EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT July 7, 2006
EXHIBIT 10.1
EXECUTION COPY
EXECUTION COPY
July 7, 2006
The parties to this Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) are Linn Operating,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx (the
“Employee”). The parties desire to provide for the employment of the Employee as Senior
Vice President – Chief Accounting Officer of the Company and of Linn Energy (as defined) commencing
on Employee’s first date of employment, such date to be mutually agreed by the parties (the
“Effective Date”) on the terms set forth herein,. Linn Energy, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company and the 100% parent of the Company (“Linn Energy”), is joining in this
agreement for the limited purposes of reflecting its agreement to the matters set forth herein as
to it, but such joinder is not intended to make Linn Energy the employer of the Employee for any
purpose.
Accordingly, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
| 1. | Position and Duties |
1.1 Employment; Titles; Reporting. The Company agrees to employ the Employee and the
Employee agrees to enter employment with the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
provided under this Agreement. During the Employment Term (as defined in Section 2), the
Employee will serve each of the Company and Linn Energy as the Senior Vice President – Chief
Accounting Officer. In such capacity, the Employee will report to Linn Energy’s and the Company’s
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and otherwise will be subject to the direction
and control of the Board of Directors of Linn Energy (including any committee thereof, the
“Board”), and, the Employee will have such duties, responsibilities and authorities as may
be assigned to her by the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer or the
Board from time to time and otherwise consistent with such position in a public company comparable
to Linn Energy which is engaged in natural gas and oil acquisition, development and production
(including, but not limited to, maintaining, to the extent applicable, compliance with the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and related regulations and all other federal, state and local laws and
regulations, as well as all regulations and rules of any exchange or electronic trading system on
which Linn Energy’s securities are traded).
1.2 Duties. During the Employment Term, the Employee will devote substantially all of
her full working time to the business and affairs of the Company, will use her best efforts to
promote the Company’s interests and will perform her duties and responsibilities faithfully,
diligently and to the best of her ability, consistent with sound business practices. The Employee
may be required by the Board to provide services to, or otherwise serve as an officer or director
of, any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company or to Linn Energy, as applicable. The
Employee will comply with the Company’s and Linn Energy’s policies, codes and procedures, as they
may be in effect from time to time, applicable to executive officers of the Company and Linn
Energy. Nevertheless, the Employee may, with the prior approval of the Board in each instance,
engage in such other business and charitable activities that do not violate Section 7,
create a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest with the Company or Linn
Energy or materially interfere with the performance of her obligations to the Company or Linn
Energy under this Agreement.
1.3 Place of Employment. The Employee will perform her duties under this Agreement at
the Company’s offices in Houston, Texas, with the likelihood of substantial business travel.
2. Term of Employment. The term of the Employee’s employment by the Company under this Agreement
(the “Employment Term”) will commence on the Effective Date and will continue until
employment is terminated by either party under Section 5. The date on which the Employee’s
employment ends is referred to in this Agreement as the “Termination Date.”
3. Compensation.
3.1 Base Salary. During the Employment Term, the Employee will be entitled to
receive a base salary (“Base Salary”) at an annual rate of not less than $175,000 for
services rendered to the Company and any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries, payable in
accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices. The Employee’s Base Salary will be
reviewed annually by the Board and may be adjusted upward in the Board’s sole discretion.
3.2 Bonus Compensation. (a) The Employee will be entitled to a one-time bonus (the
“One-Time Bonus”) in the amount of $100,000 payable within thirty (30) days after the Effective
Date. (b) The Employee will also be entitled to receive a guaranteed bonus (“Guaranteed Bonus”)
payment of not less than $62,500 with respect to the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31,
2006 and not less than $125,000 with respect to the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31,
2007. Thereafter, during the Employment Term, the Employee will be entitled to receive incentive
compensation in such amounts and at such times as the Board may determine in its sole discretion
to award to her under any incentive compensation or other bonus plan or arrangement as may be
established by the Board from time to time (collectively, the “Employee Bonus Plan”). Any
additional incentive compensation payable under any Employee Bonus Plan will be referred to in the
aggregate in this Agreement as the Employee’s “Bonus.”
3.3 Long-Term Incentive Compensation.
(a) Unit Options. As of the Effective Date, the Employee will receive an award of
non-qualified options to purchase up to 50,000 Units of Linn Energy at a per share exercise price
equal to the fair market value of a Unit as of the date of grant, which shall be awarded under the
terms of the Linn Energy, LLC Long Term Incentive Plan or any successor plan, as it may be in
effect from time to time (the “Incentive Plan”), and subject to a service-based vesting schedule
and such other terms and conditions set forth in the applicable option agreement.
(b) Restricted Units. As of the Effective Date, the Employee will receive a
restricted Unit award in the amount of 50,000 Units of Linn Energy, which shall be awarded under
the terms of the Incentive Plan, and subject to a service-based vesting schedule and such other
terms and conditions set forth in the applicable restricted unit agreement.
(c) Future Awards. In addition to the above long-term incentive compensation awards,
awards of Unit options, Unit grants, restricted Units and/or other forms of equity-based
compensation to the Employee on or after the Effective Date may be made from time to time during
the Employment Term by the Board in its sole discretion, whose decision will
be based upon performance and award guidelines for executive officers of the Company and Linn
Energy established periodically by the Board in its sole discretion.
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4. Expenses and Other Benefits.
4.1 Reimbursement of Expenses. The Employee will be entitled to receive prompt
reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by her during the Employment Term (in
accordance with the policies and practices presently followed by the Company or as may be
established by the Board from time to time for the Company’s and Linn Energy’s senior executive
officers) in performing services under this Agreement, provided that the Employee properly
accounts for such expenses in accordance with the Company’s and Linn Energy’s policies as in
effect from time to time.
4.2 Vacation. Employee will be entitled to paid vacation time each year during the
Employment Term that will accrue in accordance with the Company’s policies and procedures now in
force or as such policies and procedures may be modified with respect to all senior executive
officers of the Company.
4.3 Other Employee Benefits. In addition to the foregoing, during the Employment
Term, the Employee will be entitled to participate in and to receive benefits as a senior
executive under all of the Company’s employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements available
to senior executives, subject to the eligibility criteria and other terms and conditions thereof,
as such plans, programs and arrangements may be duly amended, terminated, approved or adopted by
the Board from time to time.
5. Termination of Employment.
5.1 Death. The Employee’s employment under this Agreement will terminate upon her
death.
5.2 Termination by the Company.
(a) Terminable at Will. The Company may terminate the Employee’s employment under this
Agreement at any time with or without Cause (as defined below).
(b) Definition of Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company will have
“Cause” to terminate the Employee’s employment under this Agreement by reason of any
of the following: (i) the Employee’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, any
felony or to any crime or offense causing substantial harm to any of Linn Energy or its
direct or indirect subsidiaries (whether or not for personal gain) or involving acts of
theft, fraud, embezzlement, moral turpitude or similar conduct; (ii) the Employee’s repeated
intoxication by alcohol or drugs during the performance of her duties; (iii) malfeasance in
the conduct of Employee’s duties, including, but not limited to, (A) willful and intentional
misuse or diversion of any of the funds of Linn Energy or its direct or indirect
subsidiaries, (B) embezzlement or (C) fraudulent or willful and material misrepresentations
or concealments on any written reports submitted to any of Linn Energy or its direct or
indirect subsidiaries; (iv) the Employee’s material failure to perform the duties of the
Employee’s employment consistent with Employee’s position, expressly including the
provisions of this Agreement, or material failure to follow or comply with the reasonable
and lawful written directives of the Board; (v) a material breach of this Agreement; or (vi) a material breach by the Employee of written policies
of the Company concerning employee discrimination or harassment.
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(c) Notice and Cure Opportunity in Certain Circumstances. The Employee may be afforded
a reasonable opportunity to cure any act or omission that would otherwise constitute “Cause”
hereunder according to the following terms: The Board will give the Employee written notice
stating with reasonable specificity the nature of the circumstances determined by the Board
in good faith to constitute “Cause.” If, in the good faith judgment of the Board, the
alleged breach is reasonably susceptible to cure, the Employee will have fifteen (15) days
from her receipt of such notice to effect the cure of such circumstances or such breach to
the good faith satisfaction of the Board. The Board will state whether the Employee will
have such an opportunity to cure in the initial notice of “Cause” referred to above. If, in
the good faith judgment of the Board the alleged breach is not reasonably susceptible to
cure, or such circumstances or breach have not been satisfactorily cured within such fifteen
(15) day cure period, such breach will thereupon constitute “Cause” hereunder.
5.3 Termination by the Employee.
(a) Terminable at Will. The Employee may terminate her employment under this Agreement
at any time with or without Good Reason (as defined below).
(b) Notice and Cure Opportunity. If such termination is with Good Reason, the Employee
will give the Company written notice, which will identify with reasonable specificity the
grounds for the Employee’s resignation and provide the Company with fifteen (15) days from
the day such notice is given to cure the alleged grounds for resignation contained in the
notice. A termination will not be for Good Reason if such notice is given by the Employee
to the Company more than thirty (30) days after the occurrence of the event that the
Employee alleges is Good Reason for her termination hereunder.
(c) Definition of Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason”
will mean any of the following to which the Employee will not consent in writing: (a) a
reduction in the Employee’s Base Salary, or (b) a relocation within two (2) years from the
Effective Date of this Agreement of the Employee’s primary place of employment to a location
more than 50 miles from Houston, Texas.
5.4 Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Employee’s employment by the
Company or by the Employee during the Employment Term (other than termination pursuant to
Section 5.1) will be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party
hereto in accordance with Section 8.7. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of
Termination” means a written notice that (a) indicates the specific termination provision in
this Agreement relied upon, (b) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts
and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Employee’s employment under the
provision so indicated, and (c) if the Termination Date (as defined herein) is other than the date
of receipt of such notice, specifies the Termination Date (which Termination Date will be not more
than thirty (30) days after the giving of such notice).
5.5 Disability. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability (as
defined herein) of the Employee has occurred during the Employment Term, it may, without breaching
this Agreement, give to the Employee written notice in accordance with Section 5.4 of its
intention to terminate the Employee’s employment. In such event, the Employee’s employment
with the Company will terminate effective on the fifteenth
(15th) day after receipt of such notice by the Employee (the “Disability Effective Date”), provided that, within the
fifteen (15) days after
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such receipt, the Employee will not have returned to full-time performance
of the Employee’s duties. “Disability” means the determination by a physician selected by
the Company that the Employee has been unable to perform substantially the Employee’s usual and
customary duties under this Agreement for a period of at least one hundred twenty (120) consecutive
days or a non-consecutive period of one hundred eighty (180) days during any twelve-month period as
a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness or disease. At any time and from time to
time, upon reasonable request therefor by the Company, the Employee will submit to reasonable
medical examination for the purpose of determining the existence, nature and extent of any such
disability.
6. Compensation of the Employee upon Termination.
6.1 Death. If the Employee’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by reason
of her death, the Company will pay to the person or persons designated by the Employee for that
purpose in a notice filed with the Company, or, if no such person will have been so designated, to
her estate, the amount of (a) the Employee’s accrued but unpaid Base Salary through the Termination
Date paid in a lump sum within thirty (30) days following the Termination Date, (b) with respect to
any Termination Date on or after January 1, 2008 by reason of Employee’s death, any accrued but
unpaid Bonus, which Bonus will be payable at such time as the bonuses of other executive officers
of the Company are payable, (c) with respect to any Termination Date on or before December 31, 2007
by reason of Employee’s death, a cash amount equal to (i) any unpaid One-Time Bonus amounts, if
any, and (ii) the Employee’s pro-rata Guaranteed Bonus amount set forth in Section 3.2 of this
Agreement, payable at such time as bonuses for such annual period are paid to other executive
officers of the Company, and (d) any other amounts that may be reimbursable by the Company to the
Employee as expressly provided under this Agreement paid in a lump sum within thirty (30) days
following the Termination Date, and the Company thereafter will have no further obligation to the
Employee under this Agreement, other than for payment of any amounts accrued and vested under any
employee benefit plans or programs of the Company and any payments or benefits required to be made
or provided under applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any rights the
Employee’s beneficiary may have to the proceeds of any life insurance arrangement set forth in
Section 4.3 will be in lieu of any special entitlement to severance pay or benefits upon
the Employee’s death.
6.2 Disability. In the event of the Employee’s termination by reason of Disability
pursuant to Section 5.5, the Employee will continue to receive her Base Salary and
participate in applicable employee benefit plans or programs of the Company (on an equivalent basis
to Section 6.4(a)(iv) below) through the Termination Date, subject to offset
dollar-for-dollar by the amount of any disability income payments provided to the Employee under
any Company disability policy or program funded by the Company, and will receive (a) the Employee’s
accrued but unpaid Base Salary through the Termination Date paid in a lump sum within thirty (30)
days following the Termination Date, (b) with respect to any Termination Date on or after January
1, 2008 by reason of Employee’s Disability, any accrued but unpaid Bonus, which Bonus will be
payable at such time as the bonuses of other executive officers of the Company are payable, (c)
with respect to any Termination Date on or before December 31, 2007 by reason of Employee’s
Disability, a cash amount equal to (i) any unpaid One-Time Bonus amounts, if any, and (ii) the
Employee’s pro-rata Guaranteed Bonus amount set forth in Section 3.2 of this Agreement, payable at
such time as bonuses for such annual period are paid to other
executive officers of the Company, and (d) any other amounts that may be reimbursable by the
Company to the Employee as expressly provided under this Agreement paid in a lump sum within thirty
(30) days following the Termination Date, and the Company thereafter will have no
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further obligation to the Employee under this Agreement, other than for payment of any amounts accrued and
vested under any employee benefit plans or programs of the Company and any payments or benefits
required to be made or provided under applicable law.
6.3 By the Company for Cause or the Employee Without Good Reason. If the Employee’s
employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or if the Employee terminates her employment
other than for Good Reason, the Employee will receive (a) the Employee’s accrued but unpaid Base
Salary through the Termination Date paid in a lump sum within thirty (30) days following the
Termination Date, (b) any accrued but unpaid Bonus, which Bonus will be payable at such time as the
bonuses of other executive officers of the Company are payable, and (c) any other amounts that may
be reimbursable by the Company to the Employee as expressly provided under this Agreement paid in a
lump sum within thirty (30) days following the Termination Date, and the Company thereafter will
have no further obligation to the Employee under this Agreement, other than for payment of any
amounts accrued and vested under any employee benefit plans or programs of the Company and any
payments or benefits required to be made or provided under applicable law.
6.4 By the Employee for Good Reason or the Company other than for Cause.
(a) Severance Benefits on Non-Change of Control Termination. Subject to the provisions
of Section 6.4(b) and Section 6.4(d), if prior to or more than one (1) year
after the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) the Company terminates the
Employee’s employment without Cause, or the Employee terminates her employment for Good
Reason, then the Employee will be entitled to the following benefits (the “Severance
Benefits”):
(i) an amount equal to (a) the Employee’s accrued but unpaid Base Salary
through the Termination Date paid in a lump sum within thirty (30) days following
the Termination Date, (b) with respect to any Termination Date on or after January
1, 2008 by the Employee for Good Reason or by the Company without Cause, any accrued
but unpaid Bonus, which Bonus will be payable at such time as the bonuses of other
executive officers of the Company are payable, (c) any other amounts that may be
reimbursable by the Company to the Employee as expressly provided under this
Agreement paid in a lump sum within thirty (30) days following the Termination Date;
(ii) with respect to any termination event described in this paragraph (a) of
Section 6.4: (A) occurring after the Effective Date and prior to the first
anniversary date thereof, twelve (12) monthly payments, and (B) occurring on or
after the first anniversary of the Effective Date, twenty-four (24) monthly
payments, in either case in an amount equal to one-twelfth (1/12) of the Employee’s
annual Base Salary at the highest rate in effect at any time during the thirty-six
(36)-month period prior to the Termination Date, commencing with the calendar month
immediately following the calendar month in which the Termination Date occurs;
(iii) With respect to any Termination Date on or before December 31, 2007 by
the Employee for Good Reason or by the Company without Cause, a
cash amount equal to the Employee’s pro-rata Guaranteed Bonus amount set forth
in Section 3.2 of this Agreement, payable at such time as bonuses for such annual
period are paid to other executive officers of the Company; and
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(iv) the Company will pay the full cost of the Employee’s COBRA continuation
coverage for such period, as such coverage is required to be continued under
applicable law; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the benefits
described in this Section 6.4(a)(iv) may be discontinued prior to the end of
the period provided in this subsection (iv) to the extent, but only to the extent,
that the Employee receives substantially similar benefits from a subsequent employer
(“COBRA Benefit”).
(b) Change of Control Benefits. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.4(d),
if within the one (1)-year period following the occurrence of a Change of Control, the
Company terminates the Employee’s employment without Cause, or the Employee terminates her
employment for Good Reason (an “Eligible Termination”), then, in lieu of the Severance
Benefits under Section 6.4(a), the Employee will be entitled to benefits (the
“Change of Control Benefits”) identical to those set forth in Section 6.4(a)
except that the amount described in clause (ii) will be paid in a lump sum within thirty
(30) days following the Termination Date and will be equal to: (A) twelve (12) monthly
payments with respect to any Eligible Termination occurring after the Effective Date and
prior to the first anniversary date thereof, and (B) with respect to any Eligible
Termination occurring on or after the first anniversary date of the Effective Date an
additional twelve (12) monthly payments.
(c) Definition of Change of Control. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change of
Control” will mean the first to occur of:
(i) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of
Section 13(d) (3) or 14(d) (2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) of 35% or more of either (A) the then-outstanding equity interests of
Linn Energy (the “Outstanding Linn Energy Equity”) or (B) the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of Linn Energy entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Linn Energy Voting
Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes of this Section
6.4(c)(i), the following acquisitions will not constitute a Change of Control:
(A) any acquisition directly from Linn Energy, (B) any acquisition by Linn Energy,
(C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by Linn Energy or any affiliated company, or (D) any acquisition by any
corporation or other entity pursuant to a transaction that complies with Section
6.4(c)(iii)(A), Section 6.4(c)(iii)(B) or Section
6.4(c)(iii)(C);
(ii) Any time at which individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the
Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director
subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by Linn
Energy’s Unitholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors
then comprising the Incumbent Board will be considered as though such individual
were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such
individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as
a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the
election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of
proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;
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(iii) Consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or
consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving Linn Energy or any of its
subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
of Linn Energy, or the acquisition of assets or equity interests of another entity
by Linn Energy or any of its subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”),
in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially
all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the
Outstanding Linn Energy Equity and the Outstanding Linn Energy Voting Securities
immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding equity interests and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from
such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation or other
entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns Linn Energy or all or
substantially all of Linn Energy’s assets either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately
prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Linn Energy Equity and the
Outstanding Linn Energy Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person
(excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of Linn Energy or such corporation or other entity
resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly,
35% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding equity interests of the
corporation or other entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation or other
entity, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business
Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of
the corporation or equivalent body of any other entity resulting from such Business
Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the
initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business
Combination; or
(iv) Consummation of a complete liquidation or dissolution of Linn Energy.
(d) Conditions to Receipt of Severance Benefits.
(i) Release. As a condition to receiving any Severance Benefits or
Change of Control Benefits to which the Employee may otherwise be entitled under
Section 6.4(a) or Section 6.4(b), the Employee will execute a
release (the “Release”), which will include an affirmation of the
restrictive covenants set forth in Section 7 and a non-disparagement
provision, in a form and substance satisfactory to the Company, of any claims,
whether arising under federal, state or local statute, common law or otherwise,
against the Company and its direct or indirect subsidiaries which arise or may have
arisen on or before the date of the Release, other than any claims under this
Agreement or any rights to indemnification from the Company and its direct or
indirect subsidiaries pursuant to any provisions of the Company’s (or any of its
subsidiaries’) organizational
documents or any directors and officers liability insurance policies maintained
by the Company. If the Employee fails or otherwise refuses to execute a Release
within a reasonable time after the Company’s request to do so, and in all events
prior to the date on which such benefits are to be first paid to her, the Employee
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will not be entitled to any Severance Benefits or Change of Control Benefits, as the
case may be, or any other benefits provided under this Agreement and the Company
will have no further obligations with respect to the provision of those benefits
except as may be required by law.
(ii) Limitation on Benefits. If, following a termination of employment
that gives the Employee a right to the payment of Severance Benefits under
Section 6.4(a) or Section 6.4(b), the Employee violates in any
material respect any of the covenants in Section 7 or as otherwise set forth
in the Release, the Employee will have no further right or claim to any payments or
other benefits to which the Employee may otherwise be entitled under Section
6.4(a) or Section 6.4(b) from and after the date on which the Employee
engages in such activities and the Company will have no further obligations with
respect to such payments or benefits, and the covenants in Section 7 will
nevertheless continue in full force and effect.
6.5 Severance Benefits Not Includable for Employee Benefits Purposes. Except to the
extent the terms of any applicable benefit plan, policy or program provide otherwise, any benefit
programs of the Company that takes into account the Employee’s income will exclude any and all
Severance Benefits and Change of Control Benefits provided under this Agreement.
6.6 Exclusive Severance Benefits. The Severance Benefits payable under Section
6.4(a) or the Change of Control Benefits payable under Section 6.4(b), if they become
applicable under the terms of this Agreement, will be in lieu of any other severance or similar
benefits that would otherwise be payable under any other agreement, plan, program or policy of the
Company.
6.7 Additional Provisions Regarding Payments Under This Agreement. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that any benefits payable or otherwise
provided under this Agreement would be
(a) subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Code”), (such excise tax referred to in this Agreement as the
“Excise Tax”), then the Board may, in its sole discretion, provide for the payment
of, or otherwise reimburse the Employee for, an amount up to such Excise Tax and any related
taxes, fees or penalties thereon as the Board may consider to be customary and appropriate
for a comparable public company; or
(b) deemed to constitute non-qualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of
the Code, Linn Energy or the Company, as the case may be, will have the discretion to adjust
the terms of such payment or benefit as it deems necessary to comply with the requirements
of Section 409A to avoid the imposition of any excise tax or other penalty with respect to
such payment or benefit under Section 409A of the Code.
7. Restrictive Covenants.
7.1 Confidential Information. The Employee hereby acknowledges that in connection
with her employment by the Company he will be exposed to and may obtain certain Confidential
Information (as defined below) (including, without limitation, procedures, memoranda, notes,
records and customer and supplier lists whether such information has been or is made,
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developed or
compiled by the Employee or otherwise has been or is made available to her) regarding the business
and operations of the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates. The Employee further
acknowledges that such Confidential Information is unique, valuable, considered trade secrets and
deemed proprietary by the Company. For purposes of ther Agreement, “Confidential
Information” includes, without limitation, any information heretofore or hereafter acquired,
developed or used by any of the Company, Linn Energy or their direct or indirect subsidiaries
relating to Business Opportunities or Intellectual Property or other geological, geophysical,
economic, financial or management aspects of the business, operations, properties or prospects of
the Company, Linn Energy or their direct or indirect subsidiaries, whether oral or in written form.
The Employee agrees that all Confidential Information is and will remain the property of the
Company, Linn Energy or their direct or indirect subsidiaries, as the case may be. The Employee
further agrees, except for disclosures occurring in the good faith performance of her duties for
the Company, Linn Energy or their direct or indirect subsidiaries, during the Employment Term and
for a period of two (2) years after the Termination Date, to hold in the strictest confidence all
Confidential Information, and not to, directly or indirectly, duplicate, sell, use, lease,
commercialize, disclose or otherwise divulge to any person or entity any portion of the
Confidential Information or use any Confidential Information, directly or indirectly, for her own
benefit or profit or allow any person, entity or third party, other than the Company, Linn Energy
or their direct or indirect subsidiaries and authorized executives of the same, to use or otherwise
gain access to any Confidential Information. The Employee will have no obligation under this
Agreement with respect to any information that becomes generally available to the public other than
as a result of a disclosure by the Employee or her agent or other representative or becomes
available to the Employee on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company, Linn
Energy or their direct or indirect subsidiaries. Further, the Employee will have no obligation
under this Agreement to keep confidential any of the Confidential Information to the extent that a
disclosure of it is required by law or is consented to by the Company or Linn Energy; provided,
however, that if and when such a disclosure is required by law, the Employee promptly will provide
the Company with notice of such requirement, so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective
order.
7.2 Return of Property. Employee agrees to deliver promptly to the Company, upon
termination of her employment hereunder, or at any other time when the Company so requests, all
documents relating to the business of the Company, Linn Energy or their direct or indirect
subsidiaries, including without limitation: all geological and geophysical reports and related
data such as maps, charts, logs, seismographs, seismic records and other reports and related data,
calculations, summaries, memoranda and opinions relating to the foregoing, production records,
electric logs, core data, pressure data, lease files, well files and records, land files,
abstracts, title opinions, title or curative matters, contract files, notes, records, drawings,
manuals, correspondence, financial and accounting information, customer lists, statistical data and
compilations, patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade names, inventions, formulae, methods,
processes, agreements, contracts, manuals or any documents relating to the business of the Company,
Linn Energy or their direct or indirect subsidiaries and all copies thereof and therefrom;
provided, however, that the Employee will be permitted to retain copies of any
documents or materials of a personal nature or otherwise related to the Employee’s rights
under this Agreement.
7.3 Non-Compete Obligations.
(a) Non-Compete Obligations During Employment Term. The Employee agrees that during
the Employment Term:
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(i) the Employee will not, other than through the Company, engage or
participate in any manner, whether directly or indirectly through any family member
or as an employee, employer, consultant, agent, principal, partner, more than one
percent shareholder, officer, director, licensor, lender, lessor or in any other
individual or representative capacity, in any business or activity which is engaged
in leasing, acquiring, exploring, producing, gathering or marketing hydrocarbons and
related products; provided that the foregoing shall not be deemed to restrain the
participation by Employee’s spouse in any capacity set forth above in any business
or activity engaged in any such activity and provided further that Linn Energy may,
in good faith, take such reasonable action with respect to Employee’s performance of
her duties, responsibilities and authorities as set forth in Sections 1.1 and 1.2 of
this Agreement as it deems necessary and appropriate to protect its legitimate
business interests with respect to any actual or apparent conflict of interest
reasonably arising from or out of the participation by Employee’s spouse in any such
competitive business or activity; and
(ii) all investments made by the Employee (whether in her own name or in the
name of any family members or other nominees or made by the Employee’s controlled
affiliates), which relate to the leasing, acquisition, exploration, production,
gathering or marketing of hydrocarbons and related products will be made solely
through the Company; and the Employee will not (directly or indirectly through any
family members or other persons), and will not permit any of her controlled
affiliates to: (A) invest or otherwise participate alongside the Company or its
direct or indirect subsidiaries in any Business Opportunities, or (B) invest or
otherwise participate in any business or activity relating to a Business
Opportunity, regardless of whether any of the Company or its direct or indirect
subsidiaries ultimately participates in such business or activity, in either case,
except through the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section
7.3 shall be deemed to prohibit the Employee or any family member from owning, or
otherwise having an interest in, less than one percent (1%) of any publicly-owned
entity or three percent (3%) or less of any private equity fund or similar
investment fund that invests in any business or activity engaged in any of the
activities set forth above, provided that Employee has no active role with respect
to any investment by such fund in any entity.
(b) Non-Compete Obligations After Termination Date. The Employee agrees that the
Employee will not engage or participate in any manner, whether directly or indirectly
through any family member or other person or as an employee, employer, consultant, agent
principal, partner, more than one percent shareholder, officer, director, licensor, lender,
lessor or in any other individual or representative capacity:
(i) during the one-year period following the Termination Date, in any business
or activity which is engaged in leasing, acquiring, exploring, producing,
gathering or marketing hydrocarbons and related products within (A) any county
or parish in which the Company owns any oil and gas interests or conducts operations
on the Termination Date or in which the Company has owned any oil and gas interests
or conducted operations at any time during the six months immediately preceding the
Termination Date or (B) any county or parish adjacent to any county or parish
described in clause (A); and
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(ii) during the two-year period following the Termination Date, in any business
or activity which is in direct competition with the business of the Company or its
direct or indirect subsidiaries in the leasing, acquiring, exploring, producing,
gathering or marketing of hydrocarbons and related products within the boundaries
of, or within a two-mile radius of the boundaries of, any mineral property interest
of any of the Company or its direct or indirect subsidiaries (including, without
limitation, a mineral lease, overriding royalty interest, production payment, net
profits interest, mineral fee interest or option or right to acquire any of the
foregoing, or an area of mutual interest as designated pursuant to contractual
agreements between the Company and any third party) or any other property on which
any of the Company or its direct or indirect subsidiaries has an option, right,
license or authority to conduct or direct exploratory activities, such as
three-dimensional seismic acquisition or other seismic, geophysical and geochemical
activities (but not including any preliminary geological mapping), as of the
Termination Date or as of the end of the six-month period following such Termination
Date; provided that, this subsection (ii) will not preclude the Employee from making
investments in securities of oil and gas companies which are registered on a
national stock exchange, if (A) the aggregate amount owned by the Employee and all
family members and affiliates does not exceed 5% of such company’s outstanding
securities, and (B) the aggregate amount invested in such investments by the
Employee and all family members and affiliates after the date hereof does not exceed
$500,000.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7.3 shall be deemed to restrain the
participation by Employee’s spouse in any capacity set forth above in any business or activity
described above.
(c) Not Applicable Following Change of Control Termination. The Employee will not be
subject to the covenants contained in this Section 7.3 and such covenants will not
be enforceable against the Employee from and after the date that the Employee’s employment
is terminated within one (1) year after a Change of Control.
7.4 Non-Solicitation. During the Employment Term and for a period of twenty-four (24)
months after the Termination Date, the Employee will not, whether for her own account or for the
account of any other Person (other than the Company or its direct or indirect subsidiaries),
intentionally solicit, endeavor to entice away from the Company or its direct or indirect
subsidiaries, or otherwise interfere with the relationship of the Company or its direct or indirect
subsidiaries with, (a) any person who is employed by the Company or its direct or indirect
subsidiaries (including any independent sales representatives or organizations), or (b) any client
or customer of the Company or its direct or indirect subsidiaries.
7.5 Assignment of Developments. The Employee assigns and agrees to assign without
further compensation to the Company and its successors, assigns or designees, all of the Employee’s
right, title and interest in and to all Business Opportunities and Intellectual Property (as those
terms are defined below), and further acknowledges and agrees that all Business Opportunities and
Intellectual Property constitute the exclusive property of the Company.
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For purposes of this Agreement, “Business Opportunities” means all business ideas,
prospects, proposals or other opportunities pertaining to the lease, acquisition, exploration,
production, gathering or marketing of hydrocarbons and related products and the exploration
potential of geographical areas on which hydrocarbon exploration prospects are located, which are
developed by the Employee during the Employment Term, or originated by any third party and brought
to the attention of the Employee during the Employment Term, together with information relating
thereto (including, without limitation, geological and seismic data and interpretations thereof,
whether in the form of maps, charts, logs, seismographs, calculations, summaries, memoranda,
opinions or other written or charted means).
For purposes of this Agreement, “Intellectual Property” shall mean all ideas,
inventions, discoveries, processes, designs, methods, substances, articles, computer programs and
improvements (including, without limitation, enhancements to, or further interpretation or
processing of, information that was in the possession of the Employee prior to the date of this
Agreement), whether or not patentable or copyrightable, which do not fall within the definition of
Business Opportunities, which the Employee discovers, conceives, invents, creates or develops,
alone or with others, during the Employment Term, if such discovery, conception, invention,
creation or development (A) occurs in the course of the Employee’s employment with the Company, or
(B) occurs with the use of any of the time, materials or facilities of the Company or its direct or
indirect subsidiaries, or (C) in the good faith judgment of the Board, relates or pertains in any
material way to the purposes, activities or affairs of the Company or its direct or indirect
subsidiaries.
7.6 Injunctive Relief. The Employee acknowledges that a breach of any of the
covenants contained in this Section 7 may result in material, irreparable injury to the
Company for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure
damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of such a breach or threat of breach,
the Company will be entitled to obtain a temporary restraining order and/or a preliminary or
permanent injunction restraining the Employee from engaging in activities prohibited by this
Section 7 or such other relief as may be required to specifically enforce any of the
covenants in this Section 7. To the extent that the Company seeks a temporary restraining
order (but not a preliminary or permanent injunction), the Employee agrees that a temporary
restraining order may be obtained ex parte.
7.7 Adjustment of Covenants. The parties consider the covenants and restrictions
contained in this Section 7 to be reasonable. However, if and when any such covenant or
restriction is found to be void or unenforceable and would have been valid had some part of it been
deleted or had its scope of application been modified, such covenant or restriction will be deemed
to have been applied with such modification as would be necessary and consistent with the intent of
the parties to have made it valid, enforceable and effective.
7.8 Forfeiture Provision.
(a) Detrimental Activities. If the Employee engages in any activity that violates any
covenant or restriction contained in this Section 7, in addition to any other remedy
the Company may have at law or in equity, (i) the Employee will be entitled to no further
payments or benefits from the Company under this Agreement or otherwise, except for any
payments or benefits required to be made or provided under applicable law, (ii) all
unexercised Unit options, restricted Units and other forms of equity compensation held by or
credited to the Employee will terminate effective as of the date on which the Employee
engages in that activity, unless terminated sooner by operation of another
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term or condition
of this Agreement or other applicable plans and agreements, and (iii) any exercise, payment
or delivery pursuant to any equity compensation award that occurred within one year prior to
the date on which the Employee engages in that activity may be rescinded within one year
after the first date that a majority of the members of the Board first became aware that the
Employee engaged in that activity. In the event of any such rescission, the Employee will
pay to the Company the amount of any gain realized or payment received as a result of the
rescinded exercise, payment or delivery, in such manner and on such terms and conditions as
may be required.
(b) Right of Set-Off. The Employee consents to a deduction from any amounts the
Company owes the Employee from time to time (including amounts owed as wages or other
compensation, fringe benefits, or vacation pay, as well as any other amounts owed to the
Employee by the Company), to the extent of the amounts the Employee owes the Company under
Section 7.8(a) above. Whether or not the Company elects to make any set-off in
whole or in part, if the Company does not recover by means of set-off the full amount the
Employee owes, calculated as set forth above, the Employee agrees to pay immediately the
unpaid balance to the Company. In the discretion of the Board, reasonable interest may be
assessed on the amounts owed, calculated from the later of (i) the date the Employee engages
in the prohibited activity and (ii) the applicable date of exercise, payment or delivery.
8. Miscellaneous.
8.1 Assignment; Successors; Binding Agreement. This Agreement may not be assigned by
either party, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the
other party, except that any right, title or interest of the Company arising out of this Agreement
may be assigned to any corporation or entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control
with the Company, or succeeding to the business and substantially all of the assets of the Company
or any affiliates for which the Employee performs substantial services. Subject to the foregoing,
this Agreement will be binding upon and will inure to the benefit of the parties and their
respective heirs, legatees, devisees, personal representatives, successors and assigns.
8.2 Modification and Waiver. Except as otherwise provided below, no provision of this
Agreement may be modified, waived, or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is
duly approved by the Board and is agreed to in writing by the Employee and such officer(s) as may
be specifically authorized by the Board to effect it. No waiver by any party of any breach by any
other party of, or of compliance with, any term or condition of this Agreement to be performed by
any other party, at any time, will constitute a waiver of similar or dissimilar terms or conditions
at that time or at any prior or subsequent time.
8.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire understanding of the parties
hereof, and, upon the Effective Date, will supersede all other oral or written agreements
or understandings between them regarding the subject matter hereof. No agreement or
representation, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter of this
Agreement, has been made by either party which is not set forth expressly in this Agreement.
8.4 Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this
Agreement will be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania other than the conflict
of laws provision thereof.
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8.5 Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process.
(a) Section 7 Disputes. In the event of any dispute, controversy or claim between the
Company and the Employee arising out of or relating to the interpretation, application or
enforcement of the provisions of Section 7, the Company and the Employee agree and
consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and local courts of Allegheny County,
Pennsylvania and/or the United States District Court for the Western District of
Pennsylvania for resolution of the dispute, controversy or claim, and that those courts, and
only those courts, will have jurisdiction to determine any dispute, controversy or claim
related to, arising under or in connection with Section 7 of this Agreement. The
Company and the Employee also agree that those courts are convenient forums for the parties
to any such dispute, controversy or claim and for any potential witnesses and that process
issued out of any such court or in accordance with the rules of practice of that court may
be served by mail or other forms of substituted service to the Company at the address of its
principal executive offices and to the Employee at her last known address as reflected in
the Company’s records.
(b) Disputes Other Than Under Section 7. In the event of any dispute relating to this
Agreement, other than a dispute relating solely to Section 7, the parties will use
their best efforts to settle the dispute, claim, question, or disagreement. To this effect,
they will consult and negotiate with each other in good faith and, recognizing their mutual
interests, attempt to reach a just and equitable solution satisfactory to both parties. If
such a dispute cannot be settled through negotiation, the parties agree first to try in good
faith to settle the dispute by mediation administered by the American Arbitration
Association under its Commercial Mediation Rules before resorting to arbitration,
litigation, or some other dispute resolution procedure. If the parties do not reach such
solution through negotiation or mediation within a period of sixty (60) days, then, upon
notice by either party to the other, all disputes, claims, questions, or differences will be
finally settled by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in
accordance with the provisions of its Commercial Arbitration Rules. The arbitrator will be
selected by agreement of the parties or, if they do not agree on an arbitrator within thirty
(30) days after either party has notified the other of her or its desire to have the
question settled by arbitration, then the arbitrator will be selected pursuant to the
procedures of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”) in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. The determination reached in such arbitration will be final and binding on
all parties. Enforcement of the determination by such arbitrator may be sought in any court
of competent jurisdiction. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, any such arbitration
will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and will be conducted in accordance with the
Commercial Arbitration Rules of the AAA.
8.6 Withholding of Taxes. The Company will withhold from any amounts payable under
the Agreement all federal, state, local or other taxes as legally will be required to be withheld.
8.7 Notices. All notices, consents, waivers, and other communications under this
Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when (a) delivered by hand
(with written confirmation of receipt), (b) sent by facsimile (with written confirmation of
receipt), provided that a copy is mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested, or (c) when
received by the addressee, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service (receipt
requested), in each case to the appropriate addresses and facsimile numbers set forth below (or
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to such other addresses and facsimile numbers as a party may designate by notice to the other
parties):
to the Company, to:
Attn: General Counsel
Linn Energy, LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Linn Energy, LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
to the Employee, to:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xx.
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xx.
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Addresses may be changed by written notice sent to the other party at the last recorded address of
that party.
8.8 Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions
of this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect.
8.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which will be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same
instrument.
8.10 Headings. The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only, do not
constitute a part of the Agreement, and will not be deemed to limit, characterize, or affect in any
way the provisions of the Agreement, and all provisions of the Agreement will be construed as if no
headings had been used in the Agreement.
8.11 Construction. As used in this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the terms defined herein will have the meanings set forth herein for all purposes; (b)
references to “Section” are to a section hereof; (c) “include,” “includes” and “including” are
deemed to be followed by “without limitation” whether or not they are in fact followed by such
words or words of like import; (d) “writing,” “written” and comparable terms refer to printing,
typing, lithography and other means of reproducing words in a visible form; (e) “hereof,” “herein,”
“hereunder” and comparable terms refer to the entirety of this Agreement and not to any particular
section or other subdivision hereof or attachment hereto; (f) references to any gender include
references to all genders; and (g) references to any agreement or other instrument or statute or
regulation are referred to as amended or supplemented from time to time (and, in the case of a
statute or regulation, to any successor provision).
8.12 Capacity; No Conflicts. The Employee represents and warrants to the Company
that: (i) he has full power, authority and capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement, and to
perform her obligations hereunder, (ii) such execution, delivery and performance will not (and with
the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would not) result in the breach of any agreement or
other obligation to which he is a party or is otherwise bound, and (iii) this Agreement is her
valid and binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms.
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[Signature page follows]
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of
the 7th day of July,
2006.
| LINN OPERATING, INC. | ||||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||||
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||||
| Title: | Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
| EMPLOYEE | ||||||
| /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||||||
| Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||||||
| For the limited purposes set forth herein: | ||||||
| LINN ENERGY, LLC | ||||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||||
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||||
| Title: | Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
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