Document:

PXDmar48kx101

EXHIBIT 10.1
PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY 
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

This Change in Control Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into, as of March 4, 2013, among Pioneer Natural Resources Company, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Employer”), and Scott D. Sheffield (“Employee”). As henceforth used in this Agreement, the term “Company” shall be deemed to include Parent and its direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiaries.

Recitals

Parent and Employer acknowledge that Employee possesses skills and knowledge instrumental to the successful conduct of the Company’s business. Parent and Employer are willing to enter into this Agreement with Employee in order to better ensure themselves of access to the continued services of Employee both before and after a Change in Control.

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

1.     Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date indicated above (the “Effective Date”) and end on September 30, 2014. Thereafter, on the date on which the term of this Agreement (as it may be extended from time to time under this paragraph 1) would otherwise expire, so long as Employee is still an employee of the Company on such date, such term will be automatically extended for 12 months, unless Parent shall have provided written notice to Employee at least 6 months before the date that the term would otherwise expire that it does not want the term to be extended. Parent may deliver a conditional notice of non-renewal that will be effective only if Employee does not agree, within the time period specified by Parent, to any amendment or modification of this Agreement that Parent shall request be executed as a condition to allowing the term hereof to be extended. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and regardless of whether Parent has theretofore delivered a notice of non-renewal and/or sought agreement from Employee to amendments to this Agreement, if a Potential Change in Control or a Change in Control occurs during the term hereof, the term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended to the second anniversary of the date on which the Change in Control occurs (the “Change in Control Date”); provided, however, that if no Change in Control has occurred prior to the first anniversary of the occurrence of a Potential Change in Control and the Board of Directors of Parent (the “Board”), acting in good faith, thereafter adopts a resolution that such Potential Change in Control will not result in the occurrence of a Change in Control, the term of this Agreement shall expire on a date specified by the Board not earlier than the first anniversary of the adoption of such resolution (unless otherwise extended pursuant to the second sentence of this paragraph 1).

2.     Operation of Agreement. Except as expressly provided below, no benefits shall be payable under this Agreement if Employee is not employed by the Company on the Change in Control Date. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, if Employee’s employment is terminated (a) by the Company and such termination is not a Termination for Cause and (b) after the occurrence of a Potential Change in Control but prior to a Change in Control and a Change in Control occurs within 12 months after such termination, Employee shall be deemed, solely for purposes of determining Employee’s rights under this Agreement, to have remained 

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employed until the Change in Control Date and to have been terminated by the Company without cause immediately thereafter; provided, however, that, in such case, the Separation Payment payable hereunder shall be reduced by the amount of any other cash severance benefits theretofore paid to Employee in connection with such termination. If Employee is still an employee of the Company on the Change in Control Date, or Employee is deemed, for purposes of this Agreement, to continue to be in the employ of the Company until the Change in Control Date pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control this Agreement shall supercede any other individual agreement between Parent and Employer and Employee the primary purpose of which is to provide Employee the right to receive severance benefits and certain other benefits ancillary to such severance benefits in connection with the termination of Employee’s employment (the “Severance Agreement”), subject, if applicable, to the offset set forth in the immediately preceding sentence.

3.     Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

“Accrued Obligations” shall mean any vested amounts or benefits owing to Employee under any of the Company’s employee benefit plans and programs in which Employee has participated, including any compensation previously deferred by Employee (together with any accrued earnings thereon) and not yet paid.

 “Base Salary” shall mean Employee’s annualized base salary at the rate in effect at the relevant date or event as reflected in Employer’s regular payroll records.

“Change in Control” shall mean an event that constitutes a “change in control” as defined in Parent’s LTIP, except that, solely for purposes of determining whether Employee is eligible for benefits under this Agreement due to a termination of employment occurring after a Potential Change in Control, but prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control, an event shall only constitute a Change in Control if it both qualifies as such under Parent’s LTIP and is a change in the ownership or effective control or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Parent for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.  Any modification to the definition of “change in control” in Parent’s LTIP (including by virtue of the adoption by the Parent of a successor plan thereto setting forth a modified definition of “change in control”) adopted after the Effective Date shall apply for purposes of this Agreement, except that any modification to such definition adopted on or after, or within 180 days prior to, a Change in Control or Potential Change in Control shall not apply in determining the definition of such term under this Agreement unless such amendment is favorable to Employee; and provided further that any change to the definition of a change in control in Parent’s LTIP adopted in 2008 to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code shall be deemed to be favorable to Employee.

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor provision thereto.

“Date of Termination” shall mean

(1)    In the case of a termination for which a Notice of Termination is required, the date of receipt of such Notice of Termination or, if later, the date specified therein; and 

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(2)     In all other cases, the actual date on which Employee’s employment terminates;

provided, however, that if Employee continues to provide or, in the 12 month period following such termination of employment, Employee is expected to provide, sufficient services that, under the Parent’s written and generally applicable policies regarding what constitutes a “separation from service” for purpose of Section 409A of the Code, Employee does not incur a separation of service for purposes of such Section 409A on the date of termination, Employee’s Date of Termination for purposes of this Agreement shall be the date on which such Employee incurs a separation from service under such policies.

“Disability” shall mean Employee’s physical or mental impairment or incapacity of sufficient severity such that

(1)    In the opinion of a qualified physician selected by Parent with the consent of Employee or Employee’s legal representative (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), after taking into account all reasonable accommodations that the Company has made or could make, Employee is unable to continue to perform Employee’s duties and responsibilities as an employee of the Company; and

(2)    Employee’s condition entitles Employee to long-term disability benefits under any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its affiliates that are at least comparable to those made available to Employee by the Company prior to the Change in Control.

For purposes of subparagraph (1) of this definition, Employee agrees to provide such access to Employee’s medical records and to submit to such physical examinations and medical tests as, in the opinion of the physician selected by Parent, is reasonably necessary to make the determination required as to Employee’s ability to perform Employee’s duties and responsibilities.

“Earned Salary” shall mean the Base Salary earned by Employee, but unpaid, through Employee’s Date of Termination.

“Normal Retirement Date” shall mean the date on which Employee attains age 60.

“Notice of Termination” shall mean a written notice given, in the case of a Termination for Cause, within 45 days of Parent’s or Employer’s having actual knowledge of the events giving rise to such termination, and in the case of a Termination for Good Reason, within 90 days of the later to occur of (x) the Change in Control Date or (y) Employee’s having actual knowledge of the events giving rise to such termination. Any such Notice of Termination shall

(1)    Indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon;

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(2)     Set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Employee’s employment under the provision so indicated; and

(3)     If the Date of Termination is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specify the Date of Termination (which date shall be not more than 30 days after the giving of such notice).

The failure by Employee to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Termination for Good Reason shall not waive any right of Employee hereunder or preclude Employee from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing Employee’s rights hereunder.

“Parent’s LTIP” shall mean the Parent’s 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, or any successor plan thereto.

“Potential Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:

(1)     Any person or group shall have announced publicly an intention to effect a Change in Control, or commenced any action (such as the commencement of a tender offer for Parent’s common stock or the solicitation of proxies for the election of any of Parent’s directors) that, if successful, could reasonably be expected to result in the occurrence of a Change in Control;

(2)     Parent enters into an agreement the consummation of which would constitute a Change in Control; or

(3)     Any other event occurs which the Board declares to be a Potential Change in Control.

“Separation Payment” shall mean any lump sum cash payment in excess of Earned Salary and Accrued Obligations payable to Employee under this Agreement.

“Target Bonus” shall mean the greater of

(1)    the average of the target bonuses made available to Employee under any Company annual bonus program (which, if not stated as the target for a full year of service, shall be annualized) for the year in which the Change in Control Date occurs and for each of the last 2 years ended prior to the year in which the Change in Control Date occurs (or, if less, the number of years prior to the year in which the Change in Control Date occurs during which Employee was employed by the Company); and

(2)     Employee’s highest target bonus made available to Employee under the annual bonus program in which Employee participated for services rendered or to be rendered by Employee in any calendar year after the calendar year in which the Change in Control Date occurs;

in either case as reflected in Employer’s records.

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“Termination for Cause” shall mean a termination of Employee’s employment by Parent and Employer due to the occurrence of any of the following

(1)    Employee’s continued failure (i) to substantially perform Employee’s duties and responsibilities (other than any such failure resulting from Employee’s physical or mental impairment or incapacity) or (ii) to comply with any material written policy of the Company generally applicable to all officers of the Company and, if applicable, the successor in interest to Parent or, if such successor is a subsidiary of any other entity, the direct or indirect ultimate parent of such successor (such successor or such ultimate parent entity, the “Parent Successor”), which specifically provides that Employee may be dismissed (or Employee’s employment terminated) as a consequence of any such failure to comply, in either case more than 10 business days after written demand for substantial performance or compliance with the policy is delivered by Parent specifically identifying the manner in which Parent believes Employee has not substantially performed Employee’s duties and responsibilities or not complied with the written policy;

(2)     Employee’s engaging in an act or acts of gross misconduct which result in, or are intended to result in, material damage to the Company’s business or reputation;

(3)     Employee’s failure, following a written request from Parent, reasonably to cooperate (including, without limitation, the refusal by Employee to be interviewed or deposed, or to give testimony) in connection with any investigation or proceeding, whether internal or external (including, without limitation, by any governmental or quasi-governmental agency), into the business practices or operations of the Company; or

(4)     Employee’s conviction of (or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a charge of) any felony or any crime or misdemeanor, in either case, involving moral turpitude or financial misconduct which results in significant monetary damage to the Company.

For purposes of subparagraph (2)of this definition, an act, or failure to act, on Employee’s part shall only be considered “misconduct” if done, or omitted, by Employee not in good faith and without reasonable belief that such act, or failure to act, was in the best interest of the Company.

“Termination for Good Reason” shall mean a termination of Employee’s employment by Employee due to the occurrence of any of the following, without the express written consent of Employee, after the occurrence of a Potential Change in Control or a Change in Control:

(1)    (i) The assignment to Employee of any duties inconsistent in any material adverse respect with Employee’s position, authority or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to a Potential Change in Control or a Change in Control, or (ii) any other material adverse change in such position, including titles, authority or responsibilities, which, in the case of any officer of Parent, shall be deemed to 

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have occurred unless, following the Change in Control Date, Employee holds such position or positions with the Parent Successor that are substantially comparable to the position or positions held by Employee with Parent immediately prior to the Change in Control Date (or, if higher, immediately prior to the occurrence of a Potential Change in Control);

(2)     Any failure by the Company or the Parent Successor, other than an insubstantial or inadvertent failure remedied promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by Employee, to provide Employee with an annual Base Salary which is at least equal to the Base Salary payable to Employee immediately prior to the Change in Control Date (or, if higher, immediately prior to the occurrence of a Potential Change in Control) or, if more favorable to Employee, at the rate made available to Employee at any time thereafter (the “Protected Base Salary”);

(3)    Any failure by the Company or the Parent Successor, other than an insubstantial or inadvertent failure remedied promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by Employee, to provide Employee with a reasonably achievable opportunity (determined in a manner consistent with the Company’s practices prior to the Change in Control) to receive an annual bonus ranging from 100%, at targeted levels of performance, to 200%, at superior levels of performance, of Employee’s Target Bonus;

(4)    Any failure by the Company or the Parent Successor, other than an insubstantial or inadvertent failure remedied promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by Employee, to provide Employee with annual awards of long-term incentive compensation that have a value (using the same valuation methodologies used for valuing long-term incentive compensation awards of a similar type made to senior officers of Parent and, if applicable, the Parent Successor) at least equal to the average dollar value assigned thereto by the Company at the date of grant of the last three annual long-term incentive compensation awards (including, without limitation, equity and equity-based awards) granted to Employee in respect of Employee’s employment with the Company (or if Employee has received less than three such annual grants, the average of the value of the number of grants received by Employee prior to the Change in Control Date);

(5)    Any failure by the Company or the Parent Successor, other than an insubstantial or inadvertent failure remedied promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by Employee, to permit Employee (and, to the extent applicable, Employee’s dependents) to participate in or be covered under all pension, retirement, deferred compensation, savings, medical, dental, health, disability, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs at a level that is materially less favorable in the aggregate than the benefits provided under the plans of the Company and its affiliated companies prior to the Change in Control Date (or, if more favorable to Employee, at the level made available to Employee or other similarly situated officers at any time thereafter); or

(6)    If, not later than the Change in Control Date, any Parent Successor shall have failed to agree in writing to assume and perform this Agreement as required by paragraph 7(h) hereof.

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4.     Termination of Employment.

(a)    Right to Terminate. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed in any way to limit the right of the Company to terminate Employee’s employment, with or without cause, or for Employee to terminate Employee’s employment with the Company, with or without reason; provided, however, that the Company and Employee must nonetheless comply with any duty or obligation such party has at law or under any agreement (including paragraph 6 of this Agreement) between the parties.

(b)     Termination due to Death or Disability. Employee’s employment with the Company shall be terminated upon Employee’s death. By written notice to the other party, either the Company or Employee may terminate Employee’s employment due to Disability.

5.     Amounts Payable Upon Termination of Employment. The following provisions shall apply to any termination of Employee’s employment occurring (or which, pursuant to paragraph 2, is deemed to occur) at the time of, or at any time within 2 years following, a Change in Control:

(a)    Death or Disability. In the event that Employee’s employment terminates due to Employee’s death or Disability (regardless of whether such Disability termination is initiated by Employee or the Company) , Parent or Employer shall pay Employee (or, if applicable, Employee’s beneficiaries or legal representative(s)):

(1)    The Earned Salary, as soon as practicable (but not more than 10 days) following Employee’s Date of Termination;

(2)    The Accrued Obligations, in accordance with applicable law and the provisions of any applicable plan, program, policy or practice; and

(3)    A Separation Payment in an amount equal to Employee’s Base Salary, which shall be paid 10 days following Employee’s Date of Termination,  provided that, if, at the Date of Termination, Employee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, as determined in accordance with the procedures specified or established by the Parent in accordance with such Section 409A and the regulations thereunder (a “Specified Employee”), and the Separation Payment is payable due to Disability, the Separation Payment shall be made six months and one day after Employee’s Date of Termination.  In the event that the Separation Payment is made six months and one day after the Date of Termination, it shall be paid with interest from the Date of Termination at a rate equal to Employer’s cost of borrowing under its principal credit facility as in effect at the Date of Termination, as determined by the Parent’s Chief Financial Officer.

(b)    Cause and Voluntary Termination. If Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company in a Termination for Cause or voluntarily by Employee, Parent or Employer shall pay Employee

(1)    The Earned Salary as soon as practicable (but in no event more than 10 days), following Employee’s Date of Termination; and

(2)     The Accrued Obligations in accordance with applicable law and the provisions of any applicable plan, program, policy or practice.

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(c)    Termination After Normal Retirement.  If the Employee’s employment terminates after Normal Retirement Date due to the Employee’s voluntary retirement, in addition to the payments under subparagraph 5(b), Parent or Employer shall pay Employee a Separation Payment in an amount equal to Employee’s Base Salary, which shall be paid 10 days following Employee’s Date of Termination, provided that, if, at the Date of Termination, Employee is a Specified Employee, the Separation Payment shall be made six months and one day after Employee’s Date of Termination.  In the event that the Separation Payment is made six months and one day after the Date of Termination, an amount equal to such Separation Payment shall be contributed by the Company or Employer within five (5) business days following the Date of Termination to a grantor trust in the United States subject to the claims of the grantor’s creditors (a “Grantor Trust”), with such amount to be invested through the trust in U.S. Treasury securities or money market investments, with the principal investment purpose being to preserve principal (“Fixed Income Securities”).  When payment of any such deferred portion of the Separation Payment is made in accordance with the second preceding sentence, it shall be increased by an amount equal to the earnings on the amounts contributed to such Grantor Trust in respect of such deferred Separation Payment.

(d)    Termination for Good Reason or Without Cause. If Employee terminates Employee’s employment in a Termination for Good Reason or the Company terminates Employee’s employment for any reason other than those described in paragraphs 5(a) and (b) above, Parent or Employer shall pay or shall provide to Employee the following benefits and compensation:

(1)    The Earned Salary, as soon as practicable (but not more than 10 days) following Employee’s Date of Termination;

(2)    The Accrued Obligations, in accordance with applicable law and the provisions of any applicable plan, program, policy or practice;

(3)    Continued coverage, at the same costs that apply to similarly situated active employees, for Employee and Employee’s eligible dependents under the Employer’s group medical plans or, to the extent such continued coverage cannot be provided under such plan without adverse consequences for the Company or Employee due to non-discrimination requirements, then under an individual or group insurance policy that is substantially similar in all material respects to the coverage made available under such group health plans, for each of the following two periods (i) from the Employee’s Date of Termination until and including the 18 month anniversary of such termination; and (ii) from the day after the 18 month anniversary of the Employee’s Date of Termination and continuing until the earlier of (x) the lifetime of Employee (and, if she shall survive him, Employee’s Spouse) or (y) until the date Employee (and, in respect of any coverage available to Employee’s spouse, until such spouse) is eligible for full medical benefits under the provisions of Medicare; it being understood that standard coordination of benefits provisions apply so that any coverage made available to Employee hereunder shall be secondary to any such coverage made available to Employee by a subsequent employer or other entity providing such coverage in respect of Employee’s services and that Employee must accept that available coverage; and

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(4)    If Employee shall have relocated Employee’s principal residence to enter into the Company’s employ, or otherwise relocated such residence at the request of the Company, within 1 year of the Change in Control Date, and if Employee elects to relocate to Employee’s original location following Employee’s Date of Termination, relocation benefits under the same relocation policy as applied to Employee’s initial relocation; provided that the benefits provided hereunder shall (i) be paid to Employee not later than the end of the calendar year following the year in which such the corresponding reimbursable relocation expenses are incurred and (ii) not be duplicative of any relocation benefits to which Employee is entitled in connection with the plan, policy, program or practice of any subsequent employer;

(5)    To the extent that any award granted to Employee under Parent’s LTIP and outstanding on the Change in Control Date shall not have previously become fully vested and, as applicable, exercisable, payable, distributable and free of any transfer restrictions, such award shall be and become fully vested and, as applicable, exercisable, payable or distributable to, and transferable by, Employee on Employee’s Date of Termination, without any further action by the Company or any other person(s); provided, however, that (i) in the case of any award that vests upon the attainment of specified performance conditions, the extent to which such award becomes vested and payable will be contingent (to the extent specified in the applicable award agreement) upon the achievement of such criteria, as measured at the time of the Change in Control and (ii) if the award is deferred compensation subject to Section 409A that does not qualify for an otherwise available exemption from such Section 409A, payment thereof shall be made to the Employee at the same time as the Separation Payment referenced in subparagraph 5(d)(6) and, if such payment is delayed for six months and one day following the Date of Termination, the Employer shall be required to contribute the amount payable in respect of such award to the grantor trust referenced in the paragraph following such subparagraph 5(d)(6) at the same time, and subject to the same conditions, as apply with respect to such Separation Payment;
 
(6)    A Separation Payment in an amount equal to the sum of 
(i)    the sum of 1.99 times  Employee’s Protected Base Salary and 2.99 times the Employee’s Target Bonus;
(ii)    Employee shall also receive the Separation Payment payable under Section 5(c), on the same basis as though Employee had attained Normal Retirement Date immediately prior to the Date of Termination, regardless of whether Employee shall have attained Normal Retirement Date on or prior to the Date of Termination; 
(iii)    the product of (A) the amount of the Target Bonus and (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the then current calendar year which have elapsed as of the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365; 

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(iv)    if Employee’s employment was terminated prior to the Change in Control Date, but Employee is deemed to have continued in the Company’s employment for purposes of this Agreement until the Change in Control Date pursuant to paragraph 2 hereof, an amount equal to the value (as determined based on the fair market value of the Parent’s common stock on the Change in Control Date, but debiting therefrom any amount Employee would be required to pay to receive the benefit of such award) of any equity awards (including, without limitation, stock options, restricted stock units and restricted stock) granted to Employee under Parent’s LTIP that were outstanding but unvested (after taking into account any accelerated vesting thereof in connection with such termination of employment) on Employee’s Date of Termination; and
(v)    if the termination of employment is by the Company and if the Date of Termination is less than thirty (30) days after the date Notice of Termination is given, an amount equal to one-twelfth (1/12) of the Protected Base Salary.
Payment of the Separation Payment shall be made within 10 business days after the Employee’s Date of Termination, provided that, if, at the Date of Termination, Employee is a Specified Employee, the portion of the Separation Payment described in subclauses (i), (ii) (iv) and (v) above shall be made six months and one day after Employee’s Date of Termination.  Any such deferred portion of the Separation Payment payable to Employee shall be contributed by the Company or Employer within five (5) business days following the Date of Termination to a Grantor Trust, with such amount to be invested through the trust in Fixed Income Securities.  When payment of any such deferred portion of the Separation Payment is made in accordance with the second preceding sentence, it shall be increased by an amount equal to the earnings on the amounts contributed to such Grantor Trust in respect of such deferred Separation Payment.

(e)     Benefits Payable Due to Forced Relocation. If Employee is not otherwise entitled to terminate Employee’s employment in a Termination for Good Reason and terminates employment voluntarily because Parent or Parent Successor requires (or notifies Employee in writing that it will require) Employee to be based at any office or location more than 50 miles from that location at which Employee principally performed services for the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control Date, except for travel reasonably required in the performance of Employee’s responsibilities, Parent or Employer shall pay or shall provide to Employee the following benefits and compensation:

(1)    The Earned Salary, as soon as practicable (but not more than 10 days) following Employee’s Date of Termination;

(2)    The Accrued Obligations, in accordance with applicable law and the provisions of any applicable plan, program, policy or practice;

(3)    Continued coverage, at the same costs that apply to similarly situated active employees, for Employee and Employee’s eligible dependents under Employer’s group health plan(s) (within the meaning of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”)) in which Employee was participating prior to the Date of Termination for a period of 12 months following Employee’s Date of Termination (or, if earlier, until 

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Employee is eligible for comparable coverage under the group health plan(s) of a subsequent employer); and

(4)    A Separation Payment in an amount equal to Employee’s Protected Base Salary, which shall be payable within 10 business days after the Employee’s Date of Termination, provided that, if, at the Date of Termination, Employee is a Specified Employee, the portion of the Separation Payment due pursuant to this subparagraph 5(e)(4) shall be made six months and one day after Employee’s Date of Termination.  Any such deferred portion of the Separation Payment payable to Employee shall be contributed by the Company or Employer within five (5) business days following the Date of Termination to a Grantor Trust, with such amount to be invested through the trust in Fixed Income Securities.  When payment of any such deferred portion of the Separation Payment is made in accordance with the second preceding sentence, it shall be increased by an amount equal to the earnings on the amounts contributed to such Grantor Trust in respect of such deferred Separation Payment.

(f)    Limit on Payments by Parent and Employer.

(1)    Application of this Paragraph 5(f).  In the event that

(i)     Any amount or benefit paid or distributed to Employee pursuant to this Agreement, taken together with any amounts or benefits otherwise paid or distributed to Employee by the Company or any affiliated company in connection with the Change in Control that are treated as parachute payments under Section 280G of the Code and such payments (collectively, the “Covered Payments”) would be or become subject to the tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed under Section 4999 of the Code or any similar tax that may hereafter be imposed, and

(ii)    Employee would receive a greater net-after tax benefit by limiting the Covered Payments, so that the portion thereof that are parachute payments do not exceed the maximum amount of such parachute payments that could be paid to Employee without Employee’s being subject to any Excise Tax (the “Safe Harbor Amount”), 

(iii)    then the amounts payable to Employee under this paragraph 5 shall be reduced (but not below zero) so that the aggregate amount of parachute payments that Employee receives does not exceed the Safe Harbor Amount.  In the event that Employee receives reduced payments and benefits hereunder, such payments and benefits shall be reduced in connection with the application of the Safe Harbor Amount in the following manner:  first, any portion of the Employee’s Separation Payment payable other than on account of Employee’s having attained Normal Retirement Date shall be reduced, followed by, to the extent necessary and in order, any relocation reimbursement payable, the continuation of welfare benefits, any awards under the LTIP in which Employee becomes vested under this Agreement and finally, the Accrued Obligations.

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(2)    Assumptions for Calculation.  For purposes of determining whether any of the Covered Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax,

(i)    such Covered Payments will be treated as “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and all “parachute payments” in excess of the “base amount” (as defined under Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless, and except to the extent that, in the good faith judgment of a public accounting firm appointed by Parent prior to the Change in Control Date or tax counsel selected by such accounting firm (the “Accountants”), the Company has a reasonable basis to conclude that such Covered Payments (in whole or in part) either do not constitute “parachute payments” or represent reasonable compensation for personal services actually rendered (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code) in excess of the “base amount,” or such “parachute payments” are otherwise not subject to such Excise Tax, and

(ii)    the value of any non cash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Accountants in accordance with the principles of Section 280G of the Code.

(3)    Adjustments in Respect of the Safe Harbor Amount.  If Employee receives reduced payments and benefits under this subparagraph 5(f) (or this subparagraph 5(f) is determined not to be applicable to Employee because the Accountants conclude that Employee is not subject to any Excise Tax) and it is established pursuant to a final determination of a court or an Internal Revenue Service proceeding (a “Final Determination”) that, notwithstanding the good faith of Employee and the Company in applying the terms of this Agreement, the aggregate “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code paid to Employee or for Employee’s benefit exceed the Safe Harbor Amount and the provisions of this subparagraph 5(f) would otherwise have applied, then the amount of such parachute payment in excess of such Safe Harbor Amount shall be deemed for all purposes to be a loan to Employee made on the date of receipt of such excess payments, which Employee shall have an obligation to repay to the Company on demand, together with interest on such amount at the applicable Federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code) from the date of the payment hereunder to the date of repayment by Employee. 

6.     Nonpublic Information.

(a)    Acknowledgement of Access. Employee hereby acknowledges that, in connection with Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee has received, and will continue to receive, various information regarding the Company and its business, operations and affairs. All such information, to the extent not publicly available other than as a result of a disclosure by Employee in violation of this Agreement, is referred to herein as the “Nonpublic Information.”

(b)    Agreement to Keep Confidential. Employee hereby agrees that, from and after the Effective Date and continuing until 3 years following Employee’s Date of Termination, Employee will keep all Nonpublic Information confidential and will not, without 

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the prior written consent of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or the President of Parent, disclose any Nonpublic Information in any manner whatsoever or use any Nonpublic Information other than in connection with the performance of Employee’s services to the Company; provided, however, that the provisions of this subparagraph shall not prevent Employee from

(1)    Disclosing any Nonpublic Information to any other employee of the Company or to any representative or agent of the Company (such as an independent accountant, engineer, attorney or financial advisor) when such disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate (in Employee’s judgment) in connection with the performance by Employee of Employee’s duties and responsibilities;

(2)    Disclosing any Nonpublic Information as required by applicable law, rule, regulation or legal process (but only after compliance with the provisions of subparagraph (c) of this paragraph); and

(3)    Disclosing any information about this Agreement and Employee’s other compensation arrangement to Employee’s spouse, financial advisors or attorneys, or to enforce any of Employee’s rights under this Agreement.

(c)    Commitment to Seek Protective Order. If Employee is requested pursuant to, or required by, applicable law, rule, regulation or legal process to disclose any Nonpublic Information, Employee will notify Parent promptly so that the Company may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy or, in Parent’s sole discretion, waive compliance with the terms of this subparagraph, and Employee will fully cooperate in any attempt by the Company to obtain any such protective order or other remedy. If no such protective order or other remedy is obtained, or Parent waives compliance with the terms of this paragraph, Employee will furnish or disclose only that portion of the Nonpublic Information as is legally required and will exercise all reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded the Nonpublic Information that is so disclosed.

7.    Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a)    No Mitigation, No Offset. Employee shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, and the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement shall not be reduced by any compensation earned by Employee as the result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination. Except as provided in subparagraph 5(d)(3), Parent’s or Employer’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against Employee or others whether by reason of the subsequent employment of Employee or otherwise.

(b)    Arbitration. Except to the extent provided in paragraph 7(d), any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration. The arbitration shall be held in Dallas, Texas and except to the extent inconsistent with this Agreement, shall be conducted in accordance with the Expedited Employment Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect at the 

13

time of the arbitration, and otherwise in accordance with principles which would be applied by a court of law or equity. The arbitrator shall be acceptable to both Parent and Employee. If the parties cannot agree on an acceptable arbitrator, the dispute shall be heard by a panel of three arbitrators, one appointed by each of the parties and the third appointed by the other two arbitrators.

(c)    Interest. Until paid, all past due amounts required to be paid by the Company to Employee under any provision of this Agreement shall bear interest at the per annum rate equal to the higher of (1) 12% or (2) the prime rate announced from time to time by the Company’s primary bank lender, plus 3%, in either case subject to the maximum rate allowed by law.

(d)    Equitable Relief Available. Employee acknowledges that remedies at law may be inadequate to protect the Company against any actual or threatened breach of the provisions of paragraph 6 by Employee. Accordingly, without prejudice to any other rights or remedies otherwise available to the Company, Employee agrees that the Company shall have the right to equitable and injunctive relief to prevent any breach of the provisions of paragraph 6 (without the requirement to post any bond), as well as to such damages or other relief as may be available to the Company by reason of any such breach as does occur.

(e)    Not A Contract of Employment. Employee acknowledges that this Agreement is not an “employment agreement” or “employment contract” (written or otherwise), as either term is used or defined in, or contemplated by or under

(1)    Parent's LTIP;

(2)    Any other plan or agreement to which the Company is a party; or

(3)    Applicable statutory, common or case law.

(f)    Breach Not a Defense. The representations and covenants on the part of Employee contained in paragraph 6 shall be construed as ancillary to and independent of any other provision of this Agreement, and the existence of any claim or cause of action of Employee against the Company or any officer, director, stockholder or representative of the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of the covenants on the part of Employee contained in paragraph 6.

(g)    Notices. Any Notice of Termination or other communication called for by the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and either delivered personally or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid and return receipt requested) and shall be deemed given when received at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

(1)    If to Parent, Employer or the Company, 5205 North O’Connor Boulevard, Suite 200, Irving, Texas 75039, Attention: General Counsel.

(2)    If to Employee, the address of Employee set forth below Employee’s signature on the signature page of this Agreement.

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(h)    Assumption by Parent Successor. Parent shall require any Parent Successor (regardless of whether the Parent Successor is the direct or indirect successor to all or substantially all of the business or assets of Parent and regardless of whether it became the Parent Successor by purchase of securities, merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise), to expressly assume and agree to perform the obligations to be performed by the Company under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

(i)    Assignment. Employer may assign its duties and obligations hereunder to any other direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of Parent, but shall remain secondarily liable for the performance of this Agreement by Parent and/or any such assignee. Except pursuant to either the immediately preceding sentence or an assumption by a Parent Successor, the rights and obligations of Parent and Employer pursuant to this Agreement may not be assigned, in whole or in part, by Parent or Employer to any other person or entity without the express written consent of Employee. The rights and obligations of Employee pursuant to this Agreement may not be assigned, in whole or in part, by Employee to any other person or entity without the express written consent of the Board.

(j)    Successors. This Agreement shall be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of, Parent, Employer, the Company, Employee and their respective successors, permitted assigns, personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees, as applicable.

(k)    Amendments and Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or otherwise modified, and no right of any party to this Agreement may be waived, unless such amendment, modification or waiver is agreed to in a written instrument signed by Employee, Parent and Company. No waiver by either party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

(l)    Complete Agreement. This Agreement replaces and supersedes all prior agreements, if any, among the parties with respect to the payments to be made to Employee upon termination of employment following a Change in Control, including, but not limited to, the Change in Control Agreement between Parent, Employer and Employee, as in effect immediately prior to the date hereof, and the provisions of this Agreement constitute the complete understanding and agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. Nothing in this subparagraph (l) is intended to, or shall be construed to, (1) supercede the Severance Agreement at any time prior to the time expressly provided in paragraph 2 hereof or (2) limit Employee’s rights upon the occurrence of a Change in Control under Parent’s LTIP or any other Company plan, policy, program or practice (other than any plan, policy, program or practice primarily providing severance or other termination benefits) generally applicable to similarly situated employees.

(m)    Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT IS BEING MADE AND EXECUTED IN, AND IS INTENDED TO BE PERFORMED IN, THE STATE OF TEXAS AND SHALL BE GOVERNED, CONSTRUED, INTERPRETED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

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(n)    Attorney Fees. All legal fees and other costs incurred by Employee in connection with the resolution of any dispute or controversy under or in connection with this Agreement shall be reimbursed by Parent and Employer to Employee, on a quarterly basis, upon presentation of proof of such expenses, but in no event later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such legal fees and expenses are incurred; provided, however, that if Employee asserts any claim in any contest and Employee shall not prevail, in whole or in part, as to at least one material issue as to the validity, enforceability or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement, Employee shall reimburse Parent and Employer for such amounts, plus simple interest thereon at the 90-day United States Treasury Bill rate as in effect from time to time, compounded annually. The Company shall be responsible for, and shall pay, all legal fees and other costs incurred by the Company in connection with the resolution of any dispute or controversy under or in connection with this Agreement, regardless of whether such dispute or controversy is resolved in favor of the Company or Employee.

(o)    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same agreement.

(p)    Construction. The captions of the paragraphs, subparagraphs and sections of this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or construction of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement. Unless otherwise specified, references in this Agreement to a “paragraph,” “subparagraph,” “section,” “subsection,” or “schedule” shall be considered to be references to the appropriate paragraph, subparagraph, section, subsection, or schedule, respectively, of this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the term “including” shall mean “including, but not limited to.”

(q)    Validity and Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under the present or future laws effective during the term of this Agreement, (1) such term or provision shall be fully severable, (2) this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such term or provision had never comprised a part of this Agreement and (3) the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable term or provision or by its severance from this Agreement. Furthermore, in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable term or provision, there shall be added automatically as a part of this Agreement, a term or provision as similar to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable term or provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable.

(r)    Survival. Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement to the contrary (including, without limitation, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with paragraph 1), paragraphs 6 and 7, and, to the extent that any of Parent’s and Employer’s obligations thereunder have not theretofore been satisfied, paragraph 5 of this Agreement shall survive the termination hereof.

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(s)    Joint and Several Liability. Parent and Employer (or any assignee of Employer pursuant to paragraph 7(i)) shall each be jointly and severally liable to Employee hereunder with regard to any obligation imposed by the terms hereof on Parent or Employer.

(SIGNATURE PAGE ATTACHED)

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In witness whereof, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY

By:      /s/ Mark S. Berg
Name:    Mark S. Berg
		
	Title:
	Executive Vice President and General Counsel

PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES USA, INC.

By:     /s/ Mark S. Berg
Name:    Mark S. Berg
		
	Title:
	Executive Vice President and General Counsel

EMPLOYEE: 

/s/ Scott D. Sheffield

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Schedule I

1. The Company entered into a Change in Control Agreement with Timothy L. Dove which is otherwise identical to the one entered into with Scott D. Sheffield. 

2. The Company entered into a Change in Control Agreement with each of Mark S. Berg, Chris J. Cheatwood, Richard P. Dealy, Frank W. Hall, William F. Hannes, Danny L. Kellum and Jay P. Still, which varied from Mr. Sheffield’s agreement by modifying Section 5(d)(3) to provide, in its entirety, the following: 

(3)    Continued coverage following Employee’s Date of Termination, at the same costs that apply to similarly situated active employees, for Employee and Employee’s eligible dependents under whichever of the Company’s group medical plans in which Employee was participating prior to the Date of Termination or, to the extent such continued coverage cannot be provided under such plan without adverse consequences for the Company or Employee due to non-discrimination requirements, then under an individual or group insurance policy that is substantially similar in all material respects to the coverage made available under such group health plan(s), for each of the following two periods (i) from the Employee’s Date of Termination until and including the 18 month anniversary of such termination; and (ii) from the day after the 18 month anniversary of the Employee’s Date of Termination and continuing until the end of the period over which the Protected Base Salary payable as part of the Separation Payment under subparagraph 5(c)(6) would have been payable if it had been paid over time in accordance with the Employer’s payroll practices as in effect at the Change in Control Date; provided, however, that such continued coverage shall cease if and when Employee becomes eligible for comparable coverage under the group health plan(s) of a subsequent employer; and

19PXDmar48kx102

EXHIBIT 10.2
PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the 4th day of March, 2013, by and between Pioneer Natural Resources Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Scott D. Sheffield (“Indemnitee”).
RECITALS
A.    Highly competent and experienced persons are reluctant to serve corporations as directors, executive officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance and indemnification against claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the Company.
B.    The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that the inability to attract and retain such persons would be detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future.
C.    The Board has also determined that it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company, in addition to purchasing and maintaining directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (or otherwise providing for adequate arrangements of self-insurance), contractually to obligate itself to indemnify such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be adequately protected.
D.    Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by law.
E.    Article Twelfth of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company provides for indemnification of directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law.
In consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
 
ARTICLE I 
Certain Definitions
As used herein, the following words and terms shall have the following respective meanings (whether singular or plural):

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“Acquiring Person” means any Person other than (i) the Company, (ii) any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the Company or of a Company owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, or (iv) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the Company or of a Company owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.
“Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i)    The acquisition by any Person of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 40% or more of either (x) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this Subparagraph (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control:  (A) any acquisition directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (D) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of paragraph (iii) below; or
(ii)    Members of the Incumbent Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; or
(iii)    Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or an acquisition of assets of another entity (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common equity and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or other similar governing body, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (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 or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or the entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 40% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common equity of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such entity except to the extent that such ownership results solely from ownership of the Company that existed prior to the Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors or other similar governing body of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of 

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the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or
(iv)    Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
“Claim” means an actual or threatened claim or request for relief which was, is or may be made by reason of anything done or not done by Indemnitee in, or by reason of any event or occurrence related to, Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.
“Corporate Status” means the status of a person who is, becomes or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or is, becomes or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner, member, venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent, fiduciary or similar functionary of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, sole proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.  For purposes of this Agreement, the Company agrees that Indemnitee’s service on behalf of or with respect to any Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed to be at the request of the Company.
“DGCL” means the Delaware General Corporation Law and any successor statute thereto, as either of them may from time to time be amended.
“Disinterested Director” with respect to any request by Indemnitee for indemnification hereunder, means a director of the Company who at the time of the vote is not a named defendant or respondent in the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
“Expenses” means all attorneys’ fees and disbursements, retainers, accountant’s fees and disbursements, private investigator fees and disbursements, court costs, transcript costs, fees and expenses of experts, witness fees and expenses, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and all other disbursements, costs or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending (including affirmative defenses and counterclaims), preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or participating in or preparing to participate in (including on appeal) a Proceeding and all interest or finance charges attributable to any thereof.  Should any payments by the Company under this Agreement be determined to be subject to any federal, state or local income or excise tax, “Expenses” shall also include such amounts as are necessary to place Indemnitee in the same after-tax position (after giving effect to all applicable taxes) as Indemnitee would have been in had no such tax been determined to apply to such payments.  Also, in this Agreement “witness” includes responding (or objecting) to a discovery request, whether in writing or in an oral deposition, in any Proceeding.  
“Incumbent Board” means the individuals who, as of the date of this Agreement, constitute the Board and any other individual who becomes a director of the Company after that date and whose election or appointment by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of 

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office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Incumbent Board.
“Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither contemporaneously is, nor in the five years theretofore has been, retained to represent:  (a) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than as Independent Counsel under this Agreement or similar agreements), (b) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder or (c) the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 5% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities (other than, in each such case, with respect to matters concerning the rights of Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.
“Independent Directors” means the directors on the Board that are independent directors as defined in Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual or successor provision, or, if the Company’s common stock is not then quoted on the NYSE, that qualify as independent, disinterested, or a similar term as defined in the rules of the principal securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Company’s common stock is then listed or quoted.
“Person” means any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act).
“Potential Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any Person shall have announced publicly an intention to effect a Change in Control, or commenced any action (such as the commencement of a tender offer for the Company’s Common Stock or the solicitation of proxies for the election of any of the Company’s directors) that, if successful, could reasonably be expected to result in the occurrence of a Change in Control; (ii) the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would constitute a Change in Control; or (iii) any other event occurs which the Board declares to be a Potential Change of Control.
“Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, investigation, inquiry, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, administrative or legislative hearing, or any other proceeding (including, without limitation, any securities laws action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, hearing or procedure) whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative and whether or not based upon events occurring, or actions taken, before the date hereof, and any appeal in or related to any such action, suit, arbitration, investigation, hearing or proceeding and any inquiry or investigation (including discovery), whether conducted by or in the right of the Company or any other Person, that Indemnitee in good faith believes could lead to any such action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, hearing or other proceeding or appeal thereof. 

- 4 -

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by that Person.
“Voting Securities” means any securities that vote generally in the election of directors, in the admission of general partners, or in the selection of any other similar governing body.
 
ARTICLE II 
Services by Indemnitee
Indemnitee is serving as an officer of the Company.  Indemnitee may from time to time also agree to serve, as the Company may request from time to time, in another capacity for the Company (including another officer or director position) or as a director, officer, partner, member, venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent, fiduciary or similar functionary of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, sole proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.  Indemnitee and the Company each acknowledge that they have entered into this Agreement as a means of inducing Indemnitee to serve, or continue to serve, the Company in such capacities.  Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position or positions (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law).  The Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in any such position or positions.
 
ARTICLE III 
Indemnification
Section 3.1    General.  Subject to the provisions set forth in Article IV, the Company shall indemnify, and advance Expenses to, Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in effect on the date hereof and to such greater extent as applicable law may hereafter from time to time permit.  The other provisions set forth in this Agreement are provided in addition to and as a means of furtherance and implementation of, and not in limitation of, the obligations expressed in this Article III.  No requirement, condition to or limitation of any right to indemnification or to advancement of Expenses under this Article III shall in any way limit the rights of Indemnitee under Article VII.
Section 3.2    Additional Indemnity of the Company.  Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 3.2 if, by reason of anything done or not done by Indemnitee in, or by reason of any event or occurrence related to, Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, was or becomes, or is threatened to be made, a party to, or witness or other participant in any Proceeding.  Pursuant to this Section 3.2, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against any and all Expenses, judgments, penalties (including excise or similar taxes), fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of any such Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any Claim, issue or matter therein.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Company under this Section 3.2 shall be subject to the condition that no determination (which, 

- 5 -

in any case in which Independent Counsel is involved, shall be in a form of a written opinion) shall have been made pursuant to Article IV that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law. Nothing in this Section 3.2 shall limit the benefits of Section 3.1, Section 3.3 or any other Section hereunder.
Section 3.3    Advancement of Expenses.  The Company shall pay all Expenses reasonably incurred by, or in the case of retainers to be incurred by, or on behalf of Indemnitee (or, if applicable, reimburse Indemnitee for any and all Expenses reasonably incurred by Indemnitee and previously paid by Indemnitee) in connection with any Claim or Proceeding, whether brought by the Company or otherwise, in advance of any determination respecting entitlement to indemnification pursuant to Article IV hereof (and shall continue to pay such Expenses after such determination and until it shall ultimately be determined (in a final adjudication by a court from which there is no further right of appeal or in a final adjudication of an arbitration pursuant to Section 5.1 if Indemnitee elects to seek such arbitration) that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company against such Expenses) within 10 days after the receipt by the Company of  (a) a written request from Indemnitee requesting such payment or payments from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Claim or Proceeding, and (b) a written affirmation from Indemnitee of Indemnitee’s good faith belief that Indemnitee has met the standard of conduct necessary for Indemnitee to be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law.  Any such payment by the Company is referred to in this Agreement as an “Expense Advance.”  In connection with any request for an Expense Advance, if requested by the Company, Indemnitee or Indemnitee’s counsel shall also submit an affidavit stating that the Expenses incurred were, or in the case of retainers to be incurred are, reasonably incurred.  Any dispute as to the reasonableness of the incurrence of any Expense shall not delay an Expense Advance by the Company, and the Company agrees that any such dispute shall be resolved only upon the disposition or conclusion of the underlying Claim against Indemnitee.  Indemnitee hereby undertakes and agrees that Indemnitee will reimburse and repay the Company without interest for any Expense Advances to the extent that it shall ultimately be determined (in a final adjudication by a court from which there is no further right of appeal or in a final adjudication of an arbitration pursuant to Section 5.1 if Indemnitee elects to seek such arbitration) that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company against such Expenses.  Indemnitee shall not be required to provide collateral or otherwise secure the undertaking and agreement described in the prior sentence.  The Company shall make all Expense Advances pursuant to this Section 3.3 without regard to the financial ability of the Indemnitee to make repayment and without regard to the prospect of whether the Indemnitee may ultimately be found to be entitled to indemnification under the provisions of this Agreement. 
Section 3.4    Indemnification for Additional Expenses.  The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all costs and expenses (of the types described in the definition of Expenses in Article I) and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within two business days of that request) advance those costs and expenses to Indemnitee, that are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any claim asserted against, or action brought by, Indemnitee for (i) indemnification or an Expense Advance by the Company under this Agreement or any other agreement or provision of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws now or hereafter in effect relating to any Claim or Proceeding, (ii) recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, or (iii) enforcement of, or claims for breaches of, any provision of this Agreement, in each of the foregoing situations regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is 

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determined to be entitled to that indemnification, Expense Advance payment, insurance recovery, enforcement, or damage claim, as the case may be, and regardless of whether the nature of the proceeding with respect to such matters is judicial, by arbitration, or otherwise.
Section 3.5    Partial Indemnity.  If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties, and amounts paid in settlement of a Claim or Proceeding but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.  Moreover, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any or all Claims or Proceedings, or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred in connection therewith.
 
ARTICLE IV 
Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification
Section 4.1    Request by Indemnitee.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification.  The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.  Nevertheless, any failure of Indemnitee to provide a request to the Company, or to provide such a request timely, shall not relieve the Company of any liability that it may have to Indemnitee hereunder except, and to the extent that, such failure actually and materially prejudices the interests of the Company.
Section 4.2    Determination of Request.  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 4.1 hereof, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to whether Indemnitee is permitted under applicable law to be indemnified shall be made, in accordance with the terms of Section 4.5, in the specific case as follows:
(a)    If a Potential Change in Control or a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel (selected in accordance with Section 4.3) in a written opinion to the Board and Indemnitee, unless Indemnitee shall request that such determination be made by the Board, or a committee of the Board, in which case by the person or persons or in the manner provided for in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (b) below; or
(b)    If a Potential Change in Control or a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (i) by the Board by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors even though less than a quorum of the Board, or (ii) by a majority vote of a committee solely of two or more Disinterested Directors designated to act in the matter by a majority vote of all Disinterested Directors even though less than a quorum of the Board, or (iii) by Independent Counsel selected by the Board or a committee of the Board by a vote as set forth in clauses (i) or (ii) 

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of this paragraph (b), or if such vote is not obtainable or such a committee cannot be established, by a majority vote of all directors, or (iv) if Indemnitee and the Company agree, by the stockholders of the Company in a vote that excludes the shares held by directors who are not Disinterested Directors.
If it is so determined that Indemnitee is permitted to be indemnified under applicable law, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within 10 days after such determination.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall require that any determination be made under this Section 4.2 prior to the disposition or conclusion of a Claim or Proceeding against Indemnitee; provided, however, that Expense Advances shall continue to be made by the Company pursuant to, and to the extent required by, the provisions of Article III.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person or persons making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information that is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and that is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person or persons making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification), and the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee therefrom.
Section 4.3    Independent Counsel.  If a Potential Change in Control or a Change in Control shall not have occurred and the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by (a) a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board or (b) if there are no Disinterested Directors, by a majority vote of the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee, within 10 days after receipt by the Company of Indemnitee’s request for indemnification, specifying the identity and address of the Independent Counsel so selected.  If a Potential Change in Control or a Change in Control shall have occurred and the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee, and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company, within 10 days after submission of Indemnitee’s request for indemnification, specifying the identity and address of the Independent Counsel so selected (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Disinterested Directors or a committee of the Board, in which event the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee within 10 days after receipt of Indemnitee’s request for the Board or a committee of the Disinterested Directors to make such selection, specifying the identity and address of the Independent Counsel so selected).  In either event, (i) such notice to Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, shall be accompanied by a written affirmation of the Independent Counsel so selected that it satisfies the requirements of the definition of “Independent Counsel” in Article I and that it agrees to serve in such capacity and (ii) Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within seven days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection.  Any objection to the selection of Independent Counsel pursuant to this Section 4.3 may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of the definition of “Independent Counsel” in Article I, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  If such written objection is timely made, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until a court of competent jurisdiction 

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(the “Court”) has determined that such objection is without merit or such objection is withdrawn.  In the event of a timely written objection to a choice of Independent Counsel, the party originally selecting the Independent Counsel shall have seven days to make an alternate selection of Independent Counsel and to give written notice of such selection to the other party, after which time such other party shall have five days to make a written objection to such alternate selection.  If, within 30 days after submission of Indemnitee’s request for indemnification pursuant to Section 4.1, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court for resolution of any objection that shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Court or by such other person as the Court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom an objection is so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 4.2.  The Company shall pay any and all fees of, and expenses reasonably incurred by, such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 4.2, and the Company shall pay all fees and expenses reasonably incurred incident to the procedures of this Section 4.3, regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 5.1, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
Section 4.4    Establishment of a Trust.  In the event of a Potential Change in Control or a Change in Control, the Company shall, upon written request by Indemnitee, create a trust for the benefit of Indemnitee (the “Trust”) and from time to time upon written request of Indemnitee shall fund the Trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy any and all Expenses reasonably anticipated at the time of each such request to be incurred in connection with investigating, preparing for, and defending any Claim, and any and all judgments, fines, penalties, and settlement amounts of any and all Claims from time to time actually paid or claimed, reasonably anticipated, or proposed to be paid. The amount to be deposited in the Trust pursuant to the foregoing funding obligation shall be determined by the Independent Counsel (or other person(s) making the determination of whether Indemnitee is permitted to be indemnified by applicable law).  The terms of the Trust shall provide that, upon a Change in Control, (i) the Trust shall not be revoked or the principal thereof invaded, without the written consent of Indemnitee; (ii) the trustee of the Trust shall advance to Indemnitee, within ten days of a request by Indemnitee, any and all Expenses reasonably incurred by, or in case of retainer to be incurred by, or on behalf of Indemnitee  (or, if applicable, reimburse Indemnitee for any Expense reasonably incurred by Indemnitee and previously paid by Indemnitee), with any required determination concerning the reasonableness of the Expenses to be made by the Independent Counsel (and Indemnitee hereby agrees to reimburse the Trust under the circumstances in which Indemnitee would be required to reimburse the Company for Expense Advances under Section 3.3 of this Agreement); (iii) the Trust shall continue to be funded by the Company in accordance with the funding obligation set forth above; (iv) the trustee of the Trust shall promptly pay to Indemnitee all amounts for which Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement; and (v) all unexpended funds in the Trust shall revert to the Company upon a final determination by the Independent Counsel or a court of competent jurisdiction, as the case may be, that Indemnitee has been fully indemnified under the terms of this Agreement.  The trustee of the Trust shall be chosen by Indemnitee and shall be an institution that is not affiliated with 

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Indemnitee.  Nothing in this Section 4.4 shall relieve the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement.
Section 4.5    Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.
(a)    Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement upon submission of a request for indemnification under Section 4.1, and the Company shall have the burden of proof in overcoming that presumption in reaching a determination contrary to that presumption.  Such presumption shall be used by Independent Counsel (or other person or persons determining entitlement to indemnification) as a basis for a determination of entitlement to indemnification unless the Company provides information sufficient to overcome such presumption by clear and convincing evidence or unless the investigation, review and analysis of Independent Counsel (or such other person or persons) convinces Independent Counsel by clear and convincing evidence that the presumption should not apply.
(b)    If the person or persons empowered or selected under Article IV of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within 60 days after receipt by the Company of the request by Indemnitee therefor, the determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional 30 days, if the person making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating to such determination; and provided, further, that the 60-day limitation set forth in this Section 4.5(b) shall not apply and such period shall be extended as necessary (i) if within 30 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification under Section 4.1 Indemnitee and the Company have agreed, and the Board has resolved, to submit such determination to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to Section 4.2(b) for their consideration at an annual meeting of stockholders to be held within 90 days after such agreement and such determination is made thereat, or a special meeting of stockholders is called within 30 days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within 60 days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 4.2(a) of this Agreement, in which case the applicable period shall be as set forth in Section 5.1(c).
(c)    The termination of any Proceeding or of any Claim, issue or matter by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) by itself adversely affect the rights of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee failed to meet any particular standard of conduct, that Indemnitee had any particular belief, or that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable law.  Indemnitee shall be deemed to have been found liable in 

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respect of any Claim, issue or matter only after Indemnitee shall have been so adjudged by the Court after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom.
(d)    For purposes of the second sentence of Section 3.5, a settlement or other resolution of a Proceeding short of final judgment may be successful if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption and uncertainty.  For purposes of the second sentence of Section 3.5, in the event that any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including settlement of such Proceeding with or without payment of money or other consideration), it shall be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such Proceeding.  Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof by clear and convincing evidence.
(e)    The failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination before the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct shall not be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the standard of conduct.
 
ARTICLE V 
Certain Remedies of Indemnitee
Section 5.1    Indemnitee Entitled to Adjudication in an Appropriate Court. If (a) a determination is made pursuant to Article IV that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement; (b) there has been any failure by the Company to make timely payment or advancement of any amounts due hereunder (including, without limitation, any Expense Advances); or (c) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 4.2 and such determination shall not have been made and delivered in a written opinion within 90 days after the latest of (i) such Independent Counsel’s being appointed, (ii) the overruling by the Court of objections to such counsel’s selection, or (iii) expiration of all periods for the Company or Indemnitee to object to such counsel’s selection, Indemnitee shall be entitled to commence an action seeking an adjudication in the Court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancements due hereunder, including, without limitation, Expense Advances.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Indemnitee shall commence such action seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such action pursuant to this Section 5.1, or such right shall expire.  The Company agrees not to oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration and it shall continue to pay Expense Advances pursuant to Section 3.3 until it shall ultimately be determined (in a final adjudication by a court from which there is no further right of appeal or in a final adjudication of an arbitration pursuant to this Section 5.1 if Indemnitee elects to seek such arbitration) that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company against such Expenses.
Section 5.2    Adverse Determination Not to Affect any Judicial Proceeding.  If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Article IV that Indemnitee is not entitled to 

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indemnification under this Agreement, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Article V shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial or arbitration on the merits, and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of such initial adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Article V, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proof in overcoming such presumption and to show by clear and convincing evidence that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.
Section 5.3    Company Bound by Determination Favorable to Indemnitee in any Judicial Proceeding or Arbitration.  If a determination shall have been made or deemed to have been made pursuant to Article IV that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be irrevocably bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Article V, and shall be precluded from asserting that such determination has not been made or that the procedure by which such determination was made is not valid, binding and enforceable. 
Section 5.4    Company Bound by the Agreement.  The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Article V that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.  Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Company shall not seek from a court, or agree to, a “bar order” that would have the effect of prohibiting or limiting Indemnitee’s rights to advancement of any Expenses under this Agreement.
 
ARTICLE VI 
Contribution
Section 6.1    Contribution Payment.  
(a)    Whether or not the indemnification provided in Article III hereof is available, in respect of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, or Proceeding), the Company shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount of any judgment or settlement of such action, suit or Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have against Indemnitee.  The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any action, suit or Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or Proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.
(b)    Without diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee shall elect or be required to pay all or any portion of any judgment or settlement in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or Proceeding), the Company shall contribute to the amount 

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of Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred and paid or payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits received by the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or Proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction or events from which such action, suit or Proceeding arose; provided, however, that the proportion determined on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or Proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the transaction or events that resulted in such Expenses, judgments, fines or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations which applicable law may require to be considered.
(c)    The Company hereby agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless from any claims of contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.
(d)    To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law and without diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding subparagraphs of this Section 6.1, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).
Section 6.2    Relative Fault.  The relative fault of the Indemnitee, on the one hand, and of the Company and any and all other parties (including officers and directors of the Company other than Indemnitee) who may be at fault with respect to such matter shall be determined (i) by reference to the relative fault of Indemnitee as determined by the court or other governmental agency assessing the contribution amounts or (ii) to the extent such court or other governmental agency does not apportion relative fault, by the Independent Counsel (or such other party which makes a determination under Article IV) after giving effect to, among other things, the degree of which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the degree to which their liability is primary or secondary, the degree to which their conduct is active or passive, the degree of the knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to prevent or correct the subject matter of the Proceedings and other relevant equitable considerations of each party.  The Company and Indemnitee agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6.2 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 6.2.

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ARTICLE VII 
Miscellaneous
Section 7.1    Non-Exclusivity.  The rights of Indemnitee to receive indemnification and advancement of Expenses under this Agreement shall be in addition to, and shall not be deemed exclusive of, any other rights Indemnitee shall under the DGCL or other applicable law, the charter or bylaws of the Company, any other agreement, vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise.  Every other right or remedy of Indemnitee shall be cumulative of the rights and remedies granted Indemnitee hereunder.  No amendment or alteration of the charter or bylaws of the Company or any provision thereof shall adversely affect Indemnitee’s rights hereunder, and such rights shall be in addition to any rights Indemnitee may have under the charter, bylaws and the DGCL or other applicable law.  To the extent that there is a change in the DGCL or other applicable law (whether by statute or judicial decision) that allows greater indemnification by agreement than would be afforded currently under the Company’s charter or bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by virtue of this Agreement the greater benefit so afforded by such change.  Any amendment, alteration or repeal of the DGCL that adversely affects any right of Indemnitee shall be prospective only and shall not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any Proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place before the effective date of such amendment or repeal.
Section 7.2    Insurance and Subrogation.
(a)    To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries of the Company or for individuals serving at the request of the Company as directors, officers, partners, members, venturers, proprietors, trustees, employees, agents, fiduciaries or similar functionaries of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, sole proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary under such policy or policies.
(b)    In the event of any payment by the Company under this Agreement for which reimbursement is available under any insurance policy or policies obtained by the Company, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee under such insurance policy or policies, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights, provided that all Expenses relating to such action shall be borne by the Company.
(c)    The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under the Company’s charter or bylaws or any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.  

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(d)    If Indemnitee is a director of the Company, the Company will advise the Board of any proposed material reduction in the coverage for Indemnitee to be provided by the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy and will not effect such a reduction with respect to Indemnitee without the prior approval of at least 80% of the Independent Directors of the Company.
(e)    If Indemnitee is a director of the Company during the term of this Agreement and if Indemnitee ceases to be a director of the Company for any reason, the Company shall procure a run-off directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy with respect to claims arising from facts or events that occurred before the time Indemnitee ceased to be a director of the Company and covering Indemnitee, which policy, without any lapse in coverage, will provide coverage for a period of six years after the time Indemnitee ceased to be a director of the Company and will provide coverage (including amount and type of coverage and size of deductibles) that are substantially comparable to the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy that was most protective of Indemnitee in the 12 months preceding the time Indemnitee ceased to be a director of the Company; provided, however, that:
(i)    this obligation shall be suspended during the period immediately following the time Indemnitee ceases to be a director of the Company if and only so long as the Company has a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy in effect covering Indemnitee for such claims that, if it were a run-off policy, would meet or exceed the foregoing standards, but in any event this suspension period shall end when a Change in Control occurs; and
(ii)    no later than the end of the suspension period provided in the preceding clause (i) (whether because of failure to have a policy meeting the foregoing standards or because a Change in Control occurs), the Company shall procure a run-off directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy meeting the foregoing standards and lasting for the remainder of the six-year period.
(f)    Notwithstanding the preceding clause (e) including the suspension provisions therein, if Indemnitee ceases to be an officer or a director of the Company in connection with a Change in Control or at or during the one-year period following the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company shall procure a run-off directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy covering Indemnitee and meeting the foregoing standards in clause (e) and lasting for a six-year period upon the Indemnitee’s ceasing to be an officer or a director of the Company in such circumstances.
(g)    If at the time of the receipt of a notice of a Claim or Proceeding pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such Claim or Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Claim or Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

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Section 7.3    Self Insurance of the Company; Other Arrangements.  The parties hereto recognize that the Company may, but except as provided in Section 7.2(d), Section 7.2(e), and Section 7.2(f) is not required to, procure or maintain insurance or other similar arrangements, at its expense, to protect itself and any person, including Indemnitee, who is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner, member, venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent, fiduciary or similar functionary of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, sole proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss asserted against or incurred by such person, in such a capacity or arising out of the person’s status as such a person, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense or liability or loss.
Except as provided in Section 7.2(d), Section 7.2(e) and Section 7.2(f), in considering the cost and availability of such insurance, the Company (through the exercise of the business judgment of its directors and officers) may, from time to time, purchase insurance which provides for certain (i) deductibles, (ii) limits on payments required to be made by the insurer, or (iii) coverage which may not be as comprehensive as that previously included in insurance purchased by the Company or its predecessors.  The purchase of insurance with deductibles, limits on payments and coverage exclusions, even if in the best interest of the Company, may not be in the best interest of Indemnitee.  As to the Company, purchasing insurance with deductibles, limits on payments and coverage exclusions is similar to the Company’s practice of self-insurance in other areas.  In order to protect Indemnitee who would otherwise be more fully or entirely covered under such policies, the Company shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless to the extent (i) of such deductibles, (ii) of amounts exceeding payments required to be made by an insurer, or (iii) of amounts that prior policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance held by the Company or its predecessors have provided for payment to Indemnitee, if by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status Indemnitee is or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding.  The obligation of the Company in the preceding sentence shall be without regard to whether the Company would otherwise be required to indemnify such officer or director under the other provisions of this Agreement, or under any law, agreement, vote of stockholders or directors or other arrangement.   Without limiting the generality of any provision of this Agreement, the procedures in Article IV hereof shall, to the extent applicable, be used for determining entitlement to indemnification under this Section 7.3. 
Section 7.4    Certain Settlement Provisions.  The Company shall have no obligation to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for amounts paid in settlement of a Proceeding or Claim without the Company’s prior written consent.  The Company shall not settle any Proceeding or Claim in any manner that would impose any fine or other obligation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent.  Neither the Company nor Indemnitee shall unreasonably withhold their consent to any proposed settlement.
Section 7.5    Duration of Agreement.  This Agreement shall continue for so long as Indemnitee serves as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or, at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, partner, member, venturer, proprietor, trustee, 

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employee, agent, fiduciary or similar functionary of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, sole proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, and thereafter shall survive until and terminate upon the later to occur of:  (a) the expiration of 20 years after the latest date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve in any such capacity; (b) the final termination of all pending Proceedings in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Article IV relating thereto; or (c) the expiration of all statutes of limitation applicable to possible Claims arising out of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.
Section 7.6    Notice by Each Party.  Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document or communication relating to any Proceeding or Claim for which Indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder; provided, however, that any failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not adversely affect Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement except to the extent the Company shall have been materially prejudiced as a direct result of such failure.  The Company shall promptly notify Indemnitee in writing as to the pendency of any Proceeding or Claim that may involve a claim against Indemnitee for which Indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder.
Section 7.7    Amendment.  This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by a written instrument executed by or on behalf of each of the parties hereto.
Section 7.8    Waivers.  The observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) by the party entitled to enforce such term only by a writing signed by the party against which such waiver is to be asserted.  Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, no delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any waiver on the part of any party hereto of any right, power or privilege hereunder operate as a waiver of any other right, power or privilege hereunder nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder.
Section 7.9    Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the documents expressly referred to herein constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters covered hereby, and any other prior or contemporaneous oral or written understandings or agreements with respect to the matters covered hereby, including without limitation any prior indemnification agreements, are expressly superseded by this Agreement.
Section 7.10    Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement (including any provision within a single section, paragraph or sentence) or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstance, shall be judicially declared to be invalid, unenforceable or void, such decision will not have the effect of invalidating or voiding the remainder of this Agreement or affect the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances, it being the intent and agreement of the parties that this Agreement shall be deemed amended by modifying such provision to the extent necessary to render it valid, legal and enforceable while preserving its intent, or if such modification is not possible, by substituting therefor another provision that is valid, legal and enforceable and that 

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achieves the same objective. Any such finding of invalidity or unenforceability shall not prevent the enforcement of such provision in any other jurisdiction to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.
Section 7.11    Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given upon (a) transmitter’s confirmation of a receipt of a facsimile transmission if during normal business hours of the recipient, otherwise on the next business day, (b) confirmed delivery of a standard overnight courier or when delivered by hand or (c) the expiration of five business days after the date mailed by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested), postage prepaid, to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other addresses for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
If to the Company, to it at:

Pioneer Natural Resources Company
5205 North O’Connor Blvd.
Suite 200
Irving, Texas  75039-3746
Attn: Corporate Secretary
Facsimile:  (972) 969-3552

If to Indemnitee, to Indemnitee at:

[Indemnitee address]

or to such other address or to such other individuals as any party shall have last designated by notice to the other parties.  All notices and other communications given to any party in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given when delivered or sent to the intended recipient thereof in accordance with and as provided in the provisions of this Section 7.11.
Section 7.12    Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the principles of conflict of laws.
Section 7.13    Certain Construction Rules.  
(a)    The article and section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  As used in this Agreement, unless otherwise provided to the contrary, (1) all references to days shall be deemed references to calendar days and (2) any reference to a “Section” or “Article” shall be deemed to refer to a section or article of this Agreement.  The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import referring to this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.  Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”  Unless otherwise specifically provided for herein, the term “or” shall not be deemed to be exclusive.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding 

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masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa.
(b)    For purposes of this Agreement, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, nominee, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in the interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interest of the Company” for purposes of this Agreement and the DGCL.
(c)    In the event of a merger, consolidation or amalgamation of the Company with or into any other entity, references to the “Company” shall include the entity surviving or resulting from the merger, consolidation or amalgamation as well as the Company, and Indemnitee shall stand in the same position under this Agreement with respect to the surviving or resulting entity as Indemnitee would stand with respect to the Company if its existence had continued upon and after the merger, consolidation or amalgamation.
Section 7.14    Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument, notwithstanding that both parties are not signatories to the original or same counterpart.
Section 7.15    Certain Persons Not Entitled to Indemnification.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (but subject to Section 7.1), Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of this Agreement with respect to any Proceeding or any Claim, issue or matter therein, brought or made by Indemnitee against the Company, except as specifically provided in Article III, Article IV or Section 7.3.  In addition, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:
(a)    To indemnify Indemnitee if (and to the extent that) a final decision by a court or arbitration body having jurisdiction in the matter shall determine that such indemnification is not lawful; or
(b)    To indemnify Indemnitee for the payment to the Company of profits pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, or Expenses incurred by Indemnitee for Proceedings in connection with such payment under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

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Section 7.16    Indemnification for Negligence, Gross Negligence, etc.  Without limiting the generality of any other provision hereunder, it is the express intent of this Agreement that Indemnitee be indemnified and Expenses be advanced regardless of Indemnitee’s acts of negligence, gross negligence, intentional or willful misconduct to the extent that indemnification and advancement of Expenses is allowed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and under applicable law.
Section 7.17    Mutual Acknowledgments.  Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that in certain instances, applicable law (including applicable federal law that may preempt or override applicable state law) or public policy may prohibit the Company from indemnifying the directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries of the Company under this Agreement or otherwise.  For example, the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has taken the position that indemnification of directors, officers and controlling Persons of the Company for liabilities arising under federal securities laws is against public policy and, therefore, unenforceable.  Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Company has undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit the question of indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a determination of the Company’s right under public policy to indemnify Indemnitee.  In addition, the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that federal law prohibits indemnifications for certain violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
Section 7.18    Enforcement.  The Company agrees that its execution of this Agreement shall constitute a stipulation by which it shall be irrevocably bound in any court or arbitration in which a proceeding by Indemnitee for enforcement of Indemnitee’s rights hereunder shall have been commenced, continued or appealed, that its obligations set forth in this Agreement are unique and special, and that failure of the Company to comply with the provisions of this Agreement will cause irreparable and irremediable injury to Indemnitee, for which a remedy at law will be inadequate.  As a result, in addition to any other right or remedy Indemnitee may have at law or in equity with respect to breach of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to injunctive or mandatory relief directing specific performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement.  The Company agrees not to seek, and agrees to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of, a bond in connection with Indemnitee’s seeking or obtaining such relief.
Section 7.19    Successors and Assigns. All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives. 

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Section 7.20    Period of Limitations.  No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or on behalf of the Company or any affiliate of the Company against Indemnitee or Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors, or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of one year from the date of accrual of that cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company or its affiliate shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within that one-year period; provided, however, that for any claim based on Indemnitee’s breach of fiduciary duties to the Company or its stockholders, the period set forth in the preceding sentence shall be three years instead of one year; and provided, further, that, if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action, the shorter period shall govern.

[signatures on following page]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered to be effective as of the date first above written.
PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY

By:      /s/ Mark S. Berg 
Name:    Mark S. Berg
Title:     Executive Vice President and General
Counsel

INDEMNITEE:

/s/ Scott D. Sheffield
Scott D. Sheffield

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Schedule I

The Company entered into an Indemnification Agreement with each of Timothy L. Dove, Mark S. Berg, Chris J. Cheatwood, Richard P. Dealy, William F. Hannes, Danny L. Kellum, Jay P. Still and Frank W. Hall that is otherwise identical to the one entered into with Scott D. Sheffield.

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