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Exhibit 10.12    
    




EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT  


by and between 


CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION  


and 


PATRICK R. McDONALD  


Dated as of October 1, 2002 











TABLE OF CONTENTS  



	 
	 	 
	 	Page

	Article I. Term of Employment	 	1
	 	1.1	 	Position and Employment Period	 	1
	 	1.2	 	Appointment as Director	 	1
	 	1.3	 	Change in Control	 	1
	

Article II. Duties	
 	

3
	 	2.1	 	Duties	 	3
	

Article III. Compensation	
 	

3
	 	3.1	 	Salary	 	3
	 	3.2	 	Options and Restricted Stock	 	3
	 	3.3	 	Benefits; Life Insurance	 	3
	 	3.4	 	Reimbursement of Expenses	 	3
	

Article IV. Death, Disability and Termination	
 	

3
	 	4.1	 	Death	 	3
	 	4.2	 	Disability	 	4
	 	4.3	 	Disability Insurance	 	4
	 	4.4	 	Determination of Disability	 	4
	 	4.5	 	Termination	 	4
	

Article V. Termination Benefits	
 	

5
	 	5.1	 	Severance Payments	 	5
	 	5.2	 	Termination for Cause	 	5
	 	5.3	 	Certain Additional Payments by Company	 	5
	

Article VI. Covenants of Executive	
 	

6
	 	6.1	 	Confidential Information	 	6
	

Article VII. Miscellaneous	
 	

6
	 	7.1	 	Disagreements	 	6
	 	7.2	 	Binding Effect; Benefits	 	6
	 	7.3	 	Notices	 	6
	 	7.4	 	Entire Agreement	 	7
	 	7.5	 	Amendments and Waivers	 	7
	 	7.6	 	Section Headings	 	7
	 	7.7	 	Severability	 	7
	 	7.8	 	Governing Law	 	7
	 	7.9	 	Counterparts; Facsimile	 	7












EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT  


        THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is dated and effective as of October 1, 2002 (the "Effective Date"), by and between CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION,
a Colorado corporation, with offices at 1700 Broadway, Suite 1150, Denver, Colorado 80290-1101 ("Company"), and PATRICK R. McDONALD, residing in Colorado ("Executive"). 


RECITALS  


        WHEREAS, Company desires to acquire the services of Executive, and Executive desires to be employed by Company upon the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement. 


AGREEMENT  


        NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto do hereby agree as follows: 


Article I.

Term of Employment  


 
 
        1.1    Position and Employment Period.     Company hereby employs Executive as its President and Chief Executive
Officer, and Executive hereby accepts employment with Company, all in accordance with the
terms and conditions hereof, for an initial three-year term commencing on the Effective Date and ending three years from that date, unless otherwise terminated as provided in
Section 1.3 or Articles IV and V. This Agreement shall continue from year to year thereafter unless Company gives written notice of termination to Executive at least three months
preceding the date of termination or Executive gives such notice to Company on or at least three months preceding the date of termination (the initial three-year term is referred to
as the "Initial Employment Period," and together with any subsequent periods of employment pursuant hereto, the "Employment Period"). 


 
 

           1.2    Appointment as Director.     Company agrees that for so long as Executive is an officer of Company,
Company shall nominate and endorse Executive to serve as a director on Company's Board of
Directors. 


 
 

           1.3    Change in Control.     



        (a)    Hostile Change in Control.    



        i.      A
Change in Control (as defined below) is hostile if it is neither solicited by Company nor supported by a majority of Company's then-existing Board of
Directors ("Hostile Change in Control"). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that a Hostile Change in Control of Company occurs, Company shall have the right to terminate
this Agreement by paying Executive 400% of the Compensation (as defined below). 


        ii.     In
the event that a Hostile Change in Control of Company occurs, Executive shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by written notice to Company and Company
shall immediately pay Executive 400% of the Compensation. 




        (b)    Friendly Change in Control.    



        i.      A
Change in Control (as defined below) is friendly if a majority of Company's then existing Board of Directors supports such Change in Control ("Friendly Change in
Control"). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that a Friendly Change in Control of Company occurs, Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by paying
Executive 300% of the Compensation (as defined below). 


        ii.     In
the event that a Friendly Change in Control of Company occurs, Executive shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by written notice to Company and Company
shall immediately pay Executive 300% of the Compensation.

 




        (c)   In
addition, upon the occurrence of either a Hostile Change in Control of Company or a Friendly Change in Control of Company, the restrictions on any outstanding
incentive awards (including, but not limited to, restricted stock and granted performance shares) granted to Executive under any incentive plan or arrangement shall lapse and such incentive awards
shall become 100% vested, and all stock options and stock appreciation rights granted to Executive shall become immediately exercisable and shall become 100% vested. 



        (d)   Any
amounts required to be paid by Company pursuant to this Section 1.3 shall be paid within five days of Executive's date of termination (the "Termination
Date"). 


        (e)   As
used in this Agreement, the term "Compensation" shall be the arithmetic average of Executive's annual base salary and incentive compensation for the
three years prior to the Termination Date. 


        (f)    "Change
in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred: 



        i.      At
such time as a third person, including a "group" as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, becomes the beneficial owner
of shares of Company having 50% or more of the total number of votes that may be cast for the election of Directors of Company; or 


        ii.     On
the date on which the stockholders of Company approve: (A) any agreement for a merger or consolidation of Company with another entity, provided that there
shall be no Change in Control if the persons and entities who were the stockholders of Company immediately before such merger or consolidation continue to own directly more than two-thirds
of the outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the voting securities of Company
outstanding immediately before such merger or consolidation; or (B) any sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of Company's assets; or 


        iii.    On
the effective date of any sale, exchange or other disposition of greater than 50% in fair market value of Company's assets, other than in the ordinary course of
business, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions; or 



        iv.    At
such time that there is a change in more than a majority of Company's Board of Directors as a result of a proxy contest waged by a third person unaffiliated with
Executive and not endorsed by Executive. 


        v.     A
person, for purposes of this section, means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated association or any other form of organization. 





In
determining whether clause (i) of the preceding sentence has been satisfied, the third person owning shares must be someone other than Yorktown Energy Partners III, L.P., Yorktown
Partners LLC, or entities controlled by Yorktown Partners LLC. For this purpose, the term "controlled" means possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of a person, whether (1) through the ownership of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the person, (2) by contract or (3) by a position
such as a general partner or manager. 



        (g)   After
Executive's termination of employment as described in this Section 1.3, Company shall continue to provide for a period of 24 months from the
Termination Date, medical, dental, disability and life insurance coverage to Executive at the same levels of coverage as in effect immediately prior to such date.

 



Article II.

Duties  


 
 
        2.1    Duties.     During the term hereof: 



        (a)   Executive
shall, subject to the succeeding sentence, devote such time as is necessary to perform his duties and shall discharge such duties to the best of his abilities.
During the Employment Period, Executive may invest his personal assets and his time in enterprises other than Company if: (i) such enterprises do not compete with Company in Company's area of
operations and do not require Executive to devote substantial amounts of his time thereto, or (ii) they are enterprises which Company has evaluated and in which it has elected not to invest,
subject to Executive's notification to Company's Board of Directors of Executive's intention to so participate. 



        (b)   Company
shall not, without the written consent of Executive, require Executive to perform services away from the Denver area at such frequency or duration as might, in
the reasonable opinion of Executive, necessitate his moving his residence from the Denver area. 



Article III.

Compensation  


 
 
        3.1    Salary.     Company shall pay Executive a base salary of not less than $242,000 per year plus an adjustment
on each July 1 hereafter for all cost of living increases
(computed by dividing the preceding year's U.S. consumer price index by the year preceding such year's U.S. consumer price index and multiplying such percentage by the then base salary), to be paid at
the usual times for the payment of Company's executives, subject to adjustment as provided herein. Executive's base salary shall be reviewed annually by the Board of Directors of Company and may be
increased, but not decreased. Incentive compensation or bonuses (called in this Agreement incentive compensation) will be determined by the Board of Directors at its discretion. 



 
 

          3.2    Benefits; Life Insurance.     Executive shall be entitled to receive all benefits (such as medical,
dental, disability and life insurance and paid vacation (a maximum of four weeks)).
Executive shall be eligible to participate in all incentive compensation, stock option, performance unit or similar plans or programs as the Board of Directors of Company may determine in its
reasonable discretion based upon Company's compensation practices and Executive's responsibilities and performance. Company shall provide without cost to Executive the following: membership fees and
dues relating to organizations to which Executive has historically belonged and subscription costs for publications relevant to Company's business which Executive has historically received. So long as
Executive is employed under this Agreement and during the 24 months specified in Section 5.1(b), Company shall maintain for the benefit of Executive's estate, and pay the premiums for, a
life insurance policy on Executive's life in the amount of $2,000,000. 


 
 

           3.3    Reimbursement of Expenses.     In addition, Company shall promptly reimburse Executive for all
reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the
performance of his duties hereunder, including without limitation, expenses for entertainment, travel, management seminars and the like. 


Article IV.

Death, Disability and Termination  


 
 
        4.1    Death.     If Executive dies during the Employment Period, the Employment Period shall thereupon terminate
for all purposes of this Agreement, and Company's obligations
hereunder shall

 
terminate immediately, and Executive's estate or legal representative shall be entitled only to the following: 



        (a)   any
arrearages of salary, through the date of Executive's death; 


        (b)   any
unpaid incentive compensation or compensatory options earned by Executive in respect of any calendar year prior to the calendar year in which occurs the death of
Executive; 


        (c)   any
incentive compensation or compensatory options to be granted, as determined in accordance with this Agreement, earned by Executive in respect of the year in which
occurs the death of Executive; and 


        (d)   any
reimbursable expenses incurred through the date of Executive's death. 




 
 

           4.2    Disability.     If Executive is unable to perform his duties as required under this Agreement by
reason of mental or physical illness or incapacity, Company agrees to continue
all payments due hereunder, including salary, for a period of 180 days from the date of disability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Executive shall be considered
disabled and Company may terminate this Agreement at any time Executive shall be absent from employment as a result of mental or physical illness or incapacity for a continuous period of
180 days, and all obligations of Company hereunder shall cease upon any such termination. Upon any such termination, Executive shall be entitled only to the following: 



        (a)   any
arrearages of salary, through the date of such termination, including that which is payable as a result of the first sentence of this Section 4.2; 



        (b)   any
unpaid incentive compensation or any options earned by Executive in respect of any calendar year prior to the calendar year in which occurs the disability of
Executive; 


        (c)   any
incentive compensation or options earned by Executive in respect of the year in which occurs the disability of Executive; and 


        (d)   any
reimbursable expenses incurred by Executive. 




 
 

          4.3    Disability Insurance.     While Executive is employed under this Agreement, during the period
specified in Section 5.1(b) and after the period described in
Section 5.1(b) if this Agreement is terminated because of Executive's disability, Company shall provide, for the benefit of Executive, a disability insurance policy, with mutually
agreeable terms determined within 60 days of the Effective Date, the premiums of which shall be paid by Company. 


 
 

           4.4    Determination of Disability.     For purposes of this Agreement, if at any time a question arises as
to the disability of Executive, then Company and Executive shall agree on one physician who is
a member of the American Medical Association to examine Executive and determine if his physical and/or mental condition is such as to render him incapable of performing the usual duties of his
employment with Company. 


 
 

           4.5    Termination.     In addition to the foregoing provisions, the Employment Period and Executive's
employment with Company may be terminated by: 



        (a)   Company
for cause (as defined in Section 5.2), immediately upon determination by the Board of Directors and providing Executive with written notice of
termination; 


        (b)   Executive
following a change in position with Company from that described in Section 1.1 or because of any other material breach of this Agreement by Company,
provided Executive does not voluntarily accept the change in position and notifies Company of his non-acceptance thereof and provided, in the case of any other material breach, Executive
gives a written notification to Company of the material breach and the material breach is not cured within 20 business days of Company's receipt of the notification; or

 


        (c)   either
party upon 30 days prior written notice from the terminating party to the other party. 



Article V.

Termination Benefits  


 
 
        5.1    Severance Payments.     Subject to the provisions of Section 1.3 hereof, (i) if Executive's
employment shall be terminated by the Board of Directors of Company for any
reason other than "for cause" or upon the death or disability of Executive, or (ii) if Executive voluntarily terminates employment in accordance with Section 4.5(b) following a
change in position with Company from that described in Section 1.1 or because of any other material breach of this Agreement by Company, then Company shall pay Executive a termination benefit
as follows: 



        (a)   Company
shall pay Executive in a single lump sum payment in an amount equal to 300% of the Compensation (as defined above) (the "Severance Payments"). The Severance
Payments shall be paid regardless of whether Executive is able to secure alternative employment. In the event Executive should die before payment of all amounts due under this Article V, the
remaining amounts shall be paid to Executive's designated beneficiary, if any, and otherwise to Executive's estate. 


        (b)   Company
shall continue to provide for a period of 24 months from the Termination Date, medical, dental, disability and life insurance coverage to Executive at the
same levels of coverage as in effect immediately prior to such date. 


        (c)   Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this or any other agreement, immediately upon termination under the circumstances described in this Section 5.1, all
Executive's options shall become immediately exercisable and shall become 100% vested, all of Executive's restricted stock shall become
immediately 100% vested, and all performance incentives granted to Executive shall become 100% vested. 


        (d)   Executive
shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise and no such payment shall
be offset or reduced by the amount of any compensation or benefits provided to Executive in any subsequent employment except as provided herein. 



        (e)   The
Severance Payments and benefits provided in this Agreement shall be in lieu of any other severance pay to which Executive may be entitled under any Company severance
plan, program or arrangement. 




 
 

           5.2    Termination for Cause.     If Executive is terminated for cause, then he shall receive no further
benefits hereunder. "Cause" shall mean a termination on account of (1) repeated
refusal to obey written directions of the Board of Directors or a superior officer (so long as such directions do not involve illegal or immoral acts); (2) repeated acts of substance abuse
which are materially injurious to Company or any of its subsidiaries, (3) fraud or dishonesty that is materially injurious to Company or any of its subsidiaries, (4) breach of any
material obligation of nondisclosure or confidentiality owed to Company or any of its subsidiaries, (5) commission of a criminal offense involving money or other property of Company (excluding
any traffic violations or similar violations), or (6) commission of a criminal offense that constitutes a felony in the jurisdiction in which the offense is committed. 


 
 

           5.3    Certain Additional Payments by Company.     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, in the event that any payment or distribution by Company to or for the benefit of the Executive,
whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (a "Payment"), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the
Internal Revenue Code or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest or penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Excise

 
Tax"), Company shall pay to Executive an additional payment (a "Gross-up Payment") in an amount such that after payment by Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties
imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax imposed on any Gross-up Payment, Executive retains an amount of the Gross-up Payment equal to the Excise Tax
imposed upon the Payments. Company and Executive shall make an initial determination as to whether a Gross-up Payment is required and the amount of any such Gross-up Payment.
Executive shall notify Company immediately in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service which, if successful, would require such Gross-up Payment (or a Gross-up
Payment in excess of that, if any, initially determined by Company and Executive) within five days of the receipt of such claim. Company shall notify Executive in writing at least five days
prior to the due date of any response required with respect to such claim if it plans to contest the claim. If Company decides to contest such claim, Executive shall cooperate fully with Company in
such action; provided, however, Company shall bear and pay directly or indirectly all costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such action and shall
indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax, including interest and penalties with respect thereto, imposed as a result of Company's
action. If, as a result of Company's action with respect to a claim, Executive receives a refund of any amount paid by Company with respect to such claim, Executive shall promptly pay such refund to
Company. If Company fails to timely notify Executive whether it will contest such claim or Company determines not to contest such claim, then Company shall immediately pay to Executive the portion of
such claim, if any, which it has not previously paid to Executive. 


Article VI.

Covenants of Executive  


 
 
        6.1    Confidential Information.     Executive covenants and agrees that he will not at any time during or after
the termination of his employment, whether under this Agreement, or otherwise, reveal,
divulge or make known to any person any confidential or proprietary information ("Confidential Information") whatsoever made known to Executive by reason of his employment by Company. This
Section 6.1 shall not apply to information made known to Executive by reason of his outside personal business interests or personal investments made in accordance with this Agreement. In the
event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of the provisions of this Section 6.1, Company shall be entitled, in addition to any remedy hereunder or under any applicable law, to an
injunction restraining Executive from disclosing or using, in whole or in part, any Confidential Information. The covenants contained in this Section 6.1 shall survive the termination or
expiration of this Agreement for a period of 24 months. 


Article VII.

Miscellaneous  


 
 
        7.1    Disagreements.     In the event that Company and Executive shall disagree as to their respective rights and
obligations hereunder, then Company shall pay reasonable counsel fees
incurred by Executive in connection with such disagreement, if Executive prevails in his position. 


 
 

           7.2    Binding Effect; Benefits.     This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon,
 the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs and legal
representatives. Insofar as Executive is concerned, this contract may not be assigned. 


 
 

           7.3    Notices.     All notices and other communications which are required or permitted hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be sufficient if mailed by registered or certified
mail, postage prepaid to the address specified herein in the case of Company, Executive's residential address, or such other address as any party hereto shall have specified by notice in writing to
the other party hereto. All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been received on the date of delivery thereof or the fifth business day after the mailing thereof, whichever is the
earlier.

 


 
 

           7.4    Entire Agreement.     This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. 


 
 

          7.5    Amendments and Waivers.     This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an instrument or
instruments in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement or any such
modification or amendment is sought. Either party hereto may, by an instrument in writing, waive compliance by the other party with any term or provision of this Agreement on the part of such other
party hereto to be performed or complied with. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any term or provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach. 



 
 

          7.6    Section Headings.     The section and other headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement or to
control or affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement. 


 
 

           7.7    Severability.     If any term or provision of this Agreement is held or deemed to be invalid or
unenforceable, in whole or in part, by a court of competent jurisdiction, this
Agreement shall be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement. 


 
 

           7.8    Governing Law.     This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with
the laws of the State of Colorado without regard to its principals regarding
conflicts of law. 


 
 

           7.9    Counterparts; Facsimile.     This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall be deemed one and the
same instrument. This Agreement may be delivered by facsimile. 




 


        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement on the day and year first above written. 



	

COMPANY:	
 	

CARBON ENERGY CORPORATION
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  PETER A. LEIDEL      
 Peter A. Leidel

Chairman

Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
	

EXECUTIVE:	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  PATRICK R. MCDONALD      
 Patrick R. McDonald
















QuickLinks



Exhibit 10.12




1.1 Position and Employment Period.

1.2 Appointment as Director.

1.3 Change in Control.

2.1 Duties.

3.1 Salary.

3.2 Benefits; Life Insurance.

3.3 Reimbursement of Expenses.

4.1 Death.

4.2 Disability.

4.3 Disability Insurance.

4.4 Determination of Disability.

4.5 Termination.

5.1 Severance Payments.

5.2 Termination for Cause.

5.3 Certain Additional Payments by Company.

6.1 Confidential Information.

7.1 Disagreements.

7.2 Binding Effect; Benefits.

7.3 Notices.

7.4 Entire Agreement.

7.5 Amendments and Waivers.

7.6 Section Headings.

7.7 Severability.

7.8 Governing Law.

7.9 Counterparts; Facsimile.