Document:

Exhibit

Exhibit 10.32
    
Thursday, December 13, 2018

Christine Matthews
**
**
Dear Christine,
On behalf of Zosano Pharma Corp. (the “Company”), I am pleased to offer you a full-time position with our Company. Your title will be Vice President, Controller, reporting to Greg Kitchener, CFO.  
This is an exempt position; your annual base salary will be $230,000 which will be paid bi-monthly.  In addition, you will be eligible to receive a target bonus of up to 30% of your annual base salary, in accordance with the terms of a bonus plan to be adopted by the Company.  The following employee benefits are also available: Medical, Dental and Vision coverage, Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance, Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance, and 401(k).  In addition, based on full time employment, vacation will accrue at three weeks per year and will be prorated for part time work. The Company also provides 10 paid holidays and two floating holidays. Details of these benefits will be included in the new employee orientation package. You should note that the Company may modify job titles, salaries and benefits from time to time as it deems necessary, with or without prior notification.  
If you decide to join the Company, it will be recommended at one of the next quarterly Board of Directors Meeting following your start date that the Company grant you 60,000 options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock.  25% of the shares subject to the option shall vest 12 months after your start date with the Company subject to your continuing employment with the Company, and no shares shall vest before such date.  The remaining shares shall vest monthly over the next 36 months in equal monthly amounts subject to your continuing employment with the Company.  This option grant shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s Stock Option Plan and Stock Option Agreement, including vesting requirements.  No right to any stock is earned or accrued until such time that vesting occurs, nor does the grant confer any right to continue vesting or employment.
Your employment with the Company is for no specified period and constitutes at‐will employment (as directed by California Labor Law Code). For purposes of federal immigration law, you will be required to provide to the Company documentary evidence of your identity and eligibility for employment in the United States.  Such documentation must be provided to us within three (3) business days of your date of hire, or our employment relationship with you may be terminated.
Please disclose to the Company any and all agreements relating to your prior employment that may affect your eligibility to be employed by the Company or limit the manner in which you may be employed.  It is the Company’s understanding that any such agreements will not prevent you from performing the duties of your position and you represent that such is the case.  Moreover, you agree that, during the term of your employment with the Company, you will not engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity directly related to the business in which the Company is now involved or becomes involved during the term of your employment, nor will you engage in any other activities that conflict with your obligations to the Company.  Similarly, you agree not to bring any third party confidential information to the Company, including that of your former employer, and that in performing your duties for the Company you will not in any way utilize any such information.
As a Company employee, you will be expected to abide by the Company’s rules and standards.  Specifically, you will be required to sign an acknowledgment that you have read and that you understand the Company’s rules of conduct which are included in the Company Handbook.

As a condition of your employment, you are also required to sign and comply with an At‐Will Employment, Confidential Information, Invention Assignment, and Arbitration Agreement (the “Agreement”) which requires, among other provisions, the assignment of patent rights to any invention made during your employment at the Company, and non‐disclosure of Company proprietary information.  
To indicate your acceptance of the Company’s offer, please sign and date this letter in the space provided below and return it to me, along with a signed and dated copy of the Confidentiality Agreement and the background check authorization and information forms on or before your first day of employment.  A duplicate original is enclosed for your records.  This letter and the Agreement set forth the terms of your employment with the Company and supersede any prior representations or agreements including, but not limited to, any representations made during your recruitment, interviews, or pre‐employment negotiations, whether written or oral.  This letter, including, but not limited to, its at‐will employment provision, may not be modified or amended except by a written agreement signed by an officer of the Company and you.  This offer of employment is made contingent upon your completing and successfully passing the Zosano background check and verification of the information provided on your employment application, in your interviews and by your references. Whether you have successfully “passed” the background check is solely within Zosano’s discretion.
This offer of employment will remain in effect through Thursday, December 20, 2018.
Christine, on behalf of the senior management team, we are all delighted to be able to extend you this offer letter. I look forward to working with you personally at Zosano Pharma.

Very truly yours,        

ZOSANO PHARMA CORPORATION     
    

/s/ Greg Kitchener
Greg Kitchener,
Chief Financial Officer
    

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

Christine Matthews

/s/ Christine Matthews
Signature
        
    
Date: 12/15/2018

Enclosures:
Duplicate Original Letter,
Benefits SummaryExhibit 10.1

 

SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT

 

This Severance Compensation Agreement (this
 “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [month/day/year] (the “Effective Date”) by and
between [_________] (the “Executive”) and Cimarex Energy Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Executive is an officer of the
Company.

 

WHEREAS, the Company believes that appropriate
steps should be taken to assure the Company and its affiliates of Executive’s continued employment and attention and dedication
to duty, and to ensure the availability of Executive’s continued service, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence
of a change in control or involuntary termination of employment without cause.

 

WHEREAS, it is consistent with the Company’s
employment practices and policies and in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to treat fairly its executives
whose employment terminates without cause (either before or after a change in control) and to establish in advance the terms and
conditions of an executive’s separation from employment in such event.

 

WHEREAS, in order to fulfill the above purposes,
the Company and the Executive wish to enter into this Agreement, which provides for the payment of severance benefits to the Executive
under certain circumstances in exchange for the Executive’s release of claims against the Company and agreement to abide
by certain restrictive covenants.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
mutual promises, covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

 

Article I.              Definitions;
Construction.

 

Section 1.01         Definitions.
As used herein, the following words and phrases shall have the following respective meanings unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise.

 

		(a)	Affiliate. Any entity which controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company.

 

		(b)	Annual Average Compensation. The amount determined by adding (i) the amount received by the Executive as regular
annual base salary (hereinafter referred to as “Base Salary”) during the 24-consecutive month period ending
on or immediately prior to the Date of Termination, including compensation converted to other benefits under a flexible pay arrangement
maintained by the Company or any Affiliate or deferred pursuant to a written plan or agreement with the Company or any Affiliate
but excluding overtime pay, allowances, premium pay or any similar payment and (ii) the amount of cash incentive awards received
by the Executive pursuant to the Company’s annual incentive bonus arrangement (hereinafter the “Annual Incentive
Bonus”) during the 24-consecutive month period ending on or immediately prior to the Date of Termination, and then dividing
that sum by two. If the Executive was not employed by the Company for the full 24 months prior to the Date of Termination or otherwise
did not receive Base Salary and an Annual Incentive Bonus with respect to the full 24 months immediately prior to the Date of Termination,
the amounts of Base Salary and Annual Incentive Bonus compensation actually received by the Executive shall be annualized over
the two consecutive 12-month periods ending on or immediately prior to the Date of Termination; provided that, if due to the Executive’s
date of hire the Executive has not yet been eligible to receive any Annual Incentive Bonus, then the Annual Incentive Bonus shall
be assumed to be the target level for that Executive as stated in that Executive’s offer letter or Company policy, whichever
is greater.

 

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		(c)	Average Incentive Bonus. The amount of Annual Incentive Bonus compensation that the Executive would have received with
respect to the Company’s fiscal year during which the Date of Termination occurs if the Executive were to receive the average
Annual Incentive Bonus paid to the Executive for the preceding two fiscal years.

 

		(d)	Board.  The Board of Directors of the Company.

 

		(e)	Cause. The occurrence of any of the following: (i) the willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform
substantially the Executive’s duties with the Company or one of its Affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from
incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive
by the Board or a senior officer of the Company which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or senior officer believes
that the Executive has not substantially performed the Executive’s duties, (ii) the willful engaging by the Executive
in misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company or any Affiliate, or (iii) a business crime or
felony involving moral turpitude of which the Executive is convicted or pleads guilty. For purposes of this definition, no act
or failure to act on the part of the Executive shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done,
by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests
of the Company or any Affiliate. Any act or failure to act based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by
the Board or upon the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer or a senior officer of the Company or any Affiliate or based
upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in
good faith and in the best interests of the Company.

 

		(f)	Change in Control. The occurrence of any of the following events on or after the Effective Date, provided that in the
event Code section 409A applies to payments under this Agreement, a Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred only if
the event is also a change of control within the meaning of Code section 409A and the regulations and other guidance promulgated
thereunder or not inconsistent therewith.

 

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		(i)	The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of either (x) the then
outstanding shares of common stock (the “Common Stock”) of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common
stock”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that
for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition
directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related
trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, (D) any acquisition by any corporation
pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses (a) and (b) of paragraph (iii) below; or

 

		(ii)	During any period of twelve months beginning after the Effective Date, individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute
the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided,
however, that any individual becoming a director at the beginning of such twelve-month period, whose election, appointment or nomination
for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising
the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this
purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest
with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on
behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

 

		(iii)	The closing of a reorganization, share exchange or merger (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless,
following such Business Combination, (a) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such
Business Combination will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 40% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares
of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election
of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a
corporation which as a result of such transaction will own the Company through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities, as the case may be and (b) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the
corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial
agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination or were elected, appointed or nominated by the
Board; or

 

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		(iv)	The closing of (a) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (b) the sale or other disposition of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than to a corporation, with respect to which following such sale or other
disposition, (1) more than 40% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such
sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition,
of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, and (2) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of such corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution
of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company
or were elected, appointed or nominated by the Board.

 

 

		(g)	Change in Control Protection Period. A period of two years following a Change in Control.

 

		(h)	Code.  The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

		(i)	Date of Termination.  The date on which the Executive has a Separation from Service from the Company.

 

		(j)	Disability.  The Executive shall be disabled for purposes of this Agreement if the Executive (i) is unable
to engage in any substantial, gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can
be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months, or (ii) is,
by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected
to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less
than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company. The foregoing definition of “Disability”
shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code and the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury guidance
thereunder.

 

		(k)	Good Reason.  Without the Executive’s written consent, (i) any reduction in the Executive’s annual
Base Salary other than as a result of an isolated and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company
promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive, (ii) a material reduction in the Executive’s annual
incentive compensation opportunity, provided that the Company may modify the Company’s annual incentive compensation arrangement
so long as such change is applied to all employees of the Company in a comparable manner, (iii) the Company requiring the
Executive to relocate his or her principal place of business to another metropolitan area which is more than 50 miles from his
or her previous office location; provided, however, that this clause (iii) will not apply if such relocation is to any of
the greater Houston Texas, Midland Texas or Tulsa Oklahoma metropolitan areas in connection with a move of the Company’s
corporate headquarters to such area; (iv) the failure of the Company to provide generally comparable benefits, provided that
the Company may increase employee contributions under benefit plans from time to time and/or it may modify benefits as required
by law or competitive market conditions, so long as any such modifications apply in a comparable manner to all employees enrolled
in such benefit plan or plans at a comparable level of benefits. In the case of the Executive’s allegation of Good Reason,
(A) the Executive shall provide written notice to the Company of the event alleged to constitute Good Reason within 60 days
after the initial occurrence of such event and (B) the Company shall have the opportunity to remedy the alleged Good Reason
event within 60 days from receipt of notice of such allegation.

 

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		(l)	Separation from Service.  A “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of
the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).

 

Section 1.02         Construction.
Wherever appropriate, the singular shall include the plural, the plural shall include the singular, and the masculine shall include
the feminine.

 

Article II.            Entitlement
to Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to separation benefits as set forth in
Article III below if the Executive incurs a Separation from Service from the Company that is (a) initiated by the Company
for any reason other than Cause, death, or Disability, or (b) initiated by the Executive for Good Reason within 90 days following
the expiration of the cure period afforded the Company to rectify the condition giving rise to Good Reason (a “Qualifying
Termination”). If the Executive incurs a Separation from Service for any other reason, the Executive shall not be entitled
to any payments or benefits hereunder.

 

Article III.           Separation
Benefits. If the Executive incurs a Qualifying Termination, the benefits to which
the Executive shall be entitled shall be determined as follows:

 

Section 3.01         Qualifying
Termination Outside of Change in Control Protection Period. If a Qualifying Termination occurs other than during a Change in
Control Protection Period and the Executive executes the Release in accordance with Section 3.05 below, the Company shall:

 

		(a)	pay to the Executive a severance payment equal to the sum of (i) the product of (A) the Executive’s Average
Incentive Bonus and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the calendar year during which the Date
of Termination occurs through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365, payable in a lump sum as set forth
in Section 3.03(b), and (ii) an amount equal to [two/1.5] times the Executive’s Annual Average Compensation, payable
in equal monthly installments for [24/18] months); and

 

		(b)	during the [24/18]-month period following the Executive’s Date of Termination, the Executive and his or her dependents
shall be provided with medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance benefits as if the Executive’s employment had
not been terminated (provided, that such benefits and the cost to the Executive shall be no less favorable than under the programs
in which the Executive participated during the 120-day period immediately prior to the Date of Termination).

 

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Section 3.02         Qualifying
Termination During Change in Control Protection Period. If a Qualifying Termination occurs during a Change in Control Protection
Period and the Executive executes the Release in accordance with Section 3.05 below, the Company shall:

 

		(a)	pay to the Executive a severance payment equal to the sum of (i) the product of (A) the Executive’s Average
Incentive Bonus and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the calendar year during which the Date
of Termination occurs through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365, payable in a lump sum as set forth
in Section 3.03(b),and (ii) an amount equal to [three/two] times the Executive’s Annual Average Compensation, payable
in equal monthly installments for [36/24] months); and

 

		(b)	during the [36/24]-month period following the Executive’s Date of Termination, the Executive and his or her dependents
shall be provided with medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance benefits as if the Executive’s employment had
not been terminated (provided, that such benefits and the cost to the Executive shall be no less favorable than under the programs
in which the Executive participated during the 120-day period immediately prior to the Date of Termination).

 

Section 3.03         General.

 

		(a)	The amount payable to the Executive in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.01(a)(i) or Section 3.02(a)(i) shall
be paid to the Executive in a cash lump sum at the same time that the Company pays amounts to its employees in accordance with
its Annual Incentive Bonus plan for the year during which the Date of Termination occurs; provided, however, that such cash lump
sum payment must be made (i) not earlier than the Release Effective Date, and (ii) no later than within two and one-half
months following the end of the calendar year during which the Date of Termination occurs.

 

		(b)	The payments to the Executive in accordance with Section 3.01(a)(ii) or Section 3.02(a)(ii) shall be paid
on the first day of each calendar month beginning on the first day of the calendar month immediately following the month of the
Executive’s Date of Termination and shall continue for the number of months specified in Section 3.01(a)(ii) or
Section 3.02(a)(ii), as applicable.

 

		(c)	For purposes of Section 3.01(b) or Section 3.02(b), medical, dental, and vision coverage shall be credited against
the time period that the Executive and his or her dependents are entitled to receive continued coverage under the Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended. To the extent any benefits described in such sections cannot be provided
pursuant to the appropriate plan or program maintained for the Executive, the Company shall provide such benefits outside such
plan or program at no additional cost (including without limitation tax cost) to the Executive.

 

Section 3.04         Additional
Benefits. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to relieve the Company of its obligations under applicable law to pay Executive
all salary and other compensation accrued as of the Date of Termination, to reimburse the Executive for any business expenses properly
incurred by the Executive and reimbursable under the Company’s expense reimbursement policies in effect from time to time,
and to otherwise provide the Executive with any benefits to which the Executive may be due under the terms and conditions of any
the Executive benefit plans sponsored by the Company.

 

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Section 3.05         Release.
As a condition to the payment by the Company of the amounts set forth under Section 3.01 or 3.02, as applicable, and the benefits
set forth in Article IV, the Executive must execute a release in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A
(the “Release”) within sixty (60) days following the Date of Termination and not revoke such Release within
the subsequent seven (7) day revocation period (if applicable) (the date on which the Release becomes effective, the “Release
Effective Date”). In the event the Release is not timely executed, or is revoked, such that in either case it does not
become effective within the timeframes set for the above, then (i) the Executive shall not be entitled to the bonus payment
set forth in Section 3.01(a)(i) or 3.02(a)(i), (ii) all severance payments provided in Section 3.01(a)(ii) or
3.02(a)(ii) shall immediately cease (it being understood that payments shall begin and be made as scheduled prior to such
date, and upon the failure to meet the Release requirements of this Section, any such previous payments shall not be recouped),
(iii) all continuation coverage provided in Section 3.01(b) or 3.02(b) shall immediately cease (it being understood
that such coverages shall begin and continue as scheduled prior to such date, and upon the failure to meet the Release requirements
of this Section, any such previous coverage shall not be recouped or rescinded), and (iv) the Executive shall not be
entitled to the benefits set forth Article IV.

 

Article IV.           Equity
Awards. In the event of a Qualifying Termination prior to the occurrence of a Change
in Control, the Executive’s outstanding equity awards shall be treated as follows, contingent on Executive executing and
not revoking a Release in accordance with the requirements of Section 3.05: (i) all outstanding time-vested equity awards
shall vest on a pro-rata basis on the date of the Qualified Termination, based on the period of continuous service elapsed in the
vesting period as of the date of the Qualifying Termination as compared to the total duration of the vesting period, and (ii) all
outstanding performance-vested equity awards shall first be reduced on a pro-rata basis as of the date of the Qualifying Termination,
such that the total portion of each such award that shall remain outstanding following the Qualifying Termination shall be based
on the period of continuous service elapsed in the vesting period as of the date of the Qualifying Termination as compared to the
total duration of the vesting period (such remaining portion of the awards being the “Remaining Portion”), and
the Remaining Portion shall then vest, if at all, based on the performance measures set forth in the award agreements at the end
of the relevant vesting period(s), provided that the Executive executes additional one-year non-solicitation agreements each year
following the expiration of the non-solicitation period set forth in Section 6.04, such that Executive remains subject to
a non-solicitation covenant continuously from the date of the Qualifying Termination through the end of the relevant vesting period(s).
If Executive fails to execute any such additional non-solicitation agreement, the Remaining Portion(s) of all then-outstanding
performance-vested equity awards shall immediately be forfeited upon expiration of the then-current non-solicitation period. Each
outstanding award agreement under the Company’s various equity incentive plans shall be deemed amended pursuant to the execution
of this Agreement to the extent necessary to accommodate the provisions herein, including, without limitation, delaying the forfeiture
of awards upon termination of employment during the pendency of any period in which the Executive has to execute the Release.

 

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In the event Executive remains employed through the date of
a Change in Control, the Executive’s outstanding equity awards shall be treated as set forth in the applicable equity incentive
plan(s) and award agreements.

 

Article V.            Parachute
Payments.

 

Section 5.01         Best
Net After-Tax.  In the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by the Executive from the Company
(or an affiliate) under this Agreement or otherwise (“Payments”) would be subject (in whole or part) to the
excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then the Payments shall be either (a) provided
in full pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other applicable agreement, or (b) reduced to an amount equal to the
greatest portion of the Payments that, if paid, would result in no portion of any Payment being subject to the Excise Tax (the
 “Reduced Amount”), whichever results in the receipt by the Executive, on a net after-tax basis (including, without
limitation, any Excise Tax), of the greatest amount, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such Payments may be subject to
the Excise Tax.

 

Section 5.02         Reduction
of Payments.  Any reduction shall be made by agreement of the Company and the Executive first from Payments that are exempt
from Section 409A of the Code, and only thereafter from Payments that are subject to Section 409A of the Code. To the
extent the reduction is made from Payments that are subject to Section 409A of the Code, the reduction shall first apply to
any in-kind benefits (or reimbursements) beginning with the benefits (or reimbursements) to be paid latest in time; second, to
Payments in the form of shares of common stock of the Company, beginning with shares to be delivered latest in time; third, with
respect to cash Payments, beginning with the cash Payments to be made latest in time.

 

Section 5.03         Performance
of Calculations. Unless the Company and the Executive otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this Article V
shall be made by the Company in good faith based upon the advice of the independent public accountants for the Company, or other
independent public accounting firm, or independent tax counsel designated by the Company (the “Independent Advisor”),
whose determination shall be conclusive and binding on the Executive for all purposes. The Company and the Executive shall furnish
to the Independent Advisor such information and documents as may reasonably be requested in order to make any determinations under
this Article V. The Company shall bear all costs for the determinations by the Independent Advisor. If the Independent Advisor
determines that Payments should be reduced to the Reduced Amount, the Company shall promptly give the Executive a copy of the detailed
calculation. If an underpayment is determined to have occurred, the Company shall immediately pay the Executive the underpaid amount.
If an overpayment is determined to have occurred, the Executive shall immediately repay the Company or its successor such excess.

 

Article VI.           Confidential
Material and Executive Obligations.

 

Section 6.01         Confidential
Material. The Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, either during the term of Executive’s employment by the Company
or thereafter, disclose to anyone (except in the regular course of the Company’s business or as required by law), or use
in any manner, any information acquired by the Executive during employment by the Company with respect to any clients or customers
of the Company or any confidential, proprietary or secret aspect of the Company’s operations or affairs unless such information
has become public knowledge other than by reason of actions, direct or indirect, of the Executive. Information subject to the provisions
of this paragraph will include, without limitation, all information concerning oil and gas properties owned by the Company or which
are under consideration by the Company, and all other confidential and proprietary information of the Company and its affiliates.

 

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Section 6.02         Return
of Confidential Material. All maps, logs, data, drawings and other records and written and digital material prepared or compiled
by the Executive or furnished to the Executive during the term of Executive’s employment by the Company will be the sole
and exclusive property of the Company, and none of such material may be retained by the Executive upon termination of employment.
The aforementioned materials include materials on the Executive’s personal computer. The Executive shall return to the Company
or destroy all such materials on or prior to the Date of Termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive will be under
no obligation to return or destroy public information.

 

Section 6.03         Non-Compete.
The Executive shall not, either during the term of Executive’s employment by the Company or for a period of one year thereafter,
engage in any Competitive Business (as defined below) within any county or parish or adjacent to any county or parish in which
the Company or an affiliate owns an interest (whether by ownership, leasehold or otherwise) in any oil or natural gas properties
or other properties utilized by the Company in the operation of its business; provided, however, that the ownership of less than
five percent (5%) of the outstanding capital stock of a corporation whose shares are traded on a national securities exchange or
on the over-the-counter market shall not be deemed engaging in a Competitive Business. “Competitive Business”
shall mean the acquisition, development or production of crude oil and/or natural gas, or any other business activities that are
the same as or similar to the Company’s or an Affiliate’s business operations as its business exists, and in the geographic
areas in which the Company is operating, on the Date of Termination.

 

Section 6.04         No
Solicitation. The Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, either during the term of Executive’s employment by the
Company or for a period of one year thereafter, (a) solicit, directly or indirectly, the services of any Person who was an
employee of the Company, its subsidiaries, divisions or Affiliates, or otherwise induce such executive to terminate or reduce such
employment or (b) solicit the business of any Person who was a client or customer of the Company, its subsidiaries, divisions
or Affiliates, in each case at any time during the last year of the term of the Executive’s employment by the Company.

 

Section 6.05         Remedies.
The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company’s remedy at law for a breach or a threatened breach of the provisions
of this Agreement could be inadequate or difficult to quantify, and in recognition of this fact, in the event of a breach or threatened
breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of this Agreement, it is agreed that the Company will be entitled to seek equitable
relief in the form of specific performance, a temporary restraining order, a temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable
remedy which may then be available, without posting bond or other security. The Executive acknowledges that the granting of a temporary
injunction, a temporary restraining order or other permanent injunction merely prohibiting the Executive from engaging in any business
activities would not be an adequate remedy upon breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, and consequently agrees upon any
such breach or threatened breach to the granting of injunctive relief prohibiting the Executive from engaging in any activities
prohibited by this Agreement. No remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and every such
remedy will be cumulative and will be in addition to any other remedy given hereunder now or hereinafter existing at law or in
equity or by statute or otherwise. In addition, in the event of any breach or suspected breach of the provisions of this Section 6.05,
the Company shall have the right to suspend immediately any payments or benefits that may otherwise be due to the Executive pursuant
to this Agreement.

 

     - 9 -

     

    

 

Article VII.          Successor
to Company. This Agreement shall bind any successor of the Company, its assets or
its businesses (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise), in the same manner and to the same
extent that the Company would be obligated under this Agreement if no succession had taken place.  In the case of any transaction
in which a successor would not by the foregoing provision or by operation of law be bound by this Agreement, the Company shall
require such successor expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Company’s obligations under this
Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken
place.  The term “Company,” as used in this Agreement, shall mean the Company as defined herein and any successor
or assignee to the business or assets which by reason hereof becomes bound by this Agreement.

 

Article VIII.        Miscellaneous.

 

Section 8.01         Full
Settlement.  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Company’s obligation to make the payments provided
for under this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive.  In no event shall the
Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive
under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other
employment.

 

Section 8.02         Employment
Status.  This Agreement does not constitute a contract of employment or impose on the Executive or the Company any obligation
for the Executive to remain an executive or change the status of the Executive’s employment or the policies of the Company
regarding termination of employment.

 

Section 8.03         Unfunded
Agreement Status.  All payments pursuant to the Agreement shall be made from the general funds of the Company and no special
or separate fund shall be established or other segregation of assets made to assure payment.  The Executive shall not have
under any circumstances any interest in any particular property or assets of the Company as a result of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company may (but shall not be obligated to) create one or more grantor trusts, the assets of which are subject
to the claims of the Company’s creditors, to assist it in accumulating funds to pay its obligations under this Agreement.

 

     - 10 -

     

    

 

Section 8.04         Section 409A.

 

		(a)	General. The payments and benefits provided hereunder are intended to be exempt from or compliant with the requirements
of Section 409A of the Code.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the
Company reasonably determines that any payments or benefits hereunder are not either exempt from or compliant with the requirements
of Section 409A of the Code, the Company shall have the right to adopt such amendments to this Agreement or adopt such other
policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that
are necessary or appropriate (i) to preserve the intended tax treatment of the payments and benefits provided hereunder, to
preserve the economic benefits with respect to such payments and benefits, and/or (ii) to exempt such payments and benefits
from Section 409A of the Code or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and thereby avoid the application
of penalty taxes thereunder; provided, however, that this Section 8.04 does not, and shall not be construed so as to, create
any obligation on the part of the Company to adopt any such amendments, policies or procedures or to take any other such actions
or to indemnify the Executive for any failure to do so.

 

		(b)	Exceptions to Apply. The Company shall apply the exceptions provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4),
Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) and all other applicable exceptions or provisions of Code Section 409A
to the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement so that, to the maximum extent possible such payments and benefits are
not deemed to be “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Code Section 409A.  All payments and benefits
provided under this Agreement shall be deemed to be separate payments (and any payments made in installments shall be deemed a
series of separate payments) for purposes of Code Section 409A.

 

		(c)	Taxable Reimbursements. To the extent that any payments or reimbursements provided to the Executive are deemed to constitute
 “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Code Section 409A, such amounts shall be paid or reimbursed reasonably
promptly, but not later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred.  The amount
of any payments or expense reimbursements that constitute compensation in one year shall not affect the amount of payments or expense
reimbursements constituting compensation that are eligible for payment or reimbursement in any subsequent year, and the Executive’s
right to such payments or reimbursement of any such expenses shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

 

		(d)	Specified Executive. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no compensation or benefits that are
 “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Code Section 409A shall be paid to Executive during the 6-month
period following his or her Separation from Service to the extent that the Company determines that the Executive is a “specified
Executive” and that paying such amounts at the time or times indicated in this Agreement would be a prohibited distribution
under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i).  If the payment of any such amounts is delayed as a result of the previous sentence,
then on the first business day following the end of such 6-month period (or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid
under Code Section 409A without being subject to such additional taxes, including as a result of the Executive’s death),
the Company shall pay to the Executive a lump-sum amount equal to the cumulative amount that would have otherwise been payable
to the Executive during such 6-month period.

 

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Section 8.05        Validity
and Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of the Agreement shall not affect the validity
or enforceability of any other provision of the Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect, and any prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 8.06        Governing
Law.  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of the Agreement shall in all respects be governed by
the laws of Colorado, without reference to principles of conflicts of law.

 

Section 8.07        Withholding.
  All payments to the Executive in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be subject to applicable withholding
of local, state, federal and foreign taxes, as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Company.

 

Section 8.08        Clawback.
The Executive agrees to be bound by the provisions of any recoupment or “clawback” policy that the Company may adopt
from time to time that by its terms is applicable to Executive, or by any recoupment or “clawback” that is otherwise
required by law or the listing standards of any exchange on which the Company’s common stock is then traded, including the
 “clawback” required by Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Act.

 

Section 8.09        Survival
of Provisions. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the provisions of Articles 5, 6, 7 and 8 of this Agreement
shall survive the expiration of this Agreement and the termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason.

 

Section 8.10        Entire
Agreement. This Agreement supersedes any and all prior agreements, plans or understandings between the Company and Executive
regarding the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral. By executing this Agreement, Executive understands and agrees that
Executive’s sole severance protection from the Company and its Affiliates shall be set forth herein, and that Executive shall
immediately cease participation in and shall not be eligible to participate in any other severance plan or program of the Company,
including, but not limited to, the Cimarex Energy Co. Change in Control Severance Plan. This Agreement may be amended or modified
only by a written instrument executed by Executive and the Company.

 

Section 8.11        Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have
executed this Severance Compensation Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

	CIMAREX ENERGY CO.	 
	 	 
	By:		 
	Name:	 	
	Title:	 	 
	 	 	 
	EXECUTIVE	 
	 	 
	 	 

 

     - 13 -

     

    

 

EXHIBIT A

 

GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS

 

This General Release (this “Release”)
is entered into as of this ____ day of ____________, 20__, by and between Cimarex Energy Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”)
and _____________________ (the “Executive”) (collectively, the “Parties”).

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is a party
to that certain Severance Compensation Agreement, dated __________________, 20__ (the “Agreement”), governing
the terms and conditions applicable to the Executive’s termination of employment under certain circumstances;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of
the Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the Executive certain benefits and payments under the terms and conditions specified
therein, provided that the Executive has executed and not revoked a general release of claims in favor of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Executive’s employment
with the Company is being terminated effective __________ __, 20__; and

 

WHEREAS, the Parties wish to terminate
their relationship amicably and to resolve, fully and finally, all actual and potential claims and disputes relating to the Executive’s
employment with and termination from the Company and all other relationships between the Executive and the Company, up to and including
the date of execution of this Release.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration
of these recitals above and the promises and mutual covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are expressly acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

		1.	Termination of Executive. The Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate on __________ __, 20__ (the
 “Termination Date”).

 

		2.	Severance Benefits. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, and in consideration of the Executive’s release of
claims and the other covenants and agreements contained herein and therein, and provided that the Executive has signed this Release
and delivered it to the Company and has not exercised any revocation rights as provided in Section 6 below, the Company shall
provide the severance benefits described in Section 3.01 or Section 3.02, as applicable, and Article IV of the Agreement
(the “Benefits”) in the time and manner and subject to the conditions provided therein; provided, however, that
the Company’s obligations will be excused if the Executive breaches any of the provisions of the Agreement, including, without
limitation, Article 6 thereof. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Benefits constitute consideration beyond that
which, but for the mutual covenants set forth in this Release and the covenants contained in the Agreement, the Company otherwise
would be obligated to provide, nor would the Executive otherwise be entitled to receive.

 

     - 1 -

     

    

 

		3.	Effective Date. Provided that it has not been revoked pursuant to Section 6 hereof, this Release will become effective
on the eighth (8th) day after the date of its execution by the Executive (the “Effective Date”).

 

		4.	Effect of Revocation. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that if the Executive revokes this Release pursuant to Section 6
hereof, the Executive will have no right to receive the Benefits.

 

		5.	General Release. In consideration of the Company’s obligations, the Executive hereby releases, acquits and forever
discharges the Company and each of its subsidiaries and affiliates and each of their respective officers, executives, directors,
successors and assigns (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, actions or causes of
action in any way related to his employment with the Company or the termination thereof, whether arising from tort, statute or
contract, including, but not limited to, claims of defamation, claims arising under the Executive Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of
1990, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave
Act, the discrimination and wage payment laws of any state, and any other federal, state or local statutes or ordinances of the
United States, it being the Executive’s intention and the intention of the Company to make this release as broad and as general
as the law permits. The Executive understands that this Release does not waive any rights or claims that may arise after his execution
of it and does not apply to claims arising under the terms of the Agreement with respect to payments the Executive may be owed
pursuant to the terms thereof.

 

		6.	Review and Revocation Period. The Executive acknowledges that the Company has advised the Executive that the Executive
may consult with an attorney of the Executive’s own choosing (and at the Executive’s expense) prior to signing this
Release and that the Executive has been given at least forty-five (45) days during which to consider the provisions of this Release,
although the Executive may sign and return it sooner. The Executive further acknowledges that the Executive has been advised by
the Company that after executing this Release, the Executive will have seven (7) days to revoke this Release, and that this
Release shall not become effective or enforceable until such seven (7) day revocation period has expired. The Executive acknowledges
and agrees that if the Executive wishes to revoke this Release, the Executive must do so in writing, and that such revocation must
be signed by the Executive and received by the Chairman of the Board of the Company (the “Board”) (or the Chair
of the Compensation Committee of the Board) no later than 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time on the seventh (7th) day after the Executive
has executed this Release. The Executive further acknowledges and agrees that, in the event that the Executive revokes this
Release, the Executive will have no right to receive any benefits under the Agreement, including the Benefits. The Executive
represents that the Executive has read this Release and understands its terms and enters into this Release freely, voluntarily
and without coercion.

 

		7.	Restrictive Covenants. The Executive reaffirms Executive’s commitments in Section 6 of the Agreement.

 

		8.	Cooperation in Litigation. At the Company’s reasonable request, the Executive shall use good faith efforts to
cooperate with the Company, its affiliates, and each of its and their respective attorneys or other legal representatives (“Attorneys”)
in connection with any claim, litigation or judicial or arbitral proceeding which is material to the Company or its affiliates
and is now pending or may hereinafter be brought against the Released Parties by any third party; provided, that the Executive’s
cooperation is essential to the Company’s case. The Executive’s duty of cooperation will include, but not be limited
to (a) meeting with the Company’s and/or its affiliates’ Attorneys by telephone or in person at mutually convenient
times and places in order to state truthfully the Executive’s knowledge of matters at issue and recollection of events; (b) appearing
at the Company’s, its affiliates’ and/or their Attorneys’ request (and, to the extent possible, at a time convenient
to the Executive that does not conflict with the needs or requirements of the Executive’s then-current employer) as a witness
at depositions or trials, without necessity of a subpoena, in order to state truthfully the Executive’s knowledge of matters
at issue; and (c) signing at the Company’s, its affiliates’ and/or their Attorneys’ request, declarations
or affidavits that truthfully state matters of which the Executive has knowledge. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for
the reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in the course of the Executive’s cooperation hereunder. The obligations
set forth in this Section 8 shall survive any termination or revocation of this Release.

 

     - 2 -

     

    

 

		9.	Non-Admission of Liability. Nothing in this Release will be construed as an admission of liability by the Executive
or the Released Parties; rather, the Executive and the Released Parties are resolving all matters arising out of the employer-Executive
relationship between the Executive and the Company and all other relationships between the Executive and the Released Parties.

 

		10.	Nondisparagement. The Executive agrees not to make negative comments or otherwise disparage the Company or its officers,
directors, executives, shareholders or agents. The Company agrees that the members of the Board and officers of the Company as
of the date hereof will not, while employed by the Company or serving as a director of the Company, as the case may be, make negative
comments about the Executive or otherwise disparage the Executive. The foregoing shall not be violated by truthful statements in
response to legal process or required governmental testimony or filings, and the foregoing limitation on the Company’s directors
and officers will not be violated by statements that they in good faith believe are necessary or appropriate to make in connection
with performing their duties for or on behalf of the Company.

 

		11.	Binding Effect. This Release will be binding upon the Parties and their respective heirs, administrators, representatives,
executors, successors and assigns, and will inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective heirs, administrators, representatives,
executors, successors and assigns.

 

		12.	Governing Law. This Release will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of Colorado applicable
to agreements negotiated, entered into and wholly to be performed therein, without regard to its conflicts of law or choice of
law provisions which would result in the application of the law of any other jurisdiction.

 

		13.	Severability. Each of the respective rights and obligations of the Parties hereunder will be deemed independent and
may be enforced independently irrespective of any of the other rights and obligations set forth herein. If any provision of this
Release should be held illegal or invalid, such illegality or invalidity will not affect in any way other provisions hereof, all
of which will continue, nevertheless, in full force and effect.

 

     - 3 -

     

    

 

		14.	Counterparts. This Release may be signed in counterparts. Each counterpart will be deemed to be an original, but together
all such counterparts will be deemed a single agreement.

 

		15.	Entire Agreement; Modification. This Release constitutes the entire understanding between the Parties with respect to
the subject matter hereof and may not be modified without the express written consent of both Parties. This Release supersedes
all prior written and/or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations regarding its subject matter.
This Release may not be modified or canceled in any manner except by a writing signed by both Parties.

 

		16.	Acceptance. The Executive may confirm acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Release by signing and returning
two original copies of this Release to the Chairman of the Board (or Chair of the Compensation Committee), no later than 5:00 p.m. Mountain
Time forty five days after the Executive’s Termination Date.

 

THE EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES AND REPRESENTS THAT THE EXECUTIVE
HAS FULLY AND CAREFULLY READ THIS RELEASE PRIOR TO SIGNING IT AND UNDERSTANDS ITS TERMS. THE EXECUTIVE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND
AGREES THAT THE EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN, OR HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE, ADVISED BY INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL OF THE EXECUTIVE’S
OWN CHOICE AS TO THE LEGAL EFFECT AND MEANING OF EACH OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS RELEASE, AND IS ENTERING INTO THIS RELEASE
FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY AND NOT IN RELIANCE ON ANY PROMISES OR REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH IN THIS RELEASE.

 

     - 4 -

     

    

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have duly
executed this Release as of the date first above written.

 

	CIMAREX ENERGY CO.	 
	 	 
	By:	 	 
	Name:		 
	Title:	 	 
	 	 	 
	EXECUTIVE	 
	 	 
	 	 

 

     - 5 -

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