SEPARATION AGREEMENT
It is hereby agreed by and between Xxxxxxx X. Manner ("Employee") and
Mission Resources Corporation, former employer, (hereinafter collectively
"Company"), that Employee has separated from employment with Company effective
July 31, 2002, (hereinafter "Separation Date"), and that in order to resolve
amicably all matters concerning Company employment and release, Employee and
Company, in consideration of their mutual promises and other consideration
itemized below, hereafter enter into the following agreement:
1. Nothing stated in this Agreement, or stated or done in connection
herewith, shall constitute or indicate in any way any wrongdoing of any kind
either by Employee or Company.
2. Company agrees that upon execution by Employee and receipt by its
representative of this Agreement and the Release appended as Exhibit A, Company
will pay Employee, a total of $1,280,000.00 severance ("Severance"), less
payroll deductions for Federal Income Tax and FICA, which is equal to two (2)
times the Executive's highest annual salary in existence at any time during the
last two (2) years of employment immediately preceding the date of separation,
and two (2) times the highest annual bonus paid to the Executive while employed
at the Company. The above sum will be paid in a lump sum within thirty (30) days
after Separation Date pursuant to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement
between Employee and Company dated May 15, 2001 ("Employment Agreement").
Severance will not be eligible for 401(k)-plan participation.
In addition, pursuant to the Employment Agreement, the Employee shall be
entitled to the following:
(i) Immediate vesting of any of the Executive's outstanding options to
purchase securities of Company which were not vested by their own
terms on the Separation Date and the extension of the Executive's
right to exercise all the Executive's options to purchase securities
of Company for a period equal to the lesser of (a) two (2) years
following the Separation Date, or (b) the remaining term of the
applicable options;
(ii) For the twenty-four (24) month period after the Separation Date,
Company, at its sole expense, shall continue to provide or arrange to
provide Employee (and Employee's dependents) with health insurance
benefits no less favorable than the health plan benefits provided by
Company (or any successor) during such twenty-four (24) month period
to any senior executive officer of Company; provided, further, to the
extent the coverage or benefits received are taxable to Executive, the
Company shall make Executive "whole" on a net after tax basis;
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(iii) An amount, in cash, equal to the sum of (a), any unreimbursed
expenses incurred by Employee in the performance of his duties
hereunder through the Separation Date, plus (b), any accrued and
unused vacation time as of the Separation Date; and
(iv) Payment of a lump sum in cash in January 2003, as determined in
accordance with Company's Deferred Compensation Plan which payment
shall be in satisfaction of any of the Employee's rights under the
Plan.
Except as otherwise specifically noted, any payments set forth in clauses
(i) through (iv) above shall be subject to Company's required tax withholding
obligations, if any. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any excise tax relating
to "parachute payments" under Section 280G of the Code applies to any payment
made to Employee pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, then Company shall pay
Employee an additional payment in an amount such that, after payment of federal
income taxes (but not the excise tax) on such additional payment, Employee
retains an amount equal to the excise tax originally imposed on the payment.
3. Employee acknowledges that during the course of Employee's employment
Employee has had access to certain trade secrets of Company and that such trade
secrets constitute valuable, highly confidential, special and unique property of
Company, which Employee agrees not to disclose. These "trade secrets" include
but are not limited to maps, computer programs, engineering studies, geological
studies, proposed transactions, and files, records and documents relating
thereto. Also, the "trade secrets" include lists of customers who utilize
Company's services, and related customer information. However, such trade
secrets do not include customers with whom Employee had a business relationship
before being employed by Company. These "trade secrets" shall not include any
information readily discernable from trade or general circulation publications
or otherwise existing or available in the public domain.
4. Company and Employee acknowledge that, pursuant to Section 16 of the
Employment Agreement (which section expressly survives the termination of the
Employment Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof), during the term of the
Employment Agreement and for a period of six years thereafter, Company shall
cause Employee to be covered by and named as an insured under any policy or
contract of insurance obtained by it to insure its directors and officers
against personal liability for acts or omissions in connection with service as
an officer or director of Company or service in other capacities at the request
of Company. The coverage provided to Employee pursuant to this paragraph shall
be of a scope and on terms and conditions at least as favorable as the most
favorable coverage provided to any other officer or director of Company (or any
successor). In addition, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law,
during the term of the Employment Agreement and for a period of six years
thereafter, the Company shall indemnify Employee against and hold Employee
harmless from any costs, liabilities, losses and exposures for Employee's
services as an employee, officer and director of Company (or any successor),
except in such circumstances where liabilities are the direct result of
Employee's gross negligence or willful misconduct.
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5. Employees, officers and directors of Company shall refrain from making
any derogatory or disparaging remarks to any third party against Employee with
respect to Employee's employment by Company, Employee's performance, Employee's
character, or any such matters. Further, employees, officers and directors of
Company shall refrain from discussions among themselves using any such
derogatory or disparaging remarks.
6. Employee shall refrain from making any derogatory or disparaging remarks
regarding Employee's employment by Company, or Company's services, management,
or operations to any third party other than members of Employee's immediate
family.
7. Employee acknowledges that he or she has been given a period of at least
21 days within which to consider this Agreement and has been given certain
information (attached) as required by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act,
and the Release to be executed hereunder, and that these documents have been
executed by Employee voluntarily, with full knowledge of all relevant
information and after ample opportunity to consult with legal counsel. Employee
is hereby advised to consult with an attorney prior to entering into this
Agreement and the Release to be executed hereunder. Employee and Company further
agree that Employee has a period of seven (7) days following Employee's
execution of this Agreement and the Release to be executed hereunder in which to
revoke these documents by delivering to Company's undersigned representative
written notice of Company revocation, and that this Agreement and the Release
executed hereunder shall not become effective or enforceable until such
revocation period has expired. At Employee's option and sole discretion,
Employee may waive the twenty-one (21) day review period and execute this
Agreement before the expiration of twenty-one (21) days in which case the
seven-day revocation period shall commence upon Employee's execution of this
Agreement. If Employee elects to waive the twenty-one (21) day review period,
Employee acknowledges and admits that he was given a reasonable period of time
within which to consider this Agreement and his waiver is made freely and
voluntarily, without duress or any coercion by any other person.
8. Except as required by applicable law, including, without limitation, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Company and Employee agree that
they will not disclose to any other person or entity and will keep confidential
the fact of the existence of this Agreement, and all other facts or information
of every kind concerning this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee
may disclose the existence of this Agreement or information therein to
Employee's family, Employee's attorney(s) or to Employee's financial advisors or
tax preparer or to the government for tax purposes, or as otherwise required by
law.
9. Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of Employee and
Company as well as all of their heirs, executors, administrators, officers,
directors, employees, stockholders, successors and assigns, and all
subsidiaries, affiliates and representatives of any of the foregoing entities.
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10. Company and Employee agree that this Agreement and the Release shall be
construed under the laws of Texas and, if necessary, litigated in Houston,
Texas.
11. This Agreement and the Release contain the entire agreement of the
parties in complete satisfaction of any and all claims Employee or Company may
have against each other as of the date of execution of this Agreement, whether
or not arising from that certain Amended and Restated Employment Agreement
between Employee and Company dated May 15, 2001. This Agreement may be executed
in one or more counterparts, all of which together shall constitute a single
instrument.
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The parties to this Agreement have executed this instrument on the dates
set forth below.
Date:
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Xxxxxxx X. Manner
Date: Mission Resources Corporation
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By:
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Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Interim CEO,
CFO and President
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