f8k051510ex10i_recovery2.htm


    Exhibit
10.1

     

    Employment
Agreement

    


    Agreement dated as of May 1, 2010 by
and between Recovery Energy, Inc a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), and Roger
A. Parker (the “Executive”).

    


    
      WHEREAS, the Executive is currently
the non-executive chairman of the Company's board of directors; and

      


      WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that
the Executive's talents and abilities are unique, and are integral to the
success of Recovery Energy, Inc., and thus wishes to secure the ongoing services
of the Executive as the Company's chief executive officer on the terms and
conditions set forth herein;

       

      NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants set forth
below, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

      


    

    
      
        	
                1.  

              	
                Employment:  The Company
      hereby agrees to employ the Executive as the Chief Executive Officer
      (“CEO”) and President of the Company, and the Executive hereby accepts
      such employment, on the terms and conditions set forth
    below.

              


      

    

    


    
      	
              2.  

            	
              Compensation
      and Related Matters:

            


    

    


    
      	
              a.  

            	
              Base Salary.
      During the Executive's term of service (the "Employment Period"), the
      Company shall pay the Executive a base salary at the rate of not less than
      $240,000 per year (“Base Salary”).  The Executive’s base Salary
      shall be paid in approximately equal installments every two
      weeks.  If the Executive’s Base Salary is increased by the
      Company, such increased Base Salary shall then constitute the Base Salary
      for all purposes of this agreement.

            


    

    


    
      	
              b.  

            	
              Stock
      Compensation: The Executive has previously been granted an
      aggregate of 1,000,000 shares (the "Initial Grants") of the Company's
      common stock ("Common Stock") as set forth in the Third Amended and
      Restated Non-Executive Director Appointment Agreement entered into and
      made effective the date hereof between the Company and the
      Executive.  The Initial Grants remain in full force and
      effect.  On the date hereof the Company will issue to the
      Executive an additional 4,500,000 shares (the "Granted Shares") of Common
      Stock. The Granted Shares shall vest, subject to acceleration as provided
      below, on January 1, 2011, so long as the Executive is either (i) employed
      as the Company's chief executive officer on such date or (ii) died or
      became permanently disabled prior to such date and was employed as the
      Company's chief executive officer at the time of death or
      disability.

            


    

     

    
      
         


      

      
        1

        
          

        

      

      
         


      

    

     

    Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary, the Granted Shares shall vest upon the earlier to
occur of a “Change in Control” or the termination of the Executive’s services as
CEO by the Company other than for "Cause" or by the Executive’s voluntary
resignation for "Good Reason" (as each term is defined below).

    


    For
purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence,
subsequent to the Effective Date, of any of the following: (A) by a transaction
or series of transactions, any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of
Section 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the “Exchange Act”)) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the
combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities (provided
such person or group was not a beneficial owner of more than 35% of the combined
voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities as of the Effective
Date); (B) as a result of any merger, consolidation, combination or sale or
issuance of securities of the Company, or as a result of or in connection with a
contested election of directors, the persons who were directors of the Company
as of the Effective Date cease to constitute a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board"); (C) by a transaction or series of
transactions, the authority of the Board over any activities of the Company
becomes subject to the consent, agreement or cooperation of a third party other
than shareholders of the Company.

    


    For
purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean the occurrence of any of
the following without the written consent of the Executive:  (A) the
assignment to the Executive of duties inconsistent with this Agreement or a
change in his titles or authority; (B) any failure by the Company to comply with
Section 2 hereof in any material way; (C) the requirement of the Executive to
relocate to locations other than those provided in Section 6 hereof; or (D) any
material breach of this Agreement by the Company.

    


    For
purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (A) the Executive’s conviction by
a court of competent jurisdiction as to which no further appeal can be taken of
a felony (other than a violation based on operation of a vehicle) or entering
the plea of nolo contendere to such crime by the Executive; (B) the Executive’s
commission of a crime involving fraud or intentional dishonesty, which results
in the Executive’s substantial personal enrichment and material adverse effect
to the Company; (C) the Executive becoming subject to any securities related
sanctions related to the Company other than those based on an act of the Company
itself for which the Executive is charged solely as a result of his position
with the Company.

     

    
      
         


      

      
        2

        
          

        

      

      
         


      

    

     

    
      
        	
                c.  

              	
                Annual Bonus:
      For each full fiscal year of the Company that begins and ends during the
      Employment Period, and for the portion of the fiscal year of the Company
      that begins in 2010 ("Fiscal Year 2010"), the Executive shall be eligible
      to earn an annual cash bonus in such amount as shall be determined by the
      Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Compensation Committee") (the
      "Annual Bonus") based on the achievement by the Company of performance
      goals established by the Compensation Committee for each such fiscal year
      (or portion of Fiscal Year 2010), which may include targets related to the
      earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"),
      hydrocarbon production level, hydrocarbon reserve amounts of the Company;
      provided, that the Annual Bonus shall be targeted no less than $100,000
      (with board approval). The Compensation Committee shall establish
      objective criteria to be used to determine the extent to which performance
      goals have been satisfied.

              


      

    

    
      


    

    
      
        	
                d.  

              	
                Vacation: The
      Executive shall be entitled to four weeks of vacation per year. Vacation
      not taken during the applicable fiscal year (but not in excess of three
      weeks) shall be carried over to the next following fiscal
      year.

              


      

    

    
      


    

    
      
        	
                e.  

              	
                Expenses: The
      Company will reimburse the Executive for all expenses related to Company
      business, including, but not limited to travel, marketing, communication,
      due diligence, legal fees and expenses,
etc.

              


      

    

    
      


    

    
      
        	
                f.  

              	
                Welfare, Pension and
      Incentive Benefit Plans:
      During the Employment Period, the Executive (and his eligible spouse and
      dependents) shall be entitled to participate in all the welfare benefit
      plans and programs maintained by the Company from time to time for the
      benefit of its senior executives including, without limitation, all
      medical, hospitalization, dental, disability, accidental death and
      dismemberment and travel accident insurance plans and
      programs.  In addition, during the Employment Period, the
      Executive shall be eligible to participate in all pension, retirement,
      savings and other employee benefit plans and programs maintained from time
      to time by the Company for the benefit of its senior executives. The
      Company will provide the Executive with family health insurance coverage
      including medical, dental, and vision coverage, comparable to the coverage
      currently held by the
Executive.

              


      

    

    
       

      
        
           


        

        
          3

          
            

          

        

        
           


        

      

       

    

    
      
        	
                g.  

              	
                Professional
      Development.  The Company will reimburse the Executive
      for education and professional development expenses related to courses or
      programs selected by the Executive in the energy sector up to $20,000 per
      calendar year. The Executive may take such courses during normal business
      hours and will not be required to utilize vacation
  time.

              


      

    

    
      


    

    
      
        	
                h.  

              	
                Registration of
      Shares.  Upon request of the Executive from time to time,
      the Company will promptly file a registration statement with the
      Securities and Exchange Commission covering the Granted Shares, provided,
      that each such registration statement must cover a minimum of 100,000
      shares of Common Stock.  The Company may include shares of
      Common Stock owned by other persons or to be issued by the
      Company  in each such registration
  statement.

              


      

    

    
      


    

    
      	
              3.  

            	
              Dedication
      of Time/Conflict of Interests:  During the
      Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as the Chief Executive
      Officer of the Company, with such duties, authority and responsibilities
      as are normally associated with and appropriate for such a position. The
      Executive shall report directly to the
Board.

            


    

    


    The
Company acknowledges the Executive is not exclusively employed by the Company
and the Company acknowledges the Executive is currently active in a number of
activities related to the energy industry aznd will remain active in activities
not associated with the Company.  These activities may or may not be
in conflict with the best interests of the Company.  The Company
specifically acknowledges the Executive is permitted to continue allocating time
to business activities outside of the Company and waives any and all conflicts
of interest(s) that may or may not exist or develop in the future.

    


    The Executive acknowledges the Company
is dependent upon his knowledge and skill set and will dedicate a minimum of 30
hours per week to the Company’s business.

    


    
      	
              4.  

            	
              Responsibilities: As the CEO of Recovery
      Energy, Inc, the Executive will be responsible for developing and
      implementing the Company’s business plan, locate and review prospective
      acquisition targets, negotiate any and all required contracts and
      agreements, oversee the development plan of all acquired properties,
      execute any and all documents required to implement the Company’s business
      plan, and legally bind the Company to any agreement or
      contract.  As such, the Executive will have the authority to
      reject or modify any acquisition or development
  plan.

            


    

     

    
      
         


      

      
        4

        
          

        

      

      
         


      

    

     

    
      	
              5.  

            	
              At-Will
      Employment:
      The Executive’s employment with the Company is on an at-will
      basis.  If terminated for any reason other than Cause, the
      Company will be responsible to provide the Executive a minimum of 90 days
      Base Salary as severance payable immediately upon termination as well as
      any reimbursement of all business expenses incurred but not yet
      reimbursed.  Furthermore, the Company will release any and all
      claims to any vested Common Stock, ORRI or other compensation provided
      through the date of termination or to which the Executive is entitled at
      the date of termination.  The provisions of Section 9 will
      continue in full force for a minimum period of five years after
      termination.

            


    

    


    
      	
              6.  

            	
              Location: You will be based in
      Denver, Colorado.  During the Employment Period, the Company
      shall provide the Executive with an office if the need
      arises.  Upon mutual agreement of the Executive and the Company,
      offices maybe relocated to a different
location.

            


    

    


    
      	
              7.  

            	
              Representations
      and Warranties: Company represents and
      warrants to Executive that this Agreement has been duly authorized,
      executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due execution by
      the Executive, constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the
      Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
      terms.

            


    

    


    
      
        	
                8.  

              	
                Indemnity: The Company agrees
      that if the Executive is made a party or is threatened to be made a party
      to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative
      or investigative (a "Proceeding") by reason of the fact that the Executive
      is or was a trustee, director or officer of the Company or any predecessor
      to the Company or any of their affiliates or is or was serving at the
      request of the Company, any predecessor to the Company or any of their
      affiliates as a trustee, director, officer, member, employee or agent of
      another corporation or a partnership, joint venture, limited liability
      company, trust or other enterprise, including, without limitation, service
      with respect to employee benefit plans, whether or not the basis of such
      Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a trustee,
      director, officer, member, employee or agent while serving as a trustee,
      director, officer, member, employee or agent, the Executive shall be
      indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent
      authorized by Nevada law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended,
      against all Expenses incurred or suffered by the Executive in connection
      therewith, and such indemnification shall continue as to the Executive
      even if the Executive has ceased to be an officer, director, trustee or
      agent, or is no longer employed by the Company and shall inure to the
      benefit of his heirs, executors and
  administrators.

              


      

    

    
      


    

    
      
        	
                a.  

              	
                Expenses. As
      used in Section 8, the term "Expenses" shall include, without limitation,
      damages, losses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties, excise taxes,
      settlements, and costs, attorneys' fees, accountants' fees, and
      disbursements and costs of attachment or similar bonds, investigations,
      and any expenses of establishing a right to indemnification under this
      Agreement.

              


      

    

    
       

      
        
           


        

        
          5

          
            

          

        

        
           


        

      

       

    

    
      
        	
                b.  

              	
                Enforcement. If
      a claim or request under this Section 8 is not paid by the Company or on
      its behalf, within 30 days after a written claim or request has been
      received by the Company, the Executive may at any time thereafter bring
      suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim or
      request and if successful in whole or in part, the Executive shall be
      entitled to be paid also the expenses of prosecuting such suit. All
      obligations for indemnification hereunder shall be subject to, and paid in
      accordance with, applicable Nevada
law.

              


      

    

    
      


    

    
      
        	
                c.  

              	
                Advances of
      Expenses. Expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with any
      Proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance upon request of the
      Executive that the Company pay such Expenses, but only in the event that
      the Executive shall have delivered in writing to the Company (i) an
      undertaking to reimburse the Company for Expenses with respect to which
      the Executive is not entitled to indemnification and (ii) a statement of
      his good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for
      indemnification by the Company has been
met.

              


      

    

    
      


    

    
      
        	
                d.  

              	
                Insurance.  The
      Company will maintain a Director’s and Officer’s Insurance Policy naming
      the Executive as a covered party in an amount deemed mutually sufficient
      to the Company and the Executive.  The Executive will pursue the
      policy and its enforcement with Board
approval.

              


      

    

    


    
      	
              9.  

            	
              Survival
      of Certain Provisions: The representations,
      warranties and covenants and indemnity provisions contained in Sections 7
      and 8 of this Agreement and the Company’s obligation to pay the Executive
      any compensation earned pursuant hereto shall remain operative and in full
      force and effect regardless of any completion or termination of this
      Agreement and shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of,
      any successors, assigns, heirs and personal representatives of the
      Company, the indemnified parties and any such
  person.

            


    

    


    
      	
              10.  

            	
              Notices: Notice given pursuant
      to any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall
      be mailed or delivered (a) if to the Company, at its offices at 1515
      Wynkoop, Suite 200, Denver CO 80202, and (b) if to the Executive, at his
      offices at 1515 Wynkoop, Suite 200, Denver CO
  80202.

            


    

    


    
      	
              11.  

            	
              Counterparts: This Agreement may be
      executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
      be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same
      instrument.

            


    

     

    
      
         


      

      
        6

        
          

        

      

      
         


      

    

     

    
      	
              12.  

            	
              Third
      Party Beneficiaries: This Agreement has
      been and is made solely for the benefit of the parties hereto, and their
      respective successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or
      have any right under or by virtue of this
  Agreement.

            


    

    


    
      	
              13.  

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

            


    

    


    
      	
              14.  

            	
              Dispute
      Resolution:
      If a dispute arises out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach of
      this Agreement, and if the dispute cannot be settled through direct
      discussions, the parties agree to first endeavor to settle the dispute in
      an amicable manner by mediation. Mediation shall consist of an informal,
      nonbinding conference or conferences between the parties and the mediator
      jointly, and at the discretion of the mediator, then in separate caucuses
      in which the mediator will seek to guide the parties to a resolution of
      the case. The parties shall attempt to select a mutually acceptable
      mediator. If the parties cannot agree upon a mediator, the parties shall
      seek assistance in the appointment of a mediator from a District Judge in
      the State of Colorado.

            


    

    


    
      
        	
                a.  

              	
                Legal
      Fees and Expenses: If any contest or
      dispute shall rise between the Company and the Executive regarding any
      provision of this Agreement, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for
      all legal fees and expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with
      such contest or dispute unless an unlawful act has preceded, but only if
      the Executive prevails to a substantial extent with respect to the
      Executive's claims brought and pursued in connection with such contest or
      dispute. Such reimbursement shall be made as soon as practicable following
      the resolution of such contest or dispute (whether or not appealed) to the
      extent the Company receives reasonable written evidence of such fees and
      expenses.

              


      

    

    


    
      	
              15.  

            	
              Choice
      of Law, Jurisdiction and Venue: This Agreement shall
      be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
      State of Colorado. Any and all actions, suits, or judicial proceedings
      upon any claim arising from or relating to this Agreement, subject to
      Paragraph 8 herein, shall be instituted and maintained in the State of
      Colorado. Each party waives the right to change of venue, or to file any
      action, suit or judicial proceeding in federal court. Notwithstanding this
      provision, if it is judicially determined that either party may file an
      action, suit or judicial proceeding in federal court, such action, suit or
      judicial proceeding shall be in the Federal District Court for the
      District of Colorado.

            


    

     

    
      
         


      

      
        7

        
          

        

      

      
         


      

    

     

    
      	
              16.  

            	
              Miscellaneous: No provisions of this
      Agreement may be amended, modified, or waived unless such amendment or
      modification is agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and by a duly
      authorized officer or a director of the Company, and such waiver is set
      forth in writing and signed by the party to be charged. No waiver by
      either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of
      any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other
      party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or
      conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements
      or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to
      the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set
      forth expressly in this Agreement. The respective rights and obligations
      of the parties hereunder of this Agreement shall survive the Executive's
      termination of employment and the termination of this Agreement to the
      extent necessary for the intended preservation of such rights and
      obligations.

            


    

    


    
      	
              17.  

            	
              Section
      Headings:
      The section headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference
      only, and they form no part of this Agreement and shall not affect its
      interpretation.

            


    

    


    The
parties’ authorized representatives have executed this Agreement as of the
Effective Date, as defined above.

    


    


    Roger
A.
Parker                                                                Recovery
Energy, Inc.

    


    


    /s/ Roger A.
Parker                                       By:  /s/  Jeffrey A.
Beunier         

    Name: Jeffrey A. Beunier

    Title: Chief Financial Officer and
Director

    


    


    


    8