Document:

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT- ROBERT S. HOWEY

  
 Exhibit 10.6

  
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
  
 This Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as of
                    , 2004, between Republic Underwriters Insurance Company, a Texas corporation, having its principal place of business at
2727 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75219 (the “Company”), and Robert S. Howey, an individual residing at 5730 Hagen Court, Dallas, Texas 75252 (“you” or “your” ). 
  
 RECITALS 
  
 WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ you, and you desire to accept such
employment with the Company, on the terms and conditions set forth herein; 
  
 WHEREAS, you and the Company desire that this Agreement supercede all prior agreements, whether oral or written, between you and the Company arising out of or in connection with your employment; 
  
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained, you
and the Company hereby agree as follows: 
  
 TERMS OF
AGREEMENT 
  
 1. Definitions. 
  
 (a) The “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors
of the Company. 
  
 (b) The “Effective
Date” shall mean April 15, 2004. 
  
 (c) The
“Employment Period” shall mean the period commencing on the Effective Date and continuing until the third year anniversary of the Effective Date, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. 
  
 2. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to employ you, and you
hereby agree to be employed by the Company, for the duration of the Employment Period and pursuant to the other terms and conditions provided herein. This Agreement shall terminate at the end of the Employment Period, unless earlier terminated under
Section 5 below. 
  
 3. Terms of Employment. 
  
 (a) Position and Duties. During the Employment
Period, you shall serve as Vice-President. You shall perform such duties as the Board shall from time to time determine. In the performance of your duties, you shall comply with the stated policies of the Company. 
  
 (b) Location. Your principal place of employment
shall be the principal offices of the Company, as determined by the Board, subject to Section 5(f)(iii). 
  
 (c) Compensation. 
  
 (i) Base Monthly Salary. Your base monthly salary (“Base Monthly Salary”) shall be at the rate of $7,500, paid
semi-monthly for the duration of your employment hereunder, subject to any increase as approved by the Board. The Base Monthly Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices. 
  
 (ii) Officer Bonus Program. In addition to your Base
Monthly Salary, you will be eligible to participate in the Company’s officer bonus program, as such program may be in effect from time to time and upon terms and conditions as determined by the Board. Except as set forth in Section 3(d)(ii),
you 

  

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shall not be entitled to any such officer bonus or other bonus or incentive pay that may be unpaid at the time your employment is terminated. 
  
 (iii) Withholding, etc. The payment to you of any
Salary and bonus shall be subject to all applicable withholding and payroll taxes and such other deductions as may be required under the Company’s employee benefit plans. 
  
 (iv) Benefits. In addition to the compensation payable to you as set forth in Section 3(c)(i) and
Section 3(c)(ii), during the Employment Period you shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s benefit plans and programs that the Company generally provides to other senior executives of the Company as determined in the discretion of the
Board. 
  
 (v) Vacation. During the
Employment Period, you shall be entitled to four weeks paid vacation per year in accordance with the policies and practices applicable on or after the Effective Date to other employees of the Company. 
  
 (vi) Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse
you, in accordance with the Company’s policies, for reasonable expenses incurred or paid by you during the Employment Period in the performance of your services under this Agreement upon presentation of properly itemized expense statements and
such other supporting information as may be required by the Company. 
  
 (d) Severance. 
  
 (i) If your employment is terminated during the Employment Period by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 5(d), or by you for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(f), or in the event of your death, the Company shall: 
  
 (A) pay you (or your legal representative in the event of
your death) an amount equal to 12 months of your Base Monthly Salary if such termination occurs on or before April 15, 2005; or 
  
 (B) pay you (or your legal representative in the event of your death) an amount equal to 9 months of your Base Monthly Salary if such
termination occurs between April 16, 2005 and April 15, 2006; or 
  
 (C) pay you (or your legal representative in the event of your death) an amount equal to 6 months of your Base Monthly Salary if such termination occurs between April 16, 2006 and April 15, 2007. 
  
 (ii) If your employment is terminated during the Employment
Period by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 5(d), or by you for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(f), or in the event of your death, but in any such foregoing event after January 1 of any year but on or before the date of payment of the
officer bonus, as set forth in Section 3(c)(ii), in respect of the Company’s performance for the preceding fiscal year, the Company shall pay to you (or your legal representative in the event of your death) the full amount of the officer bonus
based on the Performance Goals for such preceding fiscal year. 
  
 (iii) Sums paid to you pursuant to Section 3(d)(i) and Section 3(d)(ii) are referred to herein as the “Severance Payment” and will be made minus applicable taxes and withholdings, and are contingent upon you
executing (and not revoking such signature) a release agreement that is reasonable in content and is in a form mutually agreeable to the parties. None of the Severance Payment shall be considered in calculating pension or other retirement related
benefits, if any. 
  
 (iv) If your employment is
terminated during the Employment Period, the Company shall have no severance or other obligations to you as an employee other than those set forth in Section 

  

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3(d)(i), Section 3(d)(ii), Section 5(a) and Section 5(b) or as required by applicable law. You waive any rights to receive any other severance benefits from
the Company under any severance plan or arrangement in existence prior to the Effective Date. 
  
 (v) You shall be under no obligation to seek other employment and there shall be no offset against any amounts due you under this
Agreement on account of any remuneration attributable to any subsequent employment that you may obtain. 
  
 (vi) In the event you violate your obligations under the agreements referred to in Section 7 of this Agreement and do not cure such
violation within ten (10) business days after receipt by you of written notice from the Company specifying such violation, in addition to any other remedies available to the Company, any amounts due under Section 3(d)(i) and Section 3(d)(ii) shall
immediately cease to be payable by the Company to you. 
  
 (e) Equity Incentives. You shall be entitled to participate in the equity incentive plan of Republic Companies Group, Inc., the Company’s parent company (the “Parent”), as follows: 
  
 (i) As of the Effective Date, you shall be granted stock
awards for shares or interests representing shares of restricted Class B common stock (the “Common Stock”) of the Parent (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Parent) representing, in the aggregate, 0.3% of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock of the Parent on a diluted basis (the “Base Equity Grant”). The Base Equity Grant, including the vesting thereof, will be subject to the plan documentation referred to below. 
  
 (ii) Assuming your employment with the Company continues for
the periods set forth in this paragraph (ii), the Parent will provide you with the opportunity to earn performance-based options of up to 0.7% of the diluted Common Stock of the Parent, subject to vesting and the other terms and conditions set forth
in the applicable plan documentation referred to below (the “Performance Options”). In respect of these Performance Options, you will be eligible to earn options totaling up to 0.3% of the diluted Common Stock of the Parent in early 2005,
based upon your performance in 2004 with regard to certain metrics (“Performance Goals”) agreed upon by you and the Board, related to the Company’s agency plan, including, but not limited to tiering, quote/hit ratios, agency
terminations and agency rehabilitations. The strike price of these Performance Options will be based upon fair market value of the Parent as of December 31, 2004, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Parent. You will be eligible for
Performance Options totaling up to an additional 0.4% of the diluted Common Stock of the Parent in early 2006, based upon your performance in 2005 with regard to certain Performance Goals agreed upon by you and the Board, related to the
Company’s agency plan, including, but not limited to new appointment premiums and accident year loss ratio performance. The strike price of these Performance Options will be based upon fair market value of the Parent as of December 31, 2005, as
determined by the Board of Directors of the Parent. 
  
 (iii) For purposes of determining the Shares of Common Stock awards granted to you pursuant to Section 3(e)(i) or the Common Stock options earned by you pursuant to Section 3(e)(ii), such awards or options shall be determined based on the
outstanding shares of Common Stock as diluted by investments in the Common Stock, directly or indirectly, by the Company’s employees, agents or other approved investors pursuant to investment offerings made available by the Company. 

 
 (iv) The Base Equity Grant and the Performance Options
will be subject to the documents governing the Parent’s equity incentive plan(s), including stock plan agreements, investor rights agreement, limited partnership agreement and other applicable documents. 
  
 4. Employee’s Obligations and Representations. 
  
 (a) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods
of vacation and sick leave to which you are entitled, you agree to devote substantially all of your attention and time to the business and 

  

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affairs of the Company and to professionally perform your duties hereunder and the responsibilities assigned to you by the Board. 
  
 (b) You represent and warrant to the Company that there are
no agreements or arrangements, whether written or oral, in effect which would prohibit or impair you from rendering the services required of you hereunder to the Company during the Employment Period. You further represent, warrant and agree with the
Company that as of the Effective Date you have not made and will not make during the Employment Period any commitment or do any act in conflict with this Agreement, or take any action adverse to the Company that might divert from the Company any
opportunity which would be in the scope of any present or future business of the Company or any subsidiary thereof. 
  
 5. Termination. 
  
 (a) Death. This Agreement shall terminate automatically upon your death. If your employment is terminated by reason of your death,
the Company shall have no further obligations to your legal representatives under this Agreement, other than as set forth in Section 3(d)(i) and Section (d)(ii), if any, accrued as of the date of your death. 
  
 (b) Disability. If the Board determines in good faith
that you have a “disability” (as defined below), it may give you written notice of its intention to terminate your employment. In such event, your employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt by you
of such notice. For purposes of this Agreement, “disability” shall mean a physical or mental condition which, five (5) months after its commencement, is determined by a physician selected by the Company to be a total and permanent
condition which substantially prevents you from performing the services to be provided by you hereunder. You shall be entitled to all compensation and benefits provided for under this Agreement during the five (5) month waiting period for the
disability determination and during the 30-day notice of termination period, less any amounts paid to you pursuant to any Company-provided disability payment programs, whether through insurance policies or not, and to the Severance Payment
obligations, if any, accrued on the date of termination. 
  
 (c) Cause. During the Employment Period, the Company may terminate your employment for Cause, as determined by the Board and as defined below. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean:

  
 (i) an act or acts of fraud, embezzlement or
any other act committed by you, as determined by the Board in good faith, that would constitute a felony under the laws of the State of Texas; 
  
 (ii) your failure or inability to perform the duties or obligations of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the obligations and
representations of Section 3(a) and Section 4, or to comply with the policies or directives of the Company applicable to its employees or senior executives generally, in each case, as determined by the Board in good faith, if such failure or
inability remains uncured for at least ten (10) days after written notice of such failure or inability has been provided to you; 
  
 (iii) breach by you of the representations or obligations under Section 4 or Section 7 hereof or any provision of the Confidentiality
Agreement or Non-Competition Agreement referred to in Section 7, as determined by the Board in good faith; 
  
 (iv) the indictment of you of a crime which constitutes a felony, if the Board reasonably and in good faith determines that such
indictment or any conviction thereunder would impair your ability to perform your services under this Agreement; 
  
 (v) willful and gross misconduct by you in the performance of your duties hereunder as determined by the Board in good faith; or

  

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 (vi) the commission by you of an act (other than good faith exercise of business judgment
in the exercise of your responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement) resulting in material damage to the Company as determined by the Board in good faith. 
  
 (d) Termination without Cause. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall have the right, at any time upon
thirty (30) days notice to you, to terminate your employment without Cause. The Company may provide you pay in lieu of such thirty (30) days notice. In the event of such termination without Cause, you shall be entitled to payments as determined
under Section 3(d)(i) and Section 3(d)(ii) only. 
  
 (e) Voluntary Resignation without Good Reason. You may terminate the Employment Period upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Company, which the Company may in its sole discretion elect to make effective prior to the
end of such 30-day period. Upon the effective date of your termination, this Agreement shall terminate automatically, and the Company shall have no further obligations to you under this Agreement except to pay you your Base Monthly Salary through
the date of termination plus accrued but unpaid vacation, to the extent Company policy or applicable law requires such payment. In the event of voluntary termination, you shall not be entitled to any other payments. 
  
 (f) Voluntary Resignation with Good Reason. During
the Employment Period, you may terminate your employment for “Good Reason” as defined below. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean: 
  
 (i) the diminution of your title as set forth in Section 3(a), which is not remedied by the Company as set
forth below; 
  
 (ii) any material failure by the
Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 3(c), which is not remedied by the Company as set forth below; or 
  
 (iii) the Company’s requiring you (over your objection) to relocate your primary office to a location more than fifty (50) miles from
the Company’s principal place of business as of the Effective Date (the foregoing shall not apply to travel reasonably required in the performance of your responsibilities). 
  
 You shall provide the Company thirty (30) days prior written notice of your intention to terminate the Employment Period for Good Reason,
stating with specificity the reason for the termination and the provision of this Section 5(f) upon which you rely. The Company shall have twenty-five (25) days to cure or remedy the reason for the Good Reason termination. In the event that the
Company fails to remedy the reason for the Good Reason termination, the termination for Good Reason shall be effective as of the thirtieth day after the date of the written notice to the Company (unless the Company, in its sole discretion, elects to
make such termination effective earlier). In the event that you terminate your employment for Good Reason as defined in this Section 5(f), you shall be entitled to payments as set forth in Section 3(d)(i) and Section 3(d)(ii) only. 
  
 6. Indemnification. If you acted in good faith and in a manner you
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and the Company has no reasonable cause to believe that your conduct was unlawful or detrimental to the Company, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless you and
your heirs and legal representatives from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, demands, causes of action (whether legal, equitable, administrative, civil or criminal), judgments, settlements (subject to the last
sentence of Section 6(b)), fines, court costs and other expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements (singularly, “Loss”), which may be threatened against, incurred or
suffered by you or your heirs and legal representatives in connection with, relating to or arising out of your performance, duties and responsibilities to, for or on behalf of, the Company, to the extent set forth herein and as permitted under
applicable law. 
  
 (a) Exceptions.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein or in the bylaws of the Company, the Company shall have no obligation to indemnify you if the Loss incurred by you (i) arises out of 

  

 5 

 
an action brought directly by the Company against you; or (ii) arises out of an action brought by you against the Company; including, but not limited to, any
action as a result of your being terminated from employment for any reason. 
  
 (b) Notification of Claim. Promptly after receipt by the Company of notice of any claim against you pursuant to which you are entitled to indemnification, the Company shall have the right to assume the defense
of such claim, including the employment of counsel of its choice. Although you shall have the right to employ your own counsel, the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at your expense. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any
claim or action effected without its written consent. 
  
 7.
Confidentiality and Non-Competition. You agree to execute (concurrently with the execution of this Agreement), be bound by and comply with the Confidentiality Agreement and Non-Competition Agreement in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit A
and Exhibit B, respectively. 
  
 8. Successors. This
Agreement is personal to you and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by you. The Company may assign its rights and obligations hereunder, provided that the Company will require the assignee to assume expressly
and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such assignment had taken place. 
  
 9. Binding Arbitration. In the event that the Company and you cannot agree on an interpretation of any provision of
this Agreement, or in the event that either of the parties fails to fulfill any obligations required by the terms of this Agreement, the Company and you agree to resolve any such dispute through binding arbitration in Dallas, Texas, under the
then-current rules of the American Arbitration Association in the State of Texas. For the purposes of confirming any such award and entering judgment thereon, each party hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the State and Federal
courts located in Dallas, Texas. The obligations of this Section shall not apply to any dispute arising out of or in connection with Section 7 hereof or the agreements referred to therein. 
  
 10. Miscellaneous. 
  
 (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Texas. Each party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably (i) accepts and consents to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the courts of Dallas County, Texas or in the U.S. District Court for the Northern
District of Texas for the purpose of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Agreement or the Company’s employment of you, (ii) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may
now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding or any judgment entered by any court in respect thereof brought in such courts and (iii) waives any claim that any suit, action or proceedings brought in such courts
has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party further agrees that service of process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail in accordance with this Agreement shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or
proceeding brought against a party in any such court. 
  
 (b) The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. 
  
 (c) This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective
successors and legal representatives. 
  

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 (d) All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been given if sent by facsimile transmission, delivered by overnight or other carrier service, or mailed, certified first class mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the parties hereto at the following
addresses: 
  
 If to the Company, to: 
  
 Republic Underwriters Insurance Company. 
 2727 Turtle Creek Boulevard 
 Dallas, Texas
75219-4801 
 Attention: Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Counsel 
  
 If to you, to: 
  
 Robert S. Howey 
 5730 Hagen Court 

Dallas, Texas 75252 
  
 or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in accordance with the foregoing notice provisions. 
  
 (e) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of
this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. 
  
 (f) A party’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision hereof shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision
or any other provision thereof. All waivers of any provision of this Agreement must be in writing by the party waiving such rights. 
  
 (g) This Agreement, together with the agreements referred to in Section 7, embodies the entire agreement between the Company and you and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to the subject matter hereof. 
  
 (h) Nothing herein, expressed or implied, is intended or will be construed to confer upon or give to any person, firm, corporation or
legal entity, other than the parties hereto and the Company’s subsidiaries or affiliates, any rights, remedies or other benefits under or by reason of this Agreement. 
  
 (i) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of
which, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument. 
  
 (j) If any provision of this Agreement conflicts with the stated policies, practices or procedures of the Company, the provision of this Agreement shall control. 
  
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written. 
  

			
	REPUBLIC UNDERWRITERS INSURANCE COMPANY
		
	By:	 	/s/    PARKER W. RUSH        
	 Name:
	 	Parker W. Rush
	 Title:
	 	President

  

	
	
	/s/     ROBERT S. HOWEY        
	Robert S. Howey

  

 7 

 Exhibit A 
  
 CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT 
  
 I, Robert S. Howey, recognize that in the day to day performance of my job duties while in the employment of Republic Underwriters Insurance Company (hereinafter referred
to, collectively with its subsidiaries, parent companies and affiliates and together with its successors and assigns, as the “Company”), it is likely that I will be given or acquire access to confidential Company records. In consideration
of my employment with the Company, I agree as follows: 
  
 1.
During the term of my employment, and after the termination of my employment for any reason: 
  
 (a) To keep secret and treat as confidential all information of the Company, whether I have such information in my memory, in writing or
their physical form, unless compelled to release such information by law (“Confidential Information”). Confidential Information for the purposes of this Agreement shall be defined as any and all Company information, in whatever form, that
I become aware of during the term of my employment, including, but not limited to, client lists, client files, agent lists, agent files, software, source code, analytical techniques, databases, confidential financial and/or pricing data, or business
strategies. Confidential Information shall not include information generally available to and known by the public or information that is or becomes available to me on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or the
Company’s stockholders, directors, officers, employees or agents (other than as a result of a breach of any obligation of confidentiality). 
  
 (b) To keep secret and treat as confidential all agent, customer, client or prospective client information, and all other information
complied or maintained internally by the Company concerning or relating to agents, customers, clients, or prospective clients. 
  
 2. I agree, during the term of my employment, to conduct myself at all times for the benefit of the Company and never knowingly take any action
inconsistent with the Company’s best interest and to refrain from any action or activity which may cause or give rise to a conflict of interest with Company business or the business of the Company’s agents, clients, customers or
prospective clients. 
  
 3. I agree that any work done or compiled
by me, including, but not limited to, research, analysis, computer programs, customer information, lists, products, procedures or developments, during the term of my employment shall constitute “WORK MADE FOR HIRE” and any such work shall
belong solely to the Company or its assignees, together with any and all copyright, trademark or service mark and patent rights related to or arising from such work, without further compensation. I agree, immediately upon the request of the Company,
to execute any and all such assignments and other documents and take any and all such actions as the Company may reasonably request in order to vest in the Company all my rights, titles and interest in any work free and clear of all liens, charges
and encumbrances. I hereby grant to the Company the exclusive right to use such work in whatever form the Company chooses, including without limitation, the right to prepare, publish and distribute derivative works thereunder. 
  
 4. I agree that after the termination of my employment, for any reason, I
will promptly return to the Company any and all documents, whether belonging to the Company, its agents, clients, customers or prospective customers, made or obtained in the course of my employment. 
  
 5. I understand and agree that this Agreement does not constitute a contract
of employment, retention or engagement or obligate the Company to employ, retain or engage me for any specified period of time, nor shall this Agreement be interpreted in any way to interfere with any right the Company has or any right that I have
to terminate my employment at any time, for no reason or for any reason. 
  
 6. I acknowledge that a breach of this Agreement will cause the Company irreparable harm and 

  

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hereby agree that in the event of such breach, the Company will be entitled to obtain an injunction against me in addition to any other remedy available.

  
 7. I agree that all the terms of this Agreement are severable,
and in the event that any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable, this Agreement shall be read or construed as if such provision were not contained herein. 
  
 8. This Agreement, together with the Employment Agreement and the
Non-Competition Agreement, each dated the date hereof between me and the Company (the “Concurrent Agreements”), represents the entire agreement between the parties on the subject, and all prior agreements, whether oral or written, are
deemed null and void and superseded in their entirety by the terms of the Concurrent Agreements. 
  
 9. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas. 
  

	
	
	/s/     ROBERT S. HOWEY        
	Robert S. Howey

  
 Date: 4/09/04 
  
 Witness 
  
 Signature: /s/ Gaynell M. Howey 
  
 Printed Name: Gaynell M. Howey 
  
 Date: 4/9/04 
  

 9 

 Exhibit B 
  
 NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT 
  
 In consideration of my employment by Republic Underwriters Insurance Company (hereinafter referred to, collectively with its subsidiaries, parent companies and affiliates
and together with its successors and assigns, as the “Company”), I agree as follows: 
  
 1. Restrictions. I agree that during the term of my employment and for a period of twelve (12) months following the termination of my employment for any reason that I shall not directly or indirectly:

  
 (a) Persuade or attempt to persuade any
customer (including, but not limited to, insurance agents, policyholders and insureds) or client of the Company which has produced revenue for the Company in the past twelve (12) months to cease doing business with the Company or to reduce the
amount of business it does with the Company. 
  
 (b) Persuade or attempt to persuade any potential customer (including, but not limited to, insurance agents, policyholders and insureds) or client of the Company of which I am aware or which anyone in the Company is actively pursuing as a
customer or client for the Company, not to utilize the services of the Company or to utilize the services of another company. 
  
 (c) Attempt to convert any business the Company has with any existing customer (including, but not limited to, insurance agents,
policyholders and insureds) or client for my own benefit or for the benefit of any other person or company other than the Company. 
  
 (d) Persuade or attempt to persuade any employee of the Company to leave the Company’s employ or become employed by any person or
company other than the Company. 
  
 2. Covenant Not To
Compete. I agree that during the period of my employment and ending one (1) year after the termination of my employment for any reason, I shall not, except as a passive investor in publicly held companies: 
  
 (a) engage in, own or control an interest in or act as
principal, director, officer or employee of, or consultant to any firm or corporation directly engaged in any venture or business competitive with any insurance business conducted by the Company in any geographical market such business is being
conducted by the Company (“Competing Business”); or 
  
 (b) assist others in engaging in Competing Business, provided, however, that after the date of my termination, should I desire to become employed as a consultant or employee of an entity that is in a Competing
Business, I shall provide the Company written request for consent to do so, and the Company shall make a reasonable determination, based on the totality of the circumstances, whether to consent to such employment or consultancy. 
  
 3. Reasonable and Necessary Restrictions. I acknowledge that during
the course of my employment with the Company I have received or will receive and have had or will have access to confidential information and trade secrets of the Company, including but not limited to confidential and secret business and marketing
plans, strategies, and studies, detailed agent, client and customer lists and information relating to the operations and business requirements of those agents, clients and customers and, accordingly, I am willing to enter into the covenants
contained in this Agreement in order to provide the Company with what I consider to be reasonable protection for its interests. I further acknowledge that the restrictions, prohibitions and other provisions in this Agreement, are reasonable, fair
and equitable in scope, terms and duration, are necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company, and are a material inducement to the Company to employ me. I agree that I will not challenge the enforceability of this Agreement
nor will I raise any equitable defense to its enforcement. 
  
 4.
Injunctive Relief, Integration and Applicable Law. I acknowledge that a breach of this Agreement will cause the Company irreparable harm and hereby agree that in the event of such breach, the Company will be entitled to obtain an injunction
against me in addition to any other remedy available. 
  

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 5. Severability. I agree that all the terms of this Agreement are severable, and in the event that
any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable, this Agreement shall be read or construed as if such provision were not contained herein. 
  
 6. Employment; Engagement. I understand and agree that this Agreement does not constitute a contract of employment,
retention or engagement or obligate the Company to employ, retain or engage me for any specified period of time, nor shall this Agreement be interpreted in any way to interfere with any right the Company has or any right that I have to terminate my
employment at any time, for no reason or for any reason. 
  
 7.
Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Employment Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement, each dated the date hereof between me and the Company (the “Concurrent Agreements”), represents the entire agreement between
the parties on the subject, and all prior agreements, whether oral or written, are deemed null and void and superseded in their entirety by the terms of the Concurrent Agreements. 
  
 8. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.

  

	
	
	/s/     ROBERT S. HOWEY        
	Robert S. Howey

  
 Date: 4/09/04 
  
 Witness 
  
 Signature: /s/ Gaynell M. Howey 
  
 Printed Name: Gaynell M. Howey 
  
 Date: 4/9/04 
  

 11REPUBLIC COMPANIES GROUP, INC. STOCK PLAN

 Exhibit 10.7 
  
 REPUBLIC COMPANIES GROUP, INC. 
 STOCK PLAN 
  

  
 Table of Contents

  

			
	 	  	Page

		
	 Article 1. Establishment, Duration and Purpose
	  	1
		
	 Article 2. Definitions
	  	1
		
	 Article 3. Administration
	  	3
		
	 Article 4. Shares Subject to the Plan
	  	3
		
	 Article 5. Participation
	  	4
		
	 Article 6. Stock Options
	  	5
		
	 Article 7. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
	  	7
		
	 Article 8. Deferrals
	  	8
		
	 Article 9. Rights of Participants
	  	8
		
	 Article 10. Amendment, Modification and Termination
	  	9
		
	 Article 11. Withholding and Fractional Shares
	  	10
		
	 Article 12. Indemnification
	  	10
		
	 Article 13. Successors and Corporate Transactions
	  	11
		
	 Article 14. Legal Construction
	  	11

  

 i 

  
 REPUBLIC COMPANIES GROUP,
INC. 
 STOCK PLAN 
  
 Article 1. Establishment, Duration and Purpose 
  
 1.1 Establishment and Duration. Republic Companies Group, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby establishes the Republic Companies Group,
Inc. Stock Plan (the “Plan”) effective as of May 1, 2004, subject to the Plan having been approved by the Company’s shareholders within the time required by Section 422 of the Code. The Plan shall remain in effect until the earliest
of (i) the date that no additional Shares are available for issuance under the Plan, (ii) the date that the Plan has been terminated in accordance with Article 11, or (iii) the close of business May 1, 2014.  
  
 1.2 Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success
and enhance the value of the Company and its subsidiaries by linking the personal interests of officers, directors, consultants, insurance and other agents, and key employees to those of the Company’s shareholders, and by providing such
individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance that contributes to the Company’s growth and success. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company and its subsidiaries in their ability to motivate, attract, and
retain the services of officers, directors, consultants, insurance and other agents, and key employees upon whose judgment, interest and special effort the successful conduct of their operations largely is dependent. 
  
 Article 2. Definitions 
  
 Whenever used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set
forth below and, when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word is capitalized: 
  
 “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock
Options, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units. 
  
 “Award Agreement” means an agreement between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to Awards granted under the Plan. 
  
 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. 
  
 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended from time to time. References to the Code include the valid and binding governmental regulations, court decisions and other regulatory and judicial authority issued or rendered thereunder. 
  
 “Committee” means the Compensation
Committee of the Board or any other committee that the Board authorizes to administer the Plan in accordance with the terms set forth herein. 
  

 “Common Stock” means the Class B Non-Voting Common Stock of the Company
or any security of the Company issued in substitution, exchange or lieu thereof pursuant to Article 4. 
  
 “Company” means Republic Companies Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor as provided in Article 13.

  
 “Effective Date” means May
1, 2004. 
  
 “Fair Market Value”
of a Share of the Company’s Common Stock means such value as determined from time to time by the Committee using any reasonable valuation method as determined by the Committee. 
  
 “Incentive Stock Option” means a right to purchase Shares upon exercise of an Option
granted under Article 6 that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. 
  
 “Nonqualified Stock Option” means a right to purchase Shares upon exercise of an option granted under Article 6 that is
not intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. 
  
 “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option. 
  
 “Option Price” means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option. 
  
 “Participant” means a person designated
pursuant to Section 5.1 to receive an Award. 
  
 “Period of Restriction” means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock or an Award of Restricted Stock Units is limited pursuant to Section 7.4. 
  
 “Restricted Stock” means an Award of
Shares, subject to a Period of Restriction, granted to a Participant under Article 7. 
  
 “Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award, subject to a Period of Restriction, that is granted to a Participant under
Article 7 and is settled either (i) by the delivery of one Share for each Restricted Stock Unit or (ii) in cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share for each Restricted Stock Unit. The Award of a Restricted Stock Unit represents
the mere promise of the Company to deliver a Share or the appropriate amount of cash, as applicable, at the end of the Period of Restriction (or such later date as provided by the Award Agreement) in accordance with and subject to the terms and
conditions of the applicable Award Agreement, and is not intended to constitute a transfer of “property” within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code. 
  

 2 

 “Sale of the Company” means Sale of the Company as defined in the
Investor Rights Agreement among RTXA, Inc. (now known as Republic Companies Group, Inc.) and other parties thereto dated May 9, 2003, as amended. 
  
 “Shares” means the shares of Common Stock of the Company. 
  
 “Termination” means the (i) termination of employment with or (ii) cessation of performance
of services for the Company and its subsidiaries by a Participant, regardless of whether such termination is by the Company or the Participant, for or without cause, with or without good reason, voluntary or mandatory or due to the death, disability
or retirement of the Participant. 
  
 Article 3. Administration

  
 3.1 The Committee. The Plan shall be
administered by a Committee established for such purpose by the Board; provided that if the Board has not established a Committee, the Plan shall be administered by the Board and all references herein to the Committee shall be deemed to refer to the
Board. 
  
 3.2 Authority of the Committee. Except as
limited by law, or by the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, and subject to the provisions herein, the Committee shall have full power to select employees, directors, consultants, insurance and other agents, and key employees of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries to become Participants; determine the amounts and types of Awards; determine the terms and conditions of Awards in a manner consistent with the Plan; construe and interpret the Plan and any agreement or
instrument entered into under the Plan; establish, amend, or waive rules and regulations for the Plan’s administration; and subject to the provisions of Article 10, amend the terms and conditions of any outstanding Award to the extent such
terms and conditions are within the sole discretion of the Committee as provided in the Plan. Further, the Committee shall make all other determinations which may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. As permitted by law, the
Committee may delegate its authority as identified herein. 
  
 3.3 Decisions Binding. All determinations and decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan and all related orders and resolutions of the Board shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons,
including the Company, its shareholders, employees, Participants, and their estates and beneficiaries. 
  
 Article 4. Shares Subject to the Plan 
  
 4.1 Number of Shares Available for Grants. Subject to the provisions of this Article 4, the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued to
Participants pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall not exceed One-Hundred-Twenty-Six Thousand (126,000) Shares. For purposes of Section 422 of the Code, this is also the maximum number of Shares that are available for grants of Incentive
Stock Options. 
  

 3 

 4.2 Lapsed Awards. If any Award is canceled, terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason,
any Shares subject to such Award shall not count against the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan set forth in Section 4.1. 
  
 4.3 Adjustments in Authorized Shares. Subject to the provisions of Article 14, in the event of any change in corporate capitalization, such
as a stock split, or a corporate transaction, such as any merger, consolidation, separation, including a spin-off, or other distribution of stock or property of the Company, any reorganization (whether or not such reorganization comes within the
definition of such term in Section 368 of the Code) or any partial or complete liquidation of the Company, such adjustment shall be made in the number and class of Shares which may be delivered under the Plan, and in the number and class of and/or
price of Shares subject to outstanding Awards granted under the Plan, as may be determined to be appropriate and equitable by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights; provided, however, that (i) the number
of Shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number and (ii) if the Award is an Incentive Stock Option and is intended to remain an Incentive Stock Option after the adjustment, the adjustment shall be made consistent with the requirements
of Section 424 of the Code. 
  
 4.4 Shares Used to Pay Option
Price and Withholding Taxes. If, in accordance with the terms of the Plan, a Participant pays the Option Price for an Option or satisfies any tax withholding requirement in connection with any Award by either tendering previously owned
Shares or having the Company withhold Shares, then such Shares surrendered to pay the Option Price or used to satisfy such tax withholding requirements shall not count against the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan set
forth in Section 4.1.  
  
 4.5 Other Items Not
Included. The following items shall not count against the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan set forth in Section 4.1: (i) the payment in cash of dividends or dividend equivalents under any outstanding Award;
(ii) any Award that is settled in cash rather than by issuance of Shares; or (iii) Awards granted through the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted to individuals who become Participants as a result of a
merger, consolidation, acquisition or other corporate transaction involving the Company or any subsidiary. 
  
 4.6 Source of Shares. Shares issued under the Plan may be original issue shares, treasury stock or shares purchased in the open market or
otherwise, all as determined by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (or the Chief Financial Officer’s designee) from time to time, unless otherwise determined by the Committee. 
  
 Article 5. Participation 
  
 5.1 Participation. The Committee shall, in its sole discretion,
select individuals to receive Awards from among the officers, directors, consultants, insurance and other agents, and key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, including persons who have agreed to commence serving in any such capacity
within 90 days of the date of an Award. 
  

 4 

 Article 6. Stock Options 
  
 6.1 Grant of Options. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Participants
in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. 
  
 6.2 Award Agreement. Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the duration of the
Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation, conditions or other provisions related to the performance of the Company or the Participant as may
be established by the Committee in its sole discretion from time to time. The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option. 
  
 6.3 Option Price. The Option Price per Share for each grant of
an Option under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant, but in no event shall the exercise price of an Incentive Stock Option be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant of such
Incentive Stock Option. 
  
 6.4 Duration of Options.
Each Option shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant; provided, however, that no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary date of its grant. 
  
 6.5 Exercise of Options. Options granted under this Article 6
shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions, including without limitation conditions related to the performance of the Company or the Participant, as the Committee shall in each instance approve and which
shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, which need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant. 
  
 6.6 Payment. Options shall be exercised by the delivery of a written notice of exercise to the Committee, setting forth the number of Shares
with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the Shares. The Option Price upon exercise of any Option shall be payable to the Company in full in cash or its equivalent or, if acceptable to the Committee in its
sole discretion, in shares of Common Stock either already owned by the Participant or subject to such Option. As soon as practicable after receipt of a written notification of exercise and full payment, the Company shall deliver to the Participant,
in the Participant’s name, Share certificates in an appropriate amount based upon the number of Shares purchased under the Option(s). 
  
 6.7 Restrictions on Share Transferability. The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an
Option granted under this Article 6 as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions under applicable Federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed and/or
traded, and under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares. 
  

 5 

 6.8 Termination. Each Participant’s Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to
which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the Option following his Termination. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement, need not be uniform among all Options
issued pursuant to this Article 6, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for Termination. If an Award Agreement permits exercise of an Option following the death of the Participant, the Award Agreement shall provide that such Option
shall be exercisable to the extent provided therein by any person that may be empowered to do so under the Participant’s will, or if the Participant fails to make a testamentary disposition of the Option or dies intestate, by the
Participant’s executor or other legal representative. 
  
 6.9 Nontransferability of Options. 
  

	 	(a)	Incentive Stock Options. No Incentive Stock Option granted under this Article 6 may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated,
other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. All Incentive Stock Options granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during his lifetime only by such Participant. 

  

	 	(b)	Nonqualified Stock Options. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, no Nonqualified Stock Option granted under this Article 6 may be sold, transferred,
pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, all Nonqualified Stock Options granted to a Participant under this
Article 6 shall be exercisable during his lifetime only by such Participant. 

  
 6.10 No Rights. A Participant granted an Option shall have no rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to the Shares covered by such Option except to the extent that Shares are issued to the
Participant upon the due exercise of the Option. 
  
 6.11
Additional Provisions for Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following additional provisions: 
  

	 	(a)	$100,000 Limit. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock
Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000 or such other limit as may be required by the Code. 

  

	 	(b)	10% Owners. The exercise price for an Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan to a Participant who owns more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock
of the Company at the time of such grant shall be not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant and the term of such Incentive Stock Option shall not exceed five years from the grant date.

  

 6 

 Article 7. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units 
  
 7.1 Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and
provisions of the Plan, Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

  
 7.2 Restricted Stock Agreement. Each grant of
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Period or Periods of Restriction, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock or the number of Restricted Stock Units granted, and such other
provisions as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. 
  
 7.3 Transferability. Except as provided in this Article 7, the Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted herein may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until
the end of the applicable Period of Restriction specified in the Award Agreement, or upon earlier satisfaction of any other conditions, as specified by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the Award Agreement. During the
Participant’s lifetime, all rights with respect to the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted to such Participant under the Plan shall be available only to such Participant. 
  
 7.4 Other Restrictions. The Committee, in its sole discretion,
shall impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to the Plan as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, a requirement that Participants pay a stipulated
purchase price for each Share of Restricted Stock or each Restricted Stock Unit, the passage of time, the achievement of specific performance goals (Company-wide, divisional, and/or individual), time-based restrictions on vesting following the
attainment of the performance goals, the occurrence of a designated event and/or restrictions under applicable Federal or state securities laws. The Company shall retain in its possession all certificates representing the Shares of Restricted Stock
(along with a stock power executed by the Participant in whose name such certificates are registered, endorsed in blank and covering such shares) until such time as all conditions and/or restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied.
Except as otherwise provided in this Article 7, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan shall become freely transferable by the Participant after the last day of the Period of Restriction. 
  
 7.5 Settlement of Restricted Stock Units. Any Restricted Stock
Units that become payable in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement shall be settled in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion or as otherwise
provided for under the Award Agreement. 
  
 7.6 Voting
Rights. During the Period of Restriction, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights (if any) with respect to those Shares. There shall be no voting rights with respect to Restricted
Stock Units. 
  

 7 

 7.7 Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Participants
holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may receive regular cash dividends paid with respect to the underlying Shares. The Committee may apply any restrictions to the dividends that the Committee deems appropriate. The Committee, in its
sole discretion, may also grant dividend equivalents rights with respect to vested and earned but unpaid Restricted Stock Units as evidenced by the applicable Award Agreement. 
  
 7.8 Termination. Each Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to
which the Participant shall have the right to receive unvested Restricted Shares or Restricted Stock Units following his Termination. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award
Agreement entered into with a Participant, need not be uniform among all Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units awarded pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for Termination. 
  
 7.9 Beneficiary Designation. Each Participant under the Plan
may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units due under the Plan are to be distributed in case of his death before he receives any
or all of such benefit. Unless expressly stated to the contrary, each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Committee, and will be effective only when filed by the
Participant in writing with the Committee during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, any benefits due a Participant at the time of his death shall be distributed to the Participant’s estate. 
  
 Article 8. Deferrals 
  
 The Committee may permit a Participant to defer such Participant’s
receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of the exercise of an Option or the lapse or waiver of restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units. If any
such deferral election is required or permitted, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, establish rules and procedures for such payment deferrals. 
  
 Article 9. Rights of Participants 
  
 9.1 Employment and Services. Nothing in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries to terminate any Participant’s employment or other service relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company and its
subsidiaries. 
  
 9.2 Participation. No persons
shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under the Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future Award. 
  

 8 

 9.3 Engaging in Competition With Company. If, following a Participant’s
Termination for any reason whatsoever, and during the “Restricted Period” such Participant engages in “Competition” with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may require such Participant
to return to the Company the economic value of any Award which is realized or obtained (measured at the date of exercise, vesting or payment) by such Participant after the “Look-Back Date.” For purposes of this Section, 
  

	 	(a)	“Competition” means: 

  

	 	(i)	in the case of a Participant with a written employment agreement or non-competition agreement with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a breach by the Participant of any
non-competition provision of said employment agreement or said non-competition agreement; or 

  

	 	(ii)	in the case of a Participant without a written employment agreement or non-competition agreement with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, accepting employment with any
competitor of, or otherwise engaging in competition with, the Company or any of its subsidiaries. 

  

	 	(b)	“Look-Back Date” means the date that is six months prior to the date of the affected Participant’s Termination. 

  

	 	(c)	“Restricted Period” means the one-year period commencing on the date of Termination. 

  
 Article 10. Amendment, Modification and Termination 
  
 10.1 Amendment, Modification and Termination. The Board may at any time and from time to time, alter, amend,
suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part; provided, however, that no such amendment shall increase the number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan unless such increase is approved by the shareholders. 
  
 10.2 Awards Previously Granted. No termination, amendment, or
modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the Participant holding such Award. 
  
 10.3 Acceleration of Award Vesting; Waiver of Restrictions. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or any
Award Agreement provision to the contrary, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power at any time to (i) accelerate the vesting of any Award granted under the Plan, including without limitation, acceleration to such a date that
would result in said Awards becoming immediately vested, or (ii) waive any restrictions of any Award granted under the Plan; provided, however, that such waiver shall not affect the obligations of the Participant under any other contract with the
Company or any of its subsidiaries. Such 

  

 9 

 
acceleration or waiver may vary among individual Participants and may vary among Awards held by Participants 
  
 Article 11. Withholding and Fractional Shares 
  
 11.1 Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the power and the
right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy Federal, state, and local taxes (including a Participant’s FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any
taxable event arising as a result of the Plan. 
  
 11.2 Share
Withholding. The Company may cause any tax withholding obligation described in Section 11.1 to be satisfied by the Company withholding Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the amount otherwise
to be withheld. In the alternative, the Company may permit Participants to elect to satisfy the tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part, by either (i) having the Company withhold Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be
determined equal to the amount otherwise to be withheld or (ii) tendering previously acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the amount otherwise to be withheld (provided that the Shares which are tendered must have been held
by the Participant for at least six months prior to their tender unless such Shares had been acquired by the Participant on the open market). All such elections shall be irrevocable, made in writing, signed by the Participant, and shall be subject
to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. 
  
 11.3 Fractional Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue any fractional Shares pursuant to the Plan. The Committee may provide for
the elimination of fractions or the settlement of fractional Shares in cash. 
  
 Article 12. Indemnification 
  
 Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense (including without limitation reasonable
attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he may be a party or in which he may be involved by reason of any action taken or
failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him, provided
he shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he undertakes to handle and defend it on his own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of
indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless. 
  

 10 

 Article 13. Successors and Corporate Transactions 
  
 13.1 Obligation Binding on Successors. All obligations of the
Company under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company. 
  
 13.2 Special Provisions for Corporate Transactions. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, but except as otherwise specified in a particular Award Agreement, in the event of a Sale of the Company, the Committee
in its sole discretion may effect one or more of the following alternatives without the approval of Participants, which may vary among individual Participants and which may vary among Awards held by a Participant: (i) accelerate the time at which
outstanding Options may be exercised so that the Options may be exercised in full for a limited period of time on or before a specified date (before or after the Sale of the Company) fixed by the Committee, after which all unexercised Options and
all rights of Participants thereunder will terminate; (ii) require the mandatory surrender to the Company by selected Participants of some or all of the outstanding Options held by the Participants (irrespective of whether the Options then
outstanding are exercisable) as of a date before or after the Sale of the Company, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee will cancel the Options and the Company will pay to each Participant a per Share cash amount equal to the
excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Option over the applicable Option Price; (iii) with the agreement of the successor corporation (or an affiliate of the successor corporation), outstanding Options will be assumed
or equivalent options or rights will be substituted by the successor corporation (or an affiliate of the successor corporation) for the outstanding Options; (iv) accelerate the vesting of any outstanding Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted
Stock Units; (v) consider any restricted periods or restrictions on outstanding Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units to have lapsed; or (vi) make any other adjustments to outstanding Awards as the Committee deems appropriate to
reflect the Sale of the Company (provided, however, that the Committee may determine that no adjustment is appropriate). 
  
 Article 14. Legal Construction 
  
 14.1 Gender and Number. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the
plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural. 
  
 14.2 Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan
shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included. 
  
 14.3 Requirements of Law. The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental
agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required. 
  

 11 

 14.4 Governing Law. To the extent not governed by Federal law, the Plan, and all agreements
hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. 
  
 14.5 Jurisdiction. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Company and each Participant hereby irrevocably agree that any legal action
or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Plan or any agreements or transactions contemplated hereby may be brought in the courts of the State of Texas or of the United States of America for the Northern District of Texas and hereby expressly
submit to the personal jurisdiction and venue of such courts for the purposes thereof and expressly waive any claim of improper venue and any claim that such courts are an inconvenient forum. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Company and
each Participant hereby irrevocably consent to the service of process of any of the aforementioned courts in any such suit, action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the address set
forth in the Company’s records, such service to become effective six (6) days after such mailing. 
  

 12

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