EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT by and among RHINO RESOURCES, INC. RHINO ENERGY LLC and NICHOLAS R. GLANCY
Exhibit 10.9
by and among
RHINO RESOURCES, INC.
RHINO ENERGY LLC
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Effective Date: , 2008
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the dates written below, dated effective as of the th day of , 2008 (the “Effective Date”), by and among (i) Rhino Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), (iii) Rhino Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Rhino”), and (iii) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (“Executive”) and joined in by Rhino GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Rhino GP”) for the sole purpose set forth in the last sentence of Paragraph 1 hereof.
Recitals:
Executive is currently employed by Rhino pursuant to an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated March 31, 2008 among Rhino, Rhino GP and Executive (the “Prior Agreement”). The Company desires to have the Executive become an employee of the Company upon the completion of an initial public offering of common stock of the Company, (the “Offering”) the completion upon which the Company will directly and indirectly will own all of the interests in Rhino. Rhino desires to continue the employment of Executive until such time as Executive becomes an employee of the Company as provided above or until the end of the Employment Term, as defined below, if the Offering does not occur. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Employer” shall mean the entity (Rhino or the Company) employing Executive at the applicable time. The Company and Rhino desire to enter into this Agreement in order to amend and restate the terms of Executive’s employment. Executive desires to enter into this Agreement, and Executive is willing to accept employment on the terms hereinafter set forth in this Agreement.
Agreement:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Term of Employment. Unless terminated earlier in accordance with the provisions of Section 7, Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall be effective for a term commencing on the Effective Date and ending on May 31, 2011 (the “Employment Term”). From the Effective Date until the closing of the Offering, should it occur, Executive shall be employed by Rhino. Upon the closing of the Offering, Executive shall become an employee of the Company; provided, however, that any obligations or references specifically applicable to Rhino (as opposed to just the Employer) herein shall remain in effect. Upon the parties’ execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Prior Agreement shall be deemed voided by this Agreement and is hereby declared null and void, ab initio.
2. Position and Duties. As of the Effective Date, Executive shall serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Rhino, and Chief Executive Officer of the subsidiaries of the Company and Rhino. In such positions, Executive shall report directly to the Chairman of Rhino of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and, upon the completion of the Offering, to the Board. Executive shall have the customary authority, responsibilities and duties of such position(s), subject to the direction and definition of such authority, responsibilities, and duties from time to time set by the Board of the Company or the
Manager of Rhino, as applicable. During the Employment Term, Executive will devote all of his business time and efforts to the performance of his duties hereunder. Executive may (i) with the prior approval of the Chairman of the Board or Manager of Rhino, as applicable, serve as a director or trustee of up to three (3) corporate or charitable entities as well as trade associations related to the natural resources industry, and (ii) manage his personal investments, to the extent that such activities do not materially inhibit or materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement. Executive shall be subject to all of the employment and personnel policies and procedures in effect from time to time and applicable to executive employees of Employer. Executive’s regular place of employment during the Employment Term shall be at the Employer’s executive offices in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky, and Executive shall engage in such travel as may be reasonably required in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder.
3. Base Salary. The Employer shall pay Executive a base salary (the “Base Salary”) at the annual rate of $385,000 per year, through May 31, 2009, $395,000 per year through May 31, 2010 and thereafter $405,000 per year, all payable in regular installments in accordance with the usual executive payroll practices of the Employer. Executive’s Base Salary and other compensation may be processed and paid through Rhino.
4. Incentive Compensation. Executive shall be permitted to participate in any annual or long-term, cash or equity based, incentive plan or other similar arrangements of the Employer, as they may exist from time-to-time, for which Executive is eligible pursuant to the terms of such plan or arrangement.
5. Discretionary Bonus. The Employer may consider and approve an annual performance-based discretionary bonus (“Discretionary Bonus”) for Executive of up to forty percent (40%) of Executive’s Base Salary. The Discretionary Bonus will be on a calendar year basis for all of 2008, 2009 and 2010. The Discretionary Bonus for the period January 1, 2011 through the end of the Employment Term will be pro-rated for the partial year. A Discretionary Bonus shall be considered separate from any other form of compensation contained under this Agreement, including Base Salary. Any Discretionary Bonus approved by the Employer shall be paid to Executive within seventy-five (75) days of the end of the calendar year to which it relates, with the final Discretionary Bonus determined and paid on the last day of the Employment Term.
6. Other Benefits.
(a) Retirement Benefits. During the Employment Term, Executive shall be provided with the opportunity to participate in the Employer’s qualified 401(k) profit sharing plan and non-qualified deferred compensation plan (if any), as they may exist from time to time, in each case, in accordance with the terms of such plans.
(b) Welfare Benefits; Vacation. During the Employment Term, Executive shall be provided with the opportunity to participate in the Employer’s medical plan and other employee welfare benefits on a comparable basis as such benefits are generally provided by the Employer from time to time to Employer’s other executives, in each case, in accordance with the terms of such plans; provided, however, the premiums for all such plans shall be paid by the
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Employer. Executive shall be entitled to three (3) weeks of paid vacation each year during the Employment Term.
(c) Indemnification. Subject to the Company’s bylaws, the Company and Rhino shall indemnify and hold harmless Executive from and against any loss, cost, damage, expense, or liability incurred by Executive for any action taken by Executive in the scope of Executive’s employment for the Employer, provided such action (i) is within the scope, duties, and authority of Executive, (ii) is not in willful violation of any law, regulation, or code of conduct adopted by the Employer, and (iii) does not constitute gross negligence or intentional misconduct by Executive. The obligations of the Company and Rhino under this Section 6 (c) shall survive the termination of this Agreement. If there is any conflict between this Section 6(c) and the Company’s bylaws, the Company’s bylaws shall control.
(d) Reimbursement of Business Expenses. During the Employment Term, all reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder shall be reimbursed by the Employer upon receipt of documentation of such expenses in a form reasonably acceptable to the Employer, and otherwise in accordance with the Employer’s expense reimbursement policies. Any reimbursement of any costs and expenses by the Employer to Executive under this Agreement shall be made by the Employer in no event later than the close of Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the cost or expense is incurred by Executive. The expenses incurred by Executive in any calendar year that are eligible for reimbursement under this Agreement shall not affect the expenses incurred by Executive in any other calendar year that are eligible for reimbursement hereunder and Executive’s right to receive any reimbursement hereunder shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.
(e) Continuing Legal Education. The Employer shall pay or reimburse Executive for the reasonable costs and expenses of continuing legal education necessary for Executive to maintain Executive’s compliance with the rules and requirements of the Kentucky Supreme Court.
(f) Rhino Benefits. To the extent the Company does not have employee benefits or benefit plans called for or referred to under this Agreement, and which are available to employees of Rhino, Executive shall be a part of and have the rights, privileges and benefits under any employee benefits or benefit plans maintained by Rhino to the extent he would have been entitled to the same as an employee of Rhino.
7. Termination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:
(a) For Cause by the Employer or Voluntary Resignation by Executive Without Good Reason. If Executive is terminated by the Employer for Cause (as defined in Section 12(d)) or if Executive voluntarily resigns without Good Reason (as defined in Section 12(j)), Executive shall be entitled to receive as soon as reasonably practicable after his date of termination or such earlier time as may be required by applicable statute or regulation: (i) any earned but unpaid Base Salary through the date of termination; (ii) payment in respect of any vacation days accrued but unused through the date of termination; and (iii) reimbursement for all business expenses properly incurred in accordance with the Employer’s policy prior to the date
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of termination and not yet reimbursed by the Employer (the aggregate benefits payable pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) hereafter referred to as the “Accrued Obligations”); and except as provided herein Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation (including any Base Salary or bonus, if any) or any other benefits under this Agreement. All other accrued and vested benefits, if any, due Executive following termination of employment shall be determined and paid in accordance with the plans, policies, and practices of the Company or Rhino, as applicable.
(b) Without Cause by the Employer or Voluntary Resignation by Executive for Good Reason. If Executive is terminated by the Employer other than for Cause, Disability (as defined in Section 12(g)) or death, or if Executive voluntarily resigns for Good Reason, Executive shall receive: (i) the Accrued Obligations; and (ii) subject to Section 7(f) and Section 7(h), Base Salary for a period of twelve (12) months from the termination of employment, payable in a lump sum as provided in Section 7(f). Except as provided herein, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation (including any Base Salary) or any other benefits under this Agreement. All other accrued and vested benefits, if any, due Executive following termination of employment pursuant to this Section 7(b) shall be determined in accordance with the plans, policies and practices of the Company or Rhino, as applicable.
(c) Death. Following termination of employment for death, Executive’s estate shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Obligations. Except as provided herein, Executive’s estate shall have no further rights to any compensation (including any Base Salary) or any other benefits under this Agreement. All other accrued and vested benefits, if any, due Executive following a termination of employment for death shall be determined in accordance with the plans, policies, and practices of the Company or Rhino, as applicable.
(d) Disability. Following termination of employment for Disability, Executive shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Obligations. Except as provided herein, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation (including any Base Salary) or any other benefits under this Agreement. All other accrued and vested benefits, if any, due Executive following a termination of employment for Disability shall be determined in accordance with the plans, policies, and practices of the Company or Rhino, as applicable.
(e) No Mitigation or Offset. In no event shall the benefits set forth in this Section 7 be subject to mitigation or offset.
(f) Release. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, Executive acknowledges and agrees that any and all payments to which Executive is entitled under this Section 7 which are described as being subject to this Section 7(f) are conditioned upon and subject to Executive’s execution of, and not having revoked within any applicable revocation period, a general release and waiver, in such reasonable and customary form as shall be prepared by the Employer, of all claims Executive may have against the Employer and its directors, officers, subsidiaries and affiliates, except as to (i) matters covered by provisions of this Agreement that expressly survive the termination of this Agreement or are covered by the grant referred to in Section 9 hereof, and (ii) rights to which Executive is entitled by virtue of his participation in the employee benefit plans, policies and arrangements of the Company or Rhino, as applicable. Unless such release becomes irrevocable within 55 days of
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Executive’s termination of employment, Executive shall not be entitled to any severance benefits that are described as being subject to this Section 7(f). If the release has become irrevocable within such 55-day period, the Employer shall pay such severance benefits to Executive within 60 days of his termination of employment.
(g) Resignation. Upon Executive’s termination of employment for any reason, Executive shall be deemed to have immediately resigned from all offices and boards, with the Employer and any of the Employer’s subsidiaries or affiliates and shall, immediately upon the request of the Employer, confirm such resignations in writing.
(h) Section 409A Delay in Payment. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if at the time of Executive’s termination of employment with the Employer, Executive is a “specified employee,” as defined in Section 409A of the Code, and the deferral of the commencement of any severance benefits otherwise payable under this Agreement as a result of such termination of employment is necessary in order to avoid the additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, then the Employer will defer the payment of any such severance payments until the date that is six months following Executive’s termination of employment with the Employer (or the earliest date as is permitted under Section 409A of the Code). Any payment deferred pursuant to this Section 7(h) will be accumulated and paid to Executive (without interest) in a lump sum.
(i) Termination of Employment. For purposes of this Agreement, a termination of Executive’s employment means a “separation from service” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code and the applicable Treasury regulations thereunder.
8. Covenants.
(a) Confidentiality. Executive agrees that Executive will not at any time during Executive’s employment with the Employer or thereafter, except in performance of Executive’s duties for and obligations to the Employer hereunder, use or disclose, either directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined) of the Employer or its subsidiaries or affiliates that Executive may learn by reason of his association with the Employer. The term “Confidential Information” shall mean any past, present, or future confidential or sensitive plans, programs, documents, agreements, internal management reports, financial information, or other material relating to the business, strategies, services, or activities of the Employer, including, without limitation, information with respect to the Employer’s operations, processes, products, inventions, business practices, finances, principals, vendors, suppliers, customers, potential customers, marketing methods, costs, prices, contractual relationships, including leases, regulatory status, compensation paid to employees, or other terms of employment, and trade secrets, market reports, customer investigations, customer lists, and other similar information that is proprietary information of the Employer or its subsidiaries or affiliates; provided, however, the term “Confidential Information” shall not include any of the above forms of information which has become public knowledge, unless such Confidential Information became public knowledge due to an act or acts by Executive or his representative(s) in violation of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may disclose such Confidential Information when required to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction, by any governmental agency having supervisory authority over the business of the Employer or its
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subsidiaries or affiliates, as the case may be, or by any administrative body or legislative body (including a committee thereof) with jurisdiction to order Executive to divulge, disclose or make accessible such information; provided, further, that in the event that Executive is ordered by any such court or other government agency, administrative body, or legislative body to disclose any Confidential Information, Executive shall (i) promptly notify the Employer of such order, (ii) at the reasonable written request of the Employer, diligently contest such order at the sole expense of the Employer as expenses occur, and (iii) at the reasonable written request of the Employer, seek to obtain, at the sole expense of the Employer, such confidential treatment as may be available under applicable laws for any information disclosed under such order.
(b) Non-Compete. During the Employment Term and for one (1) year immediately following a termination of employment for any reason, other than a termination by Employer without Cause or a resignation by Executive with Good Reason, Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Employer, participate or engage in, directly or indirectly (as an owner, partner, employee, officer, director, independent contractor, consultant, advisor or in any other capacity calling for the rendition of services, advice, or acts of management, operation or control) any business for an individual or entity whose principal business involves coal mining or coal marketing in the following regions: Central Appalachia, Northern Appalachia, Illinois Basin, Western Colorado, and any other region in which the Employer or any of the Employer’s subsidiaries conduct business. Provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 8(b) shall prohibit Executive from engaging in the private practice of law subsequent to Executive’s termination of employment (including the outside representation of coal companies), subject in all cases to the confidentiality obligations of Section 8(a).
(c) Non-Solicitation. During the Employment Term and for two (2) years immediately following a termination of Employment for any reason, Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Employer, solicit or induce any then-existing employee of the Employer or any of its subsidiaries to leave employment with the Employer or any of its subsidiaries, or contact any then-existing customer or vendor under contract with the Employer or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries for the purpose of obtaining business similar to that engaged in, or received (as appropriate), by the Employer.
(d) Cooperation. Executive agrees that during the Employment Term or following a termination of employment for any reason, Executive shall, upon reasonable advance notice, assist and cooperate with the Employer with regard to any investigation or litigation related to a matter or project in which Executive was involved during Executive’s employment. The Employer shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable and necessary expenses related to Executive’s services under this Section 8(d) (i.e., travel, lodging, meals, telephone, overnight courier) within ten (10) business days of Executive submitting to the Employer appropriate receipts and expense statements.
(e) Survivability. The duties and obligations of Executive pursuant to this Section 8 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and Executive’s termination of employment for any reason.
(f) Remedies. Executive acknowledges that the protections of the Employer set forth in this Section 8 are fair and reasonable, and that any violation of such protections
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would cause serious and irreparable harm and damage to the Employer and its subsidiaries and affiliates. Executive agrees that remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Section 8 would be inadequate and, therefore, the Employer shall be entitled, in addition to any other available remedies (including money damages), without posting a bond, to equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction, or any other equitable remedy that may be then available.
(g) Limitation. The terms of this Section 8 are intended to limit disclosure and competition by the Executive to the maximum extent permitted by law. If the duration, scope, or nature of any limitation or restriction imposed by any provision of this Section 8 is finally determined by any court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be in excess of what is valid and enforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be construed to cover only that duration, scope or activity that is valid and enforceable. Executive hereby acknowledges that this Section 8 shall be given the construction which renders its provisions valid and enforceable to the maximum extent, not exceeding its express terms, possible under applicable law.
9. Offering Incentives. By a grant separate from this document, the Employer shall grant to Executive certain stock in the Company upon, and subject to, the closing of the Offering on terms acceptable to the Company in its sole discretion. The terms of such grant shall be determined by the Company, but shall have a value of $1,800,000 upon the closing of the Offering, based upon the issuance price of stock or units in such Offering. In addition to the foregoing, in the event an Offering is completed, the Employer shall pay to the Executive, within [ ] days after the completion of the offering, a one-time cash bonus of $250,000. Nothing herein shall require the Company to complete any Offering.
10. Representations of Executive. Executive hereby represents to the Employer that Executive has full lawful right to enter into this Agreement and carry out Executive’s duties hereunder, and that performance of Executive’s obligations hereunder will not constitute a breach of or default under any employment, confidentiality, non-competition or other agreement. Executive further represents to the Employer that Executive is not listed in the Office of Surface Mining’s Applicant Violator System database. Executive shall provide prompt notice to the Employer of Executive’s first employment subsequent to a termination of employment.
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Satisfaction of Obligations Under Prior Agreement; Term Bonus. The Company, Rhino and Executive hereby acknowledge that this Agreement amends, restates and supersedes the Prior Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive remains entitled to the Term Bonus set out in the Prior Agreement; provided, however, the full amount of such Term Bonus ($566,666), subject to proper tax withholdings shall be paid upon by the Employer on November 1, 2008. If Executive’s employment is terminated without Cause prior to payment of such Term Bonus, the Term Bonus shall be pro-rated as provided in the Prior Agreement.
(b) Resolution of Disputes. Except (i) as otherwise provided in Section 11(d) or (ii) in the event of any action by the Employer to enforce the provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement, the Employer and Executive agree that any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof shall be settled by arbitration administered by
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the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules then in effect. Venue for any arbitration pursuant to this Agreement will lie in Lexington, Kentucky. Any award entered by the arbitrator(s) shall be final, binding and nonappealable and judgment may be entered thereon by either party in accordance with applicable law in any court of competent jurisdiction. This arbitration provision shall be specifically enforceable. Each party shall be responsible for its own expenses relating to the conduct of the arbitration (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and shall share the fees of the American Arbitration Association and the arbitrator(s), if applicable, equally.
(c) Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky applicable to agreements made and to be wholly performed within the Commonwealth of Kentucky, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions of any jurisdiction which would cause the application of any law other than that of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Executive hereby consents to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, including the Fayette Circuit Court, and hereby waives any objection to venue of any action brought in such courts.
(d) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the employment of Executive by the Employer. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or undertakings between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein. This Agreement may not be altered, modified, or amended except by written instrument signed by the parties hereto. Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment with the Employer, except as otherwise specifically stated therein.
(e) Neutral Interpretation. This Agreement constitutes the product of the negotiation of the parties hereto and the enforcement of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a neutral manner, and not more strongly for or against any party based upon the source of the draftsmanship of the Agreement. Each party has been provided ample time and opportunity to review and negotiate the terms of this Agreement and consult with legal counsel regarding the Agreement.
(f) No Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement. No waiver of any term or condition of this Agreement on the part of the Employer shall be effective for any purpose whatsoever unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the Chairman of the Board of the Employer.
(g) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
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(h) Successors.
(i) This Agreement is personal to Executive and shall not be assignable by Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s legal representatives.
(ii) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon Rhino, the Company and their successors and assigns. The Company, or Rhino, as applicable, shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, reorganization, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, liquidation, or otherwise) to all or a substantial portion of its business and/or assets, by agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Executive, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform this Agreement if no such succession had taken place. Regardless of whether such an agreement is executed, the Company shall cause this Agreement to be binding upon any successor of the Company or Rhino and such successor shall be deemed the “Employer” for purposes of this Agreement.
(i) Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally, if delivered by overnight courier service, if sent by facsimile transmission or if mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses or sent via facsimile to the respective facsimile numbers, as the case may be, as set forth below, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt; provided, however, that (i) notices sent by personal delivery or overnight courier shall be deemed given when delivered; (ii) notices sent by facsimile transmission shall be deemed given upon the sender’s receipt of confirmation of complete transmission, and (iii) notices sent by United States registered mail shall be deemed given two days after the date of deposit in the United States mail.
If to the Company or Rhino, to:
Rhino Resources, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
If to Executive, to such address as shall most currently appear on the records of the Employer.
(j) Withholding. The Employer may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Taxes (as defined in Section 12(l)) as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
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(k) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
(l) Code Section 409A. It is intended that any amounts payable under this Agreement and the Employer’s and Executive’s exercise of authority or discretion hereunder shall comply with Code Section 409A (including the Treasury regulations and other published guidance relating thereto) so as not to subject Executive to the payment of any interest or additional tax imposed under Code Section 409A. To the extent any amount payable under this Agreement would trigger the additional tax imposed by Code Section 409A, the Agreement shall be modified to avoid such additional tax.
(m) Confidential Terms. Executive agrees to maintain as confidential the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided however Executive may disclose the terms of this Agreement to his legal counsel, and accountant or tax preparer, or as may be otherwise required by law.
(n) Waiver of Jury Trial. EXECUTIVE HEREBY VOLUNTARILY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH REGARD TO ANY ACTION ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE BY THE EMPLOYER.
12. Definitions.
(a) Accrued Obligations. “Accrued Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).
(b) Base Salary. “Base Salary” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.
(c) Board. “Board” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.
(d) Cause. “Cause” for termination by the Employer of Executive’s employment with the Employer means any of the following:
(i) the willful and continued failure of Executive to perform substantially his duties (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to disability), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Executive by the Chairman of the Board, or Manager of Rhino, as applicable, which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or Manager believes that Executive has not substantially performed his duties;
(ii) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or no contest to (A) a felony or (B) a misdemeanor involving dishonesty or moral turpitude; or
(iii) the willful engaging by Executive in any illegal conduct, gross misconduct, or other material breach of this Agreement which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the business or reputation of the Employer.
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For purposes of this definition, no act or failure to act, on the part of Executive, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Employer. Any act, or failure to act, based upon specific authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or upon instructions of the Chairman of the Board or the Manager of Rhino, or based upon the advice of counsel of the Employer which Executive honestly believes is within such counsel’s competence shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Employer. The Employer shall give written notice to Executive of the termination for Cause. Such notice shall state in detail the particular act or acts of the failure or failures to act that constitute the grounds on which the Cause termination is based and such notice shall be given within six (6) months of the occurrence of, or, if later, the Employer’s actual knowledge of, the act or acts or the failure or failures to act which constitute the grounds for Cause. Executive shall have thirty (30) days upon receipt of the notice in which to cure such conduct, to the extent such cure is possible and reasonable.
(e) Code. “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
(f) Company. “Company” means Rhino Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
(g) Disability. “Disability” means the inability of Executive to perform his normal duties as a result of any physical or mental injury or ailment for (i) any consecutive ninety (90)-day period or (ii) any one hundred eighty (180) days (whether or not consecutive) during any three hundred sixty five (365) calendar day period.
(h) Employment Term. “Employment Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.
(i) Executive. “Executive” means ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇.
(j) Good Reason. “Good Reason” for termination by Executive of Executive’s employment means the occurrence (without Executive’s express written consent) of any one of the following acts by the Employer or failures by Employer to act:
(i) the assignment to Executive of any duties inconsistent in any material respect with those of the office to which Executive is assigned pursuant to Section 2 hereof (including status, office, title and reporting requirements), or any other diminution in any material respect in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities unless agreed to by Executive;
(ii) a reduction in Base Salary;
(iii) a reduction in Executive’s welfare benefits plans, qualified retirement plan, or paid time off benefit; or
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(iv) any purported termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement by the Employer other than for Cause or Disability.
Prior to Executive’s right to terminate this Agreement, he shall give written notice to the Employer of his intention to terminate his employment on account of Good Reason. Such notice shall state in detail the particular act or acts of the failure or failures to act that constitute the grounds on which Executive’s Good Reason termination is based and such notice shall be given within six (6) months of the occurrence of the act or acts or the failure or failures to act which constitute the grounds for Good Reason. The Employer shall have thirty (30) days upon receipt of the notice in which to cure such conduct, to the extent such cure is possible and reasonable.
(k) Manager. “Manager” means Wexford Capital LLC, the Manager of Rhino.
(l) Taxes. “Taxes” mean the incremental United States federal, state and local income, excise and other taxes payable by Executive with respect to any applicable item of income.
[signature page to follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the dates written below.
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RHINO ENERGY LLC |
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RHINO GP, LLC |
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For the sole purpose set forth in Section 1 hereof |
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14