BAKKEN HUNTER CANADA, INC.
Exhibit 10.24
XXXXXX XXXXXX CANADA, INC.
January 29, 2015
WITHOUT PREJUDICE UNTIL ACCEPTED
X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
00000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xx.
Calgary, Alberta T3Z3L1
Dear Xxxxx:
As discussed, this letter agreement (the "Settlement Letter") confirms that effective January 31, 2015, your employment with Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Canada, Inc. ("BHC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Magnum Hunter Resources Corporation ("MHR"), is terminated, and confirms our mutual understanding and agreement with respect thereto as follows:
1. | Your employment with BHC (and, for the avoidance of doubt, any other affiliate of BHC, including MHR and its affiliates) (collectively, the "Company") will be terminated by the Company effective at the close of business on January 31, 2015 (the "Termination Date"). |
2. | BHC will pay you all accrued and unpaid salary owed to you by BHC, less applicable statutory withholding deductions, for up to and including the Termination Date under BHC's payroll system and reimburse you for unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by you on behalf of the Company, which reimbursement shall be subject to and paid in accordance with the Company’s Travel and Expense Management Policy. |
3. | BHC will pay you all unused accrued “paid time off” which is owing to you by BHC as of the Termination Date as soon as possible under BHC's payroll system after the Termination Date. You acknowledge and agree that BHC owes you CAD $1,891.03 for unused accrued “paid time off,” less applicable statutory deductions, for up to and including the Termination Date. |
4. | BHC will continue its contributions to your health benefits provider until the Termination Date at which time such contributions will cease. You are solely responsible for arranging for continued coverage after this time by contacting your benefits provider. |
5. | MHR offers you an additional CAD $550,000.00 (the "Severance Payment"), representing approximately 97 weeks of base salary, payable in approximately equal installments on your BHC regular bi-monthly pay dates by way of salary continuance for the period from February 1, 2015 to June 15, 2015 (the "Salary Continuance Period"), subject to the following: |
(a) | You must notify MHR prior to your commencement of each and every alternate employment if you secure alternate employment that commences within the Salary Continuance Period. For purposes of this agreement, “alternate employment” shall mean and include any direct or indirect employment, consulting, independent contractor or other “for hire” relationship or arrangement, or whatever kind or nature (including a sole proprietorship or other company, partnership or entity through which you conduct business), other than a consulting arrangement between you and the Company; |
(b) | In the event that you do commence alternate employment during the Salary Continuance Period, you must notify MHR of all compensation received or earned by you, directly or indirectly, during the Salary Continuance Period; |
(c) | In the event that you do commence alternate employment during the Salary Continuance Period, for that period of time between the date you commence alternate employment and the end of the Salary Continuance Period (the "Remaining Salary Continuance Period"), you will be entitled to the remaining Severance Payment which would have been paid to you less any other compensation you earn or receive, directly or indirectly, over the Remaining Salary Continuance Period, payable by way of salary continuance over the Remaining Salary Continuance Period; |
(d) | The Severance Payment shall be less applicable statutory withholding deductions; |
(e) | The Severance Payment is in lieu of all salary, benefits, bonuses, and other remuneration payable to you upon termination of employment and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, is inclusive of all statutory, common law, and/or contractual notice of termination to which you may be entitled; |
(f) | MHR may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, deduct from the Severance Payment any amounts owed by you or your affiliates to the Company pursuant to this Settlement Letter, the enclosed Release and Confidentiality Agreement or any other agreement, arrangement or undertaking between you or your affiliates and the Company; and |
(g) | No portion of the Severance Payment will be paid or payable to you if, prior to the Termination Date, your employment is terminated by the Company for cause or by reason of your death or disability or if you voluntarily terminate your employment with the Company. |
6. | Pursuant to the various Stock Option Agreements between you and MHR, as well as the Restricted Stock Award Agreements between you and MHR (the "Grant Agreements"), you have received various stock options (the "Options") and restricted stock awards (the "Restricted Stock"). Any Options and/or Restricted Stock that you have received are subject to the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreements and the terms and conditions of the MHR Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan, dated August 12, 2010 (as amended, the "Plan"). As per the Plan, for the purposes of any Options or Restricted Stock that have been granted to you by the Grant Agreements, the termination date of your employment shall be the Termination Date. |
7. | You are required to return all Company property or information which belongs to the Company by the close of business on the Termination Date. |
8. | You hereby resign as a director and officer of MHR, and each of its subsidiaries and affiliates, if applicable, effective as at the Termination Date. |
9. | You shall not, at any time, make any false, disparaging, derogatory or defamatory statements (oral or written) in public or in private regarding the Company’s business affairs, business prospects, financial condition, directors, officers, employees or agents, and that of its parent(s), subsidiaries and affiliates, to any party, including, but not limited to, any media outlet, industry group, financial institution, or current or former employee, consultant, or customer of the Company. |
10. | During your employment with the Company you had access to certain confidential and proprietary information of or relating to the Company, the disclosure of which could be harmful to the interests of the Company. As used herein, “Confidential Information” means any information of a confidential or proprietary nature which relates to the Company, including trade secrets, technical expertise or information, marketing strategies, sales and pricing policies, financial information, business, marketing or technical plans, programs, methods, techniques, concepts, formulas, documentation, intellectual property, software, industrial designs, products, technical studies and data, strategic studies, engineering information, client and supplier lists, personnel information, and all documents relating to intellectual property, discoveries, concepts, ideas, improvements, inventions, patents, activities, technology, machinery, equipment, developments and know-how, and any other materials or information related to the business or activities of the Company which has not been made available generally to the public. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information shall not include any information which is or becomes public knowledge through no fault of yours. You will keep all Confidential Information of the Company confidential, and will not disclose it to any person, or use it for any purpose, and you have taken and will in the future take appropriate precautions to safeguard the Confidential Information. |
11. | The Company owns and controls all Confidential Information and proprietary information, technology, inventions, know how, work product, improvements or discoveries, whether or not patentable, including works |
of expression and all copyrights on such works (the "Proprietary Information"), that were developed, created or conceived by you, whether alone or in conjunction with others, while employed by the Company. You will immediately return all such Confidential Information and Proprietary Information to the Company by the Termination Date.
This settlement offer and the Severance Payment are contingent upon you executing the enclosed Release and Confidentiality Agreement. You acknowledge that we have encouraged you to have counsel review the Release and Confidentiality Agreement and the settlement terms contained herein.
If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign and return a copy of this letter agreement and the attached Release and Confidentiality Agreement, and return them to the writer, upon which this letter agreement and the Release and Confidentiality Agreement will constitute legally binding agreements between the parties.
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Yours truly,
XXXXXX XXXXXX CANADA, INC.
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Chief Executive Officer
I accept the terms and conditions of settlement contained in this Settlement Letter and the attached Release and Confidentiality Agreement. I hereby resign as a director and officer of MHR and all of its subsidiaries and affiliates effective as of the Termination Date.
Dated the 29 day of January, 2015.
/s/ X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
____________________________________
X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
RELEASE AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
1. | RESIGNATION |
I, X. XXXXX XXXXXX, of the City of Calgary, in the Province of Alberta, hereby resign as an employee, director and officer of MAGNUM HUNTER RESOURCES CORPORATION, and each of its subsidiaries and affiliates, if applicable, effective as at the Termination Date (as defined in the settlement letter dated January 29, 2015 to which this Release and Confidentiality Agreement is attached (the "Settlement Letter")).
2. | RELEASE |
IN CONSIDERATION of the terms of the Settlement Letter and other good and valuable consideration, paid to me by XXXXXX XXXXXX CANADA, INC. and MAGNUM HUNTER RESOURCES CORPORATION, I, X. XXXXX XXXXXX, of Calgary, Alberta, do for myself, and my affiliates, heirs, executors, administrators, trustees, successors and assigns, (hereinafter collectively referred to as "I"), forever release, remise and discharge XXXXXX XXXXXX CANADA, INC., MAGNUM HUNTER RESOURCES CORPORATION and WILLISTON HUNTER CANADA, INC., their parent companies, subsidiaries and affiliates and all associated officers, directors, managers, employees, agents, insurers, predecessors, successors and assigns (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Company"), jointly and severally, from any and all actions, causes of actions, contracts, (whether express or implied), claims and demands for damages, loss or injury, suits, debts, sums of money, expenses, interest, costs and claims of any and every kind and nature whatsoever, at law or in equity, which against the Company, I ever had, now have, or can hereafter have by reason of or existing out of any causes whatsoever existing up to and inclusive of January 31, 2015 (the "Termination Date"), including but without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(a) | my employment with the Company; |
(b) | my ceasing to be employed with the Company; and |
(c) | any and all claims for damages, short term disability, long term disability, sick leave, salary, wages, termination pay, severance pay, vacation pay, general holiday pay, commissions, bonuses, interest, expenses, insurance, stock options or other incentive compensation, or any other benefits arising out of my employment with or my relationship with, or my termination of employment with, the Company, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY AND ALL ACTIONS, CAUSES OF ACTION, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, DAMAGES, LOSSES, COSTS AND EXPENSES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO ANY AND ALL RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS GRANTED TO ME BY THE COMPANY AND ANY VESTING OF SUCH RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS; provided, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing release shall not apply to (i) my right to exercise those stock options outlined in the Settlement Letter, in accordance with the terms of such stock options, (ii) my rights under that certain Indemnification Agreement, dated May 31, 2013, by and between MHR and me, (iii) my rights, if any, of indemnity under the charter documents of the Company or at law and (iv) my rights, if any, of indemnity and reimbursement under the Company directors and officers liability insurance (the “D&O Policies”); provided further, however, that I acknowledge and agree that the foregoing does not in any way limit, restrict or prohibit the Company from amending, modifying or revising any charter document of the Company or amending, modifying, revising or terminating any of the D&O Policies, in each case in the sole and absolute discretion of the Company. |
3. | NO ADMISSION |
I acknowledge that the satisfactory arrangements made between me and the Company do not constitute any admission of liability by or on behalf of the Company.
4. | EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS |
I acknowledge receipt of all wages, overtime pay, vacation pay and general holiday pay and I further reconfirm that there are no entitlements, overtime pay or wages due and owing to myself by the Company.
5. | EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE |
I confirm and agree that I have not received any Employment Insurance benefits from Human Resources and Development Canada.
6. | HUMAN RIGHTS |
I acknowledge that this Release and Confidentiality Agreement applies to any and all claims I have or may have pursuant to any applicable human rights legislation and further acknowledge or promise that I have or will abandon, quit and withdraw any complaint filed by me.
7. | BENEFITS AND INSURANCE CLAIMS |
I acknowledge and agree that all of my employment benefits ceased as at the Termination Date, I have received all benefit entitlements, including insurance benefits to date, and have no further claim against the Company for benefits. I fully accept sole responsibility to replace those benefits that I wish to continue and to exercise conversion privileges, where applicable, with respect to benefits. In the event that I become disabled, I covenant not to sue the Company for insurance or other benefits, or for loss of benefits. I hereby release the Company from any further obligations or liabilities arising from my employment benefits.
8. | NON-DISCLOSURE |
I agree that I will not divulge or disclose, directly or indirectly, the contents of this Release and Confidentiality Agreement, or the terms of settlement relating to my ceasing to be employed by the Company, to any person including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to employees or former employees of the Company, except my legal and financial advisors on the condition that they maintain the confidentiality thereof, or as required by law.
9. | NON-DISPARAGEMENT |
I agree that I shall not, at any time, make any false, disparaging, derogatory or defamatory statements (oral or written) in public or in private regarding the Company’s business affairs, business prospects, financial condition, directors, officers, employees or agents, and that of its parent(s), subsidiaries and affiliates, to any party, including, but not limited to, any media outlet, industry group, financial institution, or current or former employee, consultant, or customer of the Company.
10. | CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS |
I recognize and acknowledge that during my employment with the Company I had access to certain confidential and proprietary information of or relating to the Company, the disclosure of which could be harmful to the interests of the Company. As used herein, “Confidential Information” means any information of a confidential or proprietary nature which relates to the Company, including trade secrets, technical expertise or information, marketing strategies, sales and pricing policies, financial information, business, marketing or technical plans, programs, methods, techniques, concepts, formulas, documentation, intellectual property, software, industrial designs, products, technical studies and data, strategic studies, engineering information, client and supplier lists, personnel information, and all documents relating to intellectual property, discoveries, concepts, ideas, improvements, inventions, patents, activities, technology, machinery, equipment, developments and know-how, and any other materials or information related to the business or activities of the Company which has not been made available generally to the public. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information shall not include any information which is or becomes public knowledge through no fault of mine. I acknowledge and agree that I will keep all Confidential Information of the Company confidential, and will not disclose it to any person, or use it for any purpose, and I have taken and will in the future take appropriate precautions to safeguard the Confidential Information.
I acknowledge and agree that the Company owns and controls all Confidential Information and proprietary information, technology, inventions, know how, work product, improvements or discoveries, whether or not patentable, including works of expression and all copyrights on such works (the "Proprietary Information"), that were developed, created or conceived by me, whether alone or in conjunction with others, while employed
by the Company. I expressly confirm that I will immediately return all such Confidential Information and Proprietary Information to the Company.
11. | NON-SOLICITATION |
I acknowledge and agree that for a 6 month period following the Termination Date, I shall not for any reason, either directly or indirectly through any person, solicit, entice or encourage, or attempt to solicit, entice or encourage, any employee of the Company to become an employee of any person or enterprise that competes with the business of the Company.
12. | REASONABLENESS OF RESTRICTIONS |
I hereby agree that all restrictions contained in this Release and Confidentiality Agreement are reasonable, valid and necessary protections of the Company’s proprietary business interests and hereby waive any and all defences to the strict enforcement thereof by the Company. If any covenant or provision of this Release and Confidentiality Agreement is determined to be void or unenforceable in whole or in part, for any reason, it shall be deemed not to affect or impair the validity of any other covenant or provision of this Release and Confidentiality Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. The provisions of this Release and Confidentiality Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination of my employment relationship with the Company pursuant to the Settlement Letter.
13. | INDEMNITY REGARDING TAX |
I acknowledge that I am directly liable for all taxes and employment insurance on the settlement agreed to herein and all employment income and benefits received in the course of or in respect of my employment with the Company (including any stock options or restricted stock awards). I further agree to indemnify and save harmless the Company and shall be liable to the Company for any claims in regards to non-deduction or insufficient deduction of taxes or employment insurance monies in regards to the settlement agreed to herein or employment income and benefits received in the course of or in respect of my employment with the Company (including any stock options or restricted stock awards).
14. | RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY |
I agree to immediately return to the Company all Company property in my possession or control, if I have not done so already. Without limiting my obligation, Company material includes all keys, access cards, manuals, vehicles, computers, other communications equipment, product information, price lists, displays and promotional material.
15. | INJUNCTIVE RELIEF |
I understand and agree that in the event that I breach any of my obligations contained in paragraph 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 or 14 of this Release and Confidentiality Agreement, that monetary damages will be inadequate to compensate the Company for the breach. I agree that in the event of a breach, or threatened breach, by me of paragraph 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 or 14 in this Release and Confidentiality Agreement, the Company, in addition to and not in limitation of any other rights, remedies or damages available to it at law or in equity, shall be entitled to an interim injunction, interlocutory injunction and permanent injunction, in order to prevent or to restrain any such breach by me, or by any of my partners, co-ventures, employers, employees, servants, agents, representatives and any and all persons directly or indirectly acting for, on behalf of or with me.
16. | UNDERSTANDING |
I declare that I have had the opportunity to seek independent legal advice with respect to the matters addressed in this Release and Confidentiality Agreement and the terms of settlement which have been agreed to by myself and the Company. I fully understand this Release and Confidentiality Agreement and the terms of settlement. I have not been influenced by any representations or statements made by or on behalf of the Company. I voluntarily accept these terms for the purpose of making full and final compromise, adjustments and settlement of all claims as aforesaid.
17. | COMPLETE AGREEMENT |
I understand and agree that this Release and Confidentiality Agreement and the Settlement Letter contain the entire agreement between the Company and me, that such agreement may not be modified except by mutual written agreement of me and the Company, and that the terms of this Release and Confidentiality Agreement are contractual and not a mere recital.
This Release and Confidentiality Agreement is executed in the City of Calgary, in the Province of Alberta, on this ___ day of January, 2015, but effective as of the Termination Date.
_____________________________ ____________________________
Witness X. XXXXX XXXXXX
