Document:

Prepared by R.R. Donnelley Financial -- EX-10.6

 Exhibit 10.6 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT 

 TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 

									
	 	 	 	  	 	  	Page	 
	1.	 	Definitions	  	 	1	  
			
	2.	 	Registration Rights	  	 	3	  
		 	2.1	  	Demand Registration	  	 	3	  
		 	2.2	  	Company Registration	  	 	4	  
		 	2.3	  	Underwriting Requirements	  	 	5	  
		 	2.4	  	Obligations of the Company	  	 	6	  
		 	2.5	  	Furnish Information	  	 	8	  
		 	2.6	  	Expenses of Registration	  	 	8	  
		 	2.7	  	Delay of Registration	  	 	8	  
		 	2.8	  	Indemnification	  	 	8	  
		 	2.9	  	Reports Under Exchange Act	  	 	10	  
		 	2.10	  	Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights	  	 	11	  
		 	2.11	  	“Market Stand-off” Agreement	  	 	11	  
		 	2.12	  	Termination of Registration Rights	  	 	12	  
			
	3.	 	Miscellaneous	  	 	12	  
		 	3.1	  	Successors and Assigns	  	 	12	  
		 	3.2	  	Governing Law	  	 	13	  
		 	3.3	  	Counterparts	  	 	13	  
		 	3.4	  	Titles and Subtitles	  	 	13	  
		 	3.5	  	Notices	  	 	13	  
		 	3.6	  	Amendments and Waivers	  	 	13	  
		 	3.7	  	Severability	  	 	14	  
		 	3.8	  	Aggregation of Stock	  	 	14	  
		 	3.9	  	Entire Agreement	  	 	14	  
		 	3.10	  	Dispute Resolution	  	 	14	  
		 	3.11	  	Delays or Omissions	  	 	15	  
		 	3.12	  	Acknowledgment	  	 	15	  

 Schedule A - Schedule of Investors 

  
 i 

 REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT is made as of the 24th day of November, 2014, by and
among Ascendis Pharma A/S, a Danish public limited liability company (the “Company”), and each of the investors listed on Schedule A hereto, each of which is referred to in this Agreement as an “Investor”.

 RECITALS 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Investors are parties to the Investment Agreement of even date herewith (the “Investment
Agreement”); and 
 WHEREAS, in order to induce the Company to enter into the Investment Agreement and to induce the Investors
to invest funds in the Company pursuant to the Investment Agreement, the Investors and the Company hereby agree that this Agreement shall govern the rights of the Investors to cause the Company to register Ordinary Shares issuable to the Investors
and shall govern certain other matters as set forth in this Agreement; 
 NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows: 

1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement: 

1.1 “Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who, directly or indirectly, controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with such Person, including without limitation any general partner, managing member, officer or director of such Person or any venture capital fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by one or more
general partners or managing members of, or shares the same management company with, such Person. 
 1.2 “Damages” means
any loss, damage, claim or liability (joint or several) to which a party hereto may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other applicable securities law, rule or regulation, insofar as such loss, damage, claim or liability
(or any action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement of the Company, including any preliminary prospectus or final
prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto; (ii) an omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or
(iii) any violation or alleged violation by the indemnifying party (or any of its agents or Affiliates) of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other applicable securities law, or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act, or any applicable securities law. 
 1.3 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. 
 1.4 “Excluded Registration” means (i) a
registration relating to the sale of securities to employees of the Company or a subsidiary pursuant to a compensatory warrant, stock option, stock purchase, or similar plan; (ii) a registration relating to an SEC Rule 145 transaction;
(iii) a registration on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of 

 
the Registrable Securities; or (iv) a registration in which the only Ordinary Shares being registered are Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of debt securities that are also being
registered. 
 1.5 “Form F-1” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect
on the date hereof or any successor registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC; provided, however that if the Company ceases to be a “Foreign Private Issuer” (as defined in the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act) and becomes eligible to use Form S-1 under the Securities Act, then all references to Form F-1 herein shall be deemed to be references to Form S-1. 

1.6 “Form F-3” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date
hereof or any registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC that permits incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC; provided, however that if the Company
ceases to be a “Foreign Private Issuer” (as defined in the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) and becomes eligible to use Form S-3 under the Securities Act, then all references to Form F-3 herein shall be deemed to be references to Form
S-3. 
 1.7 “Holder” means any holder of Registrable Securities who is a party to this Agreement. 

1.8 “Immediate Family Member” means a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, domestic
partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, of a natural person referred to herein. 

1.9 “Initiating Holders” means, collectively, Holders who properly initiate a registration request under this Agreement. 

1.10 “IPO” means the Company’s first underwritten public offering of its Ordinary Shares (or other securities) under the
Securities Act. 
 1.11 “Ordinary Shares” means the Company’s Ordinary Shares, nominal value DKK 1 per share.

 1.12 “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, association or other
entity. 
 1.13 “Preferred Stock” means, collectively, all shares of the Company’s Preference Shares, nominal value
DKK 1 per share. 
 1.14 “Registrable Securities” means (i) the Ordinary Shares issuable or issued upon
conversion of the Series D Preferred Stock; (ii) any Ordinary Shares, or any Ordinary Shares issued or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise of any other securities of the Company, acquired by the Investors
after the date hereof; and (iii) any Ordinary Shares issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right, or other security that is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in

  
 2 

 
replacement of, the shares referenced in clauses (i) and (ii) above; excluding in all cases, however, any Registrable Securities sold by a Person in a transaction in which
the applicable rights under this Agreement are not assigned pursuant to Subsection 3.1 of this Agreement. 
 1.15
“Registrable Securities then outstanding” means the number of shares determined by adding the number of shares of Ordinary Shares that are Registrable Securities and the number of shares of Ordinary Shares issuable (directly or
indirectly) pursuant to then exercisable and/or convertible securities that are Registrable Securities. 
 1.16 “SEC” means
the Securities and Exchange Commission. 
 1.17 “SEC Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities
Act. 
 1.18 “SEC Rule 145” means Rule 145 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act. 

1.19 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 1.20 “Selling Expenses” means all underwriting discounts, selling commissions, and stock transfer taxes applicable to
the sale of Registrable Securities, and fees and disbursements of counsel for any Holder, except for the fees and disbursements of the Selling Holder Counsel borne and paid by the Company as provided in Subsection 2.6. 

1.21 “Series D Preferred Stock” means the Company’s Preference D Shares, nominal value DKK 1 per share. 

1.22 “Shareholders’ Agreement” means the Restated and Amended Shareholders’ Agreement by and the Company and the
Investors (as defined therein) of even date herewith (as may be amended from time to time). 
 2. Registration Rights. The Company
covenants and agrees as follows: 
 2.1 Demand Registration. 

(a) Form F-3 Demand. If at any time when it is eligible to use a Form F-3 registration statement, the Company receives a request from
Holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding that the Company file a Form F-3 registration statement with respect to outstanding Registrable Securities of such Holders having an anticipated
aggregate offering price, net of Selling Expenses, of at least $5 million, then the Company shall (i) within thirty (30) days after the date such request is given, give a Demand Notice to all Holders other than the Initiating Holders; and
(ii) as soon as practicable, and in any event within sixty (60) days after the date such request is given by the Initiating Holders, use best efforts to file a Form F-3 registration statement under the Securities Act covering all
Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any other Holders, as specified by notice given by each such Holder to the Company within ten (10) days of the date the Demand Notice is given, and in each case, subject to
the limitations of Subsection 2.1(b) and Subsection 2.3. 

  
 3 

 (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing obligations, if the Company furnishes to Holders requesting a
registration pursuant to this Subsection 2.1 a certificate signed by the Company’s chief executive officer stating that in the good faith judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors it would be materially detrimental to the Company
and its shareholders for such registration statement to either become effective or remain effective for as long as such registration statement otherwise would be required to remain effective, because such action would (i) materially interfere
with a significant acquisition, corporate reorganization, or other similar transaction involving the Company; (ii) require premature disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as
confidential; or (iii) render the Company unable to comply with requirements under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, then the Company shall have the right to defer taking action with respect to such filing, and any time periods with respect
to filing or effectiveness thereof shall be tolled correspondingly, for a period of not more than thirty (30) days after the request of the Initiating Holders is given; provided, however, that the Company may not invoke this right
more than once in any twelve (12) month period; and provided further that the Company shall not register any securities for its own account or that of any other shareholder during such thirty (30) day period other than an
Excluded Registration. 
 (c) The Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take any action to effect, any registration pursuant to
Subsection 2.1(a) (i) during the period that is thirty (30) days before the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of filing of, and ending on a date that is ninety (90) days after the effective date of, a
Company-initiated registration, provided, that the Company is actively employing in good faith commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective; or (ii) if the Company has effected two
registrations pursuant to Subsection 2.1(a) within the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the date of such request. A registration shall not be counted as “effected” for purposes of this Subsection 2.1(c)
until such time as the applicable registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC. 
 2.2 Company Registration. If the
Company proposes to register (including, for this purpose, a registration effected by the Company for shareholders other than the Holders) any of its securities under the Securities Act in connection with the public offering of such securities
solely for cash (other than in an Excluded Registration), the Company shall, at such time, promptly give each Holder notice of such registration. Upon the request of each Holder given within ten (10) days after such notice is given by the
Company, the Company shall, subject to the provisions of Subsection 2.3, use best efforts to cause to be registered all of the Registrable Securities that each such Holder has requested to be included in such registration. The Company shall
have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Subsection 2.2 before the effective date of such registration, whether or not any Holder has elected to include Registrable Securities in such registration.
The expenses (other than Selling Expenses) of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Subsection 2.6. 

  
 4 

 2.3 Underwriting Requirements. 

(a) If, pursuant to Subsection 2.1, the Initiating Holders intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by
means of an underwriting, they shall so advise the Company as a part of their request made pursuant to Subsection 2.1, and the Company shall include such information in the Demand Notice. The underwriter(s) will be selected by the Initiating
Holders, subject only to the reasonable approval of the Company. In such event, the right of any Holder to include such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such
underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall (together with the Company as
provided in Subsection 2.4(e)) enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter(s) selected for such underwriting. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Subsection 2.3, if the managing underwriter(s)
advise(s) the Initiating Holders in writing that marketing factors require a limitation on the number of shares to be underwritten, then the Initiating Holders shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities that otherwise would be
underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of Registrable Securities that may be included in the underwriting shall be allocated among such Holders of Registrable Securities, including the Initiating Holders, in proportion (as nearly as
practicable) to the number of Registrable Securities owned by each Holder or in such other proportion as shall mutually be agreed to by all such selling Holders; provided, however, that the number of Registrable Securities held by the
Holders to be included in such underwriting shall not be reduced unless all other securities are first entirely excluded from the underwriting. To facilitate the allocation of shares in accordance with the above provisions, the Company or the
underwriters may round the number of shares allocated to any Holder to the nearest 100 shares. 
 (b) In connection with any offering
involving an underwriting of shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to Subsection 2.2, the Company shall not be required to include any of the Holders’ Registrable Securities in such underwriting unless the Holders accept
the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and its underwriters, and then only in such quantity as the underwriters in their sole discretion determine will not jeopardize the success of the offering by the Company. If the total
number of securities, including Registrable Securities, requested by shareholders to be included in such offering exceeds the number of securities to be sold (other than by the Company) that the underwriters in their reasonable discretion determine
is compatible with the success of the offering, then the Company shall be required to include in the offering only that number of such securities, including Registrable Securities, which the underwriters and the Company in their sole discretion
determine will not jeopardize the success of the offering. If the underwriters determine that less than all of the Registrable Securities requested to be registered can be included in such offering, then the Registrable Securities that are included
in such offering shall be allocated among the selling Holders in proportion (as nearly as practicable to) the number of Registrable Securities owned by each selling Holder or in such other proportions as shall mutually be agreed to by all such
selling Holders. To facilitate the allocation of shares in accordance with the above provisions, the Company or the underwriters may round the number of shares allocated to any Holder to the nearest 100 shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no
event shall (i) the number of Registrable Securities included in the offering be reduced unless all other securities (other than securities to be sold by the Company) are first entirely excluded from the offering, or (ii) the

  
 5 

 
number of Registrable Securities included in the offering be reduced below thirty percent (30%) of the total number of securities included in such offering, unless such offering is the IPO,
in which case the selling Holders may be excluded further if the underwriters make the determination described above and no other shareholder’s securities are included in such offering. For purposes of the provision in this Subsection
2.3(b) concerning apportionment, for any selling Holder that is a partnership, limited liability company, or corporation, the partners, members, retired partners, retired members, shareholders, and Affiliates of such Holder, or the estates and
Immediate Family Members of any such partners, retired partners, members, and retired members and any trusts for the benefit of any of the foregoing Persons, shall be deemed to be a single “selling Holder,” and any pro rata reduction with
respect to such “selling Holder” shall be based upon the aggregate number of Registrable Securities owned by all Persons included in such “selling Holder,” as defined in this sentence. 

(c) For purposes of Subsection 2.1, a registration shall not be counted as “effected” if, as a result of an exercise of the
underwriter’s cutback provisions in Subsection 2.3(a), fewer than fifty percent (50%) of the total number of Registrable Securities that Holders have requested to be included in such registration statement are actually included. 

2.4 Obligations of the Company. Whenever required under this Section 2 to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities,
the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible: 
 (a) prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to
such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and, upon the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered thereunder, keep such
registration statement effective for a period of up to one hundred twenty (120) days or, if earlier, until the distribution contemplated in the registration statement has been completed; provided, however, that (i) such one
hundred twenty (120) day period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the Holder refrains, at the request of an underwriter of Ordinary Shares (or other securities) of the Company, from selling any securities included in
such registration, and (ii) in the case of any registration of Registrable Securities on Form F-3 that are intended to be offered on a continuous or delayed basis, subject to compliance with applicable SEC rules, such one hundred twenty
(120) day period shall be extended for up to three hundred sixty five (365) days, if necessary, to keep the registration statement effective until all such Registrable Securities are sold; 

(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement, and the prospectus used in connection with
such registration statement, as may be necessary to comply with the Securities Act in order to enable the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement; 

(c) furnish to the selling Holders such numbers of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, as required by the Securities
Act, and such other documents as the Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate their disposition of their Registrable Securities; 

  
 6 

 (d) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by
such registration statement under such other securities or blue-sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the selling Holders; provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify to do business or to
file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions, unless the Company is already subject to service in such jurisdiction and except as may be required by the Securities Act; 

(e) in the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and
customary form, with the underwriter(s) of such offering; 
 (f) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable
Securities covered by such registration statement to be listed on a national securities exchange or trading system and each securities exchange and trading system (if any) on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed; 

(g) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement and provide a CUSIP number
for all such Registrable Securities, in each case not later than the effective date of such registration; 
 (h) promptly make available
for inspection by the selling Holders, any underwriter(s) participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement, and any attorney or accountant or other agent retained by any such underwriter or selected by the selling Holders,
all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents, and properties of the Company, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant, or agent, in each case, as necessary or advisable to verify the accuracy of the information in such registration statement and to conduct appropriate due diligence in connection therewith; 

(i) notify each selling Holder, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when such registration statement has been
declared effective or a supplement to any prospectus forming a part of such registration statement has been filed; 
 (j) use its
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain for the underwriters one or more “comfort” letters, dated the effective date of the related registration statement (and, if such registration includes an underwritten public offering, dated the
date of the closing under the underwriting agreement), signed by the Company’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “comfort” letters; and 

(k) use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain for the underwriters on the date such securities are delivered to the underwriters for
sale pursuant to such registration a legal opinion of the Company’s outside counsel with respect to the registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included therein (including the preliminary prospectus) and
such other documents relating thereto in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by legal opinions of such nature. 

  
 7 

 In addition, the Company shall ensure that, at all times after any registration statement
covering a public offering of securities of the Company under the Securities Act shall have become effective, its insider trading policy shall provide that the Company’s directors may implement a trading program under Rule 10b5-1 of the
Exchange Act. 
 2.5 Furnish Information. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action
pursuant to this Section 2 with respect to the Registrable Securities of any selling Holder that such Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of
disposition of such securities as is reasonably required to effect the registration of such Holder’s Registrable Securities. 
 2.6
Expenses of Registration. All expenses (other than Selling Expenses) incurred in connection with registrations, filings, or qualifications pursuant to Section 2, including all registration, filing, and qualification fees; printers’
and accounting fees; fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; and the reasonable fees and disbursements, not to exceed $50,000, of one counsel for the selling Holders (“Selling Holder Counsel”), shall be borne and paid by
the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay for any expenses of any registration proceeding begun pursuant to Subsection 2.1 if the registration request is subsequently withdrawn at the request
of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be registered (in which case all selling Holders shall bear such expenses pro rata based upon the number of Registrable Securities that were to be included in the withdrawn
registration),; provided further that if, at the time of such withdrawal, the Holders shall have learned of a material adverse change in the condition, business, or prospects of the Company from that known to the Holders at the time of
their request and have withdrawn the request with reasonable promptness after learning of such information then the Holders shall not be required to pay any of such expenses. All Selling Expenses relating to Registrable Securities registered
pursuant to this Section 2 shall be borne and paid by the Holders pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities registered on their behalf. 

2.7 Delay of Registration. No Holder shall have any right to obtain or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any
registration pursuant to this Agreement as the result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or implementation of this Section 2. 

2.8 Indemnification. If any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under this Section 2: 

(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each selling Holder, and the partners, members, officers,
directors, and shareholders of each such Holder; legal counsel and accountants for each such Holder; any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for each such Holder; and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the
meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any Damages, and the Company will pay to each such Holder, underwriter, controlling Person, or other aforementioned Person any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred thereby in
connection with investigating or defending any claim or proceeding from which Damages may result, as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the indemnity 

  
 8 

 
agreement contained in this Subsection 2.8(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claim or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of the
Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, nor shall the Company be liable for any Damages to the extent that they arise out of or are based upon actions or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished by or on behalf of any such Holder, underwriter, controlling Person, or other aforementioned Person expressly for use in connection with such registration. 

(b) To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and each of
its directors, each of its officers who has signed the registration statement, each Person (if any), who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, legal counsel and accountants for the Company, any underwriter (as defined in the
Securities Act), any other Holder selling securities in such registration statement, and any controlling Person of any such underwriter or other Holder, against any Damages, in each case only to the extent that such Damages arise out of or are based
upon actions or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on behalf of such selling Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration; and each such selling Holder will pay to the Company
and each other aforementioned Person any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred thereby in connection with investigating or defending any claim or proceeding from which Damages may result, as such expenses are incurred; provided,
however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Subsection 2.8(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claim or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld; and provided further that in no event shall the aggregate amounts payable by any Holder by way of indemnity or contribution under Subsections 2.8(b) and 2.8(d) exceed the proceeds from
the offering received by such Holder (net of any Selling Expenses paid by such Holder), except in the case of fraud or willful misconduct by such Holder. 

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Subsection 2.8 of notice of the commencement of any action (including
any governmental action) for which a party may be entitled to indemnification hereunder, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Subsection 2.8, give the indemnifying
party notice of the commencement thereof. The indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in such action and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, participate jointly with any other indemnifying party to which notice has been
given, and to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party (together with all other indemnified parties that may be represented without conflict by one
counsel) shall have the right to retain one separate counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due
to actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such action. 

(d) To provide for just and equitable contribution to joint liability under the Securities Act in any case in which either (i) any party
otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Subsection 2.8 but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent

  
 9 

 
jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case, notwithstanding the fact that this
Subsection 2.8 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any party hereto for which indemnification is provided under this Subsection 2.8, then, and in
each such case, such parties will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of each
of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the statements, omissions, or other actions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability, or expense, as well as to reflect any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact, or the omission or alleged omission of a material
fact, relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission; provided,
however, that, in any such case, (x) no Holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the public offering price of all such Registrable Securities offered and sold by such Holder pursuant to such registration statement,
and (y) no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation; and
provided further that in no event shall a Holder’s liability pursuant to this Subsection 2.8(d), when combined with the amounts paid or payable by such Holder pursuant to Subsection 2.8(b), exceed the proceeds from
the offering received by such Holder (net of any Selling Expenses paid by such Holder), except in the case of willful misconduct or fraud by such Holder. 

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting
agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control. 

(f) Unless otherwise superseded by an underwriting agreement entered into in connection with an underwritten public offering, the obligations
of the Company and Holders under this Subsection 2.8 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration under this Section 2, and otherwise shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 2.9 Reports Under Exchange Act. With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of SEC Rule 144 and any other rule or
regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form F-3, the Company shall: 

(a) make and keep available adequate current public information, as those terms are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144, at all times
after the effective date of the registration statement filed by the Company for the IPO; 
 (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to file
with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements); and 

  
 10 

 (c) furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, forthwith upon
request (i) to the extent accurate, a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of SEC Rule 144 (at any time after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the registration statement filed by
the Company for the IPO), the Securities Act, and the Exchange Act (at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements), or that it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form F-3 (at any time after the Company so qualifies); (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company; and (iii) such other
information as may be reasonably requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such securities without registration (at any time after the Company has become subject to the reporting
requirements under the Exchange Act) or pursuant to Form F-3 (at any time after the Company so qualifies to use such form). 

2.10 Limitations on Subsequent Registration Rights. From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior
written consent of the Holders of at least 65% of the Registrable Securities then outstanding, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company that (i) would allow such holder or prospective
holder to include such securities in any registration unless, under the terms of such agreement, such holder or prospective holder may include such securities in any such registration only to the extent that the inclusion of such securities will not
reduce the number of the Registrable Securities of the Holders that are included. 
 2.11 “Market
Stand-off” Agreement. Each Holder hereby agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the managing underwriter, during the period commencing on the date of the final prospectus
relating to the registration by the Company for its own behalf of Ordinary Shares or any other equity securities under the Securities Act on a registration statement on Form F-1, and ending on the date specified by the Company and the managing
underwriter (such period not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days in the case of the IPO, or such other period as may be requested by the Company or an underwriter to accommodate regulatory restrictions on (1) the publication or other
distribution of research reports and (2) analyst recommendations and opinions, including, but not limited to, the restrictions contained in FINRA Rule 2711(f)(4) or NYSE Rule 472(f)(4), or any successor provisions or amendments thereto),
(i) lend; offer; pledge; sell; contract to sell; sell any option or contract to purchase; purchase any option or contract to sell; grant any option, right, or warrant to purchase; or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
Ordinary Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable (directly or indirectly) for Ordinary Shares held immediately before the effective date of the registration statement for such offering or (ii) enter into any
swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of
Ordinary Shares or other securities, in cash, or otherwise. The foregoing provisions of this Subsection 2.11 shall apply only to the IPO and, subject to customary qualifications and limitations, shall not apply to the sale of any shares to an
underwriter pursuant to an underwriting agreement or to the sale of 

  
 11 

 
shares purchased from an underwriter in connection with the IPO or purchased in the open market following the IPO, or the transfer of any shares to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of
the Holder or an Immediate Family Member of the Holder, provided that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a
disposition for value, and shall be applicable to the Holders only if all officers and directors are subject to the same restrictions and the Company obtains a similar agreement from all shareholders individually owning more than one percent
(1%) of the Company’s outstanding Ordinary Shares (after giving effect to conversion into Ordinary Shares of all outstanding Preferred Stock). The underwriters in connection with such registration are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Subsection 2.11 and shall have the right, power, and authority to enforce the provisions hereof as though they were a party hereto. Each Holder further agrees to execute such
agreements as may be reasonably requested by the underwriters in connection with such registration that are consistent with this Subsection 2.11 or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. Subject to customary qualifications and
limitations, any discretionary waiver or termination of the restrictions of any or all of such agreements by the Company or the underwriters shall apply pro rata to all Holders. 

2.12 Termination of Registration Rights 

(a) The right of any Holder to request registration or inclusion of Registrable Securities in any registration pursuant to Subsections
2.1 or 2.2 shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of: 
 (b) the closing of a Change of Control, as such term is defined in
the Shareholders’ Agreement; 
 (c) such time as Rule 144 (or Regulation S) or another similar exemption under the Securities Act is
available for the sale of all of such Holder’s shares without limitation during a three-month period without registration; and 
 (d)
the fifth anniversary of the IPO. 
 3. Miscellaneous. 

3.1 Successors and Assigns. The rights under this Agreement may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a
transferee of Registrable Securities that (i) is an Affiliate of a Holder; (ii) is a Holder’s Immediate Family Member or trust for the benefit of an individual Holder or one or more of such Holder’s Immediate Family Members; or
(iii) after such transfer, holds at least 50% of such Holder’s Registrable Securities (subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, and other recapitalizations); provided, however, that
(x) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee and the Registrable Securities with respect to which such rights are being transferred; and (y) such
transferee agrees in a written instrument delivered to the Company to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the provisions of Subsection 2.11. For the purposes of determining the number of shares of
Registrable Securities held by a transferee, the holdings of a transferee (1) that is an Affiliate or shareholder of a Holder; (2) who is a Holder’s 

  
 12 

 
Immediate Family Member; or (3) that is a trust for the benefit of an individual Holder or such Holder’s Immediate Family Member shall be aggregated together and with those of the
transferring Holder; provided further that all transferees who would not qualify individually for assignment of rights shall have a single attorney-in-fact for the purpose of exercising any rights, receiving notices, or taking any action
under this Agreement. The terms and conditions of this Agreement inure to the benefit of and are binding upon the respective successors and permitted assignees of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon
any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assignees any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein. 

3.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal law of the State of California. 

3.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly
delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.  
 3.4 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in
this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement. 
 3.5 Notices.
All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon the earlier of actual receipt or: (i) personal delivery to the party to be notified; (ii) when
sent, if sent by electronic mail or facsimile during the recipient’s normal business hours, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the recipient’s next business day; (iii) five (5) days after having been sent by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (iv) one (1) business day after the business day of deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next-day delivery, with
written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective parties at their addresses as set forth on Schedule A hereto, or to the principal office of the Company and to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer, in the
case of the Company, or to such email address, facsimile number, or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Subsection 3. If notice is given to the Company, a copy shall also be sent to
Latham & Watkins LLP, 140 Scott Drive, Menlo Park, California, Attn: Alan C. Mendelson and Mark V. Roeder, with a copy to Mazanti-Andersen Korsø Jensen, Amaliegade 10, 1256 Copenhagen, Att.: Lars Lüthjohan Jensen; and if notice
is given to Investors, a copy shall also be given to K&L Gates, LLP, One Park Plaza, 12th Floor, Irvine CA 92614, Attn: David B. Allen. 

3.6 Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived
(either generally or in a particular instance, and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of the Company and the holders of 65% of the Registrable Securities then outstanding; provided that any provision hereof
may be waived by any waiving party on such party’s own behalf, without the consent of any other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may not be 

  
 13 

 
amended or terminated and the observance of any term hereof may not be waived with respect to any Investor without the written consent of such Investor, unless such amendment, termination, or
waiver applies to all Investors in the same fashion. The Company shall give prompt notice of any amendment or termination hereof or waiver hereunder to any party hereto that did not consent in writing to such amendment, termination, or waiver. Any
amendment, termination, or waiver effected in accordance with this Subsection 3.6 shall be binding on all parties hereto, regardless of whether any such party has consented thereto. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition, or
provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition, or provision. 

3.7 Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is for any reason held to be invalid, illegal
or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, and such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision shall be reformed and construed so that it will be valid,
legal, and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law. 
 3.8 Aggregation of Stock. All shares of Registrable Securities held
or acquired by Affiliates shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement and such Affiliated persons may apportion such rights as among themselves in any manner they deem appropriate.

 3.9 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including any Schedules and Exhibits hereto) constitutes the full and entire understanding
and agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties is expressly canceled. 

3.10 Dispute Resolution. The parties (a) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of the state courts of
California and to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement, (b) agree not to commence any
suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement except in the state courts of California or the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and (c) hereby waive, and agree not to assert, by
way of motion, as a defense, or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that
the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that this Agreement or the subject matter hereof may not be enforced in or by such court. 

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL: EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE
OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, THE SECURITIES OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF OR THEREOF. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS
TRANSACTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER 

  
 14 

 
COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. THIS SECTION HAS BEEN FULLY DISCUSSED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THESE PROVISIONS WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY EXCEPTIONS. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY FURTHER
WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT SUCH PARTY HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT SUCH PARTY KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. 

The prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees, costs, and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief
to which such party may be entitled. 
 3.11 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power, or remedy
accruing to any party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power, or remedy of such nonbreaching or nondefaulting party, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of or
acquiescence to any such breach or default, or to any similar breach or default thereafter occurring, nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. All
remedies, whether under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative. 
 3.12
Acknowledgment. The Company acknowledges that the Investors are in the business of venture capital investing and therefore review the business plans and related proprietary information of many enterprises, including enterprises which may have
products or services which compete directly or indirectly with those of the Company. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude or in any way restrict the Investors from investing or participating in any particular enterprise whether or not such
enterprise has products or services which compete with those of the Company. 
 [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank] 

  
 15 

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

  

			
	COMPANY:
	
	ASCENDIS PHARMA A/S
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Michael Wolff Jensen / /s/ Jan Møller Mikkelsen

		
	Name:	 	 Michael Wolff Jensen / Jan Møller Mikkelsen

		
	Title:	 	 Chairman / CEO

 SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT 

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

  

					
	INVESTORS:
		
		 	SOFINNOVA CAPITAL V FCPR
			
		 	By:	 	Sofinnova Capital V FCPR
			
		 	By:	 	 /s/ Rafaèle Tordjman

		 		 	Rafaèle Tordjman, Managing Member

 SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT 

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

  

					
	INVESTORS:
	
	SOFINNOVA VENTURE PARTNERS IX, L.P.
			
		 	By:	 	Sofinnova Management IX, L.L.C.
		 		 	its General Partner
			
		 	By:	 	 /s/ Jim Healy

		 		 	Jim Healy, Managing Member

 SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT 

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

  

							
	 INVESTORS:

	
	ORBIMED PRIVATE INVESTMENTS V, LP
				
		 		 	        By:	 	OrbiMed Capital GP V LLC,
		 		 		 	its General Partner
				
		 		 	        By:	 	OrbiMed Advisors LLC,
		 		 		 	its Managing Member
			
		 	By:	 	 /s/ Jonathan Silverstein

		 		 	Name: Jonathan Silverstein
		 		 	Title: Member

 SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT 

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

  

	
	INVESTORS:
	
	VIVO VENTURES VII, LLC
	
	General Partner of Vivo Ventures Fund VII, L.P.
	
	 /s/ Albert Cha

	Albert Cha
	Managing Member
	
	VIVO VENTURES VII, LLC
	General Partner of Vivo Ventures VII Affiliates
	Fund, L.P.
	
	 /s/ Albert Cha

	Albert Cha
	Managing Member

 SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT 

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

  

			
	INVESTORS:
		
		 	JANUS GLOBAL LIFE SCIENCES FUND
		
		 	 /s/ Andrew Acker

		 	By: Andrew Acker
		 	Its: Portfolio Manager

 SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT 

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

  

			
	INVESTORS:
		
		 	RA CAPITAL HEALTHCARE FUND, LP
		
		 	 /s/ Peter Kolchinsky

		 	Name: Peter Kolchinsky
		 	Title: Manager

 SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT 

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

  

					
	        INVESTORS:
	
	ROCK SPRINGS CAPITAL MASTER FUND LP
			
		 	By:	 	Rock Springs GP LLC
		 	Its:	 	General Partner
			
		 	By:	 	 /s/ Graham McPhall

			
		 	Name:	 	Graham McPhall
			
		 	Title:	 	Managing Director, Rock Springs Capital

 SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT 

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

  

					
		 		 	INVESTORS:
	
	NEW EMERGING MEDICAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND II, L.P.
		
		 	By: its investment Manager, Sectoral Asset Management Inc.
			
		 		 	 /s/ Michael Sjostrom

		 		 	Name: Michael Sjostrom
		 		 	Title: Chief Investment Officer

 SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT 

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

  

			
	INVESTORS:
	
	VENROCK HEALTHCARE CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.
	By:	 	VHCP Management II, LLC
	Its:	 	General Partner
	
	VHCP CO-INVESTMENT HOLDINGS II, LLC
	By:	 	VHCP Management II, LLC
	Its:	 	Manager
		
	By:	 	 /s/ David L. Stepp

		 	David L. Stepp
		 	Authorized Signatory

 SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT 

 SCHEDULE A 

INVESTORS 
 Name,
Address, Phone and Email 
  
  

Sofinnova Venture Partners IX, L.P. 
 3000 Sand Hill
Road, Bldg 4, Suite 250 
 Menlo Park, CA 94025 

Phone: 650-681-8430 
 Fax: 650-322-2037 

hooman@sofinnova.com 
 OrbiMed Private
Investments V, LP 
 601 Lexington Avenue (at 53rd Street) 

54th Floor 
 New York, NY 10022-4629 

Phone: 212-739-6400 
 CoonD@OrbiMed.com 

Vivo Ventures Fund VII, LP 
 Vivo Ventures VII
Affiliates Fund, LP 
 575 High Street, Suite 201 

Palo Alto, CA 94301 
 Phone: 650-688-0818 

Fax: 650-688-0815 
 acha@vivocapital.net 

Janus Global Life Sciences Fund 
 c/o Janus Capital
Management LLC 
 151 Detroit Street 
 Denver, CO
80403 
 Phone: 303-336-4358 
 Fax: 303-316-5728

 Andy.acker@janus.com 
 Sofinnova Capital V
FCPR 
 18, rue du 4 Septembre 
 75002 Paris

 France 
 RA Capital Healthcare Fund, LP

 20 Park Plaza, Suite 1200 
 Boston, MA 02116

 Phone: 617-778-2513 
 Fax: 617-778-2510

 rshah@racap.com 

SCHEDULE A TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 Rock Springs Capital Master Fund LP 

650 S Exeter St. 
 Baltimore, MD 21202 

Phone: (410) 220-0129 

evans@rockspringscapital.com 
 New Emerging
Medical Opportunities Fund II, L.P. 
 1000 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 2120 

Montreal, Quebec, H3A 3G4 Canada 
 Phone: 1-514-849-8777

 Fax: 1-514-849-6777 
 maha@secotral.com

 Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners II, L.P. 

3340 Hillview Avenue 
 Palo Alto, CA 94304 

Phone: 650-475-3741 
 ssouther@venrock.com

 SCHEDULE A TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENTEX-10.1

 Exhibit 10.1 

CENTERPOINT ENERGY, INC. 

CHANGE IN CONTROL PLAN 

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company”), has adopted the CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Change in
Control Plan, effective as of January 1, 2015 (the “Plan”), for the benefit of certain employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated. The Plan is intended to help retain
qualified employees and provide financial security to certain employees of the Company whose employment with the Company and its Affiliates may be terminated under circumstances entitling them to severance benefits as provided herein. 

The Plan, as a “severance pay arrangement” within the meaning of Section 3(2)(B)(i) of ERISA, is intended to be excepted from
the definitions of “employee pension benefit plan” and “pension plan” set forth under Section 3(2) of ERISA, and is intended to meet the descriptive requirements of a plan constituting a “severance pay plan” within
the meaning of regulations published by the Secretary of Labor at Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations § 2510.3-2(b). 
 ARTICLE I

 DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS 

Section 1.01. Definitions. Capitalized terms used in the Plan shall have the following respective meanings, except as otherwise
provided or as the context shall otherwise require: 
 “Affiliate” shall mean any company or other
entity controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code. 

“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. 

“Cause” means a Participant’s (a) gross negligence in the performance of the
Participant’s duties, (b) intentional and continued failure to perform the Participant’s duties, (c) intentional engagement in conduct which is materially injurious to the Company or its Affiliates (monetarily or otherwise) or
(d) conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude. For this purpose, an act or failure to act on the part of a Participant will be deemed “intentional” only if done or omitted to be done by a Participant not in
good faith and without reasonable belief that his or her action or omission was in the best interest of the Company, and no act or failure to act on the part of a Participant will be deemed “intentional” if it was due primarily to an error
in judgment or negligence. 
 “CEO” means the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

 “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of any of the following
events: 

 (A) 30% Ownership Change: Any Person makes an acquisition of
Beneficial Ownership of Outstanding Voting Stock (including any acquisition of Beneficial Ownership deemed to have occurred pursuant to Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) and is, immediately thereafter, the Beneficial Owner of 30% or more of the
then Outstanding Voting Stock, unless such acquisition is made by a Parent Corporation resulting from a Business Combination (other than the Company) if, following such Business Combination, the conditions specified in clauses (i), (ii),
(iii) and (iv) of subsection (c) of this definition are satisfied; or any Group is formed that is the Beneficial Owner of 30% or more of the Outstanding Voting Stock; or 

(B) Board Majority Change: Individuals who are Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority
of the members of the Board; or 
 (C) Major Mergers and Acquisitions: Approval by the shareholders of the
Company of a Business Combination (or if there is no such approval by shareholders, consummation of such Business Combination) unless, immediately following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities
that were the Beneficial Owners of the Outstanding Voting Stock immediately prior to such Business Combination will (or do) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 70% of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Parent
Corporation resulting from such Business Combination in substantially the same relative proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the Outstanding Voting Stock, (ii) if the Business Combination involves
the issuance or payment by the Company of consideration to another entity or its shareholders, the total fair market value of such consideration plus the principal amount of the consolidated long-term debt of
the entity or business being acquired (in each case, determined as of the date of consummation of such Business Combination by a majority of the Incumbent Directors) will not (or does not) exceed 50% of the sum of the fair market value of the
Outstanding Voting Stock plus the principal amount of the Company’s consolidated long-term debt (in each case, determined immediately prior to such consummation by a majority of the Incumbent Directors),
(iii) no Person (other than any Parent Corporation resulting from a Business Combination) will (or does) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Parent Corporation resulting
from such Business Combination and (iv) a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent Corporation resulting from such Business Combination were Incumbent Directors immediately prior to consummation of such Business
Combination; or 
 (D) Major Asset Dispositions: Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a Major Asset
Disposition (or if there is no such approval by shareholders consummation of such Major Asset Disposition) unless, immediately following such Major Asset Disposition, (i) individuals and entities that were Beneficial Owners of the Outstanding
Voting Stock immediately prior to such Major Asset Disposition will (or do) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 70% of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company (if it continues to exist) and of the entity that
acquires the largest portion of such assets 

  
 2 

 
(or the entity, if any, that owns a majority of the outstanding voting stock of such acquiring entity) and (ii) a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Company (if it
continues to exist) and of the entity that acquires the largest portion of such assets (or the entity, if any, that owns a majority of the outstanding voting stock of such acquiring entity) were Incumbent Directors immediately prior to consummation
of such Major Asset Disposition. 
 For purposes of the foregoing definition: 

 

	 	(1)	“Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficial Ownership” and “Beneficially Own” are used as defined for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) under the Exchange Act. 

 

	 	(2)	“Business Combination” means (x) a merger or consolidation involving the Company or its stock or (y) an acquisition by the Company, directly or through one or more subsidiaries, of another entity or
its stock or assets. 

  

	 	(3)	“Election Contest” is used as it is defined for purposes of Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act. 

 

	 	(4)	“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 

  

	 	(5)	“Group” is used as it is defined for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act. 

  

	 	(6)	“Incumbent Director” means a director of the Company (x) who was a director of the Company on the Effective Date, or (y) who becomes a director subsequent to such date and whose election, or
nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination, except that any such director shall not be deemed an Incumbent Director if his
initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened Election Contest or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board. 

 

	 	(7)	“Major Asset Disposition” means the sale or other disposition in one transaction or a series of related transactions of 70% or more of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis;
and any specified percentage or portion of the assets of the Company shall be based on fair market value, as determined by a majority of the Incumbent Directors. 

  
 3 

	 	(8)	“Outstanding Voting Stock” means outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; and any specified percentage or portion of the Outstanding Voting Stock
(or of other voting stock) shall be determined based on the combined voting power of such securities. 

  

	 	(9)	“Parent Corporation resulting from a Business Combination” means the Company if its stock is not acquired or converted in the Business Combination and otherwise means the entity which as a result of such
Business Combination owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries. 

  

	 	(10)	“Person” means an individual, entity or Group. 

 “Code” shall
mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. 

“Company” means CenterPoint Energy, Inc., a Texas corporation, and any successor thereto. 

“Compensation” means the greater of (a) the sum of a Participant’s annual base salary plus Target Bonus
determined immediately prior to the date on which a Change in Control occurs, or (b) the sum of a Participant’s annual base salary plus Target Bonus determined immediately prior to the date of the Participant’s Covered Termination.

 “Compensation Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board. 

“Covered Termination” means any termination of a Participant’s employment with the Company or any Affiliate that
is a “Separation from Service” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A and Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(h)(3) (or any successor regulations or guidance thereto)) thereof: 

 

	 	(A)	that does not result from any of the following: 

  

	 	(1)	death; 

  

	 	(2)	disability entitling the Participant to benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plan; 

  

	 	(3)	involuntary termination for Cause; or 

  

	 	(4)	resignation by the Participant, unless such resignation is for Good Reason; and 

  
 4 

	 	(B)	that occurs: 

  

	 	(1)	during the three-month period ending immediately prior to the date a Change in Control occurs, provided that a binding agreement to effect a Change in Control has been executed as of the Participant’s termination
date (a “Pre-Change in Control Covered Termination”); or 

  

	 	(2)	within two years after the date upon which a Change in Control occurs. 

 “Effective
Date” shall mean January 1, 2015. 
 “ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. 
 “Good Reason” means any one or
more of the following events: 
 (A) a failure to maintain a Participant in the position, or a substantially equivalent
position, with the Company and/or an Affiliate, as the case may be, which the Participant held immediately prior to the Change in Control; 

(B) a significant adverse change in the authorities, powers, functions, responsibilities or duties which a Participant held
immediately prior to the Change in Control; 
 (C) a material reduction in a Participant’s annual base salary as in
effect immediately prior to the date on which a Change in Control occurs; 
 (D) a significant reduction in a
Participant’s qualified retirement benefits, nonqualified benefits and welfare benefits provided to the Participant immediately prior to the date on which a Change in Control occurs; provided, however, that a contemporaneous diminution
of or reduction in qualified retirement benefits and/or welfare benefits which is of general application and which uniformly and contemporaneously reduces or diminishes the benefits of all covered employees shall be ignored and not be considered a
reduction in remuneration for purposes of this paragraph (D); 
 (E) a material reduction in a Participant’s
overall compensation opportunities (as contrasted with overall compensation actually paid or awarded) under the STI Plan, a long-term incentive plan or other equity plan (or in such substitute or alternative plans) from that provided to the
Participant immediately prior to the date on which a Change in Control occurs; 
 (F) a change in the location of a
Participant’s principal place of employment with the Company by more than 50 miles from the location where the Participant was principally employed immediately prior to the date on which a Change in Control occurs; or 

  
 5 

 (G) a failure by the Company to provide directors and officers liability
insurance covering a Participant comparable to that provided to the Participant immediately prior to the date on which a Change in Control occurs; 

provided, however, that no later than 30 days after learning of the action (or inaction) described herein as the basis for a termination
of employment for Good Reason, a Participant shall advise the Company in writing that the action (or inaction) constitutes grounds for a termination of his or her employment for Good Reason, in which event the Company shall have 30 days (the
“Cure Period”) to correct such action (or inaction). If such action (or inaction) is not corrected prior to the end of the Cure Period, then the Participant may terminate his or her employment with the Company for Good Reason
within the 30-day period following the end of the Cure Period by giving written notice to the Company. If such action (or inaction) is corrected before the end of the Cure Period, then the Participant shall not be entitled to terminate his or her
employment for Good Reason as a result of such action (or inaction). 
 “LTI Plan” means the CenterPoint Energy,
Inc. 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan or any successor plan or program thereto. 
 “Officer” means the CEO, the
Executive Chairman of the Board and each Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President and Vice President of the Company. 

“Participant” shall mean each Officer who satisfies the requirements of Section 2.01(a) of the Plan. 

“Plan” shall mean this CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Change in Control Plan, as amended, supplemented or modified from time
to time in accordance with its terms. 
 “Retirement Plan” means the CenterPoint Energy Retirement Plan, as amended
and restated effective January 1, 2009, and as thereafter amended. 
 “Severance Multiple”
means (a) three (3), in the case of the CEO, (b) two (2), in the case of the Executive Chairman of the Board, Executive Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents of the Company, (c) one and one half (1.5), in the case of Vice
Presidents of the Company with ten (10) or more Years of Service as of the date of the Covered Termination, and (d) one (1), in the case of Vice Presidents of the Company with less than ten (10) Years of Service as of the date of the
Covered Termination. 
 “Severance Period” means a period of time equal to
(a) three (3) years, in the case of the CEO, (b) two (2) years, in the case of the Executive Chairman of the Board, Executive Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents of the Company, (c) one and one half (1.5) years,
in the case of Vice Presidents of the Company with ten (10) or more Years of Service as of the date of the Covered Termination, and (d) one (1) year, in the case of Vice Presidents of the Company with less than ten (10) Years of
Service as of the date of the Covered Termination. 
 “STI Plan” means the CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Short
Term Incentive Plan or any successor plan or program thereto. 

  
 6 

 “Target Bonus” means a Participant’s target incentive award
opportunity under the STI Plan in effect for the year with respect to which the target bonus amount is being determined or, if no such plan is then in effect, for the last year in which such a plan was in effect, expressed as a dollar amount based
upon the Participant’s annual base salary for the year of such determination. 
 “Waiver and Release” means a
legal document, in a form determined by the Compensation Committee, in which a Participant, in exchange for certain severance benefits described in Section 3.01, among other things, releases the Company, the Affiliates, their directors,
officers, employees and agents, their employee benefit plans and the fiduciaries and agents of said plans from liability and damages in any way related to the Participant’s employment with or separation from the Company or any of its
Affiliates. 
 “Welfare Benefit Coverage” means each of medical, dental and vision benefit coverage. 

“Years of Service” means full years of employment with the Company and its Affiliates, provided that a partial year of
less than 6 months will be disregarded and a partial year of 6 months or more will be considered one (1) Year of Service. 

Section 1.02. Interpretation. In the Plan (a) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” refer
to the Plan as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision, (b) reference to any Article or Section, means such Article or Section hereof and (c) the words “including” (and with correlative meaning
“include”) means including, without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term and (c) words used in the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. The Article and Section headings
herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. 
 ARTICLE II 

ELIGIBILITY AND EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL 

Section 2.01. Participants. 

(a) Participants in the Plan shall be each Officer who (A) is not party to an individual employment agreement providing for severance
benefits and (B) has executed a written participation agreement in a form determined by the Compensation Committee. For the avoidance of doubt, an individual must be an Officer as of the date of a Change in Control (or, if earlier, his or her
Covered Termination) in order to be eligible for the benefits described in Article III. 
 (b) This Plan is only for the benefit of the
Participants, and no other employees, personnel, consultants or independent contractors shall be eligible to participate in the Plan or to receive any rights or benefits hereunder. 

Section 2.02. Effect of a Change in Control. Notwithstanding any provision of the LTI Plan or agreements thereunder to the
contrary, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, any performance criteria applicable to awards outstanding under the LTI Plan shall be considered to have been achieved at the target level. 

  
 7 

 ARTICLE III 

SEVERANCE AND RELATED TERMINATION BENEFITS 

Section 3.01. Severance Benefits. If a Participant experiences a Covered Termination, then, subject to the Waiver and Release
requirements in Section 3.02 below, the Participant shall be entitled to receive the following: 
 (a) Accrued Obligations: A
lump sum cash payment in amount equal to the aggregate of: 
  

	 	(1)	the Participant’s base salary through the date of the Covered Termination, to the extent not already paid; 

  

	 	(2)	the Participant’s earned, but not taken, vacation days though the date of the Covered Termination; and 

  

	 	(3)	reimbursement for any unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by the Participant, in accordance with the Company’s applicable policy, prior to the date of the Covered Termination. 

The amount due to the Participant pursuant to this Section 3.01(a) shall be paid as soon as practicable following the date of the Covered
Termination in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies and practices. 
 (b) Severance Amount: A lump sum cash
payment in an amount equal to the Participant’s Compensation multiplied by the Participant’s Severance Multiple. Such severance payment due to the Participant pursuant to this Section 3.01(b) shall be paid on the second business day
immediately following the end of the six-month period commencing on the date of the Participant’s Covered Termination, along with simple interest on the severance amount at the short-term applicable Federal rate provided for in Code
Section 7872(f)(2)(A), based on the period commencing on the date of the Participant’s Covered Termination and ending on the payment date. 

(c) Pro-Rated Bonus: A lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the Target Bonus in effect at the time of the Participant’s
Covered Termination based on the Participant’s eligible earnings under the STI Plan as of the date of the Participant’s Covered Termination, but reduced by any amount payable under the terms of the STI Plan for the performance year in
which the Change in Control is consummated. Such pro-rated bonus due to the Participant pursuant to this Section 3.01(c) shall be paid on the second business day immediately following the end of the six-month period commencing on the date of
the Participant’s Covered Termination, along with simple interest on the bonus amount at the short-term applicable Federal rate provided for in Code Section 7872(f)(2)(A), based on the period commencing on the date of the
Participant’s Covered Termination and ending on the payment date. 

  
 8 

 (d) Welfare Benefit Coverage: Subject to the Participant’s timely election of
and continued eligibility for continuation coverage under COBRA and subject to the Participant’s payment of applicable premiums on the same basis as similarly situated active executives of the Company, continued Welfare Benefit Coverage for the
Participant and his or her eligible dependents for a period of two years following (i) the date of the Participant’s Covered Termination or (ii) in the case of a Pre-Change in Control Covered Termination, the date of the Change in
Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) to the extent the Company’s benefits plans and programs do not provide for the Welfare Benefit Coverage as of the date of the Participant’s Covered Termination or (2) if the
Company’s obligations contemplated by this Section 3.01(d) would result in the imposition of excise taxes on the Company for failure to comply with the nondiscrimination requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of
2010, as amended, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, as amended (to the extent applicable), the Company shall discontinue the Welfare Benefit Coverage and the Participant shall be entitled to a lump-sum payment equal to an
amount reasonably necessary for the Participant to procure insurance providing for Welfare Benefit Coverage for the Participant and his or her eligible dependents during the applicable coverage period provided in the first sentence of this Section
3.01(d). 
 (e) Outplacement: Outplacement services for a 9-month period after (i) the date of the Participant’s
Covered Termination or (ii) in the case of a Pre-Change in Control Covered Termination, the date of the Change in Control, in connection with the Participant’s efforts to obtain new employment under the outplacement program adopted by the
Company. The Participant shall not be entitled to a cash payment in lieu of such services. 
 (f) LTI Plan: The Participant
shall fully vest in any awards under the LTI Plan for which the performance criteria were deemed achieved at the target level pursuant to Section 2.02 above. Such awards shall be paid to the Participant as soon as practicable following the date
of the Covered Termination or, if required to comply with Code Section 409A, on the regularly scheduled payment date of such award. 

(g) Enhanced Retirement Plan Benefit: The Participant shall be entitled to an amount not less than the amount that the Participant would
have been entitled to receive under the cash balance formula of the Retirement Plan as if the Participant (i) was fully vested in his or her Retirement Plan benefit and (ii) remained an employee of the Company or its Affiliates throughout
the Severance Period following (A) the date of the Participant’s Covered Termination or (B) in the case of a Pre-Change in Control Covered Termination, the date of the Change in Control based on his or her Compensation, with such
enhanced benefit paid under the Company’s Benefit Restoration Plan in accordance with its terms and conditions. 
 (h) All Other
Benefit Plans or Programs. The Participant’s participation in all other employee benefit plans and/or programs at the Company and the Affiliates shall cease as of the date of the Participant’s Covered Termination, subject to the terms
and conditions of the governing documents of those employee benefit plans and/or programs. 

  
 9 

 Section 3.02. Waiver and Release Requirement. Payment of the benefits under
Section 3.01(b) through Section 3.01(g) is subject to the Participant’s timely execution and return of the Waiver and Release to the Company, without subsequent revocation during the seven-day period following such execution date (the
“Waiver and Release Revocation Period”). The Participant shall have 50 days following (i) the date of the Participant’s Covered Termination, or (ii) in the case of a Pre-Change in Control Covered Termination,
the date of the Change in Control, to consider, execute and return the Waiver and Release to the Company and shall then have the right to revoke the Waiver and Release during the Waiver and Release Revocation Period. If the Participant fails to
timely execute and return the Waiver and Release to the Company or revokes such Waiver and Release during the Waiver and Release Revocation Period, then the Participant shall forfeit, and shall not be entitled to, any of the benefits described in
Section 3.01(b) through Section 3.01(g). 
 Section 3.03. Code Section 280G. 

(a) Potential Reduction. Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding and except as set forth below, in the event it shall be
determined that any payment or distribution in the nature of compensation (within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(2)) to or for the benefit of the Participant, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of
this Plan or otherwise, but determined without regard to any reduction (if any) required under this Section 3.03 (the “Payment”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999, together with any
interest or penalties imposed with respect to such excise tax (“Excise Tax”), then the Company shall automatically reduce (the “Reduction”) the Participant’s Payment to the minimum extent
necessary to prevent the Payment (after the Reduction) from being subject to the Excise Tax, but only if, by reason of the Reduction, the after-tax benefit of the reduced Payment exceeds the after-tax benefit if such Reduction was not made. If the
after-tax benefit of the reduced Payment does not exceed the after-tax benefit if the Payment is not reduced, then the Reduction shall not apply. If the Reduction is applicable, the Payment shall be reduced in such a manner that provides the
Participant with the best economic benefit and, to the extent any portions of the Payment are economically equivalent with each other, each shall be reduced pro rata. 

(b) Determinations. All determinations required to be made under this Section 3.03, including the after-tax benefit and calculation
of the Reduction, shall be made by a nationally recognized certified public accounting firm that is selected by the Company (the “Accounting Firm”), which may be the Company’s independent auditors. In the event that the
Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change in Control or the Accounting Firm declines or is unable to serve, the Participant shall appoint another nationally recognized certified
public accounting firm, which is reasonably agreed to by the Company, to make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). In the event that the Accounting Firm determines
that no Excise Tax is payable by the Participant, either with or without application of the Reduction under this Section 3.03, then the Accounting Firm shall furnish the Participant with a written opinion that failure to report the Excise Tax
on the Participant’s applicable federal income tax return would not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty. If the Reduction is applicable, the Company shall provide the Participant with a written summary of the portions of
the Payment that will be reduced. All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. All determinations by the Accounting Firm made under this Section 3.03 shall be binding upon the Company and the Participant.

  
 10 

 Section 3.04. Welfare Benefit Coverage Payments. If the Company provides the
Participant with one or more Welfare Benefit Coverages pursuant to Section 3.01(d), and the amount of such benefits or the value of such benefit coverage (including, without limitation, any insurance premiums paid by the Company to provide such
benefits) is subject to any income, employment or similar tax imposed by federal, state or local law, or any interest or penalties with respect to such tax (such tax or taxes, together with any such interest and penalties, being hereafter
collectively referred to as the “Income Tax”) because such benefits cannot be provided under a nondiscriminatory health plan described in Section 105 of the Code or for any other reason, the Company will pay to the
Participant an additional payment or payments (collectively, an “Income Tax Payment”). The Income Tax Payment will be in an amount such that, after payment by the Participant of all taxes (including any interest or penalties
imposed with respect to such taxes), the Participant retains an amount of the Income Tax Payment equal to the Income Tax imposed with respect to such welfare benefits or such welfare benefit coverage. In accordance with Treasury Regulation §
1.409A-3(i)(1)(v), in no event shall the Company pay the Participant (or pay on the Participant’s behalf) the Income Tax Payment to which the Participant is entitled under this Section 3.04 later than the end of the Participant’s
taxable year next following the Participant’s taxable year in which the Participant remits the Income Tax to the Internal Revenue Service (or in the case of costs and expenses payable under this Section 3.04, no later than the end of the
Participant’s taxable year next following the Participant’s taxable year in which the taxes that are the subject of the audit or litigation are remitted to the Internal Revenue Service, or where as a result of such audit or litigation no
taxes are remitted, the end of the Participant’s taxable year next following the Participant’s taxable year in which the audit is completed or there is a final and nonappealable settlement or other resolution of the litigation). For
purposes of clarity, this Section 3.04 shall not apply to any cash payment made to a Participant pursuant to Section 3.01(d) in replacement of any Welfare Benefit Coverages. 

ARTICLE IV 
 LEGAL
FEES AND EXPENSES 
 It is the intent of the Company that the Participant not be required to incur legal fees and the related
expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of the Participant’s rights under this Plan by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the
Participant hereunder. Accordingly, if it should appear to the Participant that the Company has failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Plan or in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action
to declare this Plan void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Participant the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Participant hereunder, the Company
irrevocably authorizes the Participant from time to time to retain counsel of the Participant’s choice, at the expense of the Company as hereafter provided, to advise and represent the Participant in connection with any such interpretation,
enforcement or defense, including, without limitation, the initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Company or any director, officer, stockholder or other person affiliated with the Company, in any
jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any existing or prior attorney-client relationship between the Company and such counsel, the Company irrevocably consents to the Participant entering into an attorney-client relationship with such counsel, and in that
connection the 

  
 11 

 
Company and the Participant agree that a confidential relationship will exist between the Participant and such counsel. Without regard to whether the Participant prevails, in whole or in part, in
connection with any of the foregoing, the Company will pay and be solely financially responsible for any and all attorneys’ fees and related expenses incurred by the Participant in connection with any of the foregoing except to the extent that
a final judgment no longer subject to appeal finds that a claim or defense asserted by the Participant was frivolous. In such a case, the portion of such fees and expenses incurred by the Participant as a result of such frivolous claim or defense
shall become the Participant’s sole responsibility and any funds advanced by the Company shall be repaid to the Company. 
 With
respect to the Company’s obligations under this Article IV, the fees and expenses of counsel selected by the Participant pursuant to this Article IV will be paid, or reimbursed to the Participant if paid by the Participant, on a regular,
periodic basis upon presentation by the Participant to the Company of a statement or statements prepared by such counsel in accordance with its customary practices, with such payment to be made no later than March 15th of the year following the
year in which the expenses are incurred. The pendency of a claim by the Company that a claim or defense of the Participant is frivolous or otherwise lacking merit shall not excuse the Company from making periodic payments of legal fees and expenses
until a final judgment is rendered as hereinabove provided. Any failure by the Company to satisfy any of its obligations under this Article IV will not limit the rights of the Participant hereunder. Subject to the foregoing, the Participant will
have the status of a general unsecured creditor of the Company and will have no right to, or security interest in, any assets of the Company or any Affiliate. 

ARTICLE V 

RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS 

Section 5.01. Confidentiality. The Participant acknowledges that in the course of his or her employment with the Company, the
Company agrees to provide to the Participant Confidential Information regarding the Company and the Company’s business and has previously provided the Participant other such Confidential Information. In return for this and other consideration,
provided under this Plan, the Participant agrees that he or she will not, while employed by the Company and thereafter, disclose or make available to any other person or entity, or use for his own personal gain, any Confidential Information, except
for such disclosures as required in the performance of his or her duties or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process (in which case the Participant shall notify the Company of such legal or judicial proceeding as soon as practicable
following his receipt of notice of such a proceeding, and permit the Company to seek to protect its interests and information). For purposes of this Plan, “Confidential Information” shall mean any and all information, data
and knowledge that has been created, discovered, developed or otherwise become known to the Company or any of its Affiliates or ventures or in which property rights have been assigned or otherwise conveyed to the Company or any of its Affiliates or
ventures, which information, data or knowledge has commercial value in the business in which the Company is engaged, except such information, data or knowledge as is or becomes known to the public without violation of the terms of this Plan. By way
of illustration, but not limitation, Confidential Information includes business trade secrets, secrets concerning the Company’s plans and strategies, nonpublic information concerning material market opportunities, technical trade secrets,

  
 12 

 
processes, formulas, know-how, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs, inventions, techniques, marketing plans, manuals, records of research, reports, memoranda, computer software,
strategies, forecasts, new products, unpublished financial information, projections, licenses, prices, costs, and employee, customer and supplier lists or parts thereof. 

Section 5.02. Return of Property. The Participant agrees that at the time of leaving the Company’s employ, he or she will
deliver to the Company (and will not keep in his or her possession, recreate or deliver to anyone else) all Confidential Information as well as all other devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications,
drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment, customer or client lists or information, or any other documents or property (including all reproductions of the aforementioned items) belonging to the Company or any of its Affiliates or
ventures, regardless of whether such items were prepared by the Participant. 
 Section 5.03. Non-Solicitation and
Non-Competition. 
 (a) Non-Solicitation. For consideration provided under this Plan, including, but not limited to the
Company’s agreement to provide the Participant with Confidential Information (as defined in Section 5.01) regarding the Company and the Company’s business, the Participant agrees that while employed by the Company and for one year
following a Covered Termination he or she shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, (i) hire or induce, entice or solicit (or attempt to induce, entice or solicit) any employee of the Company or any of
its Affiliates or ventures to leave the employment of the Company or any of its Affiliates or ventures or (ii) solicit or attempt to solicit the business of any customer or acquisition prospect of the Company or any of its Affiliates or
ventures with whom the Participant had any actual contact while employed at the Company. 
 (b) Non-Competition. For consideration
provided under this Plan, including, but not limited to the Company’s agreement to provide the Participant with Confidential Information regarding the Company and the Company’s business, the Participant agrees that while employed by the
Company and for one year following a Covered Termination he or she will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, acting alone or in conjunction with others, either directly or indirectly, engage in any business that is in competition
with the Company or accept employment with or render services to such a business as an officer, agent, employee, independent contractor or consultant, or otherwise engage in activities that are in competition with the Company. 

(c) Restricted Area. The restrictions contained in this Section 5.03 are limited to a 50-mile radius around any geographical area
in which the Company engages (or has definite plans to engage) in operations or the marketing of its products or services at the time of the Participant’s Covered Termination. 

Section 5.04. Restrictions Reasonable. The Participant acknowledges that the restrictive covenants under this Article V, for which
the Participant received valuable consideration from the Company as provided in this Plan, including, but not limited to the Company’s agreement to provide the Participant with Confidential Information regarding the Company and the
Company’s business are ancillary to otherwise enforceable provisions of this Plan that the 

  
 13 

 
consideration provided by the Company gives rise to the Company’s interest in restraining the Participant from competing and that the restrictive covenants are designed to enforce the
Participant’s consideration or return promises under this Plan. Additionally, the Participant acknowledges that these restrictive covenants contain limitations as to time, geographical area, and scope of activity to be restrained that are
reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint than is necessary to protect the goodwill or other legitimate business interests of the Company, including, but not limited to, the Company’s need to protect its Confidential Information. 

ARTICLE VI 
 CLAIMS
PROCEDURE 
 Section 6.01. Claims Procedure 

(a) It shall not be necessary for a Participant or beneficiary who has become entitled to receive a benefit hereunder to file a claim for such
benefit with any person as a condition precedent to receiving a distribution of such benefit. However, any Participant or beneficiary who believes that he or she has become entitled to a benefit hereunder and who has not received, or commenced
receiving, a distribution of such benefit, or who believes that he or she is entitled to a benefit hereunder in excess of the benefit which he or she has received, or commenced receiving, may file a written claim for such benefit with the
Compensation Committee at any time on or prior to the end of the fiscal year next following the fiscal year in which he or she allegedly became entitled to receive a distribution of such benefit. Such written claim shall set forth the
Participant’s or beneficiary’s name and address and a statement of the facts and a reference to the pertinent provisions of the Plan upon which such claim is based. The Compensation Committee shall, within 90 days after such written claim
is filed, provide the claimant with written notice of its decision with respect to such claim. If such claim is denied in whole or in part, the Compensation Committee shall, in such written notice to the claimant, set forth in a manner calculated to
be understood by the claimant the specific reason or reasons for denial; specific references to pertinent provisions of the Plan upon which the denial is based; a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to
perfect his or her claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and an explanation of the provisions for review of claims set forth in Section 6.01(b) below. 

(b) A Participant or beneficiary who has filed a written claim for benefits with the Compensation Committee which has been denied may appeal
such denial to the Compensation Committee and receive a full and fair review of his or her claim by filing with the Compensation Committee a written application for review at any time within 60 days after receipt from the Compensation Committee of
the written notice of denial of his or her claim provided for in Section 6.01(a) above. A Participant or beneficiary who submits a timely written application for review shall be entitled to review any and all documents pertinent to his or her
claim and may submit issues and comments to the Compensation Committee in writing. Not later than 60 days after receipt of a written application for review, the Compensation Committee shall give the claimant written notice of its decision on review,
which written notice shall set forth in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant specific reasons for its decision and specific references to the pertinent provisions of the Plan upon which the decision is based. 

  
 14 

 (c) Any act permitted or required to be taken by a Participant or beneficiary under this
Section 6.01 may be taken for and on behalf of such Participant or beneficiary by such Participant’s or beneficiary’s duly authorized representative. Any claim, notice, application or other writing permitted or required to be filed
with or given to a party by this Article shall be deemed to have been filed or given when deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, and properly addressed to the party to whom it is to be given or with whom it is to be filed. Any such claim,
notice, application, or other writing deemed filed or given pursuant to the preceding sentence shall in the absence of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, be deemed to have been received on the fifth (5th) business day following the
date upon which it was filed or given. Any such notice, application, or other writing directed to a Participant or beneficiary shall be deemed properly addressed if directed to the address set forth in the written claim filed by such Participant or
beneficiary. 
 ARTICLE VII 

Miscellaneous Provisions 

Section 7.01. Conflicts with Other Agreements. In the event that a Participant becomes entitled to benefits under a prior or
subsequent agreement pertaining to a Participant’s employment by the Company or any Affiliate thereof (other than this Plan) or the benefits to which a Participant is entitled as a result of such employment and such benefits conflict with the
terms of this Plan, the Participant will receive the greater and more favorable of each of the benefits provided under either this Plan or such other agreement or benefits, on an individual benefit basis. 

Section 7.02. Notices. All notices and other communications provided for in the Plan shall be in writing and shall be sent,
delivered or mailed, addressed as follows: (a) if to the Company, at the Company’s principal office address or such other address as the Company may have designated by written notice for purposes hereof, directed to the attention of the
Compensation Committee, and (b) if to any Participant, at his or her residence address on the records of the Company or to such other address as he or she may have designated to the Company in writing for purposes hereof. Except as provided in
Section 6.01(c), each such notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly given or mailed by United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, except that any change of notice address shall be
effective only upon receipt. 
 Section 7.03. Litigation Assistance. Each Participant agrees to assist the Company with any
litigation matters related to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates as may be reasonably requested by the Company’s General Counsel following the date of the Participant’s Covered Termination. The Company shall reimburse a
Participant for any reasonable travel or other business expenses incurred in connection with providing such assistance and cooperation. A Participant shall provide such services as an independent contractor and such services shall be limited solely
to those matters with which the Participant is suitably experienced and knowledgeable by reason of the Participant’s education, training, background and prior employment with the Company. The Company and each Participant agree to work out

  
 15 

 
reasonable accommodations for the provision of such assistance so that it does not unreasonably interfere with any of the Participant’s personal affairs, business endeavors or future
employment. The foregoing notwithstanding, the Company and each Participant agree that the services provided by a Participant under this Section 7.03, if any, shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the average level of bona fide services
performed by the Participant (whether as an employee or an independent contractor of the Company) over the 36-month period (or the full period of services to the Company if the Participant has been providing services to the Company for less than 36
months) immediately preceding the date of his or her Covered Termination. 
 Section 7.04. Code Section 409A. 

(a) Interpretation. It is the intent of the Company and the Participants that the provisions of this Plan comply with Code
Section 409A and the Treasury regulations and guidance issued thereunder. Accordingly, the Company and the Participants intend that this Plan be interpreted and operated consistent with such requirements of Code Section 409A in order to
avoid the application of penalty taxes under Code Section 409A to the extent reasonably practicable. The Company shall neither cause nor permit: (a) any payment, benefit or consideration to be substituted for a benefit that is payable
under this Plan if such action would result in the failure of any amount that is subject to Code Section 409A to comply with the applicable requirements of Code Section 409A; or (b) any adjustments to any equity interest to be made in
a manner that would result in the equity interest becoming subject to Code Section 409A unless, after such adjustment, the equity interest is in compliance with the requirements of Code Section 409A to the extent applicable. 

(b) Delay of Payment. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, if a Participant is a “Specified
Employee” (as that term is defined in Code Section 409A) as of the date of the Participant’s Covered Termination, then any amounts or benefits which are payable under this Plan upon the Participant’s “Separation from
Service” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A), other than due to death, which are subject to the provisions of Code Section 409A and not otherwise excluded under Code Section 409A, and would otherwise be payable during the
first six-month period following such Separation from Service, shall be paid on the second business day that (a) is at least six months after the date of the Participant’s Covered Termination or (b) follows the Participant’s date
of death, if earlier.  
 (c) Reimbursements and In-Kind Benefits. All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided
pursuant to this Plan shall be made in accordance with Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) such that any reimbursements or in-kind benefits will be deemed payable at a specified time or on a fixed schedule relative to a permissible payment
event. Specifically, (i) the amounts reimbursed and in-kind benefits provided under this Plan, other than total reimbursements that are limited by a lifetime maximum under a group health plan, during a Participant’s taxable year may not
affect the amounts reimbursed or in-kind benefits provided in any other taxable year, (ii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense shall be made on or before the last day of a Participant’s taxable year following the taxable year in which
the expense was incurred, and (iii) the right to reimbursement or an in-kind benefit is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. 

  
 16 

 Section 7.05. No Mitigation. No Participant shall be required to mitigate the amount
of any payment provided for in the Plan by seeking or accepting other employment following a termination of his or her employment with the Company or otherwise. Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.01, the amount of any payment provided
for in the Plan shall not be reduced by any compensation or benefit earned by a Participant as the result of employment by another employer or by retirement benefits. The Company’s obligations to make payments to any Participant required under
the Plan shall not be affected by any set off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action that the Company may have against such Participant. 

Section 7.06. Amendment or Termination. The Board may amend (in whole or in part) or terminate the Plan at any time; provided,
however, that the Plan cannot be amended or terminated during the two-year period following a Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no termination shall reduce or terminate any Participant’s right to receive, or continue to
receive, any payments and benefits that became payable in respect of a termination of employment that occurred prior to the date of such termination of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall abridge the Compensation
Committee’s authority to designate new Participants to participate in the Plan in accordance with Section 2.01 hereof. 

Section 7.07. Administration. 

(a) The Compensation Committee shall have full and final authority, subject to the express provisions of the Plan, with respect to designation
of the Participants and administration of the Plan, including but not limited to, the authority to construe and interpret any provisions of the Plan and to take all other actions deemed necessary or advisable for the proper administration of the
Plan, and such decisions shall be binding on all parties. 
 (b) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the
Compensation Committee and any other employee of the Company that acts at the direction of the Compensation Committee against any and all expenses and liabilities arising out of his or her administrative functions or fiduciary responsibilities,
including any expenses and liabilities that are caused by or result from an act or omission constituting the negligence of such member in the performance of such functions or responsibilities, but excluding expenses and liabilities that are caused
by or result from such member’s or employee’s own gross negligence or willful cause. Expenses against which such member or employee shall be indemnified hereunder shall include, without limitation, the amounts of any settlement or
judgment, costs, counsel fees, and related charges reasonably incurred in connection with a claim asserted or a proceeding brought or settlement thereof. 

Section 7.08. Successors. This Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns
(including, without limitation, any company into or with which the Company may merge or consolidate). The Company agrees that it will not effect the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets unless either (a) the
person or entity acquiring such assets or a substantial portion thereof shall expressly assume by an instrument in writing all duties and obligations of the Company hereunder or (b) the Company shall provide, through the establishment of a
separate reserve therefor, for the payment in full of all amounts which are or may reasonably be expected to become payable to Participants hereunder. 

  
 17 

 Section 7.09. No Assignment. A Participant’s right to receive payments or
benefits hereunder shall not be assignable or transferable, whether by pledge, creation or a security interest or otherwise, whether voluntary, involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, other than a transfer by will or by the laws of descent or
distribution, and in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 7.10, the Company shall have no liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned or transferred. The benefits under this Plan shall inure to
the benefit of and be enforceable by a Participant’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. 

Section 7.10. Tax Withholding. The Company may withhold from any benefits payable under this Plan all federal, state, city or
other taxes as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling. 
 Section 7.11. No Employment Rights
Conferred. This Plan shall not be deemed to create a contract of employment between any Participant and the Company and/or its Affiliates. Nothing contained in the Plan shall (a) confer upon any Participant any right with respect to
continuation of employment with the Company or (b) subject to the rights and benefits of any Participant hereunder, interfere in any way with the right of the Company to terminate such Participant’s employment at any time. 

Section 7.12. Entire Plan. This Plan contains the entire understanding of the Participants and the Company with respect to
severance arrangements maintained on behalf of the Participants by the Company. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or undertakings between the Participants and the Company with respect to the subject matter herein
other than those expressly set forth herein. 
 Section 7.13. Prior Agreements. This Plan supersedes all prior agreements,
programs and understandings (including all written and verbal agreements and understandings) between each Participant and the Company regarding the terms and conditions of each Participant’s employment and severance arrangements. 

Section 7.14. Severability. If any provision of the Plan is, becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of the Plan shall not be affected thereby. 

Section 7.15. Governing Law. This Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas,
without giving effect to its conflict of laws rules, and applicable federal law. 

  
 18

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00238-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00238-of-00352.parquet"}]]