Agreement
Exhibit 10.3
Agreement
This
Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into this 29 day of August,
2008, effective as of the 23rd day of June, 2008, by and between Petroleum
Development Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx (“Xxxxxxxx”).
WHEREAS,
the Company employed Xxxxxxxx in the capacity of Chief Executive
Officer;
WHEREAS,
Xxxxxxxx is a Director of the Company and currently serves as the Chairman of
the Board;
WHEREAS,
effective as of June 23, 2008, the Company and Xxxxxxxx mutually agreed that
Xxxxxxxx shall no longer be employed in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer
but shall be employed as an advisor (“Advisor”) of the Company;
WHEREAS,
the Company desires to employ Xxxxxxxx to perform the duties and services
incident to such position for the Company, and Xxxxxxxx wishes to be so employed
by the Company, all upon the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement;
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants and obligations
set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged and accepted, the parties hereto,
intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
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1.
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Effective Date and
Term
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The
effective date of this Agreement shall be June 23, 2008 (the “Effective
Date”).
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2.
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Place of
Employment
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The place
of employment shall be Marco Island, Florida, unless Xxxxxxxx and the Company
agree to an alternative location.
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3.
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Position and
Responsibilities
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a.
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Position. Xxxxxxxx
shall serve as an Advisor of the Company through September 30, 2008 and in
such capacity shall report to the Board and be under the general direction
and control of the Board.
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b.
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Responsibilities. Xxxxxxxx
shall perform such managerial duties and responsibilities for the Company
as may be reasonably assigned to him by the Board and, while serving as
Advisor, shall serve, at no additional compensation, on the Board and in
other such positions with any subsidiary corporation of the Company, or
any partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the
Company has an interest (herein collectively called “Affiliates”), as the
Board may from time to time
determine.
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c.
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Dedication of
Professional Services. Xxxxxxxx shall devote
substantially all of his business time, best efforts and attention to
promote and advance the business of the Company and its Affiliates and to
perform diligently and faithfully all the duties, responsibilities and
obligations of his position with the Company. Xxxxxxxx shall not be
employed in any other business activity, other than with the Company and
its Affiliates, during the Term, whether or not such activity is pursued
for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage without approval by the
Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Compensation Committee"),
provided, however, that this restriction shall not be construed as
preventing Xxxxxxxx from investing his or her personal assets in a
business which does not compete with the Company or its Affiliates, where
the form or manner of such investment will not require services of any
significance on the part of Xxxxxxxx in the operation of the affairs of
the business in which such investment is made and in which his
participation is solely that of a passive
investor.
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d.
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Adherence to
Standards. Xxxxxxxx shall comply with the written
policies, standards, rules and regulations of the Company from time to
time established for all executive officers of the Company consistent with
Employee's position and level of
authority.
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e.
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Minimum Stock
Ownership. Xxxxxxxx agrees to comply with the Company’s
minimum stock ownership requirements applicable to Executive
Officers. At such time as he acts solely in the capacity as a
Non-Employee Director, he shall maintain a minimum stock ownership in an
amount equal to the minimum stock ownership required to be maintained by
Non-Employee Directors of the Company, as adjusted from time to
time.
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4.
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Compensation
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a.
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Base Salary and
Retainer
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i.
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The
Company shall pay Xxxxxxxx an annual base salary of $340,000 (the “Base
Salary”) commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the date that the
Employee no longer is employed as an Advisor. The Base Salary
will be payable in accordance with the ordinary payroll practices of the
Company.
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ii.
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Xxxxxxxx’
Base Salary shall terminate on the first day after Xxxxxxxx is no longer
an Advisor to the Company; provided however, that so long thereafter as
Xxxxxxxx serves solely as Chairman of the Board, Xxxxxxxx shall be paid a
cash retainer of not less than $45,000 on an annualized
basis. Such retainer shall be in addition to
the compensation payable to other Non-Employee Directors of the
Company, as adjusted from time to
time.
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b.
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2008 Performance
Bonus. In addition to the Base Salary, Xxxxxxxx shall be
eligible for an annual performance bonus (“Bonus”) for 2008 based on the
achievement of corporate performance objectives as determined by the
Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. The “Target
Bonus” will be 90% of the Base Salary paid to Xxxxxxxx for 2008 in his
capacity as Chief Executive Officer and as Advisor, as set forth in the
Petroleum Development Corporation Short-Term Incentive Compensation
Plan. However, the Bonus may be more or less than the Target
Bonus (but not to exceed 180% of the Xxxxxxxx Base Salary)
based on the level of performance of Xxxxxxxx and the criteria established
by and at the sole discretion of, the Compensation
Committee. The Bonus will be paid in cash no later than March
15 of the following year and will be pro-rated for the portion of the year
that Xxxxxxxx is in the employ of the Company if less than a full calendar
year. To the extent practicable, the Bonus will meet the
requirements for qualified performance-based compensation under Internal
Revenue Code Section 162(m). By way of example, assume
Xxxxxxxx had retired on August 31, 2008. Xxxxxxxx’
Base Salary in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer (a position he held
for six months in 2008) is $400,000 per annum and his Base Salary in the
capacity of Advisor (a position he held for two months in 2008) is
$340,000 per annum. Therefore, Xxxxxxxx will be entitled to
one-half (50%) of the $400,000 Base Salary (based on Xxxxxxxx’ six months
in that position) and one-sixth (16.67%) of the $340,000 Base Salary
(based on Xxxxxxxx’ two months in that position). Therefore,
the total Base Salary paid to Xxxxxxxx for 2008 would be $256,666.67
((400,000 x .5) + (340,000 x .1667)). This amount would be used
as the Base Salary for Xxxxxxxx' Bonus calculation. If the
Compensation Committee determines that Xxxxxxxx is entitled to 85% of the
Target Bonus, and the Target Bonus is 90% of Xxxxxxxx’ Base Salary, then
the Bonus payable to Xxxxxxxx would be $196,350 ($256,666.67 x .90 x
.85).
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c.
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Retirement
Compensation. Xxxxxxxx is entitled to two separate
non-qualified retirement benefits:
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x.
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Xxxxxxxx
first retirement benefit is set forth in certain of his prior employment
agreements, including the Third Modification to Employee's Employment
Agreement dated as of January 1, 1999. Under this first
retirement benefit, as of December 31, 2007, Xxxxxxxx has earned a
cumulative benefit of $601,930. The parties expressly
acknowledge that this Section 4c.i. amends, restates, and supersedes all
prior written documentation relating to Xxxxxxxx’ first retirement
benefit. This cumulative retirement benefit of $601,930 shall
continue to increase at a rate of 10.75% compounded annually for each
subsequent year after December 31, 2007 that Xxxxxxxx is employed by the
Company. The cumulative amount as of the date that the Employee
terminates employment with the Company will be paid in equal annual
installments over ten years beginning on July 1 following the date that
Xxxxxxxx terminates employment with the Company, without additional
earnings on the unpaid balance of the
installments.
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ii.
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Under
the second retirement benefit, as of December 31, 2007, the Xxxxxxxx had a
cumulative retirement benefit of $450,000 (payable $45,000 per year for
ten years without additional earnings on the unpaid balance of the
installments) (the “Retirement Payment”). For each additional
year that Xxxxxxxx is employed by the Company, he will earn an additional
Retirement Payment equal to the prior year’s annual installment plus $500
for each of the ten years comprising his retirement
benefit. Xxxxxxxx' annual installment at December 31, 2007
equaled $12,000. For example, if Xxxxxxxx is employed on
December 31, 2008, he will be entitled to an additional annual retirement
benefit of $12,500 for ten years, resulting in his cumulative retirement
benefit being equal to $575,000 (payable $57,500 per year for ten
years). The Retirement Payment will be payable to Xxxxxxxx, or
in the event of the Xxxxxxxx’ death, to his estate, beneficiaries, or
designees, on the first business day of January in each of the first ten
years following the date Xxxxxxxx leaves the service of the
Company.
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iii.
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The
non-qualified retirement benefits under i. and ii. will be in addition to
any deferred compensation, pension, or other payments Xxxxxxxx has earned
under any other previous and subsequent agreements with the Company and
any other payments he may be due under the Company’s employee benefit
plans.
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iv.
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Notwithstanding
the preceding, at such time as Xxxxxxxx ceases to serve as an Advisor to
the Company or other employee position, and continues to serve as the
Company's Chairman of the Board or otherwise as a Non-Employee Director,
Xxxxxxxx shall be entitled to earn additional retirement benefits, if any,
provided to other Non-Employee
Directors.
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d.
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Accelerated
Vesting.
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i.
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One
hundred percent (100%) of the then unvested stock options held by Xxxxxxxx
will vest on the date that Xxxxxxxx no longer is an Advisor of the Company
or other employee position and one hundred percent (100%) of the then
unvested restricted stock (excluding the 2007 LTIP shares grant and the
2008 LTIP shares grant) will vest when and if the Xxxxxxxx retires (in a
Board-approved retirement) as a Board director (the "Termination Date",
and all periods between June 23, 2008 and such date are referred to as the
"Term").
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ii.
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With
regard to the LTIP shares, for purposes of the service vesting
requirement, fifty percent (50%) of the 2007 and 2008 LTIP shares will
vest on the date that Xxxxxxxx no longer is an Advisor of the Company or
other employee position and the remaining fifty percent (50%) of the 2007
and 2008 LTIP shares will vest when and if the Employee retires (in a
Board-approved retirement) as a Board director. The 2007 LTIP
shares and the 2008 LTIP shares held by the Employee will vest in
accordance with the performance targets set forth in the documentation for
such LTIP shares.
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e.
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Other
Compensation. Xxxxxxxx, while an employee of the
Company, will continue to be eligible to participate in all other cash or
stock compensation plans or programs maintained by the Company, as in
effect from time to time, in which other senior executives of the Company
are allowed to participate.
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5.
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Employee
Benefits
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a.
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Participation in
Company Benefit Plans. While an employee, the Company
shall provide Xxxxxxxx with coverage under all employee pension and
welfare benefit programs, plans and practices commensurate with his
positions in the Company and to the extent permitted under the respective
employee benefit plan.
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b.
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Vacation. Xxxxxxxx
will be entitled to twenty (20) days of paid vacation in each calendar
year while employed by the Company, to be taken at such times as is
reasonably determined by Xxxxxxxx to be consistent with Xxxxxxxx'
responsibilities under this Agreement prorated if necessary for partial
year service in accordance with Company
policies.
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c.
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Expense
Reimbursement. Xxxxxxxx is authorized to incur
reasonable expenses in carrying out his duties and responsibilities under
this Agreement, including, without limitation, expenses related to travel,
meals, entertaining, and similar items related to such duties and
responsibilities. The Company shall reimburse Xxxxxxxx for all
such expenses on presentation by Xxxxxxxx from time to time of
appropriately itemized and approved (consistent with the Company’s policy)
accounts of such expenditures. The Company shall reimburse
Xxxxxxxx for reasonable dues and expenses of membership in such club or
clubs as the Board deems reasonably necessary for Xxxxxxxx to entertain on
behalf of the Company and for costs associated with continuing education
and professional dues if approved in advance by the Board. All
expense reimbursements for a calendar year will be paid in the normal
course, but no later than March 15 of the following calendar
year.
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d.
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Life and Disability
Insurance. The Company will reimburse Xxxxxxxx during
the period of his employment for the cost of life insurance on Xxxxxxxx in
the face amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000) with a person or
persons named by Xxxxxxxx as either the owner or the beneficiary as
Xxxxxxxx shall direct, and the cost of William's current disability policy
with scheduled adjustments. All reimbursements for a calendar
year will be paid in the normal course, but no later than March 15 of the
following calendar year. The Company agrees that it
will include the Xxxxxxxx under any hospital, surgical, or group health
plan or policy adopted generally for the benefit of its
employees. The payment of the premiums for the Employee and his
dependents will be determined in accordance with the rules and regulations
adopted by the Company for its employees. In addition to
including Xxxxxxxx and his dependents in such plan, the Company shall pay
all reasonable hospital, surgical, medical, dental, and prescription
expenses of Xxxxxxxx and his dependents not covered by such a
plan. In the event the Company has no group health plan, the
Company agrees to pay all reasonable premiums on any health insurance
policy obtained by the Xxxxxxxx to provide such
coverage. Following his employment by the Company, Xxxxxxxx
and/or his spouse shall be entitled to participate in the group health
plan of the Company or its successors for as long as either shall live by
paying the same premium as is being charged to an active employee of
the Company or its successors for identical
coverage.
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e.
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Automobile. While
an employee, Xxxxxxxx will be entitled to use of a Company automobile or
payment of a vehicle allowance in accordance with the Company’s policy for
executive officers.
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6.
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Confidential Material
and Employee Obligations.
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a.
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Confidential
Material. Xxxxxxxx shall not, directly or indirectly,
either during the Term or thereafter, disclose to anyone (except in the
regular course of the Company's business or as required by law), or use in
any manner, any information acquired by Xxxxxxxx during his employment by
the Company with respect to any clients or customers of the Company or any
confidential, proprietary or secret aspect of the Company's operations or
affairs unless such information has become public knowledge other than by
reason of actions, direct or indirect, of Xxxxxxxx. Information subject to
the provisions of this paragraph will include, without
limitation:
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i.
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Brokers,
broker/dealer firms, law firms used to prepare Company and partnership
registration statements, due diligence investigations, or other parties
involved with the registration, review, or offering of the Company’s
securities and drilling programs;
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ii.
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Names,
addresses, and other information regarding investors in the Company’s
drilling programs;
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iii.
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Names,
addresses and other information regarding investors who participate with
the Company in the drilling, completion or operation of oil and gas xxxxx
as joint venture partners, working interest owners, or in any other form
of ownership:
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iv.
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Lists
of or information about personnel seeking employment with or who are
currently employed by the Company;
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v.
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Maps,
logs, drilling reports and any other information regarding past, planned
or possible future leasing, drilling, acquisition, or other operations
that the Company has completed or is investigating or has investigated for
possible inclusion in future
activities;
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vi.
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Any
other information or contacts relating to the Company's drilling,
development, fund-raising, purchasing, engineering, marketing,
merchandising, and selling
activities.
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b.
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Return of Confidential
Material. All maps, logs, data, drawings and other
records and written and digital material prepared or compiled by Xxxxxxxx
or furnished to Xxxxxxxx during the Term will be the sole and exclusive
property of the Company and none of such material may be retained by
Xxxxxxxx upon termination of his employment. The aforementioned
materials include materials on Xxxxxxxx' personal
computer. Xxxxxxxx shall return to the Company or destroy all
such materials on or prior to the Termination
Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Xxxxxxxx will be under
no obligation to return or destroy public
information.
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c.
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No
Solicitation. Xxxxxxxx shall not, directly or
indirectly, either during the Term or for a period of one (1) year
thereafter (i)
solicit, directly or indirectly, the services of any person who was a
full-time employee of the Company, its subsidiaries, divisions, or
affiliates, or otherwise induce such employee to terminate or reduce
employment, or (ii)
solicit the business of any person who was a client or customer of the
Company, its subsidiaries, divisions, or affiliates, in each case at any
time during the last year of the Term. For purposes of this Agreement, the
term "person" includes natural persons, corporations, business trusts,
associations, sole proprietorships, unincorporated organizations,
partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies or partnerships,
and governments, or any agencies, instrumentalities, or political
subdivisions thereof.
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d.
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Non-Compete. Xxxxxxxx
shall not, directly or indirectly, either during the Term or for a period
of one (1) year thereafter, engage in any Competitive Business in West
Virginia, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, Michigan,
Ohio, Kentucky, Texas and Tennessee provided,
however, that the ownership of less than five percent (5%) of the
outstanding capital stock of a corporation whose shares are traded on a
national securities exchange or on the over the counter market will not be
deemed engaging in any Competitive Business. “Competitive
Business” means the oil and natural gas industry, including oil and gas
leasing, drilling, and other operations, syndication and marketing of
partnership or other investments related to oil and natural gas
operations, or any other business activities that are the same as or
similar to the Company’s business operations as its business exists on the
Effective Date or on September 30,
2008.
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e.
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Remedies. Xxxxxxxx
acknowledges and agrees that the Company's remedy at law for a breach or a
threatened breach of the provisions herein would be inadequate, and in
recognition of this fact, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by
Xxxxxxxx of any of the provisions of this Agreement, it is agreed that the
Company will be entitled to equitable relief in the form of specific
performance, a temporary restraining order, a temporary or permanent
injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available,
without posting bond or other security. Xxxxxxxx acknowledges
that the granting of a temporary injunction, a temporary restraining order
or other permanent injunction merely prohibiting Xxxxxxxx from engaging in
any business activities would not be an adequate remedy upon breach or
threatened breach of this Agreement, and consequently agrees upon any such
breach or threatened breach to the granting of injunctive relief
prohibiting Xxxxxxxx from engaging in any activities prohibited by this
Agreement. No remedy herein conferred is intended to be
exclusive of any other remedy, and each and every such remedy will be
cumulative and will be in addition to any other remedy given hereunder now
or hereinafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or
otherwise.
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7.
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Termination as an
Employee
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a.
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Unless
otherwise specified below, the Company shall pay to
Xxxxxxxx during October
2008:
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i.
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The
2008 Performance Bonus provided in Section 4.b, in a lump sum, when 2008
performance data is available to allow the determination of
performance-based compensation, but no later than March 15,
2009;
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ii.
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Any
incentive, deferred or other compensation which has been earned or has
become payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement as of September 30,
2008, but which has not yet been paid, provided that the Company shall
make such payments under the schedule originally contemplated in the
agreement under which they were
granted;
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iii.
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Any
unpaid expense reimbursement upon presentation by Xxxxxxxx of an
accounting of such expenses in accordance with normal Company practices
but not later than March 15 of the year following the year of termination;
and
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iv.
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Any
other payments for benefits earned under this or any other employment
agreement or plan.
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b.
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Code Section 409A
Compliance.
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Except
with respect to amounts paid pursuant to a schedule outside of this Agreement,
it is intended that amounts payable under this Section 7 not be considered
non-qualified deferred compensation subject to Internal Revenue Code Section
409A. Xxxxxxxx is a Specified Employee under Internal Revenue Code
Section 409A, therefore, to the extent such amounts are considered non-qualified
deferred compensation payable upon a separation from service under Internal
Revenue Code Section 409A, payment of those amounts so deferred under Internal
Revenue Code Section 409A may not be made until at least six (6) months
following Xxxxxxxx' separation from service of the Company (or, if earlier, the
date of death of Xxxxxxxx).
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8.
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Life
Insurance. The Company may, at any time after the
execution of this Agreement, maintain any outstanding life insurance
policies and apply for and procure as owner and for its own benefit new
life insurance on Xxxxxxxx, in such amounts and in such form or forms as
the Company may determine. Xxxxxxxx shall, at the request of
the Company, submit to such medical examinations, supply such information,
and execute such documents as may be required by the insurance company or
companies to whom the Company has applied for such
insurance. Xxxxxxxx hereby represents that to his knowledge he
is in excellent physical and mental
condition.
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9.
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Notices. For
the purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in the Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to
have been duly given when personally delivered, by facsimile transmission,
or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or
by expedited (overnight) courier with established national
reputation, shipping prepaid or billed to sender, in either case addressed
to the respective addresses last given by each party to the
other (provided that all notices to the Company must be
directed to the attention of the Secretary of the Company ) or to such
other address as either party may have furnished to the other
in
writing in accordance herewith. All
notices and communication will be deemed to have been received on the date
of delivery thereof, or on the second day after deposit thereof with an
expedited courier service, except that notice of change of address will be
effective only upon receipt.
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Company
at: Petroleum
Development Corporation
Attention: Chief Executive
Officer
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
X.X. Xxx
00
Xxxxxxxxxx
XX 00000
Xxxxxxxx
at: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx.
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
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10.
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Successors.
This Agreement shall be binding on the Company and any successor to any of
its businesses or assets. Without limiting the effect of the
prior sentence, the Company shall use its best efforts to require any
successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business
and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would
be required to perform it if no such succession or assignment had taken
place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" means the Company as
hereinbefore defined and any successor or assign to its business and/or
assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement or
which is otherwise obligated under this Agreement by the first sentence of
this Section, entitled Successors, by operation of law or
otherwise.
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11.
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Binding
Effect. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and
be enforceable by Xxxxxxxx' personal and legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and
legatees. If Xxxxxxxx should die while any amounts would still
be payable to him hereunder if he had continued to live, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, will be paid in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement to Xxxxxxxx'
estate.
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12.
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Modification and
Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified,
waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is
agreed to in writing and signed by Xxxxxxxx and such officer of the
Company as may be specifically designated by the Board. No
waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party
hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this
Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of
similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior
or subsequent time.
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13.
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Headings. Headings
used in this Agreement are for convenience only and may not be used to
interpret or construe its
provisions.
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14.
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Integration,
Modification and Waiver. This agreement constitutes the
sole employment agreement between the parties, and any other prior
employment agreement, written or oral, is terminated. No
provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless
such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed
by Employee and such officer of the Company as may be specifically
designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto at any
time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any
condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other
party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or
conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent
time.
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15.
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Amendments. No
amendments or variations of the terms and conditions of this Agreement
will be valid unless the same is in writing and signed by all of the
parties hereto.
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16.
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Survival of
Obligations. The provisions of Section 5.e. and Section
6 of this Agreement will continue to be binding upon Xxxxxxxx and Company
in accordance with their terms, notwithstanding the termination of
Xxxxxxxx' employment with the Company for any reason or the expiration of
this Agreement.
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17.
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Severability. The
invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement, whether
in whole or in part, shall not in any way affect the validity and/or
enforceability of any other provision contained herein. Any
invalid or unenforceable provision shall be deemed severable to the extent
of any such invalidity or unenforceability. It is expressly
understood and agreed that while the Company and Xxxxxxxx consider the
restrictions contained in this Agreement reasonable for the purpose of
preserving for the Company the good will, other proprietary rights and
intangible business value of the Company, if a final judicial
determination is made by a court having jurisdiction that the time or
territory or any other restriction contained in this Agreement is an
unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable restriction against Xxxxxxxx, the
provisions of such clause will not be rendered void but will be deemed
amended to apply as to maximum time and territory and to such other extent
as such court may judicially determine or indicate to be
reasonable.
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18.
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Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced
pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without giving
effect to its conflict of laws.
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19.
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Arbitration. Any
controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any
transactions provided for herein, or the breach thereof, other than a
claim for injunctive relief, will be settled by arbitration in accordance
with the commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association (the "Rules") in effect at the time demand for arbitration is
made by any party. The evidentiary and procedural rules in such
proceedings will be kept to the minimum level of formality that is
consistent with the Rules. The Company shall name one arbitrator, Xxxxxxxx
shall name a second and the two arbitrators so chosen shall name a
neutral, third arbitrator, who shall serve as the sole arbitrator of the
controversy or claim. The third arbitrator must be experienced
in the matters in dispute. In the event that the third and sole
arbitrator is not agreed upon, the American Arbitration Association shall
name him or her. Arbitration will occur in Bridgeport, West
Virginia, or such other location agreed to by the Company and
Xxxxxxxx. The award made by the third arbitrator will be final
and binding, and judgment may be entered in any court of law having
competent jurisdiction. The award is subject to confirmation,
modification, correction, or vacation only as explicitly provided in Title
9 of the United States Code. The prevailing party will be
entitled to an award of pre- and post-award interest as well as reasonable
attorneys' fees incurred in connection with the arbitration and any
judicial proceedings related
thereto.
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20.
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Executive Officer
Status. Xxxxxxxx acknowledges that he is a director of
the Company for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"1934 Act") and, as such, he shall comply in all respects with all the
rules and regulations under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act applicable to
him in a timely and non-delinquent manner. In order to assist the Company
in complying with its obligations under the 1933 Act and 1934 Act,
Xxxxxxxx shall provide to the Company such information about Xxxxxxxx as
the Company shall reasonably request including, but not limited to,
information relating to personal history and
stockholdings. Xxxxxxxx shall immediately report to the General
Counsel of the Company or other designated officer of the Company all
changes in beneficial ownership of any shares of the Company Common Stock
deemed to be beneficially owned by Xxxxxxxx and/or any members of
Xxxxxxxx' immediate family.
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21.
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Pronouns. All
pronouns and any variations thereof will be deemed to refer to the
masculine, feminine, neuter, singular, or plural, as the identity of the
person or entity may require. As used in this Agreement: (1) words of the
masculine gender shall mean and include corresponding neuter words or
words of the feminine gender, (2) words in the singular shall mean and
include the plural and vice versa, and (3) the word "may" gives sole
discretion without any obligation to take any
action.
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22.
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Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute but
one document.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Xxxxxxxx have duly executed this Agreement
as of the date first above written.
Company
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Executive
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Petroleum
Development Corporation
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By:
/s/Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx
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/s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx
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Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
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Position:
Chair of the
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Compensation
Committee
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