Document:

Exhibit
10.2

 

[FORM OF] SEVERANCE
AGREEMENT

 

 

dated as of October 23, 2009,

 

between

 

 

COBALT INTERNATIONAL ENERGY,
INC.,

(the
Company)

 

and

 

 

[·],

(Employee)

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

	
   

  	
  PAGE

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE 1

  	
   

  
	
  DEFINITIONS

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 1.01. Definitions

  	
  1

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE 2

  	
   

  
	
  EFFECTIVENESS; TERM OF AGREEMENT; PRIOR SEVERANCE
  AGREEMENT

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 2.01. Effectiveness; Term of
  Agreement; Prior Severance Agreement

  	
  7

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE 3

  	
   

  
	
  CERTAIN EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS; IPO
  EQUITY GRANT

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 3.01. Services

  	
  8

  
	
  Section 3.02. Accredited Investor
  Representations

  	
  8

  
	
  Section 3.03. Transfer Restrictions

  	
  8

  
	
  Section 3.04. Life Insurance

  	
  8

  
	
  Section 3.05. IPO Equity Grant

  	
  8

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE 4

  
	
  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, INVENTIONS, BUSINESS

  
	
  OPPORTUNITIES AND GOODWILL

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 4.01. Confidential
  Information, Inventions, Business Opportunities and Goodwill

  	
  9

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE 5

  
	
  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 5.01. Termination of
  Employment

  	
  9

  
	
  Section 5.02. Notice of Termination
  of Employment

  	
  9

  
	
  Section 5.03. Deemed Resignations

  	
  10

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE 6

  
	
  SEVERANCE BENEFITS

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 6.01. Death, Disability,
  Termination for Cause or Resignation Without Good Reason

  	
  10

  
	
  Section 6.02. Involuntary
  Termination

  	
  11

  

 

i

 

	
  Section 6.03. Death, Disability or
  Involuntary Termination After Agreement Termination Date

  	
  12

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE 7

  
	
  INTEREST ON LATE PAYMENTS

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 7.01. Interest on Late
  Payments

  	
  12

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE 8

  
	
  CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 8.01. Gross-up Payment

  	
  13

  
	
  Section 8.02. Disposition of Claims

  	
  14

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE 9

  
	
  COMPETITION

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 9.01. Competition

  	
  14

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE 10

  
	
  NONDISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY
  INFORMATION

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 10.01. Nondisclosure of
  Confidential and Proprietary Information

  	
  16

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE 11

  
	
  INVENTIONS

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 11.01. Inventions

  	
  18

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE 12

  
	
  INJUNCTIVE RELIEF

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 12.01. Injunctive Relief

  	
  18

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE 13

  
	
  NON-DISPARAGEMENT

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 13.01. Non-disparagement

  	
  18

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE 14

  
	
  GENERAL

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 14.01. Survivorship

  	
  19

  
	
  Section 14.02. Arbitration

  	
  19

  
	
  Section 14.03. Payment Obligations
  Absolute

  	
  20

  
	
  Section 14.04. Successors

  	
  20

  
	
  Section 14.05. Severability

  	
  20

  
	
  Section 14.06. Non-alienation

  	
  20

  

 

ii

 

	
  Section 14.07. Notices

  	
  20

  
	
  Section 14.08. Controlling Law and
  Waiver of Jury Trial

  	
  20

  
	
  Section 14.09. Release and Delayed
  Payment Restriction

  	
  21

  
	
  Section 14.10. Full Settlement

  	
  22

  
	
  Section 14.11. Unfunded Obligation

  	
  22

  
	
  Section 14.12. Not a Contract of
  Employment

  	
  22

  
	
  Section 14.13. Withholding of Taxes
  and Other Employee Deductions

  	
  22

  
	
  Section 14.14. Number and Gender

  	
  22

  
	
  Section 14.15. Entire Agreement

  	
  22

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Annexes
  and Exhibits

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Annex
  I

  	
  Accredited
  Investor Representations

  	
   

  
	
  Annex
  II

  	
  Transfer
  Restrictions

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Exhibit A

  	
  Form of
  Restricted Stock Award Agreement — Class C Interests

  	
   

  
	
  Exhibit B

  	
  [Form of
  Restricted Stock Award Agreement — Class D Interests]

  	
   

  
	
  Exhibit C

  	
  Form of
  Release

  	
   

  

 

iii

 

[FORM OF] SEVERANCE
AGREEMENT

 

This SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
dated as of October 23, 2009, is made by and between COBALT INTERNATIONAL
ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and
[·] (“Employee”) and, for the limited purpose of Article 2,
Cobalt International Energy, L.P. (the “Partnership”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to attract and retain
certain key employee personnel and, accordingly, the Board of Directors of the
Company has approved the Company’s entering into this Agreement with Employee
to encourage Employee’s continued service to Cobalt;

 

WHEREAS, the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement are similar to the terms and conditions set forth in an existing
severance agreement between Employee and the Partnership dated as of April 20,
2009 (the “Prior Severance Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, upon the closing of the IPO (as defined
below), the Prior Severance Agreement shall be terminated, and this Agreement
shall become effective.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing
and for other good and valuable consideration, the Company and Employee agree
as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01.  Definitions.

 

“Accrued Obligations”
shall mean Employee’s base salary through the Date of Termination of Employment
not theretofore paid, any expenses owed to Employee under the Company’s expense
reimbursement policy as in effect from time to time, any accrued vacation pay
owed to Employee pursuant to the Company’s vacation policy as in effect from
time to time, any earned but unpaid annual performance bonus with respect to a
calendar year that has ended on or before the Date of Termination of Employment
(it being understood that a bonus will not be considered to have been unearned
merely because Employee has not remained employed through the payment date so
long as Employee has remained

 

 

employed through the end of the calendar year
that has ended on or before the Date of Termination of Employment), any amount
accrued and arising from Employee’s participation in, or benefits accrued
under, any employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements maintained by the
Company which amounts shall be payable in accordance with the terms and
conditions of such employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements, and such
other or additional benefits as may be, or become, due to Employee under the
applicable terms of applicable plans, programs, agreements, corporate
governance documents and other arrangements of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

“Affiliate”
shall mean any entity that owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is
under common control with, the Company.

 

“Agreement Termination Date”
shall mean the [·] anniversary of the closing of the IPO.

 

“Annualized Base Salary”
shall mean an amount equal to the greater of:

 

(i)            Employee’s annualized base salary at
the rate in effect on the date of his Involuntary Termination or termination by
reason of death or Disability, as applicable;

 

(ii)           Employee’s annualized base salary at
the rate in effect 90 days prior to the date of his Involuntary Termination or
termination by reason of death or Disability, as applicable; or

 

(iii)          Employee’s annualized base salary at
the rate in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control if, on the date upon
which such Change in Control occurs or within two years thereafter, Employee’s
employment shall be subject to an Involuntary Termination or be terminated by
reason of death or Disability.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, for all purposes of this
Agreement, base salary specifically does not include any (A) bonuses, (B) incentive
compensation or (C) equity-based compensation.

 

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

 

“Cause” shall
mean (i) the willful failure of Employee to substantially perform Employee’s
duties as an employee of the Company (other than any such failure resulting
from Employee’s physical or mental incapacity), (ii) Employee’s having
engaged in willful misconduct, gross negligence or a breach of fiduciary duty
that results in material and demonstrable harm to the Company or any of its
Affiliates, (iii) Employee’s willful and material breach of this Agreement
(as amended from time to time) that results in material and demonstrable harm
to the Company or any of its Affiliates, (iv) Employee’s having been
convicted of, or having entered a plea bargain or settlement admitting guilt or
the imposition of

 

2

 

unadjudicated probation for, any felony under
the laws of the United States, any state or the District of Columbia, where
such felony involves moral turpitude or where, as a result of such felony, the
continued employment of Employee would have, or would reasonably be expected to
have, a material adverse impact on the Company’s or any of its Affiliates’
reputations, (v) Employee’s having been the subject of any order, judicial
or administrative, obtained or issued by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, for any securities violation involving fraud including, for
example, any such order consented to by Employee in which findings of facts or
any legal conclusions establishing liability are neither admitted nor denied, (vi) Employee’s
unlawful use (including being under the influence of) or possession of illegal
drugs on the Company’s premises or while performing Employee’s duties and
responsibilities as an employee of the Company, or (vii) Employee’s
commission of an act of fraud, embezzlement, or misappropriation, in each case,
against the Company or any of its Affiliates. 
If the Company desires to terminate Employee’s employment for Cause in
accordance herewith, it shall provide Employee with a Notice of Termination of
Employment in accordance with Section 5.02 and allow Employee 30 days
following the date of such notice to fully remedy, cure or rectify, if
possible, the situation giving rise to the Company’s allegations of Cause.  For purposes of this definition, no act, or
failure to act, on the part of Employee shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by
Employee in bad faith or without reasonable belief that Employee’s action or
omission was in the best interests of the Company.  Any act, or failure to act, based upon
authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or upon the
instructions of the Chief Employee Officer of the Company or based upon the
advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or
omitted to be done, by Employee in good faith and in the best interests of the
Company.  The cessation of employment of
Employee shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have
been delivered to Employee a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the entire membership of the Board at a
meeting of the Board at which at least a quorum is present (after reasonable
notice is provided to Employee and Employee is given an opportunity, together
with counsel for Employee, to be heard before the Board) finding that, in the
good faith opinion of the Board, Employee is guilty of the conduct described in
this definition, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

 

(a)           “Change in Control”
means the occurrence of any one or more of the following events:

 

(i)            any “person” (as
defined in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”)),  other than (A) an
employee benefit plan or trust maintained by the Company or (B) any of the
Sponsors (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
of the Company as in effect immediately following the closing of the IPO) or
their respective Affiliates, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company’s
outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the

 

3

 

election
of directors;

 

(ii)           at any time during a period of 12  consecutive months, individuals who at the beginning of
such period constituted the Board and any new member of the Board whose
election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least  a majority of the directors then still in office who either
were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination
for election was so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority of
members of the Board; or

 

(iii)          the consummation of (A) a merger
or consolidation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries with any other
corporation or entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result
in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such
merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity
or, if applicable, the ultimate parent thereof) at least 50% of the combined
voting power and total fair market value of the securities of the Company or
such surviving entity or parent outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation, or (B) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer to any
Person (other than an Affiliate (as defined in the Company Long Term Incentive
Plan)) of assets of the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries, in one
transaction or a series of related transactions, having an aggregate fair
market value of more than 50% of the fair market value of the Company and its
subsidiaries (the “Company Value”)
immediately prior to such transaction(s), but only to the extent that, in
connection with such transaction(s) or within a reasonable period
thereafter, the Company’s stockholders receive distributions of cash and/or
assets having a fair market value that is greater than 50% of the Company Value
immediately prior to such transaction(s).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event
shall a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred with respect to Employee
if Employee is part of a “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of
the Act that consummates the Change in Control transaction.  In addition, for purposes of the definition
of Change in Control, a person engaged in business as an underwriter of
securities shall not be deemed to be the beneficial owner of, or to
beneficially own, any securities acquired through such person’s participation
in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until the expiration of 40 days
after the date of such acquisition.

 

“Cobalt Equity Payment”
means the issuance of an equity interest in Cobalt to Employee, the accelerated
vesting of any such equity interest or any other benefit conferred to Employee
in connection with any such equity interest that, in any such case, could
potentially be subject to the Excise Tax.

 

“Code” shall
mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

4

 

“Date of Termination of
Employment” shall mean (i) if Employee’s employment with the
Company is terminated by his death, the date of Employee’s death, or (ii) if
Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason whatsoever
other than Employee’s death, the earlier of the date indicated in the Notice of
Termination of Employment or the date specified by the Company pursuant to Section 5.02.

 

“Disability”
shall mean, at any time the Company or any Affiliate sponsors a long-term
disability plan that covers Employee and other Employee employees of the
Company, “disability” as defined in such
long-term disability plan for the purpose of determining a participant’s
eligibility for benefits; provided, however, if the long-term disability plan contains multiple
definitions of disability, then “Disability”
shall refer to that definition of disability which, if Employee qualified for
such disability benefits, would provide coverage for the longest period of
time.  The determination of whether
Employee has a Disability shall be made by the person or persons required to
make final disability determinations under the long-term disability plan.  At any time the Company or any Affiliate does
not sponsor such a long-term disability plan, Disability shall mean Employee’s
inability to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, the essential
functions of his position with the Company for a total of three months during
any six-month period as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical
illness, as determined by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers
and acceptable to Employee or Employee’s legal representative, such agreement
as to acceptability not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  Any refusal by Employee to submit to a
medical examination for the purpose of determining Disability shall be deemed
to constitute conclusive evidence of Employee’s Disability.

 

“Excise Tax”
shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01.

 

“Good Reason”
shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) a material
diminution in Employee’s base salary; or (ii) relocation of the geographic
location of Employee’s principal place of employment by more than 75 miles from
Houston, Texas.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this definition
or any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, any assertion by
Employee of a termination of employment for “Good Reason”
shall not be effective unless all of the following conditions are satisfied: (A) the
condition described in clauses (i) or (ii) of this definition giving
rise to Employee’s termination of employment must have arisen without Employee’s
consent; (B) Employee must provide written notice to the Company of such
condition in accordance with Section 14.07 within 45 days of the initial
existence of the condition; (C) the condition specified in such notice
must remain uncorrected for 30 days after receipt of such notice by the
Company; and (D) the date of Employee’s termination of employment must

 

5

 

occur within 90 days after the initial
existence of the condition specified in such notice.

 

“Gross-up Payment”
shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01.

 

“Inventions”
shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.01.

 

“IPO” shall mean
the underwritten public offering of shares of the Company’s common stock
pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-161734 on Form S-1 filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Involuntary Termination”
shall mean any termination of Employee’s employment with the Company (i) by
the Company without Cause or (ii) by Employee for Good Reason.  For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Involuntary Termination” does not include a termination of
Employee’s employment with the Company for any other reason whatsoever,
including, without limitation, (A) by the Company for Cause, (B) by
Employee without Good Reason or (C) as a result of Employee’s death or
Disability.

 

“Non-Compete Period”
shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(b).

 

“Notice of Termination of
Employment” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.02.

 

“Parachute Value”
of a Payment shall mean the present value as of the date of the change in
ownership or effective control for purposes of Section 280G of the Code of
the portion of such Payment that constitutes a “parachute
payment” under Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, as
determined for purposes of determining whether and to what extent the Excise
Tax will apply to such Payment.

 

“Partnership Agreement”
shall mean the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Cobalt International Energy, L.P., as amended.

 

“Payment” shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01.

 

“Pro Rata Bonus”
shall mean an amount equal to the product of (i) the actual annual bonus
Employee would have been entitled to receive, based on the Company’s actual
performance through the end of the calendar year in which Employee’s
termination of employment with the Company occurred, determined as if he had
continued his employment with the Company through the end of such calendar year
and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days

 

6

 

during the calendar year through the date of
Employee’s termination of employment with the Company and the denominator of
which is 365.

 

“Pro Rata Bonus Payment
Date” shall mean, with respect to a Pro Rata Bonus for a particular
calendar year, the date on which annual bonuses for such calendar year are
generally paid to employees of the Company who have not terminated employment
with the Company, but in no event earlier than January 1 of the year
following such calendar year nor later than December 31 of the year
following such calendar year.

 

“Reorganization Agreement”
shall mean the Reorganization Agreement to be entered into prior to the IPO
among the Partnership, the Company and the other parties signatory thereto.

 

“Restricted Stock”
shall mean the shares of restricted stock issued to Employee in connection with
the IPO.

 

“Safe Harbor Amount”
shall mean 2.99 times Employee’s “base amount,”
within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code.

 

“Separation from Service”
means, with respect to Employee, the (i) cessation of all services
performed by Employee for the Company or (ii) permanent decrease in the
level of services performed by Employee for the Company (whether as an employee
or as an independent contractor) to no more than 20 percent of the average
level of services performed (whether as an employee or an independent
contractor) over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or the full period
of services to the Company, if Employee has been providing services to the
Company for less than 36 months).

 

“Severance Amount”
shall mean (i) if Employee incurs an Involuntary Termination prior to a
Change in Control or on or after the second anniversary of the Change in
Control (to the extent applicable), 50% of Annualized Base Salary and (ii) if
Employee incurs an Involuntary Termination on the date of the Change in Control
or prior to the second anniversary of the Change in Control, 50% of Annualized
Base Salary

 

ARTICLE 2

EFFECTIVENESS; TERM OF AGREEMENT; PRIOR SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

 

Section 2.01.  Effectiveness; Term of Agreement; Prior
Severance Agreement.  This Agreement
shall become effective upon the closing of the IPO.  Subject to an earlier termination of Employee’s
employment with the Company pursuant to Article 5, this Agreement shall
terminate and be of no further force or effect on the Agreement Termination
Date.  Upon the effectiveness of this
Agreement, the Prior Severance Agreement shall terminate and be of no further
force or effect.  If the IPO does not
close by March 31, 2010, this Agreement shall

 

7

 

be void ab initio and
the Prior Severance Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in
accordance with its terms as of such date.

 

ARTICLE 3

CERTAIN EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS; IPO EQUITY GRANT.

 

Section 3.01.  Services. 
Employee agrees that he will render services to the Company (as well as
any subsidiary thereof or successor thereto) during the period of his
employment to the best of his ability, in a prudent and businesslike manner and
consistent with the standards expected by the Company of an Employee-level
employee.  Employee also agrees that he
will devote substantially the same time, efforts and dedication to his duties
as heretofore devoted.

 

Section 3.02.  Accredited Investor Representations.  Employee hereby represents
to the Company that the representations set forth in Annex I to this Agreement (i) are
true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) shall be true
and correct as of the date of the closing of the IPO.

 

Section 3.03.  Transfer Restrictions.  Employee hereby represents
to the Company that he has read and understands, and agrees to be bound by, the
transfer restrictions set forth in Annex II to this Agreement.

 

Section 3.04.  Life Insurance.  This Agreement constitutes
written notice to Employee that (a) the Company or an Affiliate may insure
Employee’s life, (b) the Company or an Affiliate shall have the right to
determine the amount of insurance and the type of policies, and (c) the
Company or an Affiliate will be the beneficiaries of any proceeds payable under
such policies upon the death of Employee. 
Employee hereby irrevocably consents to being insured under the policies
described in the preceding sentence and to the coverage under such policies
continuing after the termination of this Agreement and/or Employee’s
termination of employment with the Company and its Affiliates.  Employee agrees and acknowledges that
Employee shall not have the right to designate the beneficiary or beneficiaries
of the death benefit payable pursuant to such policies, and neither Employee
nor any other person claiming through Employee shall have any interest in such
policies.  Employee shall (i) furnish
any and all information reasonably requested by the Company, any Affiliate or
the insurer to facilitate the issuance of the life insurance policy or policies
described in this paragraph or any adjustment to any such policy, and (ii) take
such physical examinations as the Company, any Affiliate or the insurer deems
necessary.  Employee shall incur no
financial obligation by executing any required document pursuant to this Section 3.04,
and shall have no interest in any such policy.

 

Section 3.05.  IPO Equity Grant.  Immediately prior to the
Effective Time (as defined in the Reorganization Agreement), Employee received
[X] units of

 

8

 

Class C Interests (as defined in the
Partnership Agreement) [and [X] units of Class D Interests (as defined in
the Partnership Agreement)](1), which will at the Effective Time convert to
restricted shares of the Company’s common stock subject to the terms and
conditions of the Company Long Term Incentive Plan and the forms of Restricted
Stock Award Agreements attached as Exhibit A [and Exhibit B](2) to
this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 4

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, INVENTIONS, BUSINESS

OPPORTUNITIES AND GOODWILL

 

Section 4.01.  Confidential Information, Inventions,
Business Opportunities and Goodwill.  The Company
shall (a) disclose to Employee, and place Employee in a position to have
access to or develop, confidential or proprietary information and Inventions of
the Company (or its Affiliates); (b) entrust Employee with business
opportunities of the Company (or its Affiliates); and (c) place Employee in
a position to develop business good will on behalf of the Company (or its
Affiliates).

 

ARTICLE 5

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

 

Section 5.01.  Termination of Employment.  Employee’s employment with
the Company may be terminated by the Company or Employee under the following
circumstances: (a) Employee’s death; (b) Employee’s Disability; (c) termination
by the Company for Cause; (d) termination by the Company without Cause; (e) resignation
by Employee for Good Reason; or (f) resignation by Employee without Good
Reason.  For all purposes of this
Agreement, Employee shall be considered to have terminated employment with the
Company when Employee incurs a Separation from Service.

 

Section 5.02.  Notice of Termination of Employment.  Any termination of Employee’s
employment by the Company or by Employee (other than termination by reason of
Employee’s death) shall be communicated by a written notice to the other party
hereto indicating the specific termination provision in the first sentence of Section 5.01
relied upon, setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
claimed to provide a basis for termination of Employee’s employment under the
provision so indicated, and specifying a Date of Termination of Employment
which, if submitted by Employee, shall be at least 30

 

(1)  If applicable.

 

(2)  If applicable.

 

9

 

days following the date of such notice (a “Notice of Termination of Employment”); provided,
however, that in the case of any Notice
of Termination of Employment submitted by Employee, the Company may, in its
sole discretion, advance the Date of Termination of Employment to any date
following the Company’s receipt of the Notice of Termination of Employment
(and, if the Date of Termination of Employment is so advanced, it shall not
change the basis for Employee’s termination nor be construed or interpreted as
a termination of Employee’s employment by the Company for any reason
whatsoever).  A Notice of Termination of
Employment submitted by the Company may provide for a Date of Termination of
Employment on the date Employee receives the Notice of Termination of
Employment, or any date thereafter elected by the Company in its sole
discretion.  The failure by Employee or
the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination of Employment any fact or
circumstance which contributes to a showing of Cause or Good Reason shall not
waive any right of Employee or the Company hereunder or preclude Employee or
the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing Employee’s or
the Company’s rights hereunder.

 

Section 5.03.  Deemed Resignations.  Unless otherwise agreed to
in writing by the Company and Employee prior to the termination of Employee’s
employment, any termination of Employee’s employment shall constitute an
automatic resignation of Employee: (i) as an officer of the Company and
each Affiliate; (ii) as a member of the Board (if applicable); (iii) from
the board of directors or similar governing body of any Affiliate; and (iv) from
the board of directors or similar governing body of any corporation, limited
liability entity or other entity in which the Company or any Affiliate holds an
equity interest and with respect to which board or similar governing body
Employee serves as the Company’s or such Affiliate’s designee or other
representative.

 

ARTICLE 6

SEVERANCE BENEFITS

 

Section 6.01.  Death, Disability, Termination for Cause or
Resignation Without Good Reason.  If Employee’s
employment with the Company is terminated by the Company for Cause or by
Employee without Good Reason, or if such employment terminates by reason of
Employee’s death or Disability, then, upon such termination, Employee (or
Employee’s estate) shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Obligations (other
than in the case of a termination by the Company for Cause, any bonus or
incentive compensation that under the applicable plan requires Employee to be
employed on the date of payment).  If Employee’s
employment with the Company terminates by reason of death or Disability, then
the Company shall also pay to Employee (or Employee’s estate or legal
representatives, as applicable) on the Pro Rata Bonus Payment Date an amount in
cash equal to the Pro Rata Bonus.

 

10

 

Section 6.02.  Involuntary Termination.  If Employee’s employment
with the Company shall be subject to an Involuntary Termination, Employee shall
be entitled to receive the Accrued Obligations and, subject to the provisions
of Section 14.09, the Company will, as additional compensation for
services rendered to the Company (including its Affiliates), pay to Employee
the following amounts and take the following actions after the last day of
Employee’s employment with the Company:

 

(a)        if the Involuntary Termination occurs prior to a
Change in Control or on or after the second anniversary of the Change in
Control (to the extent applicable), pay to Employee in equal monthly
installments an amount in cash equal to the Severance Amount, the first
installment to be paid on the date that is 60 days after the date of Employee’s
termination of employment with the Company and subsequent installments to be
paid on the first day of each of the next 11 calendar months thereafter or such
lesser number of installments such that no installment is paid after March 1st
of the year following the year in which Employee’s employment was terminated,
with each installment equal to the Severance Amount divided by the total number
of such installments to be paid;

 

(b)        if the Involuntary Termination occurs on the date of
a Change in Control or before the second anniversary of the Change in Control,
pay to Employee on the date that is 60 days after the date of Employee’s
termination of employment with the Company a lump sum cash payment in an amount
equal to the Severance Amount;

 

(c)        pay to Employee on the Pro Rata Bonus Payment Date
an amount in cash equal to the Pro Rata Bonus; provided,
however, that if this paragraph applies
with respect to a Pro Rata Bonus for a calendar year beginning on or after January 1,
2010 and is intended to constitute performance-based compensation within the
meaning of, and for purposes of, Section 162(m) of the Code, then
this paragraph shall apply with respect to such Pro Rata Bonus only to the
extent the applicable performance criteria have been satisfied as certified by
a committee of the Board as required under Section 162(m) of the
Code; and

 

(d)        during the portion, if any, of the 18-month period
following the date of Employee’s termination of employment with the Company
that Employee elects to continue coverage for Employee and Employee’s eligible
dependents under the Company’s group health plans under the Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, and/or Sections 601
through 608 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended,
the Company shall promptly reimburse Employee on a monthly basis for the
difference, if any, between (i) the amount Employee pays to effect and
continue such coverage and (ii) the amount charged to a similarly situated
active employee of the Company for similar coverage.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Employee is
entitled to receive severance payments under Section 6.02 (a) or (b),
as applicable, and under

 

11

 

Section 6.02(c), the aggregate amount
payable pursuant to Sections 6.02 (a) or (b), as applicable, and Section 6.02(c) (the
“Aggregate Severance Amount”) shall be
reduced (but not below zero) by the fair market value, as of the Employee’s
Date of Termination of Employment, of the Restricted Stock held by Employee
that has then vested, or that may vest at any time after the Employee’s Date of
Termination of Employment (the “Carried Amount”).  If the Carried Amount exceeds the Aggregate
Severance Amount prior to the commencement of payment of any of the severance
benefits described in Section 6.02(a) or (b), as applicable, and Section 6.02(c),
then Executive shall not be entitled to receive any payments pursuant to 6.02(a) or
(b), as applicable, or Section 6.02(c). 
If the Carried Amount does not exceed the Aggregate Severance Amount
prior to the commencement of payment of any of the severance benefits described
in Sections 6.02(a) or (b), as applicable, and Section 6.02(c), then
the reduction shall be effected as follows: first, the payment provided for in Section 6.02(c) shall
be reduced by the Carried Amount if the Carried Amount or any portion thereof
has been paid prior to the payment date provided for in Section 6.02(c),
and if necessary, payments of the amounts provided for in Section 6.02(a) or
(b), as applicable, shall be reduced pro rata by any additional Carried
Amount.   If at any time after the
commencement of payment of the severance benefits described in Section 6.02(a) or
(b), as applicable, and Section 6.02(c), the Carried Amount not yet
applied as a reduction in the severance benefits exceeds the remaining
severance benefits to be paid, the Company shall cease to make any further
payments in respect of either severance benefit, but no amount previously paid
to Executive pursuant to Section 6.02(a) or (b), as applicable, and Section 6.02(c) shall
be repaid to the Company.

 

Section 6.03.  Death, Disability or Involuntary Termination
After Agreement Termination Date.  If, after the
Agreement Termination Date but prior to the payment date of the annual bonus
for the calendar year in which the Agreement Termination Date occurs, Employee’s
employment with the Company terminates by reason of the Employee’s death or by
reason of what would have otherwise qualified as Disability or Involuntary
Termination under this Agreement if this Agreement was still in effect at the
time of such termination of employment, the Company shall pay to Employee (or
Employee’s estate or legal representatives, as applicable), subject to the
provisions of Section 14.09, on the Pro Rata Bonus Payment Date an amount
in cash equal to the Pro Rata Bonus.

 

ARTICLE 7

INTEREST ON LATE PAYMENTS

 

Section 7.01.  Interest on Late Payments. If any payment
provided for in Section 6.02(a), (b) or (c) or Section 6.03
is not made when due, then the Company shall pay to Employee interest on the
amount payable from the date that such payment should have been made under such
Section until such payment is made, which interest shall be calculated at
5% plus the prime rate of interest

 

12

 

announced by JPMorgan Chase Bank (or any
successor thereto) at its principal office in New York, and shall change when and
as any such change in such prime rate shall be announced by such bank.

 

ARTICLE 8

CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY

 

Section 8.01.  Gross-up Payment.  Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Agreement (but subject to the remaining provisions of this
Section 8.01), in the event that any payment, benefit or distribution by
the Company to or for the benefit of Employee, whether paid, payable, provided,
distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or
otherwise (a “Payment”), would be subject to the
excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or
penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any
such interest or penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), the Company shall pay to Employee an
additional payment (a “Gross-up Payment”)
in an amount such that after payment by Employee of all taxes (including any
interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise
Tax imposed on any Gross-up Payment, Employee retains an amount of the Gross-up
Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon all Payments except for the Cobalt
Equity Payments.  Notwithstanding the
provisions of the preceding sentence, if it shall be determined that Employee
is entitled to the Gross-up Payment, but that the Parachute Value of all
Payments does not exceed 110% of the Safe Harbor Amount, then no Gross-up
Payment shall be made to Employee and the amounts payable under Article 6
shall be reduced so that the Parachute Value of all Payments, in the aggregate,
equals the Safe Harbor Amount.  The
reduction of the amounts payable under Article 6, if applicable, shall be
made by reducing Payments payable hereunder (including reducing a Payment to
zero) in the order in which such Payments would be made (beginning with such
Payment that would be made first in time and continuing, to the extent
necessary, through to such Payment that would be made last in time).  For purposes of reducing the Payments to the
Safe Harbor Amount, only amounts payable under Article 6 (and no other
Payments) shall be reduced.  If the
reduction of the amount payable under Article 6 would not result in a
reduction of the Parachute Value of all Payments to the Safe Harbor Amount,
then no amounts payable under Article 6 shall be reduced pursuant to this Section 8.01.  The Company’s obligation to make a Gross-up
Payment under this Section 8.01 shall not be conditioned upon Employee’s
termination of employment.  The Gross-up
Payment attributable to a particular Payment shall be made at the time such
Payment is made; provided, however, that in no
event shall the Gross-up Payment be made later than the end of Employee’s
taxable year next following Employee’s taxable year in which Employee remits
the related taxes.  The Company and
Employee shall make an initial determination as to whether a Gross-up Payment
is required and the amount of any such Gross-up Payment.

 

13

 

Section 8.02.  Disposition of Claims.  Employee shall notify the
Company immediately in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service
which, if successful, would require the Company to make a Gross-up Payment (or
a Gross-up Payment in excess of that, if any, initially determined by the
Company and Employee) within five days of the receipt of such claim.  The Company shall notify Employee in writing
at least five days prior to the due date of any response required with respect
to such claim if it plans to contest the claim. 
If the Company decides to contest such claim, Employee shall cooperate
fully with the Company in such action; provided, however,
the Company shall bear and pay directly or indirectly all costs and expenses
(including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such
action and shall indemnify and hold Employee harmless, on an after-tax basis,
for any Excise Tax or income tax, including interest and penalties with respect
thereto, imposed as a result of the Company’s action.  If, as a result of the Company’s action with
respect to a claim, Employee receives a refund of any amount paid by the
Company with respect to such claim, Employee shall promptly pay such refund to
the Company.  If the Company fails to
timely notify Employee whether it will contest such claim or the Company
determines not to contest such claim, then the Company shall immediately pay to
Employee the portion of such claim, if any, which it has not previously paid to
Employee.

 

ARTICLE 9

COMPETITION

 

Section 9.01.  Competition. 
(a) Employee and the Company agree to the restrictive covenants of
this Article 9: (i) in consideration for the confidential information
provided by the Company to Employee pursuant to Section 4.01 or otherwise
during the course of his employment; (ii) as part of the consideration for
the compensation and benefits to be paid to Employee by the Company; (iii) to
protect the (A) trade secrets and confidential information of the Company
disclosed or entrusted to Employee by the Company and (B) business goodwill
of the Company developed through the efforts of Employee and/or the business
opportunities disclosed or entrusted to Employee by the Company; and (iv) as
an additional incentive for the Company to enter into this Agreement.

 

(b)        Subject to the exceptions set forth in the last
sentence of this Section 9.01(b), Employee shall not at any time while
employed by the Company and for a 6-month period following the Date of
Termination of Employment (the “Non-Compete Period”),
directly or indirectly engage in, have any equity interest in, be affiliated
with, or manage or operate any person, firm, corporation, partnership, entity
or business (whether as director, officer, employee, agent, representative,
partner, member, security holder, consultant or otherwise) that engages in any
business that competes with any Business (as defined below) of the Company in
the states within the United States (or District of Columbia, if applicable)
and in the geographic regions outside of the United States (i) in which the
Company

 

14

 

conducts operations or (ii) with
respect to which the Company devotes more than de minimis
resources in the furtherance of the Business; provided,
however, that Employee shall be
permitted to acquire a passive stock interest in such a business if the stock
acquired is publicly traded and is not more than two percent of the outstanding
interest in such business. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, it shall not be a violation of this Article 9 for Employee to (A) provide
services to any person or entity engaged in the Business if Employee is not
involved, directly or indirectly, in the management, supervision or operations
of the Business (including by reason of any individual reporting to Employee)
and the gross revenues generated by the Business do not constitute more than
33% of the consolidated gross revenues of such person or entity and its
affiliates and (B) provide services to or otherwise be affiliated with a venture
capital or private equity firm that holds investments in entities engaged in
the Business if Employee is not involved, directly or indirectly, in the
identification, evaluation, recommendation, acquisition, management, operation,
supervision or disposition of such investments, and the gross revenues
generated by such Business do not constitute more than the 33% of the
consolidated gross revenues of such firm and its affiliates.

 

(c)        During the Non-Compete Period, Employee shall not,
directly or indirectly, recruit or otherwise solicit or induce any employee of
the Company, except on behalf of the Company, (i) to terminate his or her
employment with the Company or (ii) to establish any relationship with
Employee or any of his affiliates for any business purpose competitive with the
Business of the Company, provided, however, that a general solicitation of the public for
employment shall not constitute a solicitation hereunder so long as such
general solicitation is not designed to target any employee of the Company.

 

(d)        Employee and the Company agree that the foregoing
restrictions are reasonable under the circumstances, are necessary to protect
the Company’s legitimate business interests and that any breach of such
restrictions would cause irreparable injury to the Company.  Employee understands that the foregoing
restrictions may limit Employee’s ability to engage in certain businesses
anywhere in the United States and outside the United States during the
Non-Compete Period but acknowledges that he will receive sufficiently high
remuneration and other benefits from the Company to justify such
restrictions.  Further, Employee
acknowledges that his skills are such that he can be gainfully employed in
non-competitive employment, and that the agreement not to compete will not
prevent him from earning a living. 
Nevertheless, in the event the terms of this Article 9 shall be
determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason
of its extending for too great a period of time or over too great a
geographical area or by reason of its being too extensive in any other respect,
it will be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time for which
it may be enforceable, over the maximum geographical area as to which it may be
enforceable, or to the maximum extent in all other respects as to which it may
be enforceable, all as determined by such court in such action.

 

15

 

(e)        Employee hereby represents to the Company that he
has read and understands, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of this Article 9.  Employee acknowledges that the geographic
scope and duration of the covenants contained in this Article 9 are the
result of arm’s-length bargaining and are fair and reasonable in light of (i) the
nature and wide geographic scope of the Company’s operations of, and in, the
Business, (ii) Employee’s level of control over and contact with the
Company’s operations of, and in, the Business in all jurisdictions in which it
is conducted, (iii) the geographic breadth in which the Company conducts
the Business and (iv) the amount of consideration (including confidential
information and trade secrets) that Employee is receiving from the Company.

 

(f)         As used in this Article 9, (i) the term “Company” shall include the Company and its subsidiaries and (ii) the
term “Business” shall mean the exploration
for, and the development and production of, oil and natural gas and the
acquisition of leases and other real property in connection therewith, as such
business may be expanded or altered by the Company during the period of
Employee’s employment by the Company; provided, that
any business or endeavor shall cease to be the “Business”
if the Company is not or ceases to be engaged in such business or endeavor.

 

(g)        In consideration of the Company’s promises herein,
during the Non-Compete Period, Employee promises to disclose to the Company any
employment, consulting, or other service relationship that Employee enters into
after the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company for any
reason.  Such disclosure shall be made
within seven business days after Employee enters into such employment,
consulting or other service relationship. 
Employee expressly consents to and authorizes the Company to disclose
both the existence and terms of this Agreement to any future employer or
recipient of Employee’s services and to take any steps the Company deems
necessary to enforce this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 10

NONDISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

 

Section 10.01.  Nondisclosure of Confidential and Proprietary
Information.  (a) Except
in connection with the faithful performance of Employee’s duties for the
Company or pursuant to Section 10.01(c) or (e), Employee shall, in
perpetuity, maintain in confidence and shall not directly, indirectly or
otherwise, (i) use, disseminate, disclose or publish, or use for his
benefit or the benefit of any person, firm, corporation or other entity, any (A) confidential
or proprietary information or trade secrets of or relating to the Company
(including, without limitation, intellectual property in the form of patents,
trademarks and copyrights and applications therefor, ideas, inventions, works,
discoveries, improvements, information, documents, formulae, practices,
processes, methods, developments, source code, modifications, technology,
techniques, data, programs, other know-

 

16

 

how or materials, in each case, that are
confidential and/or proprietary and owned, developed or possessed by the
Company, whether in tangible or intangible form) or (B) confidential or
proprietary information with respect to the Company’s operations, processes,
products, inventions, business practices, strategies, business plans, finances,
principals, vendors, suppliers, customers, potential customers, marketing
methods, costs, prices, contractual relationships, regulatory status, prospects
and compensation paid to employees or other terms of employment or (ii) 
deliver to any person, firm, corporation or other entity any document, record,
notebook, computer program or similar repository of or containing any such
confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets.  The parties hereby stipulate and agree that
as between them the foregoing matters are important, material and confidential
proprietary information and trade secrets and materially affect the successful
conduct of the businesses of the Company (and any successor or assignee of the
Company).

 

(b)                       Upon the
termination of Employee’s employment with the Company for any reason, Employee
will promptly deliver to the Company all correspondence, drawings, manuals,
letters, notes, notebooks, reports, programs, plans, proposals, financial
documents and electronically stored information, in each case, that are
confidential or proprietary to the Company, or any other confidential or
proprietary documents (including electronically stored information) concerning
the Company’s customers, business plans, strategies, products or processes.

 

(c)                        Employee may
respond to a lawful and valid subpoena or other legal process relating to the
business of the Company or the performance of his duties on behalf of the Company
but shall (i) give the Company prompt notice thereof, (ii) make
available to the Company and its counsel the documents and other information
sought that are not subject to a binding confidentiality agreement and (iii) assist
such counsel at Company’s expense in resisting or otherwise responding to such
process.

 

(d)                       As used in this
Article 10 and Article 11, the term “Company”
shall include the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

(e)                        Nothing in this
Agreement shall prohibit Employee from (i) disclosing information and
documents when required by law, subpoena, court order or legal process, (ii) disclosing
information and documents to his immediate family members or, for the purpose
of securing legal or tax advice, attorney or tax adviser (provided that the persons
to whom such disclosures are made shall be informed of their obligation to
maintain the strict confidentiality of any information provided to them), (iii) disclosing
the post-employment restrictions in this Agreement in confidence to any
potential new employer or person or entity to whom he may provide consulting
services, or (iv) retaining, at any time, his personal correspondence and
rolodex or address book and documents related to his own personal benefits,
entitlements and obligations.

 

17

 

ARTICLE 11

INVENTIONS

 

Section 11.01.  Inventions. 
All rights to discoveries, inventions, improvements and innovations
(including all data and records pertaining thereto) related to the business of
the Company, whether or not patentable, copyrightable, registrable as a
trademark, or reduced to writing, that Employee may discover, invent or
originate during the period of his employment with the Company, either alone or
with others and whether or not during working hours or by the use of the
facilities of the Company (“Inventions”),
shall be the exclusive property of the Company. 
Employee shall promptly disclose all Inventions to the Company, shall
execute at the request of the Company any assignments or other documents the
Company may deem reasonably necessary to protect or perfect its rights therein,
and shall assist the Company, upon reasonable request and at the Company’s
expense, in obtaining, defending and enforcing the Company’s rights
therein.  Employee hereby appoints the
Company as his attorney-in-fact to execute on his behalf any assignments or
other documents reasonably deemed necessary by the Company to protect or
perfect its rights to any Inventions.

 

ARTICLE 12

INJUNCTIVE RELIEF

 

Section 12.01.  Injunctive Relief.   It is recognized and acknowledged by Employee
that a breach of the covenants contained in Articles 9, 10, 11 and 13 will
cause irreparable damage to Company and its Affiliates and their goodwill, the
exact amount of which will be difficult or impossible to ascertain, and that
the remedies at law for any such breach will be inadequate.  Accordingly, Employee agrees that in the
event of a breach of any of the covenants contained in Articles 9, 10, 11 and
13, in addition to any other remedy which may be available at law or in equity,
the Company will be entitled to specific performance and injunctive relief.

 

ARTICLE 13

NON-DISPARAGEMENT

 

Section 13.01.  Non-disparagement.  During Employee’s employment
with the Company and following termination of his employment with the Company
for any reason, (a) Employee agrees not to disparage in any material
respect the Company, its subsidiaries, any of their products or practices, or
any of their directors, officers, agents, representatives, members, partners or
stockholders, (b) either orally or in writing and (c) the Company
agrees that it and its subsidiaries will (i) not make any formal
statements that disparage in any material respect Employee and (ii) use
commercially reasonable efforts to advise its directors and officers not to
disparage in any material respect Employee.

 

18

 

ARTICLE 14

GENERAL

 

Section 14.01.  Survivorship. 
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary for the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations.

 

Section 14.02.  Arbitration. 
Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before an
arbitrator in Houston, Texas in accordance with the National Rules for the
Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association then
in effect.  Judgment may be entered on
the arbitration award in any court having jurisdiction; provided,
however, that the Company shall be
entitled to seek a restraining order or injunction in any court of competent
jurisdiction to prevent any violation or continuation of any violation of the
provisions of Articles 9, 10, 11 or 13 of this Agreement and Employee hereby
consents that such restraining order or injunction may be granted without
requiring the Company to post a bond. 
Only individuals who are on the AAA register of arbitrators shall be
selected as an arbitrator.  Within 20
days of the conclusion of the arbitration hearing, the arbitrator(s) shall
prepare written findings of fact and conclusions of law.  It is mutually agreed that the written
decision of the arbitrator(s) shall be valid, binding, final and non-appealable;
provided however, that the parties hereto agree that the arbitrator shall not
be empowered to award punitive damages against any party to such
arbitration.  The Company shall bear all
administrative fees and expenses of the arbitration and each party shall bear
its own counsel fees and expenses except as otherwise provided in this
paragraph.  If Employee makes a claim
against the Company relating to the performance of, or the rights and
obligations of, the Company arising under, relating to or in connection with
this Agreement (a “Covered Claim by the
Employee”), the arbitrators shall award Employee his reasonable
legal fees and expenses if Employee prevails on one material Covered Claim by
the Employee (as determined by the arbitrator). 
If a claim is made by the Company against Employee relating to the
performance of, or the rights and obligations of, Employee arising under,
relating to or in connection with this Agreement (a “Covered
Claim by the Company”), the arbitrators shall award Employee his
reasonable legal fees and expenses; provided that
if such Covered Claim by the Company relates to Employee’s performance or
obligations under Articles 9, 10, 11 or 13, the arbitrators shall award
Employee his legal fees and expenses only if the Company does not prevail on
any Covered Claim by the Company relating to any such Section (as
determined by the arbitrator).  Any
reimbursement of reasonable legal fees and expenses required under this Section 14.02
and any reimbursement of expenses included in the Accrued Obligations payable
to Employee under Article 6 shall be made not later than the close of
Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which Employee incurs the
expense; provided, however,
that, upon Employee’s termination of employment with the Company, in no event
shall any additional reimbursement be made prior

 

19

 

to the date that is six months after the date
of Employee’s termination of employment to the extent such payment delay is required
under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code.  In no event shall any reimbursement be made
to Employee for such fees and expenses incurred after the date that is 10 years
after the date of Employee’s termination of employment with the Company.

 

Section 14.03.  Payment Obligations Absolute.  The Company’s obligation to
pay Employee the amounts and to make the arrangements provided herein shall be
absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstances,
including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense
or other right which the Company (including its subsidiaries) may have against
him or anyone else.  All amounts payable
by the Company shall be paid without notice or demand.  Employee shall not be obligated to seek other
employment in mitigation of the amounts payable or arrangements made under any
provision of this Agreement, and the obtaining of any such other employment
shall in no event effect any reduction of the Company’s obligations to make (or
cause to be made) the payments and arrangements required to be made under this
Agreement.

 

Section 14.04.  Successors. 
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Company and any successor of the Company, by merger or otherwise.  This Agreement shall also be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of Employee and his estate.  If Employee shall die prior to full payment
of amounts due pursuant to this Agreement, such amounts shall be payable
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to his estate.

 

Section 14.05.  Severability. 
Any provision in this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in
any jurisdiction by reason of applicable law shall, as to such jurisdiction, be
ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating or affecting the remaining provisions hereof, and any such
prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 14.06.  Non-alienation.  Employee shall not have any
right to pledge, hypothecate, anticipate or assign this Agreement or the rights
hereunder, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

Section 14.07.  Notices. 
Any notices or other communications provided for in this Agreement
shall be sufficient if in writing.  In
the case of Employee, such notices or communications shall be effectively
delivered if hand-delivered to Employee at his principal place of employment or
if sent by registered or certified mail to Employee at the last address he has
filed with the Company.  In the case of
the Company, such notices or communications shall be effectively delivered if
sent by registered or certified mail to the Company at its principal Employee
offices.

 

Section 14.08.  Controlling Law and Waiver of Jury
Trial.  This Agreement shall be
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of

 

20

 

Texas. 
With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this
Agreement, Employee and the Company hereby consent to the exclusive
jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts located in Harris
County, Texas.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Section 3.03 and the transfer restrictions set forth in Annex
II shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the
State of Delaware.  Furthermore, with
respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under Section 3.03
and the transfer restrictions set forth in Annex II, Employee and the Company
hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware.  Each
of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by
jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 14.09.  Release and Delayed Payment Restriction.  (a) As a condition to
the receipt of any benefit under Article 6 hereof (except in the case of
the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company by reason of Employee’s
death or Disability and except for the Accrued Obligations), Employee shall
first execute a release in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (with
such changes therein as the Company may reasonably require to reflect changes
in applicable law and the circumstances relating to the termination of Employee’s
employment), releasing the Company and certain other persons and entities from
certain claims and other liabilities.

 

(b)                       The release
described in Section 14.09(a) hereof must be effective and
irrevocable within 55 days after the date of the termination of Employee’s
employment with the Company. 
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if the
payment of any amount or benefit under this Agreement would be subject to
additional taxes and interest under Section 409A of the Code because the
timing of such payment is not delayed as provided in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of
the Code and the regulations thereunder, then any such payment or benefit that
Employee would otherwise be entitled to during the first six months following
the date of Employee’s termination of employment shall be accumulated and paid
or provided, as applicable, on the date that is six months after the date of
Employee’s termination of employment (or if such date does not fall on a
business day of the Company, the next following business day of the Company),
or such earlier date upon which such amount can be paid or provided under Section 409A
of the Code without being subject to such additional taxes and interest.  If this Section 14.09(b) becomes
applicable such that the payment of any amount is delayed, any payments that
are so delayed shall accrue interest on a non-compounded basis, from the date
such payment would have been made had this Section 14.09(b) not
applied to the actual date of payment, at the prime rate of interest announced
by JPMorgan Chase Bank (or any successor thereto) at its principal office in
New York on the date of Employee’s termination of employment (or the first
business day following such date if such termination does not occur on a
business day) and shall be paid in a lump sum on the actual date of payment of
the delayed payment amount.  Employee
hereby agrees to be

 

21

 

bound by the Company’s
determination of its “specified employees”
(as such term is defined in Section 409A of the Code) in accordance with
any of the methods permitted under the regulations issued under Section 409A
of the Code.

 

Section 14.10.  Full Settlement.  If Employee is entitled to
and receives the benefits provided hereunder, performance of the obligations of
the Company hereunder will constitute full settlement of all claims that
Employee might otherwise assert against the Company on account of his
termination of employment.

 

Section 14.11.  Unfunded Obligation.  The obligation to pay
amounts under this Agreement is an unfunded obligation of the Company, and no
such obligation shall create a trust or be deemed to be secured by any pledge
or encumbrance on any property of the Company.

 

Section 14.12.  Not a Contract of Employment.  This Agreement shall not be
deemed to constitute a contract of employment and shall in no way change the
at-will nature of Employee’s employment. 
Employee and the Company thus recognize and agree that subject to the
notice provisions of Section 5.02, (a) the Company may terminate
Employee’s employment at any time, for any reason or no reason at all; and (b) Employee
may terminate his employment at any time, for any reason or no reason at all.

 

Section 14.13.  Withholding of Taxes and Other Employee
Deductions.  The Company may
withhold from any benefits and payments made pursuant to this Agreement
(whether actually or constructively made to Employee or treated as included in
Employee’s income under Section 409A of the Code) all federal, state,
city, foreign and other applicable taxes and withholdings as may be required
pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and all other
customary deductions made with respect to the Company’s employees generally.

 

Section 14.14.  Number and Gender.  Wherever appropriate herein,
words used in the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall
include the singular.  The masculine
gender where appearing herein shall be deemed to include the feminine gender.

 

Section 14.15.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, including
the Annexes and Exhibits attached hereto, constitutes the entire agreement of
the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all
prior understandings, agreements or correspondence between the parties.  Any modification of this Agreement will be
effective only if it is in writing and signed by the party to be charged.

 

22

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed
this Agreement on the date and year first written above.

 

	
   

  	
  EMPLOYEE

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  [Name]

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  COBALT
  INTERNATIONAL ENERGY, INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name:

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title:

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  COBALT
  INTERNATIONAL ENERGY, L.P.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name:

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title:

  

 

23

 

ANNEX
I

 

ACCREDITED INVESTOR
REPRESENTATIONS

 

Employee hereby represents and warrants that he
qualifies as an “accredited investor” (as defined
in Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933) by satisfying one or more of the
following criteria:

 

(i)                                     Employee’s
individual net worth or joint net worth with Employee’s spouse exceeds
$1,000,000; or

 

(ii)                                  Employee has
individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or
joint income with Employee’s spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those
years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the
current year.

 

Employee is acquiring interests in the Partnership
and / or shares of Company common stock for investment for his own account and
not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof
and hereby agrees not to sell any shares of Company common stock in violation
of the Federal securities laws.

 

1

 

ANNEX
II

 

TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

 

Employee agrees not to Transfer prior to the
Termination Date the Specified Number of the shares of Company common stock
issued to the Employee upon conversion of Class A and Class B
Interests (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) in connection with the IPO.  Employee will have the discretion to
determine, from time to time, which specific shares of Company common stock are
subject to this limitation.

 

For purposes of this agreement, the following terms
have the following meanings:

 

“Specified Number”
means, as of any date, a number of shares equal to the sum of

 

(a) the product of 80% (or on or after a Change in
Control, the lesser of 80% and the remainder set forth in (x) below) and the
aggregate number of shares of Company common stock issued to Employee upon
conversion of Class B Interests in connection with the IPO, plus

 

(b) the product of (x) one minus a fraction,
the numerator of which is the aggregate number of shares of Company common
stock owned by the Sponsors immediately after the closing of the IPO and sold
by the Sponsors after the closing of the IPO and prior to such date (other than
with respect to any shares of common stock sold by any Sponsor to any of its
Affiliates), and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of shares of
Company common stock owned by the Sponsors immediately after the closing of the
IPO, and (y) the aggregate number of shares of Company common stock issued
to Employee upon conversion of Class A Interests in connection with the
IPO.

 

If,
at any time prior to the Termination Date, the outstanding shares of Company
common stock shall be changed into a different number of shares or a different
class (including by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock
split (including reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or readjustment
of shares, or any stock dividend or distribution paid in stock thereon with a
record date during such period or any similar transaction), the calculation of
the Specified Number shall be appropriately adjusted.

 

“Sponsors” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Company’s
certificate of incorporation as of the closing of the IPO.

 

A-1

 

“Termination Date” means the earliest of (i) the
     anniversary of the closing of the IPO, (ii) the
date of termination of employment with the Company other than a termination by
the Company for Cause, (iii) the first date on which a Change in Control
occurs; provided that if prior to the date of
such Change in Control, the Company or the acquiror requests in writing that
Employee continue to provide services to the Company (or the successor or
surviving entity) for a specified period not to exceed 12 months after the
Change in Control, the Termination Date shall not expire on the date of the Change
in Control but shall expire on the earliest of (x) the last day of the
requested period, (y) the date provided in clause (i) or (z) the
date, if any, of the termination of employment by the Company (or the successor
or surviving entity) without Cause, by Employee for Good Reason or due to
Employee’s death or Disability or (iv) the first date on which the
Sponsors have sold a number of shares of Company common stock equal to the
aggregate number owned by the Sponsors immediately after the closing of the IPO
(other than with respect to any shares of common stock sold by any Sponsor to
any of its Affiliates).

 

“Transfer” means (a) offer, sell, pledge, or hypothecate
any legal or beneficial interest, including the grant of an option or other
right or otherwise transfer or enter into an agreement to do so or (b) entry
into any hedge, swap or any other agreement that transfers, in whole or in
part, any of the economic consequences of ownership (whether such transaction
is settled by delivery of cash, shares or otherwise).

 

All capitalized terms defined in the agreement to
which this Annex is attached and used but not otherwise defined herein are used
as therein defined.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee may
Transfer:

 

(i)                                                         any shares of
Company common stock issued to Employee upon conversion of Class A and Class B
Interests in connection with the IPO in excess of the Specified Number, so long
as such shares are not Restricted Shares (as defined in the Award Agreement).

 

(ii)                                                      any shares of
Company common stock issued to Employee upon conversion of Class A and Class B
Interests in connection with the IPO (including all or a portion of the
Specified Number of such shares):

 

(a) by will or the laws of descent and distribution,

 

(b) by gift to a spouse, former spouse, lineal ancestor, lineal
descendant, legally adopted child, sibling or lineal descendant or legally
adopted child of a sibling of Employee or a trust or other entity for the
primary benefit

 

2

 

of Employee or any such persons if the transferee agrees in writing to
be bound by the provisions of this agreement, or

 

(c) to any institution qualified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 if the institution agrees in writing to be
bound by the provisions of this agreement.

 

(iii)                                                   with the
consent of the Compensation Committee of the Company’s board of directors
(which consent will not be unreasonably withheld), a number of shares of
Company common stock, in addition to the shares otherwise transferable pursuant
to (i) above, necessary to pay income taxes arising from the vesting of
any Restricted Shares issued to Employee upon conversion of Class B
Interests in connection with the IPO.

 

(iv)                                                  if the Company’s
board of directors (or a committee thereof) in its reasonable judgment makes a
good faith determination that Employee has incurred an unforeseeable emergency
resulting in severe financial hardship, then Employee may sell a number of
shares of Company common stock reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency
need (which may include amounts necessary to pay Federal, state, local or
foreign income and employment taxes reasonably anticipated to result from the
sale), such number to be determined through the good faith consultation of the
Company’s board of directors and Employee; provided that,
in all cases, any such sale shall be made only from shares of Company common
stock with respect to which Employee has a 100% vested and nonforfeitable
interest.

 

3

 

EXHIBIT
A

 

[FORM OF RESTRICTED
STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT — 

CLASS C INTERESTS]

 

4

 

EXHIBIT
B

 

[FORM OF RESTRICTED
STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT — 

CLASS D INTERESTS]

(if applicable)

 

5

 

EXHIBIT
C

 

FORM OF RELEASE

 

For and in consideration of certain payments and
other benefits due to [·] (“Employee”) pursuant to the Severance Agreement (the “Severance Agreement”) dated as of [·], 20    , between Cobalt
International Energy, Inc., (the “Company”) and
Employee, and for other good and valuable consideration, Employee hereby
agrees, for Employee, Employee’s spouse and child or children (if any),
Employee’s heirs, beneficiaries, devisees, executors, administrators,
attorneys, personal representatives, successors and assigns, to forever
release, discharge and covenant not to sue the Company and its divisions,
affiliates, subsidiaries, parents, branches, predecessors, successors, assigns,
and, with respect to such entities, their officers, directors, trustees,
employees, agents, shareholders, administrators, general or limited partners,
members, representatives, attorneys, insurers and fiduciaries, past, present
and future (the “Released Parties”) from any and
all claims of any kind arising out of, or related to, his employment with the
Company, its affiliates or subsidiaries (collectively, with the Company, the “Affiliated Entities”) or Employee’s separation from
employment with the Affiliated Entities, which Employee now has or may have
against the Released Parties, whether known or unknown to Employee, by reason
of facts which have occurred on or prior to the date that Employee has signed
this Release.  Such released claims
include, without limitation, any and all claims relating to the foregoing under
federal, state or local laws pertaining to employment, including, without
limitation, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e et. seq., the Fair
Labor Standards Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Section 201 et. seq., the
Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et.
seq. the Reconstruction Era Civil Rights Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 1981
et. seq., the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Section 701
et. seq., the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1992, 29 U.S.C. Section 2601
et. seq., and any and all state or local laws regarding employment
discrimination, the payment of wages and/or federal, state or local laws of any
type or description regarding employment, including but not limited to any
claims arising from or derivative of Employee’s employment with the Affiliated
Entities, as well as any and all such claims under state contract or tort law.  By signing this Release, Employee is bound by
it.   Anyone who succeeds to Employee’s
rights and responsibilities, such as heirs or the executor of Employee’s
estate, is also bound by this Release. 
This Release also applies to any claims brought by any person or agency
or class action under which Employee may have a right or benefit.  Notwithstanding this release of liability,
nothing in this Release prevents Employee from filing any non-legally waivable
claim (including a challenge to the validity of this Release) with the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (the “EEOC”) or
comparable state or local agency or participating in any

 

B-1

 

investigation or proceeding conducted by the
EEOC or comparable state or local agency; however, Employee understands and
agrees that Employee is waiving any and all rights to recover any monetary or
personal relief or recovery as a result of such EEOC or comparable state or
local agency proceeding or subsequent legal actions.

 

Employee has read this Release carefully,
acknowledges that Employee has been given at least [21] [45] days to consider
all of its terms and has been and is hereby advised to consult with an attorney
and any other advisors of Employee’s choice prior to executing this Release,
and Employee fully understands that by signing below Employee is voluntarily
giving up any right which Employee may have to sue or bring any other claims
against the Released Parties, including any rights and claims under the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act. 
Employee also understands that Employee has a period of seven days after
signing this Release within which to revoke his agreement, and that neither the
Company nor any other person is obligated to make any payments or provide any
other benefits to Employee pursuant to the Severance Agreement until eight days
have passed since Employee’s signing of this Release without Employee’s
signature having been revoked other than any accrued obligations or other
benefits payable pursuant to the terms of the Company’s normal payroll
practices or employee benefit plans. 
Finally, Employee expressly represents that he has not been forced or
pressured in any manner whatsoever to sign this Release, and Employee agrees to
all of its terms voluntarily.

 

Notwithstanding anything else herein to the
contrary, this Release shall not affect: (i) the Company’s obligations
under any compensation or employee benefit plan, program or arrangement
(including, without limitation, obligations to Employee under the Severance
Agreement or any stock option, stock award or agreements or obligations under
any pension, deferred compensation or retention plan) provided by the
Affiliated Entities where Employee’s compensation or benefits are intended to
continue or Employee is to be provided with compensation or benefits, in
accordance with the express written terms of such plan, program or arrangement,
beyond the date of Employee’s termination and (ii) rights to
indemnification Employee may have under (A) applicable law, (B) any
other agreement between Employee and a Released Party and (C) as an
insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or
previously in force.

 

B-2

 

This Release is final and binding and may not be
changed or modified except in a writing signed by both parties.

 

	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  [Name]

  	
   

  	
  [Employee]

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Cobalt
  International Energy, Inc. 

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  By:
  

  	
   

  
	
  [Name]

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name:
  

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title:

  

 

B-3Exhibit
10.3

 

10 Oct 09 Copy for Execution

 

RISK SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

BETWEEN

 

 

Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola

- Empresa Pública (Sonangol, E.P.)

 

and

 

CIE Angola Block 9 Ltd.

 

Sonangol Pesquisa e Produção, S.A.

 

Nazaki Oil and Gás

and

 

 

Alper Oil, Lda

 

 

in the

 

Area of Block 9/09

 

 

TABLE
OF CONTENTS

 

	
  Article

  	
   

  	
  Page

  
	
  Article 1 (Definitions)

  	
  2

  
	
  Article 2 (Annexes to the Agreement)

  	
  9

  
	
  Article 3 (Object of the Agreement)

  	
  9

  
	
  Article 4 (Nature of the relationship between
  the Parties)

  	
  10

  
	
  Article 5 (Duration of the Agreement)

  	
  10

  
	
  Article 6 (Exploration Period)

  	
  10

  
	
  Article 7 (Production Period)

  	
  12

  
	
  Article 8 (Operator)

  	
  13

  
	
  Article 9 (Petroleum Operations Procedures
  Document)

  	
  14

  
	
  Article 10 (Payment from Sonangol to Contractor
  and production allowance)

  	
  14

  
	
  Article 11 (Petroleum Operations costs and
  expenses)

  	
  17

  
	
  Article 12 (Lifting and disposal of Crude Oil)

  	
  17

  
	
  Article 13 (Conduct of Petroleum Operations)

  	
  18

  
	
  Article 14 (Work obligations during the
  Exploration Period)

  	
  20

  
	
  Article 15 (Exploration Work Plans and Budgets)

  	
  23

  
	
  Article 16 (Commercial Discovery)

  	
  23

  
	
  Article 17 (General Development and Production
  Plan)

  	
  24

  
	
  Article 18 (Development and Production Work
  Programs and Budgets)

  	
  25

  
	
  Article 19 (Lifting Schedule)

  	
  25

  
	
  Article 20 (Guarantees)

  	
  26

  
	
  Article 21 (Bonus and contributions)

  	
  27

  
	
  Article 22 (Conservation of Petroleum and
  prevention of loss)

  	
  29

  
	
  Article 23 (Records, reports and inspection)

  	
  30

  
	
  Article 24 (Contractor’s obligation to purchase
  Sonangol’s Petroleum)

  	
  31

  
	
  Article 25 (Other rights and obligations
  related to Crude Oil disposal)

  	
  32

  
	
  Article 26 (Unitization and joint Development)

  	
  32

  
	
  Article 27 (Transfer and abandonment of assets)

  	
  33

  
	
  Article 28 (Natural Gas)

  	
  34

  
	
  Article 29 (Operations for Sonangol’s account -
  sole risk)

  	
  34

  
	
  Article 30 (Operating Committee)

  	
  38

  
	
  Article 31 (Ownership of assets)

  	
  41

  
	
  Article 32 (Property and confidentiality of
  data)

  	
  41

  
	
  Article 33 (Responsibility for losses and
  damages)

  	
  43

  
	
  Article 34 (Petroleum Operations risk
  management)

  	
  43

  
	
  Article 35 (Recruitment, integration and
  training of Angolan personnel)

  	
  44

  
	
  Article 36 (Double taxation and change of
  circumstances)

  	
  45

  
	
  Article 37 (Assignment)

  	
  45

  
	
  Article 38 (Termination of the Agreement)

  	
  47

  
	
  Article 39 (Confidentiality of the Agreement)

  	
  49

  
	
  Article 40 (Dispute Resolution)

  	
  49

  
	
  Article 41 (Force Majeure)

  	
  50

  
	
  Article 42 (Applicable Law)

  	
  51

  
	
  Article 43 (Language)

  	
  51

  
	
  Article 44 (Offices and service of notice)

  	
  51

  
	
  Article 45 (Captions and headings)

  	
  52

  
	
  Article 46 (Effectiveness)

  	
  52

  
	
  Annex A - Description
  of the Contract Area

  	
  54

  
	
  Annex B . Map of the
  Contract Area

  	
  55

  
	
  Annex C - Accounting
  and Financial Procedures

  	
  56

  
	
  Annex D - Corporate
  Guarantee

  	
  71

  
	
  Annex E - Financial
  Guarantee

  	
  73

  

 

i

 

THIS AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO
BETWEEN:

 

on the one part:

 

Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de
Angola - Empresa Pública (Sonangol, E.P.), hereinafter referred to as “Sonangol”, a company with headquarters in
Luanda, Republic of Angola, created in accordance with Decree n°. 52/76, of 9 June 1976;

 

and, on the other part:

 

CIE Angola Block 9 Ltd., a company organized and existing under
the laws of Cayman Islands, hereinafter referred to as “Cobalt”, with offices and legal
representatives in Luanda, Republic of Angola; and

 

Sonangol Pesquisa e Produção, S.A., hereinafter referred to as “Sonangol P&P”, a company with
headquarters in Luanda, Republic of Angola, created in accordance with
Resolution 4/91, of 6 December 1991, from the Standing Committee of the
Council of Ministers;

 

Nazaki Oil and Gás, a company organized and existing under
the laws of Angola, hereinafter referred to as “Nazaki”, with offices and legal representatives in Luanda,
Republic of Angola; and

 

Alper Oil, Lda, a company organized and existing under
the laws of Angola, hereinafter referred to as “Alper”, with offices and legal representatives in Luanda,
Republic of Angola.

 

Recitals

 

WHEREAS, through the Concession Decree-Law No    /    ,
of                   ,
the Government, in accordance with the Petroleum Activities Law, has granted
Sonangol an exclusive concession for the exercise of the mining rights for
Exploration, Development and Production of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons in
the concession area of Block 9;

 

WHEREAS, under Concession Decree-Law No      /    ,
of                   ,
the Government has authorized Sonangol to enter into a Risk Services Agreement
for Block 9;

 

WHEREAS, Sonangol, with a view to carrying out
the Petroleum Operations necessary to duly exercise such rights and in
compliance with the obligations deriving from Concession

 

1

 

TRANSLATION

 

Decree-Law No       /      ,
of                 ,
wishes to sign a Risk Services Agreement with Contractor;

 

WHEREAS, the Government, through the Decree No       /      ,
of               
has, pursuant Article 45.1(a) of the Petroleum Activities Tax Law,
established the production allowance for the Block;

 

WHEREAS, Sonangol, on the one hand, and
Contractor, on the other hand, have agreed that this Agreement is the Risk Services
Agreement mentioned above and will regulate their mutual rights and obligations
in the execution of said Petroleum Operations.

 

NOW, therefore, Sonangol, on the one hand, and Contractor
on the other hand, agree as follows:

 

Article 1

(Definitions)

 

For the purposes of this Agreement, and unless
otherwise expressly stated in the text, the words and expressions used herein
shall have the following meaning, it being understood that reference to the
singular includes reference to the plural and vice versa:

 

1.             “Affiliate” means:

 

(a)     a company or any other entity in which any of the
Parties holds, either directly or indirectly, the absolute majority of the
votes in the shareholders’ meeting or is the holder of more than fifty percent
(50%) of the rights and interests which confer the power of management of that
company or entity, or has the power of management and control over such company
or entity; or

 

(i)         ttttttt

 

(b)     a company or any other entity which directly or
indirectly holds the absolute majority of votes at the shareholders’ meeting or
equivalent corporate body of any of the Parties or holds the power of
management and control over any of the Parties; or

 

(c)     a company or any other entity in which either the
absolute majority of votes in the respective shareholders’ meeting or the
rights and interests which confer the power of management of said company or
entity are, either 

 

2

 

directly or indirectly,
held by a company or any other entity which directly or indirectly holds the
absolute majority of votes at the shareholders’ meeting or equivalent corporate
body of any of the Parties or holds the power of management and control over
any of the Parties.

 

2.             “Agreement” or “the Agreement” means this Risk
Services Agreement executed between Sonangol and Contractor, including its
Annexes.

 

3.             “Angola” means the Republic of Angola.

 

4.             “Angolan Training Decree” means Decree n°. 116/08, of
14 October 2008, regarding the training of Angolan nationals by foreign
corporations.

 

5.             “Appraisal” means the activity carried out after the
discovery of a Petroleum deposit to better define the parameters of the deposit
and determine its commerciality, including namely:

 

(a)     drilling of Appraisal Wells and running depth tests;

 

(b)     collecting special geological samples and reservoir
fluids;

 

(c)     running supplementary studies and acquisition of
geophysical and other data, as well as the processing of same data.

 

6.             “Appraisal Well” means a Well drilled following a
Commercial Well to delineate the physical extent of the accumulation penetrated
by such Commercial Well, and to estimate the accumulation reserves and probable
Production rates.

 

7.             “Approved Work Plan and Budget” means either the
Exploration Work Plan and Budget or the Development and Production Work Plan
and Budget transmitted to Sonangol under Article 10.12, or approved by the
Operating Committee under Article 10.11, as relevant.

 

8.             “Associated Natural Gas” means Natural Gas which
exists in a reservoir in solution with Crude Oil and includes what is commonly
known as gas cap gas which overlies and is in contact with Crude Oil.

 

9.             “Barrel” means the unit of measure for liquids
corresponding to forty-two (42) United States gallons of Crude Oil, net of
basic sediment and water and corrected to a temperature of sixty degrees
Fahrenheit (60°F).

 

3

 

10.           “Commercial Discovery” means the discovery of a
Petroleum deposit judged by Contractor to be worth developing in accordance
with the provisions of the Agreement.

 

11.           “Commercial Well” means the first Well on any
geological structure which after testing in accordance with sound and accepted
industry Production practices, and verified by Sonangol, is found through
analysis of test results to be capable of producing, from a single reservoir
not less than an average rate of five (5) thousand Barrels of Crude Oil
per day.

 

Contractor shall have the right to request to Sonangol
that a Well which is within the aforesaid criteria is not to be deemed a
Commercial Well. To exercise this right, Contractor shall timely provide
Sonangol information which would evidence that in the particular circumstances
of such Well the same should not be deemed a Commercial Well.

 

Among other factors, consideration shall be given to
porosity, permeability, reservoir pressure, Crude Oil saturation and the
reservoir recoverable reserves.

 

Contractor has the option to declare a Well a
Commercial Well at a producing rate below that one set forth above where
Contractor is of the opinion that the accumulation may produce sufficient Crude
Oil to recover the costs and make a reasonable return.

 

12.           “Concession Decree-Law” means Decree-Law n°.
   /  , of       ,
approved by the Council of Ministers as it was published in the Diário da
República of Angola n°.,1 Series, of    ,           .

 

13.           “Contract Area” means on the Effective Date the area
described in Annex A and shown on the map in Annex B, and thereafter the whole
or any part of such area in respect of which Contractor continues to have
rights and obligations under this Agreement.

 

14.           “Contract Year” means the period, and successive
periods, of twelve (12) consecutive Months according to the Gregorian Calendar
beginning on the Effective Date of this Agreement.

 

15.           “Contractor” means Cobalt, Nazaki, Sonangol P&P
and Alper and their possible assignees under Article 37 designated
collectively except as otherwise provided

 

4

 

herein. The participating
interests of the entities constituting Contractor on the Effective Date are:

 

	
  1.

  	
   

  	
  CIE Angola Block 9 Ltd:

  	
   

  	
  40

  	
  %

  
	
  2.

  	
   

  	
  Nazaki:

  	
   

  	
  30

  	
  %

  
	
  3.

  	
   

  	
  Sonangol P&P:

  	
   

  	
  20

  	
  %

  
	
  4.

  	
   

  	
  Alper:

  	
   

  	
  10

  	
  %

  

 

16.           “Crude Oil” means a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons
produced from the Contract Area which is in a liquid state at the wellhead or
in the separator under normal conditions of pressure and temperature, including
distillates and condensates, as well as liquids extracted from the Natural Gas.

 

17.           “Customs Duties” means all charges, contributions or
fees established in the respective customs tariffs schedules which are
applicable to merchandise imported or exported through customs, including those
levied in accordance with the Petroleum Activities Customs Law.

 

18.           “Development” means the activity carried out in a
Development Area after the declaration of a Commercial Discovery. Said activity
shall include, but not be limited to:

 

(a)     geophysical, geological and reservoir studies and
surveys;

 

(b)     drilling of producing and injection Wells;

 

(c)     design, construction, installation, connection and
initial testing of equipment, pipelines, systems, facilities, plants, and
related activities necessary to produce and operate said Wells, to take, save,
treat, handle, store, transport and deliver Petroleum, and to undertake
repressuring, recycling and other secondary or tertiary recovery projects.

 

19.           “Development Area” means the extent of the whole area,
within the Contract Area, capable of production from the deposit or deposits
identified in a Commercial Discovery and defined by agreement between Sonangol
and Contractor after said Commercial Discovery.

 

5

 

20.           “Development Well” means a Well drilled for the
purpose of producing or enhancing Production of Petroleum from a Commercial
Discovery, and includes the Appraisal Wells which have been completed as
production or injection Wells.

 

21.           “Effective Date” means the first day of the Month
following the Month in which this Agreement is signed by Sonangol and
Contractor.

 

22.           “Exploration” shall include, but not be limited to,
namely, such geological, geochemical and geophysical surveys and studies,
aerial surveys and others as may be included in Approved Work Plans and Budget,
and the drilling of such shot holes, core holes, stratigraphic tests, Wells for
the discovery of Petroleum, and other related holes and Wells including
Appraisal Wells which have not been completed as production or injection Wells.

 

23.           “Exploration Period” means the period defined in Article 6.

 

24.           “Exploration Well” means a Well drilled for the
purpose of discovering Petroleum, including Appraisal Wells to the extent
permitted by Article 16.

 

25.           “Fiscal Year” means a period of twelve (12)
consecutive Months according to the Gregorian Calendar which coincides with the
Civil Year and relative to which the presentation of fiscal declarations is
required under the fiscal or commercial laws of Angola.

 

26.           “Force Majeure” means the concept defined in Article 41
of this Agreement.

 

27.           “General Development and Production Plan” has the
meaning attributed to it in Article 17.

 

28.           “Government” means the Government of the Republic of
Angola.

 

29.           “Initial Exploration Phase” means the period of four (4) Contract
Years commencing on the Effective Date of the Agreement, as defined in Article 6.

 

30.           “Joint Account” means the set of accounts kept by
Operator to record all receipts, expenditures and other operations which, under
the terms of the Agreement, shall be shared between the entities constituting
Contractor in proportion to their participating interests.

 

31.           “Law” means the legislation in force in the Republic
of Angola.

 

6

 

32.           “Lifting Schedule” means the planned program of Crude
Oil liftings by each Party approved by the Operating Committee.

 

33.           “Market Price” means the price determined for the
valuation of the Crude Oil produced from the Contract Area as established in
accordance with Article 6 of the Petroleum Activities Tax Law.

 

34.           “Month” means a calendar month pursuant to the
Gregorian Calendar.

 

35.           “National Concessionaire” means Sonangol as the
titleholder of the mining rights of Exploration, Development and Production of
liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons in the Contract Area.

 

36.           “Natural Gas” means any hydrocarbons produced from the
Contract Area which at a pressure of 14.7 psi and a temperature of sixty
degrees Fahrenheit (60°F) are in a gaseous state at the wellhead, and includes
both Associated and Non-Associated Natural Gas, and all of its constituent
elements produced from any Well in the Contract Area and all non-hydrocarbon
substances therein. Such term shall include residue gas.

 

37.           “Non-Associated Natural Gas” means that part of
Natural Gas which is not Associated Natural Gas.

 

38.           “Operating Committee” means the entity referred to in
00.

 

39.           “Operator” is the entity referred to in Article 8.

 

40.           “Optional Exploration Phase” means the additional
period of three (3) Contract Years after the Initial Exploration Phase
pursuant to Article 6.

 

41.           “Parties” means Sonangol and Contractor.

 

42.           “Party” means either Sonangol or Contractor as Parties
to this Agreement.

 

43.           “Petroleum” means Crude Oil, Natural Gas and all other
hydrocarbon substances that may be found in and extracted, or otherwise
obtained and saved from the Contract Area.

 

44.           “Petroleum Activities Law” means Law n°. 10/04, of 12 November 2004.

 

45.           “Petroleum Activities Customs Law” means Law n°.
11/04, of 12 November 2004.

 

7

 

46.           “Petroleum Activities Insurance Decree” means Decree
n°. 39/01, of 22 June 2001.

 

47.           “Petroleum Activities Tax Law” means Law n°. 13/04, of
24 December 2004.

 

48.           “Petroleum Operations” means the activities of
Exploration, Appraisal, Development and Production which constitute the object
of the Agreement.

 

49.           “Petroleum Operations Procedures Document” is the
document referred to in Article 9.

 

50.           “Phase” means the Initial Exploration Phase or the
Optional Exploration Phase, as the case may be.

 

51.           “Production” means the set of activities intended to
Petroleum extraction, including, but not be limited to, the running, servicing,
maintenance and repair of completed wells and of the equipment, pipelines,
systems, facilities and plants completed during development, including all
activities related to planning, scheduling, controlling, measuring, testing and
carrying out the flow, gathering, treating, storing and dispatching of
Petroleum from the underground Petroleum reservoirs to the designated exporting
or lifting location, as well as operations for abandonment of facilities and
Petroleum deposits and related activities.

 

52.           “Production Period” means the period defined in Article 7.

 

53.           “Production Plan” means the planned profile of Crude
Oil output in Barrels per day approved by the Operating Committee in
conjunction with the Development and Production Work Plan and Budget for each
Development Area, according to 018.

 

54.           “Quarter” means a period of three (3) consecutive
Months starting with the first day of January, April, July or October of
each Civil Year.

 

55.           “Serious Fault” shall mean inadequate performance by
the Operator that substantially violates the technical rules generally
accepted in the international petroleum industry and/or the obligations under
this Agreement and the Law.

 

56.           “Sonangol” is Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de
Angola, Empresa Pública (Sonangol, E.P.), an Angolan State Company.

 

57.           “State” means the State of the Republic of Angola.

 

58.           “Well” means a hole drilled into the earth for the
purpose of locating, evaluating, producing or enhancing production of
Petroleum.

 

8

 

59.           “Work Plan and Budget” means either an Exploration
Work Plan and Budget or a Development and Production Work Plan and Budget.

 

60.           “Year” or “Civil Year” means a period of twelve (12)
consecutive Months according to the Gregorian Calendar beginning on January 1
and ending on December 31.

 

Article 2

(Annexes to the Agreement)

 

1.             The present Agreement is complemented by the following
Annexes which form an integral part of it:

 

(a)     Annex A - Description of the Contract Area;

 

(b)     Annex B - Map of the Contract Area;

 

(c)     Annex C - Accounting and Financial Procedures;

 

(d)     Annex D - Corporate Guarantee; and

 

(e)     Annex E - Financial Guarantee.

 

2.             In the event of discrepancy between the content or the
form of Annexes A and B referred to in paragraph 1, Annex A shall prevail.

 

3.             In the event of discrepancy between the content or the
form of the Annexes referred to in paragraph 1 and the Agreement, the
provisions of the Agreement shall prevail.

 

Article 3

(Object of the Agreement)

 

1.             The object of this Agreement is the definition, in
accordance with the Petroleum Activities Law, and other applicable legislation,
of the contractual relationship in the form of the Risk Services Agreement
between Sonangol and Contractor for carrying out the Petroleum Operations.

 

2.             The Parties specifically acknowledge that the terms of
this Agreement represent their sale and express intent, to the exclusion of any
other intent.

 

9

 

Article 4

(Nature of the relationship between
the Parties)

 

This Agreement shall not be construed as creating
between the Parties any entity with a separate juridical personality, or a
corporation, or a civil society, a joint venture or partnership (“conta em
participação”).

 

Article 5

(Duration of the Agreement)

 

1.             This Agreement shall continue to be in force until the
end of the last Production Period or, in case there is no Production Period in
the Contract Area, until the end of the Exploration Period, unless prior to
that date anything occurs that in the terms of the Law or the applicable
provisions of the Agreement constitutes cause for its termination or for
termination of the concession.

 

2.             The extension of the Exploration or Production Periods
referred to in the preceding paragraph beyond the terms provided for in Article 6
and Article 7 respectively shall be submitted by Sonangol to the
Government under Article 12 of the Petroleum Activities Law.

 

3.             At the end of the Exploration Period, Contractor shall
terminate its activities in all areas within the Contract Area which are not at
such time part of a Development Area(s); and, except as otherwise provided
herein, from that time this Agreement shall no longer have any application to
any portion of the Contract Area not then part of a Development Area.

 

Article 6

(Exploration Period)

 

1.             Pursuant to the Concession Decree-Law, an Initial
Exploration Phase of four (4) Contract Years shall start from the
Effective Date. One (1) successive extension of three (3) Contract
Years (the Optional Exploration Phase) may follow the Initial Exploration
Phase, provided that Contractor notifies Sonangol in writing of such extension,
at least thirty (30) days before the end of the Initial Exploration Phase, and
if, unless otherwise agreed by Sonangol, Contractor has fulfilled its
obligations in respect of such Phase.

 

10

 

2.             The Agreement shall be terminated if no Commercial
Discovery has been made in the Contract Area by the end of the Initial
Exploration Phase or the Optional Exploration Phase, should that be the case.
However, the Exploration Period may be extended for six (6) Months for the
completion of drilling and testing of any Well actually being drilled or tested
at the end of the fourth (4th) and/or
seventh (7th) Contract Year, as the case may be.

 

3.             Should any of the said Wells be a Commercial Well,
Contractor shall be given sufficient time, as mutually agreed, not exceeding
twelve (12) Months, or such longer period as agreed by Sonangol, following the
completion of drilling and testing of the Commercial Well to do Appraisal work.
Should this work result in a Commercial Discovery then a Development Area shall
be granted pursuant to Article 7.

 

4.             In the event Contractor fails to complete all
Exploration Wells foreseen in 04 during the Initial Exploration Phase,
Contractor shall elect one of the following options:

 

(a)     Complete the remaining Exploration Well(s) in a
six (6) Month extension of the Initial Exploration Phase and forego the
option to enter into the Optional Exploration Phase;

 

(b)     Decide to enter into the Optional Exploration Phase
being, however, required to complete the Wells related to the Initial
Exploration Phase and to drill the Wells related to the Optional Exploration
Phase.

 

5.             Operations for the sole account of Sonangol conducted
under Article 29 hereof shall not extend the Exploration Period nor affect
the term of the Agreement, it being understood that:

 

(a)     to the extent that such operations do not conflict
with Contractor’s obligations or obstruct, interfere with or delay any
Petroleum Operations or any existing work plans (including any Approved Work
Plan and Budget), Contractor shall complete any work undertaken at Sonangol’s
sole risk and expense even though the Exploration Period may have expired;

 

(b)     Contractor’s completion of the works referred to in
the previous subparagraph shall not extend Contractor’s Exploration Period or
Agreement term, except as in the case of Contractor exercising the option right
mentioned in Article 29.3 hereof;

 

11

 

(c)     during the period Contractor is completing the works
referred to in subparagraph (a), Contractor shall be given authorization to
continue such sole risk operations and shall be entitled to all benefits
available to Contractor pursuant to the Agreement as if the term thereof had
not terminated.

 

Article 7

(Production Period)

 

1.             Following each Commercial Discovery, the extent of the
whole area within the Contract Area capable of Production from the deposit or
deposits identified in the Well that originated the Commercial Discovery and
its related Appraisal Wells, if any, shall be agreed upon by Sonangol and
Contractor. Each agreed area shall then be converted automatically into a
Development Area effective from the date of Commercial Discovery.

 

Without prejudice to paragraph 2 hereof, there shall
be a Production Period for each Development Area which shall be twenty-five
(25) Years from the date of Commercial Discovery in said Development Area. In
the event of Commercial Discoveries in deposits which underlie and overlie each
other, such deposits shall constitute a single Development Area, and such area
shall be defined or redefined as necessary, within the boundaries of the
Contract Area, to incorporate all underlying and overlying deposits.

 

2.             Unless otherwise agreed by Sonangol, any Development
Area is considered automatically terminated and, except as otherwise provided
in the Agreement, the rights and obligations in said Area are considered
terminated if within forty-two (42) Months from the date of Commercial
Discovery in said Development Area the first lifting of Crude Oil from said
Development Area has not been done as part of a regular program of lifting in
accordance with the Lifting Schedule.

 

No later than twelve (12) Months before the end of the
Production Period, Contractor may request that Sonangol apply for an extension
of the Production Period under Article 5.2. If Sonangol is not opposed to
said request, it shall discuss the terms and conditions of the extension of the
Production Period with Contractor and submit said terms and conditions to the
supervising Ministry along with the application to be presented under the
Petroleum Activities Law.

 

12

 

Article 8

(Operator)

 

1.             Contractor has the exclusive responsibility for
executing the Petroleum Operations, except as provided in Article 29.

 

2.             Under the Concession Decree-Law, Cobalt is the
Operator which carries out Petroleum Operations on a no profit, no loss basis
on behalf of Contractor within the Contract Area. Change of operator shall
require the prior approval of the Ministry of Petroleum following a proposal
from Sonangol.

 

3.             Any agreement among the Contractor companies regarding
or regulating the Operator’s conduct in relation to this Agreement shall be
submitted to Sonangol for comment prior to execution thereof.

 

4.             The Operator will be subject to all of the specific
obligations provided for in this Agreement, the Concession Decree-Law and other
applicable legislation and, under the general authority of the Operating
Committee, shall have the exclusive control and administration of the Petroleum
Operations.

 

5.             The Operator shall be the only entity which, on behalf
of Contractor and within the limits defined by the Operating Committee, may
execute contracts, incur expenses, agree to expense commitments and implement
other actions in connection with the conduct of Petroleum Operations.

 

6.             In the event of the occurrence of any of the
following, Sonangol can require Contractor to immediately propose another
Contractor company as Operator:

 

(a)     if the Operator, by action or omission, commits a
Serious Fault in carrying out its obligations and if this fault is not remedied
to the satisfaction of Sonangol within a period of twenty-eight (28) days with
effect from the date of receipt by the Operator of written notice issued by
Sonangol requesting the Operator to remedy such fault (or within a greater
period of time if so specified in the notice, or as agreed later by Sonangol);

 

(b)     if sentence has been passed in court declaring the
bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution of the Operator, or if, in the court
action taken in order to obtain such declaration, any injunction has been
granted or any interim judicial ruling has been made, which prevents Operator
from fulfilling its obligations under the Agreement;

 

13

 

(c)     if the Operator undertakes the legal procedures
established to prevent bankruptcy or without just cause ceases payment to
creditors;

 

(d)     if the Operator terminates or if there is strong
evidence that it intends to terminate its activities or a significant portion
thereof, and, as a result, fails to fulfill its obligations under the
Agreement. If said strong evidence that the Operator intends to terminate its
activities exists, the Operator shall be given a period of fifteen (15) days
with effect from the date of receipt by the Operator of written notice issued
by Sonangol, or such greater period of time if so specified in the notice, in
which to refute such strong evidence to the satisfaction of Sonangol.

 

7.             If Contractor, in accordance with paragraph 6, does
not comply with the obligation to propose another Operator from among its
members within thirty (30) days from the date when Sonangol gave notice to
Contractor, Sonangol may freely propose one of the other Contractor entities as
Operator or a third party entity selected by Sonangol, if none of those accept
such role.

 

8.             Contractor must accept the Operator appointed by the
Ministry of Petroleum, otherwise it shall be in serious breach of this
Agreement.

 

Article 9

(Petroleum Operations Procedures
Document)

 

Sonangol and Contractor may sign a Petroleum
Operations Procedures Document which will regulate and interpret the contents
of this Agreement, which shall be in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement and the Law.

 

Article 10

(Payment from Sonangol to Contractor
and production allowance)

 

1.             All quantities of Petroleum produced and extracted
under this Contract are the property of Sonangol and shall revert to it
entirely.

 

2.             Sonangol shall allocate to Contractor, and Contractor
has the right to receive, the percentage of gross production of Petroleum,
specified in Article 10.3 as payment in kind for the performance by
Contractor for services under this Agreement on behalf of Sonangol.

 

14

 

3.             In any Quarter the percentage of Petroleum from the
Contract Area that Sonangol shall allocate in kind to Contractor, as well as
the production allowance applicable pursuant Article 45.1(a) of the
Petroleum Activities Tax Law and established in the Decree     /09
of         ,         
shall be determined by reference to the after tax nominal rate of return
achieved by Contractor at the end of the precedent Quarter in the Contract Area
as follows:

 

	
  Contractor’s
  rate of return for the

  Contract Area

  	
   

  	
  Contractor

  payment in kind - %

  	
   

  	
  Production

  allowance - %

  	
   

  
	
  less
  than 10%

  	
   

  	
  95

  	
   

  	
  95

  	
   

  
	
  from
  10% to less than 15%

  	
   

  	
  90

  	
   

  	
  85

  	
   

  
	
  from
  15% to less than 20%

  	
   

  	
  85

  	
   

  	
  75

  	
   

  
	
  from
  20% to less than 30%

  	
   

  	
  80

  	
   

  	
  65

  	
   

  
	
  from
  30% to less than 40%

  	
   

  	
  77

  	
   

  	
  60

  	
   

  
	
  40%
  or more

  	
   

  	
  72

  	
   

  	
  55

  	
   

  

 

4.             Contractor’s rate of return shall be determined at the
end of each Quarter after the date of Commercial Discovery on the basis of the
accumulated compounded net cash flow for the Contract Area, using the following
procedure:

 

(a)     Contractor’s net cash flow computed in U.S. dollars
for the Contract Area for each Quarter is:

 

(i)         the value received and actually lifted by Contractor
for all Crude Oil from the Contract Area in that Quarter at the Market Price;

 

(ii)        minus Petroleum Production Tax, Petroleum Income Tax
and Petroleum Transaction Tax;

 

(iii)       minus all expenditures incurred in respect the
Contract Area.

 

15

 

(b)     Contractor’s net cash flow for each Quarter are
compounded and accumulated according with the following formula:

 

ACNCF (Current Quarter) =

 

(100% + DQ)

 

--------------- x ACNCF (Previous Quarter) + NCF
(Current Quarter)

 

100%

 

where:

 

	
  ACNCF

  	
  = accumulated
  compounded net cash flow

  
	
  NCF

  	
  = net cash flow

  
	
  DC

  	
  = quarterly
  compound rate (in percent).

  

 

The formula will be calculated using quarterly
compound rates (in percent) of 2,41%, 3,56%, 4,66%, 6,78% and 8,78% which
correspond to annual compound rates (“DA”) of 10%, 15%, 20%, 30% and 40%,
respectively, as referred to in previous paragraph.

 

5.             The Contractor rate of return in any given Quarter
shall be deemed to be between the largest DA which yields a positive or zero
ACNCF and the smallest DA which causes the ACNCF to be negative.

 

6.             The payment to Contractor and the calculation of the
production allowance in a given Quarter shall be in accordance with the table
in paragraph 3 above using the Contractor Group’s rate of return as per this
article in the preceding Quarter.

 

7.             It is possible for the Contractor rate of return to
decline as a result of negative cash flow in a Quarter with the consequence
that the payment to Contractor and the calculation of the production allowance
would increase in the subsequent Quarter.

 

8.             Pending finalization of accounts, the payment to
Contractor and the calculation of the production allowance shall be calculated
on the basis of provisional estimates, if necessary, of deemed rate of return
as approved by Sonangol. Adjustments shall be subsequently effected in
accordance with the procedure to be established by agreement between Sonangol
and the Contractor.

 

16

 

Article 11

(Petroleum Operations costs and
expenses)

 

Except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement,
the costs and expenses incurred in the Petroleum Operations, as well as any
losses and risks derived therefrom, shall accrue to or be borne by Contractor,
and Sonangol shall not be responsible to bear or repay any of the aforesaid
costs, expenses and risks.

 

Article 12

(Lifting and disposal of Crude Oil)

 

1.             Each of the Parties (and, as for Contractor, each
entity constituting it) has the right and the obligation to lift in accordance
with the Lifting Schedule and the procedures and regulations foreseen in the
following paragraphs of this Article, its respective Crude Oil entitlements.

 

2.             Each of the entities constituting Contractor shall
have the right to proceed separately to the commercialization, lifting and
export of the Crude Oil to which it is entitled under this Agreement.

 

3.             Twelve (12) Months prior to the scheduled initial
export of Crude Oil from each Development Area, Sonangol shall submit to
Contractor proposed procedures and related operating regulations covering the
scheduling and lifting of Crude Oil and any other Petroleum produced from such
Development Area(s). The procedures and regulations shall be consistent with
the terms of this Agreement and shall comprehend the subjects necessary for
efficient and equitable operations including, but not limited to, rights of the
Parties, notification time, maximum and minimum quantities, duration of
storage, scheduling, conservation, spillage, liabilities of the Parties,
throughput fees and penalties, over and underlifting, safety and emergency
procedures and any other matters that may be agreed between the Parties.

 

4.             Contractor shall within thirty (30) days after
Sonangol’s submission as referred to in the preceding paragraph, submit its
comments on, and recommend any revisions to the proposed procedures and
regulations. Sonangol shall analyze these comments and recommendations and the
Parties shall, within sixty (60) days after Contractor’s said submission, agree
on such procedures and regulations.

 

(i)            In any event, the agreed lifting procedures and
regulations, as provided in the previous paragraph, shall always comply with
the Law,

 

17

 

(ii)           In the case of more than one (1) quality of Crude
Oil in the Contract Area, Sonangol and Contractor shall, unless they mutually
agree that the Crude Oil should be commingled, lift each Crude Oil qualities in
proportion to their respective total liftings from the Contract Area. In
determining these proportions any Petroleum belonging to Sonangol as a result
of operations for Songangol’s account under Article 29 shall be excluded.

 

Article 13

(Conduct of Petroleum Operations)

 

1.             With due observance of legal and contractual
provisions and subject to the decisions of the Operating Committee, Contractor,
through the Operator, shall act in the common interest of the Parties and shall
undertake the execution of the work inherent in Petroleum Operations in accordance
with the Law and the professional rules and standards which are generally
accepted in the international petroleum industry.

 

2.             Contractor, through the Operator, shall carry out the
work inherent in Petroleum Operations in an efficient, diligent and conscientious
manner and shall execute the Work Plans and Budgets under the best economic and
technical conditions and in accordance with the Law and the professional rules and
standards which are generally accepted in the international petroleum industry.

 

3.             In performing the Petroleum Operations, Contractor,
through the Operator, shall use the most appropriate technology and management
experience, including its own technology, such as patents, “know-how” and other
secret technology, insofar as this is permitted by applicable laws and
agreements.

 

4.             Contractor, through the Operator, and its
subcontractors shall:

 

(a)     contract local contractors, as long as their services
are similar in quality and availability to those available on the international
market and the prices of their services, when subject to the same tax charges,
are no more than ten percent (10%) higher compared to the prices charged by
foreign contractors for identical services;

 

(b)     acquire materials, equipment, machinery and consumable
goods of national production, insofar as their quantity, quality and delivery
dates are similar to those of such materials, equipment, machinery and
consumable

 

18

 

goods available on the international market.
However, such obligation does not apply in those cases in which the local
prices for such goods are more than ten percent (10%) higher compared to the
prices for imported goods, before charging Customs Duties but after the
respective costs for transportation and insurance have been included.

 

5.             Contractor,
through the Operator, shall seek competitive bids for any work to be performed
pursuant to an Approved Work Plan and Budget if such work is budgeted to exceed
two hundred and fifty thousand U.S. dollars (U.S.$250,000). When reviewing such
bids, Contractor shall select out of the bids which are acceptable to
Contractor for technical and other operational reasons, the bid with the lowest
cost. This decision shall be subject to conformity with the Law, the provisions
of paragraph 4 above and, after the first Commercial Discovery, the approval of
the Operating Committee.

 

6.             Operator
shall entrust the management of Petroleum Operations in Angola to a technically
competent General Manager and Assistant General Manager. The names of such
General Manager and Assistant General Manager shall, upon appointment, be given
to Sonangol. The General Manager and, in his absence, the Assistant General
Manager, shall be entrusted with sufficient powers to carry out immediately and
comply with all lawful written directions given to them by Sonangol or the
Government or its or their representatives or any lawful regulations gazetted
or hereafter to be gazetted which are applicable to the Petroleum Operations.

 

7.             Except as is
appropriate for the economic and efficient processing of data and laboratory
studies thereon in specialized centres outside Angola, geological and
geophysical studies as well as any other studies related to the performance of
this Agreement, shall be preferentially made in Angola.

 

8.             In the case
of an emergency in the course of the Petroleum Operations requiring an
immediate action, Contractor, through the Operator, is authorized to take all
actions that it deems necessary for the protection of human life, the interests
of the Parties and the environment, and shall promptly inform Sonangol of all
actions so taken.

 

9.             Subject to
Articles 20 and 32, any obligations which are to be observed and performed by
Contractor shall, if Contractor comprises more than one entity, be joint and
several obligations.

 

19

 

10.                               Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 35,
the Operator shall have the right to staff the Petroleum Operations with those
whom it believes are necessary for efficient administration and operation
without the imposition of citizenship or residency requirements.

 

11.                               Sonangol shall provide reasonable
assistance to Contractor in obtaining visas, permits and other documents
required to enter Angola and residency and work licenses required in connection
with the performance of Petroleum Operations. Contractor shall notify Sonangol
reasonably in advance of the time necessary for receipt of such permits and
licenses and Sonangol shall take steps to arrange for all such permits and
licenses to be issued on a timely basis by the appropriate authorities.

 

Article 14

(Work obligations during the Exploration Period)

 

1.                                     During the Initial Exploration Phase
Contractor shall perform a seismic program covering 1,000 Km2 of 3D
“long-offset” seismic, with an offset that varies between eight (8) kilometers
and ten (10) kilometers. If Sonangol so agrees, part or all of such
obligation may be fulfilled through the acquisition of existing seismic.

 

2.                                     During the Initial Exploration Phase
Contractor shall drill, to geological horizons defined in the Approved Work
Plan and Budget, three (3) Exploration Wells in three (3) different
prospects, one of which (subject to paragraph 4) shall have a pre-salt
objective.

 

3.                                     In the event Contractor elects to extend
the Exploration Period into the Optional Exploration Phase, Contractor shall be
required to drill, to geological horizons defined in the Approved Work Plan and
Budget, two (2) Exploration Wells, one of which (subject to paragraph 4)
shall have a pre-salt objective.

 

4.                                     4. In the event Contractor exceeds the
minimum work obligations described in the preceding paragraphs during the
Initial Exploration Phase, then such excess shall be credited against the
minimum work obligations for the Optional Exploration Phase. In the event that,
prior to any Commercial Discovery, Contractor elects to drill more than one
Exploration Well with a pre-salt objective, such additional pre-salt
Exploration Well shall constitute one of the Exploration Wells which Contractor
is required to drill pursuant to paragraph 2 or 3 (as the case may be) and the
drilling of such additional

 

20

 

pre-salt
Exploration Well shall satisfy the obligation of Contractor to drill one
Exploration Well of any kind.

 

5.                                     Without prejudice to paragraph 4 of Article 6,
in the event Contractor fails to satisfy the minimum work obligations referred
to in this Article within the deadlines specified in Article 6,
Contractor shall be deemed, unless otherwise agreed by Sonangol, to have
voluntarily terminated activities and withdrawn from all of the Contract Area
not already converted into a Development Area(s).

 

6.                                     If Contractor withdraws from all of the
Contract Area before performing the seismic program undertaken by it under this
Article, Contractor shall be obligated to pay Sonangol an amount equal to
fifteen million U.S. Dollars (US$15,000,000) less fifteen thousand U.S. Dollars
(US$15,000,000) for each Km2 of the seismic program concluded before said
withdrawal.

 

7.                                     If Contractor withdraws from all of the
Contract Area before drilling the minimum number of Exploration Wells
undertaken by it under this Article, Contractor shall be obligated to pay
Sonangol an amount equal to thirty seven million five hundred thousand U.S.
Dollars (U.S.$37,500,000) if the pre-salt Exploration Well is not so drilled,
and an amount equal to seventeen million five hundred thousand U.S. Dollars
(U.S.$17,500,000) for each of the other two (2) Exploration Wells not so
drilled.

 

8.                                     Contractor shall be required to incur the
following minimum Exploration Expenditures:

 

(a)               Initial Exploration Phase – eighty seven million five
hundred thousand U.S. Dollars (U.S.$87,500.000);

 

(b)              Optional Exploration Phase – fifty five million U.S.
Dollars (U.S.$55,000,000).

 

9.                                     If Contractor fulfils the minimum work
obligations referred to in paragraphs 2, and 3 of this Article relating to
each phase of the Exploration Period, then Contractor shall be considered as
having fulfilled the minimum Exploration Expenditures set forth in the previous
paragraph.

 

10.                               Each Exploration Well referred to in this
Article shall test all productive horizons agreed to by Sonangol and
Contractor, unless diligent test efforts consistent with sound and normal oil
industry practices indicate that it is technically impracticable to reach and/or
test any such horizons.

 

21

 

11.                               During the drilling of Wells under this
Agreement, Contractor shall keep Sonangol informed of the progress of each
Well, its proposals for testing and the results of such tests, and if Sonangol
so requests, shall test any additional prospective zones within the agreed Well
depth provided that such tests shall be consistent with professional rules and
standards which are generally accepted in the international petroleum industry
and not interfere with the safety and efficiency of the Petroleum Operations
planned by Contractor. Such tests shall be at Contractor’s expense and shall be
credited towards fulfilling the mandatory work program.

 

12.                               If any obligatory Exploration Well is
abandoned due to technical difficulties and, at the time of such abandonment,
the Exploration Expenditures for such Well have equaled or exceeded thirty
seven million five hundred thousand U.S. dollars (U.S.$37,500,000) if such Well
is a Well with a pre-salt objective, or seventeen million five hundred thousand
U.S. dollars (U.S.$17,500,000) in the case of any other Well, for all purposes
of this Agreement Contractor shall be considered to have fulfilled the work
requirement in respect of one (1) Exploration Well and all costs of the
Exploration Well shall be considered part of the Exploration Expenditures set
forth in paragraphs 7 and 8 of this Article. If any obligatory Exploration Well
is abandoned due to technical difficulties, and if at the time of such
abandonment the Exploration Expenditures for such Well are less than thirty
seven million five hundred thousand U.S. dollars (U.S.$37,500,000) if such Well
is a Well with a pre-salt objective, or seventeen million five hundred thousand
U.S. dollars (U.S.$17,500,000) in the case of any other Well, then Contractor
shall have the option either to:

 

(a)              drill a substitute Well at the same or another
location in which case the Exploration Expenditures for both the original Well
and the substitute Well shall be credited against Contractor’s minimum
Exploration Expenditures set forth in paragraphs 7 and 8 of this Article; or

 

(b)             pay Sonangol an amount equal to the difference between
(i) thirty seven million five hundred thousand U.S. dollars
(U.S.$37,500,000) if such Well is a Well with a pre-salt objective, or
seventeen million five hundred thousand U.S. dollars (U.S.$17,500,000) in the
case of any other Well, and (ii) the amount of Exploration Expenditures
actually spent in connection with such Well.

 

13.                               In this case, for all purposes of the
Agreement, Contractor shall be considered to have fulfilled the work obligation
in respect of one (1) Exploration Well and the total amount of thirty
seven million five hundred thousand U.S. dollars (U.S.$37,500,000) if

 

22

 

such Well is a
Well with a pre-salt objective, or seventeen million five hundred thousand U.S.
dollars (U.S.$17,500,000) in the case of any other Well, shall be considered
part of the minimum Exploration Expenditures set forth in paragraphs 7 and 8 of
this Article.

 

Article 15

(Exploration Work Plans and Budgets)

 

1.                                     Within one (1) Month of the
Effective Date and thereafter at least three (3) Months prior to the
beginning of each Contract Year during the Exploration Period or at such other
times as may mutually be agreed to by Sonangol and Contractor, Contractor shall
prepare in reasonable detail an Exploration Work Plan and Budget for the
Contract Area setting forth the Exploration operations which Contractor
proposes to carry out during the first Contract Year and during the ensuing
Contract Year respectively.

 

2.                                     During the Exploration Period such Work
Plan and Budget shall cover and be in accordance with the minimum work
obligations of Contractor under Article 14.

 

3.                                     The Exploration Work Plan and Budget
shall be submitted to the Operating Committee for review, advice or approval as
the case may be, in accordance with Article 30, and carried out by
Contractor after approval by the Ministry of Petroleum under Article 58 of
the Petroleum Activities Law.

 

4.                                     The Operating Committee shall coordinate,
supervise and control the execution of the Approved Exploration Work Plans and
Budgets, as well as verify if the same is carried out within budget expenditure
limits, or any revisions which have been made thereto.

 

Article 16

(Commercial Discovery)

 

1.                                     Contractor shall inform Sonangol within
thirty (30) days of the end of the drilling and testing of an Exploration Well,
the results of the final tests of the Well and whether such a Well is
commercial or not. The date of this advice is the date of the declaration of
the Commercial Well, should such well exist.

 

23

 

2.                                     After the declaration of a Commercial
Well, Contractor may undertake the Appraisal of the discovery by drilling one
or more Appraisal Wells to determine whether such discovery can be classified
as a Commercial Discovery.

 

3.                                     Unless otherwise agreed by Sonangol, not
later than six (6) Months after the completion of the second Appraisal
Well, or twenty-four (24) Months after the declaration of the Commercial Well,
whichever is earlier, Contractor shall give written notice to Sonangol
indicating whether the discovery is considered commercial or not. If Contractor
declares it a Commercial Discovery, Contractor shall proceed to develop it
under the Petroleum Activities Law. The date of Commercial Discovery shall be
the date on which Contractor informs Sonangol in writing of the existence of
said Discovery.

 

4.                                     If the period allowable for declaration
of a Commercial Discovery extends beyond the Exploration Period, a provisional
Development Area shall be established for such period as necessary to complete
the Appraisal as per paragraphs 0 and 0 above. The provisional Development Area
shall be of the shape and size which encompasses the geological feature or
features which would constitute the potential Commercial Discovery. Such
provisional Development Area shall be agreed by Sonangol in writing.

 

5.                                     Any Commercial Well shall count towards
fulfilling the work and expenditure obligations provided for in Article 14,
but the Appraisal Well(s) that have been drilled following the discovery
of a Commercial Well shall not count towards such obligations.

 

6.                                     There shall be no more than one (1) Commercial
Well in each Development Area that counts towards such work obligations; and it
shall be the first Commercial Well in that Development Area.

 

7.                                     Contractor has the right to declare a
Commercial Discovery without first having drilled a Commercial Well or Wells.

 

Article 17

(General Development and Production Plan)

 

Within ninety (90) days of the date of a Commercial
Discovery, Contractor shall prepare and submit to Sonangol a draft General
Development and Production Plan, which shall be analyzed and discussed by the
Parties in order to be agreed and submitted by Sonangol to

 

24

 

the Ministry of Petroleum within three (3) Months
of the date of the Commercial Discovery or within any longer period which may
be granted by the Ministry of Petroleum.

 

Article 18

(Development and Production Work Programs and Budgets)

 

1.                                     From the date of approval of the plan
referred to in Article 17, and thenceforth by the fifteenth (15th) of August of each Year (or by any other date
which may be agreed) thereafter, Contractor shall prepare in accordance with
professional rules and standards generally accepted in the international
petroleum industry a draft annual Production Plan, a draft Exploration and Production
Work Plan and Budget (if applicable) and a draft Development and Production
Work Plan and Budget for the following Civil Year and may, from time to time,
propose to Sonangol that it submit amendments to the approved Work Plans and
Budgets to the consideration of the Ministry of Petroleum.

 

2.                                     The draft Development and Production Work
Plan and Budget and the draft Production Plan referred to in the previous
paragraph shall be prepared on the basis of the approved General Development
and Production Plan and any subsequent amendments to the same.

 

3.                                     The draft Production Plan and the draft
Development and Production Work Plan and Budget shall be approved in writing by
the Operating Committee and shall be submitted by Sonangol to the Ministry of
Petroleum for approval under the Petroleum Activities Law.

 

4.                                     Contractor is authorized and hereby
undertakes to execute, under the supervision and control of the Operating
Committee, and within the limits of the budgeted expenses, the approved
Development and Production Work Plans and Budgets, together with any revised
versions of the same.

 

Article 19

(Lifting Schedule)

 

1.                                     The Operating Committee shall approve a
Lifting Schedule, not later than ninety (90) days prior to January 1 and July 1
of each Civil Year following the commencement of Production under the approved
Production Plan, and furnish in writing to Sonangol and Contractor a forecast
setting out the total quantity of Petroleum that the

 

25

 

Operating Committee
estimates can be produced, saved, transported and lifted hereunder during each
of the next four (4) Quarters in accordance with sound practices generally
accepted in the international petroleum industry.

 

2.                                     Contractor shall endeavour to produce in
each Quarter the quantity of Petroleum forecast in the Production Plan.

 

3.                                     The Crude Oil shall be run to storage
tanks built, maintained and operated by Contractor offshore, and shall be
metered or otherwise measured as required to meet the purposes of this
Agreement and the Law.

 

Article 20

(Guarantees)

 

1.                                     The minimum Exploration work obligations
shall be secured by financial guarantees substantially in the form as set out
in Annex E.

 

2.                                     The financial guarantees referred to in
the previous paragraph shall be given by each member of Contractor (excluding
Sonangol P&P and Alper but not their assignees), in proportion to the
payment obligations assumed by such member under this Agreement and the
financing agreements executed between such members of Contractor, Sonangol
P&P and Alper and may only be reduced and drawn in such proportions and
otherwise in accordance with this Article 20. Such guarantees shall be
provided not later than thirty (30) days after the execution of this Agreement,
in respect of the minimum work obligations of the Initial Exploration Phase, or
thirty (30) days after the start of the Optional Exploration Phase of the
Exploration Period, in respect of the minimum work obligations of said Phase.

 

3.                                     The total amount of the financial guarantees
shall in each Phase be equal to thirty seven million five hundred thousand U.S.
dollars (U.S.$37,500,000) for each of the obligatory pre-salt Exploration Wells
set forth in Article 14, and equal to seventeen million five hundred
thousand U.S. dollars (U.S.$17,500,000) for each of the other obligatory
Exploration Wells set forth in 0.

 

4.                                     With respect to the Initial Exploration
Phase, the total amount of the financial guarantees shall be increased by
fifteen million U.S. dollars (U.S.$15,000,000) for the mandatory seismic
program provided for in Article 14.1.

 

26

 

5.                                     Subject to paragraph 7 of this Article,
in the Initial Exploration Phase the total amount of the financial guarantees
shall be reduced by the amount of fifteen million U.S. dollars
(U.S.$15,000,000) when the mandatory seismic program has been concluded.

 

6.                                     Subject to paragraph 7 of this Article,
the financial guarantees shall also be reduced by the amount of thirty seven
million five hundred thousand U.S. dollars (U.S. $37,500,000) when the drilling
of each of the obligatory pre-salt Exploration Wells for each Phase of the
Exploration Period is finished, and by the amount of seventeen million five
hundred thousand U.S. dollars (U.S. $17,500,000) when the drilling of each of
the other obligatory Exploration Wells for each Phase of the Exploration Period
is finished.

 

7.                                     If, during any Year of any of the Phases
of the Exploration Period, Contractor is deemed to have relinquished, as
provided in Article 14.5, all of the Contract Area not converted to a
Development Area(s), Contractor shall forfeit the full amount of the financial
guarantee, reduced as provided for in paragraphs 5 and 6 of this Article.

 

8.                                     Each of the entities comprising
Contractor shall also provide Sonangol, if so required by the latter, with a
corporate guarantee substantially in the form shown in Annex D hereof or such
other form as may be agreed between Sonangol and each of such entities, not
later than sixty (60) days after the date of execution of this Agreement.

 

9.                                     The obligations and liabilities under
this Article 20 of the entities constituting Contractor shall be several
and not joint.

 

Article 21

(Bonus and contributions)

 

1.                                     The signature bonus in respect of this
Agreement is four million US Dollars (US$4,000,000). Cobalt has paid such
signature bonus and Nazaki shall reimburse to Cobalt within thirty (30) days
after the date of signature of this Agreement the amount of one million five
hundred thousand US Dollars (US$1,500,000).

 

2.                                     The contributions for social projects and
academic scholarships referred to below must be paid to Sonangol by Contractor
(excluding Sonangol P&P and Alper but not their assignees), in proportion
to the payment obligations assumed by such member under this Agreement and the
financing agreements executed between such members of Contractor, Sonangol
P&P and Alper:

 

27

 

(a)              within thirty (30) days after the date of signature of
this Agreement:

 

(i)                         an amount of one million US dollars
(US$1,000,000); and

 

(ii)                      such additional amount, not exceeding
[   ] US dollars (US$[   ]), as Sonangol may have
notified to Contractor as being the total cost of five (5) academic
scholarships (each with a duration of no more than five (5) years) to be
awarded by Sonangol for the overseas education of Angolan nationals;

 

(b)             in respect of each Commercial Discovery within the
Contract Area:

 

(i)                         within thirty (30) days after the date of
declaration by Contractor of such Commercial Discovery in accordance with Article 16.3,
an amount of one million US dollars (US$1,000,000);

 

(ii)                      within thirty (30) days after the date on
which the Ministry of Petroleum gives final written approval of the General
Development and Production Plan in respect of such Commercial Discovery in
accordance with Article 17, an amount of five million US dollars
(US$5,000,000);

 

(c)              within thirty (30) days after the date on which the
first lifting by Contractor of Crude Oil from the Contract Area occurs, and
then each subsequent Contract Year, on the anniversary of such first lifting,
until the Contract Year in which production by Contractor of Crude Oil from the
Contract Area ceases, an amount of three million US dollars (US$3,000,000);

 

(d)             within thirty (30) days after the date on which the
first lifting by Contractor of Crude Oil from the Contract Area occurs, an
amount, not exceeding [   ] US dollars
(US$[   ]), as Sonangol may have notified to Contractor as being
the total cost of ten (10) academic scholarships (each with a duration of
no more than five (5) years) to be awarded by Sonangol for the overseas
education of Angolan nationals.

 

3.                                     All contributions for social projects
payable by Contractor pursuant to Article 21.2 shall be paid to such bank
account of and in the name of Sonangol as Sonangol may notify to the Operator
not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the date on which such payment is due
to be made.

 

28

 

4.                                     All social projects and scholarship
programs for the purposes of which any amounts paid by Contractor pursuant to Article 21.2
are used shall be administered by Sonangol in compliance with the requirements
of all applicable laws and regulations.

 

Article 22

(Conservation of Petroleum and prevention of loss)

 

1.                                     Contractor shall adopt all those measures
which are necessary and appropriate and consistent with the technology
generally in use in the international petroleum industry to prevent loss or
waste of Petroleum above or under the ground in any form during Exploration,
Development, Production, gathering and distributing, storage or Petroleum
transportation operations.

 

2.                                     Upon completion of the drilling of a
producing Development Well, Contractor shall inform Sonangol of the time when
the Well will be tested and shall subsequently inform Sonangol of the resulting
estimated production rate of the Well within fifteen (15) days after the
conclusion of such tests.

 

3.                                     Petroleum shall not be produced from multiple
independent oil productive zones simultaneously through one string of tubing,
except with the prior approval of Sonangol.

 

4.                                     Contractor shall record data regarding
the quantities of Crude Oil, Natural Gas and water produced monthly from each
Development Area, which shall be sent to Sonangol within thirty (30) days after
the end of the Month reported on.

 

5.                                     Daily or weekly statistics and reports
regarding the Production from the Contract Area shall be made available by
Contractor at convenient time for examination by authorized representatives of
Sonangol.

 

6.                                     Daily drilling records and graphic logs
of Wells shall show the quantity and type of cement and the quantity of any
other materials used in the Well for the purposes of protecting Crude Oil, Natural
Gas or fresh water bearing strata.

 

7.                                     Any substantial change of mechanical
equipment associated with the Well after its completion shall be subject to the
approval of Sonangol.

 

29

 

Article 23

(Records, reports and inspection)

 

1.                                     Contractor shall prepare and, at all
times while this Agreement is in force, maintain accurate and current records
of its activities and operations in the Contract Area and shall keep all
information of a technical, economic, accounting or any other nature, developed
for the conduct of Petroleum Operations. Such records shall be organized in
such a way as to allow for the prompt and complete ascertainment of costs and
expenditures.

 

2.                                     The records and information referred to
in the previous paragraph shall be kept at Operator’s office in Luanda.

 

3.                                     Sonangol, in exercising its activities
under the terms of this Agreement, shall have the right to free access, upon
prior notice to Contractor, to all data referred to in paragraph 1 above.
Contractor shall deliver to Sonangol, in accordance with applicable regulations
or as Sonangol may reasonably request, information and data concerning
activities and operations under this Agreement. In addition, Contractor shall
provide Sonangol with copies of any and all data related to the Contract Area,
including, but not limited to, geological and geophysical reports, logs and
Well surveys, information and interpretation of such data and other information
in Contractor’s possession.

 

4.                                     Contractor shall save and keep in the
best condition possible a representative portion of each sample of cores and
cuttings taken from Wells as well as samples of all fluids taken from
Exploration Wells, and deliver same to Sonangol or its representatives in the
manner directed by Sonangol.

 

5.                                     All samples acquired by Contractor for
its own purposes shall be considered available for inspection at any convenient
time by Sonangol or its representatives.

 

6.                                     Contractor shall keep the aforementioned
samples for a period of thirty-six (36) Months or, if before the end of such
period, Contractor withdraws from the Contract Area, then until the date of
withdrawal. Up to three (3) Months before the end of the aforementioned
period, Contractor shall request instructions from Sonangol as to the
destination for such samples. If Contractor does not receive instructions from
Sonangol by the end of such three (3) Month period then Contractor is
relieved of its responsibility to keep such samples.

 

30

 

7.                                     If it is necessary to export any rock
samples outside Angola, Contractor shall deliver samples equivalent in size and
quality to Sonangol before such exportation. Sonangol, if it so decides, may
relieve Contractor of said obligation.

 

8.                                     Originals of records and data can be
exported only with the permission of Sonangol. The original magnetic tapes and
any other data which must be processed or analyzed outside Angola may be
exported only if a comparable record and data is maintained in Angola. Such
exports shall be repatriated to Angola on the understanding that they belong to
Sonangol. Copies of the referred records and data may be exported at any time
and under the terms of the Law.

 

9.                                     Subject to any other provisions of this
Agreement, Contractor shall permit Sonangol’s duly authorized representatives
and employees to have full and free access to the Contract Area at all
convenient times with the right to observe the Petroleum Operations being
conducted and to inspect all assets, records and data kept by Contractor.
Sonangol’s representatives and employees, in exercising the aforementioned
rights, shall not interfere with Contractor’s Petroleum Operations. Contractor
shall grant to said Sonangol’s representatives and employees the same
facilities in the camp as those afforded to its own employees of similar
professional rank.

 

10.                               Without prejudice to Article 33.2,
Sonangol is responsible for any claims of their representatives or employees
resulting from the exercise of the rights granted under this Article. Sonangol
is also responsible and shall indemnify Contractor against all damages and
claims resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any of
Sonangol’s representatives or employees while performing their activities in
the Contract Area, in Contractor’s offices or in other Contractor’s facilities
directly related to the Petroleum Operations.

 

Article 24

(Contractor’s obligation to purchase Sonangol’s Petroleum)

 

1.                                     Sonangol shall have the right to require
Contractor to purchase any part of Sonangol’s share of production under normal
commercial terms and conditions in the international petroleum industry and at
the Market Price in force at the time the Crude Oil is lifted as established in
the Petroleum Activities Tax Law.

 

31

 

2.                                     The right referred to in the preceding
paragraph shall be exercised in accordance with the following rules:

 

(a)              no later than six (6) Months prior to the start
of a Quarter, Sonangol shall give written notice to Contractor that it requires
Contractor to purchase a specified quantity of Crude Oil to be lifted
progressively over a period of two (2) consecutive Quarters;

 

(b)             Contractor’s obligation to purchase Crude Oil from
Sonangol will continue mutatis mutandis from Quarter to Quarter after the
initial two (2) consecutive Quarters until and unless Sonangol gives
Contractor written notice of termination which, subject to the above mentioned
minimum period, shall take effect six (6) Months after the end of the
Quarter in which such written notice was given.

 

Article 25

(Other rights and obligations related to Crude Oil disposal)

 

1.                                     Sonangol shall have the right upon six (6) Months’
prior written notice to buy from Contractor Crude Oil from the Contract Area
equivalent in value to the Petroleum Income Tax due by Contractor to the
Ministry of Finance. The referred purchase of Crude Oil by Sonangol shall be at
the Market Price applicable to such Crude Oil. Sonangol shall provide
Contractor with not less than three (3) Months advance written notice of
its intention to cease to exercise its right under this paragraph.

 

2.                                     Payment by Sonangol to Contractor for
each purchase of Crude Oil pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 1 above
shall be made not later than two (2) working days before the due date of
payment by Contractor of the relevant amount of Petroleum Income Tax due and
payable by Contractor to the Ministry of Finance. Any unpaid amount, plus
interest as specified in Annex C to this Agreement, shall be paid in kind to
Contractor by Sonangol out of its next Crude Oil entitlement, valued at the
Market Price applicable to such Crude Oil.

 

Article 26

(Unitization and joint Development)

 

1.                                     The rules on unitization and joint
development are contained in Article 64 of the Petroleum Activities Law.

 

32

 

2.                                     Any joint Development and Production
carried out under this Article shall not prejudice the provisions of Article 28
and Article 30.2(e) and Article 30.11(b).

 

3.                                     In the event that a unitization process
affects the whole or part of an obligation which Contractor must fulfill within
a certain time period under the Agreement, such time period shall be extended
by the time elapsed between Sonangol’s written notice under paragraphs 1 and 2
above and the date of mutual agreement on the plan of the related joint
Development. This extension shall not be more than twelve (12) Months, or such
longer period as agreed by Sonangol.

 

Article 27

(Transfer and abandonment of assets)

 

1.                                     Within sixty (60) days of termination of
the Agreement or the date of abandonment of any part of the Contract Area,
Contractor must hand over to Sonangol, in a good state of repair and operation,
and in accordance with a plan approved by Sonangol, all of the infrastructures,
equipment and all Wells which, within the area to which the expiry,
cancellation or relinquishment refers, are in production or are capable of
producing, or are being used, or may be used, in injection, together with all
casing, piping, surface or sub-surface equipment and facilities acquired by
Contractor for the conduct of Petroleum Operations, except those as are being
used for Petroleum Operations elsewhere in the Contract Area.

 

2.                                     If Sonangol so requires, Contractor shall
proceed to correctly abandon the Well or Wells in accordance with Articles 75.4
and 75.5 of the Petroleum Activities Law.

 

3.                                     The requirement provided for in the
previous paragraph shall be made by Sonangol no later than one hundred and
eighty (180) days before the termination of the Agreement or the estimated date
of abandonment of any part of the Contract Area.

 

4.                                     If the request referred to in paragraph 2
above is made, Sonangol shall make the required funds available to Contractor
from the amounts paid to Sonangol pursuant to Article 3(e) of Annex
C. In the event the amounts paid by Contractor are insufficient to cover the
abandonment costs, Sonangol and Contractor shall agree on the method of
covering the additional costs.

 

5.                                     After having carried out the abandonment
of the Wells and related assets, or in the case of Sonangol requesting such
abandonment and not placing at the disposal of Contractor the funds referred to
in paragraph 4, or after Contractor carries out the

 

33

 

handing over of
the equipment and Wells to Sonangol under the terms of paragraph 1, Contractor
will have no further liability in relation to the same, except in cases of
gross negligence or willful misconduct and, without prejudice to the provisions
of the Agreement still in force after the termination of the Agreement,
Sonangol shall indemnify and defend Contractor in case of any claims related to
such Wells and assets.

 

Article 28

(Natural Gas)

 

1.                                     Contractor shall have the right to use in
the Petroleum Operations, Associated Natural Gas produced from the Development
Areas.

 

2.                                     Associated Natural Gas surplus to the
requirements defined in the preceding paragraph shall be made available free to
Sonangol in Angola, wherever Sonangol so determines. If Sonangol so elects and
if possible, Sonangol shall give notice in writing to Contractor prior to the
final approval of the General Development and Production Plan in connection
with such Associated Natural Gas. Pipeline costs and the costs of
transportation of such Associated Natural Gas shall be considered costs of
Petroleum Operations for the purposes of the Petroleum Activities Tax Law.

 

3.                                     If Non-Associated Natural Gas is
discovered within the Contract Area. Sonangol will have the exclusive right to
appraise, develop and produce such Non-Associated Natural Gas for its own
account and risk under conditions to be mutually agreed with Contractor. If
Sonangol so determines and if agreed to by Contractor within a time period
specified by Sonangol, the discovery of Non-Associated Natural Gas shall be
developed jointly by Sonangol or one of its Affiliates and Contractor.

 

Article 29

(Operations for Sonangol’s account - sole risk)

 

1.                                     Operations which may be the object of a
sole risk notice from Sonangol under this Article shall be those
involving:

 

(a)              penetration and testing geological horizons deeper
than those proposed by Contractor to the Operating Committee in any Exploration
Well being drilled which has not encountered Petroleum, provided the Operator
has not commenced the approved operations to complete or abandon such Well;

 

34

 

(b)             penetration and testing geological horizons deeper
than those proposed by Contractor to the Operating Committee in any Exploration
Well being drilled which has encountered Petroleum, provided that in respect to
such Well the Operating Committee has agreed that Sonangol may undertake the
sole risk operations, and the Operator has not commenced the approved operations
to complete or abandon such Well;

 

(c)              the drilling of an Exploration Well other than an
Appraisal Well, provided that not more than two (2) such Wells may be
drilled in any Year;

 

(d)             the drilling of an Appraisal Well which is a direct
result from a successful Exploration Well, whether or not such Exploration Well
was drilled as part of a sole risk operation;

 

(e)              the Development of any discovery which is a direct
result from a successful Exploration Well and/or Appraisal Well sole risk
operation which Contractor has not elected to undertake under paragraph 3 of
this Article;

 

(f)                the Development of a Petroleum deposit discovered by a
successful Exploration Well and/or Appraisal Well carried out by Contractor as
part of a work plan approved by the Operating Committee, if thirty-six (36)
Months have elapsed since such successful Well was completed and Contractor has
not commenced the Development of such deposit.

 

2.                                     Except as to those described under
paragraphs 1(a) and 1(b), none of the operations described in paragraph 1
of this Article may be the object of a sole risk notice from Sonangol
until after the operation has been proposed in complete form to the Operating
Committee and has been rejected by the Operating Committee. To be “in complete
form” as mentioned above, the proposal for conducting any of the above
mentioned operations presented by Sonangol shall contain appropriate
information such as location, depth, target geological objective, timing of
operation, and where appropriate, details concerning any Development plan, as
well as other relevant data.

 

3.                                     If the conditions referred to in
paragraph 2 have been met, Sonangol may, as to any operation described in
paragraph 1, give a written sole risk notice to Contractor and the latter shall
have the following periods of time, from the date of receipt of such sole risk
notice within which to notify Sonangol whether or not it elects to undertake
such proposed operation by including it as a part of the Petroleum Operations:

 

35

 

(a)              as to any operations described in paragraphs 1(a) and
1(b), seven (7) days or until commencement of the deepening operations,
whichever occurs last;

 

(b)             as to any operations described in paragraphs 1(c) and
1(d), three (3) Months;

 

(c)              as to any operations described in paragraphs 1(e) and
1(f), six (6) Months.

 

4.                                     If Contractor elects to include as part
of the Petroleum Operations the operation described in the sole risk notice
within the appropriate periods described in paragraph 3 above, such operation
shall be carried out by the Operator within the framework of the Petroleum
Operations under this Agreement, as a part of the current Work Plan and Budget
which shall be considered as revised accordingly.

 

5.                                     If Contractor elects not to undertake the
operation described in the sole risk notice, subject to the provisions of
paragraph 6 below, the operation for the account of Sonangol shall be carried
out promptly and diligently by Contractor at Sonangol’s sole risk and expense, provided
that such operation may only be carried out if it does not conflict or cause
hindrance to Contractor’s obligations or any operation, or delay existing work
plans, including any Approved Work Plan and Budget. With respect to operations
referred to in paragraphs 1(c) and 1(d) such operations shall begin
as soon as a suitable rig is available in Angola. Sonangol and Contractor shall
agree on a method whereby Sonangol shall provide all necessary funds to
Operator to undertake and pay for the operations carried out at Sonangol’s sole
risk and expense.

 

6.                                     Sonangol shall elect to have the
operations carried out at Sonangol’s sole risk and expense referred to in
paragraphs 1(e) and 1(f) carried out either by itself, by Contractor
for a mutually agreed fee or by any third party entity contracted to that
effect by Sonangol, provided that such operations may be carried out only if
they will not conflict with or cause hindrance to Contractor’s obligations or
any Petroleum Operations, or delay existing work plans, including the Approved
Work Plan and Budget. Before entering into any agreement with a third party for
the aforementioned purpose, Sonangol shall notify Contractor in writing of such
proposed agreement. Contractor shall have forty-five (45) days after the
receipt of the aforementioned notification to decide if it exercises its right
of first refusal with respect to the proposed agreement and to perform the sole
risk operations under the same terms and conditions proposed by the third
party.

 

36

 

7.                                     If Sonangol wishes to use in the sole
risk operations assets which are used in the Petroleum Operations, it shall
give written notice to the Operating Committee stating what assets it wishes to
use, provided that the utilization of such assets may not prejudice the
Approved Work Plans and Budgets.

 

8.                                     If, in accordance with the provisions of
paragraph 4, Contractor decides to undertake any works as foreseen in paragraph
1(d), it shall pay Sonangol in cash and within thirty (30) days of the date in
which it exercises such right, an amount equal to all of the costs incurred by
Sonangol in the relevant sole risk operations conducted in accordance with
paragraphs 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c) which directly led to the works foreseen
in paragraph 1(d).

 

9.                                     In addition to the amount referred to in
the preceding paragraph, Sonangol will also be entitled to receive from
Contractor an additional payment equal to two hundred percent (200%) of the
costs referred to in paragraph 8. Such additional payment shall be made in cash
and within ninety (90) days of the date on which Contractor exercises its right
referred to in the preceding paragraph.

 

10.                               If, in accordance with the provisions of
paragraph 4, Contractor decides to undertake any works foreseen in paragraph
1(e), it shall pay Sonangol in cash, within thirty (30) days of the date in
which it exercises such right, an amount equivalent to the value of total costs
incurred by Sonangol in the sole risk operations which directly led to the
works foreseen in paragraph 1(e), less any payment made in accordance with
paragraph 8 above.

 

11.                               In addition to the amount referred to in
the preceding paragraph, Sonangol will also be entitled to receive twenty five
percent (25%) of Contractor’s share of Petroleum produced from this developed
deposit until the value thereof as defined in paragraph 13 of this Article equals
one thousand percent (1000%) of the costs of the operations referred to in
paragraph 10.

 

12.                               If the operations described in paragraphs
1(e) and 1(f) are conducted at Sonangol’s sole risk and expense,
Sonangol shall receive one hundred percent (100%) of the Petroleum produced
from the deposit developed under such terms.

 

13.                               The Petroleum received by Sonangol under
paragraph 11 shall be valued at the Market Price calculated under the Petroleum
Activities Tax Law.

 

37

 

Article 30

(Operating Committee)

 

1.                                     The Operating Committee is the body
through which the Parties coordinate and supervise the Petroleum Operations and
shall be established within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date.

 

2.                                     The Operating Committee has, among
others, the following functions:

 

(a)              to establish policies for the Petroleum Operations and
to define, for this purpose, procedures and guidelines as it may deem
necessary;

 

(b)             to review and, except as provided in paragraph 12,
approve all Contractor’s proposals on Work Plans and Budgets (including the
location of Wells and facilities), the General Development and Production Plan,
Production Plans and Lifting Schedules;

 

(c)              to verify and supervise the accounting of costs,
expenses and expenditures and the conformity of the operating and accounting
records with the rules established in this Agreement, in Annex C hereof, in
the Petroleum Activities Tax Law, and in other applicable legislation;

 

(d)             to establish technical and other committees whenever
it deems necessary;

 

(e)              in general, to review and, except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, to decide upon all matters which are relevant to
the execution of this Agreement, it being understood, however, that in all
events the right to declare a Commercial Discovery is reserved exclusively to
Contractor.

 

3.                                     The Operating Committee shall obey the
clauses of this Agreement and it cannot decide on matters that by Law or this
Agreement are the exclusive responsibility of the National Concessionaire or
Contractor.

 

4.                                     The Operating Committee shall be composed
of four (4) members, two (2) of whom shall be appointed by Sonangol.
The other two (2) members shall be appointed by Contractor. The Operating
Committee meetings cannot take place unless at least three (3) of its
members are present.

 

5.                                     The Operating Committee shall be headed
by a Chairman who shall be appointed by Sonangol from among its representatives
and who shall be responsible for the following functions:

 

38

 

(a)               to
coordinate and orient all the Operating Committee’s activities;

 

(b)              to chair the
meetings and to notify the Parties of the timing and location of such meetings,
it being understood that the Operating Committee shall meet whenever requested
by any Party;

 

(c)               to establish
the agenda of the meetings, which shall include all matters which the Parties
have asked to be discussed;

 

(d)              to convey to
each Party all decisions of the Operating Committee, within five (5) working
days after the meetings;

 

(e)               to request
from Operator any information and to make recommendations that have been
requested by any member of the Operating Committee, as well as to request from
Contractor any advice and studies whose execution has been approved by the
Operating Committee;

 

(f)                 to request
from technical and other committees any information, recommendations and
studies that he has been asked to obtain by any member of the Operating
Committee;

 

(g)              to convey to
the Parties all information and data provided to him by the Operator for this
effect.

 

6.                                       In the case
of an impediment to the Chairman of the Operating Committee, the work of any
meeting will be chaired by one of the other members appointed by him for the
effect.

 

7.                                       At the
request of any of the Parties, the Operating Committee shall prepare and
approve, according to paragraph 11(c) of this Article, its internal
regulations, which shall comply with the rules established in this
Agreement.

 

8.                                       At the
Operating Committee meetings decisions shall only be made on matters included
on the respective agenda, unless, with all members of the Operating Committee
present, they agree to make decisions on any matter not so included on the
agenda.

 

9.                                       Each member
of the Operating Committee shall have one (1) vote and the Chairman shall
in addition have a tie breaking vote.

 

39

 

10.                                 Except as
provided for in paragraph 11, the decisions of the Operating Committee are
taken by simple majority of the votes present or represented, it being
understood that any member may be represented by written and duly signed proxy
held by another member.

 

11.                                 Unanimous
approval of the Operating Committee shall be required for:

 

(a)               approval of,
and any revision to proposed Exploration Work Plans and Budgets prepared after
the first Commercial Discovery;

 

(b)              approval of,
and any revision to the proposed General Development and Production Plan, the
Production Plan, Lifting Schedule and Development and Production Work Plans and
Budgets;

 

(c)               establishment
of rules of procedure for the Operating Committee;

 

(d)              establishment
of a management policy for the carrying out of responsibilities outlined in
paragraph 2 of this Article, namely the procedures and guidelines as per
paragraph 2(a) above.

 

12.                                 Prior to the
time of declaration of the first Commercial Discovery, the Operating Committee
shall review and give such advice as it deems appropriate with respect to the
matters referred to in paragraph 2(e) of
this Article and with respect to Contractor’s proposals on Exploration
Work Plans and Budgets (including the location of Wells and facilities).
Following such review, Contractor shall make such revision of the Exploration
Work Plans and Budgets as Contractor deems appropriate and shall transmit same
Work Plans and Budgets to Sonangol, so that they may be submitted to approval
of the Ministry of Petroleum under the Petroleum Activities law.

 

13.                                 The General
Development and Production Plan, the Development and Production Work Plans and
Budget, together with the Production Plans approved by the Operating Committee,
shall be sent by the same to Sonangol, for submission to the Ministry of
Petroleum for approval under the Petroleum Activities Law.

 

14.                                 Minutes
shall be made of every meeting of the Operating Committee and they shall be
written in the appropriate record book and signed by all members.

 

15.                                 The draft of
the minutes shall be prepared, if possible, within two (2) working days of
the meeting being held and copies of it shall be sent to the Parties within the
following five (5) working days, and their approval shall be deemed
granted if no 

 

40

 

objection is raised within ten (10) working days
of the date of receipt of the draft minutes.

 

Article 31

(Ownership of assets)

 

1.                                       Physical
assets purchased by Contractor for the implementation of the Work Plans and
Budgets become the property of Sonangol when purchased in Angola or, if
purchased abroad, when landed in Angola. Such physical assets should be used in
Petroleum Operations, provided, however, Contractor is not obligated to make
any payments for the use of such physical assets during the term of this
Agreement. This provision shall not apply to equipment leased from and
belonging to third parties or any entity comprising Contractor.

 

2.                                       During the
term of this Agreement, Contractor shall be entitled to full use in the
Contract Area, as well as in any other area approved by Sonangol, of all fixed
and movable assets acquired for use in the Petroleum Operations without charge
to Contractor. Any of Sonangol’s assets which Contractor agrees have become
surplus to Contractor’s then current and/or future needs in the Contract Area
may be removed and used by Sonangol outside the Contract Area, without any
effect on the tax treatment available to Contractor. Any of Sonangol’s assets
other than those considered by Contractor to be superfluous shall not be
disposed of by Sonangol except with agreement of Contractor so long as this
Agreement is in force.

 

Article 32

(Property and
confidentiality of data)

 

1.                                       All
information of a technical nature developed through the conduct of the
Petroleum Operations shall be the property of Sonangol. Notwithstanding the
above, and without prejudice to the provisions of the following paragraphs,
Contractor shall have the right to use and copy, free of charge, such
information for internal purposes.

 

2.                                       Unless
otherwise agreed by Sonangol and Contractor, while this Agreement remains in
force, all technical, economic, accounting or any other information, including,
without limitation, reports, maps, logs, records and other data developed
through the conduct of Petroleum Operations, shall be held strictly
confidential and shall not be disclosed by any Party without the prior written
consent of the other Party hereto;

 

41

 

provided, however, that either Party may, without such
approval, disclose the aforementioned data:

 

(a)               to any
Affiliate or potential assignee of such Party upon such Affiliate or potential
assignee giving a similar undertaking of confidentiality;

 

(b)              in
connection with the arranging of financing or of a corporate re-organization
upon obtaining a similar undertaking of confidentiality;

 

(c)               to the
extent required by any applicable taw, regulation or rule (including,
without limitation, any regulation or rule of any regulatory agency,
securities commission or securities exchange on which the securities of such
Party or of any such Party’s Affiliates are listed);

 

(d)              to
employees, consultants, contractors or other third parties as necessary in
connection with Petroleum Operations upon obtaining a similar undertaking of
confidentiality.

 

3.                                       The
obligation of confidentiality of the information referred to in paragraph 2
above shall continue for ten (10) Years after the termination of the
Agreement or such other period as agreed to in writing between the Parties.

 

4.                                       In the event
that any entity constituting Contractor ceases to hold an interest under this
Agreement, such entity will continue to be bound by the provisions of this
Article.

 

5.                                       To obtain
offers for new Petroleum Exploration and Production agreements, Sonangol may,
upon obtaining the prior written agreement of Contractor, disclose to third
parties geophysical and geological data and information, and other technical
data (the age of which is not less than one (1) Year) or Contractor’s
reports and interpretations (the age of which is not less than five (5) Years)
with respect to that part or parts of the Contract Area adjacent to the area of
such new offers.

 

6.                                       The
confidentiality obligation contained in this Article shall not apply to
any information that has entered the public domain by any means that is both
lawful and does not involve a breach of this Article.

 

42

 

Article 33

(Responsibility for
losses and damages)

 

1.                                       Contractor,
in its capacity as the entity responsible for the execution of the Petroleum
Operations within the Contract Area, shall be liable to third parties to the
extent provided under the Law for any losses and damage it may cause to them in
conducting the Petroleum Operations and shall indemnify and defend Sonangol
with respect thereto, provided that Sonangol has given timely notice of the
claims and opportunity to defend.

 

2.                                       Contractor
is also liable, under the terms of the Law, for losses and damage which, in
conducting the Petroleum Operations, it may cause to the State and, in case of
Contractor’s gross negligence or willful misconduct or Serious Fault, to Sonangol.

 

3.                                       The
provisions of the preceding paragraphs 1 and 2 do not apply to losses and
damage caused during Petroleum Operations for account and risk of Sonangol, for
which Sonangol shall indemnify and defend Contractor, and in relation to which
Contractor shall only be liable for such losses and damage caused by its gross
negligence or willful misconduct or Serious Fault.

 

4.                                       Subject to Article
20 if Contractor comprises more than one (1) entity, the liability of such
entities hereunder is joint and several.

 

Article 34

(Petroleum Operations
risk management)

 

1.                                       Contractor
shall comply with the provisions of the Petroleum Activities Insurance Decree,
the respective regulations contained therein and the relevant Angolan
legislation, in respect of management of the risks of Petroleum Operations.

 

2.                                       Management
of the risks to which persons, assets and income from Petroleum Operations are
exposed shall include all the activities referred to in the Petroleum
Activities Insurance Decree, and other activities which Sonangol and Contractor
may agree to include to ensure an adequate financial protection.

 

3.                                       In relation
to the risks relating to Petroleum Operations, Contractor shall take out and
maintain insurance contracts in accordance with the specifications and
conditions which may be approved by Sonangol.

 

43

 

4.                                       Contractor
shall carry out, in cooperation with Sonangol, all the risk management
activities provided for in the Petroleum Activities Insurance Decree, in
accordance with the instructions, rules and procedures approved by
Sonangol.

 

Article 35

(Recruitment,
integration and training of Angolan personnel)

 

1.                                       Contractor
shall comply with the Angolan Training Decree and ancillary regulations, as
well as applicable legislation regarding the recruitment, integration and
training of Angolan personnel.

 

2.                                       In planned,
systematic and various ways and in accordance with the provisions of this
Article, Contractor shall train all its Angolan personnel directly or indirectly
involved in the Petroleum Operations for the purpose of improving their
knowledge and professional qualification in order that the Angolan personnel
gradually reach the level of knowledge and professional qualification held by
Contractor’s foreign workers.

 

3.                                       Such
training shall also include the transfer of the knowledge of petroleum
technology and the necessary management experience so as to enable the Angolan
personnel to use the most advanced and appropriate technology in use in the
Petroleum Operations, including proprietary and patented technology, “know how”
and other confidential technology, to the extent permitted by applicable laws
and agreements, subject to appropriate confidentiality agreements.

 

4.                                       Besides
other duties provided for in the Law, the recruitment, integration and training
of Contractor’s Angolan personnel shall be included in three (3) Year
plans. In this respect, Contractor undertakes, notably, to:

 

(a)               prepare a
draft of the initial plan and submit it to Sonangol within four (4) Months
of the Effective Date;

 

(b)              prepare a
proposal for implementation of the plan and submit it to Sonangol within one (1) Month
of the approval of such plan by the Ministry of Petroleum;

 

(c)               implement
the approved plan in accordance with the directives of the Ministry of
Petroleum and Sonangol, Contractor being able, in this regard and with the
approval of Sonangol, to contract outside specialists not 

 

44

 

associated
with Contractor to proceed with the implementation of specific aspects of the
subject plan.

 

5.                                       Contractor
agrees to require in its contracts with subcontractors who work for Contractor
for a period of more than one (1) Year, compliance with requirements for
the training of work crews, to which requirements such subcontractors are
subject by operation of current law. Contractor further agrees to monitor
compliance with the aforementioned obligations.

 

6.                                       Contractor
shall be responsible for the training costs of Angolan personnel it employs,
such costs being deductible in calculating the taxable income of Contractor.
Costs incurred by Contractor for training programs for Sonangol personnel will
be borne in a manner to be agreed upon by Sonangol and Contractor.

 

Article 36

(Double taxation and
change of circumstances)

 

1.                                       In order to
avoid the international double taxation of Contractor’s income, Sonangol shall
favourably consider any amendments or revisions to this Agreement that
Contractor may propose as long as those amendments or revisions do not impact
on Sonangol or Angola’s economic benefits and other benefits resulting from the
Agreement.

 

2.                                       Without
prejudice to the other rights and obligations of the Parties under this
Agreement, if any change in the provisions of any Law, decree or regulation in
force in the Republic of Angola occurs subsequent to the signing of this
Agreement which adversely affects the obligations, rights and benefits
hereunder, then the Parties shall agree on such amendments to this Agreement as
are necessary to restore the rights, obligations and forecasted benefits that
would have accrued to the Parties if such change in Law, decree or regulation
had not occurred.

 

Article 37

(Assignment)

 

1.                                       In
accordance with the Law, each of the entities constituting Contractor may
assign part or all of its rights, privileges, duties and obligations under this
Agreement to an Affiliate or, upon obtaining prior authorization from the
Ministry of Petroleum, to a non-Affiliate.

 

45

 

2.                                       Any third
party assignees shall become holders of the rights and obligations deriving
from this Agreement and the Law.

 

3.                                       In the case
of assignment to an Affiliate of the assignor, the latter and the assignee
shall remain jointly and severally liable for strict compliance with the
obligations of Contractor set forth in this Agreement and relevant legislation.

 

4.                                       The legal
documents required to effect any assignment in accordance with the provisions
of this Article must indicate the participating interest which the third
party assignee will have in the Agreement and shall be submitted for the prior
approval of Sonangol.

 

5.                                       In any of
the cases foreseen in this Article, the obligations of the assignor which
should have been fulfilled under the terms of this Agreement and the applicable
legislation at the date the request for the assignment is made, must have been
fully complied with.

 

6.                                       Sonangol has
the right of first refusal to acquire the participating interest that any
member of Contractor intends to assign to a non-Affiliate, which right should
be exercised pursuant to the following procedures:

 

(a)               the
assigning company shall notify Sonangol of the price and other essential terms
and conditions of the proposed assignment and the identity of the prospective
assignee;

 

(b)              within
thirty (30) days after receipt of the notification referred to in the preceding
subparagraph, Sonangol shall notify the assigning company whether Sonangol
elects to exercise the right of first refusal;

 

(c)               if Sonangol
does not exercise the right of first refusal by failing to give the
notification referred to in the preceding subparagraph, then Sonangol shall be
deemed to have waived the right of first refusal in respect of such assignment;

 

(d)              if Sonangol
exercises the right of first refusal by giving the notification referred to in
paragraph 6(b) of this Article, then Sonangol and the assigning company shall
execute the assignment under the terms and conditions contained in the
notification referred to in paragraph 6(a) of this Article.

 

46

 

7.                                       In the event
of Sonangol not exercising the right of first refusal referred to in the
preceding paragraph, such right shall pass to the associates of Sonangol which
enjoy the status of national company as provided for in Article 10.3 of the
Petroleum Activities Law, and shall be exercised, duly adapted, under the terms
of the procedures set forth in the sub-paragraphs of the preceding paragraph.

 

8.                                       Except as
otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, upon completion of an
assignment made by one of the entities constituting Contractor to a
non-Affiliate, such assignor shall have no further rights or obligations with
respect to the part of the participating interest so assigned.

 

Article 38

(Termination of the
Agreement)

 

1.                                       Subject to
the provisions of the general law and of any contractual clause, Sonangol may
terminate this Agreement if Contractor:

 

(a)               interrupts
Production for a period of more than ninety (90) days with no cause or
justification acceptable under normal international petroleum industry
practice;

 

(b)              continuously
refuses with no justification to comply with the Law;

 

(c)               intentionally
submits false information to the Government or to Sonangol;

 

(d)              discloses
confidential information related to the Petroleum Operations without having
previously obtained the necessary authorization thereto if such disclosure
causes prejudice to Sonangol or the State;

 

(e)               assigns any
part of its interests hereunder in breach of the rules provided for in Article
37;

 

(f)                 is declared
bankrupt by a court of competent jurisdiction;

 

(g)              does not
comply with any final decision resulting from an arbitration process conducted
under the terms of the Agreement, after all adequate appeals are exhausted;

 

(h)              does not
fulfill a substantial part of its duties and obligations resulting from the
Law, the Concession Decree-Law and from this Agreement;

 

47

 

(i)                  intentionally
extracts or produces any mineral which is not covered by the object of this
Agreement, unless such extraction or production is expressly authorized or
unavoidable as a result of operations carried out in accordance with accepted
international petroleum industry practice.

 

2.                                       Sonangol may
also terminate the Agreement if the majority of the share capital of any entity
constituting Contractor is transferred to a non-Affiliate third party without
having obtained prior authorization from Sonangol.

 

3.                                       If Sonangol
considers that one of the aforesaid causes exists to terminate this Agreement,
it shall notify Contractor in writing in order for it, within a period of
ninety (90) days, to remedy such cause. The said notification shall be
delivered by the official method foreseen in the Law, and by recorded delivery
which shall be signed by the entity to which it is addressed. If, for any
reason, this procedure is impossible, due to a change of address which has not
been notified pursuant to this Agreement, publication of the notice in one of
the most read daily newspapers in Luanda shall be considered to be as valid as
if delivered. If, after the end of the ninety (90) day notice period such cause
has not been remedied or removed, or if agreement has not been reached on a
plan to remedy or remove the cause, this Agreement may be terminated in
accordance with the provisions mentioned above.

 

4.                                       The
termination of the Agreement envisaged in this Article shall occur without
prejudice to any rights which may have accrued to the Party which has invoked
it in relation to the other Party, in accordance with this Agreement, the
Concession Decree-Law or the Law.

 

5.                                       If any of
the entities constituting Contractor, but not all of them, gives Sonangol due
cause to terminate this Agreement pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 1 or 2
above, then such termination shall take place only with respect to such entity
or entities and the rights and obligations that such entity or entities hold
under this Agreement, except as provided in the preceding paragraph, shall revert
freely to Sonangol if the other members of the Contractor do not acquire the
participating interest of the entity to whom Sonangol has terminate this
Agreement pursuant this Article.

 

48

 

Article 39

(Confidentiality of the Agreement)

 

1.                                       Sonangol and
Contractor agree to maintain the confidentiality of this Agreement; provided,
however, either Party may, without the approval of the other Party, disclose
this Agreement:

 

(a)               to any
Affiliate or potential assignee of such Party upon such Affiliate or potential
assignee giving a similar undertaking of confidentiality;

 

(b)              in
connection with the arranging of financing or of a corporate reorganization
upon obtaining a similar undertaking of confidentiality;

 

(c)               to the
extent required by any applicable Law, Decree or regulation (including, without
limitation, any requirement or rule of any regulatory agency, securities
commission or securities exchange on which the securities of such Party may be
listed);

 

(d)              to
employees, contractors, consultants and other third parties as necessary in
connection with the execution of Petroleum Operations upon obtaining a similar
undertaking of confidentiality.

 

Article 40

(Dispute Resolution)

 

1.                                       Any
disputes, differences or claims arising out of this Agreement or relating
thereto, or relating to the interpretation, breach, termination or invalidation
of the same, shall be resolved by agreement of the Parties on the basis of
principles of good faith and equity or fair balance of Parties’ interests.

 

2.                                       If the
disputes, differences or claims referred to in the preceding paragraph cannot
be resolved amicably, they shall be finally and exclusively settled by
arbitration, in accordance with the UNCITRAL Rules of Arbitration of 1976
as existing on the Effective Date. The number of arbitrators shall be three
(3). One (1) arbitrator shall be appointed by Sonangol, one (1) by
Contractor (acting jointly) and the third arbitrator, who shall be Chairman of
the Arbitration Tribunal, shall be jointly appointed by Sonangol and
Contractor... If an arbitrator is not appointed within thirty (30) days of the
notice from Sonangol or the Contractor is sent to the other Party requesting
that the appointment be made, then such arbitrator shall be appointed by the
President of the International Chamber of Commerce of Paris.

 

49

 

3.                                       The
arbitration tribunal shall decide according to Angolan substantive law.

 

4.                                       The
arbitration tribunal shall be seated in Luanda and shall apply Angolan law and
the language of the arbitration shall be Portuguese. The tribunal will make all
best efforts to render a final award within a year of its appointment, although
a failure to do so will not invalidate any award rendered thereafter.

 

5.                                       The Parties
agree that this arbitration clause is an explicit waiver of any immunity from
or against the validity and enforcement of any award or of any judgment
thereon, and any such award shall be final and binding and enforceable against
any Party in any court having jurisdiction in accordance with its laws.

 

Article 41

(Force Majeure)

 

1.                                       Non-performance
or delay in performance by Sonangol or Contractor, or both of them, of any of
the contractual obligations, except an obligation to pay money, shall be
excused if, and to the extent that, such non-performance or delay is caused by
Force Majeure.

 

2.                                       If the Force
Majeure restrains only temporarily the performance of a contractual obligation
or the exercise of a right subject to a time limit, the time given in this
Agreement for the performance of such obligation or the exercise of such right
and for the performance or exercise of any right or obligation dependent
thereon, and, if relevant, the term of the Agreement, shall be suspended until
the restoration of the status quo
prior to the occurrence of the event(s) constituting Force Majeure, it
being understood, however, that such suspension shall apply only with respect
to the parts of the Contract Area which have been affected.

 

3.                                       “Force
Majeure,” for the purposes of this Article, shall be any occurrence which is
unforeseeable, unavoidable and beyond the reasonable control of the Party
claiming to be affected by such event, such as, and without limitation, state
of war, either declared or not, rebellions or mutinies, natural catastrophes,
fires, earthquakes, communications cuts and unavoidable accidents.

 

4.                                       The Party
which understands that it may claim a situation of Force Majeure shall
immediately serve notice to the other Party, and shall use all reasonable
efforts to correct the situation of Force Majeure as soon as possible.

 

50

 

Article 42

(Applicable Law)

 

This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with Angolan substantive law.

 

Article 43

(Language)

 

This Agreement has been prepared and signed
in the Portuguese language which shall be the only official version for the
purpose of establishing the rights and obligations of the Parties.

 

Article 44

(Offices and service of notice)

 

1.                                       Sonangol and
Operator shall maintain offices in Luanda, Republic of Angola, where
communications and notices foreseen in this Agreement must be validly served.

 

2.                                       Sonangol’s
office for the purpose of serving notice is:

 

Rua Raínha Ginga, 29-31, 20th floor

Luanda

República de Angola

Fax: 244-222-391915

 

3.                                       Operator’s
office for the purpose of serving notice is:

 

FBSL Advogados

Rua dos Enganos, n.°1, 8th floor

Luanda

República de Angola

Attn: Guiomar Lopes

 

Fax: 244-222-393273

 

4.                                       Sonangol and
Contractor shall communicate to each other in writing and with reasonable
notice any change of their offices referred to in the preceding paragraphs, if
such occurs.

 

51

 

Article 45

(Captions and headings)

 

Captions and headings are included in this
Agreement for the sole purpose of systematization and shall have no
interpretative value.

 

 

Article 46

(Effectiveness)

 

This Agreement shall come into effect on the
Effective Date.

 

52

 

IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have signed this
Agreement in the Portuguese language in Luanda, this
       day of
                    
2009.

 

Sociedade
Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola - Empresa Pública (Sonangol, E.P.)

 

	
  Represented
  by:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Manuel
  D. Vicente

  
	
   

  	
  Its:
  Chairman of the Board and CEO

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  CIE
  Angola Block 9 Ltd.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Represented
  by:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Joseph
  H. Bryant

  
	
   

  	
  Its:
  Chairman of the Board and CEO

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Sonangol
  Pesquisa e Produção, S.A.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Represented
  by:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Sebastião
  Pai Querido Gaspar Martins

  
	
   

  	
  Its:
  Chairman of the Executive Committee

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Nazaki
  Oil and Gás

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Represented
  by:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Its:

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Alper
  Oil, Lda

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Represented by:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Its:

  	
   

  

 

53

 

Annex A - Description of the Contract Area

 

The present Annex is an integral part of the
Risk Services Agreement dated
                      
2009 signed between Sonangol, as one Party, and Contractor, as the other Party,
as referred to in Article 2 of said Agreement.

 

The area represented in Annex B is delimited
by the lines defined through points 1 to 4 and is included in the following
perimeter:

 

Starting at
the point of interception of the Parallel 10° 45’ 00” S and the Meridian 13° 20’
00” E, having the point 1 with the coordinates of Latitude 10° 45’ 00” S and
Longitude 13° 20’ 00” E.  From this point
moving in to the East, following the Parallel 10° 45’ 00” S until its
interception with the Meridian 13° 44’ 30” E taking into account the average
sea level, having point 2 with the coordinates of Latitude 10° 45’ 00” S and
Longitude 13° 44’ 30” E.  From this point
moving South, following the line of the coast until interception with the
Parallel 11° 35’ 00” S and the Meridian 13° 46’ 20” E taking into account the
average sea level, having point 3 with the coordinates of Latitude 11° 35’ 00”
S and Longitude 13° 46’ 20” E.  From this
point moving West, following the Parallel 11° 35’ 00” S until interception with
the Meridian 13” 20’ 00” E, having point 4 with the coordinates of Latitude 11°
35’ 00” S and Longitude 13° 20’ 00” E.  Finally, from this point moving North until
reaching point 1.

 

The above coordinates identified are made
with reference to the Datum of Camacupa in the elipsoid of Clark, 1880.

 

54

 

Annex B . Map of the Contract Area

 

The present Annex is an integral part of the
Risk Services Agreement dated
                          
2009 signed between Sonangol, as one Party, and Contractor, as the other Party,
as referred to in Article 2 of said Agreement.

 

 

55

 

Annex C - Accounting and Financial Procedures

 

The present Annex is an integral part of the
Risk Services Agreement dated
                
2009 signed between Sonangol, as one Party, and Contractor, as the other Party,
as referred to in Article 2 of said Agreement.

 

Article 1

(General provisions)

 

1.1                                 Definitions

 

The terms used in this Annex shall have the same meaning given to them
in the Agreement.

 

1.2                                 Purpose, cost
duplication and accounting records

 

(a)                                  The purpose
of the Accounting and Financial Procedures is to establish some of the rules and
principles that, under the Petroleum Activities Tax Law, should be
contractually agreed upon, setting forth equitable methods for determining the
expenditures and revenues of the Petroleum Operations in accordance with the “Petroleum
Operations Information System (SIOP)”, approved under the Joint Executive
Decree n°. 7/88, of March 26, 1988 (as amended) and generally accepted
accounting principles.

 

(b)                                 It is the
Parties’ intention that there shall not be any duplication of any deductible
fiscal cost.

 

(c)                                  Each of the
entities of which Contractor is made up has the responsibility of keeping its
own accounting records for the purpose of satisfying all legal requirements and
justifying tax returns or any other accounting reports requested by any
government authority or Sonangol in respect of the Petroleum Operations.

 

(d)                                 In order to
permit each entity of which Contractor is comprised to keep such accounting
records, Operator shall prepare the Joint Account in such a manner as to permit
the entities in question to satisfy any legal and contractual obligations to
which they are bound.

 

56

 

1.3                                 Units and
exchange rates

 

(a)                                  The
measurements required under this Annex will be made in metric units and in
Barrels.

 

(b)                                 All the
accounting books, results, charts, accounting reports and correspondence shall
be written up in Portuguese language and registered in local currency as
required by Law.

 

(c)                                  If necessary
for the internal use of Contractor, the referred accounting books, charts of
results, and accounting reports and correspondence may also be written up in
other languages, currencies and units of measurement after obtaining the prior
approval of Sonangol.

 

(d)                                 Exchange
rate fluctuations shall not constitute any gain or loss either for Sonangol or
Contractor.

 

(e)                                  Operator
shall supply Sonangol with a description of the procedures adopted for the
calculation of the exchange rate differences, as well as the respective
policies for protection from exchange rate fluctuations.

 

(f)                                    Gains and
losses, realized or unrealized, as a result of foreign exchange fluctuations
will be registered individually and separately in the Joint Account, under
their own heading.

 

(g)                                 Operator
shall supply Sonangol with a statement taken from the accounting records in
respect of the foreign exchange rate differences calculated each Quarter no
later than twenty-one (21) days after the end of the Quarter in question.

 

(h)                                 Sonangol,
within thirty (30) days of receipt of the statement referred to in the previous
sub-paragraph, shall notify Operator of its position in respect of the amounts
of foreign exchange rate differences accepted as being recoverable.

 

(i)                                     The amounts
received and expenses incurred in local currency or in United States dollars
shall be converted from local currency into United States dollars or United
States dollars into local currency at the buying and selling rates published by
the Banco Nacional de Angola on the last working day of the Month prior to the
Month in which the amounts were

 

57

 

received or paid, or the buying and selling
rates of any other working day as agreed by the Parties.

 

(j)                                     The costs of
depreciation and amortization will be translated or converted at the exchange
rate prevailing on the date of purchase of the original asset.

 

1.4                                 Payments

 

(a)                                  All payments
between the Parties under the Agreement shall be made in United States dollars
or in other currencies as agreed by the Parties, to a bank account designated
by the Party to which payment is due.

 

(b)                                 Any payments
required under the Agreement or derived from the same, principally premiums,
rents and penalties for non-compliance with the minimum work program, as well
as any payments due to Contractor arising from Sonangol’s Crude Oil purchase
rights, shall be made within thirty (30) days of the end of the Month during
which the payment obligation was incurred.

 

(c)                                  If one of
the Parties has not in due time paid the sums due under the Agreement to the
other Party, payment of interest shall be added to such sums due for each day
such sums are overdue at an annual rate equal to the London Inter Bank Offered
Rate (LIBOR) for six (6) Months, as quoted at 11.00 a.m. London time
on the first working day of each Month that this sum is overdue by the London
office of Bank of America, plus two (2) percentage points.

 

1.5                                 Financial
and operational audit and Sonangol’s rights of inspection:

 

(a)                                  The
accounting records maintained by Contractor shall be audited on an annual basis
by an international independent auditing company selected by Sonangol.

 

The inspection shall be carried out by the auditors pursuant to
generally accepted auditing principles.

 

(b)                                 Contractor
shall supply all records, documents and explanations requested by the auditors
and allow them to carry out the checks considered necessary within the scope of
their work.

 

58

 

(c)                                  A copy of
each audit report shall be given to the Ministry of Finance, to Sonangol and to
each entity of which Contractor is comprised within six (6) Months of the
end of the respective Year in which the audit was carried out.

 

(d)                                 In addition
to the provisions of sub-paragraph (a) above, Sonangol will have the
permanent right, either on its own or through third parties, and upon giving
reasonable notice to Contractor, to carry out operational inspections or audits
considered to be necessary in respect of facilities, studies, accounts,
records, documents, contracts, goods or assets of any kind in such a manner as
to verify compliance with the contractual provisions and the Law. The costs of
such an audit will be borne by Sonangol.

 

(e)                                  When
carrying out the audits referred to in this Article, the auditors may inspect
and check, upon reasonable notice having been given by Sonangol to Contractor,
all expenditures and revenues connected with Petroleum Operations, such as
accounting books, accounting entries, inventories, vouchers, payment slips,
invoices, contracts or subcontracts of any kind related to the Agreement and
any other documents, correspondence and records of Contractor necessary for
auditing and checking expenditures and revenues.

 

(f)                                    In addition,
the auditors have the right, in respect of such inspections and audits, to
visit and examine, provided that they give reasonable notice, all locations,
installations, houses, warehouses and offices of Contractor in Angola and/or
any other location provided that they are used for the Petroleum Operations,
including visits to the personnel working on these operations.

 

(g)                                 The costs of
the examination and inspection of records located outside Angola without
Sonangol’s authorization will be borne by Contractor and are not fiscally
recoverable.

 

(h)                                 All
accounting records, sales statements, books and accounts connected with the
Petroleum Operations will be accepted as true and accurate after a period of
twenty-four (24) Months from the end of the Fiscal Year to which they relate,
unless within this same period, Sonangol or any member of Contractor express
any objection to them in writing.

 

59

 

(i)                                     Sonangol may
extend the twenty-four (24) Month period by an additional twelve (12) Month
period upon providing Contractor with written notice of such extension not
later than sixty (60) days prior to the end of the initial twenty-four (24)
Month period.

 

(j)                                     Notwithstanding
the possibility of the period of twenty-four (24) Months referred to in the
previous subparagraph having expired, if there is any evidence that Operator is
guilty of gross negligence or willful misconduct or serious Fault in conducting
the Petroleum Operations during the expired periods, Sonangol will have the
right to carry out additional audits in respect of such periods.

 

(k)                                  All
adjustments required as a result of the audits referred to in this Article,
when agreed and approved by the Operating Committee, shall be promptly made in
the Joint Account.

 

(l)                                     If any
disputes between Sonangol and Contractor in respect of the audits carried out
still remain, these cases of dispute will be entrusted for the purposes of
resolution to an international and independent audit company agreed between the
Parties.

 

(m)                               If any of
the Parties disagree with the resolution put forward by the aforementioned
international and independent audit company, the dissenting Party shall notify
the other Party for the case in dispute to be resolved under Article 40 of
the Agreement.

 

(n)                                 Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Article, all documents herein referred to shall be
available for inspection by Sonangol for five (5) Years after the date of
their being drawn up.

 

(o)                                 This Article will
neither take the place of nor lessen the legal obligations of Contractor
arising from Angolan fiscal and commercial legislation.

 

Article 2

(Expenditures and revenues of Contractor)

 

2.1                                 The
expenditures incurred in respect of the Petroleum Operations shall be debited
to the Joint Account in accordance with the principles set out in the Petroleum
Activities Tax Law, the Agreement and this Annex.

 

60

 

2.2                                 Each member
of Contractor will comply with the accounting procedure for its share of Crude Oil
exports and the respective revenues shall not be credited to the Joint Account.

 

2.3                                 The
expenditures shall be classified in accordance with the “Petroleum Operations
Information System (SIOP)” and will be deductible under Article 10 of the
Agreement.

 

2.4                                 The services
of and fees for the technical/administrative assistance provided by the
Affiliates of Operator or of Sonangol in respect of the Petroleum Operations
shall meet the following conditions for the purposes of their eligibility as
expenses imputable to the Joint Account:

 

(a)                                  The
categories of technical/administrative services provided by the Affiliates of
Operator or of Sonangol for the running and carrying out of the Petroleum
Operations, are as follows:

 

(i)                                     Exploration

 

·                                          study of the
soil and setting up of drilling equipment;

 

·                                          planning of
seismic acquisition;

 

·                                          seismic
processing and interpretation;

 

·                                          geophysical
analyses;

 

·                                          geological
and geochemical studies;

 

·                                          rock and
fluid studies;

 

·                                          thermodynamic
analyses;

 

·                                          interpretation
of diagraphics;

 

·                                          reservoir
analysis and studies;

 

·                                          health,
safety and environmental technical audits;

 

·                                          ocean
current measurements;

 

·                                          environmental
studies.

 

61

 

(ii)                                  Development

 

·                                          studies of
the subsurface for the purpose of determining the best manner of recovering
hydrocarbons, 2D and 3D geophysics, production geology, modeling and simulation
of deposits as an integral part of economic reservoir exploitation and
conservation;

 

·                                          architectural
and engineering studies for the purpose of preparing the file on the
preliminary project and the file on the basic engineering involved;

 

·                                          project
management;

 

·                                          water and
gas injection studies;

 

·                                          specific
studies for the purpose of enhanced recovery and cost control;

 

·                                          improvement
of drilling and completion methods and equipment;

 

·                                          safety
procedures program;

 

·                                          health,
safety and environmental technical audits;

 

·                                          environmental
studies.

 

(iii)                               Production

 

·                                          analysis of
fluids produced;

 

·                                          optimization
studies;

 

·                                          improvement
and control of equipment;

 

·                                          lifting
schedule studies;

 

·                                          corrosion
control program and studies;

 

·                                          health,
safety and environmental technical audits;

 

·                                          environmental
studies.

 

62

 

(iv)                              Administration
and services

 

·                                          provision of
data processing services;

 

·                                          maintenance
program and inventory control evaluation and studies.

 

(b)                                 The above
referred list is exhaustive and may only be altered with the approval of
Sonangol.

 

(c)                                  In relation
to each Fiscal Year, such services shall be set out under their own heading as
an integral part of the Work Plans and Budgets in the Petroleum Operations
Procedures Document, when signed between Sonangol and Contractor under Article 9
of the Agreement.

 

(d)                                 At the time
of the presentation of the Work Plans and Budgets, Operator shall also submit
for the approval of Sonangol the estimate of the applicable tariffs for the
budgeted Year, as well as the number of hours and purpose of each work order.

 

(e)                                  Those
services, once budgeted, will be subject to specific work orders which shall be
previously approved by Sonangol at the request of Operator, either by means of
a global “Master Order” for each field or individually, on a case by case
basis.

 

(f)                                    These work
orders shall contain an estimate of the number of hours necessary for the
carrying out of the services, a reasonable description of the services desired,
the professional ranking of the workers required to perform them and the agreed
tariffs.

 

(g)                                 Whenever the
actual costs which have been incurred and invoiced are more than ten percent
(10%) or ten thousand United States dollars (U.S.$10.000.00) higher, whichever
is greater, than those budgeted, the deductibility of the difference will be
submitted to Sonangol for approval.

 

(h)                                 For each
approved work order, the reference to the technical reports shall be attached
to the respective invoice and the technical report shall be filed by Operator
in Angola. The tariffs and the Party’s or its Affiliates’ debts relating to work
orders shall be certified annually by an

 

63

 

independent
auditor, to confirm whether or not they include any element of profit or loss.

 

(i)                                     The approval
for individual services whose budgeted worth is equal to or more than thirty
thousand United States dollars (U.S.$30,000.00) is only definitive in respect
of each of these services if Sonangol does not put forward any objections
within a period of forty (40) days from the date of receipt of the request made
by Operator.

 

(j)                                     The approval
for individual services whose budgeted worth is less than thirty thousand
United States dollars (U.S. $30,000.00) is implicit, with, however, the
Operator proceeding according to the description provided in sub-paragraph (h) above.

 

(k)                                  With respect
to unforeseen services which, for such reason, are not set out in the Approved
Work Plans and Budgets, such services can only be ordered by Operator after
approval has been granted by Sonangol, irrespective of their estimated cost.

 

(l)                                     In respect
of all the technical and administrative services provided by the Affiliates of
Operator not covered by this Article 2.4, an annual global price (“forfait”) of one percent (1%) is hereby agreed and levied on
direct Exploration expenditures incurred during the Exploration Period.

 

(m)                               The services
which are remunerated by the annual global price fixed in sub-paragraph (l) above
shall include, but are not limited to, purchases and traffic; human resources
management; market consultancy, negotiations; revisions and supervision of
contracts; banks; invoicing; credits; accounts; general services;
communications; methods; internal procedures and controls; technological
advances resulting from scientific research in diverse fields; insurance and legal
assistance;, assistance to personalities; assistance to agents undergoing
training and safety of operations.

 

(n)                                 Expenditures
incurred on personnel and associated costs in respect of the personnel of the
Affiliates of Operator or of Sonangol employed on the Petroleum Operations for
short and long-term periods are not included in the “technical and
administrative assistance” services set out 

 

64

 

in this Article 2.4
and may be deductible as personnel expenditures under the terms set out in the
Petroleum Activities Tax Law.

 

(o)                                 Other
services provided by the Affiliates of Operator and Affiliates of Sonangol
shall be charged at prices which are not higher than the most favourable prices
charged by third parties for similar services.

 

2.5                                 Expenditures
incurred on materials for Petroleum Operations shall meet the following
conditions for the purposes of their eligibility as expenses imputable to the
Joint Account

 

(a)                                  The amount
of such expenditures shall not be greater than the prices generally in force on
the open market for impartial “arm’s-length” transactions for materials and
equipment of the same quality available at the time, with due consideration of
freight and other similar costs.

 

(b)                                 The materials
and equipment necessary for the Petroleum Operations may also be acquired from
Sonangol and its Affiliates and/or any entity constituting Contractor and their
Affiliates, under the following conditions:

 

(i)                                     The new
materials and equipment, classified as category A, shall be invoiced at the
vendor’s lowest price or at the international price in force.

 

This amount shall not be
greater than the prices generally in force in normal “arm’s-length sales”
transactions on the open market.

 

(ii)                                  Used
materials and equipment which are in good condition and which can be reused
without the need for repair shall be considered as category B and charged at
seventy-five percent (75%) of the current price of the material and equipment
set out in sub-paragraph b(i).

 

(iii)                               Materials
and equipment which cannot be considered as category B but which:

 

(A)                              after
general repair may be used for its original purpose as good second hand
materials and equipment;

 

65

 

(B)                                may be used
for its original purpose but for which its repair is not recommendable,

 

shall be classified as
category C and charged at fifty percent (50%) of the current price of material
and equipment set out in sub-paragraph b(i).

 

(iv)                              An amount
compatible with their use will be attributed to materials and equipment which
cannot be classified as category B or C.

 

(v)                                 When the use
of materials and equipment is temporary and their application on the Petroleum
Operations does not justify the reduction in price under the terms indicated in
sub-paragraphs b(i) and b(ii), they will be debited on the basis of their
utilization.

 

(c)                                  Insofar as
it is necessary for the purposes of the prudent, efficient and economic conduct
of the Petroleum Operations, materials and equipment for use on the Petroleum
Operations shall only be purchased or supplied on the basis of a foreseeable
and reasonable use and any excessive accumulation of stock shall be avoided.

 

(d)                                 In the case
of materials and equipment supplied by Sonangol and its Affiliates and/or any
entity constituting Contractor and their Affiliates, they will not guarantee
such materials and equipment beyond the guarantee of the supplier or
manufacturer of such materials and equipment and in the case of defective
materials and equipment, any adjustments received by Sonangol and its
Affiliates and/or any entity constituting Contractor and their Affiliates from
suppliers or from manufacturers, shall be credited to the Joint Account
pursuant to the provisions of the Petroleum Activities Tax Law.

 

Article 3

(Calculation and accounting rules for abandonment costs)

 

For
the purposes of deductibility under the Petroleum Activities Tax Law, the
calculation and accounting of the abandonment costs shall be made according to
the terms set forth in the following sub-paragraphs:

 

66

 

(a)                                  no later
than ninety (90) days before the beginning of the Year for which Operator
forecasts that the cumulative production of the Contract Area will lead to a
situation in which the recoverable reserves at the end of the Year in question
represent less than:

 

(i)                                     fifty
percent (50%) of the declared recoverable reserves under fifty (50) million
Barrels;

 

or

 

(ii)                                  thirty
percent (30%) of the declared recoverable reserves above fifty (50) million
Barrels but not more than one hundred (100) million Barrels;

 

or

 

(iii)                               twenty-five
(25%) of the declared recoverable reserves above one hundred (100 million)
Barrels,

 

Operator shall provide
Sonangol with a technical study for the alternative possibilities of
abandonment and its best calculations of the estimated abandonment costs of the
Contract Area for approval purposes;

 

(b)                                 the estimate
referred in the previous sub-paragraph shall be up-to-date and inflated by
reference to the estimated date for the execution of the abandonment operations
in the Contract Area;

 

(c)                                  following
the approval of Sonangol and commencing in the Year referred to in
sub-paragraph (a) above, Operator shall calculate the deductible
abandonment costs quarterly using the method of the production unit, in
accordance with the following formula:

 

67

 

	
  Quarterly production

  (MMBBLS)

  	
  X

  	
  Total approved abandonment costs minus the amounts paid Declared
  recoverable reserves (MMBBLS) minus the cumulative Production up to beginning
  of the Quarter (MMBBLS)

  	
  =

  	
  Abandonment costs quarterly recoverable pursuant to subparagraph(e) below

  

 

(d)                                 the amount
calculated under sub-paragraph (c) above shall be imputed to the
expenditures for the Contract Area in accordance with the Petroleum Activities
Tax Law;

 

(e)                                  an amount
which is equivalent to the amount calculated in accordance with sub-paragraph (c) above
shall be paid by Contractor to Sonangol not later than thirty (30) days after
the end of the Quarter in question;

 

(f)                                    no later
than ninety (90) days before the beginning of each subsequent Year, Contractor
may submit to Sonangol a revised estimate of the abandonment costs and declared
recoverable reserves which, once approved by Sonangol, shall be used in the
ensuing Year for the purposes of calculating the recoverable abandonment costs
under sub-paragraphs (c) and (e) above.

 

Article 4

(Rules on strategic materials reserves)

 

The materials classified by Operator as
strategic spare parts, which constitute a security stock for guaranteeing the
satisfactory carrying out of the Petroleum Operations, will be imputed to the
Petroleum Operations in accordance with the following conditions:

 

(a)                                  Operator
shall submit to Sonangol a list of the materials classified as strategic spare
parts, for the purposes of the approval of the respective classification;

 

(b)                                 The
materials referred to in the previous sub-paragraph shall be registered in the
accounts at the time of their acquisition under their own

 

68

 

sub-heading of “Stock” as set out in Article 23.2(f) of
the Petroleum Activities Tax Law;

 

(c)                                  Their
imputation for deductibility established under the Petroleum Activities Tax Law
shall be made on the basis of their specific use for replacement or after four (4) Years
starting from the Year of acquisition, whichever occurs earlier;

 

(d)                                 In the case
of the imputation referred to in sub-paragraph (c) above where four (4) Years
starting from the Year of acquisition have elapsed, such imputation in respect
of materials not used on the Petroleum Operations shall only be made with the prior
and timely approval of Sonangol.

 

Article 5

(Registration and evaluation of assets)

 

5.1                                 Contractor
shall keep detailed records of assets in use on the Petroleum Operations, in
accordance with the standard practices of Exploration and Production activity
in the international petroleum industry and shall provide Sonangol with a full
and detailed annual report on these assets under the “Petroleum Operations
Information System (SIOP).”

 

5.2                                 At
reasonable intervals and at least once a Year, a full inventory of assets in
use on the Petroleum Operations shall be made by Contractor under the
Agreement.

 

Contractor shall notify Sonangol thirty (30) days in advance of its
intention to carry out the inventory in order for Sonangol to be in a position
to exercise its right to be represented at the time of the carrying out of the
inventory.

 

5.3                                 The
inventory procedures established by Contractor shall be notified to Sonangol at
the same time as Contractor notifies Sonangol of its intention to carry out the
inventories so that that any recommendations which Sonangol considers necessary
in connection with the carrying out of inventories on assets belonging to it
can be taken into account in these procedures.

 

5.4                                 Special
inventories may be carried out at the request of the assignor where an
assignment takes place under the Agreement, provided that the costs of carrying
out the inventory are borne by such assignor.

 

69

 

Article 6

(Reports)

 

Contractor shall prepare and submit to
Sonangol the financial, statistical, technical and personnel reports in
accordance with the procedures set out in the “Petroleum Operations Information
System (SIOP)”.

 

Article 7

(Revision of accounting and financial procedures)

 

The provisions set out in this Annex may be
amended by mutual agreement of Sonangol and Contractor, provided that such
amendments do not contravene the provisions of the “Petroleum Operations
Information System (SIOP)”. Amendments shall be made in writing and shall
mention the date upon which they become effective.

 

Article 8

(Contractual conflicts)

 

In the case of any conflict between the
provisions set out in this Annex and the provisions set out in the Agreement,
the provisions of the Agreement shall prevail.

 

70

 

Annex D - Corporate Guarantee

 

This Annex is an integral part of the Risk
Services Agreement dated
                        
2009, entered into by Sonangol, as one Party, and
              ,
as the other Party, as provided in Article 2 of the Agreement.

 

To

Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola

- Empresa Pública (Sonangol, E.P.)
 Rua Raínha Ginga, 29-31, 20th floor

Luanda

Angola

 

                      ,
(“Parent Company”) represented by
                          
hereby declares that
                                
(“Local Company”) is an Affiliate of the
Parent Company.

 

Parent Company is fully aware of the content
of the Risk Services Agreement for Block 9 (the “Agreement”)
entered into by Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola — Empresa Pública
(Sonangol, E.P.) (“Sonangol”) and
the Local Company and others, and of the Concession Decree-Law of the Council
of Ministers which approved the Agreement, the provisions of which it
acknowledges and accepts.

 

Parent Company unconditionally guarantees to
Sonangol the full and prompt fulfillment of the obligations assumed under the
Agreement by Local Company, and its Affiliated successors or Affiliated
assignees, waiving all benefits or rights which may, under the Law, in any
manner, limit, restrict or annul its obligations under this Guarantee.

 

This Guarantee will not be reduced or in any
manner affected by any delay or failure of Sonangol to enforce its rights, nor
by bankruptcy or dissolution of Local Company.

 

This Guarantee constitutes an integral part
of the Agreement entered into by Sonangol and Local Company and others, as
stated and referred to in Article 20 of the said Agreement.

 

If Local Company should fail in fulfilling
any of its obligations under the Agreement, and if Sonangol shall have
communicated in writing to Local Company such failure and the latter has not
remedied or taken the necessary steps to remedy such failures or deficiencies,
within a reasonable period of time, considering the nature of such failures or
deficiencies, then Sonangol may demand of Parent Company the fulfillment of
such obligations in default.

 

71

 

Sonangol’s demand must be made by letter
delivered to Parent Company which shall include a description of Local Company’s
unfulfilled obligations and a statement of the amount to be paid or the actions
to be taken by Parent Company as a consequence of such default.

 

Any disputes arising under this Guarantee
shall be settled in accordance with the arbitration provisions contained in the
Agreement.

 

	
   

  	
  Parent
  Company

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Name:

  
	
   

  	
  Title:

  

 

 

Agreed:

 

 

	
  Sociedade
  Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola - Empresa Pública (500a0901, E.P.)

  	
   

  
	
   

  
	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Name:

  
	
  Title:

  
			

 

72

 

Annex E - Financial Guarantee

 

This Annex is an integral part of the Risk
Services Agreement dated
                      
2009, entered into by Sonangol, as one Party, and by                     ,
as the other Party, as provided in Article 2 of the Agreement.

 

To

Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola

- Empresa Pública - (Sonangol, E.P.)
 Rua Raínha Ginga, 29-31 , 20th floor

Luanda

Angola

 

We the undersigned
                  
(“Bank”), whose registered office is
located at                     ,
represented by
                          ,
hereby issue our irrevocable standby Letter of Credit Nr.
             as
follows:

 

We hereby authorize you to draw on us, for
the account of
                        ,
with head office in                               
(“Company”) up to an aggregate amount of
[          ] million U.S.
Dollars (USD
                  )
in accordance with the conditions herein stipulated.

 

1.                                       Any drafts
issued pursuant to this Letter of Credit shall be accepted to the extent that
Company has failed to comply with its obligations in respect of the Initial
Exploration Phase as provided in Article 14, paragraphs 1 and/or  7, of the Risk Services Agreement for Block 9
dated
                
2009 between yourselves and Company (the “Agreement”),
which Initial Exploration Phase expires on
                  ,
(unless it is extended) as provided in Article 6, paragraph 1, of the
Agreement.

 

2.                                       Any
withdrawals under this Letter of Credit shall be made prior to
              
by signed drafts drawn on
                
branch and shall be accompanied by Sonangol E.P.’s written statement certifying
that:

 

(a)                                  Company has
failed to perform its aforementioned obligations for which Sonangol has not
previously drawn under this Letter of Credit;

 

(b)                                 the amount
of the claim represents the obligation which Contractor has failed to perform
as specified in Article 14 of the Agreement; and

 

(c)                                  Company has
not paid to Sonangol the amount claimed.

 

73

 

3.                                       Any
withdrawal under this Letter of Credit must also be accompanied by copy of a
letter from Sonangol, E.P. to Company including:

 

(a)                                  a
description of the unfulfilled obligations and the amount to be paid by Company
as a consequence of such default;

 

(b)                                 a statement
of Sonangol’s intention to draw on the Letter of Credit once thirty (30) days
have elapsed from the date of receipt of the letter;

 

(c)                                  acknowledgment
by Company of receipt of the notification.

 

4.                                       This Letter
of Credit shall be reduced as provided in Articles 20.5 and 20.6 of the
Agreement.

 

Each of such reductions is to be evidenced by written statement to be
submitted by Company to Bank which statement shall indicate that Sonangol, E.P.
has approved the amount of the reduction being requested.

 

5.                                       This Letter
of Credit shall become effective on
                ,
and expire on           , or
at such earlier time as the total of the authorized reductions equal the
original amount guaranteed hereunder or when the obligations referred to above
have been fulfilled, whichever first occurs.

 

6.                                       All
documents will be submitted to
                      -
branch which shall make the corresponding payments when and if the terms and
conditions stipulated in this Letter of Credit have been totally satisfied.

 

7.                                       This Letter
of Credit is subject to the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary
Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600.

 

This Letter of Credit shall be governed and interpreted in accordance
with
                
law and is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of
            .

 

We hereby undertake to Sonangol, E.P. that
all drafts under and in compliance with the terms of this Letter of Credit will
be duly honored if issued and presented for payment on or before the expiration
date, as provided in paragraph 5 of this Letter of Credit.

 

	
   

  	
  Bank

  

 

74

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