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EXHIBIT 10.1
FIRST AMENDMENT TO
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") dated
as of March 17, 1997 by and between Coho Energy, Inc., a Texas corporation
(the "Company"), and Xxxx Xxxxx X'Xxxxxx (the "Executive").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive entered into an Employment
Agreement dated as of August 19, 1996 (the "Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive hereby desire to amend the
Agreement as set forth in this First Amendment;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants and agreements set forth herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby stipulate and agree as follows:
1. Section 7(c) of the Agreement is hereby amended to read as
follows in its entirety:
"(c) Termination by Company Without Cause or by the
Executive with Good Reason. If either the Company terminates the
Executive's employment without Cause or the Executive terminates her
employment for Good Reason (as hereinafter defined), the Company
shall:
(i) pay to the Executive, within 30 days after the date
of such termination, a lump sum cash payment equal to two times the
Executive's then current annual rate of total compensation;
(ii) pay the Executive any accrued but unpaid compensation
as of the date of the termination of employment; and
(iii) continue until the first anniversary of the
termination of the Executive's employment, or such longer period as
any plan, program or policy or ERISA or other laws may provide,
benefits to the Executive as set forth in Section 7(f) below.
As used in this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean: (A) the failure
by the Company to elect or re-elect or to appoint or re-appoint the
Executive to the office of Senior Vice President of the Company
without Cause; (B) a material change by the Company of the Executive's
function, duties or responsibilities that would cause the Executive's
position with the Company to become of less dignity, responsibility,
importance or scope from the position and attributes thereof described
in Section 2 above; (C) the Company requires the Executive to re-
locate her primary office to a location that is greater than 50 miles
from the location of the Company as of the date hereof, or (D) any
other material breach of this Agreement by the Company."
2. The beginning of the first sentence, through subclause (i), of
Section 7(d) of the Agreement is hereby amended to read as follows in its
entirety:
"(d) Termination Following a Change of Control. If,
within three years of a Change of Control, either the Company
terminates the Executive's employment without Cause or the
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Executive terminates her employment for Good Reason, then, in addition
to any amounts to which the Executive may otherwise be entitled
hereunder, the Company shall:
(i) pay to the Executive, within 30 days after the
date of such termination, a lump sum cash payment equal to an
additional .99 times the Executive's then current annual rate of total
compensation;"
3. Section 7(g) of the Agreement shall be deleted and a new
Section 8 shall be added to read as follows in its entirety:
"8. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in
the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the
Company or any of its affiliates (as that term is defined in the regulations
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) under this
Agreement to or for the benefit of Executive (any such payments or
distributions being individually referred to herein as a "Payment," and any two
or more of such payments or distributions being referred to herein as
"Payments"), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the
Code (such excise tax, together with any interest thereon, any penalties,
additions to tax, or additional amounts with respect to such excise tax, and
any interest in respect of such penalties, additions to tax or additional
amounts, being collectively referred herein to as the "Excise Tax"), then
Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment or payments
(individually referred to herein as a "Gross-Up Payment" and any two or more of
such additional payments being referred to herein as "Gross-Up Payments") in an
amount such that after payment by Executive of all taxes (as defined in Section
8(k)) imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, Executive retains an amount of such
Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments.
The Gross-Up Payments required by this Section 8(a) are
limited to the Excise Tax due on Payments under this Agreement; provided that
when calculating the amount of Payments under this Agreement which are subject
to an excise tax under Sections 4999 and 280G of the Code, the base amount
described in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code shall be allocated (i) first to all
payments and distributions by the Company to the Executive subject to such
excise tax other than Payments under this Agreement, and (ii) then, to the
extent any of such base amount is unallocated, to Payments under this
Agreement.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 8(c) through (i), any
determination (individually, a "Determination") required to be made under this
Section 8(b), including whether a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount
of such Gross-Up Payment, shall initially be made, at the Company's expense, by
nationally recognized tax counsel mutually acceptable to the Company and
Executive ("Tax Counsel"). Tax Counsel shall provide detailed supporting legal
authorities, calculations, and documentation both to the Company and Executive
within 15 business days of the termination of Executive's employment, if
applicable, or such other time or times as is reasonably requested by the
Company or Executive. If Tax Counsel makes the initial Determination that no
Excise Tax is payable by Executive with respect to a Payment or Payments, it
shall furnish Executive with an opinion reasonably acceptable to Executive that
no Excise Tax will be imposed with respect to any such Payment or Payments.
Executive shall have the right to dispute any Determination (a "Dispute")
within 15 business days after delivery of Tax Counsel's opinion with respect to
such Determination. The Gross-Up Payment, if any, as determined pursuant to
such Determination shall, at the Company's expense, be paid by the Company to
Executive within five business days of Executive's receipt of such
Determination. The existence of a Dispute shall not in any way affect
Executive's right to receive the Gross-Up Payment in accordance with such
Determination. If
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there is no Dispute, such Determination shall be binding, final and conclusive
upon the Company and Executive, subject in all respects, however, to the
provisions of Section 8(c) through (i) below. As a result of the uncertainty
in the application of Sections 4999 and 280G of the Code, it is possible that
Gross-Up Payments (or portions thereof) which will not have been made by the
Company should have been made ("Underpayment"), and if upon any reasonable
written request from Executive or the Company to Tax Counsel, or upon Tax
Counsel's own initiative, Tax Counsel, at the Company's expense, thereafter
determines that Executive is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax or
any additional Excise Tax, as the case may be, Tax Counsel shall, at the
Company's expense, determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred
and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to Executive.
(c) The Company shall defend, hold harmless, and indemnify
Executive on a fully grossed-up after tax basis from and against any and all
claims, losses, liabilities, obligations, damages, impositions, assessments,
demands, judgements, settlements, costs and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys', accountants', and experts' fees and expenses) with respect to any
tax liability of Executive resulting from any Final Determination (as defined
in Section 8(j)) that any Payment is subject to the Excise Tax.
(d) If a party hereto receives any written or oral communication
with respect to any question, adjustment, assessment or pending or threatened
audit, examination, investigation or administrative, court or other proceeding
which, if pursued successfully, could result in or give rise to a claim by
Executive against the Company under this Section 8 ("Claim"), including, but
not limited to, a claim for indemnification of Executive by the Company under
Section 8(c), then such party shall promptly notify the other party hereto in
writing of such Claim ("Tax Claim Notice").
(e) If a Claim is asserted against Executive ("Executive Claim"),
Executive shall take or cause to be taken such action in connection with
contesting such Executive Claim as the Company shall reasonably request in
writing from time to time, including the retention of counsel and experts as
are reasonably designated by the Company (it being understood and agreed by the
parties hereto that the terms of any such retention shall expressly provide
that the Company shall be solely responsible for the payment of any and all
fees and disbursements of such counsel and any experts) and the execution of
powers of attorney, provided that:
(i) within 30 calendar days after the Company receives or
delivers, as the case may be, the Tax Claim Notice relating to such
Executive Claim (or such earlier date that any payment of the taxes
claimed is due from Executive, but in no event sooner than five
calendar days after the Company receives or delivers such Tax Claim
Notice), the Company shall have notified Executive in writing
("Election Notice") that the Company does not dispute its obligations
(including, but not limited to, its indemnity obligations) under this
Agreement and that the Company elects to contest, and to control the
defense or prosecution of, such Executive Claim at the Company's sole
risk and sole cost and expense; and
(ii) the Company shall have advanced to Executive on an
interest-free basis, the total amount of the tax claimed in order for
Executive, at the Company's request, to pay or cause to be paid the
tax claimed, file a claim for refund of such tax and, subject to the
provisions of the last sentence of Section 8(g), xxx for a refund of
such tax if such claim for refund is disallowed by the appropriate
taxing authority (it being understood and agreed by the parties hereto
that the Company shall only be entitled to xxx for a refund and the
Company shall not be entitled to initiate any proceeding in, for
example, United States
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Tax Court) and shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on a fully
grossed-up after tax basis, from any tax imposed with respect to such
advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such
advance; and
(iii) the Company shall reimburse Executive for any and all
costs and expenses resulting from any such request by the Company and
shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on fully grossed-up
after-tax basis, from any tax imposed as a result of such
reimbursement.
(f) Subject to the provisions of Section 8(e) hereof, the Company
shall have the right to defend or prosecute, at the sole cost, expense and risk
of the Company, such Executive Claim by all appropriate proceedings, which
proceedings shall be defended or prosecuted diligently by the Company to a
Final Determination; provided, however, that (i) the Company shall not, without
Executive's prior written consent, enter into any compromise or settlement of
such Executive Claim that would adversely affect Executive, (ii) any request
from the Company to Executive regarding any extension of the statute of
limitations relating to assessment, payment, or collection of taxes for the
taxable year of Executive with respect to which the contested issues involved
in, and amount of, the Executive Claim relate is limited solely to such
contested issues and amount, and (iii) the Company's control of any contest or
proceeding shall be limited to issues with respect to the Executive Claim and
Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, in his sole and absolute
discretion, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other
taxing authority. So long as the Company is diligently defending or
prosecuting such Executive Claim, Executive shall provide or cause to be
provided to the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company
that relates to such Executive Claim, and shall otherwise cooperate with the
Company and its representatives in good faith in order to contest effectively
such Executive Claim. The Company shall keep Executive informed of all
developments and events relating to any such Executive Claim (including,
without limitation, providing to Executive copies of all written materials
pertaining to any such Executive Claim), and Executive or his authorized
representatives shall be entitled, at Executive's expense, to participate in
all conferences, meetings and proceedings relating to any such Executive Claim.
(g) If, after actual receipt by Executive of an amount of a tax
claimed (pursuant to an Executive Claim) that has been advanced by the Company
pursuant to Section 8(e)(ii) hereof, the extent of the liability of the Company
hereunder with respect to such tax claimed has been established by a Final
Determination, Executive shall promptly pay or cause to be paid to the Company
any refund actually received by, or actually credited to, Executive with
respect to such tax (together with any interest paid or credited thereon by the
taxing authority and any recovery of legal fees from such taxing authority
related thereto), except to the extent that any amounts are then due and
payable by the Company to Executive, whether under the provisions of this
Agreement or otherwise. If, after the receipt by Executive of an amount
advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 8(e)(ii), a determination is made
by the Internal Revenue Service or other appropriate taxing authority that
Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such tax claimed
and the Company does not notify Executive in writing of its intent to contest
such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such
determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to
be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof,
the amount of any Gross-Up Payments and other payments required to be paid
hereunder.
(h) With respect to any Executive Claim, if the Company fails to
deliver an Election Notice to Executive within the period provided in Section
8(e)(i) hereof or, after delivery of such Election Notice, the Company fails to
comply with the provisions of Section 8(e)(ii) and (iii) and (f) hereof, then
Executive shall at any time thereafter have the right (but not the obligation),
at his election and in his sole and absolute discretion, to defend or
prosecute, at the sole cost, expense and risk of the Company, such
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Executive Claim. Executive shall have full control of such defense or
prosecution and such proceedings, including any settlement or compromise
thereof. If requested by Executive, the Company shall cooperate, and shall
cause its Affiliates to cooperate, in good faith with Executive and his
authorized representatives in order to contest effectively such Executive
Claim. The Company may attend, but not participate in or control, any defense,
prosecution, settlement or compromise of any Executive Claim controlled by
Executive pursuant to this Section 8(h) and shall bear its own costs and
expenses with respect thereto. In the case of any Executive Claim that is
defended or prosecuted by Executive, Executive shall, from time to time, be
entitled to current payment, on a fully grossed-up after tax basis, from the
Company with respect to costs and expenses incurred by Executive in connection
with such defense or prosecution.
(i) In the case of any Executive Claim that is defended or
prosecuted to a Final Determination pursuant to the terms of this Section 8(i),
the Company shall pay, on a fully grossed-up after tax basis, to Executive in
immediately available funds the full amount of any taxes arising or resulting
from or incurred in connection with such Executive Claim that have not
theretofore been paid by the Company to Executive, together with the costs and
expenses, on a fully grossed-up after tax basis, incurred in connection
therewith that have not theretofore been paid by the Company to Executive,
within ten calendar days after such Final Determination. In the case of any
Executive Claim not covered by the preceding sentence, the Company shall pay,
on a fully grossed-up after tax basis, to Executive in immediately available
funds the full amount of any taxes arising or resulting from or incurred in
connection with such Executive Claim at least ten calendar days before the date
payment of such taxes is due from Executive, except where payment of such taxes
is sooner required under the provisions of this Section 8(i), in which case
payment of such taxes (and payment, on a fully grossed-up after tax basis, of
any costs and expenses required to be paid under this Section 8(i)) shall be
made within the time and in the manner otherwise provided in this Section 8(i).
(j) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Final Determination"
shall mean (A) a decision, judgment, decree or other order by a court or other
tribunal with appropriate jurisdiction, which has become final and non-
appealable; (B) a final and binding settlement or compromise with an
administrative agency with appropriate jurisdiction, including, but not limited
to, a closing agreement under Section 7121 of the Code; (C) any disallowance of
a claim for refund or credit in respect to an overpayment of tax unless a suit
is filed on a timely basis; or (D) any final disposition by reason of the
expiration of all applicable statutes of limitations.
(k) For purposes of this Agreement, the terms "tax" and "taxes"
mean any and all taxes of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to,
any and all Excise Taxes, income taxes, and employment taxes), together with
any interest thereon, any penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts
with respect to such taxes and any interest in respect of such penalties,
additions to tax, or additional amounts."
4. Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of the Agreement,
as they existed prior to this Amendment, shall be renumbered as Sections 9, 10,
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, respectively, and all references thereto within
the Agreement shall automatically be amended to refer to such Section as so
renumbered.
5. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Company and Executive
ratify and confirm all terms and conditions of the Agreement as continuing in
full force and effect.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this First
Amendment as of the date first above written.
COHO ENERGY, INC.
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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XXXX XXXXX X'XXXXXX
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