Document:

exv10w1

 

Exhibit 10.1

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION
1. Purpose of the Plan.

     The Natural Resource Partners Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is intended to promote the
interests of Natural Resource Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), by
providing to employees and directors of GP Natural Resource Partners LLC (the “Company”) and its
Affiliates who perform services for the Partnership incentive compensation cash awards for superior
performance that are based on Units. The Plan is also contemplated to enhance the ability of the
Company and its Affiliates to attract and retain the services of individuals who are essential for
the growth and profitability of the Partnership and to encourage them to devote their best efforts
to the business of the Partnership, thereby advancing the interests of the Partnership and its
partners.

SECTION
2. Definitions.

     As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

     “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the
Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect,
of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether
through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

     “Award” means a Phantom Unit granted under the Plan, and shall include any tandem DERs granted
with respect to a Phantom Unit.

     “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

     “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of one or more of the
following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership, NRP (GP) LP or the
Company to any Person, other than the Partnership, NRP (GP) LP, the Company or any of their
Affiliates, or (ii) any merger, reorganization, consolidation or other transaction pursuant to
which more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding equity interests in either NRP
(GP) LP or the Company ceases to be owned by the Persons who own such interests, respectively, as
of the effective date of the initial public offering of Units.

     “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee of the Board
appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

     “DER” means a contingent right, granted in tandem with a specific Phantom Unit, to receive an
amount in cash equal to the cash distributions made by the Partnership with respect to a Unit
during the period such Phantom Unit is outstanding.

 

 

     “Director” means a member of the Board or the Board of Directors or Board of Managers of an
Affiliate who is not an Employee.

     “Employee” means any employee of the Company or an Affiliate, as determined by the Committee.

     “Fair Market Value” means the average of the last reported sales prices for the 20 consecutive
Trading Days before the date in question. The last reported sales price for each day shall be the
last reported sale price regular way on the New York Stock Exchange or any other national
securities exchange on which the Units are listed. In the event there is no sale of Units on the
New York Stock Exchange or any other national securities exchange on which the Units are listed for
the 20 consecutive Trading Days preceding such date, the determination of fair market value shall
be made in good faith by the Committee.  As used herein, the term “Trading Days” with respect to
Units means if the Units are listed or admitted for trading on the New  York Stock Exchange or any
national securities exchange, days on which the New York Stock Exchange or such national securities
exchange is open for business.

     “Participant” means any Employee or Director granted an Award under the Plan.

     “Partnership Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership
of Natural Resource Partners L.P., as amended from time to time.

     “Person” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint
venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political
subdivision thereof or other entity.

     “Phantom Unit” means a phantom (notional) Unit granted under the Plan which upon vesting
entitles the Participant to receive an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit.

     “Restricted Period” means the period established by the Committee with respect to an Award
during which the Award remains subject to forfeiture (is not vested) and is not payable to the
Participant.

     “Unit” means a Common Unit of the Partnership.

 SECTION 3. Administration. 

     The Committee shall administer the Plan. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a
quorum, and the acts of the members of the Committee who are present at any meeting thereof at
which a quorum is present, or acts unanimously approved by the members of the Committee in writing,
shall be the acts of the Committee. Subject to the following and any applicable law, the
Committee, in its sole discretion, may delegate any or all of its powers and duties under the Plan
(provided the Chief Executive Officer is a member of the Board), including the power to grant
Awards under the Plan, to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, subject to such limitations
on such delegated powers and duties as the Committee may impose, if any. Upon any such delegation
all references in the Plan to the “Committee”, other than in Section 6, shall be deemed to include
the Chief Executive Officer; provided, however, that such delegation shall not limit the

-2-

 

Chief Executive Officer’s right to receive Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Chief Executive Officer may not grant Awards to, or take any action with respect to any Award
previously granted to, a person who is an executive officer or a member of the Board. Subject to
the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and
authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and
authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the number of Units to be covered by
Awards; (iii) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (iv) determine whether, to what
extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, or forfeited; (v)
interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to an Award made under
the Plan; (vi) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such
agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (vii) make any
other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for
the administration of the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations,
determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award
shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final,
conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, the Partnership, any Affiliate,
any Participant, and any beneficiary of any Award.

SECTION
4. Eligibility.

     Any Employee or Director who performs services for the Partnership shall be eligible to be
designated a Participant and receive an Award under the Plan.

SECTION
5. Awards.

     (a) Phantom Units. The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees
and Directors to whom Phantom Units shall be granted, the number of Phantom Units to be granted to
each such Participant, the Restricted Period, the conditions under which the Phantom Units may
become vested or forfeited, which may include, without limitation, the accelerated vesting upon the
achievement of specified performance goals, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee
may establish with respect to such Awards, including whether DERs are granted with respect to such
Phantom Units.

     (i) DERs. To the extent provided by the Committee, in its discretion, a grant of
Phantom Units may include a tandem DER grant, which may provide that such DERs shall be paid
directly to the Participant, be credited to a bookkeeping account (with or without interest
at the discretion of the Committee) subject to the same vesting restrictions as the tandem
Award, or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as determined by the Committee
in its discretion.

     (ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the Phantom
Units grant, upon termination of a Participant’s employment with the Company and its
Affiliates or membership on the Board, whichever is applicable, for any reason during the
applicable Restricted Period, all unvested Phantom Units and any tandem DERs shall be
forfeited by the Participant unless otherwise provided in a written employment agreement
between the Participant and the Company or its Affiliates. The Committee may, in its
discretion, waive

-3-

 

in whole or in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participant’s Phantom Units and
tandem DERs.

     (iii) Lapse of Restrictions. Upon or as soon as reasonably practical following
the vesting of each Phantom Unit, the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the
Company an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of a Unit.

     (b) General.

     (i) Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together. Awards may, in the
discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or
in substitution for any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any
other plan of the Company or any Affiliate. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with
other Awards or awards granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate may be
granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other
Awards or awards.

     (ii) Limits on Transfer of Awards.

     (A) Except as provided in (B) below, no Award and no right under any such Award
may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or
encumbered by a Participant and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge,
attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against
the Company or any Affiliate.

     (B) Participants may transfer Awards by will and the laws of descent and
distribution.

     (iii) Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may
be determined by the Committee.

     (iv) Consideration for Grants. Awards may be granted for such consideration,
including services or such minimal consideration as may be required by law, as the Committee
determines.

     (v) Change in Control. Upon a Change in Control or such period prior thereto
as may be established by the Committee, all Awards shall automatically vest and become
payable in full. In this regard, all Restricted Periods shall terminate and all performance
criteria, if any, shall be deemed to have been achieved at the maximum level.

     (c) Adjustments. In the event that the Committee determines that any distribution
(whether in the form of cash, Units, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, split,
reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase,
or exchange of Units or other securities of the Partnership, issuance of warrants or other rights
to purchase Units or other securities of the Partnership, or other similar transaction or event
affects the Units such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate in order
to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made
available under the

-4-

 

Plan, then
the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the
number and type of Units (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be
granted, (ii) the number and type of Units (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding
Awards, and (iii) if deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an
outstanding Award; provided, that the number of Units subject to any Award shall always be a whole
number.

SECTION
6. Amendment and Termination.

     Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law:

     (a) Amendments to the Plan. Except as required by the rules of the principal
securities exchange on which the Units are traded and subject to Section 6(b) below, the Board or
the Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan in any manner,
including increasing the number of Units available for Awards under the Plan, without the consent
of any partner, Participant, other holder or beneficiary of an Award, or other Person.

     (b) Amendments to Awards. Subject to Section 6(a), the Committee may waive any
conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter any Award theretofore granted, provided no
change, other than pursuant to Section 6(c), in any Award shall materially reduce the benefit to a
Participant without the consent of such Participant.

     (c) Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring
Events. The Committee is hereby authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of,
and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including,
without limitation, the events described in Section 5(c) of the Plan) affecting the Partnership or
the financial statements of the Partnership, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or
accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in
order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made
available under the Plan.

SECTION 7. General Provisions.

     (a) No Rights to Award. No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under
the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants. The terms and
conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.

     (b) Withholding. The Company or any Affiliate is authorized to withhold from any
Award, from any payment due under any Award or from any compensation or other amount owing to a
Participant the amount of any applicable taxes payable in respect of the grant of an Award, the
lapse of restrictions thereon, or any payment under an Award or under the Plan and to take such
other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy its withholding
obligations for the payment of such taxes.

     (c) No Right to Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a
Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate or to remain on
the Board, as applicable. Further, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a
Participant

-5-

 

from employment, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise
expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award agreement.

     (d) Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules
and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State
of Delaware law without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

     (e) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any award is or becomes or is
deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award,
or would disqualify the Plan or any award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such
provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot
be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering
the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction,
person or award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and
effect.

     (f) Other Laws. The Committee may refuse to pay any cash under an Award if, in its
sole discretion, it determines that the payment might violate any applicable law or regulation or
the rules of the principal securities exchange on which the Units are then traded.

     (g) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be
construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the
Company or any participating Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that
any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any participating Affiliate
pursuant to an award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured
creditor of the Company or any participating Affiliate.

     (h) Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely
as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or
relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

     (i) Facility Payment. Any amounts payable hereunder to any person under legal
disability or who, in the judgment of the Committee, is unable to properly manage his financial
affairs, may be paid to the legal representative of such person, or may be applied for the benefit
of such person in any manner which the Committee may select, and the Company shall be relieved of
any further liability for payment of such amounts.

     (j) Gender and Number. Words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine
gender, the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.

     (k) Participation by Affiliates. With respect to the Awards made to the employees of
an Affiliate, the Company shall act as an agent of such participating Affiliate. In this regard,
the Company shall make payment with respect to such Awards directly to the participating Affiliate,
which, in turn, shall be responsible for making the payments with respect to such Awards to its
eligible employees.

SECTION 8. Term of the Plan.

     This Plan amendment and restatement shall be effective on the date of its approval by the
Board and shall continue until the date terminated by the Board. However, unless otherwise

-6-

 

expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted prior to such
termination, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend,
discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award,
shall extend beyond such termination date.

-7-exv10w11

 

Exhibit 10.11

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made as of the 1st day of December, 2007

BETWEEN:

RALPH D. DAVIS, a resident of the State of Texas (hereinafter called the “Executive”)

- and -

AUSAM ENERGY CORPORATION (hereinafter called “Ausam”), an Alberta, Canada Corporation, and its
wholly owned subsidiary, NORAM RESOURCES, INC. (hereinafter called “Noram”), a Texas corporation,
both together hereinafter called the “Company”.

WHEREAS the Company is engaged in the business of oil and gas exploration and development and other
related businesses;

AND WHEREAS the Company wishes to retain the services of the Executive to assist in the furtherance
of its business;

NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES THAT IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants and agreements
herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, it is agreed by the parties hereto
as follows:

	1.	 	DEFINITIONS
	 
	1.1	 	In this agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

	 	(a)	 	“Accrued Pay” means, with respect to a termination of employment:

	 	(i)	 	all Base Salary earned but not yet paid up to the date of
termination or deemed termination of employment, less required withholdings;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	all accrued but unused vacation pay, less required
withholdings; and
	 
	 	(iii)	 	all expenses properly incurred up to the date of termination
in the carrying out of Executive’s duties.

	 	(b)	 	“Agreement” means this agreement;
	 
	 	(c)	 	“Change in Responsibilities” means the occurrence of any of the following: (i)
a material adverse change in the nature or scope of the Executive’s duties; (ii) any
reduction in the Executive’s Base Salary; (iii) any material reduction in bonus

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 2 of 18

opportunity or material withdrawal of benefits from the Executive not having general
applicability to comparably situated executives in the Company; or (v) any other act
which, based on objective considerations, reasonably leads the Executive to believe
his employment will be terminated involuntarily within the twelve month period
following a Change of Control, provided that the Executive gives written notice to
the Company within ten (10) days of the claimed Change in Responsibilities occurring
and the action complained of remains uncured after thirty (30) days following such
notice;

	 	(d)	 	“Change of Control” means the purchase or acquisition of voting securities of
Ausam and/or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such voting
securities, which results in a person, group of persons, persons acting jointly or in
concert (within the meaning of the Securities Act (Alberta)) or persons who are
associates of or affiliated with (within the meaning of the Securities Act (Alberta))
any such person, group of persons or any of such persons acting jointly or in concert,
beneficially owning or exercising control or direction over voting securities of Ausam
and/or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such voting
securities, so as to, assuming the conversion, exercise or exchange of all such
securities, entitle such person, group of persons or persons acting jointly or in
concert to cast fifty percent 50% plus one of the votes attached to all voting
securities of Ausam;
	 
	 	(e)	 	“Effective Date” means 1 December 2007;
	 
	 	(f)	 	“Good Reason” means the occurrence, without the Executive’s written consent, of
any one or more of the following: (i) the relocation of Executive’s principal place of
employment to a location more than thirty (30) miles from his current residence and the
existing principal place of employment on the effective date of this Agreement; (ii) a
material reduction in the Executive’s Base Salary or bonus opportunity, or a material
reduction in the general level of his benefits not having general applicability
relative to other executives of the Company; or (iii) a material breach by the Company
of this Agreement; provided, however, “Good Reason” shall not exist unless the
Executive gives written notice specifying the

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 3 of 18

objectionable changes in conditions within thirty (30) business days of their
occurrence, and the Company thereafter fails to correct such conditions within
thirty (30) business days from the date on which it receives such notice.

	 	(g)	 	“Just Cause”, when used in relation to the termination of employment of the
Executive, includes: (i) material failure by Executive to perform satisfactorily the
duties assigned to him by Ausam’s board of directors; (ii) conviction of or plea to
(including nolo contendre) a criminal offense by the Executive involving dishonesty or
fraud or which is likely to injure the Company’s business or reputation; (iii)
misappropriation of any of the Company’s property or assets; (iv) gross incompetence or
negligence in the performance of his duties and responsibilities; (v) a material breach
by the Executive of a material term of this Agreement which has not been cured within
ten (10) days of written notice to the Executive of such breach; and (vi) any other
conduct on the part of Executive which causes or creates a substantial risk of causing
serious financial or other injury to the Company or their respective reputations or
business interests.
	 
	 	(h)	 	“Permanent Disability” means that the mental or physical state of the Executive
is such, that:

	 	(i)	 	the Executive has, to a substantial degree, been unable, due to
illness, disease, mental or physical disability or similar cause, to fullfil
his obligations as an employee or officer of Ausam or Noram for any period of
ninety (90) days (whether or not consecutive) in any consecutive twelve (12)
month period; or
	 
	 	(ii)	 	a court of competent jurisdiction has declared the Executive to
be mentally incompetent or incapable of managing his affairs.

	2.	 	EMPLOYMENT & DUTIES
	 
	2.1	 	The Executive shall be employed as Vice President — Finance of Ausam and as Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer of Noram as of the Effective Date and such employment shall
continue indefinitely until terminated in accordance with this

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 4 of 18

 Agreement or unless as mutually agreed between the Executive and the board of directors of
Ausam.

	2.2	 	The Executive shall carry out those duties and responsibilities which are assigned to him by
Ausam’s board of directors to whom he may be instructed to report, which duties shall be in
keeping with the Executive’s employment as Vice President of Ausam and as Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of Noram.
	 
	2.3	 	The Executive shall devote full time and attention to the business of the Company and
discharge and carry out such duties, functions and powers as are incidental to the position of
Vice President of Ausam and as Vice President and Chief Executive Officer or Noram; however,
it shall not be a violation of this Section 2.3 for the Executive to engage in a voluntary
activity or other public service that does not interfere with the Executive’s duties under
this Agreement. In the performance of his duties, the Executive shall act honestly, in good
faith and in the best interests of the Company, and shall exercise the degree of diligence and
responsibility that a person having the Executive’s expertise and knowledge of the affairs of
the Company would reasonably be expected to exercise in comparable circumstances.
	 
	2.4	 	The Executive recognizes that his primary business obligation is to the Company and agrees
not to permit the pursuit of other interests to interfere with the fulfillment of his duties
in that position. The Executive shall disclose actual or potential business conflicts of
interest to the board of directors of the Company and which are included in Schedule B. Any
uncertainty as to whether such a conflict exists shall be raised by the Executive for
determination by the board of directors of Ausam, acting reasonably. The Executive shall
conduct himself so as to avoid an actual or potential conflict of interest.

	3.	 	COMPENSATION
	 
	3.1	 	The Executive will be compensated for his services based on the attached Schedule A, which is
incorporated as a part of this Agreement.
	 
	4.	 	EXPENSES
	 
	4.1	 	The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable travel and other expenses and
professional fees actually and reasonably incurred in the performance of his duties on

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 5 of 18

behalf of the Company. Reimbursement will be made upon the submission of a written itemized
expense claim and proper supporting documentation within a reasonable time after such
expenses have been incurred.

	5.	 	NON-DISCLOSURE & CONFIDENTIALITY
	 
	5.1	 	The Executive acknowledges that, as a result of the Executive’s employment by the Company,
the Executive shall be making use of or acquiring information about certain matters and things
which are confidential to the Company and which information is the exclusive property of the
Company or a third party with whom the Company does business or has pursued prospective
business, including all confidential information acquired by or made available to the
Executive by the Company or its representatives, which shall include trade secrets, offering
memoranda, financial information, plans, engineering reports, environmental reports, legal
opinions, names of shareholders, private investors, joint venture partners and limited
partners, geological information, land and lease information, well data, project data, seismic
information, gas, liquids or products processing, and marketing terms and arrangements or
other such information as may be material to the Company, which information is or may be
either applicable to or related in any way to the assets, business or affairs of the Company,
together with all analyses, compilations, notes, data, studies or other material documents or
copies thereof prepared by or for the Company (collectively, the “Confidential Information”).
	 
	5.2	 	Confidential Information shall not include any information that (i) was in the possession of
or known to the Executive, without any obligation to keep it confidential, before it was
disclosed to the Executive by the Company or through the Executive’s involvement with the
Company; or (ii) is or becomes public knowledge through no fault of the Executive; or (iii) is
disclosed by the Company to other persons without any restriction on its use or disclosure; or
(iv) is or becomes lawfully available to the Executive from a source other than the Company,
which source is legally permitted to disclose such information and is not under
confidentiality restrictions.
	 
	5.3	 	As a material inducement to the Company to employ the Executive and to pay to the Executive
compensation for such services to be rendered to the Company by the Executive, the Executive
agrees that the Executive shall not, except with the prior written

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 6 of 18

consent of the Company, or except if the Executive is acting as an employee of the Company
solely for the benefit of Company in connection with Company’s business and in accordance
with the Company’s business practices and employment policies, at any time during or
following the term of the Executive’s employment by the Company, directly or indirectly,
disclose, reveal, report, publish, transfer or use for any purpose any of the Confidential
Information which has been obtained or disclosed to Executive as a result of the Executive’s
employment by the Company.

	5.4	 	Disclosure of any Confidential Information of the Company shall not be prohibited if the
disclosure is directly pursuant to a valid and existing order of a duly authorized court or
other governmental body or agency; provided, however, that the Executive shall give prompt
notice to the Company of any possible or prospective order (or proceeding pursuant to which
any order may result) requiring such disclosure so that the Company shall have a reasonable
opportunity to contest or limit any disclosure.
	 
	5.5	 	All documents (paper or electronic) or other tangible things that contain, reflect or refer
to Confidential Information shall be returned by Executive to the Company upon termination of
Executive’s employment, regardless of the reason or circumstances of such termination.
Executive’s return of such information and things, as well as any other property belonging to
the Company, shall be a pre-condition to payment of any sums or provision of any benefits to
Executive under the termination provisions of this Agreement.
	 
	6.	 	FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS
	 
	6.1	 	The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he is a fiduciary of the Company and he agrees to
be bound by his fiduciary obligations following his resignation or termination from the
Company for any reason.
	 
	7.	 	POST-TERMINATION COVENANTS
	 
	7.1	 	Non-Competition. The Executive, directly or indirectly, shall not engage in or participate
in the ownership, management, operations or control of, or be connected with, as a principal,
agent, independent contractor, consultant, director, officer, employee, advisor, stockholder,
partner, or in any other individual or representative capacity

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 7 of 18

providing management or other services, any entity or person engaging or seeking to engage
in oil and gas exploration or production activities with respect to any property in which
the Company has, or had during Executive’s employment, an interest or which was a prospect
considered by the Company while Executive was employed; provided, that it shall not be a
violation of this section for the Executive to become the registered or beneficial owner of
up to one percent (1%) of any class of the capital stock of a publicly held corporation on
the condition that the Executive does not actively participate in the business of such
corporation until such time as these restrictions expire.

	7.2	 	Non-Solicitation of Business Opportunities. The Executive shall not, directly or indirectly,
for his benefit or for the benefit of any other person, firm, or business, solicit from any
property owner any interest in property for the purpose of oil or gas exploration or
production activities with respect to any property in which the Company has, or had during
Executive’s employment, an interest or which was a prospect offered to or considered by the
Company while the Executive was employed.
	 
	7.3	 	Restricted Period. The restrictions imposed by Sections 7.1 and 7.2 above shall be effective
during the period of the Executive’s employment by Noram and for twelve (12) months following
the termination (including by resignation) of the Executive’s employment, regardless of the
reason for or circumstances of such termination.
	 
	7.4	 	Non-Solicitation of Employees. The Executive agrees that for a period of twenty four (24)
months following the termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason (including by
resignation), the Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit, divert, hire, retain,
employ or take away any employees or consultants of the Company, whether such new employment
or retainer is with or without compensation, unless as mutually agreed between the Executive
and the Company.
	 
	7.5	 	Reasonableness of Restrictions. The Executive agrees and acknowledges that the time
limitations and scope of the restrictions in this Article 7 are reasonable and properly
required for the adequate protection of the exclusive property and business of Noram and in
exchange for Noram’s agreement to employ Executive and the Confidential Information to be
provided to Executive in the course of his employment.

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 8 of 18

	7.6	 	Remedies. Executive acknowledges and agrees that any threatened or actual violation on his
part of any of the covenants contained in this Article 7 would necessarily result in
irreparable harm and injury to the Company for which they would have no adequate remedy at
law, and that, consequently, the Company will be entitled to have any threatened or actual
breach of any restrictive covenant in this Article 7 enjoined. Such injunctive relief shall
be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other relief at law or in equity to which the
Company may be entitled.
	 
	8.	 	TERMINATION BY EMPLOYER FOR JUST CAUSE
	 
	8.1	 	The Company may terminate this Agreement and the Executive’s employment at any time for Just
Cause without notice to the Executive and without payment to the Executive of any compensation
or severance in lieu of notice. Upon termination of employment for Just Cause, the Company
shall pay, and shall only be obligated to pay, to the Executive the Accrued Pay, which shall
be paid no later than thirty (30) days following termination of employment.
	 
	9.	 	TERMINATION BY EMPLOYER WITHOUT JUST CAUSE OR RESIGNATION FOR GOOD REASON
	 
	9.1	 	If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than Just
Cause and other than in accordance with Sections 10 or 11, or if the Executive resigns for
Good Reason, then the Company will pay to the Executive, in a lump sum no later than thirty
(30) days following termination of employment, an amount equal to one year of Base Salary
(using the higher salary the Executive has received at any time during the two (2) years
immediately prior to the termination), less required withholdings. Additionally, the Company
will continue to provide the Executive, for a maximum period of twelve (12) months, with such
medical and dental, short and long term disability, and life insurance coverages, on the same
terms and at the same cost to the Executive, as were in effect on the last day of his active
employment. This will be accomplished, with respect to medical and dental coverage, by
reimbursing the Executive for premiums he incurs (less the premiums he would have paid as an
active employee) based on the exercise of his right to continuation of coverage under COBRA.
If Executive’s continued participation in any of the Company’s other identified benefits plans
is not feasible for any reason, then the Company will reimburse the Executive, quarterly upon
his

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 9 of 18

submission of proper documentation, for his incurred premium costs (less the premiums he
would have paid as an active employee) in obtaining comparable alternative coverages, The
Executive’s right to continued coverage under the Company’s above identified benefits plans,
and his right to reimbursement for premiums paid for comparable alternative coverages, shall
terminate upon his obtaining other employment and becoming eligible for generally comparable
benefits as a result of such new employment. The Executive shall be solely responsible for
any and all taxes owed on any benefits received by or sums paid to him under this Section
9.1. The Executive shall not be entitled to any other payments, compensation or benefits
under this Agreement (except for Accrued Pay). As conditions precedent to the Company’s
obligation to make the above described payment, the Executive shall (i) provide a written
resignation of all director and officer positions held in the Company and any of its (their)
subsidiaries or other related entities, (ii) comply in all respects with his obligations
under Section 5 above, and (iii) deliver to the Company a duly executed full and final
release extinguishing all claims and potential claims, regardless of their nature, against
the Company, any of its affiliates, and their respective directors, employees, agents and
benefit plans, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

The Company will also pay to the Executive the Accrued Pay no later than thirty (30) days
following termination of employment.

	9.2	 	If the Executive is working outside of his country of citizenship at the time of termination,
he will be repatriated to his country of citizenship and the Company will pay all reasonable
expenses incurred in connection therewith as soon as practicable, but no later than sixty (60)
days following the date of termination of employment.
	 
	10.	 	TERMINATION — DEATH OF THE EXECUTIVE
	 
	10.1	 	This Agreement and the Executive’s employment shall be deemed to have terminated upon the
death of the Executive. The Company shall pay, and shall only be obligated to pay, to the
Executive’s spouse or legal representative, within five (5) business days of receipt of notice
of the Executive’s death:

	 	(a)	 	the Accrued Pay; and

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 10 of 18

	 	(b)	 	an amount equal to the annual target bonus (one hundred percent (100%) of Base
Salary) for the year in which the Executive’s death occurs multiplied by the fraction
of the year during which the Executive was employed, less required withholdings.

	11.	 	TERMINATION UPON PERMANENT DISABILITY OF EXECUTIVE
	 
	11.1	 	In the event that the Executive shall suffer a Permanent Disability, the employment of the
Executive may be terminated by Ausam upon the giving of Notice of at least thirty (30) days;
provided that such termination does not adversely affect the Executive’s entitlement to long-term
disability benefits under the Company’s employee benefit plan. In such case, the Company will pay
to the Executive, within thirty (30) days of termination of employment, (a) the Accrued Pay as of
the date of termination, and (b) an amount equal to the annual target bonus (one hundred percent
(100%) of Base Salary) for the year in which the Executive’s disability occurs multiplied by the
fraction of the year during which the Executive was employed, less required withholdings. The
Company shall have no further obligation under this Agreement.
	 
	12.	 	TERMINATION AFTER CHANGE OF CONTROL
	 
	12.1	 	Following a Change of Control or Change in Responsibilities that occurs within twelve (12)
months of a Change of Control and is not cured in accordance with Section 1.1(c), the Executive
shall have the right, for a period of sixty (60) days, to elect to terminate this Agreement and his
employment with the Company (or any successor) by providing notice to the Company (or its successor
in accordance with Section 15.1, following which notice:

	 	(a)	 	the Company (or its successor) shall pay to the Executive an amount equal to
one (1) years’ Base Salary as of the date of the Change of Control, plus his Accrued
Pay, within thirty (30) days of termination of employment;
	 
	 	(b)	 	the Company (or its successor) shall provide the Executive with those
insurance coverages listed in Section 9.1, on the same terms and conditions specified
in Section 9.1, for a period of up to two (2) years following the Change of Control;
	 
	 	(c)	 	the Company (or its successor) promptly shall repatriate the Executive, if
applicable, in accordance with Section 9.2; and

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 11 of 18

	 	(d)	 	All shares of restricted stock granted to the Executive shall be converted,
within thirty (30) days of termination of employment, to unrestricted shares, subject
to the terms and provisions of the restricted stock plan under which such shares were
granted and applicable law.

	13.	 	TERMINATION BENEFITS HEREUNDER IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER RIGHTS

          Any payments or benefits to which the Executive may be entitled under Articles 8 through 12 of
this Agreement shall be in lieu of (and not in addition to) any other payments or benefits to which
the Executive may otherwise be entitled upon termination of employment, whether under any severance
plan, policy or any other practice or agreement of the Company. As a condition of receiving
termination related payments and benefits under this Agreement, the Executive waives any and all
rights to payments and benefits from the Company under any other severance plan, policy or other
practice or agreement.

	14.	 	SECTION 409A

          Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if the payment of any
compensation or provision of any benefit hereunder upon termination of employment would be subject
to additional taxes and interest under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”), because the timing of such payment or benefit is not delayed as provided in
Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then any such payment or benefit the Executive would otherwise
be entitled to during the first six months following the date of the Executive’s termination of
employment shall be accumulated and paid or provided, as applicable, on the date that is six (6)
months after the date of the Executive’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 or benefit can be paid or provided under Section 409A of the Code
without being subject to such additional taxes and interest. The preceding sentence shall apply
only to the extent required to avoid the Executive’s incurrence of any additional tax or interest
under Section 409A of the Code or the regulations or Treasury guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 12 of 18

	15.	 	RESIGNATION
	 
	15.1	 	Unless otherwise provided for herein, the Executive shall provide the Company with 90 days
advance written notice of resignation. This notice may be waived in whole or in part by the
Company.
	 
	16.	 	GENERAL
	 
	16.1	 	This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the
parties hereto shall be governed by, the laws of the State of Texas and, where applicable, the
federal laws of the United States. Each of the parties hereto consents to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Harris County, Texas.
	 
	17.	 	NOTICES
	 
	17.1	 	Any notice or written communication which must be given or sent under this Agreement shall be
given or sent by hand or courier delivery or by facsimile transmission and if delivered:

	 	(a)	 	by hand or courier, it shall be deemed to have been validly given or received on the day
of delivery to the current address under this Section 17, provided that any delivery made
after 4:00 p.m. (local time) on a business day or on at any hour on a day other than a
business day shall be deemed to be received on the next following business day; or
	 
	 	(b)	 	by facsimile, it shall be deemed to have been validly given or received on the day sent,
if sent prior to 4:00 p.m. (local time) at the place of receipt on a business day with
written confirmation of receipt from the sending machine, and otherwise on the business day
following the day of transmission by facsimile, with written confirmation of receipt from
the sending machine, to the current fax number under this Section 16 as it may be changed
pursuant to this Section 17.

	17.2	 	A party may, at any time, change its named recipient, address or facsimile number for the
purposes of service by written notice to the other party hereto; provided that, until changed, the
contact details shall be:

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 13 of 18

	 	(a)	 	in the case of the Executive:

***

	 	(b)	 	in the case of the Company:

Ausam Energy Corporation

1122 Fourth Street — Suite 1430

Calgary, Alberta T2R 1M1

CANADA

Tel: 1.403.215.2380

Fax: 1.403.206.1457

	18.	 	ENTIRE AGREEMENT
	 
	18.1	 	This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the
employment of the Executive with the Company, and cancels and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. This
Agreement may not be amended or modified in any way except by written instrument signed by the
parties hereto.
	 
	19.	 	SEVERABILITY
	 
	19.1	 	In the event that any provisions of this Agreement shall be held by a court or another
tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, such provision will be reformed or
eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that this Agreement shall otherwise remain in full
force and effect.
	 
	20.	 	TIME
	 
	20.1	 	Time shall in all respects be of the essence to this Agreement.
	 
	21.	 	NO ASSIGNMENT
	 
	21.1	 	This Agreement is a personal services agreement and may not be assigned by either party
without the prior written consent of the other party, except that this limitation shall not apply
to any successor of the Company.
	 
	***	 	Personal information has been intentionally omitted.

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 14 of 18

	22.	 	NO WAIVERS
	 
	22.1	 	The waiver by either party of any breach of the terms of this Agreement shall not operate or
be construed as a waiver by that party of any other breach of the same or any other term of this
Agreement.
	 
	23.	 	SURVIVAL
	 
	23.1	 	Sections 5, 6 and 7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
	 
	24.	 	THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARY
	 
	24.1	 	The Executive and the Company intend that Ausam be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement
and agree that, as such, Ausam shall be entitled to the benefit of and have the right to enforce
its provisions.

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

	 	 	 
	 

	 	EXECUTIVE
	 
	 	 
	 
	 	/s/ Ralph D. Davis 
	 

	 	 
	Witness

	 	Ralph D. Davis
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	AUSAM ENERGY CORPORATION
	 

	 	NORAM RESOURCES, INC
 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	                      BY:  /s/  Mark G. Avery
 	 
	 	Mark G. Avery 	 
	 	On Behalf of

The Board of Directors 	 
	 

 

 

Schedule A

Compensation

	1.	 	Base Salary:

The Executive will be paid a salary of $17,916.67 per month ($215,000.00 annualized), less
required withholdings (the “Base Salary”). In addition to the Base Salary, the Executive will be paid an automobile
allowance in the amount of $1,000 per month. The Base Salary shall be payable in arrears in
equal monthly or bi-weekly instalments. The Base Salary shall be reviewed annually and may
be increased in the sole discretion of Noram.

	2.	 	Bonus:

The Executive shall be eligible for an annual cash bonus, at the discretion of the Company,
based on his performance and the performance of the Company. The target amount of such
bonus will be one hundred percent (100%) of annual Base Salary, but the amount, if any, to
be awarded shall be at the discretion of the Company, except that if the Company, in its
discretion, determines that the Executive, throughout the annual bonus period, has used his
best efforts to achieve the company’s objectives, then the Executive shall be entitled to a
bonus of not less than twenty (20%) of Base Salary without regard to other criteria
established for the purpose of determining the bonus amount.

	3.	 	Benefits:

The Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s benefit plans (Medical and
Dental, Group Term Life, Short and Long Term Disability, and 401k) on the same basis as the
Company’s comparably situated executive employees, subject to the terms and requirements of
the respective plans.

	4.	 	Vacation, Holidays and Leave:

          (a) The Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of vacation in each full calendar
year of employment with the Company, such vacation to be taken within 12 months of each
applicable year end. During 2008, the Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of
vacation.

          (b) The Executive shall be entitled to ten (10) paid holidays annually, said holidays
to be determined by the Company. During 2008, the Executive shall be entitled to ten (10)
paid holidays.

          (c) The Executive shall be entitled to ten (10) paid personal leave days, in lieu of
sick leave, annually. During 2008, the Executive shall be entitled to ten (10) paid
personal leave days. The Executive may accumulate a maximum of twenty paid personal leave
days.

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 16 of 18

	5.	 	Restricted Share Options:

The Executive shall be granted 125,000 share options for Ausam common stock, subject to the
following restrictions.

          (a) The grant shall have an anniversary date of 1 December 2007 and be contingent on
execution of this Agreement and commencement of employment.

          (b) The Executive shall not sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of or
encumber any share options with respect to which the restrictions have not lapsed.

          (c) If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Just Cause or in
accordance with Sections 10 or 11, or if the Executive resigns for any reason, then all
share options with respect to which restrictions have not previously lapsed under the
schedule provided below shall expire and be cancelled. If the Executive’s employment is
terminated by the Company for any other reason, then the restrictions shall lapse with
respect to any share options that remain restricted as of the date of the termination of
employment.

          (d) The restrictions will lapse, and the Executive will receive unrestricted share
options as follows: one-third of the total grant (i.e., 41,667 share options) on 11 January
2008 or as soon as possible subject to any blackout period; one-third of the total grant on
1 December 2008 or as soon as possible subject to any blackout period, and one-third of the
total grant on plus one (1) share option on 1 December 2009, or as soon as possible subject
to any blackout period, unless as otherwise agreed between the Executive and the Company.

          (e) The Executive will have no rights as a stockholder and no rights to receive
dividend or equivalent payments with respect to share options that may be received by
Executive upon the lapse of restrictions until the restrictions have lapsed and those share
options are exercised as registered shares in Executive’s name on the books of Ausam’s
transfer agent.

          (f) The Executive must pay any taxes that are required to be withheld by the Company
in respect of the within grant. Executive may pay such amounts in cash or make other
arrangements satisfactory to the Company for payment of such amounts. Executive agrees that
the Company, in its sole discretion and to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall have
the right to demand that Executive pay such amounts in cash, deduct such amounts from any
payments of any kind otherwise due to Executive, or withhold from share options for which
restrictions have lapsed the number of shares having an aggregate market value at the time
equal to the amount Executive owes.

          (g) By accepting a grant of share options, Executive agrees that if the Company
determines that Executive engaged in Conduct Detrimental to the Company during his
employment or during the one-year period following the termination of Executive’s
employment, Executive shall be required to return to the Company, upon demand, and without
compensation therefore, some or all of the share options on which restrictions have lapsed
and which are still owned or controlled by the Executive. The Executive understands and
agrees that the return of share options is in addition to and separate from

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 17 of 18

any other relief available to the Company due to Executive’s Conduct Detrimental to the
Company. Conduct Detrimental to the Company, as used in this section, means:

(i) The Executive gives Just Cause for termination as defined in Section 1.1(f)
(whether or not such cause is discovered by the Company prior to the termination of
Executive’s employment); (ii) Executive breaches his obligations to the Company
under this Agreement with respect to Confidential Information; (iii) Executive
competes with the Company in breach of this Agreement; or (iv) Executive solicits
the Company’s employees or consultants or business interests in breach of this
Agreement.

          (h) The Executive understands and agrees that Section 5(g) does not prohibit Executive
from competing with the Company or soliciting the Company’s employees or business interests,
but requires only return of equity in the event of such competition or solicitation in
violation of other provisions of the Agreement of which this Schedule A is a part. The
Executive further acknowledges and agrees that the grant of an equity interest in Ausam
gives rise to the Company, and the Company’s shareholders’ need to protect themselves from
Conduct Detrimental to the Company.

          (i) The Executive further acknowledges and agrees that the future value of the share
options he is to be granted is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty; and that
Executive will have no rights to compensation or damages related to those shares in
consequence of the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason whatsoever, whether
or not in breach of contract.

          (j) Upon termination of or resignation from employment for any reason, the Executive
agrees that the Company shall have the right of first refusal to purchase all share options
in Ausam owned by Executive, and that Executive shall offer such share options on the same
terms, including price, on which such share options may be purchased by any other person or
entity, first to the Company at least ninety (90) days in advance of any sale by Executive
of such share options, with such offer to remain open for at least thirty (30) days.

          (k) Except as may be otherwise expressly provided herein, the grant of share options
shall be subject to and governed by the terms and provisions of the stock option plan to be
adopted by Ausam. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained herein, the grant and
all conditions and actions related to the share options shall be in compliance with all
applicable legal requirements, and any provisions contained herein which are contrary to
such legal requirements shall be reformed to comply with such requirements.

 

 

			
	Ausam Energy Corporation

Executive Employment Agreement 

	 	Page 18 of 18

Schedule B

Potential Business Conflicts

NONE

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00135-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00135-of-00352.parquet"}]]