exv10w7



 





Exhibit 10.7




PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.

CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT




          This Agreement between Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), and William L. Moll, Jr. (the “Employee”) is effective as of August 31, 2007 (the
“Effective Date”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 22.




W I T N E S S E T H:




          Whereas, the Company considers it to be in the best interests of its stockholders to
encourage the continued employment of certain key employees of the Company and its Wholly Owned
Entities notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control of the
Company (as that phrase is defined in Section 2);




          Whereas, the Employee is a key employee of the Company and/or one or more of its
Wholly Owned Entities;




          Whereas, the Company believes that the possibility of the occurrence of a Change in
Control of the Company may result in the termination of the Employee’s employment by the Company or
in the distraction of the Employee from the performance of his duties to the Company, in either
case to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders;




          Whereas, the Company recognizes that the Employee could suffer adverse financial and
professional consequences if a Change in Control of the Company were to occur; and




          Whereas, the Company wishes to enter into this Agreement to protect the Employee if a
Change in Control of the Company occurs, thereby encouraging the Employee to remain in the employ
of the Company and not to be distracted from the performance of his duties to the Company by the
possibility of a Change in Control of the Company;




          Now, Therefore, the parties agree as follows:




     Section 1. Other Employment Arrangements.




     (a) This Agreement does not affect the Employee’s existing or future employment
arrangements with the Company unless a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred
before the expiration of the term of this Agreement. The Employee’s employment with the
Company shall continue to be governed by the Employee’s existing or future employment
agreements with the Company, if any, or, in the absence of any employment agreement, shall
continue to be at the will of the Board of Directors or, if the Employee is not an officer
of the Company at the time of the termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company,
the will of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, except that if (i) a Change in
Control of the Company shall have occurred before the expiration of the term of this
Agreement, and (ii) the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated (whether by the
Employee or the Company or automatically as provided in Section 3) after the occurrence of
that



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Change in Control of the Company, then the Employee shall be entitled to receive
certain benefits as provided in this Agreement.




     (b) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if following
the commencement of any discussion with a third person that ultimately results in a written
agreement or agreements to which the Company is a party and which, if the transactions
contemplated by such agreement or agreements were consummated, would result in a Change in
Control of the Company, the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated by the
Company for any reason other than as a result of the occurrence of an event described in any
of clauses (i) through (v) of Section 4, then for all purposes of this Agreement, a Change
in Control of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred on the date immediately prior to
the date of such termination, removal, or reduction regardless of whether any Change in
Control of the Company actually occurs.




     (c) Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Employee’s continuing or
future participation in any plan, program, policy or practice of or provided by the Company
or any of its Affiliates and for which the Employee may qualify, nor shall anything herein
limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Employee may have under any contract or
agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates. Amounts which are vested benefits or
which the Employee is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, program, policy or
practice of or provided by, or any contract or agreement with, the Company or any of its
Affiliates at or subsequent to the date of termination of the Employee’s employment with the
Company shall be payable or otherwise provided in accordance with such plan, program, policy
or practice or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.



     Section 2. Change in Control of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in
Control of the Company” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following after the Effective Date:




     (a) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of
Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Covered Person”) of beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 35% or
more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of the common stock of the Company (the
“Outstanding Company Common Stock”), or (ii) the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for
purposes of this subsection (a) of this Section 2, the following acquisitions shall not
constitute a Change in Control of the Company: (i) any acquisition directly from the
Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit
plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by
the Company, or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which
complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this Section 2; or




     (b) Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board of Directors (the
“Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of



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the Board of Directors; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director
subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s
stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising
the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the
Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial
assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with
respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation
of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Covered Person other than the Board; or




     (c) Consummation of (xx) a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale of the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or (yy) a disposition of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following
such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who
were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination
beneficially own, direct or indirectly, more than 65% of, respectively, the then outstanding
 shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of
the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a
corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially
all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business
Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Covered Person (excluding any employee benefit plan
(or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business
Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 35% or more of, respectively, the
then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
corporation, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business
Combination, and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the
corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at
the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board of
Directors, providing for such Business Combination.



     Section 3. Term of this Agreement. The term of this Agreement shall begin on the Effective
Date and, unless automatically extended pursuant to the second sentence of this Section 3, shall
expire on the first to occur of:




     (i) the Employee’s death, the Employee’s Disability or the Employee’s
Retirement, which events shall also be deemed automatically to terminate the
Employee’s employment by the Company;




     (ii) the termination by the Employee or the Company of the Employee’s
employment by the Company; or



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     (iii) the end of the last day (the “Expiration Date”) of:




     (x) the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on January
29, 2008 (or any period for which the term of this Agreement shall have
been automatically extended pursuant to the second sentence of this
Section 3) if no Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred
during that period (or any period for which the term of this Agreement
shall have been automatically extended pursuant to the second sentence of
this Section 3); or




     (y) if one or more Changes in Control of the Company shall have
occurred during the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on
January 29, 2008 (or any period for which the term of this Agreement shall
have been automatically extended pursuant to the second sentence of this
Section 3), the two-year period beginning on the date on which the last
Change in Control of the Company occurred.


If (i) the term of this Agreement shall not have expired as a result of the occurrence of one of
the events described in clause (i) or (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence, and (ii) the
Company shall not have given notice to the Employee at least ninety (90) days before the Expiration
Date that the term of this Agreement will expire on the Expiration Date, then the term of this
Agreement shall be automatically extended for successive one-year periods (the first such period to
begin on the day immediately following the Expiration Date) unless the Company shall have given
notice to the Employee at least ninety (90) days before the end of any one-year period for which
the term of this Agreement shall have been automatically extended that such term will expire at the
end of that one-year period. The expiration of the term of this Agreement shall not terminate this
Agreement itself or affect the right of the Employee or the Employee’s legal representatives to
enforce the payment of any amount or other benefit to which the Employee was entitled before the
expiration of the term of this Agreement or to which the Employee became entitled as a result of
the event (including the termination, whether by the Employee or the Company or automatically as
provided in this Section 3, of the Employee’s employment by the Company) that caused the term of
this Agreement to expire.




     Section 4. Event of Termination for Cause. An “Event of Termination for Cause” shall have
occurred if, after a Change in Control of the Company, the Employee shall have committed:




     (i) gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with his duties or in
the course of his employment with the Company;




     (ii) an act of fraud, embezzlement or theft in connection with his duties or in
the course of his employment with the Company;




     (iii) intentional wrongful damage to property of the Company;




     (iv) intentional wrongful disclosure of secret processes or confidential
information of the Company; or



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     (v) an act leading to a conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral
turpitude.


For purposes of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, on the part of the Employee shall be
deemed “intentional” if it was due primarily to an error in judgment or negligence, but shall be
deemed “intentional” only if done, or omitted to be done, by the Employee not in good faith and
without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Employee shall not be deemed to have been terminated as a result
of an “Event of Termination for Cause” hereunder unless and until there shall have been delivered
to the Employee a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than
three-quarters of the Board of Directors then in office at a meeting of the Board of Directors
called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice to the Employee and an opportunity for
the Employee, together with his counsel, to be heard before the Board of Directors), finding that,
in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors, the Employee had committed an act set forth
above in this Section 4 and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. Nothing herein shall
limit the right of the Employee or his legal representatives to contest the validity or propriety
of any such determination.




     Section 5. An Event of Termination for Good Reason. An “Event of Termination for Good Reason”
shall have occurred if, after a Change in Control of the Company, the Company shall:




     (i) assign to the Employee any duties inconsistent with the Employee’s position
(including offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties, status or
responsibilities with the Company in effect immediately before the occurrence of the
first Change in Control of the Company or otherwise make any change in any such
position, authority, duties or responsibilities;




     (ii) remove the Employee from, or fail to re-elect or appoint the Employee to,
any duties or position with the Company or any of its Affiliates that were assigned
or held by the Employee immediately before the occurrence of the first Change in
Control of the Company, except that a nominal change in the Employee’s title that is
merely descriptive and does not affect rank or status shall not constitute such an
event;




     (iii) take any other action that results in a material diminution in such
position, authority, duties or responsibilities or otherwise take any action that
materially interferes therewith;




     (iv) reduce the Employee’s annual base salary as in effect immediately before
the occurrence of the first Change in Control of the Company or as the Employee’s
annual base salary may be increased from time to time after that occurrence (the
“Base Salary”);




     (v) reduce the Employee’s annual bonus to an amount less than (x) $100,000, if
the first Change in Control of the Company occurred prior to the



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Employee earning an annual bonus with respect to the fiscal year ended December
31, 2007, (y) the amount of the annual bonus earned by the Employee with respect to
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, if the first Change in Control of the
Company occurred after the Employee earned an annual bonus with respect to the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, but prior to the Employee earning an annual
bonus with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 or (z) the average of
the two annual bonuses earned by the Employee with respect to the two fiscal years
of the Company immediately preceding the fiscal year of the Company in which the
first Change in Control of the Company occurred (the applicable amount is referred
to herein as the “Benchmark Bonus”);




     (vi) relocate the Employee’s principal place of employment to a location
outside of a 50-mile radius from the Employee’s principal place of employment
immediately prior to the first Change in Control of the Company;




     (vii) fail to (x) continue in effect any bonus, incentive, profit sharing,
performance, savings, retirement or pension policy, plan, program or arrangement
(such policies, plans, programs and arrangements collectively being referred to
herein as “Basic Benefit Plans”), including, but not limited to, any deferred
compensation, supplemental executive retirement or other retirement income, stock
option, stock purchase, stock appreciation, or similar policy, plan, program or
arrangement of the Company, in which the Employee was a participant immediately
before the occurrence of the first Change in Control of the Company, or any
substitute plan adopted by the Board of Directors and in which the Employee was a
participant immediately before the occurrence of the last Change in Control of the
Company, unless an equitable and reasonably comparable arrangement (embodied in a
substitute or alternative benefit or plan) shall have been made with respect to such
Basic Benefit Plan promptly following the occurrence of the last Change in Control
of the Company, or (y) continue the Employee’s participation in any Basic Benefit
Plan (or any substitute or alternative plan) on substantially the same basis, both
in terms of the amount of benefits provided to the Employee (which are in any event
always subject to the terms of any applicable Basic Benefit Plan) and the level of
the Employee’s participation relative to other participants, as existed immediately
before the occurrence of the first Change in Control of the Company;




     (viii) fail to continue to provide the Employee with benefits substantially
similar to those enjoyed by the Employee under any of the Company’s other employee
benefit plans, policies, programs and arrangements (the “Other Benefit Plans”),
including, but not limited to, life insurance, medical, dental, health, hospital,
accident or disability plans, in which the Employee was a participant immediately
before the occurrence of the first Change in Control of the Company;




     (ix) fail to provide the Employee with the number of paid vacation days to
which the Employee was entitled in accordance with the Company’s



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vacation policy in effect immediately before the occurrence of the first Change
in Control of the Company;




     (x) fail to continue to provide the Employee with office space, related
facilities and support personnel (including, but not limited to, administrative and
secretarial assistance) (y) that are both commensurate with the Employee’s
responsibilities to and position with the Company immediately before the occurrence
of the first Change in Control of the Company and not materially dissimilar to the
office space, related facilities and support personnel provided to other employees
of the Company having comparable responsibility to the Employee, or (z) that are
physically located at the Company’s principal executive offices; or




     (xi) purport to terminate the Employee’s employment by the Company unless
notice of that termination shall have been given to the Employee pursuant to, and
that notice shall meet the requirements of, Section 6.



     Section 6. Notice of Termination. If a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred
before the expiration of the term of this Agreement, any subsequent termination by the Employee or
the Company of the Employee’s employment by the Company, or any determination of the Employee’s
Disability, shall be communicated by notice to the other party that shall indicate the specific
paragraph of Section 7 pursuant to which the Employee is to receive benefits as a result of the
termination. If the notice states that the Employee’s employment by the Company has been
automatically terminated as a result of the Employee’s Disability, the notice shall
(i) specifically describe the basis for the determination of the Employee’s Disability, and
(ii) state the date of the determination of the Employee’s Disability, which date shall be not more
than ten (10) days before the date such notice is given. If the notice is from the Company and
states that the Employee’s employment by the Company is terminated by the Company as a result of
the occurrence of an Event of Termination for Cause, the notice shall specifically describe the
action or inaction of the Employee that the Company believes constitutes an Event of Termination
for Cause and shall be accompanied by a copy of the resolution satisfying Section 4. If the notice
is from the Employee and states that the Employee’s employment by the Company is terminated by the
Employee as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Termination for Good Reason, the notice shall
specifically describe the action or inaction of the Company that the Employee believes constitutes
an Event of Termination for Good Reason. Each notice given pursuant to this Section 6 (other than
a notice stating that the Employee’s employment by the Company has been automatically terminated as
a result of the Employee’s Disability) shall state a date, which shall be not fewer than thirty
(30) days nor more than sixty (60) days after the date such notice is given, on which the
termination of the Employee’s employment by the Company is effective. The date so stated in
accordance with this Section 6 shall be the “Termination Date”. If a Change in Control of the
Company shall have occurred before the expiration of the term of this Agreement, any subsequent
purported termination by the Company of the Employee’s employment by the Company, or any subsequent
purported determination by the Company of the Employee’s Disability, shall be ineffective unless
that termination or determination shall have been communicated by the Company to the Employee by
notice that meets the requirements of the foregoing provisions of this Section 6 and the provisions
of Section 9.



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     Section 7. Benefits Payable on Change in Control of the Company and Termination.




     (a) If (x) a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred before the expiration
of the term of this Agreement, and (y) the Employee’s employment by the Company is
terminated (whether by the Employee or the Company or automatically as provided in
Section 3) after the occurrence of that Change in Control of the Company, the Employee shall
be entitled to the following benefits:




     (i) If the Employee’s employment by the Company is terminated (x) by the
Company as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Termination for Cause, or
(y) by the Employee before the occurrence of an Event of Termination for Good
Reason, then the Company shall pay to the Employee the Base Salary accrued through
the Termination Date but not previously paid to the Employee, and the Employee shall
be entitled to any other amounts or benefits provided under any plan, policy,
practice, program, contract or arrangement of or with the Company, including, but
not limited to, the Basic Benefit Plans and the Other Benefit Plans, which shall be
governed by the terms thereof (except as explicitly modified by this Agreement).




     (ii) If the Employee’s employment by the Company is automatically terminated as
a result of the Employee’s death, the Employee’s Disability or the Employee’s
Retirement, then (x) the Company shall pay to the Employee the Base Salary accrued
through the date of the occurrence of that event but not previously paid to the
Employee, and (y) the Employee shall be entitled to any other amounts or benefits
provided under any plan, policy, practice, program, contract or arrangement of or
with the Company, including, but not limited to, the Basic Benefit Plans and the
Other Benefit Plans, which shall be governed by the terms thereof (except as
explicitly modified by this Agreement).




     (iii) If the Employee’s employment by the Company is terminated (x) by the
Company otherwise than as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Termination for
Cause, or (y) by the Employee after the occurrence of an Event of Termination for
Good Reason, then the Employee shall be entitled to the following:




     (1) the Company shall pay to the Employee the Base Salary and
compensation for earned but unused vacation time accrued through the
Termination Date but not previously paid to the Employee;




     (2) the Company shall pay to the Employee an amount equal to the
product of (A) the greater of (I) the highest aggregate annual bonus,
incentive or other payment of cash compensation in addition to annual base
salary pursuant to any bonus, incentive, profit-sharing, performance,
discretionary pay or similar policy, plan, program or arrangement of the
Company paid or payable to the Employee (including any deferred portion
thereof) for any fiscal year (or portion thereof) of the Company paid after



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the Effective Date, and (II) the Benchmark Bonus, multiplied by (B) a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal
year of the Company through the Termination Date and the denominator of
which is 365;




     (3) the Company shall pay to the Employee, as a lump sum, an amount
(the “Severance Payment”) equal to one and one-half (1.5) times the sum of:




     A. the amount (including any deferred portion thereof) of the
Base Salary that would have been paid to the Employee during the
fiscal year of the Company in which the Termination Date occurs based
on the assumption that the Employee’s employment by the Company had
continued throughout that fiscal year at the Base Salary at the
highest rate in effect at any time during the term of this Agreement;
plus




     B. the amount equal to (I) $100,000, if the Termination Date
occurs prior to the Employee earning an annual bonus with respect to
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, (II) the amount of the
annual bonus earned by the Employee with respect to the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2007, if the Termination Date occurs after the
Employee earned an annual bonus with respect to the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2007, but prior to the Employee earning an annual bonus
with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, (III) the
average of the two annual bonuses earned by the Employee with respect
to the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008 if the
Termination Date occurs after the Employee earned an annual bonus
with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, but prior to
the Employee earning an annual bonus with respect to the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2009, or (IV) the average of the three annual
bonuses earned by the Employee with respect to the three fiscal years
preceding the year in which the Termination Date occurs;




     (4) the Company (at its sole expense) shall take the following actions:




     A. throughout the Relevant Period, the Company shall maintain in
effect, and not materially reduce the benefits provided by, each of
the Other Benefit Plans in which the Employee was a participant
immediately before the Termination Date; and




     B. the Company shall arrange for the Employee’s uninterrupted
participation throughout the Relevant Period in each of such Other
Benefit Plans,



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provided that if the Employee’s participation after the Termination Date in
any such Other Benefit Plan is not permitted by the terms of that Other
Benefit Plan, then throughout the Relevant Period, the Company (at its sole
expense) shall provide the Employee with substantially the same benefits
that were provided to the Employee by that Other Benefit Plan immediately
before the Termination Date; and




     (5) the Employee shall be entitled to any other amounts or benefits
provided under any plan, policy, practice, program, contract or arrangement
of or with the Company, including, but not limited to, the Basic Benefit
Plans and the Other Benefit Plans, which shall be governed by the terms
thereof (except as explicitly modified by this Agreement).




     (b) Each payment required to be made to the Employee pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of Section 7(a) above (i) shall be made by check drawn on an account of the
Company at a bank located in the United States of America, and (ii) shall be paid (x) if the
Employee’s employment by the Company was terminated as a result of the Employee’s death, the
Employee’s Disability or the Employee’s Retirement, not more than thirty (30) days
immediately following the date of the occurrence of that event, and (y) if the Employee’s
employment by the Company was terminated for any other reason, not more than ten (10) days
immediately following the Termination Date.



     Section 8. Successors. If a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred before the
expiration of the term of this Agreement,




     (i) the Company shall not, directly or indirectly, consolidate with, merge into
or sell or otherwise transfer its assets as an entirety or substantially as an
entirety to, any person, or permit any person to consolidate with or merge into the
Company, unless immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, the
Successor shall have assumed in writing the Company’s obligations under this
Agreement; and




     (ii) not fewer than ten (10) days before the consummation of any consolidation
of the Company with, merger by the Company into, or sale or other transfer by the
Company of its assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to, any person,
the Company shall give the Employee notice of that proposed transaction.



     Section 9. Notice. Notices required or permitted to be given by either party pursuant to this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered personally to
the other party or when deposited with the United States Postal Service as certified or registered
mail with postage prepaid and addressed:




     (a) if to the Employee, at the Employee’s address last shown on the Company’s records,
and




     (b) if to the Company, at 4510 Lamesa Highway, Snyder, Texas 79549, directed to the
attention of the Chief Executive Officer.



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or, in either case, to such other address as the party to whom or which such notice is to be given
shall have specified by notice given to the other party.




     Section 10. Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from all payments to be paid to the
Employee pursuant to this Agreement all taxes that, by applicable federal or state law, the Company
is required to so withhold.



     Section 11. Certain Additional Payments by the Company.




     (a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall
be determined that any payment or distribution by, or benefit from, the Company or any of
its Affiliates to or for the benefit of the Employee, whether paid or payable or distributed
or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (any such payments,
distributions or benefits being individually referred to herein as a “Payment,” and any two
or more of such payments, distributions or benefits being referred to herein as “Payments”),
would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (such excise tax,
together with any interest thereon, any penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts
with respect to such excise tax, and any interest in respect of such penalties, additions to
tax or additional amounts, being collectively referred to herein as the “Excise Tax”), then
the Employee shall be entitled to receive an additional payment or payments (individually
referred to herein as a “Gross-Up Payment” and any two or more of such additional payments
being referred to herein as “Gross-Up Payments”) in an amount such that after payment by the
Employee of all taxes (as defined in Section 11(k)) imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the
Employee retains an amount of such Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the
Payments.




     (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 11(c) through (i), any determination
(individually, a “Determination”) required to be made under this Section 11(b), including
whether a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, shall
initially be made, at the Company’s expense, by nationally recognized tax counsel mutually
acceptable to the Company and the Employee (“Tax Counsel”). Tax Counsel shall provide
detailed supporting legal authorities, calculations, and documentation both to the Company
and the Employee within 15 business days of the termination of the Employee’s employment, if
applicable, or such other time or times as is reasonably requested by the Company or the
Employee. If Tax Counsel makes the initial Determination that no Excise Tax is payable by
the Employee with respect to a Payment or Payments, it shall furnish the Employee with an
opinion reasonably acceptable to the Employee that no Excise Tax will be imposed with
respect to any such Payment or Payments. The Employee shall have the right to dispute any
Determination (a “Dispute”) within 15 business days after delivery of Tax Counsel’s opinion
with respect to such Determination. The Gross-Up Payment, if any, as determined pursuant to
such Determination shall, at the Company’s expense, be paid by the Company to the Employee
within five business days of the Employee’s receipt of such Determination. The existence of
a Dispute shall not in any way affect the Employee’s right to receive the Gross-Up Payment
in accordance with such Determination. If there is no Dispute, such Determination shall be
binding, final and conclusive upon the Company and the



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Employee, subject in all respects, however, to the provisions of Section 11(c) through
(i) below. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Sections 4999 and 280G of
the Code, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments (or portions thereof) which will not have
been made by the Company should have been made (“Underpayment”), and if upon any reasonable
written request from the Employee or the Company to Tax Counsel, or upon Tax Counsel’s own
initiative, Tax Counsel, at the Company’s expense, thereafter determines that the Employee
is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax or any additional Excise Tax, as the case
may be, Tax Counsel shall, at the Company’s expense, determine the amount of the
Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to the Employee.




     (c) The Company shall defend, hold harmless, and indemnify the Employee on a fully
grossed-up after tax basis from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities,
obligations, damages, impositions, assessments, demands, judgements, settlements, costs and
expenses (including reasonable attorneys’, accountants’, and experts’ fees and expenses)
with respect to any tax liability of the Employee resulting from any Final Determination (as
defined in Section 11(j)) that any Payment is subject to the Excise Tax.




     (d) If a party hereto receives any written or oral communication with respect to any
question, adjustment, assessment or pending or threatened audit, examination, investigation
or administrative court or other proceeding which, if pursued successfully, could result in
or give rise to a claim by the Employee against the Company under this Section 11 (“Claim”),
including, but not limited to, a claim for indemnification of the Employee by the Company
under Section 11(c), then such party shall promptly notify the other party hereto in writing
of such Claim (“Tax Claim Notice”).




     (e) If a Claim is asserted against the Employee (“Employee Claim”), the Employee shall
take or cause to be taken such action in connection with contesting such Employee Claim as
the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including the retention
of counsel and experts as are reasonably designated by the Company (it being understood and
agreed by the parties hereto that the terms of any such retention shall expressly provide
that the Company shall be solely responsible for the payment of any and all fees and
disbursements of such counsel and any experts) and the execution of powers of attorney
provided that:




     (i) within 30 calendar days after the Company receives or delivers, as the case
may be, the Tax Claim Notice relating to such Employee Claim (or such earlier date
that any payment of the taxes claimed is due from the Employee, but in no event
sooner than five calendar days after the Company receives or delivers such Tax Claim
Notice), the Company shall have notified the Employee in writing (“Election Notice”)
that the Company does not dispute its obligations (including, but not limited to,
its indemnity obligations) under this Agreement and that the Company elects to
contest, and to control the defense or prosecution of, such Employee Claim at the
Company’s sole risk and sole cost and expense; and



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     (ii) the Company shall have advanced to the Employee on an interest-free basis,
the total amount of the tax claimed in order for the Employee, at the Company’s
request, to pay or cause to be paid the tax claimed, file a claim for refund of such
tax and, subject to the provisions of the last sentence of Section 11(g), sue for a
refund of such tax if such claim for refund is disallowed by the appropriate taxing
authority (it being understood and agreed by the parties hereto that the Company
shall only be entitled to sue for a refund and the Company shall not be entitled to
initiate any proceeding in, for example, United States Tax Court) and shall
indemnify and hold the Employee harmless, on a fully grossed-up after tax basis,
from any tax imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed
income with respect to such advance; and




     (iii) the Company shall reimburse the Employee for any and all costs and
expenses resulting from any such request by the Company and shall indemnify and hold
the Employee harmless, on fully grossed-up after-tax basis, from any tax imposed as
a result of such reimbursement.




     (f) Subject to the provisions of Section 11(e) hereof, the Company shall have the right
to defend or prosecute, at the sole cost, expense and risk of the Company, such Employee
Claim by all appropriate proceedings, which proceedings shall be defended or prosecuted
diligently by the Company to a Final Determination; provided, however, that (i) the Company
shall not, without the Employee’s prior written consent, enter into any compromise or
settlement of such Employee Claim that would adversely affect the Employee, (ii) any request
from the Company to the Employee regarding any extension of the statute of limitations
relating to assessment, payment, or collection of taxes for the taxable year of the Employee
with respect to which the contested issues involved in, and amount of, the Employee Claim
relate is limited solely to such contested issues and amount, and (iii) the Company’s
control of any contest or proceeding shall be limited to issues with respect to the Employee
Claim and the Employee shall be entitled to settle or contest, in his sole and absolute
discretion, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing
authority. So long as the Company is diligently defending or prosecuting such Employee
Claim, the Employee shall provide or cause to be provided to the Company any information
reasonably requested by the Company that relates to such Employee Claim, and shall otherwise
cooperate with the Company and its representatives in good faith in order to contest
effectively such Employee Claim. The Company shall keep the Employee informed of all
developments and events relating to any such Employee Claim (including, without limitation,
providing to the Employee copies of all written materials pertaining to any such Employee
Claim), and the Employee or his authorized representatives shall be entitled, at the
Employee’s expense, to participate in all conferences, meetings and proceedings relating to
any such Employee Claim.




     (g) If, after actual receipt by the Employee of an amount of a tax claimed (pursuant to
an Employee Claim) that has been advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 11(e)(ii)
hereof, the extent of the liability of the Company hereunder with respect to such tax
claimed has been established by a Final Determination, the Employee shall promptly pay or
cause to be paid to the Company any refund actually received by, or actually credited to,
the Employee with respect to such tax (together with any interest



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paid or credited thereon by the taxing authority and any recovery of legal fees from
such taxing authority related thereto), except to the extent that any amounts are then due
and payable by the Company to the Employee, whether under the provisions of this Agreement
or otherwise. If, after the receipt by the Employee of an amount advanced by the Company
pursuant to Section 11(e)(ii), a determination is made by the Internal Revenue Service or
other appropriate taxing authority that the Employee shall not be entitled to any refund
with respect to such tax claimed and the Company does not notify the Employee in writing of
its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such
determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid
and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of any
Gross-Up Payments and other payments required to be paid hereunder.




     (h) With respect to any Employee Claim, if the Company fails to deliver an Election
Notice to the Employee within the period provided in Section 11(e)(i) hereof or, after
delivery of such Election Notice, the Company fails to comply with the provisions of
Section 11(e)(ii) and (iii) and (f) hereof, then the Employee shall at any time thereafter
have the right (but not the obligation), at his election and in his sole and absolute
discretion, to defend or prosecute, at the sole cost, expense and risk of the Company, such
Employee Claim. The Employee shall have full control of such defense or prosecution and
such proceedings, including any settlement or compromise thereof. If requested by the
Employee, the Company shall cooperate, and shall cause its Affiliates to cooperate, in good
faith with the Employee and his authorized representatives in order to contest effectively
such Employee Claim. The Company may attend, but not participate in or control, any
defense, prosecution, settlement or compromise of any Employee Claim controlled by the
Employee pursuant to this Section 11(h) and shall bear its own costs and expenses with
respect thereto. In the case of any Employee Claim that is defended or prosecuted by the
Employee, the Employee shall, from time to time, be entitled to current payment, on a fully
grossed-up after tax basis, from the Company with respect to costs and expenses incurred by
the Employee in connection with such defense or prosecution.




     (i) In the case of any Employee Claim that is defended or prosecuted to a Final
Determination pursuant to the terms of this Section 11(i), the Company shall pay, on a fully
grossed-up after tax basis, to the Employee in immediately available funds the full amount
of any taxes arising or resulting from or incurred in connection with such Employee Claim
that have not theretofore been paid by the Company to the Employee, together with the costs
and expenses, on a fully grossed-up after tax basis, incurred in connection therewith that
have not theretofore been paid by the Company to the Employee, within ten calendar days
after such Final Determination. In the case of any Employee Claim not covered by the
preceding sentence, the Company shall pay, on a fully grossed-up after tax basis, to the
Employee in immediately available funds the full amount of any taxes arising or resulting
from or incurred in connection with such Employee Claim at least ten calendar days before
the date payment of such taxes is due from the Employee, except where payment of such taxes
is sooner required under the provisions of this Section 11(i), in which case payment of such
taxes (and payment, on a fully grossed-up after tax basis, of any costs and expenses
required to be paid under this



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Section 11(i)) shall be made within the time and in the manner otherwise provided in
this Section 11(i).




     (j) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Final Determination” shall mean (A) a
decision, judgment, decree or other order by a court or other tribunal with appropriate
jurisdiction, which has become final and non-appealable; (B) a final and binding settlement
or compromise with an administrative agency with appropriate jurisdiction, including, but
not limited to, a closing agreement under Section 7121 of the Code; (C) any disallowance of
a claim for refund or credit in respect to an overpayment of tax unless a suit is filed on a
timely basis; or (D) any final disposition by reason of the expiration of all applicable
statutes of limitations.




     (k) For purposes of this Agreement, the terms “tax” and “taxes” mean any and all taxes
of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all Excise Taxes, income
taxes, and employment taxes), together with any interest thereon, any penalties, additions
to tax, or additional amounts with respect to such taxes and any interest in respect of such
penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts.



     Section 12. Section 409A Deferred Compensation. This Agreement is intended to meet
the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and may be administered in a manner that is intended
to meet those requirements and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent.
To the extent that a payment, or the settlement or deferral thereof, is subject to Section 409A of
the Code, except as the Board of Directors and Employee otherwise determine in writing, the payment
shall be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will meet the requirements of
Section 409A of the Code, including regulations or other guidance issued with respect thereto, such
that the payment, settlement or deferral shall not be subject to the additional tax or interest
applicable under Section 409A of the Code. Any provision of this Agreement that would cause the
payment, settlement or deferral thereof to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code shall be
amended (in a manner that as closely as practicable achieves the original intent of this Agreement)
to comply with Section 409A of the Code on a timely basis, which may be made on a retroactive
basis, in accordance with regulations and other guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code. In
the event additional regulations or other guidance is issued under Section 409A of the Code or a
court of competent jurisdiction provides additional authority concerning the application of Section
409A with respect to the payments described hereunder, then the provisions regarding such payments
shall be amended to permit such payments to be made at the earliest time allowed under such
additional regulations, guidance or authority that is practicable and achieves the original intent
of this Agreement.



     Section 13. Expenses of Enforcement. If a Change in Control of the Company shall have
occurred before the expiration of the term of this Agreement, then, upon demand by the Employee
made to the Company, the Company shall reimburse the Employee for the reasonable expenses
(including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Employee in enforcing or seeking to
enforce the payment of any amount or other benefit to which the Employee shall have become entitled
pursuant to this Agreement, including those incurred in connection with any arbitration initiated
pursuant to Section 21. To the extent that any such reimbursement would be subject to the Excise
Tax, then the Employee shall be entitled to receive Gross-Up Payments in an amount such that after
payment by the Employee of all taxes imposed on such Gross-Up



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Payments, the Employee retains an amount equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the
reimbursement, and the other provisions of Section 11 hereof shall also apply to such circumstance
unless the context thereof otherwise indicates.



     Section 14. Employment by Wholly Owned Entities. If, at or after the Effective Date, the
Employee is or becomes an employee of one or more corporations, partnerships, limited liability
companies or other entities that are, directly or indirectly, wholly owned by the Company (“Wholly
Owned Entities”), references in this Agreement to the Employee’s employment by the Company shall
include the Employee’s employment by any such Wholly Owned Entity.



     Section 15. No Obligation to Mitigate; No Rights of Offset.




     (a) The Employee shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment or other
benefit required to be paid or provided to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement, whether
by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any such payment or other
benefit be reduced on account of any compensation earned by the Employee as a result of
employment by another person.




     (b) The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and
otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off,
counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have
against the Employee or others.



     Section 16. Amendment and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived
(whether by act or course of conduct or omission or otherwise) unless that amendment or waiver is
by written instrument signed by the parties hereto. No waiver by either party of any breach of
this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.



     Section 17. Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and enforceability of
this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas.



     Section 18. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which
shall remain in full force and effect.



     Section 19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute the same instrument.



     Section 20. Assignment. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Employee’s legal representative. The Company may not assign any of its obligations under this
Agreement unless (i) such assignment is to a Successor and (ii) the requirements of Section 8 are
fulfilled.



     Section 21. Arbitration. Except as otherwise explicitly provided in Section 11, any dispute
between the parties arising out of this Agreement, whether as to this Agreement’s construction,
interpretation or enforceability or as to any party’s breach or alleged breach of any



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provision of this Agreement, shall be submitted to arbitration in accordance with the
following procedures:




     (i) Either party may demand such arbitration by giving notice of that demand to
the other party. The notice shall state (x) the matter in controversy, and (y) the
name of the arbitrator selected by the party giving the notice.




     (ii) Not more than 15 days after such notice is given, the other party shall
give notice to the party who demanded arbitration of the name of the arbitrator
selected by the other party. If the other party shall fail to timely give such
notice, the arbitrator that the other party was entitled to select shall be named by
the Arbitration Committee of the American Arbitration Association. Not more than 15
days after the second arbitrator is so named, the two arbitrators shall select a
third arbitrator. If the two arbitrators shall fail to timely select a third
arbitrator, the third arbitrator shall be named by the Arbitration Committee of the
American Arbitration Association.




     (iii) The dispute shall be arbitrated at a hearing that shall be concluded
within ten days immediately following the date the dispute is submitted to
arbitration unless a majority of the arbitrators shall elect to extend the period of
arbitration. Any award made by a majority of the arbitrators (x) shall be made
within ten days following the conclusion of the arbitration hearing, (y) shall be
conclusive and binding on the parties, and (z) may be made the subject of a judgment
of any court having jurisdiction.




     (iv) All expenses of the arbitration shall be borne by the Company.


The agreement of the parties contained in the foregoing provisions of this Section 21 shall be a
complete defense to any action, suit or other proceeding instituted in any court or before any
administrative tribunal with respect to any dispute between the parties arising out of this
Agreement.




     Section 22. Interpretation.




     (a) As used in this Agreement, the following terms and phrases have the indicated
meanings:




     (i) “Affiliate” and “Affiliates” mean, when used with respect to any entity,
individual, or other person, any other entity, individual, or other person which,
directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries controls, or is
controlled by, or is under common control with such entity, individual or person.




     (ii) “Base Salary” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.




     (iii) “Basic Benefit Plans” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.



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     (iv) “Benchmark Bonus” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.




     (v) “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.




     (vi) “Business Combination” has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 2.




     (vii) “Change in Control of the Company” has the meaning assigned to that
phrase in Section 2.




     (viii) “Claim” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.




     (ix) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.




     (x) “Company” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble to this
Agreement. The term “Company” shall also include any Successor, whether the
liability of such Successor under this Agreement is established by contract or
occurs by operation of law.




     (xi) “Covered Person” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.




     (xii) “Determination” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 11.




     (xiii) “Dispute” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 11.




     (xiv) “Effective Date” has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble to
this Agreement.




     (xv) “Election Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.




     (xvi) “Employee” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this
Agreement.




     (xvii) “Employee Claim” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.




     (xviii) “Employee’s Disability” means:




     (1) if no Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred before
the date of determination, the physical or mental disability of the
Employee determined in accordance with the disability



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policy of the Company at the time in effect and generally applicable
to its salaried employees; and




     (2) if a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred at that
date, the physical or mental disability of the Employee determined in
accordance with the disability policy of the Company in effect immediately
before the occurrence of the first Change in Control of the Company and
generally applicable to its salaried employees.




The Employee’s Disability, and the automatic termination of the Employee’s
employment by the Company by reason of the Employee’s Disability, shall be
deemed to have occurred on the date of determination, provided that if (1) a
Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred before the expiration
of the term of this Agreement, (2) the Company shall have subsequently given
notice pursuant to Section 6 of the Company’s determination of the
Employee’s Disability, and (3) the Employee shall have given notice to the
Company that the Employee disagrees with that determination, then
(A) whether the Employee’s Disability shall have occurred shall be submitted
to arbitration pursuant to Section 21, and (B) if a majority of the
arbitrators decide that the Employee’s Disability had not occurred, at the
date of determination by the Company, then (I) the Employee’s Disability,
and the automatic termination of the Employee’s employment by the Company by
reason of the Employee’s Disability, shall be deemed not to have occurred,
and (II) on demand by the Employee made to the Company, the Company shall
reimburse the Employee for the reasonable expenses (including attorneys’
fees and expenses) incurred by the Employee in obtaining that decision.




     (xix) “Employee’s Retirement” means (x) if no Change in Control of the Company
shall have occurred before the date of the Employee’s proposed retirement, the
retirement of the Employee in accordance with the retirement policy of the Company
at the time in effect and generally applicable to its salaried employees, and (y) if
a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred at that date, the retirement
of the Employee from the employ of the Company in accordance with the retirement
policy of the Company in effect immediately before the occurrence of the first
Change in Control of the Company and generally applicable to its salaried employees.




     (xx) “Event of Termination for Cause” has the meaning assigned to that phrase
in Section 4.




     (xxi) “Event of Termination for Good Reason” has the meaning assigned to that
phrase in Section 5.




     (xxii) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time.



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     (xxiii) “Excise Tax” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 11.




     (xxiv) “Expiration Date” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 3.




     (xxv) “Final Determination” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 11.




     (xxvi) “Gross-Up Payment” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 11.




     (xxvii) “Other Benefit Plans” has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 5.




     (xxviii) “Outstanding Company Common Stock” has the meaning assigned to that
term in Section 2.




     (xxix) “Outstanding Company Voting Securities” has the meaning assigned to that
term in Section 2.




     (xxx) “Payment” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 11.




     (xxxi) “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, limited partnership, limited liability company,
trust, unincorporated organization, government, or agency or political subdivision
of any government.




     (xxxii) “Relevant Period” means a period beginning on the Termination Date and
ending on the first to occur of (x) the second anniversary of the Termination Date,
(y) the date on which the Employee becomes a full time employee of another person,
and (z) the Employee’s normal retirement date, determined in accordance with the
retirement policy of the Company in effect on the Termination Date.




     (xxxiii) “Severance Payment” has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 7.




     (xxxiv) “Successor” means a person with or into which the Company shall have
been merged or consolidated or to which the Company shall have transferred its
assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety.




     (xxxv) “tax” and “taxes” have the meaning assigned to those terms in
Section 11.




     (xxxvi) “Tax Claim Notice” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 11.



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     (xxxvii) “Tax Counsel” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 11.




     (xxxviii) “Termination Date” has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 6.




     (xxxix) “this Agreement” means this Change in Control Agreement as it may be
amended from time to time in accordance with Section 16.




     (xl) “Underpayment” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 11.




     (xli) “Wholly Owned Entities” has the meaning assigned to that term in
Section 14.




     (b) In the event of the enactment of any successor provision to any statute or rule
cited in this Agreement, references in this Agreement to such statute or rule shall be to
such successor provision.




     (c) The headings of Sections of this Agreement shall not control the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.




     (d) References in this Agreement to any Section are to the corresponding Section of
this Agreement unless the context otherwise indicates.



          In Witness Whereof, the Company and the Employee have executed this Agreement as of
the Effective Date.




	 	 	 	 	 
	 	PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.

 	 
	 	/s/ John E. Vollmer III
                 	 
	 	John E. Vollmer III 	 
	 	Senior Vice President – Corporate Development and Chief Financial Officer 	 
	 



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	        /s/ William L. Moll, Jr.
                 
 	 
	 	William L. Moll, Jr. 	 
	 	 	 
	 




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