UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 31, 2008
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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1-9260
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73-1283193
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|||
(State
or other jurisdiction
of
incorporation)
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(Commission
File Number)
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(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
No.)
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7130
South Lewis, Suite 1000, Tulsa, Oklahoma
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74136
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||
(Address
of principal executive offices)
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(Zip
Code)
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area
code: (918)
493-7700
Not
Applicable
(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions:
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
|
Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
|
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
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Section
5 – Corporate Governance and Management.
Item 5.02 Departure of
Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain
Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(e) On
December 31, 2008, the Company, finalized certain amendments to the following
Company-sponsored plans: the Separation Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and
Participating Subsidiaries, the Special Separation Benefit Plan of Unit
Corporation and Participating Subsidiaries, and the Unit Corporation Separation
Benefit Plan for Senior Management (collectively, the "Plans"). The
changes were made to bring the Plans into compliance with Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Section 409A").
Section
409A changed the income tax treatment of nonqualified deferred compensation
plans and imposed new requirements on both the terms and operation of such
plans. Although Section 409A’s provisions have been in effect since
2005 and employers have been required to operate in good faith since that time,
final regulations under Section 409A were not issued until 2007 and companies
must now amend affected nonqualified deferred compensation plans by December 31,
2008, to ensure that they comply with the Section 409A final rules.
The key
amendments to the Plans address Section 409A requirements with respect to, among
other things, when distributions may be made, the timing of payments, and the
circumstances under which employees become eligible to receive
benefits. The descriptions of the amendments set forth above are
qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of the Plans which are
filed as Exhibit 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 to this Form 8-K and incorporated by
reference in this Item 5.02(e). Additional information regarding the
Plans (before the above-described amendments) can also be found in the Company’s
proxy statement for its 2008 annual stockholders meeting, which was filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2008.
Contemporaneously
with these Section 409A amendments, the Company made certain other non-Section
409A amendments to the Plans. None of the amendments materially
increase the benefits, grants or awards issuable under the Plans.
The
amendments to the Plans are effective as of December 31, 2008.
Section
9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item
9.01 Financial
Statements and Exhibits.
(a)
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Financial
Statements of Businesses Acquired.
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Not
Applicable.
(b)
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Pro Forma
Financial Information.
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Not
Applicable.
(c)
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Shell
Company
Transactions.
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Not
Applicable
(d)
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Exhibits.
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Exhibit
No.
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Description
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10.1
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Separation
Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and Participating
Subsidiaries
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10.2
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Special
Separation Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and Participating
Subsidiaries
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10.3
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Unit
Corporation Separation Benefit Plan for Senior
Management
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1
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.
Unit
Corporation
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Date:
January 6, 2009
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By: /s/ Mark E.
Schell
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Mark
E. Schell
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Senior
Vice President
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and General Counsel |
2
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Description
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10.1
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Separation
Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and Participating
Subsidiaries
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10.2 | Special Separation Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and Participating Subsidiaries |
10.3 | Unit Corporation Separation Benefit Plan for Senior Management |
Exhibit
10.1
SEPARATION
BENEFIT PLAN OF
UNIT
CORPORATION AND PARTICIPATING SUBSIDIARIES
As
Amended and Restated
Effective: December
31, 2008
Table
of Contents
Page
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||
ARTICLE
I. SCOPE
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1
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SECTION
1.1
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NAME
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1
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SECTION
1.2
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PLAN
YEAR
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1
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ARTICLE
II. DEFINITIONS
|
1
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SECTION
2.1
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"BASE
SALARY”
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1
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SECTION
2.2
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"BENEFICIARY”
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1
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SECTION
2.3
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"BOARD
OF DIRECTORS”
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1
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SECTION
2.4
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"BONUS”
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1
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SECTION
2.5
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"CHANGE
IN CONTROL”
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1
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SECTION
2.6
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"CHANGE
OF CONTROL CONTRACT”
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3
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SECTION
2.7
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"CODE”
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3
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SECTION
2.8
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"COMPANY”
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3
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SECTION
2.9
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"COMPARABLE
POSITION”
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3
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SECTION
2.10
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"COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE”
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3
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SECTION
2.11
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"COMPLETED
YEAR OF SERVICE”
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3
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SECTION
2.12
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"DISCHARGE
FOR CAUSE”
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3
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SECTION
2.13
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"ELIGIBLE
EMPLOYEE”
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4
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SECTION
2.14
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"EMPLOYEE”
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4
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SECTION
2.15
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"EMPLOYING
COMPANY”
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5
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SECTION
2.16
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"ERISA”
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5
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SECTION
2.17
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"HUMAN
RESOURCES DIRECTOR”
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5
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SECTION
2.18
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"PLAN”
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5
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SECTION
2.19
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"SEPARATION
AGREEMENT”
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5
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SECTION
2.20
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"SEPARATION
BENEFIT”
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5
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SECTION
2.21
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"SEPARATION
PERIOD”
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5
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SECTION
2.22
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"SEPARATION
FROM SERVICE”
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5
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SECTION
2.23
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"SPECIFIED
EMPLOYEE”
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5
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SECTION
2.24
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"YEARS
OF SERVICE”
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5
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ARTICLE
III. BENEFITS
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6
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SECTION
3.1
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ELIGIBILITY
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6
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SECTION
3.2
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SEPARATION
BENEFIT
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7
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SECTION
3.3
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SEPARATION
BENEFIT AMOUNT
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7
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SECTION
3.4
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SEPARATION
BENEFIT LIMITATION
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8
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SECTION
3.5
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WITHHOLDING
TAX
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8
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SECTION
3.6
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REEMPLOYMENT
OF AN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE
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8
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SECTION
3.7
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INTEGRATION
WITH DISABILITY BENEFITS
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9
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SECTION
3.8
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PLAN
BENEFIT OFFSET
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9
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SECTION
3.9
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RECOUPMENT
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9
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SECTION
3.10
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COMPLETION
OF TWENTY YEARS OF SERVICE
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9
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SECTION
3.11
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CHANGE
IN CONTROL
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9
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ARTICLE
IV. METHOD OF PAYMENT
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9
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SECTION
4.1
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SEPARATION
BENEFIT PAYMENT
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9
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SECTION
4.2
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PROTECTION
OF BUSINESS
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10
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SECTION
4.3
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DEATH
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11
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SECTION
4.4
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PAYMENT
TO SPECIFIED EMPLOYEES FROM SEPARATION OF SERVICE
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12
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ARTICLE
V. WAIVER AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
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12
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SECTION
5.1
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WAIVER
AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
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12
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i
ARTICLE
VI. FUNDING
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13
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SECTION
6.1
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FUNDING
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13
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ARTICLE
VII. OPERATION
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13
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SECTION
7.1
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WAIVER
AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
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13
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SECTION
7.2
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STATUS
OF SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES
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13
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SECTION
7.3
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TERMINATION
BY AN EMPLOYING COMPANY
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13
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ARTICLE
VIII. ADMINISTRATION
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13
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SECTION
8.1
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NAMED
FIDUCIARY
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13
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SECTION
8.2
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FIDUCIARY
RESPONSIBILITIES
|
14
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SECTION
8.3
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SPECIFIC
FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES
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14
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SECTION
8.4
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ALLOCATIONS
AND DELEGATIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY
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14
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SECTION
8.5
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ADVISORS
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15
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SECTION
8.6
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PLAN
DETERMINATION
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15
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SECTION
8.7
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MODIFICATION
AND TERMINATION
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15
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SECTION
8.8
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INDEMNIFICATION
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15
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SECTION
8.9
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SUCCESSFUL
DEFENSE
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15
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SECTION
8.10
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UNSUCCESSFUL
DEFENSE
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15
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SECTION
8.11
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ADVANCE
PAYMENTS
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16
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SECTION
8.12
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REPAYMENT
OF ADVANCE PAYMENTS
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16
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SECTION
8.13
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RIGHT OF
INDEMNIFICATION
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16
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ARTICLE IX. EFFECTIVE DATE |
16
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SECTION
9.1
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EFFECTIVE
DATE
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16
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ARTICLE
X. MISCELLANEOUS
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16
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SECTION
10.1
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ASSIGNMENT
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16
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SECTION
10.2
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GOVERNING
LAW
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17
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SECTION
10.3
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EMPLOYING
COMPANY RECORDS
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17
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SECTION
10.4
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EMPLOYMENT
NON-CONTRACTUAL
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17
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SECTION
10.5
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TAXES
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17
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SECTION
10.6
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BINDING
EFFECT
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17
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SECTION
10.7
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ENTIRE
AGREEMENT
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17
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SECTION
10.8
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DECISIONS
AND APPEALS
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17
|
ii
SEPARATION
BENEFIT PLAN OF UNIT CORPORATION
AND
PARTICIPATING SUBSIDIARIES
Introduction
The
purpose of this Plan is to provide financial assistance to Eligible Employees
whose employment has terminated under certain conditions, in consideration of
the waiver and release by those employees of any claims arising or alleged to
arise from their employment or the termination of employment. No employee is
entitled to any payment under this Plan except in exchange for and on the
Employing Company’s receipt of a written waiver and release given in accordance
with the provisions of this Plan.
ARTICLE
I. SCOPE
Section 1.1 Name. This
Plan shall be known as the Separation Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and
Participating Subsidiaries. The Plan is an "employee benefit plan”
governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended,
("ERISA”).
Section 1.2 Plan
Year. The
Plan Year is the calendar year.
ARTICLE
II.
DEFINITIONS
Section 2.1 "Base
Salary” means the
regular basic cash remuneration before deductions for taxes and other items
withheld, and without regard to any salary reduction under any plans maintained
by an Employing Company under Sections 401(k) or 125 of the Code, payable to an
Employee for services rendered to an Employing Company, but not including pay
for Bonuses, incentive compensation, special pay, awards or
commissions.
Section 2.2 "Beneficiary” means the
person designated by an Eligible Employee in a written instrument filed with an
Employing Company to receive benefits under this Plan.
Section 2.3 "Board
of Directors” means the
board of directors of the Company.
Section 2.4 "Bonus” means any
annual incentive compensation paid to an Employee over and above Base Salary
earned and paid in cash or otherwise.
Section 2.5 "Change
in Control” of the
Company shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day that any one or
more of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(i) On the close of business on the tenth
day following the time the Company learns of the acquisition by any individual
entity or group (a "Person”), including any "person” within the meaning of
Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, of beneficial ownership within
the meaning of Rule 13d 3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, of 15% or more of
either (i) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
election of Directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities”);
excluding,
1
however,
the following: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding any
acquisition resulting from the exercise of an exercise, conversion or exchange
privilege unless the security being so exercised, converted or exchanged was
acquired directly from the Company); (B) any acquisition by the Company; (C) any
acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; (D) any
acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (iii) of this definition and (E) if
the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a Person
became the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Outstanding Company Common
Stock inadvertently (including, without limitation, because (A) such Person was
unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of Outstanding Company Common
Stock that would cause a Change in Control or (B) such Person was aware of the
extent of its beneficial ownership of Outstanding Company Common Stock but had
no actual knowledge of the consequences of such beneficial ownership under this
Plan) and without any intention of changing or influencing control of the
Company, then the beneficial ownership of Outstanding Company Common Stock by
that Person shall not be deemed to be or to have become a Change in Control for
any purposes of this Plan unless and until such Person shall have failed to
divest itself, as soon as practicable (as determined, in good faith, by the
Board of Directors of the Company), of beneficial ownership of a sufficient
number of Outstanding Company Common Stock so that such Person’s beneficial
ownership of Outstanding Company Common Stock would no longer otherwise qualify
as a Change in Control;
(ii) individuals
who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of Directors (the "Incumbent
Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of such Board;
provided that any individual who becomes a Director of the Company subsequent to
the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s
stockholders, was approved by the vote of at least a majority of the Directors
then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be deemed a member of the Incumbent
Board; and provided further, that any individual who was initially elected as a
Director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest,
as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the
Exchange Act, or any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents by or on behalf of any Person other than the Board shall not be deemed
a member of the Incumbent Board;
(iii) approval by the stockholders of the
company of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a
"Corporate Transaction”);
excluding, however, a Corporate Transaction pursuant to which (i) all or
substantially all of the individuals or entities who are the beneficial owners,
respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction will
beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 70% of, respectively, the
outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined voting power of the
outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the
election of Directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from
such Corporate Transaction (including, without limitation, a corporation which
as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of
the Company’s assets either
2
directly or indirectly) in
substantially the same proportions relative to each other as their ownership,
immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the Outstanding Company
Common stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be,
(ii) no Person (other than: the Company; the corporation resulting from such
Corporate Transaction; and any Person which beneficially owned, immediately
prior to such Corporate Transaction, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock or the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the
case may be) will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of,
respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such Corporate Transaction or the combined voting power of the
outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of Directors and (iii) individuals who were members of the
Incumbent Board will constitute a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction;
or
(iv) approval
by the stockholders of the Company of a plan of complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
Section
2.6 "Change
of Control Contract” means a
Unit Corporation Key Employee Change of Control Contract entered into between
Unit Corporation and the individual identified in such agreement as
"Executive”.
Section
2.7 "Code” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
Section
2.8 "Company” means
Unit Corporation, the sponsor of this Plan.
Section
2.9 "Comparable
Position” means a
job with an Employing Company or successor company at the same or higher Base
Salary as an Employee’s current job and at a work location within reasonable
commuting distance from an Employee’s home, as determined by the Employee’s
Employing Company.
Section
2.10 "Compensation
Committee” means the
Committee established and appointed by the Board of Directors or by a committee
of the Board of Directors.
Section
2.11 "Completed
Year of Service” means the
period of time beginning with an Employee’s date of hire or the anniversary of
the date of hire and ending twelve months thereafter.
Section
2.12 "Discharge
for Cause” means
termination of the Employee’s employment by the Employing Company due
to:
(i) the
consistent failure of the Employee to perform the Employee’s prescribed duties
to the Employing Company (other than any such failure resulting from the
Employee’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness);
(ii) the
commission by the Employee of a wrongful act that caused or was reasonably
likely to cause damage to the Employing
Company;
3
(iii) an act of
gross negligence,
fraud, unfair competition, dishonesty or misrepresentation in the performance of the Employee’s
duties on behalf of the Employing Company;
(iv) the
conviction of or the entry of a plea of nolo contendere by the Employee to any
felony or the conviction of or the entry of a plea of nolo contendere to any
offense involving dishonesty, breach of trust or moral turpitude;
or
(v) a breach
of an Employee’s fiduciary
duty involving personal profit.
Section
2.13 "Eligible
Employee”
means
an Employee who is determined to be eligible to participate in this Plan and
receive benefits under Article III.
Section
2.14 "Employee”
2.14.1 "Employee”
means a person who is
(i) a regular
full-time salaried employee of the Employing Company principally employed in the
continental United States, Alaska or Hawaii;
(ii) employed
by an Employing Company for work on a regular full-time salaried schedule of at
least 40 hours per week for an indefinite period; or
(iii) a regular
employee who has been demoted or transferred from a full-time salaried position
to an hourly position and who, in the discretion of Employing Company at the
time of such demotion or transfer, is deemed to retain his or her eligibility to
participate in the Plan.
2.14.2 "Employee”
does not, under any circumstance, mean a person who is
(i) an
employee whose compensation is determined on an hourly basis or who holds a
position with the Employing Company that is generally characterized as an
"hourly” position, except were a specific employee is, after demotion, deemed to
be eligible to participate in the Plan under subsection 2.14.1(iii),
above;
(ii) an
employee who is classified by the Employing Company as a temporary
employee;
(iii) an
employee who is a member of a bargaining unit unless the employee’s union has
bargained this Plan pursuant to a current collective bargaining agreement
between the Employing Company and the union or the employee’s union bargains
this Plan pursuant to the bargaining obligations mandated by the National Labor
Relations Act;
(iv) an
employee retained by the Employing Company under a written contract, other than
a Change of Control Contract; or
4
(v) any
worker who is retained by the Company or Employing Company as a "independent
contractor,” "leased employee,” or "temporary employee” but who is reclassified
as an "employee” of the Company or Employing Company by a state or federal
agency or court of competent jurisdiction.
Section
2.15 "Employing
Company” means the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company electing to participate in this Plan
under the provisions of Section 7.1.
Section
2.16 "ERISA” means the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as from time to time amended,
and all regulations and rulings issued thereunder by governmental administrative
bodies.
Section
2.17 "Human Resources
Director” means the
Human Resources Director of the Company.
Section
2.18 "Plan” means the
Separation Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and Participating Subsidiaries, as
set forth in this document and as may be amended from time to time.
Section
2.19 "Separation
Agreement” means
the agreement between an Employee and the Employing Company in which the
Employee waives and releases the Company, Employing Company and other
potentially related parties from certain claims in exchange for and in
consideration of payments of the Separation Benefit, to which the Employee would
not otherwise be entitled.
Section
2.20 "Separation Benefit” means the
benefit provided for under this Plan as determined under Article
III.
Section
2.21 "Separation Period” means
the period of time over which an Eligible Employee receives Separation Benefits
under the Plan.
Section
2.22 "Separation
from Service” shall
mean an Employee’s "separation from service” as determined by the Company in
accordance with Section 409A of the Code. A Separation from Service
shall be effective on the date specified by the Employing Company (the
"Termination Date”).
Section
2.23 "Specified
Employee” means
those employees of the Company or a Employing Company who are determined by the
Compensation Committee to be a "specified employee” in accordance with Section
409A of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section
2.24 "Years
of Service” means
the sum of the number of continuous Completed Years of Service as an Employee of
an Employing Company during the period of employment beginning with the
Employee’s most recent hire date and ending with the Employee’s most recent
termination date. Provided, in the event an Employee was a member of
the Board of Directors of an Employing Company prior to (or after) the adoption
of the August 21, 2007 Amendment to the Plan, that Employee shall be credited
with the period of time
5
beginning with his date of hire with an Employing
Company, and the provisions in Section 2.14(b)(vi) of any prior version of the
Plan shall be disregarded.
ARTICLE
III.
BENEFITS
Section 3.1 Eligibility. Each
Employee who (i) has at least one active Year of Service with an Employing
Company immediately before the date of his or her Separation from Service, (ii)
complies with all administrative requirements of this Plan, including the
provisions of Article V, and (iii) works through his/her Termination Date and is
not engaged in a strike or lockout as of the Termination Date, is eligible to
participate in this Plan and, subject to all the terms of the Plan, receive
benefits as provided in this Article III. An Employee is ineligible to
participate in this Plan if that Employee fails to satisfy any of the
requirements of this Plan including, but not limited to, failure to establish
that his or her termination met the requirements for a Separation from
Service. Additionally, an Employee shall be ineligible to participate
in this Plan if that Employee’s termination of employment results
from:
(i) A
Discharge for Cause,
(ii) A court
decree or government action or recommendation having an effect on an Employing
Company’s operations or manpower involving rationing or price control or any
other similar type cause beyond the control of an Employing
Company,
(iii) Before a
Change in Control, an offer to the Employee of a position with an Employing
Company, or affiliate, regardless of whether the position offered provides
comparable wages and benefits to the position formerly held by the
Employee,
(iv) A
termination under which an Employee accepts any benefits under an incentive
retirement plan or other severance or termination benefits program, contract or
plan (other than a Change of Control Contract) offered by the Company or the
Employing Company,
(v) An
Employee who has a written employment contract which contains severance
provisions (other than a Change of Control Contract),
(vi) The
failure of an Employee to report to work as required by his or her Employing
Company,
(vii) A
temporary work cessation due to strikes, lockouts or similar
reasons,
(viii) The
divestiture of any business of an Employing Company if the Employee is offered a
Comparable Position by the purchaser or successor of such business, an affiliate
thereof, or an affiliate of an Employing Company, or
(ix) A
termination of the Employee if the Employee is offered a Comparable Position
arranged for or secured by an Employing Company.
6
Section 3.2 Separation Benefit. A
Separation Benefit shall be provided for Eligible Employees under the provisions
of this Article III.
Section 3.3 Separation
Benefit Amount. The
Separation Benefit payable to an Eligible Employee under this Plan shall be
based, in part, on his/her Years of Service with the Employing Company. The
formula for determining an Eligible Employee’s Separation Benefit payment shall
be calculated by dividing the Eligible Employee’s average Base Salary for the
one year period ending immediately before the date of Separation from Service by
52 to calculate the weekly separation benefit (the "Weekly Separation Benefit”).
The amount of the Separation Benefit payable to the Eligible Employee shall then
be determined in accordance with the following applicable
provision:
3.3.1 Involuntary separation - In the event the
Separation from Service is the result of an Employing Company terminating the
employment of the Eligible Employee, the Separation Benefit shall be determined
according to the following schedule:
Involuntary
Separation
Schedule
of Separation Benefits
Years
of
Service
|
Number
of Weekly
Separation
Benefit
Payments
|
Years
of
Service
|
Number
of Weekly
Separation
Benefit
Payments
|
1
|
4
|
14
|
56
|
2
|
8
|
15
|
60
|
3
|
12
|
16
|
64
|
4
|
16
|
17
|
68
|
5
|
20
|
18
|
72
|
6
|
24
|
19
|
76
|
7
|
28
|
20
|
80
|
8
|
32
|
21
|
84
|
9
|
36
|
22
|
88
|
10
|
40
|
23
|
92
|
11
|
44
|
24
|
96
|
12
|
48
|
25
|
100
|
13
|
52
|
26
or more
|
104
|
3.3.2 Voluntary separation or death of the
Eligible Employee -
In the event the Separation from Service is the result of the Eligible
Employee’s own action (such as by way of example and not limitation, quitting,
resignation or retirement) or is as a result of the Eligible Employee’s death,
the Separation Benefit shall be determined according to the following
Schedule:
7
Voluntary
Separation
Schedule
of Separation Benefits
Years
of
Service
|
Number
of Weekly
Separation
Benefit
Payments
|
1-19
|
0
|
20
|
80
|
21
|
84
|
22
|
88
|
23
|
92
|
24
|
96
|
25
|
100
|
26 or
more
|
104
|
Under
certain exceptional circumstances the Compensation Committee may, in its sole
and absolute discretion, choose to treat a voluntary separation as an
involuntary separation and allow an Eligible Employee to receive Separation
Benefits in accordance with the schedule set forth in Section
3.3.1.
Section
3.4 Separation
Benefit Limitation. Notwithstanding
anything in this Plan to the contrary, the Separation Benefit payable to any
Eligible Employee under this Plan shall never exceed the lesser of (i) 104
Weekly Separation Benefit payments; or (ii) the amount permitted under ERISA to
maintain this Plan as a welfare benefit plan. The benefits payable under this
Plan shall be inclusive of and offset by any amounts paid under federal, state,
local or foreign government worker notification (e.g., Worker Adjustment and
Retraining Notification Act) or office closing requirements.
Section
3.5 Withholding
Tax. The
Employing Company shall deduct from the amount of any Separation Benefits
payable under this Plan, any amount required to be withheld by the Employing
Company by reason of any law or regulation, for the payment of taxes or
otherwise to any federal, state, local or foreign government. In determining the
amount of any applicable tax, the Employing Company shall be entitled to rely on
the number of personal exemptions on the official form(s) filed by the Eligible
Employee with the Employing Company for purposes of income tax withholding on
regular wages.
Section
3.6 Reemployment
of an Eligible Employee. Entitlement
to the unpaid balance of any Separation Benefit due an Eligible Employee under
this Plan shall be revoked immediately on reemployment of the person as an
Employee of an Employing Company. Any unpaid balance shall not be payable in any
future period.
However,
if the person’s reemployment is subsequently terminated and he or she then
becomes entitled to a Separation Benefit under this Plan, Years of Service for
the period of re-
8
employment
shall be added to that portion of his or her prior service represented by the
unpaid balance or the revoked entitlement for the prior Separation
Benefit.
Section
3.7 Integration
with Disability Benefits. The
Separation Benefit payable to an Eligible Employee with respect to any
Separation Period shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of any
disability benefit payable from any disability plan or program sponsored or
contributed to by an Employing Company. The amount of any resulting reduction
shall not be paid to the Eligible Employee in any future period.
Section
3.8 Plan
Benefit Offset. The
amount of any severance or separation type payment that an Employing Company is
or was obligated to pay to an Eligible Employee under any law, decree, or court
award, because of the Eligible Employee’s termination of employment from an
Employing Company shall reduce the amount of Separation Benefit otherwise
payable under this Plan. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the
terms of this Section 3.8 shall not be applicable to any benefits paid under a
Change of Control Contract.
Section 3.9 Recoupment. An
Employing Company may deduct from the Separation Benefit any amount owing to an
Employing Company from:
(i) the
Eligible Employee, or
(ii) the
executor or administrator of the Eligible Employee’s estate.
Section 3.10 Completion
of Twenty Years of Service. Any
Eligible Employee who completes Twenty Years of Service before to the
termination of this Plan shall be vested in his/her Separation Benefit
notwithstanding the subsequent termination of this Plan before that Eligible
Employee’s Separation from Service. Any Separation Benefit deemed to
have vested under this section shall be payable on such Eligible Employee’s
Separation from Service with the Employing Company and shall be paid in
accordance with the greater of (1) the Plan provisions in effect immediately
before the termination of this Plan, and (2) the Plan provisions in effect on
the date the Eligible Employee completed Twenty Years of Service.
Section 3.11 Change
in Control. Unless
otherwise provided in writing by the Board of Directors before a Change in
Control of the Company, all Eligible Employees shall be vested in his/her
Separation Benefit as of the date of the Change in Control based on the Eligible
Employee’s then Years of Service as determined by reference to the schedule set
forth in Section 3.3.1 of this Plan. Any Separation Benefit deemed to
have vested under this section shall be payable on the Eligible Employee’s
Separation from Service with the Employing Company and shall be paid in
accordance with the Plan provisions in effect immediately before the Change in
Control.
ARTICLE
IV.
METHOD
OF PAYMENT
Section 4.1 Separation
Benefit Payment. The
Separation Benefit shall be paid in equal installments in the same manner as
wages were paid to the Employee and, subject to Section 4.4, the installments
shall begin no later than 90 days following the Termination
Date. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the
Separation Period for an Eligible
9
Employee
shall never exceed the amount of time permitted under ERISA to maintain this
Plan as a welfare benefit plan. If under the payment schedule set
forth in this Plan, the Separation Period will expire before the full payment of
the Separation Benefit owed to an Eligible Employee under this Plan, then the
total amount unpaid as of the final installment shall be paid to the Eligible
Employee in the final installment.
Section
4.2 Protection
of Business
4.2.1 Any
Eligible Employee who receives Separation Benefits under Section 3.3.2 of this
Plan agrees that, in consideration of the Separation Benefits, the Employee will
not, in any capacity, directly or indirectly, and on his or her own behalf or on
behalf of any other person or entity, during the period of time he or she is
receiving Separation Benefits, either (a) solicit or attempt to induce any
current customer of the Employing Company to cease doing business with the
Employing Company; (b) solicit or attempt to induce any employee of the
Employing Company to sever the employment relationship; (c) compete against the
Employing Company; (d) injure the Employing Company and the Company, in their
business activities or its reputation; or (e) act as an employee, independent
contractor, or service provider of a person or entity that is a competitor of
the Employing Company or injures the Employing Company or the Company, its
business activities or its reputation (collectively, the "Protection of Business
Requirements”). The Compensation Committee in its sole discretion
shall decide whether any Eligible Employee is in violation of this
Section.
4.2.2 Except as
provided in the next paragraph and/or the Separation Agreement, in the event the
Eligible Employee violates the Protection of Business Requirements of this
Section (or the like provisions of his or her Separation Agreement), the
Eligible Employee shall not be entitled to any further payments of Separation
Benefits under this Plan and shall be obligated to repay the Employing Company
all monies previously received as Separation Benefits from the date of the
violation forward.
4.2.3 In the
event of a Change in Control, the Eligible Employee’s obligations
under this Section shall expire and be canceled, and the Eligible Employee shall be
entitled to Separation Benefits under this Plan in accordance with its terms
even if he or she engages in conduct that would otherwise violate the Protection
of Business Requirements in this Section.
4.2.4 The Plan
shall maintain records for each Eligible Employee that is eligible for
Separation Benefits and for each Eligible Employee that actually receives
Separation Benefits (including relevant dates, claim records, appeal records,
payment amounts, etc.).
4.2.5 The Plan
shall pay benefits to Eligible Employees on a regular basis. The Plan
shall process and pay Separation Benefits on a regular basis, and adjudicate
claims for denied or terminated Separation Benefits.
4.2.6 The
Compensation Committee shall have the ultimate ongoing administrative duty to
monitor and investigate the activities of Eligible Employees to ensure they are
in compliance with the Protection of Business Requirements. As set
forth
10
in this
Plan, the Compensation Committee shall have discretion to determine on an
ongoing basis whether each Eligible Employee receiving Separation Benefits
remains in compliance with the Plan’s Protection of Business Requirements during
the period the Eligible Employee is receiving Separation
Benefits.
4.2.7 The
Compensation Committee shall have full and sole discretion to determine
eligibility for Separation Benefits and to construe the terms of the
Plan.
4.2.8 By
accepting Separation Benefits, an Eligible Employee certifies that he/she is in
compliance with the Protection of Business Requirements. Eligible
employees must notify the Plan, through the Human Resources Director, of any
change of employer, employment status, or job status or responsibilities, while
eligible for Separation Benefits. Additionally, Eligible Employees
receiving benefits must complete and submit to the Plan on request a form
certifying that they are in compliance with the Protection of Business
Requirements. The Human Resources Director shall review such forms
and make preliminary decisions regarding whether the Eligible Employee is in
compliance with the Protection of Business Requirements.
4.2.9 As a
condition to receiving Separation Benefits or coverage, Eligible Employees and
their employers must fully cooperate with any inquiry or investigation by the
Plan concerning the Protection of Business Requirements. If the
Eligible Employee or employer fails to fully cooperate with any such inquiry or
investigation, the Eligible Employee shall be deemed to have been in violation
of the Protection of Business Requirements, and shall therefore forfeit any
further benefits under the Plan and shall be obligated to repay the Employing
Company all monies previously received as Separation Benefits.
4.2.10 The
Company shall maintain a projection of the amount of money that will be required
for the Company to fulfill its unfunded obligation under the Plan to make
payments to various Eligible Employees at different times.
Section
4.3 Death
4.3.1 Separation from Service as a result of death. In the
event that the Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service is as a result of the
Eligible Employee’s death, the Separation Benefit shall be paid to the Eligible
Employee’s Beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.3.2 and
4.1, above. If there is no designated, living Beneficiary, payments
shall be paid to the executor or administrator of the Eligible Employee’s
estate.
Payments shall be made to the Eligible Employee’s Beneficiary, notwithstanding
the Eligible Employee’s failure to meet the waiver and release conditions of
Article V of this Plan.
4.3.2 Death Subsequent to Separation from Service. In the event that an
Eligible Employee’s death occurs after the date of Separation from Service, and
before receipt of any or all of the benefits to which the Eligible Employee was
entitled under this Plan, then the payments shall be made to the Eligible
Employee’s Beneficiary in
11
accordance
with the provisions of Section 3.3.2 and 4.1, above. If there is no
designated living Beneficiary, payments shall be paid to the executor or
administrator of the Eligible Employee’s estate.
Section
4.4 Payment
to Specified Employees Upon Separation from Service. In
no event shall a Specified Employee receive a payment under this Plan following
a Separation from Service before the first business day of the seventh month
following the date of Separation from Service, unless the Separation from
Service results from death. Any amounts which would otherwise be
payable to the Specified Employee during the six month period may, at the
Employing Company’s discretion, be accumulated and paid on the first day of the
seventh month following the date of the Specified Employee’s Separation from
Service.
ARTICLE
V.
WAIVER
AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
Section
5.1 Waiver
and Release of Claims. Except
as provided in Section 4.3.1, it is a condition of this Plan that no Separation
Benefit shall be paid to or for any Employee except on due signing and delivery
to the Employing Company by that Employee of a Separation Agreement in
substantially the form attached to this Plan as Attachment "A” or "B” or such
other form as may be designated as the required Separation Agreement from time
to time, in the discretion of the Employing Company, by which the Employee
waives and releases the Company, the Employing Company, their subsidiaries and
their officers, directors, agents, employees and affiliates from all claims
arising or alleged to arise out of his or her employment or the Separation from
Service including, but not limited to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
of 1967, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and all other
state and federal laws governing the Employee’s employment. The waiver and
release provided in the Separation Agreement is being given in exchange for and
in consideration of payment of the Separation Benefit, to which the Employee
would not otherwise be entitled. The determination of whether the
Employee shall be required to sign a Separation Agreement in the form shown by
Attachment "A,” "B” or otherwise shall be within the sole discretion of the
Employing Company.
In
connection with the signing of the Separation Agreement, the following
procedures shall be followed (except as modified from time to time, in the
discretion of the Employing Company): the Employee shall be advised in writing,
by receiving the written text of the Separation Agreement so stating, to consult
a lawyer before signing the Separation Agreement; the Employee shall be given
either twenty-one (21) days (if Attachment "A” is used), or forty-five (45) days
(if Attachment "B” is used) to consider the Separation Agreement before signing;
after signing, the Employee shall have seven (7) days in which to revoke the
Separation Agreement; and the Separation Agreement shall not take effect until
the seven (7) day revocation period has passed.
In
addition, if Attachment "B” is used, the Employee shall be given a written
statement identifying for the Employee the class, unit or group of persons
eligible to participate in the Plan and any time limits for eligibility under
the Plan, the job titles and ages of all persons eligible or selected for
separation under the Plan in the same job classification or organizational unit,
and the ages of all persons not eligible or selected for separation under the
Plan.
12
ARTICLE
VI.
FUNDING
Section
6.1 Funding. This Plan is an unfunded employee
welfare benefit plan under ERISA established by the Company. Benefits payable to
Eligible Employees shall be paid out of the general assets of the Company or the
Employing Company. The Employing Company shall not be required to establish any
special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of assets to assure
the payment of any Separation Benefits under this Plan.
ARTICLE
VII.
OPERATION
Section 7.1 Employing
Company Participation. Any
subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, at the discretion of the Company, may
participate as an Employing Company in the Plan on the following
conditions:
(i) Such
entity shall make, sign and deliver such instruments as the Company shall deem
necessary or desirable;
(ii) Such
entity may withdraw from participation as an Employing Company in accordance
with Section 7.3, in which event the entity may continue the provisions of this
Plan as its own plan, and may thereafter, with respect thereto, exercise all of
the rights and powers theretofore reserved to the Company; and
(iii) Any
modification or amendment of this Plan made or adopted by the Company shall be
deemed to have been accepted by each Employing Company.
Section
7.2 Status
of Subsidiaries or Affiliates. The
authority of each subsidiary or affiliate to act independently and in accordance
with its own best judgment shall not be prejudiced or diminished by its
participation in this Plan and at the same time the Employing Companies may act
collectively in respect of general administration of this Plan in order to
secure administrative economies and maximum uniformity.
Section
7.3 Termination
by an Employing Company. Any
Employing Company other than the Company may withdraw from participation in the
Plan at any time by delivering to the Compensation Committee written
notification to that effect signed by the Employing Company’s chief executive
officer or his delegate. Withdrawal by any Employing Company under
this Section or complete discontinuance of Separation Benefits under this Plan
by any Employing Company other than the Company, shall constitute termination of
this Plan with respect to such Employing Company, but such actions shall not
affect any Separation Benefit that has become payable to an Eligible Employee,
and such benefit shall continue to be paid in accordance with the Plan
provisions in effect at the time of the Separation from Service.
ARTICLE
VIII.
ADMINISTRATION
Section
8.1 Named
Fiduciary. This
Plan shall be administered by the
13
Company
acting through the Compensation Committee or such other person as may be
designated by the Company from time to time. The Compensation Committee shall be
the "Administrator” of the Plan and shall be, in its capacity as Administrator,
a "Named Fiduciary,” as those terms are defined or used in
ERISA.
Section
8.2 Fiduciary Responsibilities. The
named fiduciary shall fulfill the duties and requirements of a fiduciary under
ERISA and is the Plan’s agent for service of legal process. The named fiduciary
may designate other persons to carry out the fiduciary responsibilities and may
cancel any designation. A person may serve in more than one fiduciary or
administrative capacity with respect to this Plan. The named fiduciary shall
periodically review the performance of the fiduciary responsibilities by each
designated person.
Section
8.3 Specific
Fiduciary Responsibilities. The
Compensation Committee shall be responsible for the general administration and
interpretation of the Plan and the proper carrying out of its provisions and
shall have full discretion to carry out its duties. In addition to any powers of
the Compensation Committee specified elsewhere in this Plan, the Compensation
Committee shall have all discretionary powers necessary to discharge its duties
under this Plan, including, but not limited to, the following discretionary
powers and duties:
(i) To
interpret or construe the terms of this Plan, including eligibility to
participate, and resolve ambiguities, inconsistencies and
omissions;
(ii) To make
and enforce such rules and regulations and prescribe the use of the forms as it
deems necessary or appropriate for the efficient administration of the
Plan;
(iii) To decide
all questions concerning this Plan and the eligibility of any person to
participate in this Plan; and
(iv) To
determine eligibility for benefits under this Plan.
Section
8.4 Allocations
and Delegations of Responsibility. The
Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee, respectively, shall have the
authority to delegate, from time to time, all or any part of its
responsibilities under this Plan to those person or persons as it may deem
advisable and in the same manner to revoke any such delegation of
responsibility. Any action of the delegate in the exercise of such delegated
responsibilities shall have the same force and effect for all purposes hereunder
as if such action had been taken by the Board of Directors or the Compensation
Committee. The Company, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee
shall not be liable for any acts or omissions of any such delegate. The delegate
shall report periodically to the Board of Directors or the Compensation
Committee, as applicable, concerning the discharge of the delegated
responsibilities.
The Board
of Directors and the Compensation Committee, respectively, shall have the
authority to allocate, from time to time, all or any part of its
responsibilities under this Plan to one or more of its members as it may deem
advisable, and in the same manner to remove such allocation of responsibilities.
Any action of the member to whom responsibilities are allocated in the exercise
of such allocated responsibilities shall have the same force and effect for all
purposes hereunder as if such action had been taken by the Board of Directors or
the Compensation Committee. The Company, the Board of Directors and the
Compensation Committee shall not be liable for any acts or omissions of such
member. The member to whom
14
responsibilities
have been allocated shall report periodically to the Board of Directors or the
Compensation Committee, as applicable, concerning the discharge of the allocated
responsibilities.
Section
8.5 Advisors. The
named fiduciary or any person designated by the named fiduciary to carry out
fiduciary responsibilities may employ one or more persons to render advice with
respect to any responsibility imposed by this Plan.
Section
8.6 Plan
Determination. The
determination of the Compensation Committee as to any question involving the
general administration and interpretation or construction of the Plan shall be
within its sole discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all
persons, except as otherwise provided herein or by law.
Section
8.7 Modification
and Termination. Benefits
under this Plan are not vested except as specifically stated otherwise in this
Plan document, and may be changed, modified or terminated at any time, either
individually or on a Plan-wide basis. The Company may at any time,
without notice or consent of any person, terminate or modify this Plan in whole
or in part, and such termination or modification shall apply to existing as well
as to future employees. However, such actions shall not affect any
Separation Benefit that has become payable to an Eligible Employee as a result
of that Employee’s Separation from Service before the amendment date, and such
benefit shall continue to be paid in accordance with the Plan provisions in
effect on the date of such Eligible Employee's Separation from
Service.
Section
8.8 Indemnification. To
the extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the
members of the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee members, and any
employee to whom any fiduciary responsibility with respect to this Plan is
allocated or delegated to, and against any and all liabilities, costs and
expenses incurred by any such person as a result of any act, or omission to act,
in connection with the performance of his/her duties, responsibilities and
obligations under this Plan, ERISA and other applicable law, other than such
liabilities, costs and expenses as may result from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of any such person. The foregoing right of indemnification
shall be in addition to any other right to which any such person may be entitled
as a matter of law or otherwise. The Company may obtain, pay for and keep
current a policy or policies of insurance, insuring the members of the Board of
Directors, the Compensation Committee members and any other employees who have
any fiduciary responsibility with respect to this Plan from and against any and
all liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by any such person as a result of
any act, or omission, in connection with the performance of his/her duties,
responsibilities and obligations under this Plan and under ERISA.
Section
8.9 Successful Defense. A
person who has been wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the
defense of a civil or criminal action or proceeding or claim or demand of the
character described in Section 8.8 above shall be entitled to indemnification as
authorized in Section 8.8.
Section
8.10 Unsuccessful Defense. Except
as provided in Section 8.9, any indemnification under Section 8.8, unless
ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall be made by the Company only
if authorized in the specific case:
15
8.10.1 By the
Board of Directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not
parties to such action, proceeding, claim or demand, upon a finding that the
member of the Compensation Committee has met the standard of conduct set forth
in Section 8.8; or
8.10.2 If a
quorum under Section 8.10.1 is not obtainable with due diligence the Board of
Directors upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel (who may be
counsel to any Employing Company) that indemnification is proper in the
circumstances because the standard of conduct set forth in Section 8.8 has been
met by such member of the Compensation Committee.
Section 8.11 Advance
Payments. Expenses incurred
in defending a civil or criminal action or proceeding or claim or demand may be
paid by the Company or Employing Company, as applicable, in advance of the final
disposition of such action or proceeding, claim or demand, if authorized in the
manner specified in Section 8.10, except that, in view of the obligation of
repayment set forth in Section 8.12, there need be no finding or opinion that
the required standard of conduct has been met.
Section
8.12 Repayment
of Advance Payments. All
expenses incurred, in defending a civil or criminal action or proceeding, claim
or demand, which are advanced by the Company or Employing Company, as
applicable, under Section 8.11 shall be repaid if the person receiving such
advance is ultimately found, under the procedures set forth in this Article
VIII, not to be entitled to the extent the expenses so advanced by the Company
exceed the indemnification to which he or she is entitled.
Section
8.13 Right
of Indemnification. Notwithstanding
the failure of the Company or Employing Company, as applicable, to provide
indemnification in the manner set forth in Section 8.10 and 8.11, and despite
any contrary resolution of the Board of Directors or of the shareholders in the
specific case, if the member of the Compensation Committee has met the standard
of conduct set forth in Section 8.8, the person made or threatened to be made a
party to the action or proceeding or against whom the claim or demand has been
made, shall have the legal right to indemnification from the Company or
Employing Company, as applicable, as a matter of contract by virtue of this
Plan, it being the intention that each such person shall have the right to
enforce such right of indemnification against the Company or Employing Company,
as applicable, in any court of competent jurisdiction.
ARTICLE
IX.
EFFECTIVE
DATE
Section
9.1 Effective
Date. This
Plan became effective December 14, 2004, and is hereby amended and restated
effective as of December 31, 2008.
ARTICLE
X.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
10.1 Assignment. An
Employee’s right to benefits under this Plan shall not be assigned, transferred,
pledged, encumbered in any way or subject to attachment or garnishment,
16
and any
attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, garnishment or
other disposition of such benefits shall be null and void and without
effect.
Section
10.2 Governing Law. The
Plan shall be construed and administered in accordance with ERISA and with the
laws of the State of Oklahoma, to the extent such State laws are not preempted
by ERISA. If any part of the Plan is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be void or voidable, such holding shall not apply to render void
or voidable the provisions of the Plan not encompassed in the court’s holding.
Where necessary to maintain the Plan’s validity, a court of competent
jurisdiction may modify the terms of this Plan to the extent necessary to
effectuate its purposes as demonstrated by the terms and conditions stated
herein.
Section
10.3 Employing
Company Records. The
records of the Employing Company with regard to any person’s Eligible Employee
status, Beneficiary status, employment history, Years of Service and all other
relevant matters shall be conclusive for purposes of administration of the
Plan.
Section
10.4 Employment
Non-Contractual. This
Plan is not intended to and does not create a contract of employment, express or
implied, and an Employing Company may terminate the employment of any employee
with or without cause as freely and with the same effect as if this Plan did not
exist. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be deemed to qualify, limit or alter
in any manner the Employing Company’s sole and complete authority and discretion
to establish, regulate, determine or modify at all times, the terms and
conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, levels of employment,
hours of work, the extent of hiring and employment termination, when and where
work shall be done, marketing of its products, or any other matter related to
the conduct of its business or the manner in which its business is to be
maintained or carried on, in the same manner and to the same extent as if this
Plan were not in existence.
Section 10.5 Taxes. Neither
an Employing Company nor any fiduciary of this Plan shall be liable for any
taxes incurred by an Eligible Employee or Beneficiary for Separation Benefit
payments made pursuant to this Plan.
Section
10.6 Binding Effect. This
Plan shall be binding on the Company, any Employing Company and their successors
and assigns, and the Employee, Employee’s heirs, executors, administrators and
legal representatives. As used in this Plan, the term "successor” shall include
any person, firm, corporation or other business entity which at any time,
whether by merger, purchase or otherwise, acquires all or substantially all of
the assets or business of the Company or any Employing Company.
Section 10.7 Entire Agreement. This
Plan constitutes the entire understanding between the parties hereto and may be
modified only in accordance with the terms of this Plan.
Section
10.8 Decisions and Appeals.
10.8.1 Manner
and Content of Benefit Determination
Within thirty (90) days from the date of an Employee’s Separation from Service
(or longer if special circumstances require), the Human Resources Director and
the
17
General
Counsel shall provide the Employee with either an agreement and release offering
Separation Benefits under the Plan or written or electronic notification of such
Employee’s ineligibility for or denial of Separation Benefits, either in whole
or in part. If at any time the Human Resources Director and the
General Counsel make any adverse benefit determination, such notification shall
set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the Employee including the
following:
(i) the
specific reason(s) for the adverse determination;
(ii) references
to the specific plan provisions upon which the determination is
based;
(iii) a
description of any additional material or information necessary for the Employee
to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is
necessary;
(iv) a
description of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to
such procedures, including a statement of the Employee’s right to bring a civil
action under section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination
on review under Section 10.8.3;
(v) if the
Plan utilizes a specific internal rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar
criterion in making the determination, either the specific rule, guideline,
protocol or other similar criterion; or a statement that such a rule, guideline,
protocol or other similar criterion was relied upon and that a copy of such
rule, guideline, protocol or similar criterion will be provided free of charge
to the Employee upon request;
10.8.2 Appeal of
Denied Claim and Review Procedure
If
an Employee does not agree with the reason for the denial or termination of
Separation Benefits (including a denial or termination of benefits based on a
determination of an Employee’s eligibility to participate in the Plan), he/she
may file a written appeal within 180 days after the receipt of the original
claim determination. The request should state the basis for the
disagreement along with any data, questions, or comments he/she thinks are
appropriate, and should be sent to the office of the Human Resources
Director.
The Compensation Committee shall conduct a full and fair review of the
determination. The review shall not defer to the initial
determination, and it shall take into account all comments, documents, records
and other information submitted by the Eligible Employee without regard to
whether such information was previously submitted or considered in the initial
determination.
10.8.3 Manner
and Content of Notification of Benefit Determination on Review
Within 60 days (or longer if special circumstances require), the Compensation
Committee shall provide an Employee with written or electronic notification of
any adverse benefit determination on review. The notification shall
set forth, in a manner
18
calculated
to be understood by the Employee the following:
(i) the
specific reason(s) for the adverse determination on review;
(ii) reference
to the specific plan provisions upon which the review is based;
(iii) a
statement that the Employee is entitled to receive, upon request and free of
charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other
information relevant to his claim for benefits;
(iv) a
statement describing any voluntary appeal procedures offered by the Plan and the
Employee’s right to obtain the information about such procedures, and a
statement of the Employee’s right to bring an action under section 502(a) of
ERISA;
(v) if an
internal rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion was relied upon
in making the adverse determination on review, either the specific rule,
guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion, or a statement that such rule,
guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion was relied upon in making the
adverse determination on review and that a copy of the rule, guideline,
protocol, or other similar criterion will be provided free of charge to the
Employee upon request;
(vi) the
following statement: "Other voluntary alternative dispute resolution methods,
such as mediation, may be available. You may seek additional
information by contacting your local U.S. Department of Labor office and your
State insurance regulatory agency.”
EXECUTED
as of this 31st day of December, 2008.
UNIT
CORPORATION
By: /s/ Mark E.
Schell
Mark
E. Schell, Senior Vice President and General Counsel
19
SEPARATION
AGREEMENT "A”
[Name of
Employing Company] ("Unit”) and _____________ ("Employee”) hereby agree as
follows:
Employee’s
employment will end on ___________, 20__.
In
consideration for Employee’s agreement to the terms and conditions of this
Separation Agreement ("Agreement”), Unit will pay to Employee a Separation
Benefit of $_____ in accordance with and subject to the terms of the Separation
Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and Participating Subsidiaries (the
"Plan”).
Employee
knows that state and federal laws, including the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended,
prohibit employment discrimination based on age, sex, race, color, national
origin, religion, handicap, disability, or veteran status, and that these laws
are enforced through the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
("EEOC”), United States Department of Labor, and State Human Rights
Agencies.
EMPLOYEE
IS ADVISED TO CONSULT AN ATTORNEY PRIOR TO SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT.
EMPLOYEE
HAS TWENTY ONE (21) DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THIS AGREEMENT TO CONSIDER WHETHER TO
SIGN THIS AGREEMENT.
AFTER
SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, EMPLOYEE HAS ANOTHER SEVEN (7) DAYS IN WHICH TO REVOKE
CONSENT TO THIS AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT DOES NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THOSE SEVEN
DAYS HAVE PASSED.
In
exchange for receipt of the Separation Benefit described above, to which
Employee acknowledges he or she is not otherwise entitled, Employee forever
releases and discharges Unit Corporation and its subsidiaries, their officers,
directors, agents, employees, and affiliates from all claims, liabilities, and
lawsuits arising out of Employee’s employment or the termination of that
employment, and agrees not to assert any such claim, liability or lawsuit.
Employee agrees that this release and discharge includes any claim under the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
as amended, and any claim under other federal, state or local statute or
regulation relating to employment discrimination or employee benefits. Employee
agrees that this release and discharge includes any claim under any other
statute, regulation or common law rule relating to Employee’s employment or
Separation from Service. This Agreement does not have any effect with respect to
acts or events occurring after the date upon which Employee signs the Agreement.
This Agreement does not limit any benefits to which Employee is entitled under
any retirement plans, if any.
As
further consideration for the payment of the Separation Benefit described above,
Employee agrees that Employee will not, in any capacity directly or indirectly
and on his or her own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, during
the period of time he or she is receiving such Separation Benefits, either (a)
solicit or attempt to induce any current customer of the Company to cease doing
business with the Company or (b) solicit or attempt to induce any
A-1
employee
of the Company to sever the employment relationship (collectively, the
"Protection of Business Requirements”).
Except as
provided in the next paragraph, in the event Employee violates the Protection of
Business Requirements hereof, Employee shall not be entitled to any further
payments of Separation Benefits under the Plan or this Agreement and shall be
obligated to repay Unit all Separation Benefit payments previously received
under the Plan and this Agreement.
In the event of a Change in Control of
Unit Corporation (as defined in the Plan), Employee’s obligations regarding the
Protection of Business Requirements under this Agreement shall expire and be
canceled, and Employee shall be entitled to Separation Benefits provided under
the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan, notwithstanding
whether Employee thereafter engages in conduct that would otherwise violate the
Protection of Business Requirements as described in this Agreement.
Employee
has carefully read and fully understands all the provisions of this Agreement.
This is the entire Agreement between the parties and is legally binding and
enforceable. Employee agrees that he or she has not relied upon any
representation or statement, written or oral, not set forth in this Agreement
when signing this Agreement.
This
Agreement shall be governed and interpreted under federal law and the laws of
the State of Oklahoma, notwithstanding such State’s choice of law provisions. If
any part of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
void or voidable, such holding shall not apply to render void or voidable the
provisions of this Agreement not encompassed in the court’s holding. Where
necessary to maintain this Agreement’s validity, a court of competent
jurisdiction may modify the terms of this Agreement to the extent necessary to
effectuate its purposes as demonstrated by the terms and conditions stated
herein.
Employee
agrees that he or she has carefully read and fully understands all the provision
of this Agreement. This is the entire Agreement between the parties, and it is
legally binding and enforceable. Employee agrees that he or she has not relied
upon any representation or statement, written or oral, not set forth in this
Agreement when signing this Agreement.
Employee
knowingly and voluntarily signs this Agreement.
1.
|
Employee
acknowledges receipt of this Agreement on this ____ day of, __________,
20__;
|
________________________(Employee)
2.
|
Employee
acknowledges signing and, in signing, consenting to this Agreement on this
______ day of ________________________,
20__;
|
________________________(Employee)
A-2
3.
|
Employee
acknowledges that the seven (7) day revocation period shall end, and this
agreement shall be effective and enforceable as of the ____ day of
___________, 20__;
|
_______________________(Employee)
(Name of
Employing Company)
By: _________________________________
Title:
________________________________
Date:
________________________________
A-3
SEPARATION
AGREEMENT "B”
[Name of
Employing Company] ("Unit”) and ("Employee”) hereby agree as
follows:
Employee’s
employment will end on _________, 20__.
In
consideration for Employee’s agreement to the terms and conditions of this
Separation Agreement ("Agreement”), Unit will pay to Employee a Separation
Benefit of $_______, in accordance with, and subject to the terms of the
Separation Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and Participating Subsidiaries (the
"Plan”). Employee agrees to comply with all terms of the
Plan.
Employee
knows that state and federal laws, including the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended,
prohibit employment discrimination based upon age, sex, race, color, national
origin, religion, handicap, disability, or veteran status, and that these laws
are enforced through the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
("EEOC”), United States Department of Labor, State Human Rights Agencies and
courts of competent jurisdiction.
EMPLOYEE
IS ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY PRIOR TO SIGNING THIS
AGREEMENT.
EMPLOYEE
HAS FORTY FIVE (45) DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE WRITTEN
STATEMENT PROVIDED WITH THIS AGREEMENT, TO CONSIDER WHETHER TO SIGN THIS
AGREEMENT.
AFTER
SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, EMPLOYEE HAS ANOTHER SEVEN (7) DAYS IN WHICH TO REVOKE
CONSENT TO THIS AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT DOES NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THOSE SEVEN
(7) DAYS HAVE PASSED.
EMPLOYEE
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, ALONG WITH THIS AGREEMENT, HE OR SHE HAS BEEN GIVEN A WRITTEN
STATEMENT: (A) WHICH DESCRIBES THE CLASS, UNIT, OR GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED
BY THE PLAN, ELIGIBILITY FACTORS UNDER THE PLAN, AND ANY TIME LIMITS APPLICABLE
TO THE PLAN; AND (B) THE JOB TITLES AND AGES OF ALL INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE OR
SELECTED FOR TERMINATION UNDER THE PLAN WITH THIS EMPLOYEE, AND THE AGES AND JOB
TITLES OF ALL INDIVIDUALS IN THE SAME JOB CLASSIFICATION OR TITLE AS THOSE
EMPLOYEES ELIGIBLE OR SELECTED FOR TERMINATION UNDER THE PLAN WHO ARE NOT
ELIGIBLE OR SELECTED FOR TERMINATION.
In
exchange for receipt of the Separation Benefit described above, to which
Employee acknowledges he or she is not otherwise entitled, Employee forever
releases and discharges Unit Corporation and its subsidiaries, their officers,
directors, agents, employees, and affiliates from all claims, liabilities, and
lawsuits arising out of Employee’s employment or the termination of that
employment, and agrees not to assert any such claim, liability or lawsuit.
Employee agrees that this release and discharge includes any claim under the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
as amended, and any claim under other
B-1
federal,
state or local statute or regulation relating to employment discrimination or
employee benefits. Employee agrees that this release and discharge includes any
claim under any other statute, regulation or common law rule relating to
Employee’s employment or Separation from Service. This Agreement does not have
any effect with respect to acts or events occurring after the date upon which
Employee signs the Agreement. This Agreement does not limit any benefits to
which Employee is entitled under any retirement plans, if any.
Employee agrees that he or she has
carefully read and fully understands all the provision of this Agreement. This
is the entire Agreement between the parties, and it is legally binding and
enforceable. Employee agrees that he or she has not relied
upon any representation or statement, written or oral, not set forth in this
Agreement when signing this Agreement.
The Plan
shall be construed and administered in accordance with ERISA and other federal
laws, and with the laws of the State Oklahoma to the extent such State laws are
not preempted by ERISA. If any part of this Agreement is held by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be void or voidable, such holding shall not
apply to render void or voidable the provisions of this Agreement not
encompassed in the court’s holding. Where necessary to maintain this Agreement’s
validity, a court of competent jurisdiction may modify the terms of this
Agreement to the extent necessary to effectuate its purposes as demonstrated by
the terms and conditions stated herein.
Employee
knowingly and voluntarily signs this Agreement.
1.
|
Employee
acknowledges receipt of this Agreement on this ____ day of ________,
20__;
|
_________________________(Employee)
2.
|
Employee
acknowledges signing and, in signing, consenting to this Agreement on this
______ day of ________________________,
20__;
|
_________________________(Employee)
3.
|
Employee
acknowledges that the seven (7) day revocation period shall end, and this
agreement shall be effective and enforceable as of the ____ day of
_________, 20__;
|
_________________________(Employee)
(Name of
Employing Company)
By:
____________________________
Title:
___________________________
Date:
___________________________
B-2
Exhibit
10.2
SPECIAL
SEPARATION BENEFIT PLAN
OF
UNIT CORPORATION AND
PARTICIPATING
SUBSIDIARIES
As
Amended and Restated
Effective
December 31, 2008
Table
of Contents
Page
|
||
Article
1. Scope
|
1
|
|
Section
1.1
|
Name
|
1
|
Section
1.2
|
Plan
Year
|
1
|
Article
2. Definitions
|
1
|
|
Article
3. Benefits
|
5
|
|
Section
3.1
|
Eligibility
|
5
|
Section
3.2
|
Separation
Benefit
|
6
|
Section
3.3
|
Separation
Benefit Amount
|
6
|
Section
3.4
|
Separation
Benefit Limitation
|
7
|
Section
3.5
|
Withholding
Tax
|
7
|
Section
3.6
|
Reemployment
of an Eligible Employee
|
7
|
Section
3.7
|
Integration
with Disability Benefits
|
7
|
Section
3.8
|
Plan
Benefit Offset
|
7
|
Section
3.9
|
Recoupment
|
7
|
Section
3.10
|
Change
in Control
|
8
|
Article
4. Method of Payment
|
8
|
|
Section
4.1
|
Separation
Benefit Payment
|
8
|
Section
4.2
|
Protection
of Business
|
8
|
Section
4.3
|
Death
|
10
|
Section
4.4
|
Payment
to Specified Employees Upon Separation from Service
|
10
|
Article
5. Waiver and Release of Claims
|
10
|
|
Article
6. Funding
|
11
|
|
Article
7. Operation
|
11
|
|
Section
7.1
|
Employing
Company Participation
|
11
|
Section
7.2
|
Status
of Subsidiaries or Affiliates
|
11
|
Section
7.3
|
Termination
by an Employing Company
|
11
|
Article
8. Administration
|
12
|
|
Section
8.1
|
Named
Fiduciary
|
12
|
Section
8.2
|
Fiduciary
Responsibilities
|
12
|
Section
8.3
|
Specific
Fiduciary Responsibilities
|
12
|
Section
8.4
|
Allocations
and Delegations of Responsibility
|
12
|
Section
8.5
|
Advisors
|
13
|
i
Section
8.6
|
Plan
Determination
|
13
|
Section
8.7
|
Modification
and Termination
|
13
|
Section
8.8
|
Indemnification
|
13
|
Section
8.9
|
Successful
Defense
|
14
|
Section
8.10
|
Unsuccessful
Defense
|
14
|
Section
8.11
|
Advance
Payments
|
14
|
Section
8.12
|
Repayment
of Advance Payments
|
14
|
Section
8.13
|
Right
of Indemnification
|
14
|
Article
9. Effective Date
|
14
|
|
Article
10. Miscellaneous
|
15
|
|
Section
10.1
|
Assignment
|
15
|
Section
10.2
|
Governing
Law
|
15
|
Section
10.3
|
Employing
Company Records
|
15
|
Section
10.4
|
Employment
Non-Contractual
|
15
|
Section
10.5
|
Taxes
|
15
|
Section
10.6
|
Binding
Effect
|
15
|
Section
10.7
|
Agreement
|
16
|
Section
10.8
|
Decisions
and Appeals
|
16
|
Attachment
A - Separation Agreement
Attachment
B - Separation Agreement
ii
SPECIAL
SEPARATION BENEFIT PLAN
OF
UNIT CORPORATION AND
PARTICIPATING
SUBSIDIARIES
Introduction
The
purpose of this Plan is to provide financial assistance to Eligible Employees
whose employment has terminated under certain conditions, in consideration of
the waiver and release by those employees of any claims arising or alleged to
arise from their employment or the termination of employment. No
employee is entitled to any payment under this Plan except in exchange for and
upon the Employing Company’s receipt of a written waiver and release given in
accordance with the provisions of this Plan.
ARTICLE
1.
SCOPE
Section
1.1 Name
This Plan
shall be known as the Special Separation Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and
Participating Subsidiaries. The Plan is an "employee benefit plan”
governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
Section
1.2 Plan
Year
The Plan
Year is the calendar year. The initial Plan Year is the period
January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004.
ARTICLE
2.
DEFINITIONS
2.1
|
"Base
Salary” means the regular basic cash remuneration before deductions for
taxes and other items withheld, and without regard to any salary reduction
under any plans maintained by an Employing Company under Section 401(k) or
125 of the Code, payable to an Employee for services rendered to an
Employing Company, but not including pay for Bonuses, incentive
compensation, special pay, awards or
commissions.
|
2.2
|
"Beneficiary”
means the person designated by an Eligible Employee in a written
instrument filed with an Employing Company to receive benefits under this
Plan.
|
2.3
|
"Board
of Directors” means the board of directors of the
Company.
|
2.4
|
"Bonus”
means any annual incentive compensation paid to an Employee over and above
Base Salary earned that is paid in cash or
otherwise.
|
2.5
|
"Change
in Control” of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred as of the
first day that any one or more of the following conditions shall have been
satisfied:
|
(i) on
the close of business on the tenth day following the time the Company learns of
the acquisition by any individual entity or group (a "Person”), including any
"person” within
1
the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, of beneficial
ownership within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act,
of 15% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the
Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting
power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote
generally in the election of Directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting
Securities”); excluding, however, the following: (A) any acquisition directly
from the Company (excluding any acquisition resulting from the exercise of an
exercise, conversion or exchange privilege unless the security being so
exercised, converted or exchanged was acquired directly from the Company); (B)
any acquisition by the Company; (C) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan
(or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation
controlled by the Company; and (D) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant
to a transaction with complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection
(iii) of this definition;
(ii) individuals
who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of Directors (the "Incumbent
Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of such Board;
provided that any individual who becomes a Director of the Company subsequent to
the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s
stockholders, was approved by the vote of at least a majority of the Directors
then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be deemed a member of the Incumbent
Board; and provided further, that any individual who was initially elected as a
Director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest,
as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the
Exchange Act, or any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents by or on behalf of any Person other than the Board shall not be deemed
a member of the Incumbent Board;
(iii) approval
by the stockholders of the company of a reorganization, merger or consolidation
or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company (a "Corporate Transaction”); excluding, however, a Corporate Transaction
pursuant to which (i) all or substantially all of the individuals or entities
who are the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common
Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such
Corporate Transaction will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than
70% of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined
voting power of the outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of Directors, as the case may be, of the corporation
resulting from such Corporate Transaction (including, without limitation, a
corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or indirectly) in
substantially the same proportions relative to each other as their ownership,
immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the Outstanding Company
Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be,
(ii) no Person (other than: the Company; the corporation resulting from such
Corporate Transaction; and any Person which beneficially owned, immediately
prior to such Corporate Transaction, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock or the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the
case may be) will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of,
respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such Corporate Transaction or the combined voting power of the
outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the
election of Directors and (iii) individuals who were members of the Incumbent
Board will
2
constitute
a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the corporation resulting
from such Corporate Transaction; or
(iv) approval
by the stockholders of the Company of a plan of complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
2.6
|
"Change
of Control Contract” means a Unit Corporation Key Employee Change of
Control Contract entered into between Unit Corporation and the individual
identified in such agreement as
"Executive.”
|
2.7
|
"Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.
|
2.8
|
"Company”
means Unit Corporation, the sponsor of this
Plan.
|
2.9
|
"Comparable
Position” means a job with an Employing Company or successor company at
the same or higher Base Salary as an Employee’s current job and at a work
location within reasonable commuting distance from an Employee’s home, as
determined by the Employee’s Employing
Company.
|
2.10
|
"Compensation
Committee” means the Committee established and appointed by the Board of
Directors or by a committee of the Board of
Directors.
|
2.11
|
"Completed
Year of Service” means the period of time beginning with an Employee’s
date of hire or the anniversary of the date of hire and ending twelve
months thereafter.
|
2.12
|
"Discharge
for Cause” means termination of the Employee’s employment by the Employing
Company due to:
|
(i) the
consistent failure of the Employee to perform the Employee’s prescribed duties
to the Employing Company (other than any such failure resulting from the
Employee’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness);
(ii) the
commission by the Employee of a wrongful act that caused or was reasonably
likely to cause damage to the Employing Company;
(iii) an
act of gross negligence, fraud, unfair competition, dishonesty or
misrepresentation in the performance of the Employee’s duties on behalf of the
Employing Company;
(iv) the
conviction of or the entry of a plea of nolo contendere by the Employee to any
felony or the conviction of or the entry of a plea of nolo contendere to any
offense involving dishonesty, breach of trust or moral turpitude;
(v) a
breach of an Employee’s fiduciary duty involving personal profit;
or
(vi) similar
actions.
2.13
|
"Eligible
Employee” means an Employee who is determined to be eligible to
participate in this Plan and receive benefits under Article
3.
|
2.14
|
(a) "Employee”
means a person who is
|
(i) a
regular full-time salaried employee of the Employing Company principally
employed in the continental United States, Alaska or Hawaii;
(ii) employed
by an Employing Company for work on a regular full-time salaried schedule of at
least 40 hours per week for an indefinite period; or
3
(iii) a
regular employee who has been demoted or transferred from a full-time salaried
position to an hourly position and who, in the discretion of Employing Company
at the time of such demotion or transfer, is deemed to retain his or her
eligibility to participate in the Plan.
(b) "Employee”
does not, under any circumstance, mean a person who is
(i) an
employee whose compensation is determined on an hourly basis or who holds a
position with the Employing Company that is generally characterized as an
"hourly” position, except were a specific employee is, after demotion, deemed to
be eligible to participate in the Plan under paragraph (a)(iii),
above;
(ii) an
employee who is classified by the Employing Company as a temporary
employee;
(iii) an
employee who is a member of a bargaining unit unless the employee’s union has
bargained this Plan pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement between the
Employing Company and the union or the employee’s union bargains this Plan
pursuant to bargaining obligations mandated by the National Labor Relations
Act;
(iv) an
employee retained by the Employing Company under a written contract, other than
a Change of Control Contract;
(v) any
worker who is retained by the Company or Employing Company as a "independent
contractor,” "leased employee,” or "temporary employee” but who is reclassified
as an "employee” of the Company or Employing Company by a state or federal
agency or court of competent jurisdiction; or
(vi) an
employee who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Employing
Company.
2.15
|
"Employing
Company” means the Company or any subsidiary of the Company electing to
participate in this Plan under the provisions of Section
7.1.
|
2.16
|
"ERISA”
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as from time to
time amended, and all regulations and rulings issued thereunder by
governmental administrative bodies.
|
2.17
|
"Human
Resources Director” means the Human Resources Director of the
Company.
|
2.18
|
"Plan”
means the Special Separation Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and
Participating Subsidiaries Plan, as set forth in this document and as may
be amended from time to time.
|
2.19
|
"Separation
Agreement” means the agreement between an Employee and the Employing
Company in which the Employee waives and releases the Company, Employing
Company and other potentially related parties from certain claims in
exchange for and in consideration of payments of the Separation Benefit,
to which the Employee would not otherwise be
entitled.
|
2.20
|
"Separation
Benefit” means the benefit provided for under this Plan as determined
under Article 3.
|
2.21
|
"Separation
Period” means the period of time over which an Eligible Employee receives
Separation Benefits under the Plan
..
|
4
2.22
|
"Separation
from Service” shall mean an Employee’s "separation from service” as
determined by the Company in accordance with Section 409A of the
Code. A Separation from Service shall be effective on the date
specified by the Employing Company (the "Termination
Date”).
|
2.23
|
"Specified
Employee” means those employees of the Company or a Employing Company who
are determined by the Compensation Committee to be a "specified employee”
in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder.
|
2.24
|
"Years
of Service” means the sum of the number of continuous Completed Years of
Service as an Employee of an Employing Company during the period of
employment beginning with the Employee’s most recent hire date and ending
with the Employee’s most recent termination
date.
|
ARTICLE
3.
BENEFITS
Section
3.1 Eligibility
Each
Employee who (i) is selected by the Compensation Committee to participate in
this Plan, (ii) has at least one active Year of Service with an Employing
Company immediately before the date of his or her Separation from Service, (iii)
complies with all administrative requirements of this Plan, including the
provisions of Article 5, (iv) has a termination of employment that is the result
of the circumstances described in Section 3.2, and (v) works through his/her
Termination Date and is not engaged in a strike or lockout as of the Termination
Date, is eligible to participate in this Plan and, subject to all the terms of
the Plan, receive benefits as provided in this Article 3. An Employee
is ineligible to participate in this Plan if that Employee fails to satisfy any
of the requirements of this Plan including, but not limited to, failure to
establish that his or her termination met the requirements for a Separation from
Service. Additionally, an Employee shall be ineligible to participate
in this Plan if that Employee’s termination of employment results
from:
(i) A
Discharge for Cause,
(ii) A court
decree or government action or recommendation having an effect on an Employing
Company’s operations or manpower involving rationing or price control or any
other similar type cause beyond the control of an Employing
Company,
(iii) Before a
Change in Control, an offer to the Employee of a position with an Employing
Company, or affiliate, regardless of whether the position offered provides
comparable wages and benefits to the position formerly held by the
Employee,
(iv) A
termination under which an Employee accepts any benefits under an incentive
retirement plan or other severance or termination benefits program, contract or
plan (other than a Change of Control Contract) offered by the Company or the
Employing Company,
(v) An
Employee who has a written employment contract which contains severance
provisions (other than a Change of Control Contract),
5
(vi) The
failure of an Employee to report to work as required by his or her Employing
Company,
(vii) A
temporary work cessation due to strikes, lockouts or similar
reasons,
(viii) The
divestiture of any business of an Employing Company if the Employee is offered a
Comparable Position by the purchaser or successor of such business, an affiliate
thereof, or an affiliate of an Employing Company, or
(ix) A
termination of the Employee if the Employee is offered a Comparable Position
arranged for or secured by an Employing Company.
Section
3.2 Separation
Benefit
A
Separation Benefit shall be provided for Eligible Employees under the provisions
of this Article 3 if an Eligible Employee’s Separation from Service is the
result of (i) an Employing Company terminating the employment of the Eligible
Employee, (ii) a voluntary termination of employment by the Eligible Employee on
or after the date the Eligible Employee attains age 65 or (iii) the death of the
Eligible Employee on or after the date the Eligible Employee attains age
65.
Section
3.3 Separation
Benefit Amount
The
Separation Benefit payable to an Eligible Employee under this Plan shall be
based, in part, on his/her Years of Service with the Company, or Employing
Company. The formula for determining an Employee’s Separation Benefit
payment shall be calculated by dividing the Employee’s average Base Salary for
the one-year period ending immediately before the date of Separation from
Service by 52 to calculate the weekly separation benefit (the "Weekly Separation
Benefit”). The amount of the Separation Benefit payable to the
Eligible Employee shall then be determined in accordance with the following
applicable provision:
Schedule
of Separation Benefits
Years
of
Service
|
Number
of Weekly
Separation
Benefit
Payments
|
Years
of
Service
|
Number
of Weekly
Separation
Benefit
Payments
|
1
|
4
|
14
|
56
|
2
|
8
|
15
|
60
|
3
|
12
|
16
|
64
|
4
|
16
|
17
|
68
|
5
|
20
|
18
|
72
|
6
|
24
|
19
|
76
|
7
|
28
|
20
|
80
|
8
|
32
|
21
|
84
|
9
|
36
|
22
|
88
|
10
|
40
|
23
|
92
|
11
|
44
|
24
|
96
|
12
|
48
|
25
|
100
|
13
|
52
|
26
or more
|
104
|
6
Section
3.4 Separation
Benefit Limitation
Notwithstanding
anything in this Plan to the contrary, the Separation Benefit payable to any
Eligible Employee under this Plan shall never exceed the lesser of (i) 104
Weekly Separation Benefit payments; or (ii) the amount permitted under ERISA to
maintain this Plan as a welfare benefit plan. The benefits payable
under this Plan shall be inclusive of and offset by any amounts paid under the
Separation Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and Participating Subsidiaries,
federal, state, local or foreign government worker notification (e.g., Worker
Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) or office closing
requirements.
Section
3.5 Withholding
Tax
The
Employing Company shall deduct from the amount of any Separation Benefits
payable under this Plan, any amount required to be withheld by the Employing
Company by reason of any law or regulation, for the payment of taxes or
otherwise to any federal, state, local or foreign government. In
determining the amount of any applicable tax, the Employing Company shall be
entitled to rely on the number of personal exemptions on the official form(s)
filed by the Employee with the Employing Company for purposes of income tax
withholding on regular wages.
Section
3.6 Reemployment
of an Eligible Employee
Entitlement
to the unpaid balance of any Separation Benefit due an Eligible Employee under
this Plan shall be revoked immediately on reemployment of the person as an
Employee of an Employing Company. Any unpaid balance shall not be
payable in any future period.
However,
if the person’s re-employment is subsequently terminated and he or she then
becomes entitled to a Separation Benefit under this Plan, Years of Service for
the period of re-employment shall be added to that portion of his or her prior
service represented by the unpaid balance or the revoked entitlement for the
prior Separation Benefit.
Section
3.7 Integration
with Disability Benefits
The
Separation Benefit payable to an Eligible Employee with respect to any
Separation Period shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of any
disability benefit payable from any disability plan or program sponsored or
contributed to by an Employing Company. The amount of any resulting
reduction shall not be paid to the Eligible Employee in any future
period.
Section
3.8 Plan
Benefit Offset
The
amount of any severance or separation type payment that an Employing Company is
or was obligated to pay to an Eligible Employee under any law, decree, or court
award because of the Eligible Employee’s termination of employment from an
Employing Company shall reduce the amount of Separation Benefit otherwise
payable under this Plan. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding
sentence, the terms of this Section 3.8 shall not be applicable to any benefits
paid under a Change of Control Contract.
Section
3.9 Recoupment
An
Employing Company may deduct from the Separation Benefit any amount owing to an
Employing Company from
(a) the
Eligible Employee, or
7
(b) the
executor or administrator of the Eligible Employee’s estate.
Section
3.10 Change
in Control
Unless
otherwise provided in writing by the Board of Directors before a Change in
Control of the Company, all Eligible Employees shall be vested in his/her
Separation Benefit as of the date of the Change in Control based on the Eligible
Employee’s then Years of Service as determined by reference to the schedule set
forth in Section 3.3 of this Plan. Any Separation Benefit deemed to
have vested under this Section shall be payable on the Eligible Employee’s
Separation from Service with the Employing Company and shall be paid in
accordance with the Plan provisions in effect immediately before the Change in
Control.
ARTICLE
4.
METHOD
OF PAYMENT
Section
4.1 Separation
Benefit Payment
Separation
Benefit payments shall be paid in equal installments in the same manner as wages
were paid to the Eligible Employee, and, subject to Section 4.4, the
installments shall begin no later than 90 days following the Termination
Date. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the
Separation Period for an Eligible Employee shall never exceed the amount of time
permitted under ERISA to maintain this Plan as a welfare benefit
plan. If under the payment schedule set forth in this Plan, the
Separation Period will expire before the full payment of the Separation Benefit
owed to an Eligible Employee under this Plan, then the total amount unpaid as of
the final installment shall be paid to the Eligible Employee in the final
installment.
Section
4.2 Protection
of Business
(i) Any Eligible Employee who receives
Separation Benefits under Section 3.3.2 of this Plan agrees that, in
consideration of the Separation Benefits, the Employee will not, in any
capacity, directly or indirectly, and on his or her own behalf or on behalf of
any other person or entity, during the period of time he or she is receiving
Separation Benefits, either (a) solicit or attempt to induce any current
customer of the Employing Company to cease doing business with the Employing
Company; (b) solicit or attempt to induce any employee of the Employing Company
to sever the employment relationship; (c) compete against the Employing Company;
(d) injure the Employing Company and the Company, in their business activities
or its reputation; or (e) act as an employee, independent contractor, or service
provider of a person or entity that is a competitor of the Employing Company or
injures the Employing Company or the Company, its business activities or its
reputation (collectively, the "Protection of Business
Requirements”). The Compensation Committee in its sole discretion
shall decide whether any Eligible Employee is in violation of this
Section.
(ii) Except as
provided in the next paragraph and/or the Separation Agreement, in the event the
Eligible Employee violates the Protection of Business Requirements of this
Section (or the like provisions of his or her Separation Agreement), the
Eligible Employee shall not be entitled to any further payments of Separation
Benefits under this Plan and shall be obligated to repay the Employing Company
all monies previously received as Separation Benefits from the date of the
violation forward.
8
(iii) In the
event of a Change in Control, the Eligible Employee’s obligations
under this Section shall expire and be canceled, and the Eligible Employee shall be entitled
to Separation Benefits under this Plan in accordance with its terms even if he
or she engages in conduct that would otherwise violate the Protection of
Business Requirements in this Section.
(iv) The Plan
shall maintain records for
each Eligible Employee that is eligible for Separation Benefits and for each
Eligible Employee that actually receives Separation Benefits (including relevant
dates, claim records, appeal records, payment amounts, etc.).
(v) The Plan
shall pay benefits to Eligible Employees on a regular basis. The Plan
shall process and pay Separation Benefits on a regular basis, and adjudicate
claims for denied or terminated Separation Benefits.
(vi) The
Compensation Committee shall have the ultimate ongoing administrative duty to
monitor and investigate the activities of Eligible Employees to ensure they are
in compliance with the Protection of Business Requirements. As set
forth in this Plan, the Compensation Committee shall have discretion to
determine on an ongoing basis whether each Eligible Employee receiving
Separation Benefits remains in compliance with the Plan’s Protection of Business
Requirements during the period the Eligible Employee is receiving Separation
Benefits.
(vii) The
Compensation Committee shall have full and sole discretion to determine
eligibility for Separation Benefits and to construe the terms of the
Plan.
(viii) By
accepting Separation Benefits, an Eligible Employee certifies that he/she is in
compliance with the Protection of Business
Requirements. Eligible employees must notify the Plan, through the
Human Resources Director, of any change of employer, employment status, or job
status or responsibilities, while eligible for Separation
Benefits. Additionally, Eligible Employees receiving benefits must
complete and submit to the Plan on request a form certifying that they are in
compliance with the Protection of Business Requirements. The Human
Resources Director shall review such forms and make preliminary decisions
regarding whether the Eligible Employee is in compliance with the Protection of
Business Requirements.
(ix) As a
condition to receiving Separation Benefits or coverage, Eligible Employees and
their employers must fully
cooperate with any inquiry or investigation by the Plan concerning the
Protection of Business Requirements. If the Eligible Employee or
employer fails to fully cooperate with any such inquiry or investigation, the
Eligible Employee shall be deemed to have been in violation of the Protection of
Business Requirements, and shall therefore forfeit any further benefits under
the Plan and shall be obligated to repay the Employing Company all monies
previously received as Separation Benefits.
(x) The
Company shall maintain a
projection of the amount of money that will be required for the Company to
fulfill its unfunded obligation under the Plan to make payments to various
Eligible Employees at different times.
9
Section
4.3 Death
4.3.1 Separation from Service as a result
of death - In the event that the Eligible Employee’s Separation from
Service is as a result of the Employee’s death, the Separation Benefit shall be
paid to the Eligible Employee’s Beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of
Sections 3.3 and 4.1. If there is no designated, living Beneficiary,
payments shall be paid to the executor or administrator of the Eligible
Employee’s estate. Payments shall be made to the Eligible Employee’s
Beneficiary, notwithstanding the Eligible Employee’s failure to meet the waiver
and release conditions of Article 5 of the Plan.
4.3.2 Death Subsequent to Separation from
Service - In the event that an Eligible Employee’s death occurs after the
date of Separation from Service, and before receipt of any or all of the
benefits to which the Eligible Employee was entitled under this Plan, then the
remaining payments shall be paid to the Eligible Employee’s Beneficiary in
accordance with Sections 3.3 and 4.1. If there is no designated,
living Beneficiary, the remaining payments shall be paid to the executor or
administrator of the Eligible Employee’s estate.
Section
4.4 Payment
to Specified Employees Upon Separation from Service
In no
event shall a Specified Employee receive a payment under this Plan following a
Separation from Service before the first business day of the seventh month
following the date of Separation from Service, unless the Separation from
Service results from death. Any amounts which would otherwise be
payable to the Specified Employee during the six month period may, at the
Employing Company’s discretion, be accumulated and paid on the first day of the
seventh month following the date of the Specified Employee’s Separation from
Service.
ARTICLE
5.
WAIVER
AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
Except as
provided in Section 4.3.1, it is a condition of this Plan that no Separation
Benefit shall be paid to or for any Employee except on due signing and delivery
to the Employing Company by that Employee of a Separation Agreement in
substantially the form attached to this Plan as Attachment "A” or "B” or such
other form as may be designated as the required Separation Agreement from time
to time, in the discretion of the Employing Company, by which the Employee
waives and releases the Company, the Employing Company, their subsidiaries and
their officers, directors, agents, employees and affiliates from all claims
arising or alleged to arise out of his or her employment or the termination of
employment including, but not limited to the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act of 1967, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and all
other state and federal laws governing the Employee’s employment. The
waiver and release provided in the Separation Agreement is being given in
exchange for and in consideration of payment of the Separation Benefit, to which
the Employee would not otherwise be entitled. The determination of
whether the Employee shall be required to sign a Separation Agreement in the
form shown by Attachment "A” or "B” or otherwise shall be within the sole
discretion of the Employing Company.
In
connection with the signing of the Separation Agreement, the following
procedures shall be followed (except as modified from time to time, in the
discretion of the Employing Company): the Employee shall be advised in writing,
by receiving the written text of the Separation Agreement so stating, to consult
a lawyer before signing the Separation Agreement; the Employee shall be given
10
either
twenty-one (21) days (if Attachment "A” is used), or forty-five (45) days (if
Attachment "B” is used) to consider the Separation Agreement before signing;
after signing, the Employee shall have seven (7) days in which to revoke the
Separation Agreement; and the Separation Agreement shall not take effect until
the seven (7) day revocation period has passed.
In
addition, if Attachment "B” is used, the Employee shall be given a written
statement identifying for the Employee the class, unit or group of persons
eligible to participate in the Plan and any time limits for eligibility under
the Plan, and the job titles and ages of all persons eligible or selected for
separation under the Plan in the same job classification or organizational unit,
and the ages of all persons not eligible or selected for separation under the
Plan.
ARTICLE
6.
FUNDING
This Plan
is an unfunded employee welfare benefit plan under ERISA established by the
Company. Benefits payable to Eligible Employees shall be paid out of
the general assets of the Company or the Employing Company. The
Employing Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate
fund or to make any other segregation of assets to assure the payment of any
Separation Benefits under this Plan.
ARTICLE
7.
OPERATION
Section
7.1 Employing
Company Participation
Any
subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, at the discretion of the Company, may
participate as an Employing Company in the Plan on the following
conditions:
(i) Such
entity shall make, execute and deliver such instruments as the Company shall
deem necessary or desirable;
(ii) Such
entity may withdraw from participation as an Employing Company in accordance
with Section 7.3 in which event this entity may continue the provisions or this
Plan as its own plan, and may thereafter, with respect thereto, exercise all of
the rights and powers theretofore reserved to the Company; and
(iii) Any
modification or amendment of this Plan made or adopted by the Company shall be
deemed to have been accepted by each Employing Company.
Section
7.2 Status
of Subsidiaries or Affiliates
The
authority of each subsidiary or affiliate to act independently and in accordance
with its own best judgment shall not be prejudiced or diminished by its
participation in this Plan and at the same time the several Employing Company
may act collectively in respect of general administration of this Plan in order
to secure administrative economies and maximum uniformity.
Section
7.3 Termination
by an Employing Company
Any
Employing Company other than the Company may withdraw from participation in the
Plan at any time by delivering to the Compensation Committee written
notification to that effect signed by the Employing Company’s chief executive
officer or his delegate. Withdrawal by any Employing Company under
this Section or complete discontinuance of Separation Benefits under
11
this Plan
by any Employing Company other than the Company, shall constitute termination of
this Plan with respect to such Employing Company, but such actions shall not
affect any Separation Benefit that has become payable to an Eligible Employee,
and such benefit shall continue to be paid in accordance with the Plan
provisions in effect at the time of the Separation from Service.
ARTICLE
8.
ADMINISTRATION
Section
8.1 Named
Fiduciary
This Plan
shall be administered by the Company acting through the Compensation Committee
or such other person as may be designated by the Company from time to
time. The Compensation Committee shall be the "Administrator” of the
Plan and shall be, in its capacity as Administrator, a "Named Fiduciary,” as
those terms are defined or used in ERISA.
Section
8.2 Fiduciary
Responsibilities
The named
fiduciary shall fulfill the duties and requirements of a fiduciary under ERISA
and is the Plan’s agent for service of legal process. The named
fiduciary may designate other persons to carry out the fiduciary
responsibilities and may cancel any designation. A person may serve
in more than one fiduciary or administrative capacity with respect to this
Plan. The named fiduciary shall periodically review the performance
of the fiduciary responsibilities by each designated person.
Section
8.3 Specific
Fiduciary Responsibilities
The
Compensation Committee shall be responsible for the general administration and
interpretation of the Plan and the proper carrying out of its provisions and
shall have full discretion to carry out its duties. In addition to
any powers of the Compensation Committee specified elsewhere in this Plan, the
Compensation Committee shall have all discretionary powers necessary to
discharge its duties under this Plan, including, but not limited to, the
following discretionary powers and duties:
(i) To interpret or construe the terms of
this Plan, including eligibility to participate, and resolve ambiguities,
inconsistencies and omissions;
(ii) To make and enforce such rules and
regulations and prescribe the use of these forms as it deems necessary or
appropriate for the efficient administration of the Plan;
(iii) To decide all questions concerning this
Plan and the eligibility of any person to participate in this Plan;
and
(iv) To determine eligibility for benefits
under this Plan.
Section
8.4 Allocations
and Delegations of Responsibility
The Board
of Directors and the Compensation Committee, respectively, shall have the
authority to delegate, from time to time, all or any part of its
responsibilities under this Plan to those person or persons as it may deem
advisable and in the same manner to revoke any such delegation of
responsibility. Any action of the delegate in the exercise of such
delegated responsibilities shall have the same force and effect for all purposes
hereunder as if such action had been taken by the Board of Directors or the
Compensation Committee. The Company, the Board of Directors and the
Compensation Committee shall not be liable for any acts or omissions of any such
delegate. The delegate shall report periodically to the Board of
Directors or the Compensation Committee, as applicable, concerning the discharge
of the delegated responsibilities.
12
The Board
of Directors and the Compensation Committee, respectively, shall have the
authority to allocate, from time to time, all or any part of its
responsibilities under this Plan to one or more of its members as it may deem
advisable, and in the same manner to remove such allocation of
responsibilities. Any action of the member to whom responsibilities
are allocated in the exercise of such allocated responsibilities shall have the
same force and effect for all purposes hereunder as if such action had been
taken by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee. The
Company, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee shall not be
liable for any acts or omissions of such member. The member to whom
responsibilities have been allocated shall report periodically to the Board of
Directors or the Compensation Committee, as applicable, concerning the discharge
of the allocated responsibilities.
Section
8.5 Advisors
The named
fiduciary or any person designated by the named fiduciary to carry out fiduciary
responsibilities may employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to
any responsibility imposed by this Plan.
Section
8.6 Plan
Determination
The
determination of the Compensation Committee as to any question involving the
general administration and interpretation or construction of the Plan shall be
within its sole discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all
persons, except as otherwise provided herein or by law.
Section
8.7 Modification
and Termination
The
Company may at any time, without notice or consent of any person, terminate or
modify this Plan in whole or in part, and such termination or modification shall
apply to existing as well as to future employees, but such actions shall not
affect any Separation Benefit that has become payable to an Eligible Employee,
and such benefit shall continue to be paid in accordance with the Plan
provisions in effect on the date of the Separation from Service.
Section
8.8 Indemnification
To the
extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the
members of the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee members, and any
employee to whom any fiduciary responsibility with respect to this Plan is
allocated or delegated to, and against any and all liabilities, costs and
expenses incurred by any such person as a result of any act, or omission to act,
in connection with the performance of his/her duties, responsibilities and
obligations under this Plan, ERISA and other applicable law, other than such
liabilities, costs and expenses as may result from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of any such person. The foregoing right of
indemnification shall be in addition to any other right to which any such person
may be entitled as a matter of law or otherwise. The Company may
obtain, pay for and keep current a policy or policies of insurance, insuring the
members of the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee members and any
other employees who have any fiduciary responsibility with respect to this Plan
from and against any and all liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by any
such person as a result of any act, or omission, in connection with the
performance of his/her duties, responsibilities and obligations under this Plan
and under ERISA.
13
Section
8.9 Successful
Defense
A person
who has been wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of a
civil or criminal action or proceeding or claim or demand of the character
described in Section 8.8 shall be entitled to indemnification as authorized in
such Section 8.8.
Section
8.10 Unsuccessful
Defense
Except as
provided in Section 8.9, any indemnification under Section 8.8, unless ordered
by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall be made by the Company only if
authorized in the specific case:
8.10.1 By
the Board of Directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not
parties to such action, proceeding, claim or demand, upon a finding that the
member of the Compensation Committee has met the standard of conduct set forth
in Section 8.8; or
8.10.2 If
a quorum under Section 8.10.1 is not obtainable with due diligence; the Board of
Directors upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel (who may be
counsel to any Employing Company) that indemnification is proper in the
circumstances because the standard of conduct set forth in Section 8.8 has been
met by such member of the Compensation Committee.
Section
8.11 Advance
Payments
Expenses
incurred in defending a civil or criminal action or proceeding or claim or
demand may be paid by the Company or Employing Company, as applicable, in
advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding, claim or demand,
if authorized in the manner specified in Section 8.10, except that, in view of
the obligation of repayment set forth in Section 8.12, there need be no finding
or opinion that the required standard of conduct has been met.
Section
8.12 Repayment
of Advance Payments
All
expenses incurred, in defending a civil or criminal action or proceeding, claim
or demand, which are advanced by the Company or Employing Company, as
applicable, under Section 8.11 shall be repaid if person receiving such advance
is ultimately found, under the procedures set forth in this Article 8, not to be
entitled to the extent the expenses so advanced by the Company exceed the
indemnification to which he or she is entitled.
Section
8.13 Right
of Indemnification
Notwithstanding
the failure of the Company or Employing Company, as applicable, to provide
indemnification in the manner set forth in Sections 8.10 and 8.11, and despite
any contrary resolution of the Board of Directors or of the shareholders in the
specific case, if the member of the Compensation Committee has met the standard
of conduct set forth in Section 8.8, the person made or threatened to be made a
party to the action or proceeding or against whom the claim or demand has been
made, shall have the legal right to indemnification from the Company or
Employing Company, as applicable, as a matter of contract by virtue of this
Plan, it being the intention that each such person shall have the right to
enforce such right of indemnification against the Company or Employing Company,
as applicable, in any court of competent jurisdiction.
ARTICLE
9.
EFFECTIVE
DATE
This Plan
is amended and restated effective on and after December 31, 2008.
14
ARTICLE
10.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
10.1 Assignment
An
Employee’s right to benefits under this Plan shall not be assigned, transferred,
pledged, encumbered in any way or subject to attachment or garnishment, and any
attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, garnishment or
other disposition of such benefits shall be null and void and without
effect.
Section
10.2 Governing
Law
The Plan
shall be construed and administered in accordance with ERISA and with the laws
of the State of Oklahoma to the extent such State laws are not preempted by
ERISA. If any part of the Plan is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be void or voidable, such holding shall not apply to render void
or voidable the provisions of the Plan not encompassed in the court’s
holding. Where necessary to maintain the Plan’s validity, a court of
competent jurisdiction may modify the terms of this Plan to the extent necessary
to effectuate its purposes as demonstrated by the terms and conditions stated
herein.
Section
10.3 Employing
Company Records
The
records of the Employing Company with regard to any person’s Eligible Employee
status, Beneficiary status, employment history, Years of Service and all other
relevant matters shall be conclusive for purposes of administration of the
Plan.
Section
10.4 Employment
Non-Contractual
This Plan
is not intended to and does not create a contract of employment, express or
implied, and an Employing Company may terminate the employment of any employee
with or without cause as freely and with the same effect as if this Plan did not
exist. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be deemed to qualify,
limit or alter in any manner the Employing Company’s sole and complete authority
and discretion to establish, regulate, determined or modify at all times, the
terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, levels of
employment, hours of work, the extent of hiring and employment termination, when
and where work shall be done, marketing of its products, or any other matter
related to the conduct of its business or the manner in which its business is to
be maintained or carried on, in the same manner and to the same extent as if
this Plan were not in existence.
Section
10.5 Taxes
Neither
an Employing Company nor any fiduciary of this Plan shall be liable for any
taxes incurred by an Eligible Employee or Beneficiary for Separation Benefit
payments made pursuant to this Plan.
Section
10.6 Binding
Effect
This Plan
shall be binding on the Company, any Employing Company and their successors and
assigns, and the Employee, Employee’s heirs, executors, administrators and legal
representatives. As used in this Plan, the term "successor” shall
include any person, firm, corporation or other business entity which at any
time, whether by merger, purchase or otherwise, acquires all or substantially
all of the assets or business of the Company or any Employing
Company.
15
Section
10.7 Agreement
This Plan
constitutes the entire understanding between the parties hereto and may be
modified only in accordance with the terms of this Plan.
Section
10.8 Decisions and Appeals.
10.8.1 Manner
and Content of Benefit Determination
Within
thirty (90) days from the date of an Employee’s Separation from Service (or
longer if special circumstances require), the Human Resources Director and the
General Counsel shall provide the Employee with either an agreement and release
offering Separation Benefits under the Plan or written or electronic
notification of such Employee’s ineligibility for or denial of Separation
Benefits, either in whole or in part. If at any time the Human
Resources Director and the General Counsel make any adverse benefit
determination, such notification shall set forth, in a manner calculated to be
understood by the Employee including the following:
(i) the
specific reason(s) for the adverse determination;
(ii) references
to the specific plan provisions upon which the determination is
based;
(iii) a
description of any additional material or information necessary for the Employee
to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is
necessary;
(iv) a
description of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to
such procedures, including a statement of the Employee’s right to bring a civil
action under section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination
on review under Section 10.8.3;
(v) if the
Plan utilizes a specific internal rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar
criterion in making the determination, either the specific rule, guideline,
protocol or other similar criterion; or a statement that such a rule, guideline,
protocol or other similar criterion was relied upon and that a copy of such
rule, guideline, protocol or similar criterion will be provided free of charge
to the Employee upon request;
10.8.2 Appeal
of Denied Claim and Review Procedure
If an Employee does not agree with the
reason for the denial or termination of Separation Benefits (including a denial
or termination of benefits based on a determination of an Employee’s eligibility
to participate in the Plan), he/she may file a written appeal within 180 days
after the receipt of the original claim determination. The request
should state the basis for the disagreement along with any data, questions, or
comments he/she thinks are appropriate, and should be sent to the office of the
Human Resources Director.
The Compensation Committee shall
conduct a full and fair review of the determination. The review shall
not defer to the initial determination, and it shall take into account all
comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the
16
Eligible
Employee without regard to whether such information was previously submitted or
considered in the initial determination.
10.8.3 Manner
and Content of Notification of Benefit Determination on Review
Within 60
days (or longer if special circumstances require), the Compensation Committee
shall provide an Employee with written or electronic notification of any adverse
benefit determination on review. The notification shall set forth, in
a manner calculated to be understood by the Employee the following:
(i) the
specific reason(s) for the adverse determination on review;
(ii) reference
to the specific plan provisions upon which the review is based;
(iii) a
statement that the Employee is entitled to receive, upon request and free of
charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other
information relevant to his claim for benefits;
(iv) a
statement describing any voluntary appeal procedures offered by the Plan and the
Employee’s right to obtain the information about such procedures, and a
statement of the Employee’s right to bring an action under section 502(a) of
ERISA;
(v) if an
internal rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion was relied upon
in making the adverse determination on review, either the specific rule,
guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion, or a statement that such rule,
guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion was relied upon in making the
adverse determination on review and that a copy of the rule, guideline,
protocol, or other similar criterion will be provided free of charge to the
Employee upon request;
(vi) the
following statement: "Other voluntary alternative dispute resolution methods,
such as mediation, may be available. You may seek additional
information by contacting your local U.S. Department of Labor office and your
State insurance regulatory agency.”
EXECUTED as of this 31st day of
December, 2008.UNIT CORPORATION
By: /s/ Mark E.
Schell
Mark E.
Schell, Senior Vice President and General Counsel
17
SEPARATION
AGREEMENT "A”
[Name of
Employing Company] ("Unit”) and _____________ ("Employee”) hereby agree as
follows:
Employee’s
employment will end on ___________, 20__.
In
consideration for Employee’s agreement to the terms and conditions of this
Separation Agreement ("Agreement”), Unit will pay to Employee a Separation
Benefit of $_____ in accordance with and subject to the terms of the Separation
Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and Participating Subsidiaries (the
"Plan”).
Employee
knows that state and federal laws, including the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended,
prohibit employment discrimination based on age, sex, race, color, national
origin, religion, handicap, disability, or veteran status, and that these laws
are enforced through the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
("EEOC”), United States Department of Labor, and State Human Rights
Agencies.
EMPLOYEE
IS ADVISED TO CONSULT AN ATTORNEY PRIOR TO SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT.
EMPLOYEE
HAS TWENTY ONE (21) DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THIS AGREEMENT TO CONSIDER WHETHER TO
SIGN THIS AGREEMENT.
AFTER
SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, EMPLOYEE HAS ANOTHER SEVEN (7) DAYS IN WHICH TO REVOKE
CONSENT TO THIS AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT DOES NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THOSE SEVEN
DAYS HAVE PASSED.
In
exchange for receipt of the Separation Benefit described above, to which
Employee acknowledges he or she is not otherwise entitled, Employee forever
releases and discharges Unit Corporation and its subsidiaries, their officers,
directors, agents, employees, and affiliates from all claims, liabilities, and
lawsuits arising out of Employee’s employment or the termination of that
employment, and agrees not to assert any such claim, liability or lawsuit.
Employee agrees that this release and discharge includes any claim under the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
as amended, and any claim under other federal, state or local statute or
regulation relating to employment discrimination or employee benefits. Employee
agrees that this release and discharge includes any claim under any other
statute, regulation or common law rule relating to Employee’s employment or
Separation from Service. This Agreement does not have any effect with respect to
acts or events occurring after the date upon which Employee signs the Agreement.
This Agreement does not limit any benefits to which Employee is entitled under
any retirement plans, if any.
As
further consideration for the payment of the Separation Benefit described above,
Employee agrees that Employee will not, in any capacity directly or indirectly
and on his or her own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, during
the period of time he or she is receiving such Separation Benefits, either (a)
solicit or attempt to induce any current customer of the Company to cease doing
business with the Company or (b) solicit or attempt to induce any employee of
the Company to sever the employment relationship (collectively, the "Protection
of Business Requirements”).
A-1
Except as
provided in the next paragraph, in the event Employee violates the Protection of
Business Requirements hereof, Employee shall not be entitled to any further
payments of Separation Benefits under the Plan or this Agreement and shall be
obligated to repay Unit all Separation Benefit payments previously received
under the Plan and this Agreement.
In the
event of a Change in Control of Unit Corporation (as defined in the Plan),
Employee’s obligations regarding the Protection of Business Requirements under
this Agreement shall expire and be canceled, and Employee shall be entitled to
Separation Benefits provided under the Plan in accordance with the terms of the
Plan, notwithstanding whether Employee thereafter engages in conduct that would
otherwise violate the Protection of Business Requirements as described in this
Agreement.
Employee
has carefully read and fully understands all the provisions of this Agreement.
This is the entire Agreement between the parties and is legally binding and
enforceable. Employee agrees that he or she has not relied upon any
representation or statement, written or oral, not set forth in this Agreement
when signing this Agreement.
This
Agreement shall be governed and interpreted under federal law and the laws of
the State of Oklahoma, notwithstanding such State’s choice of law provisions. If
any part of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
void or voidable, such holding shall not apply to render void or voidable the
provisions of this Agreement not encompassed in the court’s holding. Where
necessary to maintain this Agreement’s validity, a court of competent
jurisdiction may modify the terms of this Agreement to the extent necessary to
effectuate its purposes as demonstrated by the terms and conditions stated
herein.
Employee
agrees that he or she has carefully read and fully understands all the provision
of this Agreement. This is the entire Agreement between the parties, and it is
legally binding and enforceable. Employee agrees that he or she has not relied
upon any representation or statement, written or oral, not set forth in this
Agreement when signing this Agreement.
Employee
knowingly and voluntarily signs this Agreement.
Employee
acknowledges receipt of this Agreement on this ____ day of, __________,
20__;
(Employee)
Employee
acknowledges signing and, in signing, consenting to this Agreement on this
______ day of ________________________, 20__;
______________________(Employee)
Employee
acknowledges that the seven (7) day revocation period shall end, and this
agreement shall be effective and enforceable as of the ____ day of ___________,
20__;
______________________(Employee)
(Name of
Employing Company)
By:
___________________________
Title:
__________________________
Date:
__________________________
A-2
SEPARATION
AGREEMENT "B”
[Name of
Employing Company] ("Unit”) and _____________________ ("Employee”) hereby agree
as follows:
Employee’s
employment will end on _____________________, 20__.
In
consideration for Employee’s agreement to the terms and conditions of this
Separation Agreement ("Agreement”), Unit will pay to Employee a Separation
Benefit of $_______________, in accordance with, and subject to the terms of the
Special Separation Benefit Plan of Unit Corporation and Participating
Subsidiaries (the "Plan”).
Employee
knows that state and federal laws, including the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended,
prohibit employment discrimination based upon age, sex, race, color, national
origin, religion, handicap, disability, or veteran status, and that these laws
are enforced through the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
("EEOC”), United States Department of Labor, State Human Rights Agencies and
courts of competent jurisdiction.
EMPLOYEE
IS ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY PRIOR TO SIGNING THIS
AGREEMENT.
EMPLOYEE
HAS FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE WRITTEN
STATEMENT PROVIDED WITH THIS AGREEMENT, TO CONSIDER WHETHER TO SIGN THIS
AGREEMENT.
AFTER
SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, EMPLOYEE HAS ANOTHER SEVEN (7) DAYS IN WHICH TO REVOKE
CONSENT TO THIS AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT DOES NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL
THOSE SEVEN (7) DAYS HAVE PASSED.
EMPLOYEE
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, ALONG WITH THIS AGREEMENT, HE OR SHE HAS BEEN GIVEN A WRITTEN
STATEMENT: (A) WHICH DESCRIBES THE CLASS, UNIT, OR GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED
BY THE PLAN, ELIGIBILITY FACTORS UNDER THE PLAN, AND ANY TIME LIMITS APPLICABLE
TO THE PLAN; AND (B) THE JOB TITLES AND AGES OF ALL INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE OR
SELECTED FOR TERMINATION UNDER THE PLAN WITH THIS EMPLOYEE, AND THE AGES AND JOB
TITLES OF ALL INDIVIDUALS IN THE SAME JOB CLASSIFICATION OR TITLE AS THOSE
EMPLOYEES ELIGIBLE OR SELECTED FOR TERMINATION UNDER THE PLAN WHO ARE NOT
ELIGIBLE OR SELECTED FOR TERMINATION.
In
exchange for receipt of the Separation Benefit described above, to which
Employee acknowledges he or she is not otherwise entitled, Employee forever
releases and discharges Unit Corporation and its subsidiaries, their officers,
directors, agents, employees, and affiliates from all claims, liabilities, and
lawsuits arising out of Employee’s employment or the termination of that
employment, and agrees not to assert any such claim, liability or
lawsuit. Employee agrees that this release and discharge includes any
claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and any claim under other federal, state or
local statute or regulation relating to employment discrimination or employee
benefits. Employee agrees
B-1
that this
release and discharge includes any claim under any other statute, regulation or
common law rule relating to Employee’s employment or separation from
service. This Agreement does not have any effect with respect to acts
or events occurring after the date upon which Employee signs the
Agreement. This Agreement does not limit any benefits to which
Employee is entitled under any retirement plans, if any.
Employee
agrees that he or she has carefully read and fully understands all the provision
of this Agreement. This is the entire Agreement between the parties,
and it is legally binding and enforceable. Employee agrees that he or
she has not relied upon any representation or statement, written or oral, not
set forth in this Agreement when signing this Agreement.
This
Agreement shall be governed and interpreted under federal law and the laws of
the State of Oklahoma, notwithstanding such State’s choice of law
provisions. If any part of this Agreement is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be void or voidable, such holding shall not apply to
render void or voidable the provisions of this Agreement not encompassed in the
court’s holding. Where necessary to maintain this Agreement’s
validity, a court of competent jurisdiction may modify the terms of this
Agreement to the extent necessary to effectuate its purposes as demonstrated by
the terms and conditions stated herein.
Employee
knowingly and voluntarily signs this Agreement.
1. Employee
acknowledges receipt of this Agreement on this ____ day of
________________________, 20___;
_______________________
(Employee)
2. Employee
acknowledges signing and, in signing, consenting to this Agreement on this
______ day of __________________, 20____;
________________________
(Employee)
3. Employee
acknowledges that the seven (7) day revocation period shall end, and this
Agreement shall be effective and enforceable as of the ____ day of
______________________, 20____;
__________________________
(Employee)
(Name of
Employing Company)
By:
____________________________________
Title:
___________________________________
Date:
___________________________________
B-2
Exhibit
10.3
UNIT
CORPORATION
SEPARATION
BENEFIT PLAN
FOR
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
As
Amended and Restated
Effective
December 31, 2008
UNIT
CORPORATION
SEPARATION
BENEFIT PLAN
FOR
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
INDEX
Page
|
||
Introduction
|
1
|
|
ARTICLE
1. Definitions
|
1
|
|
1.1
|
"Base
Salary”
|
1
|
1.2
|
"Beneficiary”
|
1
|
1.3
|
"Board
of Directors”
|
1
|
1.4
|
"Bonus”
|
1
|
1.5
|
"Change
in Control”
|
1
|
1.6
|
"Code”
|
3
|
1.7
|
"Company”
|
3
|
1.8
|
"Comparable
Position”
|
3
|
1.9
|
"Compensation
Committee”
|
3
|
1.10
|
"Completed
Year of Service”
|
3
|
1.11
|
"Discharge
for Cause”
|
3
|
1.12
|
"Employing
Company”
|
3
|
1.13
|
"Erisa”
|
4
|
1.14
|
"Human
Resources Director”
|
4
|
1.15
|
"Participant”
|
4
|
1.16
|
"Plan”
|
4
|
1.17
|
"Separation
Agreement”
|
4
|
1.18
|
"Separation
Benefit”
|
4
|
1.19
|
"Separation
Period”
|
4
|
1.20
|
"Separation
from Service”
|
4
|
1.21
|
"Specified
Employee”
|
4
|
1.22
|
"Years
of Service”
|
4
|
ARTICLE
2. Benefits
|
4
|
|
2.1
|
Participants
|
4
|
2.2
|
Separation
Benefit
|
4
|
2.3
|
Eligibility
|
5
|
2.4
|
Separation
Benefit Amount
|
5
|
2.5
|
Separation
Benefit Limitation
|
7
|
2.6
|
Withholding
Tax
|
7
|
2.7
|
Reemployment
of a Participant
|
7
|
2.8
|
Integration
with Disability Benefits
|
7
|
2.9
|
Plan
Benefit Offset
|
7
|
2.10
|
Recoupment
|
8
|
2.11
|
Completion
of Twenty Years of Service
|
8
|
i
2.12
|
Change
in Control
|
8
|
ARTICLE
3. Method of Payment
|
8
|
|
3.1
|
Separation
Benefit Payment
|
8
|
3.2
|
Protection
of Business
|
9
|
3.3
|
Death
Subsequent to Separation from Service
|
10
|
3.4
|
Payment
to Specified Employees Upon Separation from Service
|
11
|
ARTICLE
4. Waiver and Release of Claims
|
11
|
|
ARTICLE
5. Funding
|
11
|
|
ARTICLE
6. Administration
|
11
|
|
6.1
|
Named
Fiduciary
|
11
|
6.2
|
Fiduciary
Responsibilities
|
12
|
6.3
|
Specific
Fiduciary Responsibilities
|
12
|
6.4
|
Allocations
and Delegations of Responsibility
|
12
|
6.5
|
Advisors
|
13
|
6.6
|
Plan
Determination
|
13
|
6.7
|
Modification
and Termination
|
13
|
6.8
|
Indemnification
|
13
|
6.9
|
Successful
Defense
|
14
|
6.10
|
Unsuccessful
Defense
|
14
|
6.11
|
Advance
Payments
|
14
|
6.12
|
Repayment
of Advance Payments
|
14
|
6.13
|
Right of
Indemnification
|
14
|
ARTICLE 7. Effective Date and Plan Year |
15
|
|
ARTICLE
8. Miscellaneous
|
15
|
|
8.1
|
Assignment
|
15
|
8.2
|
Governing
Law
|
15
|
8.3
|
Employing
Company Records
|
15
|
8.4
|
Employment
Non-Contractual
|
15
|
8.5
|
Taxes
|
16
|
8.6
|
Binding
Effect
|
16
|
8.7
|
Entire
Agreement
|
16
|
8.8
|
Decisions
and Appeals
|
16
|
ii
UNIT
CORPORATION
SEPARATION
BENEFIT PLAN
FOR
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Introduction
The
purpose of the Unit Corporation Separation Benefit Plan for Senior Management is
to provide certain officers and key executives of Unit Corporation or its
subsidiaries with appropriate assurances of continued income and other benefits
for a reasonable period of time in the event that the individual’s employment
ceases under the circumstances described herein.
The
Compensation Committee shall, in its absolute discretion select the individuals
to be covered by this Plan from time to time. The Compensation
Committee may notify each selected individual of his or her selection and
provide him or her with a copy of this Plan.
Participation
in the Plan shall not in any respect be deemed to grant Participant either a
right to continued participation in the Plan or a right to continued employment
and employment and participation remains terminable at will by either the
Employing Company or Participant at any time for any reason or for no
reason.
ARTICLE
1.
Definitions
1.1
|
"Base
Salary” means
the regular basic cash remuneration before deductions for taxes and other
items withheld, and without regard to any salary reduction under any plans
maintained by an Employing Company under Section 401(k) or 125 of the
Code, payable to a Participant for services rendered to an Employing
Company, but not including pay for Bonuses, incentive compensation,
special pay, awards or
commissions.
|
1.2
|
"Beneficiary”
means the person designated by a
Participant in a written instrument filed with the Compensation Committee
to receive benefits under this
Plan.
|
1.3
|
"Board
of Directors” means
the board of directors of the
Company.
|
1.4
|
"Bonus”
means
any annual incentive compensation paid to a Participant over and above
Base Salary earned and paid in cash or
otherwise.
|
1.5
|
"Change
in Control” of
the Company shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day that any
one or more of the following conditions shall have been
satisfied:
|
(i)
|
On
the close of business on the tenth day following the time the Company
learns of the acquisition by any individual entity or group (a "Person”),
including any "person” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2)
of the Exchange Act, of beneficial ownership within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, of 15% or more of either (i) the
then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company (the "Outstanding
Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then
outstanding securities of the Company
|
1
|
entitled
to vote generally in the election of Directors (the "Outstanding Company
Voting Securities”); excluding, however, the following: (A) any
acquisition directly from the Company (excluding any acquisition resulting
from the exercise of an exercise, conversion or exchange privilege unless
the security being so exercised, converted or exchanged was acquired
directly from the Company); (B) any acquisition by the Company; (C) any
acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company;
and (D) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which
complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (iii) of this
definition;
|
(ii)
|
individuals
who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of Directors (the
"Incumbent Board”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority
of such Board; provided that any individual who becomes a Director of the
Company subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination for
election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by the vote of at
least a majority of the Directors then comprising the Incumbent Board,
shall be deemed a member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further,
that any individual who was initially elected as a Director of the Company
as a result of an actual or threatened election contest, as such terms are
used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act,
or any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by
or on behalf of any Person other than the Board, shall not be deemed a
member of the Incumbent Board;
|
(iii)
|
approval
by the stockholders of the company of a reorganization, merger or
consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company (a "Corporate Transaction”); excluding, however,
a Corporate Transaction pursuant to which (i) all or substantially all of
the individuals or entities who are the beneficial owners, respectively,
of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting
Securities immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction will
beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 70% of, respectively,
the outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined voting power of
the outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally
in the election of Directors, as the case may be, of the corporation
resulting from such Corporate Transaction (including, without limitation,
a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or
all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or
indirectly) in substantially the same proportions relative to each other
as their ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of
the Outstanding Company Common stock and the Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (other than: the Company;
the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction; and any Person
which beneficially owned, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction,
directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the Outstanding Company Common
Stock or the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may be) will
beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively,
the outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from
such Corporate Transaction or the combined voting power of the
|
2
|
outstanding
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election
of Directors and (iii) individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board
will constitute a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the
corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction;
or
|
(iv)
|
approval
by the stockholders of the Company of a plan of complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
|
1.6
|
"Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.
|
1.7
|
"Company”
means
Unit Corporation, the sponsor of this
Plan.
|
1.8
|
"Comparable
Position” means
a job with an Employing Company or successor company at the same or higher
Base Salary as a Participant’s current job and at a work location within
reasonable commuting distance from a Participant’s home, as determined by
the Participant’s Employing
Company.
|
1.9
|
"Compensation
Committee” means
the Compensation Committee established and appointed by the Board of
Directors.
|
1.10
|
"Completed
Year of Service” means the period of
time beginning with a Participant’s date of hire or the anniversary of the
date of hire and ending twelve months
thereafter.
|
1.11
|
"Discharge
for Cause” means
termination of a Participant’s employment by the Employing Company due
to:
|
(i)
|
the
consistent failure of Participant to perform Participant’s prescribed
duties to the Employing Company (other than any such failure resulting
from Participant’s incapacity due to physical or mental
illness);
|
(ii)
|
the
commission by Participant of a wrongful act that caused or was reasonably
likely to cause damage to the Employing
Company;
|
(iii)
|
an
act of gross negligence, fraud, unfair competition, dishonesty or
misrepresentation in the performance of Participant duties on behalf of
the Employing Company;
|
(iv)
|
the
conviction of or the entry of a plea of nolo contendere by Participant to
any felony or the conviction of or the entry of a plea of nolo contendere
to any offense involving dishonesty, breach of trust or moral
turpitude;
|
(v)
|
a
breach of Participant’s fiduciary duty involving personal profit;
or
|
(vi)
|
similar
actions.
|
1.12
|
"Employing
Company” with
respect to a Participant shall mean either the Company or, if applicable,
the subsidiary of the Company which employs
Participant.
|
3
1.13
|
"ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as from time to time
amended, and all regulations and rulings issued thereunder by governmental
administrative bodies.
|
1.14
|
"Human Resources Director” means the
Human Resources Director of the
Company.
|
1.15
|
"Participant”
means
an individual who is designated as such pursuant to Section
2.1.
|
1.16
|
"Plan”
means
the Unit Corporation Separation Benefit Plan for Senior Management, as set
forth in this document and as may be amended from time to
time.
|
1.17
|
"Separation
Agreement” means the
agreement between an Employee and the Employing Company in which the
Participant waives and releases the Company, Employing Company and other
potentially related parties from certain claims in exchange for and in
consideration of payments of the Separation Benefit, to which the
Participant would not otherwise be
entitled.
|
1.18
|
"Separation
Benefit” means
the benefit provided for under this Plan as determined under Article
2.
|
1.19
|
"Separation
Period” means
the period of time over which a Participant receives Separation Benefits
under the Plan.
|
1.20
|
"Separation
from Service” shall
mean an Participant’s "separation from service” as determined by the
Company in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. A
Separation from Service shall be effective on the date specified by the
Employing Company (the "Termination
Date”).
|
1.21
|
"Specified
Employee” means those
employees of the Company or a Employing Company who are determined by the
Compensation Committee to be a "specified employee” in accordance with
Section 409A of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder.
|
1.22
|
"Years
of Service” means
the sum of the number of continuous Completed Years of Service as an
employee of an Employing Company during Participant’s period of employment
beginning with Participant’s most recent hire date and ending with
Participant’s most recent termination
date.
|
ARTICLE
2.
Benefits
2.1
|
Participants
|
Each
individual named on Schedule I hereto shall be a Participant in the
Plan. Schedule I may be amended by the
Compensation Committee from time to time to add individuals as a
Participant.
2.2
|
Separation
Benefit
|
4
A
Separation Benefit shall be provided under the provisions of this Article 2 to a
Participant who is eligible to receive a Separation Benefit under Section 2.3 at
the time of their Separation from Service.
2.3
|
Eligibility
|
Each
Participant who complies with all administrative requirements of this Plan,
including the provisions of Article 4, is eligible to receive a Separation
Benefit following their Separation from Service. However, a
Participant is ineligible to receive a Separation Benefit if he or she fails to
satisfy any of the requirements of this Plan, including, but not limited to,
failure to establish that his or her termination met the requirements for a
Separation from Service. Additionally, a Participant shall be ineligible
to participate in this Plan if that Participant’s termination of
employment results from:
(i) A
Discharge for Cause,
(ii) A court
decree or government action or recommendation having an effect on an Employing
Company’s operations or manpower involving rationing or price control or any
other similar type cause beyond the control of an Employing
Company,
(iii) An offer
to Participant of a position with an Employing Company, or
affiliate,
(iv) A
termination under which a Participant accepts any benefits under an incentive
retirement plan or other severance or termination benefits program, contract or
plan offered by the Company or the Employing Company,
(v) A
Participant who has a written employment contract which contains severance
provisions,
(vi) A
temporary work cessation due to strikes, lockouts or similar
reasons,
(vii) The
divestiture of any business of an Employing Company if the Participant is
offered a Comparable Position by the purchaser or successor of such business, an
affiliate thereof, or an affiliate of an Employing Company, or
(viii) A
termination of the Participant if the Participant is offered a Comparable
Position arranged for or secured by an Employing Company.
2.4
|
Separation
Benefit Amount
|
The
Separation Benefit payable to a Participant under this Plan shall be based, in
part, on his/her Years of Service with the Company, or Employing
Company. The formula for determining a Participant’s Separation
Benefit payment shall be calculated by dividing Participant’s annual Base Salary
in effect immediately before the date of Separation from Service by 52 to
calculate the weekly separation benefit (the "Weekly Separation
Benefit”). The amount of the Separation Benefit payable to
Participant shall then be determined in accordance with the following applicable
provision:
5
2.4.1
|
Involuntary separation
- In the event the Separation from Service is the result of an Employing
Company terminating the employment of Participant, the Separation Benefit
shall be determined according to the following
schedule:
|
Involuntary
Separation
Schedule
of Separation Benefits
Years
of
Service
|
Number
of Weekly
Separation
Benefit
Payments:
|
Years
of
Service
|
Number
of Weekly
Separation
Benefit
Payments:
|
1
|
4
|
14
|
56
|
2
|
8
|
15
|
60
|
3
|
12
|
16
|
64
|
4
|
16
|
17
|
68
|
5
|
20
|
18
|
72
|
6
|
24
|
19
|
76
|
7
|
28
|
20
|
80
|
8
|
32
|
21
|
84
|
9
|
36
|
22
|
88
|
10
|
40
|
23
|
92
|
11
|
44
|
24
|
96
|
12
|
48
|
25
|
100
|
13
|
52
|
26
or more
|
104
|
2.4.2
|
Voluntary separation -
In the event the Separation from Service is the result of Participant’s
own action (such as by way of example and not limitation, quitting,
resignation or retirement) the Separation Benefit shall be determined
according to the following
Schedule:
|
Voluntary
Separation
Schedule
of Separation Benefits
Years
of
Service
|
Number
of Weekly
Separation
Benefit
Payments
|
1-19
|
0
|
20
|
80
|
21
|
84
|
22
|
88
|
23
|
92
|
24
|
96
|
25
|
100
|
26
or more
|
104
|
Under
certain exceptional circumstances the Compensation Committee may, in its sole
and absolute discretion, choose to treat a voluntary separation as an
involuntary separation and allow
6
a
Participant to receive Separation Benefits in accordance with the schedule set
forth in Section 2.4.1.
2.5
|
Separation
Benefit Limitation
|
Notwithstanding
anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Separation Benefit payable to any
Participant under this Plan shall never exceed the lesser of (i) 104 Weekly
Separation Benefit payments; or (ii) the amount permitted under ERISA to
maintain this Plan as a welfare benefit plan. The benefits payable
under this Plan shall be inclusive of and offset by any amounts paid under
federal, state, local or foreign government worker notification (e.g., Worker
Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) or office closing
requirements.
2.6
|
Withholding
Tax
|
The
Employing Company shall deduct from the amount of any Separation Benefits
payable under this Plan, any amount required to be withheld by the Employing
Company by reason of any law or regulation, for the payment of taxes or
otherwise to any federal, state, local or foreign government. In
determining the amount of any applicable tax, the Employing Company shall be
entitled to rely on the number of personal exemptions on the official form(s)
filed by Participant with the Employing Company for purposes of income tax
withholding on regular wages.
2.7
|
Reemployment
of a Participant
|
Entitlement
to the unpaid balance of any Separation Benefit due a Participant under this
Plan shall be revoked immediately on reemployment of the person as an employee
of an Employing Company. Any unpaid balance shall not be payable in
any future period.
However,
if the person’s re-employment is subsequently terminated and he or she then
becomes entitled to a Separation Benefit under this Plan, Years of Service for
the period of re-employment shall be added to that portion of his or her prior
service represented by the unpaid balance or the revoked entitlement for the
prior Separation Benefit.
2.8
|
Integration
with Disability Benefits
|
The
Separation Benefit payable to a Participant with respect to any Separation
Period shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of any disability
benefit payable from any disability plan or program sponsored or contributed to
by an Employing Company. The amount of any resulting reduction shall
not be paid to Participant in any future period.
2.9
|
Plan
Benefit Offset
|
The
amount of any severance or separation type payment that an Employing Company is
or was obligated to pay to a Participant under any law, decree, or court award,
because of Participant’s termination of employment from an Employing Company
shall reduce the amount of Separation Benefit otherwise payable under this
Plan.
7
2.10
|
Recoupment
|
The
Company may deduct from the Separation Benefit any amount owing to an Employing
Company from
|
(a)
|
Participant,
or
|
|
(b)
|
the
executor or administrator of Participant’s
estate.
|
2.11
|
Completion
of Twenty Years of Service
|
Any
Participant who completes 20 Years of Service before the termination of this
Plan shall be vested in his/her Separation Benefit, notwithstanding the
subsequent termination of this Plan before that Participant’s Separation from
Service. Any Separation Benefit deemed to have vested under this
Section shall be payable on such Participant’s Separation from Service with the
Employing Company and shall be paid in accordance with the greater of (1) the
Plan provisions in effect immediately before the termination of this Plan, and
(2) the Plan provisions in effect on the date Participant completed 20 Years of
Service.
2.12
|
Change
in Control
|
Unless
otherwise provided in writing by the Board of Directors before a Change in
Control of the Company, all Participant shall be vested in his/her Separation
Benefit as of the date of the Change in Control based on the Participant’s then
Years of Service as determined by reference to the schedule set forth in Section
2.3.1 of this Plan. Any Separation Benefit deemed to have vested
under this Section shall be payable upon Participant’s Separation from Service
with the Employing Company and shall be paid in accordance with the Plan
provisions in effect immediately before the Change in Control.
ARTICLE
3.
Method
of Payment
3.1
|
Separation
Benefit Payment
|
Separation
Benefit payments shall be paid in equal installments in the same manner as wages
were paid to Participant while employed, and, subject to Section 3.4, the
installments shall begin no later than 90 days following the Termination
Date. Notwithstanding
anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Separation Period for a Participant
shall never exceed the amount of time permitted under ERISA to maintain this
Plan as a welfare benefit plan. If under the payment schedule set
forth in this Plan, the Separation Period will expire before the full payment of
the Separation Benefit owed to a Participant under this Plan, then the total
amount unpaid as of the final installment shall be paid to the Participant in
the final installment.
3.1.1
|
Each
Participant, upon selection for participation in this Plan, may make an
election to defer payment of the Separation Benefit to a date specified in
the deferral election that will be provided in a form prescribed by the
Compensation
|
8
|
Committee. A
Participant who elects to defer payment of his or her Separation Benefit
will also be permitted to elect between payment of the deferred Separation
Benefit in the form of a lump sum or installment payments over a 24-month
period. A Participant may change his or her election so long as
the election to change is submitted to the Compensation Committee at least
twelve months prior to the date payment of a Separation Benefit would have
otherwise commenced and payment of the Separation Benefit is delayed at
least five years from the date payment was previously set to
commence.
|
3.2
|
Protection
of Business
|
3.2.1
|
Any
Participant who
receives Separation Benefits under Section 2.2 of this Plan agrees that,
in consideration of the Separation Benefits, the Participant will not, in
any capacity, directly or indirectly, and on his or her own behalf or on
behalf of any other person or entity, during the period of time he or she
is receiving Separation Benefits, either (a) solicit or attempt to induce
any current customer of the Employing Company to cease doing business with
the Employing Company; (b) solicit or attempt to induce any employee of
the Employing Company to sever the employment relationship; (c) compete
against the Employing Company; (d) injure the Employing Company and the
Company, in their business activities or its reputation; or (e) act as an
employee, independent contractor, or service provider of a person or
entity that is a competitor of the Employing Company or injures the
Employing Company or the Company, its business activities or its
reputation (collectively, the "Protection of Business
Requirements”). The Compensation Committee in its sole
discretion shall decide whether any Participant is in
violation of this Section.
|
3.2.2
|
Except
as provided in the next paragraph and/or the Separation Agreement, in the
event the Participant violates the
Protection of Business Requirements of this Section (or the like
provisions of his or her Separation Agreement), the Participant shall not be
entitled to any further payments of Separation Benefits under this Plan
and shall be obligated to repay the Employing Company all monies
previously received as Separation Benefits from the date of the violation
forward.
|
3.2.3
|
In
the event of a Change in Control, the Participant ’s obligations
under this Section shall expire and be canceled, and the Participant shall be
entitled to Separation Benefits under this Plan in accordance with its
terms even if he or she engages in conduct that would otherwise violate
the Protection of Business Requirements in this
Section.
|
3.2.4
|
The
Plan shall maintain records for each Participant that is
eligible for Separation Benefits and for each Participant that actually
receives Separation Benefits (including relevant dates, claim records,
appeal records, payment amounts,
etc.).
|
9
3.2.5
|
The
Plan shall pay benefits to Participant on a regular
basis. The Plan shall process and pay Separation Benefits on a
regular basis, and adjudicate claims for denied or terminated Separation
Benefits.
|
3.2.6
|
The
Compensation Committee shall have the ultimate ongoing administrative duty
to monitor and investigate the activities of Participants to ensure
they are in compliance with the Protection of Business
Requirements. As set forth in this Plan, the Compensation
Committee shall have discretion to determine on an ongoing basis whether
each Participant
receiving Separation Benefits remains in compliance with the Plan’s
Protection of Business Requirements during the period the Participant is receiving
Separation Benefits.
|
3.2.7
|
The
Compensation Committee shall have full and sole discretion to determine
eligibility for Separation Benefits and to construe the terms of the
Plan.
|
3.2.8
|
By
accepting Separation Benefits, a Participant certifies that
he/she is in compliance with the Protection of Business
Requirements. Participants must notify
the Plan, through the Human Resources Director, of any change of employer,
employment status, or job status or responsibilities, while eligible for
Separation Benefits. Additionally, Participants receiving
benefits must complete and submit to the Plan on request a form certifying
that they are in compliance with the Protection of Business
Requirements. The Human Resources Director shall review such
forms and make preliminary decisions regarding whether the Participant is in
compliance with the Protection of Business
Requirements.
|
3.2.9
|
As
a condition to receiving Separation Benefits or coverage, Participants and their
employers must fully cooperate with any inquiry or investigation by the
Plan concerning the Protection of Business Requirements. If the
Participant or
employer fails to fully cooperate with any such inquiry or investigation,
the Participant
shall be deemed to have been in violation of the Protection of Business
Requirements, and shall therefore forfeit any further benefits under the
Plan and shall be obligated to repay the Employing Company all monies
previously received as Separation
Benefits.
|
3.2.10
|
The
Company shall maintain a projection of the amount of money that will be
required for the Company to fulfill its unfunded obligation under the Plan
to make payments to various Participants at different
times.
|
3.3
|
Death
Subsequent to Separation from
Service
|
If the
death of a Participant occurs after the date of Separation from Service and
before receipt of the full Separation Benefit to which he or she was entitled,
the remaining payments shall be paid to such Participant’s Beneficiary in
accordance with the Provisions of Section 2.4.2 and 3.1. If there is
no designated living Beneficiary, the payments shall be paid to the executor or
administrator of Participant’s estate.
10
3.4
|
Payment
to Specified Employees Upon Separation from
Service
|
In no
event shall a Specified Employee receive a payment under this Plan following a
Separation from Service before the first business day of the seventh month
following the date of Separation from Service, unless the Separation from
Service results from death. Any amounts which would otherwise be
payable to the Specified Employee during the six month period may, at the
Employing Company’s discretion, be accumulated and paid on the first day of the
seventh month following the date of the Specified Employee’s Separation from
Service.
ARTICLE
4.
Waiver
and Release of Claims
It is a
condition of this Plan that no Separation Benefit shall be paid to or for any
Participant except on due signing and delivery to the Employing Company by that
Participant of a Separation Agreement, in substantially the form attached to
this Plan as Attachment A (except as may be modified from time to time), by
which Participant waives and releases the Company, the Employing Company, their
subsidiaries and their officers, directors, agents, employees, and affiliates
from all claims arising or alleged to arise out of his or her employment or the
Separation from Service. The waiver and release provided in the
Separation Agreement is being given in exchange for and in consideration of
payment of the Separation Benefit, to which Participant would not otherwise be
entitled.
In
connection with the signing of the Separation Agreement, the following
procedures shall be followed (except as modified from time to time): Participant
shall be advised in writing, by receiving the written text of the Separation
Agreement so stating, to consult a lawyer before signing the Separation
Agreement; Participant shall be given 21 days to consider the Separation
Agreement before signing; after signing, Participant shall have seven days in
which to revoke the Separation Agreement; and the Separation Agreement shall not
take effect until that seven-day period shall have passed.
ARTICLE
5.
Funding
This Plan
is an unfunded employee welfare benefit plan under ERISA established by the
Company. Benefits payable to Participants shall be paid out of the
general assets of the Company or the Employing Company. The Employing
Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to
make any other segregation of assets to assure the payment of any Separation
Benefits under this Plan.
ARTICLE
6.
Administration
6.1
|
Named
Fiduciary
|
This Plan
shall be administered by the Company acting through the Compensation Committee
or such other person as may be designated by the Company from time to
time. The Compensation Committee shall be the "Administrator” of the
Plan and shall be, in its
11
capacity
as Administrator, a "Named Fiduciary,” as such terms are defined or used in
ERISA.
6.2
|
Fiduciary
Responsibilities
|
The named
fiduciary shall fulfill the duties and requirements of fiduciary under ERISA and
is the Plan’s agent for service of legal process. The named fiduciary
may designate other persons to carry out the fiduciary responsibilities and may
cancel any designation. A person may serve in more than one fiduciary
or administrative capacity with respect to this Plan. The named
fiduciary shall periodically review the performance of the fiduciary
responsibilities by each designated person.
6.3
|
Specific
Fiduciary Responsibilities
|
The
Compensation Committee shall be responsible for the general administration and
interpretation of the Plan and the proper carrying out of its provisions and
shall have full discretion to carry out its duties. In addition to
any powers of the Compensation Committee specified elsewhere in this Plan, the
Compensation Committee shall have all discretionary powers necessary to
discharge its duties under this Plan, including, but not limited to, the
following discretionary powers and duties:
(i) To
interpret or construe the terms of this Plan, including eligibility to
participate, and resolve ambiguities, inconsistencies and
omissions;
(ii) To make
and enforce such rules and regulations and prescribe the use of these forms as
it deems necessary or appropriate for the efficient administration of the
Plan;
(iii) To decide
all questions concerning this Plan and the determination of who shall be a
Participant; and
(iv) To
determine eligibility for Separation Benefits under this Plan.
6.4
|
Allocations
and Delegations of Responsibility
|
The Board
of Directors and the Compensation Committee, respectively, shall have the
authority to delegate, from time to time, all or any part of its
responsibilities under this Plan to those person or persons as it may deem
advisable and in the same manner to revoke any such delegation of
responsibility. Any action of the delegate in the exercise of such
delegated responsibilities shall have the same force and effect for all purposes
hereunder as if such action had been taken by the Board of Directors or the
Compensation Committee. The Company, the Board of Directors and the
Compensation Committee shall not be liable for any acts or omissions of any such
delegate. The delegate shall report periodically to the Board of
Directors or the Compensation Committee, as applicable, concerning the discharge
of the delegated responsibilities.
The Board
of Directors and the Compensation Committee, respectively, shall have the
authority to allocate, from time to time, all or any part of its
responsibilities under this Plan to one or more of its members as it may deem
advisable, and in the same manner to
12
remove
such allocation of responsibilities. Any action of the member to whom
responsibilities are allocated in the exercise of such allocated
responsibilities shall have the same force and effect for all purposes hereunder
as if such action had been taken by the Board of Directors or the Compensation
Committee. The Company, the Board of Directors and the Compensation
Committee shall not be liable for any acts or omissions of such
member. The member to whom responsibilities have been allocated shall
report periodically to the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee, as
applicable, concerning the discharge of the allocated
responsibilities.
6.5
|
Advisors
|
The named
fiduciary or any person designated by the named fiduciary to carry out fiduciary
responsibilities may employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to
any responsibility imposed by this Plan.
6.6
|
Plan
Determination
|
The
determination of the Compensation Committee as to any question involving the
general administration and interpretation or construction of the Plan shall be
within its sole discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all
persons, except as otherwise provided herein or by law.
6.7
|
Modification
and Termination
|
The
Company may at any time, without notice or consent of any person, terminate or
modify this Plan in whole or in part, and such termination or modification shall
apply to existing as well as to future Participants, but such actions shall not
affect any Separation Benefit that has become payable to a Participant, and such
benefit shall continue to be paid in accordance with the Plan provisions in
effect on the date of the Separation from Service.
6.8
|
Indemnification
|
To the
extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the
members of the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee members, and any
employee to whom any fiduciary responsibility with respect to this Plan is
allocated or delegated to, and against any and all liabilities, costs and
expenses incurred by any such person as a result of any act, or omission to act,
in connection with the performance of his/her duties, responsibilities and
obligations under this Plan, ERISA and other applicable law, other than such
liabilities, costs and expenses as may result from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of any such person. The foregoing right of
indemnification shall be in addition to any other right to which any such person
may be entitled as a matter of law or otherwise. The Company may
obtain, pay for and keep current a policy or policies of insurance, insuring the
members of the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee members and any
other employees who have any fiduciary responsibility with respect to this Plan
from and against any and all liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by any
such person as a result of any act, or omission, in connection
13
with the
performance of his/her duties, responsibilities and obligations under this Plan
and under ERISA.
6.9
|
Successful
Defense
|
A person
who has been wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of a
civil or criminal action or proceeding or claim or demand of the character
described in Section 6.8 shall be entitled to indemnification as authorized in
Section 6.8.
6.10
|
Unsuccessful
Defense
|
Except as
provided in Section 6.9, any indemnification under Section 6.8, unless ordered
by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall be made by the Company only if
authorized in the specific case:
6.10.1
|
By
the Board of Directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are
not parties to such action, proceeding, claim or demand, upon a finding
that the member of the Compensation Committee has met the standard of
conduct set forth in Section 6.8;
or
|
6.10.2
|
If
a quorum under Section 6.10.1 is not obtainable with due diligence by the
Board of Directors upon the opinion in writing of independent legal
counsel (who may be counsel to any Employing Company) that indemnification
is proper in the circumstances because the standard of conduct set forth
in Section 6.8 has been met by such member of the Compensation
Committee.
|
6.11
|
Advance
Payments
|
Expenses
incurred in defending a civil or criminal action or proceeding or claim or
demand may be paid by the Company or Employing Company, as applicable, in
advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding, claim or demand,
if authorized in the manner specified in Section 6.10, except that, in view of
the obligation of repayment set forth in Section 6.12, there need be no finding
or opinion that the required standard of conduct has been met.
6.12
|
Repayment
of Advance Payments
|
All
expenses incurred, in defending a civil or criminal action or proceeding, claim
or demand, which are advanced by the Company or Employing Company, as
applicable, under Section 6.11 shall be repaid if the person receiving such
advance is ultimately found, under the procedures set forth in this Article 6,
not to be entitled to the extent the expenses so advanced by the Company exceed
the indemnification to which he or she is entitled.
6.13
|
Right
of Indemnification
|
Notwithstanding
the failure of the Company or Employing Company, as applicable, to provide
indemnification in the manner set forth in Sections 6.10 and 6.11, and despite
14
any
contrary resolution of the Board of Directors or of the shareholders in the
specific case, if the member of the Compensation Committee has met the standard
of conduct set forth in Section 6.8, the person made or threatened to be made a
party to the action or proceeding or against whom the claim or demand has been
made, shall have the legal right to indemnification from the Company or
Employing Company, as applicable, as a matter of contract by virtue of this
Plan, it being the intention that each such person shall have the right to
enforce such right of indemnification against the Company or Employing Company,
as applicable, in any court of competent jurisdiction.
ARTICLE
7.
Effective
Date and Plan Year
This Plan
shall be effective as amended and restated on and after December 31,
2008. The Plan Year is the calendar year.
ARTICLE
8.
Miscellaneous
8.1
|
Assignment
|
A
Participant’s right to benefits under this Plan shall not be assigned,
transferred, pledged, encumbered in any way or subject to attachment or
garnishment, and any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, encumbrance,
attachment, garnishment or other disposition of such benefits shall be null and
void and without effect.
8.2
|
Governing
Law
|
The Plan
shall be construed and administered in accordance with ERISA and with the laws
of the State of Oklahoma, to the extent such State laws are not preempted by
ERISA.
8.3
|
Employing
Company Records
|
The
records of the Employing Company with regard to any person’s Participant status,
Beneficiary status, employment history, Years of Service and all other relevant
matters shall be conclusive for purposes of administration of the
Plan.
8.4
|
Employment
Non-Contractual
|
This Plan
is not intended to and does not create a contract of employment, express or
implied, and an Employing Company may terminate the employment of any employee
with or without cause as freely and with the same effect as if this Plan did not
exist. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be deemed to qualify,
limit or alter in any manner the Employing Company’s sole and complete authority
and discretion to establish, regulate, determine or modify at all times, the
terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, levels of
employment, hours of work, the extent of hiring and employment termination, when
and where work shall be done, marketing of its products, or any other matter
related to the conduct of its business or the manner in which its business is to
be
15
maintained
or carried on, in the same manner and to the same extent as if this Plan were
not in existence.
8.5
|
Taxes
|
Neither
an Employing Company nor any fiduciary of this Plan shall be liable for any
taxes incurred by a Participant or Beneficiary for Separation Benefit payments
made pursuant to this Plan.
8.6
|
Binding
Effect
|
This Plan
shall be binding on the Company, any Employing Company and their successors and
assigns, and Participant, Participant’s heirs, executors,
administrators and legal representatives. As used in this Plan, the
term "successor” shall include any person, firm, corporation or other business
entity which at any time, whether by merger, purchase or otherwise, acquires all
or substantially all of the assets or business of the Company or any Employing
Company.
8.7
|
Entire
Agreement
|
This Plan
constitutes the entire understanding between the parties hereto and may be
modified only in accordance with the terms of this Plan.
8.8
|
Decisions and Appeals
|
8.8.1
|
Manner and Content of
Benefit Determination
|
Within
thirty (90) days from the date of a Participant’s Separation from
Service (or longer if special circumstances require), the Human Resources
Director and the General Counsel shall provide the Participant with either an
agreement and release offering Separation Benefits under the Plan or written or
electronic notification of such Participant’s ineligibility for
or denial of Separation Benefits, either in whole or in part. If at
any time the Human Resources Director and the General Counsel make any adverse
benefit determination, such notification shall set forth, in a manner calculated
to be understood by the Participant including the
following:
(i) the
specific reason(s) for the adverse determination;
(ii) references
to the specific plan provisions upon which the determination is
based;
(iii) a
description of any additional material or information necessary for the Participant to perfect the claim
and an explanation of why such material or information is
necessary;
(iv) a
description of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to
such procedures, including a statement of the Participant’s right to bring a
civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit
determination on
16
review
under Section 8.8.3;
(v) if the
Plan utilizes a specific internal rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar
criterion in making the determination, either the specific rule, guideline,
protocol or other similar criterion; or a statement that such a rule, guideline,
protocol or other similar criterion was relied upon and that a copy of such
rule, guideline, protocol or similar criterion will be provided free of charge
to the Participant upon
request;
8.8.2
|
Appeal of Denied Claim
and Review Procedure
|
If a
Participant does not agree with the reason for the denial or termination of
Separation Benefits (including a denial or termination of benefits based on a
determination of a Participant’s eligibility to participate in the Plan), he/she
may file a written appeal within 180 days after the receipt of the original
claim determination. The request should state the basis for the
disagreement along with any data, questions, or comments he/she thinks are
appropriate, and should be sent to the office of the Human Resources
Director.
The
Compensation Committee shall conduct a full and fair review of the
determination. The review shall not defer to the initial
determination, and it shall take into account all comments, documents, records
and other information submitted by the Participant without regard to
whether such information was previously submitted or considered in the initial
determination.
8.8.3
|
Manner and Content of
Notification of Benefit Determination on
Review
|
Within 60
days (or longer if special circumstances require), the Compensation Committee
shall provide a Participant with written or
electronic notification of any adverse benefit determination on
review. The notification shall set forth, in a manner calculated to
be understood by the Participant the
following:
(i) the
specific reason(s) for the adverse determination on review;
(ii) reference
to the specific plan provisions upon which the review is based;
(iii) a
statement that the Participant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of
charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other
information relevant to his claim for benefits;
(iv) a
statement describing any voluntary appeal procedures offered by the Plan and the
Participant’s right to obtain the information about such procedures, and a
statement of the Participant’s right to bring an action under section 502(a) of
ERISA;
(v) if an
internal rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion was relied upon
in making the adverse determination on review, either the specific rule,
guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion, or a statement that such rule,
guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion was relied upon in making the
adverse determination on review and that a copy of the rule, guideline,
protocol, or other similar criterion will be provided free of charge to the
Participant upon request;
17
(vi) the
following statement: "Other voluntary alternative dispute resolution methods,
such as mediation, may be available. You may seek additional
information by contacting your local U.S. Department of Labor office and your
State insurance regulatory agency.”
EXECUTED
as of this 31st day of December, 2008.
UNIT
CORPORATION
By: /s/ Mark E.
Schell
Mark E.
Schell, Senior Vice President and General Counsel
18
To
receive a Separation Benefit, a participant must sign the following Separation
Agreement provided by the Company:
SEPARATION
AGREEMENT
[Name of
Employing Company] ("Unit”) and _______________________________________
("Participant”) hereby agree as follows:
Participant’s
employment will end on ____________________, 20__.
Unit will
pay to Participant a Separation Benefit of $_________________ in accordance with
and subject to the terms of the Unit Corporation Separation Benefit Plan for
Senior Management (the "Plan”).
Participant
knows that state and federal laws, including the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act, prohibit employment discrimination based on age, sex, race,
color, national origin, religion, handicap, disability, or veteran status, and
that these laws are enforced through the United States Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission ("EEOC”), United States Department of Labor, and State
Human Rights Agencies.
PARTICIPANT
IS ADVISED TO CONSULT AN ATTORNEY PRIOR TO SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT.
PARTICIPANT
HAS TWENTY-ONE DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THIS AGREEMENT TO CONSIDER WHETHER TO SIGN
IT.
AFTER
SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, PARTICIPANT HAS ANOTHER SEVEN DAYS IN WHICH
TO REVOKE IT, AND IT DOES NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THOSE SEVEN DAYS HAVE
ENDED.
In
exchange for the Separation Benefit described above, to which Participant is not
otherwise entitled, Participant forever releases and discharges Unit
Corporation, and its subsidiaries, their officers, directors, agents, employees,
and affiliates from all claims, liabilities, and lawsuits arising out of
Participant’s employment or the termination of that employment and agrees not to
assert any such claim, liability, or lawsuit. This includes any claim under the
Age Discrimination in Employment Act or under any other federal, state, or local
statute or regulation relating to employment discrimination. It also
includes any claim under any other statute or regulation or common law rule
relating to Participant’s employment or the termination of that
employment. This Agreement does not have any effect with respect to
acts or events occurring after the date upon which Participant signs
it. This Agreement does not limit any benefits to which Participant
is entitled under any retirement plans, if any.
As
further consideration for the payment of the Separation Benefit described above,
Participant agrees that if Participant’s Separation Benefit is received pursuant
to Section 2.3.2 "Voluntary Separation” of the Plan, Participant will not in any
capacity directly or indirectly and on his or her own behalf or on behalf of any
other person or entity, during the period of time he or she is receiving such
Separation Benefits, either (a) solicit or
1
attempt
to induce any current customer of the Company to cease doing business with the
Company or (b) solicit or attempt to induce any employee of the Company to sever
the employment relationship with the Company (collectively, the "Protection of
Business Requirements”).
Except as
provided in the next paragraph, in the event Participant violates the Protection
of Business Requirements hereof, Participant shall not be entitled to any
further payments of Separation Benefits under the Plan or this Agreement and
shall be obligated to repay Unit all Separation Benefit payments previously
received under the Plan and this Agreement.
In the
event of a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan), Participant’s obligations
regarding the Protection of Business Requirements under this Agreement shall
expire and be canceled, and Participant shall be entitled to the Separation
Benefits provided under the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan,
notwithstanding whether Participant thereafter engages in conduct that would
otherwise violate the Protection of Business Requirements described in this
Agreement.
Participant
has carefully read and fully understands all the provisions of this
Agreement. This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire
agreement between the parties and is legally binding and enforceable.
Participant has not relied upon any representation or statement, written or
oral, not set forth in this Agreement.
This
Agreement shall be governed and interpreted under federal law and the laws of
Oklahoma.
2
Participant
knowingly and voluntarily signs this Agreement.
Date
Delivered to Participant:
|
[Name
of Employing Company]
|
__________________________ |
By:
___________________________
|
Title:
___________________________
|
Date
signed by Participant:
|
Date:
___________________________
|
__________________________
|
Participant
Signature:
|
Seven-Day
Revocation Period Ends:
|
__________________________
|
____________________________ |
__________________________
(Print
Participant’s Name)
3
SCHEDULE
I
Dated as
of December 31, 2008
Name of
Participants
King P.
Kirchner
O. Earle
Lamborn
John G.
Nikkel