Document:

Exhibit 10.7

 

Execution Version

 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (as amended from time to time, this “Agreement”), dated as of August 7, 2013, is hereby entered into by and among Athlon Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Athlon Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and each of the Partners (as defined herein).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Partners own limited partner interests (“Units”) in the Partnership, which is treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes;

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation owns the general partner interest and limited partner interests in the Partnership;

 

WHEREAS, the Units held by the Partners are exchangeable for shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Partnership and each of its direct and indirect subsidiaries treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for each Taxable Year (as defined below) in which an exchange of Units for Common Stock occurs, which election is intended to result in an adjustment to the tax basis of the assets owned by the Partnership and such subsidiaries (solely with respect to the Corporation) at the time of (i) any Section 734(b) Distribution (as defined below) or (ii) an exchange of Units for Common Stock or any other acquisition of Units by the Corporation or its successor (or any entity that is a member of the Corporation’s (or its successor’s) affiliated or consolidated group) for cash or otherwise (the transactions described in clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, an “Exchange”) (each such time described in clauses (i) and (ii), the “Exchange Date”) by reason of such Exchange and the payments under this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the income, gain, loss, expense and other Tax (as defined below) items of (i) the Corporation, as a partner of the Partnership (and in respect of each of the Partnership’s direct and indirect Subsidiaries (as defined below) treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) with respect to the Specified Assets (as defined below) may be affected by the Basis Adjustment (as defined below) and (ii) the Corporation may be affected by the Imputed Interest (as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement desire to make certain arrangements with respect to the actual or deemed effect of the Basis Adjustment and the Imputed Interest on the liability for Taxes of the Corporation.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

 

ARTICLE I
 DEFINITIONS

 

Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth in this Article I shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined).

 

“Advisory Firm” means any law or accounting firm that is nationally recognized as being an expert in Tax matters and that is agreed to by the Board.

 

“Advisory Firm Letter” means a letter from the Advisory Firm stating that the relevant schedule, notice or other information to be provided by the Corporation to the Exchanging Partner and all supporting schedules and work papers were prepared in a manner consistent with the terms of this Agreement and, to the extent not expressly provided in this Agreement, on a reasonable basis in light of the facts and law in existence on the date such schedule, notice or other information is delivered to the Exchanging Partner.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person.

 

“Agreed Rate” means LIBOR plus 300 basis points.

 

“Agreement” is defined in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

“Amended Schedule” is defined in Section 2.04(b) of this Agreement.

 

“Amount Realized” means, in respect of an Exchange by an Exchanging Partner, the amount that is deemed for purposes of this Agreement to be the amount realized by the Exchanging Partner on the Exchange, which shall be the sum of (i) the Market Value of the Common Stock, the amount of cash and the amount or fair market value of other consideration received (or deemed received) by the Exchanging Partner in the Exchange and (ii) the Share of Liabilities attributable to the Units Exchanged.  The amount realized by an Exchanging Partner, as so determined, may differ from the amount realized by the Exchanging Partner for purposes of Section 1001 of the Code.

 

“Basis Adjustment” means the deemed adjustment to the Tax basis of a Specified Asset, arising in respect of an Exchange, as calculated under Section 2.01 of this Agreement, under the principles of Sections 743(b) and 754 of the Code (including in situations where, following an Exchange, the Partnership remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes, or situations where, following one or more Section 734(b) Distributions, the Partnership remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes) and, in each case, comparable sections of state, local and foreign Tax laws.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the amount of any Basis Adjustment resulting from an Exchange of one or more Units shall be determined without regard to any Pre-Exchange Transfer of such Units and as if any such Pre-Exchange Transfer had not occurred.  Immediately after any Section 732 Event, “Basis Adjustment” means a portion of the tax basis of a Specified Asset, equal to the Basis Adjustment attributable to such Specified Asset immediately prior to such Section 732 Event, including, for this purpose, any increase in the 

 

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basis of a Specified Asset pursuant to Section 1012 of the Code and Revenue Ruling 99-6, 1999-1 C.B. 532, due to an Exchange that causes the Partnership to become an entity disregarded as separate from its owner for tax purposes.

 

“Beneficial Owner”, with respect to a security, means a Person who directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares: (i) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security and/or (ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security.  The terms “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have correlative meanings.

 

“Board” means the board of directors of the Corporation.

 

“Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of Texas shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of either of the following events:

 

(a)                                 the sale, lease or transfer (other than by way of merger or consolidation, including any merger or consolidation involving an Affiliate of the Corporation solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Corporation in another jurisdiction to realize tax or other benefits), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to a Person other than any of the Permitted Holders; or

 

(b)                                 the Corporation becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than any of the Permitted Holders, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination or purchase of Beneficial Ownership, of more than 50% of the total capital stock of the Corporation that is entitled to vote in the election of the Board.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the shares of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

“Code” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

“Common Stock” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

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“Control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Corporation” is defined in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

“Corporation Return” means the United States federal, state, local and/or foreign Tax Return, as applicable, of the Corporation filed with respect to Taxes of any Taxable Year.

 

“Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year means the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporation, up to and including such Taxable Year, net of the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Detriments for the same period.  The Realized Tax Benefit and Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year shall be determined based on the most recent Tax Benefit Schedule or Amended Schedule, if any, in existence at the time of such determination.

 

“Default Rate” means LIBOR plus 625 basis points.

 

“Determination” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1313(a) of the Code or similar provision of state, local and foreign Tax law, as applicable, or any other event (including the execution of an IRS Form 870-AD) that finally and conclusively establishes the amount of any liability for Tax.

 

“Dispute” is defined in Section 7.08(a) of this Agreement.

 

“Early Payment Right” is defined in Section 4.04 of this Agreement.

 

“Early Termination Date” means the date of an Early Termination Notice for purposes of determining the Early Termination Payment.

 

“Early Termination Notice” is defined in Section 4.02 of this Agreement.

 

“Early Termination Payment” is defined in Section 4.03(b) of this Agreement.

 

“Early Termination Rate” means LIBOR plus 300 basis points.

 

“Early Termination Schedule” is defined in Section 4.02 of this Agreement.

 

“Exchange” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement, and “Exchanged” and “Exchanging” shall have correlative meanings.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Exchange Basis Schedule” is defined in Section 2.02 of this Agreement.

 

“Exchange Date” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

“Exchange Payment” is defined in Section 5.01.

 

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“Exchanging Partner” means a Partner that Exchanges some or all of its Units.

 

“Expert” is defined in Section 7.09 of this Agreement.

 

“Hypothetical Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the liability for Taxes of the Corporation (or the Partnership, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on the Partnership and allocable to the Corporation) using the same methods, elections, conventions and similar practices used on the relevant Corporation Return, but using the Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis instead of the Tax basis reflecting the Basis Adjustments of the Specified Assets and excluding any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest.

 

“Imputed Interest” means any interest imputed under Section 1272, 1274 or 483 or other provision of the Code and any similar provision of state, local and foreign Tax law with respect to the Corporation’s payment obligations under this Agreement.

 

“Interest Amount” is defined in Section 3.01(b) of this Agreement.

 

“IPO” means the initial public offering of Common Stock by the Corporation.

 

“IPO Date” means the date on which the Corporation contributes to the Partnership the net proceeds received by the Corporation in connection with the IPO.

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

“LIBOR” means for each month (or portion thereof) during any period, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum reported, on the date two Business Days prior to the first day of such month, on the Telerate Page 3750 (or if such screen shall cease to be publicly available, as reported on Reuters Screen page “LIBO” or by any other publicly available source of such market rate) for London interbank offered rates for United States dollar deposits for such month (or portion thereof).

 

“LP Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, dated on or about the date hereof, as such agreement may be amended from time to time.

 

“Management Group” means the group consisting of the directors, executive officers and other management personnel of the Corporation or any direct or indirect parent of the Corporation, as the case may be, on the date hereof together with (1) any new directors whose election by the Board or whose nomination for election by the equity holders of the Corporation or any direct or indirect parent of the Corporation, as applicable, was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors of the Corporation or any direct or indirect parent of the Corporation, as applicable, then still in office who are directors on the date hereof or whose election or nomination was previously so approved and (2) executive officers and other management personnel of the Corporation or any direct or indirect parent of the Corporation, as applicable, hired at a time when the directors on the date hereof together with the directors so approved constituted a majority of the directors of the Corporation or any direct or indirect parent of the Corporation, as applicable.

 

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“Market Value” means the closing price of the Common Stock on the applicable Exchange Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Common Stock is then traded or listed, as reported by the Wall Street Journal; provided that if the closing price is not reported by the Wall Street Journal for the applicable Exchange Date, then the Market Value shall mean the closing price of the Common Stock on the Business Day immediately preceding such Exchange Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Common Stock is then traded or listed, as reported by the Wall Street Journal; provided further, that if the Common Stock is not then listed on a National Securities Exchange or Interdealer Quotation System, “Market Value” shall mean the cash consideration paid for Common Stock, or the fair market value of the other property delivered for Common Stock, as determined by the Board in good faith.

 

“Material Objection Notice” is defined in Section 4.02 of this Agreement.

 

“Net Tax Benefit” is defined in Section 3.01(b) of this Agreement.

 

“Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis” means, with respect to any asset at any time, the tax basis that such asset would have had at such time if no Basis Adjustment had been made or, immediately after any Section 732 Event, the tax basis that such asset would have had if the Basis Adjustment were not included in such asset’s tax basis.

 

“Objection Notice” is defined in Section 2.04(a) of this Agreement.

 

“Original Partners” means the partners set forth on Annex A hereto.

 

“Partners” means the parties hereto, other than the Corporation and the Partnership, and each other Person who from time to time executes a Joinder Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

“Partnership” is defined in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

“Payment Date” means any date on which a payment is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement.

 

“Permitted Holders” means, at any time, each of

 

(a)                                 Apollo Investment Fund VII, L.P. and its parallel funds (the “Apollo Funds”), Apollo Global Management, LLC and any of their respective Affiliates other than any portfolio companies (collectively, the “Equity Investor”) and any Person that forms a group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) with the Equity Investor; provided that the Equity Investor (x) owns a majority of the voting power and (y) controls a majority of the Board,

 

(b)                                 the Management Group,

 

(c)                                  any Person that has no material assets other than the capital stock of the Corporation and, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires 100% of the capital stock of the 

 

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Corporation that is entitled to vote in the election of the Board, and of which no other Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than any of the other Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the capital stock of such Person that is entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person and (iv) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) the members of which include any of the Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above and that, directly or indirectly, hold or acquire Beneficial Ownership of the total capital stock of the Corporation that is entitled to vote in the election of the Board (a “Permitted Holder Group”), so long as (1) each member of the Permitted Holder Group has voting rights proportional to the percentage of ownership interests held or acquired by such member and (2) no Person or other “group” (other than Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above) Beneficially Owns more than 50% on a fully diluted basis of the total capital stock of the Corporation that is entitled to vote in the election of the Board held by the Permitted Holder Group.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity.

 

“Pre-Exchange Transfer” means any transfer (including upon the death of a Partner) of one or more Units (i) that occurs prior to an Exchange of such Units, and (ii) to which Section 743(b) of the Code applies.

 

“Realized Tax Benefit” means, for a Taxable Year and for all Taxes collectively, the net excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the “actual” liability for Taxes of the Corporation (or the Partnership, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on the Partnership and allocable to the Corporation for such Taxable Year), such “actual” liability to be computed with the adjustments described in this Agreement.  If all or a portion of the actual liability for Taxes of the Corporation (or the Partnership, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on the Partnership and allocable to the Corporation for such Taxable Year) for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination.

 

“Realized Tax Detriment” means, for a Taxable Year and for all Taxes collectively, the net excess, if any, of the “actual” liability for Taxes of the Corporation (or the Partnership, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on the Partnership and allocable to the Corporation for such Taxable Year), such “actual” liability to be computed with the adjustments described in this Agreement, over the Hypothetical Tax Liability for such Taxable Year.  If all or a portion of the actual liability for Taxes of the Corporation (or the Partnership, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on the Partnership and allocable to the Corporation for such Taxable Year) for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination.

 

“Reconciliation Dispute” is defined in Section 7.09 of this Agreement.

 

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“Reconciliation Procedures” is defined in Section 2.04(a) of this Agreement.

 

“Schedule” means any Exchange Basis Schedule or Tax Benefit Schedule and the Early Termination Schedule.

 

“Section 732 Event” is defined in Section 2.01(c) of this Agreement.

 

“Section 734(b) Distribution” means any actual or deemed distribution to the Partners by the Partnership to which Section 734(b)(1) of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign tax law) applies.

 

“Senior Obligations” is defined in Section 5.01 of this Agreement.

 

“Share of Base Liabilities”, as to any Unit at the time of an Exchange, means the product of (i) the lesser of (x) the aggregate amount of the liabilities of the Partnership, for purposes of Section 752 and Section 1001 of the Code, at the time of the Exchange and (y) the aggregate amount of the liabilities of the Partnership, for purposes of Section 752 and Section 1001 of the Code, immediately prior to the IPO Date and (ii) the percentage share of the Unit in the profits of the Partnership immediately prior to the IPO Date, as set out on Annex A to this Agreement; provided, however, that for purposes of this definition, the amount of the liabilities of the Partnership at the time of the Exchange shall be increased by any reduction in the liabilities of the Partnership at or after the time of the IPO arising from the use of the proceeds of the IPO, or any other contribution to the capital of the Partnership, to fund or repay liabilities.

 

“Share of Excess Liabilities”, as to any Unit at the time of an Exchange, means the product of (i) the excess, if any, of (x) the aggregate amount of the liabilities of the Partnership, for purposes of Section 752 and Section 1001 of the Code, at the time of the Exchange over (y) the aggregate amount of the liabilities of the Partnership, for purposes of Section 752 and Section 1001 of the Code, immediately prior to the IPO Date and (ii) the percentage share of the Unit in the profits of the Partnership at the time of the Exchange; provided, however, that for purposes of this definition, the amount of the liabilities of the Partnership at the time of the Exchange shall be increased by any reduction in the liabilities of the Partnership at or after the time of the IPO arising from the use of the proceeds of the IPO, or any other contribution to the capital of the Partnership, to fund or repay liabilities.

 

“Share of Liabilities”, as to any Unit at the time of an Exchange, means the sum of (i) the Unit’s Share of Base Liabilities and (ii) the Unit’s Share of Excess Liabilities, if any.

 

“Specified Assets” means the assets held by the Partnership, or by any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for purposes of the applicable Tax, at the time of the Exchange.

 

“Subsidiaries” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controls more than 50% of the voting shares or other similar interests of such Person or the sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such Person.

 

“Tax Benefit Payment” is defined in Section 3.01(b) of this Agreement.

 

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“Tax Benefit Schedule” is defined in Section 2.03 of this Agreement.

 

“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report or similar statement required to be filed with respect to Taxes (including any attached schedules), including, without limitation, any information return, claim for refund, amended return and declaration of estimated Tax.

 

“Taxable Year” means a taxable year of the Corporation as defined in Section 441(b) of the Code or comparable section of state, local or foreign Tax law, as applicable (and, therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a period of less than 12 months for which a Tax Return is prepared), ending on or after the IPO Date.

 

“Tax” or “Taxes” means any and all United States federal, state, local and foreign taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits, whether as an exclusive or on an alternative basis, and any interest related to such Tax.

 

“Taxing Authority” means any domestic, foreign, federal, national, state, county or municipal or other local government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body exercising any taxing authority or any other authority exercising Tax regulatory authority.

 

“Treasury Regulations” means the final, temporary and proposed regulations under the Code promulgated from time to time (including corresponding provisions and succeeding provisions) as in effect for the relevant taxable period.

 

“Units” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

“Valuation Assumptions” means, as of an Early Termination Date, the assumptions that (1) in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date, the Corporation will have taxable income sufficient to fully use the deductions arising from the Basis Adjustment or the Imputed Interest during such Taxable Year, (2) the federal income tax rates and state, local and foreign income tax rates that will be in effect for each such Taxable Year will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and other law as in effect on the Early Termination Date, (3) any loss carryovers generated by the Basis Adjustment or the Imputed Interest and available as of the date of the Early Termination Schedule will be used by the Corporation on a pro rata basis from the date of the Early Termination Schedule through the scheduled expiration date of such loss carryovers, (4) any non-amortizable assets will be disposed of on the 15th anniversary of the earlier of the Basis Adjustment and the Early Termination Date, provided, that in the event of a Change of Control, non-amortizable assets shall be deemed disposed of at the earlier of (i) the time of sale of the relevant asset or (ii) as generally provided in this Valuation Assumption (4), and (5) if, at the Early Termination Date, there are Units that have not been Exchanged, then each such Unit shall be deemed to be Exchanged for the Market Value of the Common Stock and the amount of cash that would be transferred if the Exchange occurred on the Early Termination Date.

 

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ARTICLE II
 DETERMINATION OF CUMULATIVE REALIZED TAX BENEFIT

 

Section 2.01                             Basis Adjustment.  The Corporation and the Partners acknowledge that as a result of:

 

(a)                                 an Exchange and pursuant to applicable law, the Corporation’s tax basis in the Specified Assets shall be increased by the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of (x) the Amount Realized by the Exchanging Partner in the Exchange, plus (y) the amount of payments made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Exchange (other than payments attributable to Imputed Interest), over (ii) the Corporation’s share of the Partnership’s Tax basis for such Specified Assets immediately after the Exchange, attributable to the Units Exchanged, determined as if (x) the Partnership remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes, and (y) the Partnership had not made the election provided by Section 754 of the Code.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation’s share of the Partnership’s Tax basis for such Specified Assets that is attributable to the Units Exchanged shall be considered to be an amount of the Tax basis of the Specified Assets, without regard to any Basis Adjustment, proportionate to the ratio that the number of Units Exchanged bears to the number of outstanding Units immediately prior to such Exchange.  For purposes of this Agreement, in computing the effect of the Basis Adjustment on the Tax liability of the Corporation:

 

(1)                                 the actual basis adjustment to each Specified Asset under Section 732 or Section 743(b) of the Code shall be recovered by the Corporation in accordance with its actual recovery for purposes of the applicable Tax; and

 

(2)                                 the portion of the Basis Adjustment for each Specified Asset described in this Section 2.01(a) that exceeds the actual basis adjustment to such Specified Asset under Section 732 or Section 743(b) of the Code shall be deemed to be amortized by the Corporation on a straight line basis over the 10 years following the Exchange;

 

(b)                                 a Section 734(b) Distribution and pursuant to applicable law, the Partnership’s basis in the Specified Assets shall be increased by (i) the gain, if any, recognized by the Partner pursuant to Section 731(a)(1) of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign tax law) and in the case of distributed property to which Section 732(a)(2) or (b) of the Code applies, (ii) the excess, if any, of (w) the Partnership’s adjusted basis in property distributed to the Partner (as adjusted by Section 732(d) of the Code, if applicable) immediately prior to the distribution over (x) the adjusted basis of such property in the hands of the Partner as determined under Section 732 of the Code; and

 

(c)                                  an actual or deemed liquidation of the Partnership or other transaction pursuant to which the tax basis of Specified Assets is determined in whole or in part pursuant to Section 732 of the Code (a “Section 732 Event”), the tax basis of such Specified Assets shall be adjusted to equal the distributee’s tax basis in the applicable interest in the Partnership.

 

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To the extent that the adjustment to the Partnership’s basis with respect to the Corporation, in any of the Partnership’s assets, that is expected to result from an Exchange is limited because of a change in law, the Basis Adjustment shall be correspondingly limited.  For the avoidance of doubt, payments made under this Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in a Basis Adjustment to the extent such payments are treated as Imputed Interest.  The Corporation and the Partners hereby agree to treat any payments made under this Agreement (other than the portion thereof that is treated as Imputed Interest) as additional consideration for the applicable Exchanged Units.

 

Section 2.02                             Exchange Basis Schedule.  Within 90 calendar days after the end of the Taxable Year in which an Exchange or a Section 732 Event occurs, and in any event at least 90 calendar days prior to the filing of the United States federal income tax return of the Corporation for each Taxable Year in which any Exchange or Section 732 Event has been effected, the Corporation shall deliver to each Exchanging Partner a schedule (an “Exchange Basis Schedule”) that shows, in reasonable detail, for purposes of Taxes, the information required under Sections 732, 734(b), 743(b) and 755 of the Code, and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, to calculate the Basis Adjustment with respect to such Exchange or Section 732 Event, including, without limitation, (i) the actual unadjusted Tax basis of the Specified Assets as of each applicable Exchange Date, (ii) with respect to each class of the Specified Assets, the Basis Adjustment as a result of the Exchanges or Section 732 Events effected in such Taxable Year calculated in the aggregate, (iii) the period or periods, if any, over which the Specified Assets are amortizable and/or depreciable,  (iv) the period or periods, if any, over which each Basis Adjustment is amortizable and/or depreciable (which, for non-amortizable assets shall be based on the Valuation Assumptions) and (v) all supporting information (including work papers and valuation reports, if any) reasonably necessary to support the calculation of the Basis Adjustment with respect to such Exchange, Section 732 Event or Section 734(b) Distribution.

 

Section 2.03                             Tax Benefit Schedule.  Within 45 calendar days after the filing of the United States federal income tax return of the Corporation for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, the Corporation shall provide to each Exchanging Partner a schedule showing, in reasonable detail, the calculation of the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year and the calculation of any payment to be made to the Partner pursuant to Article III with respect to such Taxable Year (a “Tax Benefit Schedule”).  The Schedule will become final as provided in Section 2.04(a) and may be amended as provided in Section 2.04(b) (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.04(b)).

 

Section 2.04                             Procedures, Amendments.

 

(a)                                 Procedure.  Every time the Corporation delivers to an Exchanging Partner an applicable Schedule under this Agreement, including any Amended Schedule delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(b), but excluding any Early Termination Schedule or amended Early Termination Schedule, the Corporation shall also (x) deliver to the Exchanging Partner schedules and work papers providing reasonable detail regarding the preparation of the Schedule and an Advisory Firm Letter supporting such Schedule and (y) allow the Exchanging Partner reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives at the Corporation and the Advisory Firm in connection with a review of such Schedule.  The applicable Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties

 

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unless the Exchanging Partner, within 30 calendar days after receiving an Exchange Basis Schedule or amendment thereto or a Tax Benefit Schedule or amendment thereto, provides the Corporation with notice of a material objection to such Schedule (“Objection Notice”).  If the parties, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within 30 calendar days of receipt by the Corporation of an Objection Notice, if with respect to an Exchange Basis Schedule or a Tax Benefit Schedule, the Corporation and the Exchanging Partner shall employ the reconciliation procedures as described in Section 7.09 of this Agreement (the “Reconciliation Procedures”).

 

(b)                                 Amended Schedule.  The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporation (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule, (ii) to correct material inaccuracies in the Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year, (iii) to comply with the Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures, (iv) to reflect a material change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other tax item to such Taxable Year, (v) to reflect a material change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Tax Return filed for such Taxable Year or (vi) to adjust the Exchange Basis Schedule to take into account payments made pursuant to this Agreement (such Schedule, an “Amended Schedule”).  The Corporation shall provide any Amended Schedule to the Exchanging Partner within 30 calendar days of the occurrence of an event referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of the preceding sentence, and any such Amended Schedule shall be subject to approval procedures similar to those described in Section 2.04(a).

 

ARTICLE III
  TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

 

Section 3.01                             Payments.

 

(a)                                 Payments.  Within five calendar days after a Tax Benefit Schedule that was delivered to an Exchanging Partner becomes final in accordance with Section 2.04(a), the Corporation shall pay to such Exchanging Partner for such Taxable Year the Tax Benefit Payment determined pursuant to Section 3.01(b).  Each such Tax Benefit Payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account of the Exchanging Partner previously designated by such Partner to the Corporation.  For the avoidance of doubt, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of estimated tax payments, including, without limitation, federal income tax payments.

 

(b)                                 A “Tax Benefit Payment” means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of the Net Tax Benefit and the Interest Amount.  The “Net Tax Benefit” for each Taxable Year shall be an amount equal to the excess, if any, of 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of such Taxable Year over the total amount of payments previously made under this Section 3.01, excluding payments attributable to an Interest Amount; provided, however, that for the avoidance of doubt, no Partner shall be

 

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required to return any portion of any previously made Tax Benefit Payment.  The “Interest Amount” for a given Taxable Year shall equal the interest on the Net Tax Benefit for such Taxable Year calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the Corporation Return with respect to Taxes for the most recently ended Taxable Year until the Payment Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for each Taxable Year ending on or after the date of a Change of Control, all Tax Benefit Payments, whether paid with respect to Units that were Exchanged (i) prior to the date of such Change of Control or (ii) on or after the date of such Change of Control, shall be calculated by using Valuation Assumptions (1), (2), (3), and (4), substituting in each case the terms “the date on which a Change of Control becomes effective” for an “Early Termination Date.”  The Net Tax Benefit and the Interest Amount shall be determined separately with respect to each separate Exchange, on a Unit-by-Unit basis by reference to the Amount Realized by the Exchanging Partner on the Exchange of a Unit and the resulting Basis Adjustment to the Corporation.

 

Section 3.02                             No Duplicative Payments.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, it is intended that the provisions of this Agreement will not result in duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) required under this Agreement.  It is also intended that the provisions of this Agreement will result in 85% of the Corporation’s Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit, and the Interest Amount thereon, being paid to the Partners pursuant to this Agreement.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in the appropriate manner so that these fundamental results are achieved.

 

Section 3.03                             Pro Rata Payments.  For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that (i) the Corporation’s deductions with respect to any Basis Adjustment is limited in a particular Taxable Year or (ii) the Corporation lacks sufficient funds to satisfy its obligations to make all Tax Benefit Payments due in a particular taxable year, the limitation on the deduction, or the Tax Benefit Payments that may be made, as the case may be, shall be taken into account or made for the Exchanging Partner in the same proportion as Tax Benefit Payments would have been made absent the limitations in clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph, as applicable.

 

ARTICLE IV
  TERMINATION AND PUT RIGHT

 

Section 4.01                             Early Termination and Breach of Agreement.

 

(a)                                 The Corporation may terminate this Agreement with respect to all of the Units held (or previously held and Exchanged) by all Partners at any time by paying to the Partners the Early Termination Payment; provided, however, that this Agreement shall only terminate upon the receipt of the Early Termination Payment by all Partners, and provided, further, that the Corporation may withdraw any notice to execute its termination rights under this Section 4.01(a) prior to the time of any Early Termination Payment.  Upon payment of the Early Termination Payments by the Corporation, neither the Partners nor the Corporation shall have any further payment obligations under this Agreement, other than for any (a) Tax Benefit Payment agreed to by the Corporation and the Partner as due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice and (b) Tax Benefit Payment due for the Taxable Year ending with or including the date of the Early

 

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Termination Notice (except to the extent that the amount described in clause (b) is included in the Early Termination Payment).  For the avoidance of doubt, if an Exchange occurs after the Corporation makes the Early Termination Payments with respect to all Partners, the Corporation shall have no obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Exchange, and its only obligations under this Agreement in such case shall be its obligations to all Partners under Section 4.03(a).

 

(b)                                 In the event that the Corporation breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, whether as a result of failure to make any payment when due, failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement in a case commenced under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, then all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such breach and shall include, but shall not be limited to, (1) the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of a breach, (2) any Tax Benefit Payment agreed to by the Corporation and any Partners as due and payable but unpaid as of the date of a breach and (3) any Tax Benefit Payment due for the Taxable Year ending with or including the date of a breach.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporation breaches this Agreement, the Partners shall be entitled to elect to receive the amounts set forth in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above or to seek specific performance of the terms hereof.  The parties agree that the failure to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three months of the date such payment is due shall be deemed to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, and that it will not be considered to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three months of the date such payment is due.

 

(c)                                  The Corporation, the Partnership and each of the Partners hereby acknowledge that, as of the date of this Agreement, the aggregate value of the Tax Benefit Payments cannot reasonably be ascertained for United States federal income tax or other applicable Tax purposes.

 

Section 4.02                             Early Termination Notice.  If the Corporation chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.01 above, the Corporation shall deliver to each present or former Partner notice of such intention to exercise such right (“Early Termination Notice”) and a schedule (the “Early Termination Schedule”) showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment for that Partner.  The Corporation shall also (x) deliver to the Partner schedules and work papers providing reasonable detail regarding the preparation of the Schedule and an Advisory Firm Letter supporting such Schedule and (y) allow the Partner reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives at the Corporation and the Advisory Firm in connection with a review of such Schedule.  The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties unless the Partner, within 30 calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporation with notice of a material objection to such Schedule (“Material Objection Notice”).  If the parties, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within 30 calendar days after receipt by the Corporation

 

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of the Material Objection Notice, the Corporation and the Partner shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures as described in Section 7.09 of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.03                             Payment upon Early Termination.

 

(a)                                 Within three calendar days after agreement between the Partner and the Corporation of the Early Termination Schedule, the Corporation shall pay to the Partner an amount equal to the Early Termination Payment.  Such payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Partner.

 

(b)                                 The “Early Termination Payment” as of the date of the delivery of an Early Termination Schedule shall equal with respect to any Partner the sum of the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as of such date, of all Tax Benefit Payments that would be required to be paid by the Corporation to the Partner beginning from the Early Termination Date and assuming that the Valuation Assumptions are applied.

 

Section 4.04                             Early Payment Right.  Each Partner shall have the right (the “Early Payment Right”) to terminate this Agreement with respect to all, but not less than all, of the Units held (or previously held and Exchanged) by such Partner upon notice in writing to the Corporation.  Within 30 calendar days of a Partner notifying the Corporation in writing of its exercise the Early Payment Right, the Corporation shall provide such Partner with the information required by Section 4.02 of this Agreement as if the Corporation had exercised its termination right under Section 4.01 of this Agreement, including, without limitation, an Early Termination Schedule containing the Early Termination Payment with respect to such Partner.  The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties unless the Partner, within 30 calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporation with a Material Objection Notice.  If the parties, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within 30 calendar days after receipt by the Corporation of the Material Objection Notice, the Corporation and the Partner shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures as described in Section 7.09 of this Agreement.  Within three calendar days after agreement between the Partner and the Corporation of the Early Termination Schedule, the Corporation shall make the Early Termination Payment to such Partner on the terms and within the time period required by Section 4.03 of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE V
  SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

 

Section 5.01                             Subordination.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment required to be made by the Corporation to the Partners under this Agreement (an “Exchange Payment”) shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (“Senior Obligations”) and shall rank pari passu with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporation that are not Senior Obligations.

 

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Section 5.02                             Late Payments by the Corporation.  The amount of all or any portion of any Exchange Payment not made to any Partner when due under the terms of this Agreement shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate and commencing from the date on which such Exchange Payment was due and payable.

 

ARTICLE VI
  NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

 

Section 6.01                             Original Partner Participation in the Corporation’s and the Partnership’s Tax Matters.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the Corporation shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all Tax matters concerning the Corporation and the Partnership, including without limitation the preparation, filing or amending of any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to Taxes.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall notify the applicable Original Partner of, and keep the applicable Original Partner reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any audit of the Corporation and the Partnership by a Taxing Authority the outcome of which is reasonably expected to affect the applicable Original Partner’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, and shall provide to the applicable Original Partner reasonable opportunity to provide information and other input to the Corporation, the Partnership and their respective advisors concerning the conduct of any such portion of such audit; provided, however, that the Corporation and the Partnership shall not be required to take any action that is inconsistent with any provision of the LP Agreement.

 

Section 6.02                             Consistency.  Except upon the written advice of an Advisory Firm, and except for items that are explicitly described as “deemed” or in similar manner by the terms of this Agreement, the Corporation and the Exchanging Partner agree to report and cause to be reported for all purposes, including federal, state, local and foreign Tax purposes and financial reporting purposes, all Tax-related items (including without limitation the Basis Adjustment and each Tax Benefit Payment) in a manner consistent with that specified by the Corporation in any Schedule required to be provided by or on behalf of the Corporation under this Agreement.  Any dispute concerning such advice shall be subject to the terms of Section 7.09; provided, however, that only an Original Partner shall have the right to object to such advice pursuant to this Section 6.02.  In the event that an Advisory Firm is replaced with another firm acceptable to the Corporation and the Exchanging Partner, such replacement Advisory Firm shall be required to perform its services under this Agreement using procedures and methodologies consistent with the previous Advisory Firm, unless otherwise required by law or the Corporation and the Exchanging Partner agree to the use of other procedures and methodologies.

 

Section 6.03                             Cooperation.  The Exchanging Partner shall (a) furnish to the Corporation in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the Corporation may reasonably request for purposes of making any determination or computation necessary or appropriate under this Agreement, preparing any tax return or contesting or defending any audit, examination or controversy with any Taxing Authority, (b) make itself available to the Corporation and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as the Corporation or its representatives may reasonably request in connection with any of the matters described in clause (a) above and (c) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter, and the Corporation shall reimburse the Exchanging Partner for any reasonable third-party costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this Section.

 

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ARTICLE VII
  MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 7.01                             Notices.  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given and received (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or by facsimile upon confirmation of transmission by the sender’s facsimile machine if sent on a Business Day (or otherwise on the next Business Day) or (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next-day courier service.  All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice:

 

if to the Corporation, to:

 

Athlon Energy Inc.
 420 Throckmorton Street
 Suite 1200
 Fort Worth, Texas 76102
 Attention: Chief Financial Officer
 Facsimile: (817) 984-8217

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to the Corporation) to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP
 811 Main Street
 Suite 3700
 Houston, Texas 77002
 Attention: Sean T. Wheeler
 Facsimile: (713) 546-5401

 

if to the Partnership, to:

 

Athlon Holdings LP
 420 Throckmorton Street
 Suite 1200
 Fort Worth, Texas 76102
 Attention: Chief Financial Officer
 Facsimile: (817) 984-8217

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to the Corporation) to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP
 811 Main Street
 Suite 3700
 Houston, Texas 77002
 Attention: Sean T. Wheeler
 Facsimile: (713) 546-5401

 

If to the Exchanging Partner, to:

 

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The address and facsimile number set forth in the records of the Partnership.

 

Any party may change its address or facsimile number by giving the other party written notice of its new address or facsimile number in the manner set forth above.

 

Section 7.02                             Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.  Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.03                             Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.04                             Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof that would mandate the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.05                             Severability.  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party.  Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

Section 7.06                             Successors; Assignment; Amendments; Waivers.  No Partner may assign this Agreement to any person without the prior written consent of the Corporation; provided, however, that (i) to the extent Units are effectively transferred in accordance with the terms of the LP Agreement, the transferring Partner shall have the option to assign to the transferee of such Units the transferring Partner’s rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, as long as such transferee has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such transfer, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation, agreeing to become a “Partner” for all purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in such joinder, and (ii) once an Exchange has occurred, any and all payments that may become payable to a Partner pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Exchanged Units may be assigned to any Person or Persons, including a liquidating trust, as long as any such Person has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such assignment, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the

 

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Corporation, agreeing to be bound by Section 7.12 and acknowledging specifically the terms of the next paragraph.  For the avoidance of doubt, if a Person transfers Units (regardless of whether the transferee is a “Permitted Transferee” under the terms of the LP Agreement) but does not assign to the transferee of such Units such Person’s rights, if any, under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, such Person shall be entitled to receive the Tax Benefit Payments, if any, due hereunder with respect to, including any Tax Benefit Payments arising in respect of a subsequent Exchange of, such Units.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.06, no transferee described in clause (i) of the immediately preceding paragraph shall have the right to enforce the provisions of Section 2.04, 4.02, 6.01 or 6.02 of this Agreement, and no assignee described in clause (ii) of the immediately preceding paragraph shall have any rights under this Agreement except for the right to enforce its right to receive payments under this Agreement.

 

No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by each of the Corporation and the Partnership and by Original Partners who would be entitled to receive at least two-thirds of the Early Termination Payments payable to all Original Partners hereunder if the Corporation had exercised its right of early termination on the date of the most recent Exchange prior to such amendment (excluding, for purposes of this sentence, all payments made to any Original Partner pursuant to this Agreement since the date of such most recent Exchange); provided, that no such amendment shall be effective if such amendment will have a disproportionate effect on the payments certain Partners will or may receive under this Agreement unless all such Partners disproportionately affected consent in writing to such amendment.  No provision of this Agreement may be waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.

 

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 and legal representatives.  The Corporation shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event an Original Partner transfers his Units to a Permitted Transferee (as defined in the LP Agreement), excluding any other Original Partner, such Original Partner shall have the right, on behalf of such transferee, to enforce the provisions of Sections 2.04, 4.02 or 6.01 with respect to such transferred Units.

 

Section 7.07                             Titles and Subtitles.  The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.

 

Section 7.08                             Resolution of Disputes.

 

(a)                                 Any and all disputes which are not governed by Section 7.09, including but not limited to any ancillary claims of any party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-

 

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performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this arbitration provision) (each a “Dispute”) shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in Fort Worth, Texas in accordance with the then-existing Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce.  If the parties to the Dispute fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within ten calendar days of the receipt of the request for arbitration, the International Chamber of Commerce shall make the appointment.  The arbitrator shall be a lawyer admitted to the practice of law in the State of Texas and shall conduct the proceedings in the English language.  Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings.  In addition to monetary damages, the arbitrator shall be empowered to award equitable relief, including, but not limited to an injunction and specific performance of any obligation under this Agreement.  The arbitrator is not empowered to award damages in excess of compensatory damages, and each party hereby irrevocably waives any right to recover punitive, exemplary or similar damages with respect to any Dispute.  The award shall be final and binding upon the parties as from the date rendered, and shall be the sole and exclusive remedy between the parties regarding any claims, counterclaims, issues, or accounting presented to the arbitral tribunal.  Judgment upon any award may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction over a party or any of its assets.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), the Corporation may bring an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling a party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder, and/or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this paragraph (b), each Partner (i) expressly consents to the application of paragraph (c) of this Section 7.08 to any such action or proceeding, (ii) agrees that proof shall not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions of this Agreement would be difficult to calculate and that remedies at law would be inadequate, and (iii) irrevocably appoints the Corporation as such Partner’s agent for service of process in connection with any such action or proceeding and agrees that service of process upon such agent, who shall promptly advise such Partner of any such service of process, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Partner in any such action or proceeding.

 

(c)                                  (i)                                     EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF COURTS LOCATED IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION 7.08, OR ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING ANCILLARY TO AN ARBITRATION OR CONTEMPLATED ARBITRATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO OR CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT.  Such ancillary judicial proceedings include any suit, action or proceeding to compel arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm an arbitration award.  The parties acknowledge that the fora designated by this paragraph (c) have a reasonable relation to this Agreement, and to the parties’ relationship with one another; and

 

(ii)                                  The parties hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they now or hereafter may have to personal

 

20

 

jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such ancillary suit, action or proceeding brought in any court referred to in paragraph (c)(i) of this Section 7.08 and such parties agree not to plead or claim the same.

 

Section 7.09                             Reconciliation.  In the event that the Corporation and the Exchanging Partner are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to the matters governed by Sections 2.04, 4.02 and 6.02 within the relevant period designated in this Agreement (“Reconciliation Dispute”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to a nationally recognized expert (the “Expert”) in the particular area of disagreement mutually acceptable to both parties.  The Expert shall be a partner in a nationally recognized accounting firm or a law firm (other than the Advisory Firm), and the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with either the Corporation or the Exchanging Partner or other actual or potential conflict of interest.  If the parties are unable to agree on an Expert within 15 calendar days of receipt by the respondent(s) of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, the Expert shall be appointed by the International Chamber of Commerce Centre for Expertise.  The Expert shall resolve any matter relating to the Exchange Basis Schedule or an amendment thereto or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within 30 calendar days and shall resolve any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Schedule or an amendment thereto within 15 calendar days or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, in each case after the matter has been submitted to the Expert for resolution.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement would be due (in the absence of such disagreement) or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, the undisputed amount shall be paid on such date and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporation, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution.  The costs and expenses relating to the engagement of such Expert or amending any Tax Return shall be borne by the Corporation except as provided in the next sentence.  The Corporation and each Exchanging Partner shall bear their own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless an Exchanging Partner has a prevailing position that is more than 10% of the payment at issue, in which case the Corporation shall reimburse such Exchanging Partner for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding.  Any dispute as to whether a dispute is a Reconciliation Dispute within the meaning of this Section 7.09 shall be decided by the Expert.  The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.09 shall be binding on the Corporation and the Exchanging Partner and may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.10                             Withholding.  The Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as the Corporation is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of state, local or foreign tax law.  To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by the Corporation, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Exchanging Partner.

 

Section 7.11                             Admission of the Corporation into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets.

 

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(a)                                 If the Corporation becomes a member of an affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated income tax return pursuant to Sections 1501 et seq. of the Code or any corresponding provisions of state, local or foreign law, then: (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated taxable income of the group as a whole.

 

(b)                                 If any entity that is obligated to make an Exchange Payment hereunder transfers one or more assets to a corporation with which such entity does not file a consolidated tax return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code, such entity, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Exchange Payment (e.g., calculating the gross income of the entity and determining the Realized Tax Benefit of such entity) due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such asset in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such contribution.  The consideration deemed to be received by such entity shall be equal to the fair market value of the contributed asset, plus (i) the amount of debt to which such asset is subject, in the case of a contribution of an encumbered asset or (ii) the amount of debt allocated to such asset, in the case of a contribution of a partnership interest.

 

Section 7.12                             Confidentiality.  Each Partner and assignee acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporation is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporation and its Affiliates, as required by law or legal process or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, such Person shall keep and retain in the strictest confidence and not disclose to any Person any confidential matters, acquired pursuant to this Agreement, of the Corporation and its Affiliates and successors, concerning the Partnership and its Affiliates and successors or the other Partners, learned by the Partner heretofore or hereafter.  This clause 7.12 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by the Corporation or any of its Affiliates and successors, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of such Partner in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community and (ii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for a Partner to prepare and file his or her Tax returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding the same from any Taxing Authority or to prosecute or defend any action, proceeding or audit by any Taxing Authority with respect to such returns.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each Partner and assignee (and each employee, representative or other agent of such Partner or assignee, as applicable) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Corporation, the Partnership, the Partners and their Affiliates, and any of their transactions, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Partners relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

 

If a Partner or assignee commits a breach, or threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Section 7.12, the Corporation shall have the right and remedy to have the provisions of this Section 7.12 specifically enforced by injunctive relief or otherwise by any court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post any bond or other security, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or the other Partners and the accounts and funds managed by the Corporation and that money damages alone shall not provide an adequate

 

22

 

remedy to such Persons.  Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.

 

Section 7.13                             LP Agreement.  This Agreement shall be treated as part of the partnership agreement of the Partnership as described in Section 761(c) of the Code and Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) and 1.761-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations.

 

Section 7.14                             Partnerships.  The Corporation hereby agrees that, to the extent it acquires a general partnership interest, managing member interest or similar interest in any Person after the date hereof, it shall cause such Person to execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement and such Person shall be treated as a “partnership” for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

[remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation, the Partnership and each Partner have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	
 
    	
ATHLON   ENERGY INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Robert C. Reeves
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   
    	
Robert   C. Reeves
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
President   and Chief Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
ATHLON   HOLDINGS LP
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Robert C. Reeves
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   
    	
Robert   C. Reeves
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
President   and Chief Executive Officer
    

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation, the Partnership and each Partner have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	
 
    	
PARTNERS
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Robert C. Reeves
    
	
 
    	
Robert C. Reeves
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Nelson K. Treadway
    
	
 
    	
Nelson K. Treadway
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ William B. D. Butler
    
	
 
    	
William B. D. Butler
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Bud W. Holmes
    
	
 
    	
Bud W. Holmes
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Jennifer L. Palko
    
	
 
    	
Jennifer L. Palko
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ David B. McClelland
    
	
 
    	
David B. McClelland
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ James R. Plemons
    
	
 
    	
James R. Plemons
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Melvyn E. Foster, Jr.
    
	
 
    	
Melvyn E. Foster, Jr.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Matt Cashion
    
	
 
    	
Matt Cashion
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Janis F. Gould
    
	
 
    	
Janis F. Gould
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Juan Coronado
    
	
 
    	
Juan   Coronado
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Sharon Braddy
    
	
 
    	
Sharon   Braddy
    

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation, the Partnership and each Partner have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	
 
    	
PARTNERS
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ John Souders
    
	
 
    	
John   Souders
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Sheryl Turner
    
	
 
    	
Sheryl   Turner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Lauryl Ellis
    
	
 
    	
Lauryl   Ellis
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Robert Lange
    
	
 
    	
Robert   Lange
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Dallas Rysavy
    
	
 
    	
Dallas   Rysavy
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ J.W. Reddin
    
	
 
    	
J.W.   Reddin
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Dustin Cummings
    
	
 
    	
Dustin   Cummings
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Margie Pellerin
    
	
 
    	
Margie   Pellerin
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Joey Bernard
    
	
 
    	
Joey   Bernard
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Ian Bowersock
    
	
 
    	
Ian   Bowersock
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Cristan C. Erdelac
    
	
 
    	
Cristan C.   Erdelac
    

 

 

JOINDER

 

This JOINDER (this “Joinder”) to the Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of [        ], by and among Athlon Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Athlon Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and  [        ] (“Permitted Transferee”).

 

WHEREAS, on [        ], Permitted Transferee acquired (the “Acquisition”) [        ] Units in the Partnership (“Units” and, together with all other Units hereinafter acquired by Permitted Transferee from Transferor and its Permitted Transferees (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement), the “Acquired Units”) from [        ] (“Transferor”); and

 

WHEREAS, Transferor, in connection with the Acquisition, has required Permitted Transferee to execute and deliver this Joinder pursuant to Section 7.06 of the Tax Receivable Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the agreements contained herein, Permitted Transferee hereby agrees as follows:

 

Section 1.1.  Definitions.  To the extent capitalized words used in this Joinder are not defined in this Joinder, such words shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement.

 

Section 1.2.  Joinder.  Permitted Transferee hereby acknowledges and agrees to become a “Partner” (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) for all purposes of the Tax Receivable Agreement, including but not limited to, being bound by Sections 7.12, 2.04, 4.02, 6.01 and 6.02 of the Tax Receivable Agreement, with respect to the Acquired Units, and any other Units Permitted Transferee acquires hereafter.

 

Section 1.3.  Notice.  All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to Permitted Transferee shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument delivered in person or sent by facsimile (provided a copy is thereafter promptly delivered as provided in this Section 1.3) or nationally recognized overnight courier, addressed to Permitted Transferee at the address or facsimile number set forth below or such other address or facsimile number as may hereafter be designated in writing by Permitted Transferee:

 

Section 1.4.  Governing Law.  THIS JOINDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

 

[remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

 

A-1

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Joinder has been duly executed and delivered by Permitted Transferee as of the date first above written.

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

A-2Exhibit 10.8

 

Execution Version

 

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

 

This EXCHANGE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of August 7, 2013, is entered into by and among Athlon Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and each of the Partners (as defined herein).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the parties desire to provide for the exchange of limited partner interests (“Units”) in Athlon Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), for shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Corporation, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and undertakings contained herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
 DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1                                    Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth in this Article I shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined).

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person.

 

“Agreement” is defined in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

“Board” means the board of directors of the Corporation.

 

“Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of Texas shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of either of the following events:

 

(i)                                     the sale, lease or transfer (other than by way of merger or consolidation, including any merger or consolidation involving an Affiliate of the Corporation solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Corporation in another jurisdiction to realize tax or other benefits), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to a Person other than any of the Permitted Holders; or

 

(ii)                                  the Corporation becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise)

 

 

of the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than any of the Permitted Holders, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination or purchase of Beneficial Ownership, of more than 50% of the total capital stock of the Corporation that is entitled to vote in the election of the Board.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the shares of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

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

 

“Common Stock” is defined in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

“Control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Corporation” is defined in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

“Delaware Arbitration Act” is defined in Section 4.8(d) of this Agreement.

 

“Exchange” is defined in Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement, and “Exchanged” and “Exchanging” shall have correlative meanings.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Exchange Rate” means the number of shares of Common Stock for which a Unit is entitled to be Exchanged.  On the date of this Agreement, the Exchange Rate shall be 1 for 1, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement.

 

“IPO” means the initial public offering of Common Stock by the Corporation.

 

“LP Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, dated on or about the date hereof, as such agreement may be amended from time to time.

 

“Management Group” means the group consisting of the directors, executive officers and other management personnel of the Corporation or any direct or indirect parent of the Corporation, as the case may be, on the date hereof together with (1) any new directors whose election by the Board or whose nomination for election by the equity holders of the Corporation or any direct or indirect parent of the Corporation, as applicable, was approved by a vote of a

 

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majority of the directors of the Corporation or any direct or indirect parent of the Corporation, as applicable, then still in office who are directors on the date hereof or whose election or nomination was previously so approved and (2) executive officers and other management personnel of the Corporation or any direct or indirect parent of the Corporation, as applicable, hired at a time when the directors on the date hereof together with the directors so approved constituted a majority of the directors of the Corporation or any direct or indirect parent of the Corporation, as applicable.

 

“Partners” means the parties hereto, other than the Corporation, and each other Person who from time to time executes a Joinder Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

“Partnership” is defined in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

“Permitted Holders” means, at any time, each of

 

(i)                                     Apollo Investment Fund VII, L.P. and its parallel funds (the “Apollo Funds”), Apollo Global Management, LLC and any of their respective Affiliates other than any portfolio companies (collectively, the “Equity Investor”) and any Person that forms a group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) with the Equity Investor; provided that the Equity Investor (x) owns a majority of the voting power and (y) controls a majority of the Board,

 

(ii)                                  the Management Group,

 

(iii)                               any Person that has no material assets other than the capital stock of the Corporation and, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires 100% of the capital stock of the Corporation that is entitled to vote in the election of the Board, and of which no other Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than any of the other Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the capital stock of such Person that is entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person and (iv) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) the members of which include any of the Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above and that, directly or indirectly, hold or acquire Beneficial Ownership of the total capital stock of the Corporation that is entitled to vote in the election of the Board (a “Permitted Holder Group”), so long as (1) each member of the Permitted Holder Group has voting rights proportional to the percentage of ownership interests held or acquired by such member and (2) no Person or other “group” (other than Permitted Holders specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above) Beneficially Owns more than 50% on a fully diluted basis of the total capital stock of the Corporation that is entitled to vote in the election of the Board held by the Permitted Holder Group.

 

“Permitted Transferee” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.

 

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“Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity.

 

“Subsidiaries” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, any other Person as to which such Person owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controls more than 50% of the voting shares or other similar interests of such Person or the sole general partner interest or managing member or similar interest of such Person.

 

“Takeover Laws” is defined in Section 3.1 of this Agreement.

 

“Units” is defined in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

“Unitholder” is a Partner or Permitted Transferee who holds a Unit.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Section 2.1                                    Exchange of Units for Common Stock.

 

(a)                                 (i) Subject to Section 2.1(a)(ii) hereof, from and after the first anniversary of the IPO, each Unitholder shall be entitled at any time and from time to time, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, to transfer Units to the Corporation in exchange for the delivery by the Corporation of a number of shares of Common Stock that is equal to the product of the number of Units transferred multiplied by the Exchange Rate (such exchange, an “Exchange”).

 

(ii)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, each Unitholder shall be entitled, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, to elect to Exchange Units for shares of Common Stock; provided, that any such Exchange pursuant to this sentence shall be effective immediately prior to the consummation of the Change in Control (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be effective if such Change of Control is not consummated); and provided further, that any such election pursuant to this Section 2.1(a)(ii) may be withdrawn by the Unitholder who submitted such election by providing written notice to the Corporation not less than four business days prior to the consummation of the Change in Control.

 

(b)                                 A Unitholder shall exercise the right to Exchange Units as set forth in Section 2.1(a) above by delivering to the Corporation a written election of exchange in respect of the Units to be Exchanged substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, duly executed by such Unitholder or such Unitholder’s duly authorized attorney, in each case delivered during normal business hours at the principal executive offices of the Corporation.  Subject to Section 2.1(a)(ii), as promptly as practicable following the delivery of such a written election of Exchange, and in any event within three Business Days, the Corporation shall deliver or cause to be delivered at the offices of the then-acting registrar and transfer agent of the Common Stock or, if there is no then-acting registrar and transfer agent of the Common Stock, at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon such Exchange,

 

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registered in the name of the relevant Exchanging Unitholder.  To the extent the Common Stock is settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, the Corporation will, subject to Section 2.1(c) below, upon the written instruction of an Exchanging Unitholder, use its reasonable best efforts to deliver the shares of Common Stock deliverable to such Exchanging Unitholder through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company to the account of the participant of The Depository Trust Company designated by such Exchanging Unitholder.

 

(c)                                  The Corporation and each Unitholder shall bear their own expenses in connection with the consummation of any Exchange, whether or not any such Exchange is ultimately consummated, except that the Corporation shall bear any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, any Exchange; provided, however, that if any shares of Common Stock are to be delivered in a name other than that of the Unitholder that requested the Exchange, then such Unitholder and/or the Person in whose name such shares are to be delivered shall pay to the Corporation the amount of any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, such Exchange or shall establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

(d)                                 The Corporation covenants and agrees that, prior to taking or causing to be taken any action that would cause interests in the Partnership to not meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation section 1.7704-1(h), including, without limitation, issuing any Units in a transaction required to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, it will provide at least 15 Business Days advance written notice describing the proposed action in reasonable detail to the Unitholders and provide each Unitholder with the opportunity to effect an Exchange of all such Unitholder’s Units in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, that in no event will the Corporation take or cause to be taken any action that would cause interests in Partnership to not meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation section 1.7704-1(h) prior to the first anniversary of the IPO.  Provided that the notice and opportunity to Exchange contemplated by the previous sentence has been provided the Unitholders, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Board, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and tax advisor, shall determine in good faith that interests in the Partnership do not meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation section 1.7704-1(h), the Corporation may impose such restrictions on Exchange as the Corporation may reasonably determine to be necessary or advisable so that the Partnership is not treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code.

 

(e)                                  For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Unitholder shall not be entitled to Exchange Units to the extent the Corporation reasonably determines in good faith that such Exchange (i) would be prohibited by law or regulation or (ii) would not be permitted under any other agreement with the Corporation or its Subsidiaries to which such Unitholder is then subject or any written policies of the Corporation relating to insider trading then applicable to such Unitholder.  For avoidance of doubt, no Exchange shall be deemed to be prohibited by any law or regulation

 

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pertaining to the registration of securities if such securities have been so registered or if any exemption from such registration requirements is reasonably available.

 

Section 2.2                                    Adjustment.  The Exchange Rate shall be adjusted accordingly if there is: (a) any subdivision (by any unit split, unit distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse unit split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the Units that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Common Stock; or (b) any subdivision (by any stock split, stock dividend or distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the Common Stock that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Units.  If there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Common Stock are converted or changed into another security, securities or other property, then upon any subsequent Exchange, an exchanging Unitholder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security, securities or other property that such exchanging Unitholder would have received if such Exchange had occurred immediately prior to the effective date of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction, taking into account any adjustment as a result of any subdivision (by any split, distribution or dividend, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of such security, securities or other property that occurs after the effective time of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction.  For the avoidance of doubt, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Common Stock are converted or changed into another security, securities or other property, this Section 2.2 shall continue to be applicable, mutatis mutandis, with respect to such security or other property.  This Agreement shall apply to the Units held by the Unitholders and their Permitted Transferees as of the date hereof, as well as any Units hereafter acquired by a Unitholder and his or her or its Permitted Transferees.  This Agreement shall apply to, mutatis mutandis, and all references to “Units” shall be deemed to include, any security, securities or other property of the Partnership which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of Units by reason of any distribution or dividend, split, reverse split, combination, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, exchange (other than an Exchange) or other transaction.

 

Section 2.3                                    Common Stock to be Issued.

 

(a)                                 The Corporation covenants and agrees to deliver shares of Common Stock that have been registered under the Securities Act with respect to any Exchange to the extent that a registration statement is effective and available for such shares.  In the event that any Exchange in accordance with this Agreement is to be effected at a time when any registration has not become effective or otherwise is unavailable, upon the request and with the reasonable cooperation of the Unitholder requesting such Exchange, the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to promptly facilitate such Exchange pursuant to any reasonably available exemption from such registration requirements.  The Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to list the Common Stock required to be delivered upon Exchange prior to such delivery upon each national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system upon which the Common Stock may be listed or traded at

 

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the time of such delivery.  Nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation or Partnership from satisfying their obligations in respect of the Exchange by delivery of shares of Common Stock which are held in the treasury of the Corporation or the Partnership or any of their Subsidiaries.

 

(b)                                 The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available such number of shares of Common Stock, out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, and solely for the purpose of issuance upon an Exchange, as shall be deliverable upon any such Exchange; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such Exchange by delivery of purchased shares of Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of the Corporation, the Partnership or any Subsidiary thereof).

 

(c)                                  Prior to the date of this Agreement, the Corporation has taken all such steps as may be required to cause to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3(d) or (e), as applicable, under the Exchange Act, and be exempt for purposes of Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act, any acquisitions or dispositions of equity securities of the Corporation (including derivative securities with respect thereto) and any securities which may be deemed to be equity securities or derivative securities of the Corporation for such purposes that result from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by each director or officer of the Corporation who may reasonably be expected to be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Corporation upon the registration of any class of equity security of the Corporation pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act (with the authorizing resolutions specifying the name of each such officer or director whose acquisition or disposition of securities is to be exempted and the number of securities that may be acquired and disposed of by each such Person pursuant to this Agreement).

 

(d)                                 If any Takeover Law or other similar law or regulation becomes or is deemed to become applicable to the this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to render such law or regulation inapplicable to all of the foregoing.

 

(e)                                  The Corporation covenants that all Common Stock issued upon an Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive right of stockholders of the Corporation or to any right of first refusal or other right in favor of any Person.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Section 3.1                                    Representations and Warranties of the Corporation.  The Corporation represents and warrants that (i) it is a corporation duly incorporated and is existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) it has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to issue the Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Corporation and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the

 

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Common Stock) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Corporation, including, but not limited to, all actions necessary to ensure that the acquisition of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby, to the fullest extent of the Board’s power and authority and, to the extent permitted by law, shall not be subject to any “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “business combination,” “fair price” or other form of “anti-takeover laws and regulations” of any jurisdiction that may purport to be applicable to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (collectively, “Takeover Laws”), (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Corporation enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally, and (v) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Corporation and the consummation by the Corporation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not: (A) result in a violation of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation or the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation, in each case as the same may be amended after the date of this Agreement; or (B) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture, or instrument to which the Corporation is a party; or (C) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Corporation or by which any property or asset of the Corporation is bound or affected, except with respect to clauses (B) or (C) for any conflicts, defaults, accelerations, terminations, cancellations or violations, that would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation or its business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Section 3.2                                    Representations and Warranties of each Unitholder.  Each Unitholder, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants that (i) if it is not a natural person, that it is duly incorporated or formed and, to the extent such concept exists in its jurisdiction of organization, is in good standing under the laws of such jurisdiction, (ii) it has all requisite legal capacity and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) if it is not a natural person, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other entity action on the part of such Unitholder, (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Unitholder enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally, and (v) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Unitholder and the consummation by such Unitholder of the transactions contemplated hereby will not: (A) if it is not a natural person, result in a violation of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws or other organizational documents of such Unitholder or (B) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Unitholder is a party, or (C) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable such Unitholder, except with respect to clauses (B) or (C) for any conflicts, defaults, accelerations, terminations, cancellations or violations, that would not in any material respect result in the unenforceability against such Unitholder of this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE IV

 

Section 4.1                                    Additional Unitholders.  To the extent a Unitholder validly transfers any or all of such holder’s Units to another Person in a transaction in accordance with, and not in contravention of, the LP Agreement, then such transferee (each, a “Permitted Transferee”) shall have the right to execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, whereupon such Permitted Transferee shall become a Unitholder hereunder.  To the extent the Partnership issues Units in the future, then the holder of such Units shall have the right to execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, whereupon such holder shall become a Unitholder hereunder.

 

Section 4.2                                    Addresses and Notices.  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service, by facsimile, by electronic mail (delivery receipt requested) or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be as specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 4.2):

 

(a)                                 If to the Corporation, to:

 

420 Throckmorton Street,

Suite 1200

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Facsimile: (817) 984-8217

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to the Corporation) to:

 

Latham &Watkins LLP

811 Main Street

Suite 3700

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Sean T. Wheeler

Facsimile: (713) 546-5401

 

Section 4.3                                    If to any Unitholder, to the address and other contact information set forth in the records of the Partnership from time to time.

 

Section 4.4                                    Further Action.  The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking action as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.5                                    Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended

 

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to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.6                                    Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof that would mandate the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

 

Section 4.7                                    Severability.  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party.  Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

Section 4.7.  Amendment.  The provisions of this Agreement may be amended only by the affirmative vote or written consent of each of: (i) the Corporation; and (ii) Unitholders holding at least two thirds of the then outstanding Units (excluding Units held by the Corporation).

 

Section 4.8                                    Waiver.  No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute waiver of any such breach of any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

Section 4.9                                    Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a)                                 Any and all disputes which cannot be settled amicably, including any ancillary claims of any party, arising out of, relating to, or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance, or non-performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this arbitration provision) shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in Fort Worth, Texas in accordance with the then-existing Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce.  If the parties to the dispute fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within 30 calendar days of the receipt of the request for arbitration, the International Chamber of Commerce shall make the appointment.  The arbitrator shall be a lawyer and shall conduct the proceedings in the English language.  Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), the parties hereto may bring an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling a party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder, and/or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this paragraph (b), each party hereto: (i) expressly consents to the application of paragraph (c) of this Section 4.8 to any such action or proceeding; and (ii) agrees that

 

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proof shall not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions of this Agreement would be difficult to calculate and that remedies at law would be inadequate.

 

(c)                                  (i) EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF COURTS LOCATED IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 4.8, OR ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING ANCILLARY TO AN ARBITRATION OR CONTEMPLATED ARBITRATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO OR CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT.  Such ancillary judicial proceedings include any suit, action or proceeding to compel arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm an arbitration award.  The parties acknowledge that the for a designated by this paragraph (c) have a reasonable relation to this Agreement, and to the parties’ relationship with one another; and

 

(ii)                                  The parties hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they now or hereafter may have to personal jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such ancillary suit, action, or proceeding brought in any court referred to in the preceding paragraph of this Section 4.8 and such parties agree not to plead or claim the same.

 

(d)                                 Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 4.8 shall be construed to the maximum extent possible to comply with the laws of the State of Delaware, including the Delaware Uniform Arbitration Act (10 Del. C. § 5701 et seq.) (the “Delaware Arbitration Act”).  If, nevertheless, it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that any provision or wording of this Section 4.8, including any rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, shall be invalid or unenforceable under the Delaware Arbitration Act, or other applicable law, such invalidity shall not invalidate all of this Section 4.8.  In that case, this Section 4.8 shall be construed so as to limit any term or provision so as to make it valid or enforceable within the requirements of the Delaware Arbitration Act or other applicable law, and, in the event such term or provision cannot be so limited, this Section 4.8 shall be construed to omit such invalid or unenforceable provision.

 

Section 4.10                             Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.  Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.11                             Tax Treatment.  This Agreement shall be treated as part of the partnership agreement of the Partnership as described in Section 761(c) of the Code and Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) and 1.761-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Section 4.12                             Specific Performance.  The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in

 

11

 

accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.  It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms and provisions hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

Section 4.13                             Independent Nature of Unitholders’ Rights and Obligations.  The obligations of each Unitholder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Unitholder, and no  Unitholder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Unitholder under hereunder.  The decision of each Unitholder to enter into to this Agreement has been made by such Unitholder independently of any other Unitholder.  Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Unitholder pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Unitholders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Unitholders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby and the Corporation acknowledges that the Unitholders are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Corporation will not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

[Signature Page to Follow]

 

12

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation and each Partner have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	
 
    	
ATHLON   ENERGY INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:   
    	
/s/   Robert C. Reeves
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   
    	
Robert   C. Reeves
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
President   and Chief Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
PARTNERS
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/   Robert C. Reeves
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Robert C. Reeves
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/ Nelson K. Treadway
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Nelson K. Treadway
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/ William B. D. Butler
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
William B. D. Butler
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/   Bud W. Holmes
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Bud W. Holmes
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/ Jennifer L. Palko
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Jennifer L. Palko
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/ David B. McClelland
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
David B. McClelland
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/   James R. Plemons
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
James R. Plemons
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/ Melvyn E. Foster, Jr.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Melvyn E. Foster, Jr.
    

 

Exchange Agreement Signature Page

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation and each Partner have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	
 
    	
PARTNERS
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Matt Cashion
    
	
 
    	
Matt Cashion
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Janis F. Gould
    
	
 
    	
Janis F. Gould
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Juan Coronado
    
	
 
    	
Juan   Coronado
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Sharon Braddy
    
	
 
    	
Sharon   Braddy
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   John Souders
    
	
 
    	
John   Souders
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Sheryl Turner
    
	
 
    	
Sheryl   Turner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Lauryl Ellis
    
	
 
    	
Lauryl   Ellis
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Robert Lange
    
	
 
    	
Robert   Lange
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Dallas Rysavy
    
	
 
    	
Dallas   Rysavy
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   J.W. Reddin
    
	
 
    	
J.W.   Reddin
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Dustin Cummings
    
	
 
    	
Dustin   Cummings
    

 

Exchange Agreement Signature Page

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation and each Partner have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	
 
    	
PARTNERS
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Margie Pellerin
    
	
 
    	
Margie   Pellerin
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Joey Bernard
    
	
 
    	
Joey   Bernard
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Ian Bowersock
    
	
 
    	
Ian   Bowersock
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Cristan C. Erdelac
    
	
 
    	
Cristan   C. Erdelac
    

 

Exchange Agreement Signature Page

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF]
 ELECTION OF EXCHANGE

 

Athlon Energy Inc.

420 Throckmorton Street

Suite 1200

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Attention: Robert C. Reeves

 

Reference is hereby made to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of August 7, 2013 (the “Exchange Agreement”), among Athlon Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and the Unitholders from time to time party thereto.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Exchange Agreement.

 

The undersigned Unitholder hereby transfers to the Corporation the number of Units set forth below in Exchange for shares of Common Stock to be issued in its name as set forth below, as set forth in the Exchange Agreement.

 

	
Legal   Name of Unitholder:
    	
 
    
	
 
    
	
Address:
    	
 
    
	
 
    
	
 
    
	
 
    
	
Number   of Units to be Exchanged:
    	
 
    
				

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that (i) the undersigned has full legal capacity to execute and deliver this Election of Exchange and to perform the undersigned’s obligations hereunder; (ii) this Election of Exchange has been duly executed and delivered by the undersigned and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the undersigned enforceable against it in accordance with the terms thereof or hereof, as the case may be, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and the availability of equitable remedies; (iii) the Units subject to this Election of Exchange are being transferred to the Corporation free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, equities or claim; and (iv) no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of any third party or with any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the undersigned or the Units subject to this Election of Exchange is required to be obtained by the undersigned for the transfer of such Units to the Corporation.

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints any officer of the Corporation as the attorney of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in the premises, to do any and all things and to take any and all actions that may be necessary to transfer to the Corporation the Units subject to this Election of Exchange and to deliver to the undersigned the shares of Common Stock to be delivered in Exchange therefor.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Election of Exchange to be executed and delivered by the undersigned or by its duly authorized attorney.

 

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Date:
    

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

[FORM OF]
 JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

This Joinder Agreement (“Joinder Agreement”) is a joinder to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of August 7, 2013 (the “Agreement”), among Athlon Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and each of the Unitholders from time to time party thereto.  Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Joinder Agreement shall have their meanings given to them in the Agreement.  This Joinder Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware.  In the event of any conflict between this Joinder Agreement and the Agreement, the terms of this Joinder Agreement shall control.

 

The undersigned hereby joins and enters into the Agreement having acquired Units in the Partnership.  By signing and returning this Joinder Agreement to the Corporation, the undersigned (i) accepts and agrees to be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of and agreements of a Unitholder contained in the Agreement, with all attendant rights, duties and obligations of a Unitholder thereunder and (ii) makes each of the representations and warranties of a Unitholder set forth in Section 3.2 of the Agreement as fully as if such representations and warranties were set forth herein.  The parties to the Agreement shall treat the execution and delivery hereof by the undersigned as the execution and delivery of the Agreement by the undersigned and, upon receipt of this Joinder Agreement by the Corporation, the signature of the undersigned set forth below shall constitute a counterpart signature to the signature page of the Agreement.

 

	
Name:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Address for Notices:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
With copies to:

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