Form of CVR Energy, Inc. Incentive Unit Agreement (Executive)

THIS INCENTIVE UNIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of [---] (the “Grant Date”), between CVR Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) (NYSE: CVI), on behalf of the employing entity of the Grantee, and the individual grantee designated on the signature page hereof (the “Grantee”).

WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) or the compensation committee (the “Committee”) of the Board is responsible for establishing, reviewing and approving incentive compensation in order to provide an additional incentive to certain of the officers and employees of the Company and its “Subsidiaries” (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act); and

    WHEREAS, the Board or the Committee, as applicable, on behalf of the employing entity of the Grantee, has authorized the grant of Incentive Units (as defined herein) to the Grantee as provided herein.

    NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.    Grant of Incentive Units.

(a)    The Company hereby grants to the Grantee, and the Grantee hereby accepts from the Company on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the 2007 LTIP (as defined below), an award of [---] Incentive Units. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the 2007 LTIP, each “Incentive Unit” described herein represents the right of the Grantee to receive, for each Incentive Unit that becomes vested, one Share or a cash payment equal to the average closing price of one Share for the 10 trading days preceding the applicable Vesting Date (as defined herein), as determined by the Board in its sole discretion and pursuant to Section 2 or Section 3(a) or (b) below. The reference to the Incentive Units and Shares are used herein solely to calculate the cash payout, if any, to be awarded to the Grantee in accordance with this Agreement and the 2007 LTIP, and does not create any separate rights with respect to Shares or otherwise unless or until any vested Incentive Units are settled in Shares.

(b)    Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, the capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the same definitions as set forth in the Second Amended and Restated CVR Energy, Inc. 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “2007 LTIP”).

        The Incentive Units are unvested on and after the Grant Date and shall vest, with respect to thirty-three and one-third percent (33 – 1/3%) of the total number of Incentive Units granted hereunder, on [---], [---] and [---] (each such date, a “Vesting Date”), provided the

Grantee continues to serve as an employee of the Company (or a Subsidiary thereof) from the Grant Date through the applicable Vesting Date.

3.     Termination of Employment.

(a)     In the event (i) of the Grantee’s termination of employment with the Company or one of its Subsidiaries prior to any Vesting Date by reason of his or her death or Disability, or (ii) the Company exercises its right to cancel any Incentive Units under Section 13 of the 2007 LTIP while Grantee is employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, then any Incentive Units scheduled to vest within twelve months from the date on which such event occurs shall become immediately vested, and all other Incentive Units shall be deemed forfeited and the Grantee shall have no rights with respect thereto.

(b)    If the Grantee’s employment is terminated by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries other than for Cause or Disability, then any Incentive Units scheduled to vest within twelve months from the date on which such event occurs shall become immediately vested, and all other Incentive Units shall be deemed forfeited and the Grantee shall have no rights with respect thereto.

(c)    Any Incentive Units that do not become vested in connection with the Grantee’s termination of employment in accordance with Section 3(a) or (b) of this Agreement shall be forfeited immediately upon the Grantee’s termination of employment.

        (d)    To the extent any payments provided for under this Agreement are treated as “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, (i) this Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and operated in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury regulations and other guidance issued thereunder, (ii) if on the date of the Grantee’s separation from service (as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(h)) with the Company or one of its Subsidiaries the Grantee is a specified employee (as defined in Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(i)), no payment constituting the “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b) and after application of the exemptions provided in Treasury Regulation §§1.409A-1(b)(4) and 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) shall be made to the Grantee at any time prior to the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6) month period following the Grantee’s separation from service or (B) the Grantee’s death, and any such amounts deferred during such applicable period shall instead be paid in a lump sum to the Grantee (or, if applicable, to the Grantee’s estate) on the first payroll payment date following the earlier of the expiration of such six (6) month period or, if applicable, the Grantee’s death, and (iii) for purposes of conforming this Agreement to Section 409A of the Code, any reference to termination of employment, termination or separation from employment, resignation from employment or similar terms shall mean and be interpreted as a “separation from service” as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(h). For purposes of applying Section 409A of the Code to this Agreement (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), each payment that the Grantee may be entitled to receive under this

Agreement shall be treated as a separate and distinct payment and shall not collectively be treated as a single payment.

    4.    Dividend Equivalent Rights

        The Company hereby grants to the Grantee, and the Grantee hereby accepts from the Company, one “Dividend Equivalent Right” for each Incentive Unit granted herein equal to the cash value of all dividends declared and paid by the Company on one Share from the Grant Date to and including the Vesting Date, which cash value will be held uninvested and without interest, except that with respect to any dividends declared and paid by the Company in the form of Shares, in lieu of crediting the cash value of such dividend, the Board or Committee may determine in its sole discretion, to credit a Dividend Equivalent Right that is based on the value of a Share and represents the right to receive a Share at the time of payment under Section 5 hereof. The reference to the cash value of such dividends is used herein solely to calculate the cash payout, if any, to be awarded in respect of such Dividend Equivalent Rights and does not create any separate rights with respect to the Dividend Equivalent Rights. The payment of Dividend Equivalent Rights will be deferred until and conditioned upon the underlying Incentive Units (whether in the form of Shares or cash) becoming vested pursuant to Section 2 or 3 hereof. Upon each Vesting Date, Dividend Equivalent Rights on all Incentive Units vesting on such date, with no interest thereon, shall become payable to the Grantee in accordance with Section 5 hereof. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4 to the contrary, the Board or the Committee, may, in its sole discretion, elect to pay any Dividend Equivalent Right in the form of a Share or cash in accordance with Section 5 hereof.

    5.    Payment Date.

        

        Within 15 business days following (i) each Vesting Date, (ii) if, prior to any Vesting Date, the Grantee’s termination of employment with the Company or one of its Subsidiaries under circumstances described in Section 3(a) or (b), the date of such termination of employment, or (iii) if, prior to any Vesting Date, the cancellation of any Incentive Units pursuant to Section 13 of the 2007 LTIP while Grantee is employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, the Company will deliver to the Grantee, as determined by the Board or the Committee in its sole discretion, either the number of Shares or the cash payment, as applicable, underlying the Incentive Units and Dividend Equivalent Rights (if any) that become vested pursuant to Sections 2, 3 or 4 of this Agreement.

    6.     Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization.

        

        In the event of a Change in Capitalization, the Incentive Units shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 12 of the 2007 LTIP.

7.    Incentive Compensation Recoupment.

(a)    In the event of a restatement of the Company’s (or any of its Subsidiaries’) financial results that would reduce (or would have reduced) the amount of any previously awarded Incentive Units to Grantee, any related outstanding Incentive Units will be cancelled or reduced accordingly as determined by the Board or Committee in its sole and absolute discretion. For Incentive Units that have been paid, the Grantee shall be obligated and required to pay over to the Company an amount equal to any gain realized by Grantee in respect of such Incentive Units.

    (b)     The Board or the Committee may at any time, in its sole and absolute discretion, cancel, declare forfeited, rescind, or require the return of any outstanding Incentive Units (or a portion thereof) upon the Board or Committee determining, at any time (whether before or after the Grant Date), that the Grantee has engaged in misconduct (including by omission) or that an event or condition has occurred, which, in each case, would have given the Company or its Subsidiaries the right to terminate the Grantee’s employment for Cause. In addition, at any time following any payment in respect of the Incentive Units, the Board or Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, rescind any such payment and require the repayment of such amounts (or a portion thereof) upon the Board or Committee determining, at any time (whether before or after the payment date), that the Grantee has engaged in misconduct (including by omission) or that an event or condition has occurred, which, in each case, would have given the Company or its Subsidiaries the right to terminate the Grantee’s employment for Cause.

    (c)    The Board’s or Committee’s determination that the Grantee has engaged in misconduct (including by omission), or that an event or condition has occurred, which, in each case, would have given the Company or its Subsidiaries the right to terminate the Grantee’s employment for Cause, and its decision to require rescission of any payment made in respect of the Incentive Units, shall be conclusive, binding, and final on all parties. The Board’s or Committee’s determination that the Grantee has violated the terms of this Agreement (or any other agreement between Grantee and the Company or any of its affiliates), and the Board’s or Committee’s decision to cancel, declare forfeited, or rescind the Incentive Units (or any portion thereof) or to require rescission of any payment made in respect thereof shall be conclusive, binding, and final on all parties. In connection with any cancellation, forfeiture or rescission contemplated by this Section 7, the terms of repayment by the Grantee shall be determined in the Board’s and/or Committee’s sole and absolute discretion, which may include, among other terms, the repayment being required to be made (i) in one or more installments or payroll deductions or deducted from future bonus payments or (ii) immediately in a lump sum in the event that the Grantee incurs a termination of employment.

    (d)    To the extent not prohibited under applicable law, the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, will have the right to set off (or cause to be set off) any amounts otherwise due to the Grantee from the Company (or any of its affiliates) in satisfaction of any repayment obligation of the Grantee hereunder, provided that any such amounts are exempt

from, or set off in a manner intended to comply with the requirements of, Section 409A of the Code.

        (e)    If the Company subsequently determines that it is required by law to apply a “clawback” or alternate recoupment provision to the Incentive Units granted hereunder, under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or otherwise, then such clawback or recoupment provision also shall apply to such Incentive Units, as if it had been included on the effective date of this Agreement.

    8.    No Right to Continued Employment.

        Nothing in this Agreement or the 2007 LTIP shall be interpreted or construed to confer upon the Grantee any right with respect to continuance of employment by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, nor shall this Agreement nor the 2007 LTIP interfere in any way with the right of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to terminate the Grantee’s employment therewith at any time.

    9.    Withholding of Taxes.

    The Grantee shall pay to the Company, or the Company and the Grantee shall agree on such other arrangements necessary for the Grantee to pay, the applicable federal, foreign, state and local income taxes required by law to be withheld (the “Withholding Taxes”), if any, upon the vesting or payment of the Incentive Units. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any payment of cash to the Grantee an amount equal to the Withholding Taxes in satisfaction of the Grantee’s obligation to pay Withholding Taxes.

    10.    Modification or Termination of Agreement.

This Agreement may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated, and any terms or conditions may be waived, but only by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto; provided, however, that the Company may modify or amend this Agreement without the written consent of the Grantee to the extent that such action (i) does not materially impair the Grantee’s rights or (ii) is necessary for compliance with an applicable law, regulation or exchange requirement that impacts this Agreement. No waiver by either party hereto of any breach by the other party hereto of any provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions at the time or at any prior or subsequent time.

11.    Severability.

Should any provision of this Agreement or the 2007 LTIP be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining provisions of this Agreement or the 2007 LTIP, as applicable, shall not be affected by such holding and shall continue in full force in accordance with their terms.

12.    Governing Law.

The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

13.    Incorporation of the 2007 LTIP; Entire Understanding.

This Agreement is subject to all the provisions of the 2007 LTIP, the provisions of which are hereby made a part of this Agreement, and is further subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations which may, from time to time, be promulgated and adopted pursuant to the 2007 LTIP. This Agreement (including the 2007 LTIP) embodies the entire understanding and agreement of the parties in relation to the subject matter hereof, and no promise, condition, representation or warranty, expressed or implied, not herein stated, shall bind either party hereto. Capitalized terms used, but not defined herein, shall have the meaning set forth in the 2007 LTIP. For the avoidance of doubt, the Incentive Units awarded hereunder are intended to qualify as “Restricted Stock Units” as described in the 2007 LTIP.

14.    Rights as Equity Holder.

In no event whatsoever shall the Grantee possess any incidents of ownership in any equity of the Company, including Shares, with respect to the Incentive Units granted hereunder unless and until any such Incentive Units are settled in Shares. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Company has no obligation to deliver any Shares except as may be determined in the sole discretion of the Board or the Committee.

15.    Successors in Interest.

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any successor to the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Grantee’s beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators, successors and legal representatives. All obligations imposed upon the Grantee and all rights granted to the Company under this Agreement shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Grantee’s beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators, successors and legal representatives.

16.    Resolution of Disputes.

Any dispute or disagreement which may arise under, or as a result of, or in any way relate to, the interpretation, construction or application of this Agreement shall be determined by the Board or Committee (in its sole and absolute discretion). Any determination made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Grantee and the Company for all purposes.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the date first written above.