Document:

Exhibit

EXHIBIT 10.1

Western Midstream Partners, LP 
US INCENTIVE 
COMPENSATION PROGRAM (US ICP) 
(February 10, 2020) 
 
PURPOSE 
 
The Western Midstream Partners, LP US Incentive Compensation Program (the “Program”) is adopted by Western Midstream Holdings, LLC (the “Company”) to provide eligible employees of Western Midstream Services, LLC and its applicable affiliates (the “Employer”) with the opportunity to earn an annual incentive (an “Award”). Awards are based on the achievement of performance goals that are intended to focus Participants (as defined below) on (1) business objectives of Western Midstream Partners, LP (the “Partnership”) and (2) a Participant’s individual objectives. 
 
ELIGIBILITY/PARTICIPATION 
 
All regular, full-time and part-time exempt employees in the grade levels designated by management of the Company (“Management”) who are employees during the Performance Period (as defined below) and who are not participating in any other annual incentive programs are eligible to participate in the Program. The employees selected by Management to participate in the Program are referred to herein as “Participants”. 
 
PERFORMANCE PERIOD 
 
The performance period shall be the period for which the performance objectives applicable to an Award are measured, which unless otherwise determined for an Award, shall be the one-year period beginning on January 1 of a given year and ending on December 31 of that same year (the “Performance Period”). 
 
PERFORMANCE MEASURES/OBJECTIVES 
 
The Program Administrator (as defined below), in its sole discretion, will determine the performance objective or objectives applicable to any potential Award or portion thereof, which may include Partnership and/or individual performance goals and objectives or a combination thereof to be determined from time to time (“Performance Metrics”).

AWARD LEVELS 
 
A target award shall be established at the beginning of each Performance Period for each Participant, which is a dollar amount equal to a percentage of the Participant’s annual base salary or wages. Individual target Award levels may reflect variations in job function and scope and the potential impact the Participant has on the Partnership’s business priorities. Award minimums and maximums may also be established for each Performance Period for performance achievement below and above target performance. Award opportunity levels corresponding to the minimum, target and maximum levels of performance may vary by Participant. 

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PAYMENT OF AWARDS 
 
The amount of an Award earned and payable under the Program shall be determined by evaluating performance against Performance Metrics for the applicable Performance Period, and the actual amount paid with respect to an Award may be higher or lower than a Participant’s target Award. The Program Administrator shall evaluate satisfaction of all Performance Metrics and determine Award payment amounts. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in determining the payment amount of each Award, the Program Administrator may reduce (including a reduction of the payment to $0) the amount that may otherwise be earned and payable with respect to such Award if, in its sole discretion, it determines that such reduction or elimination is appropriate. The Program Administrator may also determine to award a higher amount to any Participant if it determines to do so in its discretion.
 
Awards are generally expected to be paid no later than the thirty first day of the third month following the end of the Performance Period. Awards shall be paid in a lump sum cash payment, unless otherwise determined by the Program Administrator. All applicable taxes and withholdings shall be deducted from Award payments in accordance with federal, state and local regulations. 
 
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
Except as provided otherwise below, a Participant must be actively employed on the Award payment date in order to receive payment. If a Participant terminates employment prior to the Award payment date and: (i) such termination is due to disability (as determined by the Program Administrator, in its sole discretion), or (ii) such termination is due to death, or (iii) such termination is for any reason other than cause and the Participant completed at least six full months of service during the Performance Period, in each case, the Award may, in the discretion of the Program Administrator, be pro-rated based on the number of days elapsed during the Performance Period until the termination date. In the event of death, the prorated Award may be paid to the Participant’s beneficiary, as designated under the Company’s basic life insurance plan. 
 
Notwithstanding the above, as described more fully below, the Program Administrator in its sole discretion, may amend, alter, modify, suspend, change, discontinue or terminate this Program and outstanding unvested Awards at any time, in any manner and for any Performance Period, without the consent of any Participant. 

AWARD PAYMENT UNDER VARIOUS EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS 
 
The Program Administrator may determine, or may delegate the determination of, eligibility for Awards and any payment of Awards to Participants who enter or exit employment, go out on or return from an approved leave of absence or who are promoted during a Performance Period. 
 
The Program Administrator may, in its sole discretion, waive any requirements for payment as specified above in certain, special situations, such as a plant or asset shutdown. Notwithstanding the foregoing, under no circumstances will an Award or any part thereof be paid to a Participant who is terminated for cause prior to the Award payment date. 
 

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If a Participant is on an approved leave of absence (including Military Leave) during the Performance Period, any Award may be pro-rated. Additionally, any Award may be pro-rated for Participants hired during the Performance Period. 
 
If an employee is promoted during a Performance Period, and such change warrants a change in eligibility from the Company’s Annual Incentive Program (“AIP”) into the Program, such employee will only participate in the Program for the Performance Period, as well as any subsequent years in which the employee is in a Program-eligible grade. Conversely, if an employee is demoted during a Performance Period, and such change warrants a change in eligibility from the Program into the AIP, such employee will only participate in the AIP for the Performance Period, as well as any subsequent years in which the employee is in an AIP-eligible grade. 
 
PROGRAM CHANGES DUE TO COMPANY ACTIVITY 
 
Acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, significant corporate changes and/or extraordinary events involving the Company may require changes or amendments (including reduction, elimination or termination) to outstanding Awards and/or an applicable Performance Period’s targets, minimums, maximums, Performance Metrics and/or Award opportunities. In such cases, any changes or amendments shall be presented to the Program Administrator for approval. 
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR
 
The “Program Administrator” shall be the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) with respect to any officers of the Company, including any individual who is subject to reporting requirements under Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Officers”). With respect to all other employees, the “Program Administrator” shall be any of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, any member of the Company’s executive leadership as may be delegated authority by the Board; provided, that the Board may, at any time, elect to act in whole or in part in the capacity of the Program Administrator. The Program Administrator has sole discretion over the Program and may delegate any or all actions under the Program to a committee of the Board or one or more of the officers of the Company; provided that the Compensation Committee of the Board (“Compensation Committee”) may not delegate its authority as Program Administrator with respect to Officers other than to an independent Compensation Committee. If the Program Administrator delegates any authority for the administration of the Program, the term “Program Administrator” will include the individuals delegated such authority with respect to such authority. The decisions of the Program Administrator with respect to the Program (including but not limited to questions of construction, interpretation and administration) shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in or under the Program. Any determination made by the Program Administrator shall be given the maximum deference permitted by law in the event it is subject to judicial review and shall be overturned by a court of law only if it is arbitrary and capricious. 
 
PROGRAM CONTINUATION 
 
The Company expects and intends to continue the Program but does not guarantee any specific levels of Award payments or the continuation of any Award payments. The Company, through action of the Program Administrator in its sole discretion, reserves the right to amend, alter, modify, suspend, 

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change, discontinue or terminate this Program and any outstanding unvested Awards at any time, in any manner and for any Performance Period, without the consent of any Participant.

GOVERNING LAW
 
The Program is subject to compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations. The Program and all related documents shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Texas. If any provision shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid and unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the Program shall continue in effect.
 
NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT

Nothing contained in the Program (or in any other documents relating to the Program or to any Award) shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ or other service of any entity within the Employer or any of its affiliates or constitute any contract or agreement of employment or other service, nor shall interfere in any way with the right of the Employer or any of its affiliates to change such Participant’s compensation or other benefits or to terminate the employment of such Participant, with or without cause.
 
FUNDING OF THE PROGRAM

Unless otherwise determined by the Program Administrator, the Program shall be unfunded and shall not create (or be construed to create) a trust or a separate fund or funds. The Program shall not establish any fiduciary relationship between the Company or any subsidiary and any Participant or other person. To the extent any person holds any rights by virtue of an Award under the Program, such rights shall be no greater than the rights of an unsecured general creditor.
 
Awards from the Program shall not be considered as compensation for the purposes of any benefit plans or programs of the Company, except as specifically set forth otherwise in a formal plan document.
 
SECTION 409A

The Company intends that the Program shall be interpreted, construed and administered in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance thereunder (together, “Section 409A”). Notwithstanding the foregoing or any provision of the Program to the contrary, in the event that the Program Administrator determines that any Award may become subject to income inclusion under Section 409A, the Program Administrator may adopt such amendments to the Program or take any other actions (including amendments and actions with retroactive effect), that the Program Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to avoid such income inclusion, including without limitation, actions intended to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall create any obligation on the part of the Company to adopt any such amendment or take any other such action or any liability for any failure to do so. In no event shall the Company or any of its affiliates have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise compensate any Participant for any taxes or interest imposed under Section 409A or similar provisions of state law. 

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In the event that that any Award provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to Section 409A, and any termination of employment constitutes a payment event with respect to such Award, such termination of employment must also constitute a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A. In the event that any Award provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to Section 409A, and if a change in control of the Company or any affiliate thereof constitutes a payment event with respect to such Award the transaction or event with respect to such Award must also constitute a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5), to the extent required to comply with Section 409A. In the event that any Award provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to Section 409A, the time of payment of this Award shall not be accelerated, except as permitted under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4). If any Participant is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A as of the date of his or her termination of employment and the Company determines that immediate payment of any amounts or benefits under this Program would cause a violation of Section 409A, then any amounts or benefits which are payable under this Program upon such Participant’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A that: (i) are subject to the provisions of Section 409A; (ii) are not otherwise exempt under Section 409A; and (iii) would otherwise be payable during the first six (6)-month period following such separation from service, shall be paid, without interest, on the first business day following the earlier of: (1) the date that is six months and one day following the date of such separation from service; or (2) the date of such Participant’s death. Each payment or amount due to any Participant under this Program shall be considered a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A, and any Participant’s entitlement to a series of payments under this Program is to be treated as an entitlement to a series of separate payments.

5Exhibit

EXHIBIT 10.2

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/$GrantDate$/

Dear /$ParticipantName$/:

In recognition of your ongoing contributions, we are pleased to grant you an award of Phantom Units under the Western Gas Equity Partners, LP 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“the Plan”).  This Phantom Unit Award is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and the provisions of this Award Agreement.  Unless defined herein, capitalized terms shall have the meaning assigned to them under the Plan.  For the avoidance of doubt, references in the Plan to (i) the “Company” mean Western Midstream Holdings, LLC, and (ii) the “Partnership” mean Western Midstream Partners, LP.

Effective /$GrantDate$/ (the “Grant Date”) you have been granted /$AwardsGranted$/ Phantom Units.  Provided you remain continuously employed with Western Midstream Services, LLC or an affiliate (the “Employer”) until such dates, one-third of the Phantom Units will vest on the dates set forth in the [below/associated] vesting schedule (each date considered a “Vesting Period”):

<Vesting scheduled automatically included at Merrill>

At the end of each Vesting Period, the number of Phantom Units that vest shall be paid in the form of common units in the Partnership and such Common Units shall be delivered to you within 60 days of the last day of the Vesting Period into a Merrill Lynch brokerage account, provided, however, that the number of Common Units delivered to you will be reduced by applicable payroll and other tax withholdings unless you have made other arrangements acceptable to the Company and the Employer in accordance with Section 8(b) of the Plan.  

The Phantom Units have tandem distribution equivalent rights (“DERs”) subject to the same forfeiture provisions as the Phantom Units themselves.  During the Vesting Period, you will receive an in-kind payment on each Phantom Unit equal to the distribution paid to holders of Common Units.  The DER payment amount will be converted, as of the applicable distribution payment date, into a number of Common Units by dividing the aggregate DER payment amount for the applicable distribution payment date by the Fair Market Value of one Common Unit on the distribution payment date.  The resulting number of Common Units will paid to you no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the applicable distribution payment date in the form of Common Units and such Common Units shall be delivered to you into a Merrill Lynch brokerage account, provided, however, that the number of Common Units delivered to you will be reduced by applicable payroll and other tax withholdings unless you have made other arrangements acceptable to the Company and the Employer in accordance with Section 8(b) of the Plan.

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The grant of this Award requires your acceptance. By acknowledging receipt of this Award Agreement and signifying acceptance online through your Merrill Lynch account, you accept and agree to abide by the terms and conditions under the Plan and the provisions of this letter. If you fail to accept this Award on or before the 60th day following the Date of Grant, then, notwithstanding any other provision of the Award Agreement, you shall forfeit all rights to this Award (including all Phantom Units and any DERs with respect thereto).

All of your unvested Phantom Units will be immediately forfeited if your employment with the Employer terminates for any reason, except as provided in the paragraph below.  

Notwithstanding the foregoing, all of your unvested Phantom Units will immediately vest (and be paid in Common Units) if any of the following occur: (i) your death, (ii) your employment with the Employer terminates due to your disability (as determined by the applicable long-term disability program in which you participate or were eligible to participate), or (iii) the Employer terminates your employment without Cause or you resign your employment for Good Reason within 2 years following a Change of Control.  If you are terminated by the Employer without Cause not within two years following a Change in Control or retire with the consent of the Company (each of the foregoing, a “Pro-Rata Vesting Event”), then the number of unvested Phantom Units will be reduced on a pro rata basis to the number obtained by (A) multiplying the total number of Phantom Units granted by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days between the Vesting Start Date and the Pro-Rata Vesting Event and the denominator of which is the number of days between the Vesting Start Date and the final Vesting Date, and (B) subtracting from the product the number of Phantom Units that previously vested, if any. Such remaining pro rata unvested Phantom Units shall immediately vest and be paid in Common Units on the date of the Forfeiture Event, and all other Phantom Units that have not previously vested shall be immediately forfeited.  

For purposes of the foregoing, (I) “Good Reason” means (i) your duties and responsibilities as an employee are materially and adversely diminished in comparison to the duties and responsibilities enjoyed immediately prior to the Change in Control, (ii) your base salary is materially reduced in comparison to the base salary enjoyed immediately prior to the Change in Control, (iii) the aggregate value of your base salary plus target incentive compensation (target annual bonus plus target annual long-term incentive award opportunity) is materially reduced in comparison to the aggregate value of your base salary plus target incentive compensation immediately prior to the Change in Control, (iv) you are required to be based at a location more than 25 miles from the primary location where you were based and performed services immediately prior to the Change in Control, (v) you are required by the Employer to take an assignment or position that requires you to travel on frequent overnight trips resulting in extended stays away from home on a consistent basis and to a substantially greater extent than was required immediately prior to the Change in Control (this provision excludes assignments or positions 

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that might require temporary travel for a specified, short duration of time, regardless of whether such assignment or position is the result of circumstances related to the Change in Control); or (vi) you are required, without your consent, to perform in a job position, or substantial job assignment, for which you are not skilled or trained; and (II) “Cause” means (a) your conviction of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, (b) your willful failure to perform your duties or responsibilities, (c) your engaging in conduct which is injurious (monetarily or otherwise) to the Employer, the Company, the Partnership or any of their affiliates (including, without limitation, misuse of funds or other property), (d) your engaging in business activities which are in conflict with the business interests of the Partnership and its affiliates, (e) your insubordination, (f) your engaging in conduct which is in violation of any applicable policy or work rule of the Employer or its affiliates, (g) your engaging in conduct which is in violation of the Employer’s (or its affiliates’) applicable safety rules or standards or which otherwise causes or may cause injury to another employee or any other person, or (h) your engaging in conduct which is in violation of any applicable Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or which is otherwise inappropriate in the office or work environment.  For purposes of clause (b) above, no act or failure to act, on your part, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by you in bad faith or without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interests of the Partnership and its affiliates.  Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of legal counsel for the Company or its affiliates shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by you in good faith and in the best interests of the Partnership and its affiliates.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any particular time you are subject to an effective employment agreement or change in control agreement with the Company, the Employer or any of their Affiliates, then, in lieu of the foregoing definition, “Good Reason” and “Cause” shall at that time have such meaning as may be specified in such employment agreement or change in control agreement, as applicable.

For purposes of this Award Agreement, “Change in Control” does not have the meaning set forth in the Plan and instead means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon any of the following events: (i) any “person” or “group” within the meaning of those terms as used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, other than the Partnership, Occidental Petroleum Corporation (“Oxy”) or an Affiliate of the Company, the Partnership or Oxy, shall become the beneficial owner, by way of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or otherwise, of more than 50% of the combined voting power of the equity interests in the Company, (ii) the equityholders of the Partnership approve, in one or a series of transactions, a plan of complete liquidation of the Partnership, (iii) the sale or other disposition by the Partnership of all or substantially all of its assets in one or more transactions to any Person other than or an Affiliate of the Company or the Partnership, or (iv) the Company or an Affiliate of the Company ceases to be the general partner of the Partnership and a single “person” or “group” within the meaning of those terms as used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, 

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other than the Company, the Partnership or Oxy or an Affiliate of the Company, the Partnership or Oxy, beneficially owns more than 50% of the combined voting power of the equity interests in the entity that is or becomes the general partner of the Partnership.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a 409A Award where a Change of Control would accelerate the timing of payment thereunder, the term “Change of Control” shall mean a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company as defined in Section 409A of the Code and the 409A Regulations, but only to the extent inconsistent with the above definition, and only to the minimum extent necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code and the 409A Regulations as determined by the Committee.  For the avoidance of doubt, in no event will any sale by Oxy or its Affiliates of Common Units (or other limited partner interests in the Partnership), regardless of amount, constitute a Change in Control hereunder.

If the Partnership is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Partnership, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, and if you knowingly engaged in the misconduct, were grossly negligent with respect to such misconduct, or knowingly or grossly negligently failed to prevent the misconduct (whether or not you are one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), the Plan Administrator may determine that you shall reimburse the Partnership the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award earned or accrued during the twelve-month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever first occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.

Common Units issued upon payment of the Phantom Units shall be subject to the terms of the Plan and the Partnership Agreement.  Upon the issuance of Common Units, you shall, automatically and without further action, (i) be admitted to the Partnership as a Limited Partner (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) with respect to the Common Units, and (ii) become bound, and be deemed to have agreed to be bound, by the terms of the Partnership Agreement. Until Common Units are issued to you upon payment of the Phantom Units, you shall have any of the rights or privileges of a holder of Common Units in respect of any Common Units that may become deliverable hereunder.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in lieu of delivering Common Units to you upon payment of the Phantom Units, the Company may elect at its discretion to pay or cause to be paid some or all of the Phantom Units in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Units that would otherwise be distributed as of the date of payment or vesting.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no amounts payable under this Award Agreement shall be paid to you prior to the expiration of the six (6)-month period following 

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your “separation from service” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) (a “Separation from Service”) to the extent that the Company determines that paying such amounts prior to the expiration of such six (6)-month period would result in a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code.  If the payment of any such amounts is delayed as a result of the previous sentence, then on the first business day following the end of the applicable six (6)-month period (or such earlier date upon which such amounts can be paid under Section 409A of the Code without resulting in a prohibited distribution, including as a result of your death), such amounts shall be paid to you.  The intent of the parties is that the payments and benefits under this Award Agreement comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Award Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith.  Nevertheless, to the extent that the Committee determines that the Phantom Units or DERs may not be exempt from (or compliant with) Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may (but shall not be required to) amend this Award Agreement in a manner intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or an exemption therefrom (including amendments with retroactive effect), or take any other actions as it deems necessary or appropriate to attempt to (a) exempt the Phantom Units or DERs from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Phantom Units or DERs, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  To the extent applicable, this Award Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything in this Award Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any payment or benefit hereunder constitutes non-exempt “nonqualified deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and such payment or benefit would otherwise be payable or distributable hereunder by reason of your termination of employment, all references to your termination of employment shall be construed to mean a Separation from Service, and you shall not be considered to have a termination of employment unless such termination constitutes a Separation from Service.

If you have any questions on this grant, please contact your HR representative.

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