Exhibit 10.1

 

WPX Energy

Executive Severance Pay Plan

 

Amended and Restated Effective May 18, 2017

 

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WPX ENERGY

 

EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PAY PLAN

 

(Amended and Restated Effective as of May 18, 2017)

 

Article 1

Definitions

 

The following capitalized words and phrases when used in the text of the Plan
shall have the meanings set forth below.  Words in the masculine gender shall
connote the feminine gender as well.

 

1.1                               “Affiliate” means any corporation which is a
member of the controlled group of corporations (as defined in Section 414(b) of
the Code) which includes the Company; and any trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) which is under common control (as defined in Section 414(c) of the
Code) with the Company.

 

1.2                               “Aggregate Compensation” means Regular Wage
Base and an amount, if any, equal to the payout the Employee would have received
under the Company’s Annual Bonus program at “target”, as defined in the Annual
Bonus program, for the calendar year of the Employee’s termination as if the
Employee has remained employed for the entire year.  If Aggregate Compensation
is being determined for any company or entity described in Section 2.3(f), the
foregoing definition of Aggregate Compensation shall be applied to equivalent
items of compensation to be received from such company or entity, provided that
any incentive or bonus compensation to be received from such company or entity
shall be taken into account even if not resulting from a formal annual incentive
program.  The term Aggregate Compensation shall only be relevant for determining
whether a Comparable Offer of Employment has been made, and does not impact the
calculation of severance pay as described in Section 3.1.

 

1.3                               “Annual Bonus” means the opportunity to
receive payment of a cash annual incentive.  As of the Effective Date, the term
“Annual Bonus” refers to the bonus determined pursuant to the WPX Annual
Incentive Plan.  In the event the Annual Incentive Plan is replaced or
superseded, the term “Annual Bonus” shall refer to such replacement or successor
bonus plan or program.

 

1.4                               “Average Annual Bonus” means, subject to the
requirements described in this Section 1.4, the average of the Annual Bonus
payments received by a Participant with respect to the three (3) most recent
fiscal years preceding the Participant’s termination date.

 

(a)                                 For purposes of this Section 1.4, the term
“Final Employment Classification” means the Participant’s employment
classification (Vice President, Senior Vice President, or Chief Executive
Officer, as applicable) on the Participant’s termination date.

 

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(b)                                 Except as provided in Section 1.4(e), to be
taken into account for purposes of calculating the Average Annual Bonus, an
Annual Bonus payment must reflect employment for the entire fiscal year in the
Participant’s Final Employment Classification.  Any Annual Bonus amount that:
(i) reflects employment in an employment classification other than the
Participant’s Final Employment Classification; or (ii) reflects less than the
entire fiscal year, shall not be taken into account for purposes of calculating
the Average Annual Bonus.

 

(c)                                  If, as of the Termination Date, the
Participant has received only two (2) Annual Bonus payments that reflect
employment in the Participant’s Final Employment Classification for the entire
fiscal year, Average Annual Bonus shall mean the average of those two (2) Annual
Bonus payments.

 

(d)                                 If, as of the Termination Date, the
Participant has received only one (1) Annual Bonus payment that reflects
employment in the Participant’s Final Employment Classification for the entire
fiscal year, Average Annual Bonus shall mean the amount of such Annual Bonus
payment.

 

(e)                                  If, as of the Termination Date, the
Participant has not received an Annual Bonus payment that reflects employment in
the Participant’s Final Employment Classification for the entire fiscal year,
Average Annual Bonus shall mean the greater of: (i) the amount of any Annual
Bonus payment received that reflects any employment in the Participant’s Final
Employment Classification; or (ii) 50% of the Participant’s Base Salary as of
the Participant’s termination date.

 

1.5                               “Base Salary” means the amount a Participant
is entitled to receive as wages or salary on an annualized basis, including any
salary deferral contributions made by the Participant to any qualified or
nonqualified defined contribution plan maintained by the Participating Company
and any amounts contributed by a Participant to any cafeteria plan, flexible
benefit plan or qualified transportation plan maintained by the Participating
Company in accordance with Sections 125, 132 and related provisions of the Code,
but excluding all special pay, bonus, overtime, incentive compensation,
commissions, cost of living pay, housing pay, relocation pay, other taxable
fringe benefits and all extraordinary compensation, payable by the Company or
any of its Affiliates as consideration for the Participant’s services, as
determined on the date immediately preceding termination of employment.

 

1.6                               “Board of Directors” means the board of
directors of the Parent Company.

 

1.7                               “Cause” means the occurrence of any one (1) or
more of the following, as determined in the good faith and reasonable judgment
of the Compensation Committee (with respect to the CEO, determinations of
“Cause” shall be made by the Board of Directors):

 

(a)                                 willful failure by an Employee to
substantially perform his duties (as they existed immediately prior to the
Employee’s termination of employment with the Participating Company), other than
any such failure resulting from a disability as

 

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defined in the applicable Participating Company or Affiliate disability program;
or

 

(b)                                 an Employee’s conviction of or plea of
guilty or nolo contendere to a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or any other
act constituting a felony involving moral turpitude or causing material harm,
financial or otherwise, to the Company or an Affiliate; or

 

(c)                                  an Employee’s willful or reckless material
misconduct in the performance of his duties which results in an adverse effect
on the Company or an Affiliate; or

 

(d)                                 an Employee’s willful or reckless violation
or disregard of the code of business conduct or other published policy of the
Company or an Affiliate; or

 

(e)                                  an Employee’s habitual or gross neglect of
duties.

 

1.8                               “CEO” means the Chief Executive Officer of the
Parent Company.

 

1.9                               “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended from time to time.  References to a particular section of the
Code include references to regulations and rulings thereunder and to successor
provisions.

 

1.10                        “Company” means WPX Energy Services Company, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company and any successor or successors thereto that
continue this Plan pursuant to Section 5.1 or otherwise.

 

1.11                        “Compensation Committee” means the Committee of the
Board of Directors designated as the Compensation Committee.

 

1.12                        “Comparable Offer of Employment” means an offer of
employment for a position with the Company, any of its Affiliates, or any
Successor (as defined herein) of the Company or its Affiliates that provides for
Aggregate Compensation equal to or greater than the Eligible Employee’s
Aggregate Compensation immediately preceding the Eligible Employee’s termination
date.  For purposes of this Section 1.12, and such other Sections of the Plan
where the capitalized term “Successor” is used, a Successor of the Company or
any of its Affiliates shall include, but shall not be limited to, any entity (or
its affiliated entity) involved in or in any way connected with a corporate
rearrangement, total or partial merger, acquisition, sale of stock, sale of
assets, operation or service of transferred assets, or any other transaction.  A
Comparable Offer of Employment includes, without limitation, a position that
requires the Eligible Employee to transfer to a different work location (without
the Eligible Employee’s consent), but only so long as the Eligible Employee’s
commuting distance to the new work location is not increased more than fifty
(50) miles beyond the commuting distance to his or her current work location
(except for travel reasonably required in the performance of the Eligible
Employee’s duties).

 

1.13                        “Effective Date” means May 18, 2017, which is the
effective date of this amended and restated Plan.

 

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1.14                        “Eligible Employee” means an Employee who holds the
employment classification of Vice President, Senior Vice President, or Chief
Executive Officer of the Company or the Parent Company.

 

1.15                        “Employee” means any regular full-time or part-time
employee in the service and on the payroll of a Participating Company as a
common law employee with the exception of any employee who is excluded either by
this Section 1.15 or Section 2.3.  An employee is considered as full-time if he
is regularly scheduled to work the number of hours in the normal workweek
established by a Participating Company.  An Employee is considered as part-time
if he is not a full-time employee, but is regularly scheduled to work at least
fifty percent of the number of hours in the normal workweek established by a
Participating Company.  A regular employee receiving benefits under a
Participating Company’s short-term disability program or long-term disability
program is an Employee for purposes of this Plan, subject to exclusion (if
applicable) under Section 2.3.  For purposes of this Plan, the term “Employee”
shall not include:

 

(a)                                 an employee who is a member of a group of
employees represented by a collective bargaining representative under a
collective bargaining agreement, unless such agreement expressly provides for
coverage of bargaining unit employees under the Plan;

 

(b)                                 an employee who is not a resident of the
United States and not a citizen of the United States;

 

(c)                                  a nonresident alien;

 

(d)                                 a seasonal employee, temporary employee,
leased employee, term employee, or an employee not employed on a regularly
scheduled basis;

 

(e)                                  a person who has a written contract or
other contract for services, unless such contract expressly provides that such
person is an employee;

 

(f)                                   a person who is paid through the payroll
of a temporary agency or similar organization regardless of any subsequent
reclassification as a common law employee by a court, government agency or any
other third party;

 

(g)                                  a person who is designated, compensated or
otherwise treated as an independent contractor by a Participating Company or its
Affiliates regardless of any subsequent reclassification as a common law
employee by a court, government agency or any other third party;

 

(h)                                 a person who has a written contract with a
Participating Company or its Affiliates which states either that such person is
not an employee or that such person is not entitled to receive employee benefits
from a Participating Company or its Affiliates for services under such contract;

 

(i)                                     an individual who is not
contemporaneously classified as an employee for purposes of the Participating
Company’s payroll system.  In the event any such

 

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individual is reclassified as an employee for any purpose, including, without
limitation, as a common law or statutory employee, by any action of any third
party, including, without limitation, any government agency, or as a result of
any private lawsuit, action or administrative proceeding, such individual will,
notwithstanding such reclassification, remain ineligible for participation
hereunder and will not be considered an Eligible Employee.  In addition to and
not in derogation of the foregoing, the exclusive means for an individual who is
not contemporaneously classified as an employee in the Participating Company’s
payroll system to become eligible to participate in this Plan is through an
amendment to this Plan which specifically renders such individual eligible for
participation hereunder; or

 

(j)                                    any individual retained by a
Participating Company or its Affiliates directly or through an agency or other
party to perform services for a Participating Company or its Affiliates (for
either a definite or indefinite duration) in the capacity of a fee-for-service
worker or independent contractor or any similar capacity including, without
limitation, any such individual employed by temporary help firms, technical help
firms, staffing firms, employee leasing firms, professional employer
organizations or other staffing firms, whether or not deemed to be a “common
law” employee.

 

1.16                        “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.  References to a particular
section of ERISA include references to regulations and rulings thereunder and to
successor provisions.

 

1.17                        “Leave of Absence” means an absence, with or without
compensation, authorized on a non-discriminatory basis by the Company or any of
its Affiliates.  For the purposes of this Plan, Leave of Absence includes any
leave of absence other than a Family and Medical Leave of Absence or Military
Leave of Absence (as those terms are defined in Company policy governing
leaves).

 

1.18                        “Parent Company” means WPX Energy, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and any successor or successors thereto that continue this Plan
pursuant to Section 5.1 or otherwise.

 

1.19                        “Participant” means an Eligible Employee who has
satisfied all of the conditions for participation described in Article 2.

 

1.20                        “Participating Company” means the Company and any
Affiliate of the Company, which has adopted this Plan in accordance with
Section 5.11.

 

1.21                        “Plan” means the WPX Energy Executive Severance Pay
Plan. The Plan is maintained by the Company and any other Participating
Companies for the purpose of providing benefits for a select group of management
or highly compensated employees.

 

1.22                        “Plan Year” means the twelve (12) month period from
January 1 through December 31.

 

1.23                        “Regular Wage Base” means an Eligible Employee’s
total weekly base salary or wages, including any salary deferral contributions
made by the Eligible Employee to any

 

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qualified or nonqualified defined contribution plan maintained by the
Participating Company and any amounts contributed by an Eligible Employee to any
cafeteria plan, flexible benefit plan or qualified transportation plan
maintained by the Participating Company in accordance with Sections 125, 132 and
related provisions of the Code, but excluding any bonuses, overtime, incentive
compensation, commissions, cost of living pay, housing pay, relocation pay,
other taxable fringe benefits and all other extraordinary compensation.

 

Article 2

Eligibility

 

2.1                               Eligibility.  An Eligible Employee, who is not
the CEO and who is not excluded pursuant to Section 2.3, shall be entitled to
become a Participant in the Plan only when and only if all of the following
conditions of subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d) are met:

 

(a)                                 The CEO, or the CEO’s designee, approves a
reduction in force, or a job elimination, or an involuntary termination without
Cause affecting the Eligible Employee, and the Eligible Employee is notified in
writing that his employment is being involuntarily terminated due to the same;
and

 

(b)                                 The Compensation Committee, in the case of
an Eligible Employee who is a member of the Parent Company’s Executive
Leadership Team, or the CEO, in the case of an Eligible Employee who is not a
member of the Parent Company’s Executive Leadership Team, in his, her or its
sole discretion, determines the Eligible Employee is eligible to receive
benefits under the Plan, approves the Eligible Employee’s participation in the
Plan and notifies the Eligible Employee in writing of such eligibility.  (For
purposes of determining benefits under this Plan, the term “Parent Company’s
Executive Leadership Team” shall refer to all direct reports of the CEO who are
also Employees subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 but
does not include the CEO.)  Unless such written notice specifies an amount of
severance pay, no severance payment shall be made; and

 

(c)                                  The Eligible Employee remains in good
standing as an employee of the applicable Participating Company and continues to
perform his job in a satisfactory manner, as determined by the Participating
Company (in its employer capacity and not as a function of Plan administration)
through, but not beyond, the Eligible Employee’s designated termination date;
and

 

(d)                                 The Eligible Employee, in accordance with
and within the time periods described in Section 3.1 (i) executes a severance
and restrictive covenant agreement prepared by the Company which may contain,
among other provisions, prohibitions against (1) competition with a
Participating Company or an Affiliate for a six-month period following
termination; and (2) solicitation of any Participating Company’s or an
Affiliate’s employees for a twelve-month period following termination,
(ii) executes a release of claims agreement prepared by the Company,
(iii) returns the executed agreements within the time periods and in the manner
required by the

 

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Company, and (iv) allows any applicable revocation period to expire without
revoking the Eligible Employee’s acceptance of the agreements.  An Eligible
Employee must not execute the release of claims agreement described in this
Section 2.1(d) before the day immediately following the Eligible Employee’s
termination date.

 

An Eligible Employee shall have no vested right to any benefits set forth in the
Plan until all of the conditions described in this Section 2.1 are satisfied.

 

2.2                               Eligibility of the CEO. Unless excluded
pursuant to Section 2.3, the CEO shall be entitled to become a Participant in
the Plan only when and only if all of the following conditions of subsections
(a), (b), (c) and (d) are met:

 

(a)                                 The Board of Directors approves an
involuntary termination without Cause of the CEO, and the CEO is notified in
writing that his employment is being involuntarily terminated due to the same;
and

 

(b)                                 The Board of Directors, in its sole
discretion, determines the CEO is eligible to receive benefits under the Plan,
approves the CEO’s participation in the Plan, and notifies the CEO in writing of
such eligibility.  Unless such written notice specifies an amount of severance
pay, no severance payment shall be made; and

 

(c)                                  The CEO remains in good standing as an
employee of the applicable Participating Company and continues to perform his
job in a satisfactory manner, as determined by the Board of Directors through,
but not beyond, the CEO’s designated termination date; and

 

(d)                                 The CEO, in accordance with and within the
time periods described in Section 3.1 (i) executes a severance and restrictive
covenant agreement prepared by the Company which may contain, among other
provisions, prohibitions against (1) competition with a Participating Company or
an Affiliate for a six-month period following termination; and (2) solicitation
of any Participating Company’s or an Affiliate’s employees for a twelve-month
period following termination, (ii) executes a release of claims agreement
prepared by the Company, (iii) returns the executed agreements within the time
periods and in the manner required by the Company, and (iv) allows any
applicable revocation period to expire without revoking the CEO’s acceptance of
the agreements.  The CEO must not execute the release of claims agreement
described in this Section 2.1(d) before the day immediately following the CEO’s
termination date.

 

The CEO shall have no vested right to any benefits set forth in the Plan until
all of the conditions described in this Section 2.1 are satisfied.

 

2.3                               Exclusions.  Notwithstanding the provisions of
Sections 2.1 and 2.2, an Eligible Employee will not become a Participant in the
Plan if any of the following conditions occur:

 

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(a)                                 An Eligible Employee is discharged for
Cause.

 

(b)                                 An Eligible Employee voluntarily resigns for
any reason, including retirement.

 

(c)                                  An Eligible Employee accepts any benefits
from the Participating Company or any Affiliate under any voluntary or any other
involuntary separation plan or program or agreement or early retirement
incentive plan or program or agreement.

 

(d)                                 An Eligible Employee subject to a reduction
in force or job elimination fails to make a bona fide effort to secure
employment within a Participating Company or any of its Affiliates, or any
successor of the Company or its Affiliates.

 

(e)                                  An Eligible Employee transfers to or
receives a Comparable Offer of Employment from a Participating Company or any of
its Affiliates.

 

(f)                                   An Eligible Employee receives a Comparable
Offer of Employment from any purchaser company or resultant entity, or an
Affiliate or Successor, as defined in Section 1.12 herein, of such a company or
entity, after a corporate rearrangement, total or partial merger, acquisition,
sale of stock, sale of assets or other transaction involving the Company, the
Parent Company or an Affiliate.

 

(g)                                  An Eligible Employee accepts an offer of
employment with a Participating Company or any of its Affiliates, whether or not
such offer of employment constitutes a Comparable Offer of Employment.

 

(h)                                 An Eligible Employee accepts an offer of
employment with any purchaser company or resultant entity, or an Affiliate or
Successor, as defined in Section 1.12 herein, of such a company or entity, after
a corporate rearrangement, total or partial merger, acquisition, sale of stock,
sale of assets or other transaction involving the Company, the Parent Company or
an Affiliate, whether or not such offer of employment constitutes a Comparable
Offer of Employment.

 

(i)                                     An Eligible Employee dies prior to his
termination of employment.

 

(j)                                    Except as provided in subsection (k), an
Eligible Employee is on a Leave of Absence at the time he is notified that his
employment is being terminated.

 

(k)                                 An Eligible Employee is receiving benefits
under a short-term disability program maintained by a Participating Company or
an Affiliate. This exclusion may not apply if the Employee would have returned
to work within the initial six-month period of short-term disability had his
termination of employment not occurred.

 

(l)                                     An Eligible Employee is receiving
benefits under a long-term disability program maintained by a Participating
Company or an Affiliate.

 

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(m)                             An Eligible Employee has a written employment
contract which contains severance provisions.

 

(n)                                 An Eligible Employee received or is eligible
to receive more favorable severance pay benefits under any other severance pay
plan, agreement or arrangement of a Participating Company, any of its
Affiliates, or any successor of a Participating Company.

 

(o)                                 An Eligible Employee received or is eligible
to receive severance pay benefits under a change-in-control agreement (or
similar agreement) with a Participating Company, any of its Affiliates, or any
successor of a Participating Company.

 

Article 3

Benefits

 

3.1                               Severance Pay.  Except as provided in
Section 3.6, subject to (i) the Participant’s signing and returning to the
Company on or before the Participant’s termination date a severance and
restrictive covenant agreement prepared by the Company which may contain, among
other provisions, prohibitions against (1) competition with a Participating
Company or an Affiliate for a six-month period following termination; and
(2) solicitation of any Participating Company’s or an Affiliate’s employees for
a twelve-month period following termination, (ii) the Participant’s signing and
returning to the Company during the fifty (50) day period following the
Participant’s termination date a release of claims agreement prepared by the
Company, and (iii) expiration of any applicable revocation period associated
with such release of claims agreement (which expiration must occur within the
sixty (60) day period following the Participant’s termination date), a
Participant will be eligible to receive:

 

(a)                                 a severance payment equal to either:

 

(i)                                     if the Participant is the CEO (as such
term is defined in Section 1.8), the Participant’s Base Salary multiplied by 2;
or

 

(ii)                                  if the Participant is a member of the
Parent Company’s Executive Leadership Team (as such term is defined in
Section 2.1(b)), the Participant’s Base Salary multiplied by 1.5; or

 

(iii)                               if the Participant is not a member of the
Parent Company’s Executive Leadership Team (as such term is defined in
Section 2.1(b)), the Participant’s Base Salary;

 

(b)                                 plus an additional severance payment equal
to either:

 

(i)                                     if the Participant is the CEO (as such
term is defined in Section 1.8), the Participant’s Average Annual Bonus
multiplied by 2; or

 

(ii)                                  if the Participant is a member of the
Parent Company’s Executive

 

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Leadership Team (as such term is defined in Section 2.1(b)), the Participant’s
Average Annual Bonus multiplied by 1.5; or

 

(iii)                               if the Participant is not a member of the
Parent Company’s Executive Leadership Team (as such term is defined in
Section 2.1(b)), the Participant’s Average Annual Bonus.

 

3.2                               Time and Form of Payment; Forfeiture. 
Severance benefits payable to a Participant under Sections 3.1 and 3.3(b) shall
be paid in a lump sum during the sixty (60) day period following the
Participant’s termination date, subject to (i) the Participant’s signing and
returning to the Company the severance and restrictive covenant agreement
referred to in Section 3.1 on or before the Participant’s termination date,
(ii) the Participant’s signing and returning to the Company the release of
claims agreement referred to in Section 3.1 during the fifty (50) day period
following the Participant’s termination date, and (iii) expiration of any
applicable revocation period associated with such release of claims agreement
(which expiration must occur within the sixty (60) day period following the
Participant’s termination date).  If the severance and restrictive covenant
agreement is not signed and returned on or before the Participant’s termination
date, the release of claims agreement is not signed and returned during the
fifty (50) day period following the Participant’s termination date or if the
Participant revokes such release of claims agreement during an applicable
revocation period, all benefits otherwise payable under the Plan will be
forfeited.  If severance benefits could be paid under this provision in more
than one calendar year, they will be paid in the latest calendar year in which
the payment may be made.

 

3.3                               COBRA Continuation and COBRA Equivalent
Payment.

 

a.                                      COBRA Continuation.  Continued
participation in welfare benefit plans maintained by the applicable
Participating Company is subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable
plan documents or insurance contracts in effect on the date of the Participant’s
termination of employment.  Generally, the Participant has the option to elect
the currently maintained Participating Company group medical and dental plan in
which he is currently enrolled for up to eighteen (18) months under Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”) continuation coverage.  
Participants will be required to pay the full cost for medical and/or dental
benefits under COBRA (to the extent the Participant seeks and is otherwise
eligible to continue COBRA coverage).  COBRA continuation coverage under the
Participating Company group medical and dental plan will generally cease on the
date the Participant or his dependents become covered under any other medical
plan or dental plan or on the date applicable under any of the other termination
events specified under COBRA.

 

b.                                      COBRA Equivalent Payment. Except as
provided in Section 3.6, subject to (i) the Participant’s signing and returning
to the Company the severance and restrictive covenant agreement referred to in
Section 3.1 on or before the Participant’s termination date, (ii) the
Participant’s signing and returning to the Company the release of claims
agreement referred to in Section 3.1 during the fifty (50) day

 

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period following the Participant’s termination date, and (iii) expiration of any
applicable revocation period associated with such release of claims agreement
(which expiration must occur within the sixty (60) day period following the
Participant’s termination date), a Participant enrolled in Participating
Company-sponsored medical and prescription coverage on the Participant’s
termination date will receive an additional severance payment equal to the
monthly premium for COBRA continuation coverage for the medical and prescription
coverage elected by the Participant and in effect on such date multiplied by
twelve (12) (which is referred to herein as the “COBRA Equivalent Payment”). 
Such amount shall be paid in accordance with and within the time period
described in Section 3.2.  Dental, vision and health care flexible spending
account coverage premiums will not be included in determining such payment.

 

3.4                               Paid-Time Off (“PTO”) Program.  If applicable,
payment for PTO hours earned but not taken prior to the Participant’s employment
termination, if any, shall be made in accordance with the Participating
Company’s then-current policy regarding payout of unused PTO.  PTO time will not
be considered for purposes of continued coverage under any of the other various
employee benefit plans maintained by the Participating Company.

 

3.5                               Equity Awards.  Any outstanding stock options
and restricted stock units shall be governed by the terms of the Parent
Company’s applicable equity compensation plans and award agreements pursuant to
which such awards were issued to the Participant.

 

3.6                               Rehired Participants.  This Section 3.6
applies to Participants rehired by a Participating Company or any Affiliate
after receipt of severance pay under Section 3.1 and a COBRA Equivalent Payment
under 3.3(b).

 

(a)                                 Severance Pay and COBRA Equivalent Payment. 
Following his rehire, the Participant will be entitled to keep a portion of his
severance pay and COBRA Equivalent Payment (received pursuant to Sections 3.1
and 3.3(b)) equal to the product of the full amount of severance pay and the
COBRA Equivalent Payment received by the Participant, net of any taxes withheld
or paid, multiplied by a fraction equal to (i) the number of weeks and/or
fraction of weeks between his termination date and the date of rehire
(ii) divided by fifty-two (52).  Any remainder must be returned to the
Participating Company that paid the severance pay and COBRA Equivalent Payment
upon rehire or it will be deducted from the Participant’s wages paid after
rehire.

 

If a Participant is rehired within twelve (12) months of his termination date
and again becomes eligible for severance pay due to a subsequent event within
twelve (12) months of rehire, subject to the Participant’s signing a severance
and restrictive covenant agreement prepared by the Company on or before the
Participant’s termination date and the Participant’s signing a release of claims
agreement prepared by the Company within fifty (50) days of such subsequent
termination date and further subject to expiration of any applicable revocation
period associated with such release of claims agreement (which expiration must

 

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occur within the sixty (60) day period following the Participant’s termination
date), the Participant will be eligible to receive the greater of:

 

(i)                                     the sum of any remaining severance not
yet received (or received and returned) attributable to the initial termination
date in accordance with Section 3.1, plus two (2) weeks of severance pay (based
only on the Participant’s Regular Wage Base); or

 

(ii)                                  two (2) weeks of severance pay (based only
on the Participant’s Regular Wage Base).

 

Severance pay under this Section 3.6 will be paid in accordance with and within
the time period described in Section 3.2.

 

(b)                                 PTO.  If a Participant is rehired within the
same calendar year in which his employment was terminated and he received
payment for paid-time-off (“PTO”) hours earned but not taken, he may either
retain the payment and forfeit PTO time for which he was eligible prior to his
employment termination, or he may return to the Company the amount he received
and have PTO time for which he was eligible prior to termination reinstated.

 

(c)                                  Equity Awards.  If a Participant is rehired
by a Participating Company or any Affiliate or successor after receipt of
severance pay under Section 3.1, the Participant shall not be eligible for
reinstatement of any forfeited equity awards.

 

3.7                               No Vesting.  An Eligible Employee shall have
no vested right to any benefits set forth in the Plan until such time as an
Eligible Employee becomes a Participant and becomes entitled to receive benefits
under Article 2.

 

3.8                               Integration with Plant Closing and Mass Layoff
Law(s).  If and to the extent that a federal, state or local law, including, but
not limited to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act, requires a
Participating Company, as an employer, to provide notice and/or make a payment
to an Employee because of that Employee’s involuntary termination, or pursuant
to a plant closing law, the benefit payable under this Plan shall be reduced by
any Regular Wage Base paid during such notice period and/or by such other
required payment.  Nothing in this Section 3.8, or any other section of this
Plan, shall be used to reduce benefits under this Plan because of payments under
state unemployment insurance laws.

 

3.9                               Outplacement Services.  Any Participant who
receives severance pay is eligible for executive outplacement services through a
reputable, third party outplacement provider approved by the Company.  The
Participating Company who employed the Participant will pay up to $25,000 for
such outplacement services for a Participant who is the CEO or a member of the
Parent Company’s Executive Leadership Team (as such term is defined in
Section 2.1(b)), or up to $10,000 for such outplacement services for a
Participant who is not the CEO or a member of the Parent Company’s Executive
Leadership Team, provided that such expenses must be incurred within nine
(9) months after the Participant’s

 

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termination, but in all events no payments for such outplacement services will
be made after fifteen (15) months following the Participant’s termination.

 

Article 4

Administration of the Plan

 

4.1                               Administration by the Compensation Committee.
Except for the responsibilities allocated to the Board of Directors in Sections
2.2 and 4.6, the Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee.

 

4.2                               Operation of the Compensation Committee.

 

(a)                                 The Compensation Committee shall act by a
majority of its members constituting a quorum and such action may be taken
either by a vote in a meeting or in writing without a meeting. A quorum shall
consist of a majority of the members of the Compensation Committee. No
Compensation Committee member shall act upon any question pertaining solely to
himself, and with respect to any such question only the other Compensation
Committee members shall act.

 

(b)                                 The Compensation Committee may allocate
responsibility for the performance of any of its duties or powers to one or more
Compensation Committee members or employees of the Participating Company.

 

(c)                                  The Compensation Committee or its designee
shall keep such books of account, records and other data as may be necessary for
the proper administration of the Plan.

 

4.3                               Powers and Duties of the Compensation
Committee. The Compensation Committee shall be generally responsible for the
operation and administration of the Plan, with all powers and discretionary
authority necessary to enable the Compensation Committee to carry out its duties
in that respect.  To the extent that powers are not delegated to others pursuant
to provisions of this Plan (and except to the extent that powers are allocated
to the Board of Directors in Section 2.2 and 4.6), the Compensation Committee
shall have such powers as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the
Plan and to perform its duties hereunder, including, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the power:

 

(a)                                 To appoint, retain and terminate such
persons as it deems necessary or advisable to assist in the administration of
the Plan or to render advice with respect to the responsibilities of the
Compensation Committee under the Plan, including accountants, administrators and
attorneys.

 

(b)                                 To make use of the services of the employees
of any Participating Company in administrative matters.

 

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(c)                                  To obtain and act on the basis of all
tables, certificates, opinions, and reports furnished by the persons described
in paragraph (a) or (b) above.

 

(d)                                 To review the manner in which benefit claims
and other aspects of the Plan administration have been handled by the employees
of the Participating Companies.

 

(e)                                  To determine all benefits and resolve all
questions pertaining to the administration and interpretation of the Plan
provisions, either by rules of general applicability or by particular decisions.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, all interpretations of the Plan and
other decisions of the Compensation Committee (or its delegates) shall be
conclusive and binding on all parties.

 

(f)                                   To adopt such forms, rules and regulations
as it shall deem necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Plan and
the conduct of its affairs, provided that any such forms, rules and regulations
shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

 

(g)                                  To remedy any inequity resulting from
incorrect information received or communicated or from administrative error.

 

(h)                                 To commence or defend any litigation arising
from the operation of the Plan in any legal or administrative proceeding.

 

4.4                               Required Information.  Any Eligible Employee
and any Participant eligible to receive benefits under the Plan shall furnish to
the Compensation Committee or its designee any information or proof requested by
the Compensation Committee and reasonably required for the proper administration
of the Plan. Failure on the part of an Eligible Employee or any Participant to
comply with any such request within the time permitting for signing and
returning the signed severance and restrictive covenant agreement and signed
release of claims agreement as prescribed under Section 3 above shall result in
forfeiture of all compensation hereunder.

 

4.5                               Compensation and Expenses. All expenses
incident to the operation and administration of the Plan reasonably incurred,
including, without limitation by way of specification, the fees and expenses of
attorneys and advisors, and for such other professional, technical and clerical
assistance as may be required, shall be paid by the Participating Companies.
Members of the Compensation Committee shall not be entitled to any compensation
by virtue of their services as such nor be required to give any bond or other
security; provided, however, that they shall be entitled to reimbursement by the
Participating Companies for all reasonable expenses which they may incur in the
performance of their duties hereunder and in taking such action as they deem
advisable hereunder within the limits of the authority given them by the Plan
and by law.

 

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4.6                               Claims.

 

(a)                                 Claims Administrator.  For purposes of this
Section 4.6, the “Claims Administrator” shall be the person(s), office or
committee(s) to whom the Compensation Committee has delegated day-to-day Plan
administration responsibilities and who, pursuant to such delegation, processes
Plan benefit claims in the ordinary course. The Board of Directors shall be the
Claims Administrator for purposes of claims relating to the CEO’s eligibility
for benefits under the Plan and the amount of such benefits.

 

(b)                                 Claims Procedure.  Any Participant or
Beneficiary may file a written claim with the Claims Administrator setting forth
the nature of the benefit claimed, the amount thereof, and the basis for
claiming entitlement to such benefit.  A claim under this Plan shall be
adjudicated by the Claims Administrator in accordance with this Section 4.6.

 

(i)                                     Initial Claim.  The claimant initiates a
claim by submitting to the Claims Administrator a written claim for benefits.

 

(ii)                                  Timing of Response.  The Claims
Administrator shall respond to such claimant within ninety (90) days after
receiving the claim.  If the Claims Administrator determines that special
circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Claims
Administrator can extend the response period by an additional ninety (90) days
by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial ninety
(90) day period, that an additional period is required.  Such notice shall
indicate the special circumstances requiring the additional time and the date by
which the Claims Administrator expects to respond.  If the period of time is
extended because the claimant has failed to provide necessary information to
decide the claim, the period for the Claims Administrator to respond shall be
tolled from the date on which the notification of the additional period is sent
to the claimant, until the date on which the claimant provides the information. 
If the claimant fails to provide necessary information to decide the claim
within the time period specified by the Claims Administrator, the claim shall be
denied.

 

(iii)                               Notice of Decision.  If the Claims
Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the Claims Administrator shall
notify the claimant in writing of such denial.  Such notice shall include the
specific reason or reasons for the denial; specific references to the Plan
provisions on which the denial is based; a description of any additional
material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an
explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and a description
of the Agreement’s review procedure including a statement of the claimant’s
rights to bring a civil action under Section 502 of the ERISA following an
adverse determination on review.

 

(iv)                              Deadline to File Claim.  To be considered
timely under the Plan’s claim and review procedure, a claim for payment must be
filed with the Claims

 

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Administrator on or before the last day of the 12th month beginning after the
due date for the requested payment or benefit.

 

(c)                                  Review Procedure.  If the Claims
Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the claimant shall have the
opportunity for a full and fair review by the Claims Administrator of the
denial, as follows:

 

(i)                                     Review Request.  To initiate the review,
the claimant, within sixty (60) days after receiving the Claims Administrator’s
notice of denial, must file with the Claims Administrator a written request for
review.

 

(ii)                                  Additional Submissions.  The claimant
shall have the opportunity to submit written comments, documents, records and
other information relating to the claim.  The claimant shall be provided, upon
request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents,
records, and other information relevant to the claim for benefits.  The review
of the claim shall take into account all comments, documents, records, and other
information submitted by the claimant relating to the claim, without regard to
whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit
determination.

 

(iii)                               Timing of Response.  The Claims
Administrator shall respond in writing to such claimant within sixty (60) days
after receiving the request for review.  If the Claims Administrator determines
that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the
Claims Administrator can extend the response period by an additional sixty (60)
days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial sixty
(60) day period, that an additional period is required.  Such notice shall
indicate the special circumstances requiring the additional time and the date by
which the Claims Administrator expects to respond.  If the period of time is
extended because the claimant has failed to provide necessary information to
decide the claim, the period for the Claims Administrator to respond shall be
tolled from the date on which the notification of the additional period is sent
to the claimant, until the date on which the claimant provides the information. 
If the claimant fails to provide necessary information to decide the claim
within the time period specified by the Claims Administrator, the claim shall be
denied.

 

(iv)                              Notice of Decision.  The Claims Administrator
shall notify the claimant in writing of its decision on review.  In the case of
denial, such notice shall include the specific reason or reasons for the denial;
specific references to the Plan provisions on which the denial is based; a
statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of
charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other
information relevant to the claimant’s claim for benefits; and a statement of
the claimant’s right to bring an action under Section 502(a) of ERISA.

 

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(d)                                 Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies.  No
claimant may commence any legal action to recover a benefit under this Agreement
or to enforce or clarify rights under this Plan until the claim and review
procedure set forth herein has been exhausted in its entirety.  In any such
legal action, all explicit and all implicit determinations by the Claims
Administrator and the Compensation Committee, as applicable (including, but not
limited to, determinations as to whether the claim, or a request for a review of
a denied claim, was timely filed) shall be afforded the maximum deference
permitted by law.

 

(e)                                  Deadline to File Legal Action.  No legal
action to recover benefits under this Plan or to enforce or clarify rights under
this Plan may be brought by any claimant on any matter pertaining to this Plan
unless the legal action is commenced in the proper forum on or before the last
day of the twelfth (12th) month beginning after the date the claimant has
received a denial on review following exhaustion of the claim and review
procedure.

 

Article 5

General Provisions

 

5.1                               Successor to Company.  This Plan shall bind
any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation,
reorganization or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or
assets of the Parent Company in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company would be obligated under this Plan if no succession had taken place. In
the case of any transaction in which a successor would not by the foregoing
provision or by operation of law be bound by this Plan, the Parent Company shall
require such successor expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to
perform the Company’s obligations under this Plan, in the same manner and to the
same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession
had taken place.  The term “Company,” as used in this Plan, shall mean the
Company and any successor or assignee to the business or assets that by reason
hereof becomes bound by this Plan.

 

5.2                               Duration.  The Plan shall continue
indefinitely unless terminated as provided in Section 5.3 hereof.

 

5.3                               Amendment and Termination.  The Compensation
Committee, in its settlor capacity, reserves the right at any time to terminate
the Plan.  The Compensation Committee reserves the right at any time and from
time to time, and retroactively if deemed necessary or appropriate, to modify or
amend in whole or in part any or all of the provisions of the Plan, provided
that the Board of Directors must approve any amendment relating to the CEO’s
eligibility for benefits under the Plan and the amount of such benefits.

 

Any amendment or modification to the Plan shall be effective at such date as the
Compensation Committee may determine with respect to any amendment adopted by
the Compensation Committee.

 

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Decisions regarding the design of the Plan (including any decision to amend or
terminate, or to not amend or terminate the Plan) will be made in a settlor
capacity and will not be governed by the fiduciary responsibility provisions of
ERISA.

 

5.4                               Management Rights.  Participation in the Plan
shall not lessen or otherwise affect the responsibility of an Employee to
perform fully his duties in a satisfactory and workmanlike manner.  This Plan
shall not be deemed to constitute a contract between a Participating Company and
any Employee or other person whether or not in the employ of the Participating
Company, nor shall anything herein contained be deemed to give any Employee or
other person whether or not in the employ of a Participating Company any right
to be retained in the employ of any Participating Company, or to interfere with
the right of any Participating Company to discharge any Employee at any time and
to treat him without any regard to the effect which such treatment might have
upon him as an Employee covered by the Plan.

 

5.5                               Funding.  The Plan shall constitute an
unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Participating Companies payable from
the general funds of such Participating Companies.

 

5.6                               Withholding of Taxes.  Each Participating
Company may withhold from any amounts payable under the Plan all federal, state,
city and/or other taxes as shall be legally required.

 

5.7                               Participant’s Responsibility.  Each
Participant (or personal representative of a deceased Participant’s estate)
shall be responsible for providing the Compensation Committee with his current
address.  Any notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be
deemed given if directed to such address and mailed by regular United States
mail.  The Compensation Committee shall not have any obligation or duty to
locate a Participant.

 

5.8                               Indemnification.  Each Participating Company
shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Board of Directors and each
officer and employee of a Participating Company to whom are delegated duties,
responsibilities, and authority with respect to this Plan against all claims,
liabilities, fines and penalties, and all expenses reasonably incurred by or
imposed upon him (including, but not limited to reasonable attorney fees) which
arise as a result of his actions or failure to act in connection with the
operation and administration of this Plan to the extent lawfully allowable and
to the extent that such claim, liability, fine, penalty, or expense is not paid
for by liability insurance purchased or paid for by a Participating Company. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participating Company shall not indemnify any
person for any such amount incurred through any settlement or compromise of any
action unless the Participating Company consents in writing to such settlement
or compromise.

 

5.9                               Governing Law.  The Plan shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with applicable Federal laws, including ERISA,
governing employee benefit plans and in accordance with the laws of the State of
Oklahoma where such laws are not in conflict with the aforementioned Federal
laws.  The United States District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma, and the
Tulsa County District Court, both sitting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, shall

 

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have jurisdiction and be the exclusive venues for purposes of all proceedings
arising out of or relating to this Plan or the transactions contemplated
thereby.

 

5.10                        Right of Recovery.  If any Participating Company
makes payment(s) in excess of the amount required under the Plan, the
Compensation Committee shall have the right to recover the excess
payment(s) from any person who received the excess payment(s).  Such recovery
shall be returned by the Compensation Committee to such Participating Company.

 

5.11                        Adoption by Participating Company.  Any Affiliate
may adopt or withdraw from this Plan. The adoption resolution may contain such
specific changes and variations in this Plan’s terms and provisions applicable
to the employees of the adopting Affiliate as may be acceptable to the
Compensation Committee.

 

5.12                        Code Section 409A.  It is intended that this Plan
meet the requirements of the short-term deferral exception from Section 409A of
the Code, and all regulations and other guidance thereunder (“Section 409A”)
and, if not excepted, comply with Section 409A.  Accordingly, the Plan shall be
interpreted and administered in accordance with such intent.  It is further
recognized that it may be necessary to modify this Plan from time to time to
reflect guidance under Section 409A.  The Compensation Committee shall have
unilateral discretion and authority in: (a) determining (i) whether any
modification of the Plan is desirable or appropriate and (ii) the terms of any
such modification; and (b) adopting and implementing any amendment to the Plan
or any administrative rules deemed necessary for the Plan to be excepted from
Section 409A or to comply therewith.

 

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Plan, no payment or
distribution under this Plan which constitutes an item of deferred compensation
under Section 409A and becomes payable by reason of a Participant’s termination
of employment with the Company will be made prior to the earlier of: (i) the
expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of his “separation
from service” (as such term is defined in Treasury Regulations issued under
Section 409A); or (ii) the date of the Participant’s death, if he is deemed at
the time of such separation from service to be a “key employee” within the
meaning of that term under Code Section 416(i) and such delayed commencement is
otherwise required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under
Section 409A.  Upon the expiration of the applicable Section 409A deferral
period, all payments and benefits deferred pursuant to this Section 5.12 shall
be paid or reimbursed to such key employee in a lump sum on the first business
day following such expiration.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parent Company and the Company have caused this amended
and restated Plan to be executed effective as herein provided.

 

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WPX ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY, LLC

WPX ENERGY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

Title:

 

 

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