exv10w9






Exhibit 10.9




SECOND AMENDMENT TO

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT




     THIS AMENDMENT is entered into as of November 4, 2008, by and between Alon USA GP, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (successor to Alon USA GP, Inc. and referred to as the
“Company”), and Jeff D. Morris (“Executive”).



     WHEREAS, the Company and Executive entered into that certain Executive Employment Agreement,
dated as of July 31, 2000, as amended by that certain Amendment to Executive/Management Employment
Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2005 (as so amended, the “Agreement”), and wish to amend the
Agreement to assure that any payments under the Agreement that (i) constitute a deferral of
compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the “Code”), comply with the requirements of Section 409A to avoid the imposition of excise taxes
and (ii) qualify for an exemption from deferred compensation treatment under Section 409A of the
Code satisfy the requirements of such exemption. Terms not defined in this Amendment will have the
meaning set forth in the Agreement.



     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:



     1. To the extent that a payment becomes due to Executive under Section 10 of the Agreement by
reason of Executive’s termination of employment, (i) the term “termination of employment” will have
the same meaning as “separation from service” under Section 409A of the Code (ii) except as
provided in Section 2 hereof, all such payments will be made in a single lump sum no later than 60
days after the date on which Executive terminates employment.



     2. If the Company makes a good faith determination that a payment under the Agreement
(i) constitutes a deferral of compensation for purposes of Section 409A, (ii) is made to Executive
by reason of his separation from service and (iii) at the time such payment would otherwise be made
Executive is a “specified employee” as hereinafter defined, the payment will be delayed until the
first day of the seventh month following the date of such termination of employment and will bear
interest at the prime rate of interest as published in the Wall Street Journal on the first
business day following the date of Executive’s termination of employment. For purposes of this
Section 2, a specified employee is an officer of Alon USA Energy, Inc. with annual compensation in
excess of $150,000 (as adjusted for years after 2008), provided that only the 50 highest paid
officers of Alon USA Energy, Inc. may constitute “specified employees” for any 12-month period. An
individual who is identified as a one of the 50 highest paid officers during any portion of a
calendar year will be a specified employee for purposes of the Agreement during the 12-month period
beginning on April 1 of the following calendar year.



     3. To the extent that any payment made under the Agreement constitutes a deferral of
compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, the time of such payment may not be accelerated
except to the extent permitted by Section 409A. Where Section 409A of the Code
permits a payment or benefit that constitutes a deferral of compensation to be accelerated,
the payment or benefit may be accelerated in the sole discretion of the Company.



 









 





     4. Any expense reimbursements required to be made under the Agreement will be for expenses
incurred by Executive during the term of the Agreement, and such reimbursements will be made not
later than December 31st of the year following the year in which Executive incurs the
expense; provided, that in no event will the amount of expenses eligible for payment or
reimbursement in one calendar year affect the amount of expenses to be paid or reimbursed in any
other calendar year. Executive’s right to expense reimbursement will not be subject to liquidation
or exchange for another benefit.



     5. Notwithstanding any provision of the Agreement to the contrary, in light of the uncertainty
with respect to the proper application of Section 409A, the Company reserves the right to make
amendments to the Agreement as the Company deems necessary or desirable solely to avoid the
imposition of taxes or penalties under Section 409A.



     6. The provisions of this Amendment supersede and replace in their entirety any conflicting
provision set forth in the Agreement.



     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written
above.



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	ALON USA GP, LLC

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ David Wiessman
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	   David Wiessman 	 
	 	 	Title:  	   Executive Chairman 	 
	 
	 	EXECUTIVE

 	 
	 	/s/ Jeff D. Morris
 	 
	 	     Jeff D. Morris 	 
	 	 	 
	 




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