COMPENSATION REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.4
This
Compensation Reimbursement Agreement (this
“Agreement”) is made as of the 31st
day of October, 2005, but is effective as of the Transaction Closing Date (as defined hereinbelow)
by and between Sabine Production Operating, LLC, a Texas limited liability company
(“Sabine”), and Xxxx Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Xxxx”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Xxxx and Xxxxxx Production Partners, LP (the “Company”) are parties to that certain
Omnibus Agreement entered into as of October 31, 2005, but effective as of the Transaction Closing
Date (the “Omnibus Agreement”) which contemplates the parties entering into this Agreement.
“Transaction Closing Date” means the date on which the Company completes the acquisition of assets
of Sabine Royalty Trust as described in the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-1273203 on
Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission;
WHEREAS, S. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx (“Xxxxxxx”) and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx (“Cochrane”)
(Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx may hereinafter be referred to herein collectively as “Employees” and
individually as an “Employee”) are officers and employees of Xxxx under the terms of their
respective employment agreements with Xxxx (as such employment agreements may be amended, modified
or replaced, the “Xxxx Employment Agreements”);
WHEREAS, upon the request of and with the consent and approval of the Board of Directors of
Xxxx, Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx have agreed to become a member of the Office of Chief Executive and
Vice President, Engineering, respectively, of Sabine;
WHEREAS, Employees, Sabine and Xxxx anticipate that Employees will devote a portion of their
time and effort in the performance of their obligations to Sabine;
WHEREAS, to induce Xxxx to allow Employees to devote such time and effort to Sabine, Sabine
has offered to reimburse Xxxx, up to a maximum annualized amount of $85,000 for the services of
Cochrane and $110,000 for the services of Xxxxxxx, for a portion of the salary that Xxxx extends to
such Employees pursuant to the Xxxx Employment Agreements (the “Xxxx Employee
Compensation”); and
WHEREAS, the parties wish to memorialize their agreement with respect to Sabine’s
reimbursement to Xxxx of the Xxxx Employee Compensation.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which the parties hereby acknowledge, Sabine and Xxxx
hereby agree as follows:
1. (a) Subject to the limitations established in Paragraph 1(b) and the exception established
in Paragraph 1(c) , by the tenth business day of each month during the term of this Agreement,
Sabine will reimburse Xxxx for the Sabine Portion of the Xxxx Employee
Compensation for each
Employee applicable to the immediately preceding month. The “Sabine Portion” shall mean:
(i) with respect to Xxxxxxx, an amount calculated by multiplying (x) $9,167.00 (being
one-twelveth of $110,000), times (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
hours devoted by Xxxxxxx during such immediately preceding month on business of Sabine and
the denominator of which is the amount calculated by dividing (I) the aggregate number of
hours devoted by the members of the Office of Chief Executive of Sabine other than Xxxxxxx
during such immediately-preceding month on the business of Sabine by (II) the number of
members of the Office of Chief Executive minus one; and
(ii) with respect to Cochrane, an amount calculated by multiplying (x) Seventy and
No/Dollars ($70.00) (which the parties hereto agree to use as representing the hourly value
of his services based upon his Xxxx Employee Compensation as of the date of this Agreement),
times (y) the number of hours devoted by Cochrane during such immediately-preceding month on
the business of Sabine.
(b) The aggregate amounts which Sabine shall be required to reimburse to Xxxx during any
consecutive twelve-month period shall not exceed $85,000 for the services of Cochrane and $110,000
for the services of Xxxxxxx.
(c) Sabine shall not be obligated to reimburse Xxxx for any amount for such Employees for
which Xxxx is reimbursed by the Company pursuant to the Omnibus Agreement.
2. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect as to a particular Employee until
the earliest of (a) the date two years from the Transaction Closing Date, (b) the date that
Employee’s employment by Xxxx terminates for any reason, (c) the date that Employee ceases to be an
officer of Sabine, and (d) December 31, 2006 in the event the Transaction Closing Date has not
occurred. Additionally, this Agreement shall terminate upon the termination of this Agreement as
to both Employees pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence. Upon any such termination,
Sabine shall pay to Xxxx any accrued but unpaid Sabine Portion of the Xxxx Employee Compensation
through the date of termination. Sabine and Xxxx expressly acknowledge and agree that the Xxxx
Employee Compensation does not, and shall not be deemed to, include any severance or other similar
payments that may be due to an Employee
upon his termination as a Xxxx employee.
3. This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding of Sabine and Xxxx with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior or contemporaneous agreements
or understandings with respect thereto.
4. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing executed by both Xxxx and Sabine.
5. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and delivered by facsimile, each
of which shall be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
6. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws
of the State of Texas without regard to any conflicts of laws provisions which would apply the law
of another jurisdiction.
7. This Agreement may not be assigned in whole or in part without the written consent of the
non-assigning party, which consent may be withheld for any reason. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
permitted assigns.
8. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining
provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. No failure or delay by any party in
exercising any right hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have entered into this Compensation Reimbursement Agreement as
of the date first above written, but effective as set forth above.
| SABINE PRODUCTION OPERATING, LLC | ||||||
| By: | /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX | |||||
| Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Chairman | ||||||
| XXXX PETROLEUM, INC. | ||||||
| By: | /s/ S. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX | |||||
| Title: | Chairman and CEO | |||||
