Exhibit



Execution Version



EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Swift Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Christopher M. Abundis (“Employee”), effective as of March 20, 2017 (as applicable, the “Effective Date”). 


1.    Employment.  During the Employment Period (as defined in Section 4), the Company shall employ Employee, and Employee shall serve, as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company and in such other position or positions as may be assigned from time to time by the board of directors (the “Board”) of the Company or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “Chief Executive Officer”). 
2.    Duties and Responsibilities of Employee; Company Investment.
(a)    During the Employment Period, Employee shall devote Employee’s full business time, attention and best efforts to the businesses of the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Group”) as may be requested by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer from time to time.  Employee’s duties shall include those normally incidental to the position(s) identified in Section 1, as well as such additional duties as may be assigned to Employee by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer from time to time, which duties may include providing services to other members of the Company Group in addition to the Company.  Employee may, without violating this Agreement, (i) as a passive investment, own publicly traded securities in such form or manner as shall not require any services by Employee in the operation of the entities in which such securities are owned; (ii) engage in charitable and civic activities; or (iii) with the prior written consent of the  Board, engage in other personal and passive investment activities, in each case, so long as such interests or activities do not interfere with Employee’s ability to fulfill Employee’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement and are not inconsistent with Employee’s obligations to the Company Group or competitive with the business of the Company Group. 
(b)    Employee hereby represents and warrants that Employee is not the subject of, or a party to, any employment agreement, non-competition covenant, nondisclosure agreement, or any other agreement, obligation, restriction or understanding that would prohibit Employee from executing this Agreement or fully performing each of Employee’s duties and responsibilities hereunder, or would in any manner, directly or indirectly, limit or affect any of the duties and responsibilities that may now or in the future be assigned to Employee hereunder.
(c)    Employee understands that Employee owes each member of the Company Group fiduciary duties (including (i) duties of loyalty and disclosure and (ii) fiduciary duties as an officer of the Company), and the obligations described in this Agreement are in addition to, and not 









in lieu of, the obligations Employee owes each member of the Company Group under statutory and common law.
(d)    Stock Ownership Requirements. Excluding any common stock of the Company that results from vesting of equity awards granted to Employee prior to the Effective Date of this Agreement, Employee shall be prohibited from selling or otherwise transferring shares of the Company’s common stock until Employee owns shares of the Company’s common stock with an aggregate value equal to two (2) times Employee’s Base Salary (as defined below) and once Employee owns shares of the Company’s common stock with an aggregate value equal to two (2) times Employee’s Base Salary, Employee shall also be prohibited from entering into any sale or transfer of the Company’s common stock to the extent such sale or transfer would result in Employee ceasing to own shares of the Company’s common stock with an aggregate value at least equal to two (2) times Employee’s Base Salary; provided, however, that the foregoing sale and transfer restrictions shall not apply to any sales of shares intended to satisfy applicable tax withholding obligations due in connection with the exercise, vesting or settlement of equity awards under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan (as defined below) and shall no longer apply upon the earlier to occur of (x) the end of the Employment Period (as defined below) and (y) a “Change in Control” (as defined in Section 6(i) below). In addition, Employee shall be subject to the provisions of any applicable stock ownership guidelines, policies or procedures adopted by the Company. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company reserves the right, without Employee’s consent, to adopt any such stock ownership guidelines, procedures and policies with retroactive effect. For the avoidance of doubt, shares of the Company’s common stock (i) held by Employee’s immediate family, (ii) held in trusts, family limited partnerships or similar vehicles for the benefit of Employee or Employee’s immediate family and (iii) underlying vested restricted stock units or vested but unexercised “in the money” stock options, in each case, shall be treated as owned by Employee for purposes of satisfying the requirements set forth in this Section 2(d).
3.    Compensation.  
(a)    Base Salary.  During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to Employee an annualized base salary of $315,000 (the “Base Salary”) in consideration for Employee’s services under this Agreement, payable in substantially equal installments in conformity with the Company’s customary payroll practices for other senior executives as may exist from time to time, but no less frequently than monthly. The Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Board in accordance with the Company’s policies and practices, but no less frequently than once annually, and may be increased but not decreased unless such decrease is agreed to in writing by Employee. To the extent applicable, the term “Base Salary” shall include any such increases (or decreases agreed to in writing by Employee) to the Base Salary enumerated above.


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(b)    Annual Bonus.  Employee shall be eligible for discretionary bonus compensation for each complete calendar year that Employee is employed by the Company hereunder (the “Annual Bonus”).  Each Annual Bonus shall have a target value that is not less than 70% of Employee’s Base Salary as in effect on the last day of the calendar year to which such Annual Bonus relates (the “Bonus Year”) and a maximum value equal to 140% of Employee’s Base Salary as in effect on the last day of such Bonus Year. The performance targets that must be achieved in order to be eligible for certain bonus levels shall be established by the Board (or a committee thereof) annually, in its sole discretion, and communicated to Employee within the first ninety (90) days of the applicable Bonus Year.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall (i) receive a bonus in the amount of 35.0% of Employee’s Base Salary, pro-rated for the portion of the 2017 calendar year that Employee is employed by the Company hereunder (the “2017 Guaranteed Bonus”) and (ii) be eligible to receive a discretionary bonus with a target value that is not less than 35.0% of Employee’s Base Salary and a maximum value equal to 70% of Employee’s Base Salary (the “2017 Performance Bonus”), which 2017 Performance Bonus shall be based on the achievement of performance targets established by the Board (or a committee thereof) related to the Company’s budget and forecast in place sixty (60) days following the Effective Date. Each Annual Bonus (including the 2017 Guaranteed Bonus and 2017 Performance Bonus), if any, shall be paid as soon as administratively feasible after the Board (or a committee thereof) certifies whether the applicable performance targets for the applicable Bonus Year have been achieved, but in no event later than March 15 following the end of such Bonus Year.  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3(b) to the contrary, no Annual Bonus (including the 2017 Guaranteed Bonus and 2017 Performance Bonus), if any, nor any portion thereof, shall be payable for any Bonus Year unless Employee remains continuously employed by the Company from the Effective Date through the date on which such Annual Bonus (including the 2017 Guaranteed Bonus and 2017 Performance Bonus) is paid.  
(c)    Incentive Compensation. During the Employment Period, Employee shall be eligible to (i) participate in all of the Company’s short-term and long-term incentive compensation plans, programs or arrangements made available to other senior executives and (ii) receive awards under the Swift Energy Company 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, or any other equity incentive plan, program or arrangement made available to other senior executives (the “Equity Incentive Plan”), in each case, in amounts determined by the Board (or a committee thereof) in its sole discretion and subject to the terms and conditions of such plans, programs or arrangements as in effect from time to time. Except as set forth in Section 3(d) and (e), nothing herein shall be construed to give Employee any rights to any amount or type of grant or award except as provided in a written award agreement with Employee and approved by the Board (or a committee thereof).
(d)    Annual Equity Award. Employee shall be eligible to receive an annual equity award under the Equity Incentive Plan for each complete calendar year that Employee is employed 


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by the Company hereunder (the “Annual Equity Award”). The Annual Equity Award shall have an aggregate target value, determined as of the applicable date(s) of grant, of approximately 70% of Employee’s Base Salary as in effect on date of grant for such Annual Equity Award (the “Award Year”). The amount and type(s) of equity award shall be determined by the Board (or a committee thereof) annually, in its sole discretion, but it is anticipated that the one-half of the Annual Equity Award shall consist of restricted stock units subject to time-based vesting (the “Time RSUs”) and one-half of the Annual Equity Award shall consist of restricted stock units subject to performance-based vesting (the “Performance RSUs”). The terms and conditions (including vesting) applicable to the Annual Equity Award shall be determined by the Board (or a committee thereof) annually, in its sole discretion, but it is anticipated that the Time RSUs shall vest in three substantially equal annual installments on the first, second and third anniversary of the applicable date of grant and the Performance RSUs shall cliff vest in full on the third anniversary of the applicable date of grant, subject to satisfaction of applicable performance  condition(s) established by the Board (or a committee thereof), in its sole discretion, and communicated to Employee on such date of grant and set forth in the applicable award agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall receive an Annual Equity Award for calendar year 2017 (the “2017 Guaranteed Annual Equity Award”), which shall be granted in calendar year 2018 provided that Employee remains continuously employed by the Company from the Effective Date through the applicable date of grant, that shall consist of (i) Time RSUs with an aggregate value equal to approximately 17.5% of Employee’s Base Salary and (ii) Performance RSUs with an aggregate target value equal to approximately 17.5% of Employee’s Base Salary. In addition, Employee shall be eligible to receive an Annual Equity Award for the calendar year 2017 (the “2017 Performance Annual Equity Award”) based on the achievement of performance targets established by the Board (or a committee thereof) related to the Company’s budget and forecast in place sixty (60) days following the Effective Date, which shall be granted in calendar year 2018 provided that Employee remains continuously employed by the Company from the Effective Date through the applicable date of grant, that shall consist of (i) Time RSUs with aggregate value equal to approximately 17.5% of Employee’s Base Salary and (ii) Performance RSUs with aggregate target value equal to approximately 17.5% of Employee’s Base Salary. In each case, the 2017 Guaranteed Annual Equity Award and the 2017 Performance Annual Equity Award will be subject to the anticipated terms and conditions described above in this Section 3(e) for Annual Equity Awards generally.
On or following the date of a Change in Control, all outstanding unvested Time RSUs (or, if applicable, any award(s) granted in substitution for the Time RSUs by an acquiror or successor to the Company in connection with a Change in Control) shall vest in full upon the earlier to occur of (i) the termination of Employee’s employment during the Protection Period by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 5(b) or by Employee for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c), or (ii) the first anniversary of such Change in Control. Upon the date of a Change in Control, any outstanding unvested Performance RSUs shall immediately become vested, subject to the 


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satisfaction of the performance conditions set forth in the applicable award and based on the actual level of achievement through the date of such Change in Control. Other than the 2017 Guaranteed Annual Equity Award and the 2017 Performance Annual Equity Award, future Annual Equity Awards granted to Employee shall be in the sole discretion of the Board (or a committee thereof).  For purposes of this Agreement, “Protection Period” is the period of time during the Employment Period beginning on the date of a Change in Control and ending on the first anniversary of the date of such Change in Control. 
(e)    Business Expenses.  Subject to Section 23, the Company shall reimburse Employee for Employee’s reasonable out-of-pocket business-related expenses actually incurred in the performance of Employee’s duties under this Agreement so long as Employee timely submits all documentation for such reimbursement, as required by Company policy in effect from time to time.  Any such reimbursement of expenses shall be made by the Company upon or as soon as practicable following receipt of such documentation (but in any event not later than the close of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense is incurred by Employee).  In no event shall any reimbursement be made to Employee for such expenses incurred after the date of Employee’s termination of employment with the Company.    
(f)    Benefits.  During the Employment Period, Employee shall be eligible to participate in the same benefit plans and programs in which other senior executives are eligible to participate, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and programs in effect from time to time.  The Company shall not, however, by reason of this Section 3(g), be obligated to institute, maintain, or refrain from changing, amending, or discontinuing, any such plan or policy, so long as such changes are similarly applicable to other senior executives generally.
(g)    Vacation. During the Employment Period, Employee shall be eligible to accrue vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as amended from time to time, for each complete calendar year that Employee is employed by the Company hereunder (prorated for partial years). 
(h)    D&O Insurance; Indemnification. During the Employment Period, the Company will purchase and maintain, at its own expense, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing coverage to Employee on terms equivalent to those provided to other executive officers. Further, during the Employment Period, Employee shall receive indemnification pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of an indemnification agreement that is substantially similar to that entered into between the Company and senior executives of the Company.
4.    Term of Employment.  The initial term of Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall be for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Term”).  On the third anniversary of the Effective Date and on 


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each subsequent anniversary thereafter, the term of Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall automatically renew and extend for a period of twelve (12) months (each such twelve-month period being a “Renewal Term”) unless written notice of non-renewal is delivered by either party to the other not less than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the then-existing Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Employee’s employment pursuant to this Agreement may be terminated at any time in accordance with Section 5.  The period from the Effective Date through the expiration of this Agreement or, if sooner, the termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to this Agreement, regardless of the time or reason for such termination, shall be referred to herein as the “Employment Period.” 
5.    Termination of Employment.
(a)    Company’s Right to Terminate Employee’s Employment for Cause.  The Company shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment hereunder at any time for “Cause.”  For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean: 
(i)    Employee’s commission of fraud, theft, or embezzlement against any member of the Company Group or a willful breach of fiduciary duty with respect to any member of the Company Group;
(ii)    Employee’s refusal without proper legal cause to perform Employee’s duties; 
(iii)    Employee’s breach of Sections 8, 9 or 10 of this Agreement or breach of any other written agreement between Employee and any member of the Company Group; 
(iv)    Employee’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony (or state law equivalent) or to any crime involving moral turpitude;
(v)    Employee’s misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of duties to any member of the Company Group; or
(vi)    Employee’s breach and violation of the Company’s written policies pertaining to sexual harassment, discrimination or insider trading.
Provided, however, that solely with respect to the actions or omissions set forth in Section 5(a)(ii), (iii), (v) and (vi), such actions or omissions must remain uncured thirty (30) days after the Board has provided Employee written notice of the obligation to cure such actions or omissions. For the avoidance of doubt, the actions or omissions set forth in Section 5(a)(i) and (iv) are not permitted to be cured by Employee under any circumstances. 


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(b)    Company’s Right to Terminate for Convenience.  The Company shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment for convenience at any time and for any reason, or no reason at all, upon thirty (30) days written notice to Employee.
(c)    Employee’s Right to Terminate for Good Reason.  Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment with the Company at any time for “Good Reason.”  For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean:
(i)    A material diminution in Employee’s Base Salary or target Annual Bonus;
(ii)    the relocation of the geographic location of Employee’s principal place of employment to a location more than twenty five (25) miles outside the greater Houston, Texas metropolitan area (excluding reasonably required business travel in connection with the performance of Employee’s duties under this Agreement);
(iii)    (a) prior to a Change in Control, a material diminution in Employee’s position, responsibilities or duties or (b) on or after a Change in Control, a material diminution in Employee’s position, responsibilities or duties such that Employee does not serve as, does not have responsibilities associated with or does not have duties associated with, in each case, at least the second highest ranked employee in the successor entity’s financial organization with respect to a material portion of the Company’s assets transferred to the successor in such Change in Control; 
(iv)    any material breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement; or
(v)    non-renewal by the Company of the then-existing Initial Term or Renewal Term pursuant to Section 4.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5(c) or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any assertion by Employee of a termination for Good Reason due to a condition described in Section 5(c)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) shall not be effective unless all of the following conditions are satisfied: (A) the condition giving rise to Employee’s termination of employment must have arisen without Employee’s consent, (B) Employee must provide written notice to the Board of the existence of such condition(s) within ninety (90)  days of the initial existence of such condition(s), (C) the condition(s) specified in such notice must remain uncorrected for thirty (30) days following the Board’s receipt of such written notice, and (D) the date of Employee’s termination of employment must occur within ninety (90) days following the Board’s receipt of such notice. Further notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5(c) or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any assertion by Employee of a termination for Good Reason due to the 


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condition described in Section 5(c)(v) need not satisfy the conditions described in the preceding sentence. 
(d)    Death or Disability.  Upon the death or Disability of Employee, Employee’s employment with Company shall terminate.  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Disability” shall exist if Employee is entitled to receive long-term disability benefits under the Company’s disability plan. 
(e)    Employee’s Right to Terminate for Convenience.  In addition to Employee’s right to terminate Employee’s employment for Good Reason, Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment with the Company for convenience at any time and for any other reason, or no reason at all, upon ninety (90) days’ advance written notice to the Company; provided, however, that if Employee has provided notice to the Company of Employee’s termination of employment, the Company may determine, in its sole discretion, that such termination shall be effective on any date prior to the effective date of termination provided in such notice (and, if such earlier date is so required, then it shall not change the basis for Employee’s termination of employment nor be construed or interpreted as a termination of employment pursuant to Section 5(b)).
6.    Obligations of the Company upon Termination of Employment.  
(a)    For Cause; Other than for Good Reason. If Employee’s employment is terminated during the Employment Period (i) by the Company for Cause pursuant to Section 5(a) or (ii) by Employee other than for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(e) (including, for the avoidance of doubt, as a result of a non-renewal by Employee of the then-existing Initial Term or Renewal Term pursuant to Section 4), then Employee shall be entitled to all accrued but unpaid vacation and unpaid Base Salary earned by Employee through the date that Employee’s employment terminates (the “Termination Date”) and, subject to the terms and conditions of any benefit plans in which he may participate at the time of such termination, any post-employment benefits available pursuant to the terms of those plans; however, Employee shall not be entitled to any additional amounts or benefits as the result of such termination of employment.
(b)    Without Cause; For Good Reason.  In addition to the amounts in Section 6(a), subject to Section 6(g) below, Employee shall be entitled to certain severance consideration described below, payable at the times and in the form set forth in Section 6(f) below, if Employee’s employment is terminated during the Employment Period (x) by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 5(b) or (y) by Employee for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c), the Company shall provide Employee with a severance payment in an amount equal to the sum of one (1.0) times (A) Employee’s Base Salary as in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date and (B) the target value of Employee’s Annual Bonus for the Bonus Year during which such termination occurs 


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(the “Severance Payment”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Section 6(g) below and payable at the times and in the form set forth in Section 6(f) below, if Employee’s employment is terminated during the Employment Period (x) by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 5(b) or (y) by Employee for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c), in each case, on or following the date of a Change in Control, the Company shall provide Employee with a severance payment in an amount equal to the sum of one and one-half (1.5) times (A) Employee’s Base Salary as in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date and (B) the target value of Employee’s Annual Bonus for the Bonus Year during which such termination occurs (the “CIC Severance Payment”), provided that Employee reasonably cooperates with the Company, its successor and/or the acquiror with respect to any reasonably requested transition efforts for a period of ninety (90) days following the date of such Change in Control.  
(c)    Death or Disability. If Employee’s employment is terminated during the Employment Period due to Employee’s death or Disability pursuant to Section 5(d), then Employee shall be entitled to all Base Salary earned by Employee through the Termination Date and, subject to the terms and conditions of any benefit plans in which he may participate at the time of such termination, any post-employment benefits available pursuant to the terms of those plans; however, Employee shall not be entitled to any additional amounts or benefits as the result of such termination of employment other than any acceleration of unvested equity awards pursuant to Section 6(d) below and, if applicable, reimbursement of the Monthly Reimbursement Amount (as defined below) for purposes of COBRA pursuant to Section 6(e) below.
(d)    Acceleration of Unvested Equity Awards. Subject to Section 6(g) below, if Employee’s employment is terminated during the Employment Period (i) by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 5(b), (ii) by Employee for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c) or (iii) due to Employee’s death or Disability pursuant to Section 5(d), (x) all outstanding unvested time-based equity awards under Equity Incentive Plan, in each case, granted to Employee prior to the Termination Date shall immediately become vested as of the Termination Date as to a portion of each award that would have otherwise vested on or before the first anniversary of the Termination Date if Employee remained continuously employed by the Company (with any outstanding stock options remaining exercisable, without regard to such termination of employment, for 60 days following the Termination Date) and (y) all outstanding unvested performance-based equity awards, including awards intended to qualify for the performance-based compensation exemption from Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), under the Equity Incentive Plan, in each case, granted to Employee prior to the Termination Date shall immediately become vested as of the Termination Date as to a pro rata (based on the portion of the performance period elapsed through the Termination Date) portion of each award, subject to the satisfaction of the performance conditions set forth in the applicable award and based on the actual level of achievement through the Termination Date. 


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(e)    COBRA. Subject to Section 6(g) below, if Employee’s employment is terminated during the Employment Period (i) by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 5(b), (ii) by Employee for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c) or (iii) due to Employee’s death or Disability pursuant to Section 5(d), then if Employee timely and properly elects continuation coverage under the Company’s group health plans pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall reimburse Employee for the difference between the monthly amount Employee pays to effect and continue such coverage for Employee and Employee’s spouse and eligible dependents, if any (the “Monthly Premium Payment”), and the monthly employee contribution amount that active similarly situated employees of the Company pay for the same or similar coverage under such group health plans (such difference, the “Monthly Reimbursement Amount”).  Each such reimbursement payment shall be paid to Employee on the Company’s first regularly scheduled pay date in the month immediately following the month in which Employee timely remits the Monthly Premium Payment. Employee shall be eligible to receive such reimbursement payments until the earlier of: (x) the date Employee is no longer eligible to receive COBRA continuation coverage, (y) the date on which Employee becomes eligible to receive coverage under a group health plan sponsored by another employer (and any such eligibility shall be promptly reported to the Company by Employee) and (z) the first anniversary of the Termination Date; provided, however, that Employee acknowledges and agrees that (1) the election of COBRA continuation coverage and the payment of any premiums due with respect to such COBRA continuation coverage shall remain Employee’s sole responsibility, and the Company shall assume no obligation for payment of any such premiums relating to such COBRA continuation coverage, (2) in no event shall the Company be required to pay a Monthly Reimbursement Amount if such payment could reasonably be expected to subject the Company to sanctions imposed pursuant to Section 2716 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the related regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “PPACA”) and (3) if payment of a Monthly Reimbursement Amount cannot be provided to Employee without subjecting the Company to sanctions imposed pursuant to Section 2716 of the PPACA or otherwise causing the Company to incur a penalty, tax or other adverse impact on the Company, then the Company and Employee shall negotiate in good faith to determine an alternative manner in which the Company may provide a substantially equivalent benefit to Employee without such adverse impact on the Company.
(f)    Payment Timing. Payment of the Severance Payment or the CIC Severance Payment (individually, as applicable, the “Cash Severance Payment”), as applicable, shall be divided into substantially equal installments and paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures over a 12-month period for the Severance Payment and a 18-month period for the CIC Severance Payment, in each case, following the Termination Date; provided, however, that (i) the first installment of the Cash Severance Payment shall be paid on the Company’s first regularly scheduled pay date that is on or after the date that is sixty (60) days after the Termination Date, the Company shall pay to Employee, without interest, a number of such installments equal to the number 


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of such installments that would have been paid during the period beginning on the Termination Date and ending on the Company’s first regularly scheduled pay date that is on or after the date that is sixty (60) days after the Termination Date had the installments been paid on a monthly basis commencing on the Company’s first regularly scheduled pay date coincident with or next following the Termination Date, and each of the remaining installments shall be paid on a monthly basis thereafter, (ii) to the extent, if any, that the aggregate amount of the installments of the Cash Severance Payment that would otherwise be paid pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Section 6(f) after March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs (the “Applicable March 15”) exceeds the maximum exemption amount under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A), then such excess shall be paid to Employee in a lump sum on the Applicable March 15 (or the first business day preceding the Applicable March 15 if the Applicable March 15 is not a business day) and the installments of the Cash Severance Payment payable after the Applicable March 15 shall be reduced by such excess (beginning with the installment first payable after the Applicable March 15 and continuing with the next succeeding installment until the aggregate reduction equals such excess), and (iii) all remaining installments of the Cash Severance Payment, if any, that would otherwise be paid pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Section 6(f) after December 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs shall be paid with the installment of the Cash Severance Payment, if any, due in December of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs. 
(g)    Conditions to Receipt of Severance Consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee’s eligibility and entitlement to the Cash Severance Payment and any other payment or benefit referenced in Section 6 above (collectively, the “Severance Consideration”) are dependent upon Employee’s (i) continued compliance with Employee’s obligations under each of Sections 8 and 9 below and (ii) execution and delivery to the Company, on or before the Release Expiration Date (as defined below), and non-revocation within any time provided by the Company to do so, of a release of all claims in a form acceptable to the Company, which shall be the form attached hereto as Exhibit A subject to modification based on changes in applicable law and the circumstances of Employee’s termination of employment (the “Release”), which Release shall release each member of the Company Group and their respective affiliates, and the foregoing entities’ respective shareholders, members, partners, officers, managers, directors, fiduciaries, employees, representatives, attorneys, agents and benefit plans (and fiduciaries of such plans) from any and all claims, including any and all causes of action arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company and any other member of the Company Group or the termination of such employment, but excluding all claims to severance payments Employee may have under this Section 6 or any vested rights or benefits under any of the Company’s benefit plans or any other agreement in which Employee participated immediately prior to the termination of such employment. If the Release is not executed and returned to the Company on or before the Release Expiration Date, and the required 


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revocation period has not fully expired without revocation of the Release by Employee, then Employee shall not be entitled to any portion of the Severance Consideration. As used herein, the “Release Expiration Date” is that date that is twenty-one (21) days following the date upon which the Company delivers the Release to Employee (which shall occur no later than seven (7) days after the Termination Date) or, in the event that such termination of employment is “in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program” (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended), the date that is forty-five (45) days following such delivery date.
(h)    After-Acquired Evidence. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company determines that Employee is eligible to receive any Severance Consideration pursuant to this Section 6 but, after such determination, an arbitrator determines that subsequently, during the period ending on the first anniversary of the date that the final or last Cash Severance Payment installment is paid to Employee, the Company acquired evidence that: (i) Employee has failed to abide by Employee’s continuing obligations under Sections 8 or 9; or (ii) a Cause condition existed prior to the Termination Date that, had the Company been fully aware of such condition, would have resulted in the termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to Section 5(a), then Employee shall promptly return to the Company all installments of the Cash Severance Payment (other than the first six such installments) or other Severance Consideration (to the extent possible) received by Employee prior to the date that the Company determines that the conditions of this Section 6 have been satisfied. In the event that the Company determines that the conditions of this Section 6 have been satisfied, Employee acknowledges and agrees that the first six installments of the Cash Severance Payment constitute adequate consideration for the Release.
(i)    Change in Control Definition. As used herein, “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events: 
(i)    any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) (other than  (A) any fund or account or similar vehicle, in each case, controlled or managed (as investment manager, investment adviser or equivalent) directly or indirectly by Strategic Value Partners, LLC or its affiliates, or any subsidiaries of such funds, accounts or vehicles (an “Excluded Person”), (B) the Company, (C) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company, (D) any company or entity owned, directly or indirectly, by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of common stock of the Company or (E) pursuant to a transaction or series of transactions in which the holders of the securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors to the Board (the “Voting Securities) of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto, continue to retain or represent, directly or indirectly, (either by remaining outstanding or by 


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being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity), more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Voting Securities of the Company, such surviving entity or any ultimate parent thereof outstanding immediately following such transaction or series of transactions (an “Exempt Transaction”)), becomes the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities; 
(ii)    the consummation of a merger, reorganization or consolidation of the Company with another Person, other than an Exempt Transaction;
(iii)    the consummation of a sale, disposition or other change in ownership of assets of the Company and/or any of its direct and indirect subsidiaries having a value (with “value” of such assets defined, for this purpose, as either (A) the value of the assets of the Company and/or any of its direct and indirect subsidiaries or (B) the value of the assets being disposed of, in each case, as determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets) constituting at least 50% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis), (with “gross fair market value” of such assets determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets), immediately prior to such transaction to a Person or Persons (other than an Excluded Person) in one or a series of related transactions; or
(iv)    the consummation of a transaction that implements in whole or in part a resolution of the stockholders of the Company authorizing a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company. 
For the sake of clarify, a Change in Control will not be deemed to have occurred if an Excluded Person has the ability to appoint a majority of the Board or similar governing body of any parent entity. 
7.    Disclosures.  Employee agrees to comply with the “Swift Energy Company Conflict of Interest Policy” (as amended from time to time, including any successor policy) furnished to Employee by the Company. Promptly (and in any event, within three business days) upon becoming aware of (a) any actual or potential Conflict of Interest (as defined in the Swift Energy Company Conflict of Interest Policy) or (b) any lawsuit, claim or arbitration filed against or involving Employee or any trust or vehicle owned or controlled by Employee, in each case, Employee shall disclose such actual or potential Conflict of Interest or such lawsuit, claim or arbitration to the Board.  
8.    Confidentiality.  In the course of Employee’s employment with the Company and the performance of Employee’s duties on behalf of the Company Group hereunder, Employee shall be 


13





provided with, and shall have access to, confidential information of the Company.  In consideration of Employee’s receipt and access to such confidential information and in exchange for other valuable consideration provided hereunder, and as a condition of Employee’s employment, Employee shall execute the “Employee Confidentiality Agreement” furnished to Employee by the Company (as amended from time to time, the “Confidentiality Agreement”), which shall govern Employee’s obligations with respect to Confidential Information (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) and shall supersede any similar agreements signed by Employee before the Effective Date. Any breach of the Confidentiality Agreement shall be deemed a breach of this Section 8.
9.    Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation.
(a)    The Company shall provide Employee access to Confidential Information for use only during the Employment Period, and Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Company Group shall be entrusting Employee, in Employee’s unique and special capacity, with developing the goodwill of the Company Group, and in consideration thereof and in consideration of the Company providing Employee with access to Confidential Information and as an express incentive for the Company to enter into this Agreement and employ Employee, Employee has voluntarily agreed to the covenants set forth in this Section 9.  Employee further agrees and acknowledges that the limitations and restrictions set forth herein, including geographical and temporal restrictions on certain competitive activities, are reasonable in all respects and not oppressive, shall not cause Employee undue hardship, and are material and substantial parts of this Agreement intended and necessary to prevent unfair competition and to protect the Company Group’s Confidential Information, goodwill and substantial and legitimate business interests.
(b)    Employee agrees that, during the Non-Compete Period, Employee shall not, without the prior written approval of the Board, directly or indirectly, for Employee or on behalf of or in conjunction with any other person or entity of any nature:
(i)    engage in or participate within the Market Area in competition with any member of the Company Group in any aspect of the Business, which prohibition shall prevent Employee from directly or indirectly owning, managing, operating, joining, becoming an officer, director, employee or consultant of, or loaning money to, or selling or leasing equipment or real estate to or otherwise being affiliated with any person or entity engaged in, or planning to engage in, the Business in the Market Area in competition, or anticipated competition, with any member of the Company Group (which, for this purpose, includes any company that directly competes with the Company Group as of the date hereof or in the future); or
(ii)    appropriate any Business Opportunity of, or relating to, the Company Group located in the Market Area.


14





(c)    Employee agrees that, during the Non-Solicit Period, Employee shall not, without the prior written approval of the Board, directly or indirectly, for Employee or on behalf of or in conjunction with any other person or entity of nature: 
(i)    solicit, canvass, approach, encourage, entice or induce any customer or supplier of any member of the Company Group to cease or lessen such customer’s or supplier’s business with the Company Group; or
(ii)    solicit, canvass, approach, encourage, entice or induce any employee or contractor of the Company Group to terminate his, her or its employment or engagement with any member of the Company Group.
(d)    Because of the difficulty of measuring economic losses to the Company Group as a result of a breach of the covenants set forth in Section 8 and in this Section 9, and because of the immediate and irreparable damage that would be caused to the members of the Company Group for which they would have no other adequate remedy, the Company and each other member of the Company Group shall be entitled to enforce the foregoing covenants, in the event of a breach as determined by a court of law or arbitrator, by (i) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in an Equity Incentive Plan or an award agreement, causing the forfeiture of any unvested or unexercisable awards granted under an Equity Incentive Plan (including the equity awards described in Section 3(d)) or (ii) obtaining injunctions and restraining orders from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing any actual damages or that money damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without the necessity of posting any bond or other security.  The aforementioned equitable relief shall not be the Company’s or any other member of the Company Group’s exclusive remedy for a breach but instead shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies available to the Company and each other member of the Company Group at law and equity.
(e)    The covenants in this Section 9, and each provision and portion hereof, are severable and separate, and the unenforceability of any specific covenant (or portion thereof) shall not affect the provisions of any other covenant (or portion thereof).  Moreover, in the event any arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that the scope, time or territorial restrictions set forth are unreasonable, then it is the intention of the parties that such restrictions be enforced to the fullest extent which such arbitrator or court deems reasonable, and this Agreement shall thereby be reformed.
(f)    For purposes of this Section 9, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(i)    “Business” shall mean the business and operations that are the same or similar to those performed by the Company and any other member of the Company Group for which Employee provides services or about which Employee obtains Confidential 


15





Information during the Employment Period, which business and operations include the development, exploration, acquisition and operation of oil and gas properties.
(ii)    “Business Opportunity” shall mean any commercial, investment or other business opportunity relating to the Business of which Executive was aware during his employment with the Company or about which the Executive received Confidential Information. 
(iii)    “Market Area” shall mean those counties in the State of Texas that are known be part of the Eagle Ford Shale Play including, but not limited to, Atascosa, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Brazos, Burleson, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Fayette, Frio, Goliad, Gonzales, Grimes, Jim Wells, Karnes, LaSalle, Lavaca, Lee, Live Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Victoria, Washington, Webb, Wilson and Zavala counties, and any additional areas in which the Company expands its operations or creates plans to expand its operations with such areas added to Exhibit B (“Additional Market Area”) hereof from time to time and provided to Employee.
(iv)    “Non-Compete Period” shall mean the period during which Employee is employed by any member of the Company Group and continuing for a period following the Termination Date equal to the longer of the following, as applicable: (A) if a Change in Control has not occurred on or prior to the Termination Date, 12 months, (B) if a Change in Control has occurred on or prior to the Termination Date, 18 months or (C) if Employee does not receive a Cash Severance Payment, 12 months.
(v)    “Non-Solicit Period” shall mean the period during which Employee is employed by any member of the Company Group and continuing for a period of 24 months following the Termination Date.
(vi)    Ownership of Intellectual Property.  In exchange for valuable consideration provided hereunder, and as a condition of Employee’s employment, Employee shall execute the “Swift Energy Agreement Relating to Company Intellectual Property” furnished to Employee by the Company (as amended from time to time, the “Intellectual Property Agreement”), which shall govern Employee’s obligations with respect to intellectual property and shall supersede any similar agreements signed by Employee before the Effective Date. Any breach of the Intellectual Property Agreement shall be deemed a breach of this Section 10.
10.    Arbitration.  
(a)    Subject to Section 10(b), any dispute, controversy or claim between Employee and the Company arising out of or relating to this Agreement or Employee’s employment 


16





with the Company shall be finally settled by arbitration in Harris County, Texas before, and in accordance with the then-existing American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) Employment Arbitration Rules.  The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both parties.  Any arbitration conducted under this Section 10 shall be heard by a single arbitrator (the “Arbitrator”) selected in accordance with the then-applicable rules of the AAA.  The Arbitrator shall expeditiously (and, if practicable, within ninety (90) days after the selection of the Arbitrator) hear and decide all matters concerning the dispute.  Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement, the Arbitrator shall have the power to (i) gather such materials, information, testimony and evidence as the Arbitrator deems relevant to the dispute before him or her (and each party shall provide such materials, information, testimony and evidence requested by the Arbitrator), and (ii) grant injunctive relief and enforce specific performance.  The decision of the Arbitrator shall be reasoned, rendered in writing, be final and binding upon the disputing parties and the parties agree that judgment upon the award may be entered by any court of competent jurisdiction; provided, however, that the parties agree that the Arbitrator and any court enforcing the award of the Arbitrator shall not have the right or authority to award punitive or exemplary damages to any disputing party.  The party whom the Arbitrator determines is the prevailing party in such arbitration shall be eligible to receive, at the discretion of the Arbitrator, in addition to any other award pursuant to such arbitration or associated judgment, reimbursement from the other party of all reasonable legal fees and costs associated with such arbitration and associated judgment.
(b)    Notwithstanding Section 10(a), either party may make a timely application for, and obtain, judicial emergency or temporary injunctive relief to enforce any of the provisions of Sections 8 through 9(f)(v); provided, however, that the remainder of any such dispute (beyond the application for emergency or temporary injunctive relief) shall be subject to arbitration under this Section 10.
(c)    By entering into this Agreement and entering into the arbitration provisions of this Section 10, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT THEY ARE KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVING THEIR RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL.
(d)    Nothing in this Section 10 shall prohibit a party to this Agreement from (i) instituting litigation to enforce any arbitration award, or (ii) joining the other party to this Agreement in a litigation initiated by a person or entity that is not a party to this Agreement.
11.    Defense of Claims.  During the Employment Period and for a period of 24 months following the Termination Date, upon request from the Company, Employee shall reasonably cooperate with the Company Group in the defense of any claims or actions that may be made by or against any member of the Company Group that relate to Employee’s actual or prior areas of responsibility.  The Company shall pay or reimburse Employee for all of Employee’s reasonable 


17





travel and other direct expenses reasonably incurred, to comply with Employee’s obligations under this Section 11, so long as Employee provides reasonable documentation of such expenses and obtains the Company’s prior approval before incurring such expenses.
12.    Withholdings; Deductions.  The Company may withhold and deduct from any benefits and payments made or to be made pursuant to this Agreement (a) all federal, state, local and other taxes as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and (b) any deductions consented to in writing by Employee.
13.    Title and Headings; Construction.  Titles and headings to Sections hereof are for the purpose of reference only and shall in no way limit, define or otherwise affect the provisions hereof.  Any and all Exhibits or Attachments referred to in this Agreement are, by such reference, incorporated herein and made a part hereof for all purposes.  Unless the context requires otherwise, all references herein to an agreement, instrument or other document shall be deemed to refer to such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented, modified and restated from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof.  All references to “dollars” or “$” in this Agreement refer to United States dollars.  The words “herein”, “hereof”, “hereunder” and other compounds of the word “here” shall refer to the entire Agreement, including all Exhibits attached hereto, and not to any particular provision hereof.  Wherever the context so requires, the masculine gender includes the feminine or neuter, and the singular number includes the plural and conversely.  The use herein of the word “including” following any general statement, term or matter shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation”, “but not limited to”, or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that could reasonably fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter.  Neither this Agreement nor any uncertainty or ambiguity herein shall be construed or resolved against any party hereto, whether under any rule of construction or otherwise.  On the contrary, this Agreement has been reviewed by each of the parties hereto and shall be construed and interpreted according to the ordinary meaning of the words used so as to fairly accomplish the purposes and intentions of the parties hereto.
14.    Applicable Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.  This Agreement shall in all respects be construed according to the laws of the State of Texas without regard to its conflict of laws principles that would result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.  With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to the arbitration provisions of Section 10 and recognize and agree that should any resort to a court be necessary and permitted under this Agreement, then they consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts located in Houston, Harris County, Texas.


18





15.    Entire Agreement and Amendment.  This Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement contain the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the matters covered herein and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, oral or written, between the parties hereto concerning the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument executed by both parties hereto.
16.    Waiver of Breach.  Any waiver of this Agreement must be executed by the party to be bound by such waiver.  No waiver by either party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other party, or of compliance with any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party, shall operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by such other party or any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any subsequent time.  The failure of either party hereto to take any action by reason of any breach shall not deprive such party of the right to take action at any time.
17.    Assignment.  This Agreement is personal to Employee, and neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder shall be assignable or otherwise transferred by Employee.  The Company may assign this Agreement without Employee’s consent, including to any member of the Company Group and to any successor (whether by merger, purchase or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the equity, assets or businesses of the Company.
18.    Notices.  Notices provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly received (a) when delivered in person, (b) when sent by facsimile transmission (with confirmation of transmission) on a Business Day to the number set forth below, if applicable; provided, however, that if a notice is sent by facsimile transmission after normal business hours of the recipient or on a non-Business Day, then it shall be deemed to have been received on the next Business Day after it is sent, (c) on the first Business Day after such notice is sent by air express overnight courier service, or (d) on the second Business Day following deposit with an internationally-recognized overnight or second-day courier service with proof of receipt maintained, in each case, to the following address, as applicable:
If to the Company, addressed to:
Swift Energy Company  
c/o Sean Woolverton, Chief Executive Officer 
575 North Dairy Ashford 
Suite 1200 
Houston, Texas 77079 
Email: chris.abundis@swiftenergy.com
If to Employee, addressed to the following until an updated address is provided to the Company by the Executive:


19





Christopher M. Abundis 
[redacted from filing]
19.    Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, including by electronic mail or facsimile, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.  Each counterpart may consist of a copy hereof containing multiple signature pages, each signed by one party, but together signed by both parties hereto.
20.    Deemed Resignations.  Except as otherwise determined by the Board or as otherwise agreed to in writing by Employee and any member of the Company Group prior to the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company or any member of the Company Group, any termination of Employee’s employment shall constitute, as applicable, an automatic resignation of Employee: (a) as an officer of the Company and each member of the Company Group; (b) from the Board; and (c) from the board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) of any member of the Company Group and from the board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) of any corporation, limited liability entity, unlimited liability entity or other entity in which any member of the Company Group holds an equity interest and with respect to which board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) Employee serves as such Company Group member’s designee or other representative. 
21.    Certain Excise Taxes.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Employee is a “disqualified individual” (as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code), and the payments and benefits provided for in this Agreement, together with any other payments and benefits which Employee has the right to receive from the Company or any of its affiliates, would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), then the payments and benefits provided for in this Agreement shall be either (i) reduced (but not below zero) so that the present value of such total amounts and benefits received by Employee from the Company or any of its affiliates shall be one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Employee’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) and so that no portion of such amounts and benefits received by Employee shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or (ii) paid in full, whichever produces the better net after-tax position to Employee (taking into account any applicable excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code and any other applicable taxes).  The reduction of payments and benefits hereunder, if applicable, shall be made by reducing, first, payments or benefits to be paid in cash hereunder in the order in which such payment or benefit would be paid or provided (beginning with such payment or benefit that would be made last in time and continuing, to the extent necessary, through to such payment or benefit that would be made first in time) and, then, reducing any benefit to be provided in-kind hereunder in a similar order.  The determination as to whether any such reduction in the amount of the payments and benefits provided hereunder is necessary shall be made by the Company in good faith.  If a reduced payment 


20





or benefit is made or provided and through error or otherwise that payment or benefit, when aggregated with other payments and benefits from the Company or any of its affiliates used in determining if a “parachute payment” exists, exceeds one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Employee’s base amount, then Employee shall immediately repay such excess to the Company upon notification that an overpayment has been made.  Nothing in this Section 22 shall require the Company to be responsible for, or have any liability or obligation with respect to, Employee’s excise tax liabilities under Section 4999 of the Code.  
22.    Section 409A.  
(a)    Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all provisions of this Agreement are intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code, and the applicable Treasury regulations and administrative guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “Section 409A”) or an exemption therefrom and shall be construed and administered in accordance with such intent. Any payments under this Agreement that may be excluded from Section 409A either as separation pay due to an involuntary separation from service or as a short-term deferral shall be excluded from Section 409A to the maximum extent possible. For purposes of Section 409A, each installment payment provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. Any payments to be made under this Agreement upon a termination of Employee’s employment shall only be made if such termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” under Section 409A.  
(b)    To the extent that any right to reimbursement of expenses or payment of any benefit in-kind under this Agreement constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A), (i) any such expense reimbursement shall be made by the Company no later than the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which such expense was incurred by Employee, (ii) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, and (iii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits to be provided in any other taxable year; provided, that the foregoing clause shall not be violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period in which the arrangement is in effect.  
(c)    Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or benefit provided for herein would be subject to additional taxes and interest under Section 409A if Employee’s receipt of such payment or benefit is not delayed until the earlier of (i) the date of Employee’s death or (ii) the date that is six (6) months after the Termination Date (such date, the “Section 409A Payment Date”), then such payment or benefit shall not be provided to Employee (or Employee’s estate, if applicable) until the Section 409A Payment Date.  


21





Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement are exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A and in no event shall any member of the Company Group be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by Employee on account of non-compliance with Section 409A.
23.    Clawback.  To the extent required by applicable law or any applicable securities exchange listing standards, or as otherwise determined by the Board (or a committee thereof), amounts paid or payable under this Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of any applicable clawback policies or procedures adopted by the Company, which clawback policies or procedures may provide for forfeiture and/or recoupment of amounts paid or payable under this Agreement.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company reserves the right, without the consent of Employee, to adopt any such clawback policies and procedures, including such policies and procedures applicable to this Agreement with retroactive effect.
24.    Effect of Termination.  The provisions of Sections 5, 8-12 and 20 and those provisions necessary to interpret and enforce them, shall survive any termination of this Agreement and any termination of the employment relationship between Employee and the Company.
25.    Third-Party Beneficiaries.  Each member of the Company Group that is not a signatory to this Agreement shall be a third-party beneficiary of Employee’s obligations under Sections 7-10 and shall be entitled to enforce such obligations as if a party hereto.
26.    Severability.  If an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement (or portion thereof) is invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity or unenforceability of that provision (or portion thereof)  shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
 [Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank; 
Signature Page Follows]


22








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employee and the Company each have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the Effective Date.


EMPLOYEE




/s/ Christopher M. Abundis    
Christopher M. Abundis


SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY




		
	By:
	/s/ Sean C. Woolverton     
Name: Sean C. Woolverton     
Title: Chief Executive Officer and Director    








SIGNATURE PAGE TO
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT










Exhibit A


FORM OF RELEASE AGREEMENT


This General Release of Claims (this “Agreement”) is entered into by Christopher M. Abundis (“Employee”) and is that certain Release referred to in Section 6(g) of the Employment Agreement effective as of Employee’s first date of employment with the Company (as defined herein), by and between Swift Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Employee. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meaning given to them in the Employment Agreement.  
1.    Severance Consideration.  Employee acknowledges and agrees that the last day of Employee’s employment with the Company was ___________, 2___ (the “Separation Date”). If (a) Employee executes this Agreement on or after the Separation Date and returns it to the Company, care of [NAME] [ADDRESS] [E-MAIL] so that it is received by [NAME] no later than 11:59 p.m., Houston, Texas time on [DATE], (b) does not exercise his revocation rights pursuant to Section 11 below, and (c) abides by Employee’s continuing obligations under the Employment Agreement (including the terms of Sections 8, 9, and 11 thereof), then the Company will provide Employee the Severance Consideration, which Severance Consideration will be provided as set forth  Section 6 of the Employment Agreement. 
2.    Satisfaction of All Leaves and Payment Amounts; Prior Rights and Obligations.  In entering into this Agreement, Employee expressly acknowledges and agrees that Employee has received all leaves (paid and unpaid) to which Employee was entitled during Employee’s employment with the Company and any other Company Party (as defined below) and Employee has received all wages, bonuses, and other compensation, been provided all benefits, been afforded all rights and been paid all sums that Employee is owed and has been owed by the Company and any other Company Party as of the date that Employee executes this Agreement (the “Signing Date”).  For the avoidance of doubt, Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee had no right to the Severance Consideration (or any portions thereof) but for Employee’s entry into this Agreement.  
3.    Release of Liability for Claims.  
(a)    In consideration of Employee’s receipt of the Severance Consideration (and any portion thereof), Employee hereby forever releases, discharges and acquits the Company, its affiliates, and each of the foregoing entities’ respective past, present and future subsidiaries, affiliates, stockholders, members, partners, directors, officers, managers, insurers, employees, agents, attorneys, heirs, predecessors, successors and representatives in their personal and representative capacities, as well as all employee benefit plans maintained by any Company Party 


EXHIBIT A







and all fiduciaries and administrators of any such plans, in their personal and representative capacities (collectively, the “Company Parties”), from liability for, and Employee hereby waives, any and all claims, damages, or causes of action of any kind related to Employee’s employment with any Company Party, the termination of such employment, and any other acts or omissions related to any matter occurring or existing on or prior to the Signing Date, including (i) any alleged violation through such date of: (A) any federal, state or local anti-discrimination or anti-retaliation law, including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (including as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, as amended, and Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code, as amended; and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the Texas Labor Code (including the Texas Payday Law the Texas Anti-Retaliation Act, Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code, and the Texas Whistleblower Act) as amended; (B) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”); (C) the Immigration Reform Control Act, as amended; (D) the Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended; (E) the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; (F) any federal, state or local wage and hour law; (G) any other local, state or federal law, regulation or ordinance; or (H) any public policy, contract, tort, or common law claim or claim for fiduciary duty or breach thereof or claim for fraud or misrepresentation or fraud of any kind; (ii) any allegation for costs, fees, or other expenses including attorneys’ fees incurred in, or with respect to, a Released Claim; (iii) any and all rights, benefits or claims Employee may have under any retention, change in control, bonus or severance plan or policy of any Company Party or any retention, change in control, bonus or severance-related agreement that Employee may have or have had with any Company Party other than the rights to the Severance Consideration described herein; (iv) any and all rights, benefits or claims Employee may have under any employment contract (including the Employment Agreement), equity-based compensation plan or arrangement, incentive compensation plan, limited liability company agreements, and any other agreement; and (v) any claim for compensation or benefits of any kind not expressly set forth in this Agreement (collectively, the “Released Claims”).  In no event shall the Released Claims include (x) any claim that first arises after the Signing Date or (y) any claim to vested benefits under an employee benefit plan governed by ERISA.  This Agreement is not intended to indicate that any such claims exist or that, if they do exist, they are meritorious.  Rather, Employee is simply agreeing that, in exchange for the consideration received by him pursuant to Section 2, any and all potential claims of this nature that Employee may have against the Company Parties, regardless of whether they actually exist, are expressly settled, compromised and waived.  THIS RELEASE INCLUDES MATTERS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE SOLE OR PARTIAL NEGLIGENCE (WHETHER GROSS OR SIMPLE) OR OTHER FAULT, INCLUDING STRICT LIABILITY, OF ANY OF THE COMPANY PARTIES.
(b)    Notwithstanding this release of liability, nothing in this Agreement prevents Employee from filing any non-legally waivable claim (including a challenge to the validity of this 


EXHIBIT A





Agreement) with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or comparable state or local agency or participating in (or cooperating with) any investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC or comparable state or local agency or cooperating with such agency; however, Employee understands and agrees that Employee is waiving any and all rights to recover any monetary or personal relief or recovery as a result of such EEOC or comparable state or local agency or proceeding or subsequent legal actions.  
4.    Representation About Claims.  Employee represents and warrants that, as of the Signing Date, Employee has not filed any claims, complaints, charges, or lawsuits against any of the Company Parties with any governmental agency or with any state or federal court or arbitrator for or with respect to a matter, claim, or incident that occurred or arose out of one or more occurrences that took place on or prior to the Signing Date.  Employee further represents and warrants that Employee has made no assignment, sale, delivery, transfer or conveyance of any rights Employee has asserted or may have against any of the Company Parties with respect to any Released Claim. 
5.    Employee’s Acknowledgments.  By executing and delivering this Agreement, Employee expressly acknowledges that: 
(c)    Employee has carefully read this Agreement and has had sufficient time (and at least [21] [45] days) to consider this Agreement before signing it and delivering it to the Company; 
(d)    [If 45-day period applies: Employee has been provided with, and attached to this Agreement is, a listing of: (A) the job titles and ages of all employees selected for participation in the exit incentive program or other employment termination program pursuant to which Employee is being offered this Agreement; (B) the job titles and ages of all employees in the same job classification or organizational unit who were not selected for participation in the program; and (C) information about the unit affected by the program, including any eligibility factors for such program and any time limits applicable to such program;]
(e)    Employee has been advised, and hereby is advised in writing, to discuss this Agreement with an attorney of Employee’s choice and Employee has had adequate opportunity to do so prior to executing this Agreement; 
(f)    Employee fully understands the final and binding effect of this Agreement; the only promises made to Employee to sign this Agreement are those stated herein; and Employee is signing this Agreement knowingly, voluntarily and of Employee’s own free will, and understands and agrees to each of the terms of this Agreement; 
(g)    The only matters relied upon by Employee and causing Employee to sign this Agreement are the provisions set forth in writing within the four corners of this Agreement; 


EXHIBIT A





(h)    Employee would not otherwise have been entitled to the consideration described in Section 1 above, or any portion thereof, but for Employee’s agreement to be bound by the terms of this Agreement; and
(i)    No Company Party has provided any tax or legal advice regarding this Agreement and Employee has had the opportunity to receive sufficient tax and legal advice from advisors of Employee’s own choosing such that Employee enters into this Agreement with full understanding of the tax and legal implications thereof.
6.    Third-Party Beneficiaries.  Employee expressly acknowledges and agrees that each Company Party that is not a signatory to this Agreement shall be a third-party beneficiary of Employee’s release of claims and representations in Sections 2-5 and 9 hereof. 
7.    Severability.  Any term or provision of this Agreement (or part thereof) that renders such term or provision (or part thereof) or any other term or provision hereof (or part thereof) invalid or unenforceable in any respect shall be severable and shall be modified or severed to the extent necessary to avoid rendering such term or provision (or part thereof) invalid or unenforceable, and such modification or severance shall be accomplished in the manner that most nearly preserves the benefit of the bargain set forth in the Employment Agreement and hereunder.
8.    Withholding of Taxes and Other Deductions.  Employee acknowledges that the Company may withhold from the Severance Consideration all federal, state, local, and other taxes and withholdings as may be required by any law or governmental regulation or ruling.
9.     Return of Property. Employee represents and warrants that Employee has returned to the Company all property belonging to the Company or any other Company Party, including all computer files, electronically stored information and other materials provided to him by the Company or any other Company Party in the course of Employee’s employment with the Company and Employee further represents and warrants that Employee has not maintained a copy of any such materials in any form.
10.    Further Assurances.  In signing below, Employee expressly acknowledges the enforceability, and continued effectiveness of Sections 8, 9 and 11 of the Employment Agreement and promises to abide by those terms of the Employment Agreement.  
11.    Revocation Right.    Notwithstanding the initial effectiveness of this Agreement, Employee may revoke the delivery (and therefore the effectiveness) of this Agreement within the seven-day period beginning on the date Employee executes this Agreement (such seven day period being referred to herein as the “Release Revocation Period”).  To be effective, such revocation must be in writing signed Employee and must be received by [NAME] [ADDRESS] [E-MAIL] before 11:59 p.m., Houston, Texas time, on the last day of the Release Revocation Period.  If an effective revocation is delivered in the foregoing manner and timeframe, no Severance Consideration 


EXHIBIT A





shall be provided and this Agreement shall be null and void; provided, however, that the provisions of Sections 2, 4, 9 and 10 shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by any such revocation.


12.    Employment Agreement.  This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 13, 14, 15 and 19 of the Employment Agreement, which provisions are hereby incorporated by reference as a part of this Agreement.


[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank; 
Signature Page Follows]


EXHIBIT A








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employee has executed this Agreement as of the date set forth below, effective for all purposes as provided above.


EMPLOYEE




            
Christopher M. Abundis


Date:            














SIGNATURE PAGE TO
RELEASE AGREEMENT










Exhibit B


ADDITIONAL MARKET AREA


[Intentionally Blank; Reserved for Future Use]


EXHIBIT B