Document:

EX 10.6 STIP Agreement 4-28-15

Exhibit 10.6
Black Hills Corporation 
Short- Term Incentive Plan for Officers
Award Agreement
(Effective for Plan Years Beginning on or after January 1, 2016)

Contents

	
			
	Article 1
	Effective Date and Purpose of Plan
	1

	 
	 
	 

	Article 2
	Definitions
	1

	 
	 
	 

	Article 3
	Eligibility and Participants
	2

	 
	 
	 

	Article 4
	Administration of the Plan
	2

	 
	 
	 

	Article 5
	Target Incentive Award and Performance Measures
	2

	 
	 
	 

	Article 6
	Termination Provisions
	3

	 
	 
	 

	Article 7
	Change in Control
	3

	 
	 
	 

	Article 8
	Forfeiture and Repayment
	5

	 
	 
	 

	Article 9
	Payment of Incentive Award
	7

	 
	 
	 

	Article 10
	Powers of Board of Directors
	7

	 
	 
	 

	Article 11
	Assignability
	8

	 
	 
	 

	Article 12
	No Contract of Employment
	8

	 
	 
	 

	Article 13
	Right to Incentive Award
	8

	 
	 
	 

	Article 14
	Governing Law
	8

	 
	 
	 

	Article 15
	No Tax Qualified or ERISA Plan
	8

    
Black Hills Corporation 
Short-Term Incentive Plan for Officers
Award Agreement
(Effective for Plan Years Beginning on or after January 1, 2016)

You have been selected to be a participant in the Black Hills Corporation Short-Term Incentive
Plan (the “STIP”).  The STIP is granted under the Cash-Based Awards provisions of the Black Hills Corporation 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

Target STIP Award:  ______ percent of base salary

Performance Period:  January 1, _____ to December 31, _____

Performance Measure: Earnings Per Share (“EPS”).

THIS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) effective ________________, represents the award opportunity under the STIP provided by Black Hills Corporation, a South Dakota corporation (the “Company”), to the Participant named above, pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.

The Plan provides a complete description of the terms and conditions governing the award. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the Plan’s terms shall completely supersede and replace the conflicting terms of this Agreement. 

All capitalized terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Plan, unless specifically set forth otherwise herein. 

The parties hereto agree as follows:

Article 1. Effective Date and Purpose of Plan

The Performance Period commences on January 1, ____ and ends on December 31, _____.

Article 2. Definitions

Unless the context otherwise specifically requires, the following words as used herein shall have the following meanings: 

"BASE SALARY" shall mean the annual base salary in effect for a Participant at the end of a plan year, including any compensation reduction under a cash or deferred arrangement under Section  401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, under a flexible benefit program under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code, or under the Black Hills Corporation Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan, but not including any amounts paid to the Participant as overtime, bonus, commission or incentive compensation, nor reimbursements and expense allowances, fringe benefits, moving expenses, nonqualified deferred compensation, or welfare benefits.

  "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

  "COMMITTEE" shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board.

  "COMPANY" shall mean Black Hills Corporation, a South Dakota corporation with principal offices in the state of South Dakota.

  "EMPLOYEE" shall mean any person who is in the regular full-time employment of the Company or a Subsidiary, as determined by the personnel rules and practices of the Company or a Subsidiary.  The term does not include persons who are retained by the Company or a Subsidiary solely as consultants.

  "INCENTIVE AWARD" shall mean the incentive compensation to be awarded to a Participant as determined under Article 5.

  "PARTICIPANTS" shall mean those eligible employees elected to participate in the Plan under Article 3 below.

  "PLAN" means the 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

  "PLAN YEAR" shall mean the 12 months beginning on January 1 and ending on the following December 31.

  "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any business organization in which Company, directly or indirectly, owns a majority of its voting power or voting equity securities or equity interest.

Article 3. Eligibility and Participants

     Employees eligible to participate in this Plan shall be the officers of the Company or a Subsidiary as designated by the Committee.  

Article 4. Administration of the Plan

This Agreement and the rights of the Participant hereunder are subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time by the Board, as well as to such rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt for administration of the Plan. It is expressly understood that the Committee is authorized to administer, construe, and make all determinations necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan and this Agreement, in its sole discretion, all of which shall be binding upon the Participant. 

Any inconsistency between the Agreement and the Plan shall be resolved in favor of the Plan.

Article 5. Target Incentive Award and Performance Measures

Participant was assigned a target incentive award determined as a percent of a Participant's Base Salary.  Participant shall have the opportunity to earn various percentages of the target incentive award.  The percentage of the target incentive award to be earned by the Participant shall be determined by the application of objective performance measurements determined by the Committee, such as earnings per share.  The application of the Participant's target incentive award to actual performance results creates the actual award for each Participant ("Incentive Award").  Attached hereto as Attachment 1, is the performance measures to be used for the ____ Plan Year. 

Article 6. Termination Provisions

Except as provided below in this Article 6 and in Article 7, a Participant shall be eligible for payment of the Incentive Award, as determined in Article 5, only if the Participant’s employment with the Company or a Subsidiary continues through the date of payment.

If Participant Retires, suffers a Disability, or dies during the Performance Period, the Participant (or the Participant’s estate) shall be entitled to that proportion of the Incentive Award as such Participant is entitled to under Article 5 for such Performance Period that the number of full months of participation during the Performance Period bears to the total number of months in the Performance Period. The form and timing of the payment of such Performance Shares shall be as set forth in Article 9. 

“Retirement” or “Retires” means a Separation from service by a Participant on or after (i) attaining the age of 55 with at least 5 years of service, or (ii) attaining the age of 65. 

“Separation from service” (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) during the Performance Period other than (i) due to Retirement, Disability, or Death, or (ii) following a Change in Control shall require forfeiture of this entire award, with no payment to the Participant.

Article 7. Change in Control

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of a Change in Control, the Participant shall be entitled to that proportion target incentive award as such Participant is entitled to under Article 5 for such Performance Period that the number of full months of participation during the Performance Period (as of the effective date of the Change in Control) bears to the total number of months in the Performance Period. 
    
"Change in Control" of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred (as of a particular day, as specified by the Board) upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

		
	(a)
	The acquisition in a transaction or series of transactions by any Person of Beneficial Ownership of thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this Agreement, the following acquisitions will not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition by the Company; (B) any acquisition of common stock of the Company by an underwriter holding securities of the Company in connection with a public offering thereof; and (C) any acquisition by any Person pursuant to a transaction which complies with subsections (c) (i), (ii) and (iii);

		
	(b)
	Individuals who, as of December 31, 2014 are members of the Board (the "Incumbent Board"), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board; provided, however, that if the election, or nomination for election by the Company's common shareholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; provided further, however, that no individual shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed office as a result of either an actual or threatened "Election Contest" (as described in Rule 14a‐11 promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board (a "Proxy Contest") including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest;

		
	(c)
	Consummation, following shareholder approval, of a reorganization, merger, or consolidation of the Company, or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (each a “Business Combination”), unless, in each case, immediately following such Business Combination, all of the following have occurred:  (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were beneficial owners of shares of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more that fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of the entity resulting from the Business Combination or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one (1) or more subsidiaries)(the “Successor Entity”); (ii) no Person (excluding any Successor Entity or any employee benefit plan or related trust, of the Company or such Successor Entity) owns, directly or indirectly, thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Successor Entity, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to such Business Combination; and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the Board providing for such Business Combination;  or

		
	(d)
	Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, except pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with subsections (c) (i), (ii), and (iii) above. 

		
	(e)
	A Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the "Subject Person") acquired Beneficial Ownership of more than the permitted amount of the then outstanding Common Stock as a result of the acquisition of common stock by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of common stock then outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares Beneficially Owned by the Subject Persons, provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of common stock by the Company, and after such stock acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional common stock which increases the percentage of the then outstanding common stock Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in Control shall occur.

		
	(f)
	A Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur unless and until all regulatory approvals required in order to effectuate a Change in Control of the Company have been obtained and the transaction constituting the Change in Control has been consummated.

Notwithstanding the above provisions of this definition, to the extent that any payment under the Agreement due to a Change in Control is subject to Code Section 409A for deferred compensation, then the term “Change in Control” shall be construed in a manner that is consistent with Code Section 409A (a) (2)(A)(v), but only to the extent inconsistent with the above provisions as determined by the Board.

Article 8.  Forfeiture and Repayment
    
		
	(a)
	In the event the Participant incurs a separation from service for a reason other than those described in Article 6 herein during the Performance Period this entire award will be forfeited, unless the separation from service follows a Change in Control. 

		
	(b)
	Without limiting the generality of Article 8(a), the Company reserves the right to cancel the Incentive Award awarded hereunder, whether or not earned, and require the Participant to repay all income or gains previously realized in respect of such Incentive Award, in the event of the occurrence of any of the following events:

		
	(i)
	termination of Participant’s employment for Cause;

		
	(ii)
	within one year following any termination of Participant’s employment, the Board determines that the Participant engaged in conduct before the Participant’s termination date that would have constituted the basis for a termination of employment for Cause;

		
	(iii)
	at any time during the Participant’s employment or the twelve month period immediately following any termination of employment, Participant:

		
	(x)
	publicly disparages the Company, any of its affiliates or any of its or their officers, directors or senior executive employees or otherwise makes any public statement that is materially detrimental to the interests or reputation of the Company, any of its affiliates or such individuals; or

		
	(y)
	violates in any material respect any policy or any code of ethics or standard of behavior or conduct generally applicable to Participant, including the Code of Conduct; or

		
	(iv)
	Participant engages in any fraudulent, illegal or other misconduct involving the Company or any of its affiliates, including but not limited to any breach of fiduciary duty, breach of a duty of loyalty, or interference with contract or business expectancy.

		
	(c)
	If the Board determines that the Participant’s conduct, activities or circumstances constitute events described in Article 8(b), in addition to any other remedies the Company has available to it, the Company may in its sole discretion:

		
	(i)
	cancel any Incentive Award, whether or not issued; and/or

		
	(ii)
	require the Participant to repay an amount equal to all income or gain realized in respect of all such Incentive Award.  The amount of repayment shall include, without limitation, amounts received in connection with the delivery or sale of Shares of such Incentive Award or cash paid in respect of any Incentive Award.  

There shall be no forfeiture or repayment under Article 8(b) following a Change-in-Control.  
		
	(d)
	The Board, in its discretion, shall determine whether a Participant’s conduct, activities or circumstances constitute events described in Article 8(b) and whether and to what extent the Incentive Award shall be forfeited by Participant and/or a Participant shall be required to repay an amount pursuant to Article 8(c).  The Board shall have the authority to suspend the payment, delivery or settlement of all or any portion of such Participant’s outstanding Incentive Award pending an investigation of a bona fide dispute regarding Participant’s eligibility to receive a payment under the terms of this Agreement as determined by the Board in good faith.

		
	(e)
	For purposes of applying this provision:

		
	(i)
	“Cause” means any of the following:

		
	(u)
	a Participant’s violation of his or her material duties to the Company or any of its affiliates, which continues after written notice from the Company or any affiliate to cure such violation;

		
	(v)
	Participant’s willful failure to follow the lawful written directives of the Board in any material respect;

		
	(w)
	Participant’s willful misconduct in connection with the performance of any of his or her duties, including but not limited to falsifying or attempting to falsify documents, books or records of the Company or any of its affiliates, making or delivering a false representation, statement or certification of compliance to the Company, misappropriating or attempting to misappropriate funds or other property of the Company or any of its affiliates, or securing or attempting to secure any personal profit in connection with any transaction entered into on behalf of the Company or any of its affiliates;

		
	(x)
	Participant’s breach of any material provisions of this Agreement or any other non-competition, non-interference, non-disclosure, confidentiality or other similar agreement executed by Participant with the Company or any of its affiliates;

		
	(y)
	conviction (or plea of nolo contendere) of the Participant of any felony, or a misdemeanor involving false statement, in connection with conduct involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates; or

		
	(z)
	intentional engagement in any activity which would constitute or cause a breach of duty of loyalty, or any fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

		
	(ii)
	“Code of Conduct” means any code of ethics or code of conduct now or hereafter adopted by the Company or any of its affiliates, including to the extent applicable the Company’s Employee Conduct and Disclosure Policy, as amended or supplemented from time to time, and the Company’s or subsidiary Risk Management Policies and Procedures, as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

		
	(f)
	Participant agrees that the provisions of this Article 8 are entered into in consideration of, and as a material inducement to, the agreements by the Company herein as well as an inducement for the Company to enter into this Agreement, and that, but for Participant’s agreement to the provisions of this Article 8, the Company would not have entered into this Agreement. 

Article 9.  Payment of Incentive Award

The Incentive Award shall be paid to the Participant in the form of 50 percent cash and 50 percent common stock of the Company after required tax withholding.  Participants who have stock ownership guidelines in place and have met the guidelines established may elect to receive the payment 100 percent cash after required tax withholding.  

Stock utilized for any Incentive Award will be from shares authorized under the Plan.  The value of stock to be included in any Incentive Award shall be determined by reference to the closing price of such stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the last trading day on which such shares were traded preceding the date the Incentive Awards are paid.              

Article 10. Powers of Board of Directors

The Board of Directors may suspend or terminate the Plan, in whole or in part, at any time, or may, from time to time, amend the Plan in such respects as the Board may deem advisable, provided that no such amendment shall withdraw the administration and interpretation of the Plan from the Committee.

Article 11. Assignability

No right to receive payments under this Agreement shall be subject to voluntary or involuntary alienation, assignment or transfer.

Article 12. No Contract of Employment 

Neither the action taken by the Company in establishing the Plan or any action taken by it or by the Committee under the provisions hereof or any provision of the Plan shall be construed as giving to any Participant the right to be retained in the employment of the Company.

Article 13. Right to Incentive Award

Notwithstanding anything contained herein, no Participant shall have any right to receive any Incentive Award until the Committee determines the amount of the Incentive Award, which determination is to be made in January of each Plan Year based on the application of the target incentives and performance measures to the preceding year and no Participant shall be considered to have earned any portion of any Incentive Award until determination by the Committee.  The Committee reserves the right in its sole discretion to not grant any Incentive Award whether or not any Participant has met target incentive and performance measures; provided, that in the event of a Change in Control, a Participant's Incentive Award shall be determined as of the date of the Change in Control and shall be paid 30 days after the day of the Change in Control.

Article 14. Governing Law

 This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of South Dakota.

Article 15. No Tax Qualified or ERISA Plan

This is not intended to be a tax qualified plan nor a plan for the purposes of ERISA.  

The following parties have caused this Agreement to be executed effective as of January 1, ____.
    
	
		
	 
	Black Hills Corporation

	 
	 

	 
	By: _______________________

	 
	 

	 
	___________________________

	 
	Participant

	 
	 

	 
	___________________________

	 
	DateExhibit 10.6

 

SEPARATION
AND MUTUAL RELEASE

 

This
Separation and Mutual Release Agreement ("Agreement") is made between Alan Gaines ("Gaines")
and Stratex Oil & Gas Holdings, Inc. ("Stratex") with an effective date of April 28, 2015 ("Effective
Date"). (Gaines and Stratex may sometimes hereafter be referred to collectively as the "Parties or individually
as a "Party.")

 

WHEREAS
on May 5, 2014, Gaines executed an Employment Agreement with Stratex to serve as Stratex's Executive Chairman ("Employment
Agreement");

 

WHEREAS
effective January 1, 2015, the Employment Agreement was amended by mutual consent of Gaines and Stratex;

 

WHEREAS
in order to pursue other business opportunities Gaines voluntarily submitted his resignation notice to Stratex effective April
28, 2015 ("Gaines's Resignation");

 

WHEREAS
Stratex has waived the requirement for 60 days' prior written notice and accepted Gaines's notice as a resignation without good
reason under the terms of the Employment Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS
Stratex and Gaines desire to mutually release and discharge each other from any and all claims relating to or arising from Gaines's
employment or any other relationship with Stratex prior to the Effective Date, including settlement of all amounts owing and any
other past issues, by entering into this Agreement based upon the following terms and conditions:

 

1.            In
connection with the submission and acceptance of Gaines's Resignation, Gaines and Stratex have agreed that:

 

a.            the
Employment Agreement, including all amendments, has been terminated and is of no further force or effect as of the Effective Date;

 

b.            all
vested and unvested warrants to purchase shares of the common stock of Stratex held by or to be granted to Gaines under the Employment
Agreement or any other agreement or understanding with Stratex or its predecessors in interest have been surrendered by Gaines
and will be cancelled by Stratex so that they are of no further force or effect as of the Effective Date;

 

c.            1,782,266
shares of the common stock of Stratex, being one-half of the total number of shares personally owned or controlled by Gaines immediately
prior to the Effective Date, have been surrendered and transferred by Gaines to Stratex; and

 

d.            the
Lock-Up Agreement signed by Gaines dated May 6, 2014, will remain in full force and effect with respect to all remaining shares
of the common stock of Stratex personally owned or controlled by Gaines.

 

    	1

    	 

    

 

2.            Gaines
covenants and agrees that he has caused or promptly will cause Stratex to be released as a named lessee and/or guarantor of any
and all payments on, and from all other financial responsibility arising under, the Motor Vehicle Lease Agreement with Motorcars
West/The Auto Gallery dated September 5, 2014, signed by Gaines ("Lease"). Gaines further covenants and agrees
that he will personally indemnify, defend. save and hold Stratex harmless from and against any and all claims, causes of action
or financial liability of whatsoever kind or nature related to the Lease or to his the operation of the leased motor vehicle.

 

3.            On
April 15 and 22, 2015, respectively. Stratex paid Gaines and Gaines accepted a final payroll check and a final expense reimbursement
check as payment in full ("Payment") and as a complete accord and satisfaction of all unpaid compensation, unreimbursed
business expenses and any and all other obligations of Stratex to Gaines of whatsoever kind or nature arising from or related
to the Employment Agreement and any other agreement, understanding or relationship with Stratex.

 

4.            Notwithstanding
the termination of the Employment Agreement, however, Stratex represents that as of the Effective Date, Gaines is covered under
Stratex's Directors and Officers liability insurance policy which is in full force and effect and which provides for coverage
of $2 million. Stratex covenants and agrees that Gaines will remain covered under such policy to the same extent as continuing
officers and directors of Stratex following the Effective Date.

 

5.            Gaines
warrants that no charge or claim has been initiated by Gaines against Stratex in any administrative agency or court, whether state
or federal. Gaines agrees not to file against Stratex or any affiliates, successors or assigns thereof, or against any current
or former member, manager, officer, director, employee, consultant, attorney, advisor or agent of any of them, any charge of claim
arising under the Employment Agreement or any other contract or agreement of whatsoever kind or nature ("Claim"),
with any government agency or in any lawsuit in any court based upon or arising out of Gaines's employment or any other relationship
with Stratex;

 

6.            In
exchange for the Payment, the covenant by Stratex contained in Paragraph 5 above, and other valuable consideration, the sufficiency
of which is hereby acknowledged, Gaines hereby irrevocably releases, discharges and covenants not to sue Stratex, its subsidiaries,
affiliates, officers, directors, employees, members, consultants, agents, successors, and assigns (collectively, "Stratex
Releasees") with respect to any and all claims, demands, causes of action, costs, expenses, attorneys' fees, damages,
liabilities, and obligations of any kind and nature whatsoever (upon any legal or equitable theory, whether contractual, common
law, statutory, federal state, local, or otherwise), whether known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed,
that have been, could have been from the beginning of time to the Effective Date, or in the future can or might be asserted in
any federal or state court or administrative proceeding against the Stratex Releasees, including but not limited to Claims arising
from or relating to Gaines's employment or any other relationship with Stratex, or the termination of the Employment Agreement
or any other written or verbal agreement or understanding with Stratex, breach of the covenant of good faith, contract claims,
tort claims or any other common law or statutory rights, but excluding Claims arising from or related to actions or failures to
act constituting fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

    	2

    	 

    

 

7.            In
exchange for the foregoing warranty, releases and discharges provided by Gaines, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
Stratex, on its own behalf and on behalf of any subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, members, agents, representatives,
successors, and assigns, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably releases, discharges and covenants not to
sue Gaines, his heirs, successors or assigns (collectively, "Gaines Releasees"), with respect to any and all
claims, demands, causes of action, costs, expenses, attorneys" fees, damages, liabilities and obligations of any kind and
nature whatsoever (upon any legal or equitable theory, whether contractual, common law, statutory, federal, state, local or otherwise),
whether known or unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, that have been, could have been from the beginning
of time to the Effective Date, or in the future can or might be asserted in any federal or state court, or administrative proceeding
against the Gaines Releasees, including but not limited to breach of the covenant of good faith, contract claims, tort claims
or any other common law or statutory rights, but excluding Claims arising from or related to actions or failures to act constituting
fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

8.            Stratex
and Gaines further covenant and agree not to make any disparaging statements or comments about the other, including in the case
of Stratex any current or former officer, director, employee, consultant, attorney or advisor, specifically including without
limitation any negative comments about the other's business prospects or financial affairs, or concerning the other's abilities,
expertise or veracity.

 

9.            Stratex
agrees that for a period of ten (10) days following the Effective Date of this Agreement, Gaines shall be given access to his
Stratex e-mail account. At no time shall Gaines hold himself out as a director, officer, employee or consultant of Stratex and
any outgoing e-mails by Gaines shall be limited solely to notifying personal contacts of Gaines's personal e-mail and notifying
business contacts to contact appropriate Stratex personnel.

 

10.          This
Agreement does not confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors
and permitted assigns, with the exception of the persons covered by the releases and discharges in Paragraphs 6 and 7.

 

11.          Miscellaneous.

 

a.          This
Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and may not be amended or
otherwise modified in any manner except in a writing executed by both parties.

 

b.          If
any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction for any
reason, the invalid or unenforceable portion will be deemed severed from this Agreement and the balance of this Agreement will
remain in full force and effect and be enforceable in accordance with the non-severed provisions of this Agreement.

 

c.          If
any party is required to retain legal counsel in order to enforce this Agreement, with or without the commencement of a formal
legal action, that party will be entitled to recover its attorney's fees and costs
from the breaching party or parties.

 

    	3

    	 

    

 

d.          This
Agreement is intended to be legally binding on the parties and their respective heirs, successors and assigns.

 

e.          All
words used in this Agreement will be construed to be of such number and gender as the context requires or permits.

 

f.          This
Agreement will be governed by the substantive laws of the State of Utah, without giving effect to its choice of law rules. The
parties consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Utah federal and state courts located in Salt Lake City as the exclusive venue
for resolution of any claims by either party arising under or related to this Agreement, waiving to the maximum extent permitted
by law any defenses of inconvenient forum.

 

g.          This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, by original or electronically transmitted signature, each of which will
be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same agreement.

 

[Signature
pages follow.]

 

    	4

    	 

    

 

IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the Effective Date.

 

	STRATEX	 
	 	 	 
	Stratex Oil & Gas Holdings Inc.	 
	 	 	 
	By:	/s/ Stephen. P. Funk	 
	 	Stephen. P. Funk, President & CEO	 
	 	 	 
	GAINES	 
	 	 	 
	By:	/s/ Alan Gaines	 
	 	Alan Gaines, Individually	 

 

 

5

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