EX-10.6

EX-10.6 5 d302576dex106.htm EX-10.6 EX-10.6

Exhibit 10.6

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into this 21st day of October, 2022, by and between Next Bridge Hydrocarbons, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and Delvina Oelkers (the “Executive”).

RECITALS

THE PARTIES ENTER THIS AGREEMENT on the basis of the following facts, understandings and intentions:

A. The Company desires to employ the Executive, and the Executive desires to accept such employment, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

B. This Agreement shall be effective upon the date of the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Distribution Agreement dated September 2, 2022, by and between the Company and Meta Materials, Inc. (the “Effective Date”), and shall govern the employment relationship between the Executive and the Company from and after the Effective Date, and, as of the Effective Date, supersedes and negates all previous agreements and understandings with respect to such relationship.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals incorporated herein and the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby expressly acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1.	Retention and Duties.

1.1

Retention. The Company does hereby hire, engage and employ the Executive on the terms and conditions expressly set forth in this Agreement. The Executive does hereby accept and agree to such hiring, engagement and employment, on the terms and conditions expressly set forth in this Agreement. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 5.5 of this Agreement.

1.2

Duties. During the time the Executive is employed with the Company the “Period of Employment”), the Executive shall serve the Company as its Chief Operating Officer and shall have the powers, authorities, duties and obligations of management usually vested in such position for a company of a similar size and similar nature of the Company, and such other powers, authorities, duties and obligations commensurate with such positions as the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) or the Chief Executive Officer may assign from time to time, all subject to the directives of the Board and the corporate policies of the Company as they are in effect from time to time throughout the Period of Employment (including, without limitation, the Company’s business conduct and ethics policies, as they may change from time to time). During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer.

1.3

Outside Business Activities. During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall devote such business time, energy and skill to the performance of the Executive’s duties for the Company to adequately promote the interests of the Company. The Executive shall have the right to continue to be involved with (i) the entities and such activities disclosed to the Board as provided in Exhibit A hereto, or (ii) such other activities as may be approved by the Board, provided that in each instance, such involvement with such other entities/activities does not materially interfere with the Executive’s responsibilities hereunder.

1.4

No Breach of Contract. The Executive hereby represents to the Company and agrees that Executive’s employment with the Company shall not breach any enforceable non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure or similar agreement with any other Person.

1.5

Location. The duties to be performed by the Executive hereunder shall be performed at the Executive’s remote office location as of the Effective Date (or such other location as may be mutually agreed to by the Executive and the Company). The Executive agrees to undertake reasonable travel requirements on behalf of the Company as requested by the Company.

At-Will Employment. The Executive and the Company acknowledge and agree that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company is for an unspecified duration and constitutes “at-will” employment, meaning that either the Executive or the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause (subject to the notice requirements set forth in Section 5).

3.	Compensation.

3.1

Base Salary. During the Period of Employment, the Company shall pay the Executive a base salary (the “Base Salary”), which shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices in effect from time to time but not less frequently than in monthly installments. The Executive’s Base Salary shall be at an annualized rate of Three Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Dollars ($385,000). The Board (or a committee thereof) may, in its sole discretion, increase (but not decrease) the Executive’s rate of Base Salary.

3.2

Incentive Bonus. Commencing with fiscal year 2022, the Executive shall be eligible to receive an incentive bonus for each fiscal year of the Company that occurs during the Period of Employment (“Incentive Bonus”). Notwithstanding the foregoing and except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the Executive must be employed by the Company at the time the Company pays incentive bonuses to executives generally with respect to a particular fiscal year in order to earn and be eligible for an Incentive Bonus for that year (and, if the Executive is not so employed at such time, in no event shall the Executive have been considered to have “earned” any Incentive Bonus with respect to the fiscal year). The Executive’s minimum target Incentive Bonus amount for a particular

fiscal year of the Company shall equal Fifty Percent (50%) of the Executive’s Base Salary paid by the Company to the Executive for that fiscal year; provided that the Executive’s actual Incentive Bonus amount for a particular fiscal year shall be determined by the Board (or a committee thereof), based on performance objectives (which may include corporate, financial, strategic, individual or other objectives) established with respect to that particular fiscal year by the Board (or a committee thereof) or such other factors it may consider relevant in the circumstances.

3.3

Equity Compensation. During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall be eligible for the grant of equity-based awards pursuant to the Company’s 2022 Equity Incentive Plan. The Executive shall be granted an option to purchase up to 4,965,701 shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to a Performance Stock Option agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, such option to be granted at the first meeting of the Board following the Effective Date (the “Initial Option Grant”). The amount, timing, and other terms of any additional awards to the Executive shall be determined by the Board (or a committee thereof) in its good faith discretion.

4.	Benefits.

4.1

Retirement, Welfare and Fringe Benefits. During the Period of Employment, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all employee pension and welfare benefit plans and programs, and fringe benefit plans and programs, made available by the Company to the Company’s employees generally, in accordance with the eligibility and participation provisions of such plans and as such plans or programs may be in effect from time to time.

4.2

Reimbursement of Business Expenses. The Executive is authorized to incur reasonable expenses in carrying out the Executive’s duties for the Company under this Agreement and shall be entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable business expenses the Executive incurs during the Period of Employment in connection with carrying out the Executive’s duties for the Company, subject to the Company’s expense reimbursement policies and any pre-approval policies in effect from time to time. The Executive agrees to promptly submit and document any reimbursable expenses in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policies to facilitate the timely reimbursement of such expenses.

4.3

Vacation and Other Leave. During the Period of Employment, Executive shall be entitled to take vacation at his or her discretion subject to performance of his or her responsibilities to the Company and approval of the Chief Executive Officer. The Executive shall also be entitled to all holiday and leave time generally available to other executives of the Company.

4.4

Reimbursement of Legal Fees. The Company will reimburse the Executive for the legal fees incurred by the Executive in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Agreement, provided that the Company’s maximum reimbursement obligations under this Section 4.4 for Executive shall not exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000). The Executive agrees to promptly submit and document any reimbursable expenses in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policies to facilitate the timely reimbursement of such expenses.

4.5

D&O Insurance. During the Period of Employment and for a period of six (6) years thereafter, the Company or any successor to the Company shall purchase and maintain, at the Company’s own expense, a standard directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy providing coverage to the Executive (including his heirs, executors and administrators), to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by Executive in connection with or arising out of any action, suit, or proceeding in which he may be involved by reason of his having been an officer, director, or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or in any other capacity, including any fiduciary capacity, in which the Executive serves at the request of the Company.

5.	Termination.

5.1

Termination by the Company. The Executive’s employment by the Company may be terminated at any time by the Company: (i) with Cause, or (ii) with no less than thirty (30) days advance written notice to the Executive (such notice to be delivered in accordance with Section 18), without Cause, or (iii) in the event of the Executive’s death, or (iv) in the event that the Board determines in good faith that the Executive has a Disability.

5.2

Termination by the Executive. The Executive’s employment by the Company may be terminated by the Executive with no less than thirty (30) days advance written notice to the Company (such notice to be delivered in accordance with Section 18); provided, however, that in the case of a termination for Good Reason, the Executive may provide immediate written notice of termination once the applicable cure period (as contemplated by the definition of Good Reason) has lapsed if the Company has not reasonably cured the circumstances that gave rise to the basis for the Good Reason termination.

5.3

Benefits upon Termination. If the Executive’s employment by the Company is terminated for any reason by the Company or by the Executive (the date that the Executive’s employment by the Company terminates is referred to as the “Severance Date”), the Company shall have no further obligation to make or provide to the Executive, and the Executive shall have no further right to receive or obtain from the Company, any payments or benefits except as follows:

(a) The Company shall pay the Executive (or, in the event of the Executive’s death, the Executive’s estate) any Accrued Obligations;

(b) If the Executive’s employment with the Company terminates as a result of a termination by the Company without Cause (other than due to the Executive’s death or Disability) or a resignation by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits:

(i) The Company shall pay the Executive (in addition to the Accrued Obligations), subject to tax withholding and other authorized deductions, an amount equal to one (1) times the Executive’s Base Salary at the annualized rate in effect on the Severance Date. Such amount is referred to hereinafter as the “Severance Benefit.” Subject to Section 21(b), the Company shall pay the Severance Benefit to the Executive in equal monthly installments (rounded down to the nearest whole cent) over a period of twelve (12) consecutive months, with the first installment payable on (or within ten (10) days following) the sixtieth (60^th) day following the Executive’s Separation from Service and to include each such installment that was otherwise (but for such 60-day delay) scheduled to be paid following the Executive’s Separation from Service and prior to the date of such payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the Severance Date occurs in connection with or within twelve (12) months after a Change in Control Event, the Severance Benefit shall be one (1.5) times the Executive’s Base Salary at the annual rate in effect on the Severance Date and shall be payable to the Executive in a lump sum on (or within ten (10) days following) the sixtieth (60th) day following the Executive’s Separation from Service, and (ii) if the Severance Date occurs prior to the twelve month anniversary of the Effective Date and is not in connection with a Change in Control Event (an “Early Termination Event”), the Executive shall not be entitled to any payment of the Severance Benefit.

(ii) The Company will pay or reimburse the Executive for his or her premiums charged to continue medical coverage pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), at the same or reasonably equivalent medical coverage for the Executive (and, if applicable, the Executive’s eligible dependents) as in effect immediately prior to the Severance Date, to the extent that the Executive elects such continued coverage; provided that the Company’s obligation to make any payment or reimbursement pursuant to this clause (ii) shall, subject to Section 21(b), commence with continuation coverage for the month following the month in which the Executive’s Separation from Service occurs and shall cease with continuation coverage for the twelfth (12^th) month (or, if the Severance Date occurs in connection with or within twelve (12) months after the date of a Change in Control Event, the eighteenth (18^th) month) following the month in which the Executive’s Separation from Service occurs (or, if earlier, shall cease upon the first to occur of the Executive’s death, the date the Executive becomes eligible for coverage under the health plan of a future employer, or the date the Company ceases to offer group medical coverage to its active executive employees or the Company is otherwise under no obligation to offer COBRA continuation coverage to the Executive). To the extent the Executive elects COBRA coverage, the Executive shall notify the Company in writing of such election prior to such coverage taking effect and complete any other continuation coverage enrollment procedures the Company may then have in place. The Company’s obligations pursuant to this Section 5.3(b)(ii) are subject to the Company’s ability to comply with applicable law and provide such benefit without resulting in adverse tax consequences.

(iii) The Company shall promptly pay to the Executive any Incentive Bonus that would otherwise be paid to the Executive had his or her employment with the Company not terminated with respect to any fiscal year that ended before the Severance Date, to the extent not theretofore paid.

(iv) The Company shall pay the Executive the minimum target Incentive Bonus that would otherwise have been paid to the Executive had his or her employment with the Company not terminated with respect to that fiscal year, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the total number of days in such fiscal year in which the Executive was employed by the Company and the denominator of which is the total number of days in such fiscal year (the “Pro-rated Incentive Bonus”). Such Pro-rated Incentive Bonus shall be paid at the same time as the first installment of the Severance Payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall not be entitled to any Pro-rated Incentive Bonus if the termination of the Executive’s employment is pursuant to an Early Termination Event.

(v) As to each then-outstanding stock option and other equity-based award granted by the Company to the Executive that vests based solely on the Executive’s continued service with the Company, the Executive shall vest as of the Severance Date in any portion of such award in which the Executive would have vested thereunder if the Executive’s employment with the Company had continued for twelve (12) months after the Severance Date (and any portion of such award that is not vested after giving effect to this acceleration provision shall terminate on the Severance Date). As to each outstanding stock option or other equity-based award granted by the Company to the Executive that is subject to performance-based vesting requirements (other than the Initial Option Grant), the vesting of such award will continue to be governed by its terms, provided that for purposes of any service-based vesting requirement under such award, the Executive’s employment with the Company will be deemed to have continued for twelve (12) months after the Severance Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Severance Date occurs in connection with or within twelve (12) months after the date of a Change in Control Event, (i) each stock option and other equity-based award granted by the Company to the Executive that vests based solely on the Executive’s continued service with the Company, to the extent then outstanding and unvested, shall be fully vested as of the Severance Date, and (ii) any service-based vesting requirement under each outstanding stock option or other equity-based award granted by the Company to the Executive that is subject to performance-based vesting requirements shall be deemed satisfied in full as of the Severance Date.

(c) If the Executive’s employment with the Company terminates as a result of the Executive’s death or Disability, the Company shall pay the Executive the amounts contemplated by Section 5.3(b)(iii) and (iv).

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.3, if the Executive breaches his or her obligations under Section 6 of this Agreement at any time, from and after the date of such breach and not in any way in limitation of any right or remedy otherwise available to the Company, the Executive will no longer be entitled to, and the Company will no longer be obligated to pay or provide, any of the benefits set forth in Section 5.3(b); provided that, if the Executive provides the Release contemplated by Section 5.4, in no event shall the Executive be entitled to benefits pursuant to Section 5.3(b) of less than $5,000 (or the amount of such benefits, if less than $5,000), which amount the parties agree is good and adequate consideration, in and of itself, for the Executive’s Release contemplated by Section 5.4.

(e) The foregoing provisions of this Section 5.3 shall not affect: (i) the Executive’s receipt of benefits otherwise due to terminated employees under group insurance coverage consistent with the terms of the applicable Company welfare benefit plan; (ii) the Executive’s rights under COBRA to continue health coverage; or (iii) the Executive’s receipt of benefits otherwise due in accordance with the terms of the Company’s 401(k) plan (if any).

5.4

Release; Exclusive Remedy; Leave.

(a) This Section 5.4 shall apply notwithstanding anything else contained in this Agreement or any stock option or other equity-based award agreement to the contrary. As a condition precedent to any Company obligation to the Executive pursuant to Section 5.3(b) or any other obligation to accelerate vesting of any equity-based award in connection with the termination of the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall provide the Company with a valid, executed general release agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as
Exhibit C (with such changes as the Company may reasonably make to such form consistent with the purposes and intent of such form and to help ensure its enforceability in light of any changes in applicable law, rules or regulations) (the “Release”), and such Release shall have not been revoked by the Executive pursuant to any revocation rights afforded by applicable law. The Company shall provide the final form of Release to the Executive not later than seven (7) days following the Severance Date, and the Executive shall be required to execute and return the Release to the Company within twenty-one (21) days (or forty-five (45) days if such longer period of time is required to make the Release maximally enforceable under applicable law) after the Company provides the form of Release to the Executive.

(b) The Company and the Executive acknowledge and agree that there is no duty of the Executive to mitigate damages under this Agreement. All amounts paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 5.3 shall be paid without regard to whether the Executive has taken or takes actions to mitigate damages. The Executive agrees to resign, on the Severance Date, as an officer and director of the Company and any Affiliate of the Company, and as a fiduciary of any benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, and to promptly execute and provide to the Company any further documentation, as requested by the Company, to confirm such resignation, and to remove himself as a signatory on any accounts maintained by the Company or any of its Affiliates (or any of their respective benefit plans).

(c) In the event that the Company provides the Executive notice of termination without Cause pursuant to Section 5.1 or the Executive provides the Company notice of termination pursuant to Section 5.2, the Company will have the option to place the Executive on paid administrative leave during the notice period.

5.5

Certain Defined Terms.

(a) As used herein, “Accrued Obligations” means:

(i) any Base Salary that had accrued but had not been paid (including accrued and unpaid vacation time) on or before the Severance Date; and

(ii) any reimbursement due to the Executive pursuant to Section 4.2 for expenses reasonably incurred by the Executive on or before the Severance Date and documented and pre-approved, to the extent applicable, in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policies in effect at the applicable time.

(b) As used herein, “Affiliate” of the Company means a Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company. As used in this definition, the term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a Person.

(c) As used herein, “Cause” shall mean, as reasonably determined by the Board (excluding the Executive, if the Executive is then a member of the Board) based on the information then known to it, that one or more of the following has occurred:

(i) the Executive is convicted of, pled guilty or pled nolo contendere to a felony (under the laws of the United States or any relevant state, or a similar crime or offense under the applicable laws of any relevant foreign jurisdiction);

(ii) the Executive has engaged in acts of fraud, dishonesty or other acts of willful misconduct in the course of his or her duties hereunder;

(iii) the Executive willfully fails to perform or uphold his or her duties under this Agreement and/or willfully fails to comply with reasonable directives of the Board; or

(iv) a material breach by the Executive of any provision of Section 6 of this Agreement;

provided, however, that any condition or conditions, as applicable, referenced in clause (iii) or clause (iv) above shall not constitute (if a cure is reasonably possible in the circumstances) Cause unless both (x) the Company provides written notice to the Executive of the condition claimed to constitute Cause within sixty (60) days of the initial existence of such condition(s) (such notice to be delivered in accordance with Section 18), and (y) the Executive fails to remedy such condition(s) within thirty (30) days of receiving such written notice thereof; and provided, further, that in all events the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company shall not constitute a termination for Cause unless such termination occurs not more than one hundred and twenty (120) days following the initial existence of the condition claimed to constitute Cause. For purposes of the foregoing definition of Cause, no act or failure to act, on the Executive’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.

(d) As used herein, “Change in Control Event” shall mean

(i)

The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of either (1) the then-outstanding common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (2) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes of this paragraph (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control Event; (A) any acquisition directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or a successor, or (D) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a transaction that complies with Sections (iii)(1), (2) and (3) below;

(ii)

Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders,

was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (including for these purposes, the new members whose election or nomination was so approved, without counting the member and his or her predecessor twice) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

(iii)

Consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any corporation or other entity a majority of whose outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company (a “Subsidiary”), a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets directly or through one or more subsidiaries (a “Parent”)), in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (2) no Person (excluding any entity resulting from such Business Combination or a Parent or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such entity resulting from such Business Combination or Parent) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such entity, except to the extent that the ownership in excess of 50% existed prior to the Business Combination, and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors or trustees of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or a Parent were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or

(iv)

Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company other than in the context of a transaction that does not constitute a Change in Control Event under clause (iii) above.

(e) As used herein, “Disability” shall mean a physical or mental impairment which renders the Executive unable to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s employment with the Company, even with reasonable accommodation that does not impose an undue hardship on the Company, for more than 120 days in any 180-day period, unless a longer period is required by federal or state law, in which case that longer period would apply. Such impairment shall be determined by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and reasonably acceptable to Executive or his or her legal representative, as the case may be.

(f) As used herein, “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence (without the Executive’s consent) of any one or more of the following conditions:

(i) a material diminution in the Executive’s rate of Base Salary;

(ii) a material diminution in the Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities;

(iii) a material change in the geographic location of the Executive’s principal office with the Company (for this purpose, in no event shall a relocation of such office to a new location that is not more than fifty (50) miles from the current location of the Company’s executive offices constitute a “material change”); or

(iv) a material breach by the Company of this Agreement;

provided, however, that any such condition or conditions, as applicable, shall not constitute Good Reason unless both (x) the Executive provides written notice to the Company of the condition claimed to constitute Good Reason within sixty (60) days of the initial existence of such condition(s) (such notice to be delivered in accordance with Section 18), and (y) the Company fails to remedy such condition(s) within thirty (30) days of receiving such written notice thereof; and provided, further, that in all events the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company shall not constitute a termination for Good Reason unless such termination occurs not more than one hundred and twenty (120) days following the initial existence of the condition claimed to constitute Good Reason.

(g) As used herein, the term “Person” shall be construed broadly and shall include, without limitation, an individual, a partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

(h) As used herein, a “Separation from Service” occurs when the Executive dies, retires, or otherwise has a termination of employment with the Company that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1), without regard to the optional alternative definitions available thereunder.

5.6.

Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall be communicated by written notice of termination from the terminating party to the other party. This notice of termination must be delivered in accordance with Section 18 and must indicate the specific provision(s) of this Agreement relied upon in effecting the termination.

5.7

Limitation on Benefits.

(a)

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement and benefits provided to, or for the benefit of, the Executive under any other Company plan or agreement (such payments or benefits are collectively referred to as the “Benefits”) would be subject to the excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Benefits shall be reduced (but not below zero) if and to the extent that a reduction in the Benefits would result in the Executive retaining a larger amount, on an after-tax basis (taking into account federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax), than if the Executive received all of the Benefits (such reduced amount is referred to hereinafter as the “Limited Benefit Amount”). Unless the Executive elects a different order of reduction, any such election to be consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent that a reduction in payments or benefits is required pursuant to this Section 5.7(a), the Company shall first reduce or eliminate any payment in respect of an equity award that is not covered by Treas. Reg. Section 1.280G-1 Q/A-24(b) or (c), then amounts which are payable from any cash severance and cash bonuses, then from any payment in respect of an equity award that is covered by Treas. Reg. Section 1.280G-1 Q/A-24(c), in each case in reverse order beginning with payments or benefits which are to be paid the farthest in time from the Determination (as defined below). Any election given by the Executive pursuant to the preceding sentence shall take precedence over the provisions of any other plan, arrangement or agreement governing the Executive’s rights and entitlements to any benefits or compensation. Nothing in this Section 5.7(a) shall require the Company or any of its Affiliates to be responsible for, or have any liability or obligation with respect to, Executive’s excise tax liabilities under Section 4999 of the Code so long as this Section 5.7(a) is correctly applied by the Company.

(b)

A determination as to whether the Benefits shall be reduced to the Limited Benefit Amount pursuant to this Agreement and the amount of such Limited Benefit Amount shall be made by the Company’s independent public accountants or another certified public accounting firm or executive compensation consulting firm of national reputation designated by the Company (the “Firm”) at the Company’s expense. The Firm shall provide its determination (the “Determination”), together with detailed supporting calculations and documentation to the Company and the Executive within ten (10) business days of the date of termination of the Executive’s employment, if applicable, or such other time as reasonably requested by the Company or the Executive (provided the Executive reasonably believes that any of the Benefits may be subject to the Excise Tax), and if the Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive with respect to any Benefits, it shall furnish the Executive with an opinion reasonably acceptable to the Executive that no Excise Tax will be imposed with respect to any such Benefits. Unless the Executive provides written notice to the Company within ten (10) business days of the delivery of the Determination to the Executive that the Executive disputes such Determination, the Determination shall be binding, final and conclusive upon the Company and the Executive.

6.	Protective Covenants.

6.1

Confidential Information; Inventions.

(a) The Executive shall not disclose or use at any time, either during the Period of Employment or thereafter, any Confidential Information (as defined below) of which the Executive is or becomes aware, whether or not such information is developed by the Executive, except to the extent that such disclosure or use is directly related to and required by the Executive’s performance in good faith of duties for the Company. The Executive will take all appropriate steps to safeguard Confidential Information in his or her possession and to protect it against disclosure, misuse, espionage, loss and theft. The Executive shall deliver to the Company at the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, or at any time the Company may request, all memoranda, communications, notes, plans, records, reports, computer tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to, reflecting or containing the Confidential Information or the Work Product (as hereinafter defined) of the business of the Company or any of its Affiliates which the Executive may then possess or have under his or her control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may truthfully respond to a lawful and valid subpoena or other legal process, but shall give the Company the earliest possible notice thereof, shall, as much in advance of the return date as possible, make available to the Company and its counsel the documents and other information sought, and shall assist the Company and such counsel in resisting or otherwise responding to such process. The Executive understands that nothing in this Agreement is intended to limit the Executive’s right (i) to discuss the terms, wages, and working conditions of the

Executive’s employment to the extent permitted and/or protected by applicable labor laws, (ii) to report Confidential Information either to a federal, state or local government official or to an attorney where such disclosure is solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (iii) to disclose Confidential Information in an anti-retaliation lawsuit or other legal proceeding, so long as that disclosure or filing is made under seal and the Executive does not otherwise disclose such Confidential Information, except pursuant to court order. The Company encourages the Executive, to the extent legally permitted, to give the Company the earliest possible notice of any such report or disclosure. Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, the Executive acknowledges that the Executive may not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of Confidential Information that: (a) is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) is made in a complaint or other document that is filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, provided that such filing is made under seal. Further, the Executive understands that the Company will not retaliate against the Executive in any way for any such disclosure made in accordance with the law. In the event a disclosure is made, and the Executive files any type of proceeding against the Company alleging that the Company retaliated against the Executive because of the Executive’s disclosure, the Executive may disclose the relevant Confidential Information to his or her attorney and may use the Confidential Information in the proceeding if (x) the Executive files any document containing the Confidential Information under seal, and (y) the Executive does not otherwise disclose the Confidential Information except pursuant to court or arbitral order.

(b) As used in this Agreement, the term “Confidential Information” means information that is not generally known to the public and that is used, developed or obtained by the Company or its Affiliates in connection with their respective businesses, including, but not limited to, information, observations and data obtained by the Executive while employed by the Company or its Affiliates or any predecessors thereof concerning (i) the business or affairs of the Company or its Affiliates (or such predecessors), (ii) products or services, (iii) fees, costs and pricing structures and strategies, (iv) designs, (v) analyses, (vi) drawings, photographs and reports, (vii) computer software, including operating systems, applications and program listings, (viii) flow charts, manuals and documentation, (ix) data bases, (x) accounting and business methods, (xi) inventions, devices, new developments, product roadmaps, methods and processes, whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice, (xii) customers and clients, customer or client lists, and the preferences of, and negotiations with, customers and clients, (xiii) personnel information of other employees and independent contractors (including their compensation, unique skills, experience and expertise, and disciplinary matters), (xiv) other copyrightable works, (xv) all production methods, processes, technology and trade secrets, and (xvi) all similar and related information in whatever form. Confidential Information will not include any information that has been published or otherwise disclosed (other than a disclosure by the Executive in breach of this Agreement) in a form generally available to the public prior to the date the Executive proposes to disclose or use such information.

(c) As used in this Agreement, the term “Work Product” means all inventions, innovations, improvements, technical information, systems, software developments, methods, designs, analyses, works, drawings, reports, service marks, trademarks, trade names, logos, and all similar or related information (whether patentable or unpatentable, copyrightable, registerable as a trademark, reduced to writing, or otherwise) which relates to the Company’s or any of its Affiliates’ actual or anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed or made by the Executive (whether or not during usual business hours, whether or not by the use of the facilities of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and whether or not alone or in conjunction with any other person) while employed by the Company or its Affiliates together with all patent applications, letters patent, trademark, trade name and service mark applications or registrations, copyrights and reissues thereof that may be granted for or upon any of the foregoing. All Work Product that the Executive may discovered, invented or originated during the Period of Employment, shall be the exclusive property of the Company and its Affiliates, as applicable, and Executive hereby assigns all of Executive’s right, title and interest in and to such Work Product to the Company or its applicable Affiliate, including all intellectual property rights therein. Executive shall promptly disclose all Work Product to the Company, shall execute at the request of the Company any assignments or other documents the Company may deem necessary to protect or perfect its (or any of its Affiliates’, as applicable) rights therein, and shall assist the Company, at the Company’s expense, in obtaining, defending and enforcing the Company’s (or any of its Affiliates’, as applicable) rights therein. The Executive hereby appoints the Company as the Executive’s attorney-in-fact to execute on his or her behalf any assignments or other documents deemed necessary by the Company to protect or perfect the Company, the Company’s (and any of its Affiliates’, as applicable) rights to any Work Product.

6.2

Restriction on Competition. The Executive agrees that if the Executive were to become employed by, or substantially involved in, the business of a competitor of the Company or any of its Affiliates during the twelve (12) month period following the Severance Date, it would be very difficult for the Executive not to rely on or use the Company’s and its Affiliates’ trade secrets and confidential information. Thus, to avoid the inevitable disclosure of the Company’s and its Affiliates’ trade secrets and confidential information, and to protect such trade secrets and confidential information and the Company’s and its Affiliates’ relationships and goodwill with customers, during the Period of Employment and for a period of twelve (12) months after the Severance Date, the Executive will not directly or indirectly through any other Person engage in, enter the employ of, render any services to, have any ownership interest in, nor participate in the financing, operation, management or control of, any Competing Business within the Restricted Area. For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase “directly or indirectly through any other Person engage in” shall include, without limitation, any direct or

indirect ownership or profit participation interest in such enterprise, whether as an owner, stockholder, member, partner, joint venturer or otherwise, and shall include any direct or indirect participation in such enterprise as an employee, consultant, director, officer, licensor of technology or otherwise. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) “Competing Business” means the acquisition, exploration and/or development of operated oil and natural gas properties, and (ii) the “Restricted Area” means the geographic area of Hudspeth and El Paso Counties, Texas and Otero County, New Mexico. Nothing herein shall prohibit the Executive from (i) conducting the activities disclosed to the Board as provided in Exhibit A hereto or the business activities agreed to by the Board pursuant to Section 1.3; and (ii) being a passive owner of not more than one percent (1%) of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as the Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation.

6.3

Non-Solicitation of Employees and Consultants. During the Period of Employment and for a period of twelve (12) months after the Severance Date, the Executive will not directly or indirectly through any other Person solicit, induce or encourage, or attempt to solicit, induce or encourage, any employee or independent contractor of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company to leave the employ or service, as applicable, of the Company or such Affiliate, or become employed or engaged by any third party, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any such Affiliate, on the one hand, and any employee or independent contractor thereof, on the other hand.

6.4

Non-Interference with Customers. During the Period of Employment and for a period of twelve (12) months after the Severance Date, the Executive will not, directly or indirectly through any other Person, use any of the Company’s trade secrets to influence or attempt to influence customers, vendors, suppliers, licensors, lessors, joint venturers, associates, consultants, agents, or partners of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company to divert their business away from the Company or such Affiliate, and at no time whether during the Period of Employment or thereafter will the Executive use the Company’s trade secrets to interfere with, disrupt or attempt to disrupt the business relationships, contractual or otherwise, between the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, on the one hand, and any of its or their customers, suppliers, vendors, lessors, licensors, joint venturers, associates, officers, employees, consultants, managers, partners, members or investors, on the other hand.

6.5

Cooperation. Following the Executive’s last day of employment by the Company, the Executive shall reasonably cooperate with the Company and its Affiliates in connection with: (a) the transition of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities (or former duties and responsibilities, as the case may be); (b) any internal or governmental investigation or administrative, regulatory, arbitral or judicial proceeding involving the Company and any Affiliates with respect to matters relating to the Executive’s employment with, or service as a member of the board of directors of, the Company or any Affiliate (collectively, “Litigation”); and (c) any audit of the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate with respect

to the period of time when the Executive was employed by the Company or any Affiliate (“Audit”). The Executive acknowledges that such cooperation may include, but shall not be limited to, the Executive making himself available to the Company or any Affiliate (or their respective attorneys or auditors) upon reasonable notice for: (i) interviews, factual investigations, and providing declarations or affidavits that provide truthful information in connection with any Litigation or Audit; (ii) appearing at the request of the Company or any Affiliate to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process; (iii) volunteering to the Company or any Affiliate pertinent information related to any Litigation or Audit; (iv) providing information and legal representations to the auditors of the Company or any Affiliate, in a form and within a time frame requested by the Board, with respect to the Company’s or any Affiliate’s opening balance sheet valuation of intangibles and financial statements for the period in which the Executive was employed by the Company or any Affiliate; and (v) turning over to the Company or any Affiliate any documents relevant to any Litigation or Audit that are or may come into the Executive’s possession. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for reasonable travel expenses incurred in connection with providing the services under this Section 6.5, including lodging and meals, upon the Executive’s submission of receipts. If the Executive believes it is reasonably necessary for the Executive to retain separate counsel in connection with providing the services under this Section 6.5, and such counsel is not otherwise supplied by and at the expense of the Company (pursuant to indemnification rights of the Executive or otherwise), the Company shall further reimburse the Executive for the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel.

6.6

Return of Property. The Executive agrees that, upon the Executive’s Separation from Service (regardless of the reason for such separation) the Executive will immediately return to the Company (a) all physical, computerized, electronic or other types of records, documents, proposals, notes, lists, files and any and all other materials, including computerized electronic information, that refer, relate or otherwise pertain to the Company or any of its Affiliates that are in the Executive’s possession, subject to the Executive’s control or held by the Executive for others (including but not limited to any documents containing Confidential Information that exist on any personal computer, phone, tablet, electronic storage device, cloud storage account, email account, or any other personal device or media (“Personal Devices and Media”); and (b) all property or equipment that the Executive has been issued by the Company or any of its Affiliates during the course of the Executive’s employment or property or equipment of the Company or any of its Affiliates that the Executive otherwise possesses, including any keys, credit cards, office or telephone equipment, computers (and any software, power cords, manuals, computer bag and other equipment that was provided to the Executive with any such computers), tablets, smartphones, and other devices. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive is not authorized to retain any physical, computerized, electronic or other types of copies of any such physical, computerized, electronic or other types of records, documents, proposals, notes, lists, files or materials, and is not authorized to retain any property or equipment of the Company or any of its Affiliates (including any documents that exist on any

Personal Devices and Media), after the Executive’s Separation from Service. The Executive further agrees that, upon and following the Executive’s Separation from Service, the Executive will immediately forward to the Company (and thereafter destroy any electronic copies thereof) any business information relating to the Company or any of its Affiliates that has been or is inadvertently directed to the Executive after such Separation from Service.

6.7

Understanding of Covenants. The Executive acknowledges that, in the course of his or her employment with the Company and/or its Affiliates and their predecessors, the Executive has become familiar, or will become familiar, with the Company’s and its Affiliates’ and their predecessors’ trade secrets and with other confidential and proprietary information concerning the Company, its Affiliates and their respective predecessors and that his or her services have been and will be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company and its Affiliates. The Executive agrees that the foregoing covenants set forth in this Section 6 (together, the “Restrictive Covenants”) are reasonable and necessary to protect the Company’s and its Affiliates’ trade secrets and other confidential and proprietary information, good will, stable workforce, and customer relations.

Without limiting the generality of the Executive’s agreement in the preceding paragraph, the Executive (i) represents that the Executive is familiar with and has carefully considered the Restrictive Covenants, (ii) represents that the Executive is fully aware of his or her obligations hereunder, (iii) agrees to the reasonableness of the length of time, scope and geographic coverage, as applicable, of the Restrictive Covenants, (iv) agrees that the Company and its Affiliates currently conducts business throughout the Restricted Area, and (v) agrees that the Restrictive Covenants will continue in effect for the applicable periods set forth above in this Section 6 regardless of whether the Executive is then entitled to receive severance pay or benefits from the Company. The Executive understands that the Restrictive Covenants may limit his or her ability to earn a livelihood in a business similar to the business of the Company and any of its Affiliates, but the Executive nevertheless believes that he or she has received and will receive sufficient consideration and other benefits as an employee of the Company and as otherwise provided hereunder or as described in the recitals hereto to clearly justify such restrictions which, in any event (given the Executive’s education, skills and ability), the Executive does not believe would prevent the Executive from otherwise earning a living. The Executive agrees that the Restrictive Covenants do not confer a benefit upon the Company disproportionate to the detriment of the Executive.

6.8

Enforcement. The Executive agrees that the Executive’s services are unique and that he or she has access to Confidential Information and Work Product. Accordingly, without limiting the generality of Section 17, the Executive agrees that a breach by the Executive of any of the covenants in this Section 6 would cause immediate and irreparable harm to the Company that would be difficult or impossible to measure, and that damages to the Company for any such injury would therefore be an inadequate remedy for any such breach. Therefore, the Executive agrees that in the event of any breach or threatened breach of any provision of this

Section 6, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to and without limitation upon all other remedies the Company may have under this Agreement, at law or otherwise, to obtain specific performance, injunctive relief and/or other appropriate relief (without posting any bond or deposit) in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions of this Section 6, or require the Executive to account for and pay over to the Company all compensation, profits, moneys, accruals, increments or other benefits derived from or received as a result of any transactions constituting a breach of this Section 6 if and when final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator, as applicable, is so entered against the Executive.

Withholding Taxes. Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, the Company may withhold (or cause there to be withheld, as the case may be) from any amounts otherwise due or payable under or pursuant to this Agreement such federal, state and local income, employment, or other taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. Except for such withholding rights, the Executive is solely responsible for any and all tax liability that may arise with respect to the compensation provided under or pursuant to this Agreement.

8.	Successors and Assigns.

(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives.

(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or assignee, as applicable, which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.

Number and Gender; Examples. Where the context requires, the singular shall include the plural, the plural shall include the singular, and any gender shall include all other genders. Where specific language is used to clarify by example a general statement contained herein, such specific language shall not be deemed to modify, limit or restrict in any manner the construction of the general statement to which it relates.

10.

Section Headings. The section headings of, and titles of paragraphs and subparagraphs contained in, this Agreement are for the purpose of convenience only, and they neither form a part of this Agreement nor are they to be used in the construction or interpretation thereof.

11.

Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Texas, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflicting provision or rule (whether of the state of Texas or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the laws of any jurisdiction other than the state of Texas to be applied. In furtherance of the foregoing, the internal law of the state of Texas will control the interpretation and construction of this Agreement, even if under such jurisdiction’s choice of law or conflict of law analysis, the substantive law of some other jurisdiction would ordinarily apply.

12.

Severability. It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction or determined by an arbitrator pursuant to Section 16 to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable under any present or future law, and if the rights and obligations of any party under this Agreement will not be materially and adversely affected thereby, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction, and to this end the provisions of this Agreement are declared to be severable; furthermore, in lieu of such invalid or unenforceable provision there will be added automatically as a part of this Agreement, a legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn (as to geographic scope, period of duration or otherwise) so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

13.

Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement of the parties hereto respecting the matters within its scope and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements of the parties hereto that directly or indirectly bears upon the subject matter hereof (including, without limitation, the Prior Employment Agreement) [See note to recital above]. Any prior negotiations, correspondence, agreements, proposals or understandings relating to the subject matter hereof shall be deemed to have been merged into this Agreement, and to the extent inconsistent herewith, such negotiations, correspondence, agreements, proposals, or understandings shall be deemed to be of no force or effect. There are no representations, warranties, or agreements, whether express or implied, or oral or written, with respect to the subject matter hereof, except as expressly set forth herein.

14.

Modifications. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or changed (in whole or in part), except by a formal, definitive written agreement expressly referring to this Agreement, which agreement is executed by both of the parties hereto.

15.

Waiver. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of a party to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any right, remedy, power or privilege, nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to any other occurrence. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party asserted to have granted such waiver.

16.

Arbitration. Except as provided in Sections 6.8 and 17, any non-time barred, legally actionable controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, its enforcement, arbitrability or interpretation, or because of an alleged breach, default, or misrepresentation in connection with any of its provisions, or any other non-time barred, legally actionable controversy or claim arising out of or relating to the Executive’s employment or association with the Company or termination of the same, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any alleged violation of state or federal statute, common law or constitution, shall be submitted to individual, final and binding arbitration, to be held in Tarrant County, Texas, before a single arbitrator selected from Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“JAMS”), in accordance with the then-current JAMS Arbitration Rules and Procedures for employment disputes, as modified by the terms and conditions in this Section (which may be found at www.jamsadr.com under the Rules/Clauses tab). The parties will select the arbitrator by mutual agreement or, if the parties cannot agree, then by obtaining a list of nine qualified arbitrators supplied by JAMS from their labor and employment law panel, with each party confidentially submitting a “rank and strike” list that ranks in order of priority six arbitrators and strikes three arbitrators, and the most favored arbitrator based on the cumulative rankings who was not struck by either party shall be appointed arbitrator. Final resolution of any dispute through arbitration may include any remedy or relief that is provided for through any applicable state or federal statutes, or common law. Statutes of limitations shall be the same as would be applicable were the action to be brought in court. The arbitrator selected pursuant to this Agreement may order such discovery as is necessary for a full and fair exploration of the issues and dispute, consistent with the expedited nature of arbitration. At the conclusion of the arbitration, the arbitrator shall issue a written decision that sets forth the essential findings and conclusions upon which the arbitrator’s award or decision is based. Any award or relief granted by the arbitrator under this Agreement shall be final and binding on the parties to this Agreement and may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction. The Company will pay those arbitration costs that are unique to arbitration, including the arbitrator’s fee (recognizing that each side bears its own deposition, witness, expert and attorneys’ fees and other expenses to the same extent as if the matter were being heard in court). If, however, any party prevails on a statutory claim, which affords the prevailing party attorneys’ fees and costs, then the arbitrator may award reasonable fees and costs to the prevailing party. The arbitrator may not award attorneys’ fees to a party that would not otherwise be entitled to such an award under the applicable statute. The arbitrator shall resolve any dispute as to the reasonableness of any fee or cost. Except as provided in Section 6.8 and 17, the parties acknowledge and agree that they are hereby waiving any rights to trial by jury or a court in any action or proceeding brought by either of the parties against the other in connection with any matter whatsoever arising out of or in any way connected with this Agreement or the Executive’s employment.

17.

Remedies. Each of the parties to this Agreement and any Person granted rights hereunder whether or not such person or entity is a signatory hereto shall be entitled to enforce its rights under this Agreement specifically to recover damages and costs for any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in its favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement and that each party (as well as each other Person granted rights hereunder) may in its sole discretion obtain permanent injunctive or equitable relief in any arbitration filed pursuant to Section 16 and enforce any such relief awarded by the arbitrator in any court of competent jurisdiction. In addition, each party may also apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction for provisional injunctive or equitable relief, including a temporary restraining or preliminary injunction (without any requirement to post any bond or deposit), to ensure that the relief sought in arbitration is not rendered ineffectual by interim harm. Each party shall be responsible for paying its own attorneys’ fees, costs and other expenses pertaining to any such legal proceeding and enforcement regardless of whether an award or finding or any judgment or verdict thereon is entered against either party.

18.

Notices. Any notice provided for in this Agreement must be in writing and must be either personally delivered, transmitted via email, mailed by first class mail (postage prepaid and return receipt requested) or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) to the recipient at the address below indicated or at such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Notices will be deemed to have been given hereunder and received when delivered personally, when received if transmitted via telecopier, five days after deposit in the U.S. mail and one day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier service.

if to the Company:

Next Bridge Hydrocarbons, Inc.

6300 Ridglea Place, Suite 950

Fort Worth, Texas 76116

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

email: cdubose@nextbridgehydrocarbons.com

with a copy to:

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

2501 N. Harwood, 17^th Floor

Dallas, Texas 75201

Attn: Jason Schumacher, Esq.

email: jschumacher@omm.com

if to the Executive, to the address most recently on file in the payroll records of the Company.

19.

Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories. Photographic copies of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.

20.

Legal Counsel; Mutual Drafting. Each party recognizes that this is a legally binding contract and acknowledges and agrees that they have had the opportunity to consult with legal counsel of their choice. Each party has cooperated in the drafting, negotiation and preparation of this Agreement. Hence, in any construction to be made of this Agreement, the same shall not be construed against either party on the basis of that party being the drafter of such language. The Executive agrees and acknowledges that he or she has read and understands this Agreement, is entering into it freely and voluntarily, and has been advised to seek counsel prior to entering into this Agreement and has had ample opportunity to do so.

21.

Section 409A.

(a) It is intended that any amounts payable under this Agreement shall either be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code (including the Treasury regulations and other published guidance relating thereto) (“Code Section 409A”) so as not to subject the Executive to payment of any additional tax, penalty or interest imposed under Code Section 409A. The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and interpreted to avoid the imputation of any such additional tax, penalty or interest under Code Section 409A yet preserve (to the nearest extent reasonably possible) the intended benefit payable to the Executive. Any installment payments provided for in this Agreement shall be treated as a series of separate payments for purposes of Code Section 409A.

(b) If the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) as of the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service, the Executive shall not be entitled to any payment or benefit pursuant to Section 5.3(b) or (c) until the earlier of (i) the date which is six (6) months after his Separation from Service for any reason other than death, or (ii) the date of the Executive’s death. The provisions of this Section 21(b) shall only apply if, and to the extent, required to avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest pursuant to Code Section 409A. Any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive upon or in the six (6) month period following the Executive’s Separation from Service that are not so paid by reason of this Section 21(b) shall be paid (without interest) as soon as practicable (and in all events within thirty (30) days) after the date that is six (6) months after the Executive’s Separation from Service (or, if earlier, as soon as practicable, and in all events within thirty (30) days, after the date of the Executive’s death).

(c) To the extent that any benefits pursuant to Section 5.3(b)(ii) or reimbursements pursuant to Section 4.2 are taxable to the Executive, any reimbursement payment due to the Executive pursuant to any such provision shall be paid to the Executive on or before the last day of the Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the related expense was incurred. The benefits and reimbursements pursuant to such provisions are not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit and the amount of such benefits and reimbursements that the Executive receives in one taxable year shall not affect the amount of such benefits or reimbursements that the Executive receives in any other taxable year.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.


“COMPANY”

Next Bridge Hydrocarbons, Inc.
a Nevada corporation

By:		/s/ George Palikaras
Name:		George Palikaras
Title:		President


“EXECUTIVE”

/s/ Delvina Oelkers
Delvina Oelkers