive severance by the express terms of Section 7(a) or 7(b), the Company shall pay Executive the following as severance:
(1) Executive's Base Salary at the highest rate in effect prior to the Termination Date as salary continuation for a period of eighteen months commencing on the date on which Executive's employment with the Company is terminated (the "TERMINATION DATE") (the "SEVERANCE PERIOD"), payable in equal monthly installments pursuant to the Company's customary payroll practices for executive salaries; provided, however, that, at the option of the Company, the amounts payable under this Section 7(c) may be paid by the Company in one lump sum.
(2) Executive, Executive's spouse, and Executive's dependents will continue to be eligible for coverage under the Company's group health plan or any successor plan on the same basis as active executive employees of the Company, their spouses, and their dependents for the duration of the Severance Period. If and when group health coverage under another employer's plan is made available to Executive, Executive's spouse, or Executive's dependents, the Company's obligations under this paragraph will cease with respect to each person to whom such coverage is made available, notwithstanding that such person may not in fact become covered under such other employer's plan. Executive's portion of the premium for such coverage shall be withheld from the salary continuation payments described in paragraph (1) immediately above or, if salary continuation has been paid in a lump sum, Executive shall reimburse the Company for Executive's portion of the premium on a monthly basis.
(3) An amount equal to the sum of amounts paid or payable to Executive as bonuses by the Company for the year prior to the year in which the Termination Date occurs. This amount will be payable in one lump sum, to Executive within 30 days after the end of the Severance Period.
(4) Executive shall become 100% vested in all of the shares of restricted stock granted to Executive under the Mariner Energy, Inc. Equity Participation Plan to the extent Executive is less than 100% vested in such shares as of the Termination Date.
(5) Executive shall become 50% vested in all of the rights and interests granted to Executive under the Company's stock and other equity plans (other than the Mariner Energy, Inc. Equity Participation Plan), including without limitation any stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units, and/or performance shares to the extent Executive is less than 50% vested in such award as of the Termination Date.
(6) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, if the Company incurs an obligation to pay severance under this Section 7(c) in connection with the termination of Executive's employment after the consummation of an initial public offering by the Company, then, subject to Section 7(h), Executive shall be entitled to receive the amounts specified in Section 8(a) in lieu of the amounts specified in Sections 7(c)(1) and 7(c)(3).
(7) Payments under this Section 7(c) shall be in lieu of any severance benefits otherwise due to Executive under any severance pay plan or program maintained by the Company that covers its employees or executives generally. If Executive receives payment under Section 8(a), payments otherwise payable under Section 7(c)(1) shall terminate.
Longevity Bonus After twenty (20) years of continuous service, an employee will receive a longevity bonus of seven hundred dollars ($700) per year, payable in one lump sum by the second pay period following the employee's anniversary date.
Earn-Out Payments (i) Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the WME Member or the Company, as applicable, are the obligors in respect of a portion of the Earn-Out Payment. Subject to Section 7.03(g)(ii), the Earn-Out Payments may be funded in any of the following manners (or any combination thereof) as determined by unanimous Board approval (provided that if unanimous Board approval is not obtained, the WME Member or the Company, as applicable, shall nevertheless be permitted to comply with their respective obligations to the Earn-Out Recipients under the Purchase Agreement): (A) for so long as the January Capital Member is a Member, a special cash distribution by the Company to the January Capital Member in consideration of that portion of the Earn-Out Payment due to the January Capital Member, (B) a cash distribution to all Common Members on a pro rata basis to enable the Common Members (other than the Class B Members) to make Earn-Out Payments to the Earn-Out Recipients (provided that all such Common Members shall be required to make such Earn-Out Payment following receipt of such distribution), (C) a special cash distribution by the Company to the WME Member to fund Earn-Out Payments by the WME Member to the Earn-Out Recipients (provided that the WME Member shall be required to make such Earn-Out Payment following receipt of such distribution), and (D) funding by the WME Member (and to the extent agreed to by the Sponsor Members, the Sponsor Members) for Earn-Out Payments to the Earn-Out Recipients.
(ii) The Earn-Out Payments shall be subject to the following rules: (A) Earn-Out Payments to the January Capital Member will, to the extent permitted under the terms of any indebtedness and Senior Equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Annex A, and to the extent the WME Directors reasonably determine (after meaningful consultation with the full Board) that doing so would not have an adverse impact on the Company or its Subsidiaries, for so long as the January Capital Member is a Member, be distributed by the Company to the January Capital Member (subject, in each case, to clause (B) below) (provided that, for purposes of clarification, the January Capital Member shall not lose or waive its right to receive unpaid Earn-Out Payments solely because it ceases to be a Member; provided further that, if the Company is prohibited under the terms of any indebtedness or Senior Equity of the Company or its Subsidiaries or Annex A, or the Board otherwise determines that doing so would have an adverse impact on the Company or its Subsidiaries, and accordingly does not distribute Earn-Out Payments to the January Capital Member in accordance with this clause (A), then the January Capital Member shall have the right, but not the obligation, to elect in writing to defer the payment of such Earn-Out Payment for a period of up to 24 months (the “Outside Earn-Out Payment Date”); provided further that the deferred Earn-Out Payment will be made to the January Capital Member on the earliest to occur of (A) the date on which the deferred Earn-Out Payment may be made by the Company in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this clause (A), (2) the date specified in writing by the January Capital Member (provided the January Capital Member provides written notice to the WME Member at least 60 days prior to the date on which the January Capital Member would like to receive the deferred Earn-Out Payment if such date is prior to the Outside Earn-Out Payment Date) and (3) the Outside Earn-Out Payment Date, (B) the Class B Members shall be grossed up so that they do not bear the effect of any Dilutive Adjustment (as defined below) or the Economic Cost of any Earn-Out Payments that are funded by distributions by the Company, (C) the Class B Members shall not bear any dilution arising from (x) the issuance of any Units that are issued in connection with the Earn-Out Payments or (y) any adjustment to the exercise price (a “Dilutive Adjustment”) of any securities or other interests convertible into Equity Securities of the Company resulting from any gross-up or true-up payment made in connection with, or that constitutes, any Earn-Out Payment, and (D) if any portion of the Earn-Out Payments are paid pursuant to clause (D) of Section 7.03(g)(i) by the WME Member and, if applicable, any Sponsor Members, the WME Member and such Sponsor Members (if any), will be issued Class A Common Units in respect of the amounts so paid thereby pursuant to such clause (D) at a price to be unanimously determined by the Board, which shall in no event be greater than Fair Market Value; provided, that if the Board does not unanimously agree on the price per Class A Common Unit, such Class A Common Units will be issued at Fair Market Value, as unanimously determined by the Board; provided, further, that if the Board does not unanimously agree on Fair Market Value, such value shall be determined by an investment banking firm of national reputation selected by the WME Member and reasonably acceptable to the SL Member, the KKR Member and the Company, whose expenses shall be borne by the Company.
(iii) Solely for purposes of this Section 7.03(g), “Economic Cost”, means, with respect to a Class B Member, such Member’s direct or indirect Percentage Interest of any Company cash or other Company asset that is distributed in a non-pro rata distribution to fund all or any portion of any Earn-Out Payment; provided, that, “Economic Cost” shall not include any diminution in value, lost profits or similar cost not relating to the immediate economic effect of the applicable non-pro-rata distribution.
Bonus Amount For purposes of this Agreement, "Bonus Amount" shall mean the greater of (a) the target annual bonus payable to the Executive under the Incentive Plan in respect of the fiscal year during which the Termination Date occurs or (b) the highest annual bonus paid or payable under the Incentive Plan in respect of any of the three full fiscal years ended prior to the Termination Date or, if greater, the three (3) full fiscal years ended prior to the Change in Control.
Bonus Payments No employee shall be required or requested to make any written or verbal agreement that will conflict with the terms of this Agreement. All employees must be paid weekly for all hours worked as provided in this Agreement. Any bonuses, commissions or other methods of payments over and above the requirements of this Agreement shall be in addition to the requirements of this Agreement and may not be used to offset such contractual requirements and shall not be subject to negotiations.
