Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement between Pioneer and certain executive officers of Pioneer with respect to annual awards made under Pioneers 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan, commencing in 2024

EX-10.1 2 d678416dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

PIONEER NATURAL RESOURCES COMPANY

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2006 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

February 7, 2024

To: <first_name> <last_name>

Pioneer Natural Resources Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is pleased to grant you on the date set forth above (the “Grant Date”) an award (this “Award”) to receive <shares_awarded> Restricted Stock Units (the “Restricted Stock Units”) whereby each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one share of common stock, par value $0.01, of the Company (the “Stock”), plus an additional amount pursuant to Section 2, subject to certain restrictions and on the terms and conditions contained in this Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (this “Agreement”) and the Pioneer Natural Resources Company Amended and Restated 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). A copy of the Plan is available upon request. Except as provided below, to the extent that any provision of this Agreement conflicts with the expressly applicable terms of the Plan, you acknowledge and agree that those terms of the Plan shall control and, if necessary, the applicable provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed amended so as to carry out the purpose and intent of the Plan. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Plan in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

This Agreement sets forth the terms of the agreement between you and the Company with respect to the Restricted Stock Units. By accepting this Agreement, you agree to be bound by all of the terms hereof.

1. No Shareholder Rights. Except as provided in Section 2 below, the Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement do not and shall not entitle you to any rights of a stockholder of the Company prior to the date shares of Stock are issued to you in settlement of this Award. Your rights with respect to Restricted Stock Units shall remain forfeitable at all times prior to the date on which rights become vested and the restrictions with respect to the Restricted Stock Units lapse in accordance with Sections 4, 5, 6 or 7.

2. Dividend Equivalents. In the event that the Company declares and pays a dividend in respect of its outstanding shares of Stock and, on the record date for such dividend, you hold Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement that have not been settled or forfeited, the Company shall pay to you an amount in cash equal to the cash dividends you would have received if you were the Beneficial Owner, as of such record date, of the number of shares of Stock related to the portion of your Restricted Stock Units that have not been settled or forfeited as of such record date, such payment to be made on or promptly following the date that the Company pays such dividend (however, in no event shall the dividend equivalent payment be made later than 30 days following the date on which the Company pays such dividend).

3. Conversion of Restricted Stock Units; Issuance of Stock; Payment of Stock. No shares of Stock shall be issued to you prior to the date on which the Restricted Stock Units vest and the restrictions with respect to the Restricted Stock Units lapse, in accordance with Section 4, 5, 6 or 7. Neither this Section 3 nor any action taken pursuant to or in accordance with this Section 3 shall be construed to create a trust of any kind. Except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 5, 6, 7 or Section 26, after any Restricted Stock Units that become vested pursuant to Section 4, 5, 6 or 7, the Company shall, on or no later than 30 days following the earliest of the applicable vesting dates set forth in this Agreement, cause to be issued Stock in book entry form registered in your name in payment of such vested Restricted Stock Units upon receipt by the Company of any required tax withholding with respect to such shares. The value of such shares of Stock shall not bear any interest owing to the passage of time. Any fractional Restricted Stock Units shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share of Stock.

4. Expiration of Restrictions, Risk of Forfeiture and Original Payment Date. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the forfeiture restrictions on the Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement will expire in increments (each a “Vested Portion”) as follows:

(a) restrictions will lapse on one-third (the “One-Year Portion”) of the Restricted Stock Units on the first anniversary of the Grant Date;

(b) restrictions will lapse on one-third (the “Two-Year Portion”) of the Restricted Stock Units on the second anniversary of the Grant Date; and

(c) restrictions will lapse on one-third (the “Three-Year Portion”) of the Restricted Stock Units on the third anniversary of the Grant Date;

provided, however, that such restrictions will expire on the above dates (each such date being referred to as a “Vesting Date”) only if you have been an employee of the Company or of a Subsidiary continuously from the date of this Agreement through the applicable Vesting Date. In the event that your Restricted Stock Units become vested pursuant to this Section 4, the payment of the Stock related to your vested Restricted Stock Units shall be made to you immediately (and in no event later than 30 days) following the applicable Vesting Date.


5. Termination of Employment. The terms of this Section 5 shall apply until the consummation of the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of October 10, 2023 (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among the Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation and SPQR, LLC (the “ExxonMobil Merger”). Upon the consummation of the ExxonMobil Merger, this Section 5 shall no longer apply and the terms of Section 6 shall apply in lieu thereof.

(a) Termination by Employee Without Good Reason or by the Company for Cause. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, if your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries by which you are employed terminates prior to any Vesting Date due to (x) a voluntary termination by you and such termination is not a Termination for Good Reason (as such term is defined in the Termination Agreement (as defined below), if applicable) or due to Forced Relocation (as such term is defined in the Termination Agreement, if applicable), or (y) the Company terminating such employment for Cause (as such term is defined in the Termination Agreement), then that portion, if any, of your Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement for which the restrictions have not lapsed as of the termination date of your employment relationship shall become null and void as of the date of such termination; provided, however, that the portion, if any, of this Award for which forfeiture restrictions have lapsed as of the date of termination shall survive. For purposes of this Agreement, “Termination Agreement” means, prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Severance Agreement or other separate agreement, if any, between you and the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the provision of severance and other benefits before a Change in Control and, upon and following the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Change in Control Agreement or other separate agreement between you and the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the provision of severance and other benefits upon or after a Change in Control.

(b) Termination Not For Cause; Good Reason; Death or Disability. Notwithstanding Section 4 of this Agreement, if your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries by which you are employed is terminated prior to any Vesting Date as a result of any of the following events:

(i) by the Company and such Subsidiaries and such termination is not a Termination for Cause;

(ii) by you and such termination is a Termination for Good Reason; or

(iii) your death or Disability (defined below);

then the restrictions on a number of the Restricted Stock Units shall automatically lapse as of the termination date as follows:

(A) if restrictions shall not have lapsed on the Restricted Stock Units subject to the One-Year Portion prior to termination, then restrictions will lapse on a number of such Restricted Stock Units equal to the product of (i) the total number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the One-Year Portion, times (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full months (counting the month in which your termination of employment occurs as a full month), beginning with the month in which the Grant Date occurs, during which you were employed by the Company and/or any Subsidiary and the denominator of which is 12; plus

(B) if restrictions shall not have lapsed on the Restricted Stock Units subject to the Two-Year Portion prior to termination, then restrictions will lapse on a number of such Restricted Stock Units equal to the product of (i) the total number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Two-Year Portion, times (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full months (counting the month in which your termination of employment occurs as a full month), beginning with the month in which the Grant Date occurs, during which you were employed by the Company and/or any Subsidiary and the denominator of which is 24; plus

(C) if restrictions shall not have lapsed on the Restricted Stock Units subject to the Three-Year Portion prior to termination, then restrictions will lapse on a number of such Restricted Stock Units equal to the product of (i) the total number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Three-Year Portion, times (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full months (counting the month in which your termination of employment occurs as a full month), beginning with the month in which the Grant Date occurs, during which you were employed by the Company and/or any Subsidiary and the denominator of which is 36.

The portion, if any, of your Restricted Stock Units for which the restrictions have not lapsed as of the termination date of your employment relationship shall become null and void as of the termination date; provided, however, that the portion, if any, of this Award for which forfeiture restrictions have lapsed as of the date of termination shall survive.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that you have attained “Normal Retirement” (as defined below) eligibility as of the date of your death or Disability, then all of the Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement shall become immediately and unconditionally vested and unrestricted and shall be deemed the Vested Portion. Further, notwithstanding the forgoing, if your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries by which you are employed is terminated prior to any Vesting Date, but upon or following a Change in Control, (x) by the Company and such Subsidiaries and such termination is not a Termination for Cause, (y) by you and such termination is a Termination for Good Reason, or due to Forced Relocation, whether or not such termination is also in connection with a Change in Control, or (z) your death or Disability (as defined below), then all of the Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement shall become immediately and unconditionally vested and unrestricted and shall be deemed the Vested Portion.

 

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For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall have the meaning given such term in the Termination Agreement; provided, however, that if there is no such agreement at the time of such termination, the term Disability shall mean (i) a physical or mental impairment of sufficient severity that, in the opinion of the Company, (A) you are unable to continue performing the duties assigned to you prior to such impairment or (B) your condition entitles you to disability benefits under any insurance or employee benefit plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries and (ii) the impairment or condition is cited by the Company as the reason for your termination; provided further, that in all cases, the term Disability shall be applied and interpreted in compliance with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

(c) Termination in Connection with Normal Retirement. Notwithstanding Section 4 of this Agreement, if your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries by which you are employed is terminated prior to the Vesting Date as a result of your Normal Retirement (defined below), then all of the Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement shall become immediately and unconditionally vested and unrestricted upon your termination of employment if the following conditions are met (provided that the following conditions, other than item (i) below, shall not apply if your employment terminates upon or following a Change in Control): (x) as of the date of the termination of your employment, the conditions set forth below in items (i)-(iv) are satisfied and (y) you intend to comply with the covenants contained in items (v) and (vi) below (which intent shall be conclusively presumed unless, prior to or concurrently with the notice provided pursuant to item (ii) below, you notify the Company in writing, addressed to the Senior Vice President, Human Resources (or his or her successor), that you do not intend to comply with such covenants); provided that the covenants contained in items (v) and (vi) will not be applicable under this Agreement if the proviso in item (i) applying the pro ration provisions of Section 5(b) is applicable.

(i) The date of the termination of your employment is at least six months after the date of this Agreement; provided that if the date of the termination of your employment is not at least six months after the date of this Agreement, instead of all of the Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement becoming immediately and unconditionally vested and unrestricted, restrictions on a number of the Restricted Stock Units shall automatically lapse as though the pro ration provisions of Section 5(b) were applicable.

(ii) You gave advance written notice of your intent to terminate your employment due to Normal Retirement at least six months in advance of the date of termination to the Senior Vice President, Human Resources (or his or her delegate), and to your direct manager, or in the case of the chief executive officer of the Company, to the Board (subject to the ability of the Company to waive such requirement, exercisable by the Senior Vice President, Human Resources (or his or her delegate) or the Board, as applicable).

(iii) You have cooperated with the Company, to the satisfaction of the Company, in the training of a replacement during the period prior to the termination of employment.

(iv) If required by the Company, you execute and deliver to the Company an effective release of claims and other liability in a form acceptable to the Company.

(v) For two years following the termination of your employment, without the prior written consent of the chief executive officer of the Company, or in the event you are the chief executive officer of the Company on the date of termination of your employment, the consent of the Board or any Committee or director designated by the Board, you agree to refrain from becoming a director, partner, investor or employee of, or consultant to, any business that competes with the Company or any Subsidiary in the business of exploration or production of oil or natural gas, or related oilfield services, within the geographic area or areas in which the Company or any Subsidiary operates at the time of termination of employment or has operated in the immediately preceding one-year period (a “Competitive Business”); provided that, you will not be restricted from purchasing or holding for investment purposes less than 2% of the shares of any Competitive Business whose shares are regularly traded on a national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system. If the Company so requires prior to the date of termination of employment, the Company may require that you execute a separate agreement to effect the intent of the foregoing.

(vi) For two years following the termination of your employment, you agree to refrain from making, or causing or assisting any other person to make, any oral or written communication to any third party about the Company and/or any of the employees, officers or directors of the Company which impugns or attacks, or is otherwise critical of, the reputation, business or character of such entity or person; or that discloses private or confidential information about their business affairs; or that constitutes an intrusion into their seclusion or private lives; or that gives rise to unreasonable publicity about their private lives; or that places them in a false light before the public; or that constitutes a misappropriation of their name or likeness (the foregoing being subject to Section 10(g)). If the Company so requires prior to the date of termination of employment, the Company may require that you execute a separate agreement to effect the intent of the foregoing.

 

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You expressly acknowledge and agree that the restrictions set forth in clauses (v) and (vi) of this Section 5(c) are reasonable in all respects, necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests and a material inducement for the Company to grant this Award to you and enter into this Agreement. In the event that, following your termination of employment, it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that you have not satisfied any of the conditions set forth in Section 5(c)(v) or (vi) in any material respect, then, as to any shares of Stock related to your Restricted Stock Units that have not been paid to you, such Restricted Stock Units shall be deemed not to have vested in whole or in part pursuant to this Section 5 and such shares shall not be payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event there occurs a Change in Control, whether prior to or after the date that the restrictions on your Restricted Stock Units have lapsed or the payment date of any Stock related to your Restricted Stock Units, the restrictions set forth in clauses (v) and (vi) of this Section 5(c) shall automatically terminate and become void and of no effect.

For purposes of this Agreement, “Normal Retirement” shall mean the termination of your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries by which you are employed due to your retirement on or after the date that you have attained a minimum retirement age of 55, provided that you have completed a minimum of five Years of Service as of the date of such termination, and your Years of Service plus your age equal 65 or more. For purposes of this Agreement, “Years of Service” means the total number of years that you have been employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries as determined in accordance with the Company’s policies as administered from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company’s determination of Years of Service shall be at the sole discretion of the Company, its policies may change from time to time, and its determination will be final and conclusive and binding on all Participants.

(d) Distribution and Payment. Upon termination of your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries as a result of your death or Disability, the shares of Stock related to your Restricted Stock Units that become vested pursuant to Section 5(b) shall be paid to you immediately (and in no event later than 30 days) following your death or Disability. Upon termination of your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries under all other circumstances contemplated by Sections 5(b) and 5(c) (“Section 5 Acceleration Events”), the following shall apply:

(i) If you are not a Section 409A Participant (as defined below), the shares of Stock related to your Restricted Stock Units that become vested pursuant to a Section 5 Acceleration Event shall be paid to you immediately (and in no event later than 30 days) following the termination of your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries.

(ii) If you would attain “Normal Retirement” eligibility, based on the age and service requirements described in such definition above, on or prior to December 31, 2025 (a “Section 409A Participant”), and your Restricted Stock Units become vested pursuant to a Section 5 Acceleration Event (other than death or Disability) that occurs either (I) prior to the occurrence of a “change in the ownership or effective control” or “in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company (a “409A Change in Control”) within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other authoritative guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules”) or (II) after the two year period immediately following a 409A Change in Control, the shares of Stock related to your Restricted Stock Units that become vested pursuant to such event shall be paid to you immediately (and in no event later than 30 days) following the earliest to occur of the following:

(A) the applicable Vesting Date as to each Vested Portion; or

(B) your death or Disability.

(iii) If you are a Section 409A Participant and your Restricted Stock Units become vested pursuant to a Section 5 Acceleration Event (other than death or Disability) that occurs within the two year period immediately following a 409A Change in Control, the shares of Stock related to your Restricted Stock Units that become vested pursuant to such event shall not be payable to you pursuant to the foregoing clause (ii), but instead shall be paid to you immediately (and in no event later than 30 days) following the earliest to occur of the following:

(A) the applicable Vesting Date as to each Vested Portion;

(B) the date that is six months and one day following the date of your separation from service with the Company (determined in accordance with the Company’s written and generally applicable policies regarding what constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules) (“Separation from Service”); or

(C) your death, or your Disability if you incur a Disability at or prior to your Separation from Service.

 

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6. Termination of Employment Following the ExxonMobil Merger. The terms of this Section 6 shall apply from and after the consummation of the ExxonMobil Merger in lieu of the terms set forth in Section 5. Should the Merger Agreement be terminated and the ExxonMobil Merger not be consummated, this Section 6 shall be void and of no force or effect.

(a) Definition of “Good Reason”. Solely for purposes of this Section 6, “Termination for Good Reason” shall mean a termination by you of your employment with the Company due to the occurrence of any of the following, without your express written consent:

(i) A material reduction of your total remuneration opportunity, as in effect immediately prior to the date on which the Merger is consummated;

(ii) Solely if you have a title of Director or higher or otherwise have management authority and report directly to an employee with a title of Director or higher, a material reduction in your authority, duties or responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger; or

(iii) The required relocation of you to a location more than 50 miles from your principal place of employment immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger.

A resignation will not constitute a Termination for Good Reason unless you have provided written notice to the Company of the existence of the circumstances providing grounds for Termination for Good Reason within 90 days after the initial existence of such grounds and the Company has had at least 30 days from the date on which such notice is provided to cure such circumstances. If you do not terminate your employment within 150 days after the initial existence of the applicable grounds, then you will be deemed to have waived your right to resign as a Termination for Good Reason with respect to such grounds.

(b) Termination by Employee Without Good Reason or by the Company for Cause. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, if your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries by which you are employed terminates prior to any Vesting Date due to (x) a voluntary termination by you and such termination is not a Termination for Good Reason or (y) the Company terminating such employment for Cause, then that portion, if any, of your Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement for which the restrictions have not lapsed as of the termination date of your employment relationship shall become null and void as of the date of such termination; provided, however, that the portion, if any, of this Award for which forfeiture restrictions have lapsed as of the date of termination shall survive.

(c) Termination Not For Cause; Good Reason; Death or Disability. Notwithstanding Section 4 of this Agreement, if your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries by which you are employed is terminated prior to any Vesting Date as a result of any of the following events:

(i) by the Company and such Subsidiaries and such termination is not a Termination for Cause;

(ii) by you and such termination is a Termination for Good Reason or a Normal Retirement; or

(iii) your death or Disability;

then the restrictions on a number of the Restricted Stock Units shall automatically lapse as of the termination date as follows:

(A) if restrictions shall not have lapsed on the Restricted Stock Units subject to the One-Year Portion prior to termination, then restrictions will lapse on a number of such Restricted Stock Units equal to the product of (i) the total number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the One-Year Portion, times (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full months (counting the month in which your termination of employment occurs as a full month), beginning with the month in which the Grant Date occurs, during which you were employed by the Company and/or any Subsidiary and the denominator of which is 12; plus

(B) if restrictions shall not have lapsed on the Restricted Stock Units subject to the Two-Year Portion prior to termination, then restrictions will lapse on a number of such Restricted Stock Units equal to the product of (i) the total number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Two-Year Portion, times (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full months (counting the month in which your termination of employment occurs as a full month), beginning with the month in which the Grant Date occurs, during which you were employed by the Company and/or any Subsidiary and the denominator of which is 24; plus

(C) if restrictions shall not have lapsed on the Restricted Stock Units subject to the Three-Year Portion prior to termination, then restrictions will lapse on a number of such Restricted Stock Units equal to the product of (i) the total number of Restricted Stock Units subject to the Three-Year Portion, times (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full months (counting the month in which your termination of employment occurs as a full month), beginning with the month in which the Grant Date occurs, during which you were employed by the Company and/or any Subsidiary and the denominator of which is 36.

 

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The portion, if any, of your Restricted Stock Units for which the restrictions have not lapsed as of the termination date of your employment relationship shall become null and void as of the termination date; provided, however, that the portion, if any, of this Award for which forfeiture restrictions have lapsed as of the date of termination shall survive.

(d) Distribution and Payment. Upon termination of your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries as a result of your death or Disability, the shares of Stock related to your Restricted Stock Units that become vested pursuant Section 6(c) shall be paid to you immediately (and in no event later than 30 days) following your death or Disability. Upon termination of your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries under all other circumstances contemplated by Section 6(c) (“Section 6 Acceleration Events”), the following shall apply:

(i) If you are not a Section 409A Participant, the shares of Stock related to your Restricted Stock Units that become vested pursuant to a Section 6 Acceleration Event shall be paid to you immediately (and in no event later than 30 days) following the termination of your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries.

(ii) If you are a Section 409A Participant and your Restricted Stock Units become vested pursuant to a Section 6 Acceleration Event (other than death or Disability), the shares of Stock related to your Restricted Stock Units that become vested pursuant to such event shall be paid to you immediately (and in no event later than 30 days) following the earliest to occur of the following:

(A) the applicable Vesting Date as to each Vested Portion; or

(B) your death or Disability.

7. Awards Not Assumed in Connection with a Change in Control. In the event that this Award is not Assumed (as defined below) in connection with a Change in Control, then all of the Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement shall become immediately and unconditionally vested and unrestricted immediately prior to the Change in Control. The shares of Stock related to your Restricted Stock Units that become vested pursuant to this Section 7 shall be paid to you in accordance with the timing of the settlement of the Change in Control consideration provided to Stock holders generally in connection with the Change in Control event; provided, however, that if (i) you are a Section 409A Participant and (ii) the event constituting a Change in Control does not also constitute a 409A Change in Control, the shares of Stock related to your Restricted Stock Units that become vested pursuant to this Section 7 shall be paid to you immediately (and in no event later than 30 days) following the first to occur of (A) your death or Disability, or (B) the applicable Vesting Date as to each Vested Portion. For purposes of this Agreement, the term, “Assumed,” means that, prior to or concurrently with the consummation of the transaction resulting in a Change in Control, either (i) this Agreement is expressly affirmed by the Company or (ii) the contractual obligations represented by this Agreement are expressly (and not merely by operation of law) assumed by the surviving or successor corporation or entity to the Company, or any parent or subsidiary of either thereof, or any other corporation or entity that is a party to the transaction resulting in the Change in Control, in connection with such Change in Control, with appropriate adjustments to the number and kind of securities of such surviving or successor corporation or entity, or such other applicable parent, subsidiary, corporation or entity, subject to this Award, which preserves the compensation element of this Agreement existing at the time of such Change in Control, and provides for subsequent payout in accordance with the same (or more favorable) payment and vesting schedule applicable to this Award, as determined in accordance with the instruments evidencing the agreement to assume this Agreement; provided, however, that in no event will this Agreement be deemed to be “Assumed” unless the assumption is made by the entity that will be the issuer of the securities, cash or other property provided in exchange for Stock in the Change in Control transaction in question. The determination of comparability for this purpose shall be made by the Committee prior to the Change in Control, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. For the avoidance of doubt, upon the consummation of the ExxonMobil Merger, the Award will be Assumed.

8. Adjustment Provisions. This Award of Restricted Stock Units shall be adjusted in the manner consistent with the adjustment provisions provided in Section 9(b) and 9(c) of the Plan.

9. Furnish Information. You agree to furnish to the Company all information requested by the Company to enable it to comply with any reporting or other requirements imposed upon the Company by or under any applicable statute or regulation.

10. Remedies. The parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to recover from each other reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with the enforcement of the terms and provisions of this Agreement whether by an action to enforce specific performance or for damages for its breach or otherwise.

11. Confidential Information and Nonsolicitation.

(a) As further consideration for the granting of the Restricted Stock Units hereunder, you hereby agree with the Company that, during and until three years following the termination of your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries by which you are employed, you will keep confidential all confidential or proprietary information and materials, as well as all trade secrets, belonging to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, or their customers or other third parties who furnished such information, materials, and/or trade secrets to the Company or its Subsidiary with expectations of confidentiality (“Confidential Information”). Confidential Information shall not include information that (A) is already properly in the public domain or enters the public domain with the express consent of the Company, or (B) is intentionally made available by the Company to third parties without

 

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any expectation of confidentiality. Upon the termination of your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries by which you are employed, you promise to promptly return to the Company all Confidential Information, and all documents and materials (including electronically stored information) in your possession, custody or control that constitutes or reflects Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may disclose information as may be required by law and may disclose information in confidence to your spouse, tax and financial advisors, or to a financial institution to the extent that such information is necessary to secure a loan, provided that you ensure that such spouse or advisor or institution treats the information confidentially and does not disclose such information or use it for his, her or its own benefit. In the event any breach of this promise comes to the attention of the Company, it shall take into consideration that breach in determining whether to recommend the grant of any future similar award to you, as a factor militating against the advisability of granting any such future award to you. Such consideration shall be in addition to the rights and remedies available to the Company pursuant to Section 11(d) below. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, you will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for any disclosure of a trade secret that (a) is made: (1) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (2) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (b) is made in a complaint or other document that is filed under seal in a lawsuit or other proceeding. In addition, if you file a lawsuit for retaliation, you may disclose the Company’s trade secrets to your attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding if you: (a) file any document containing the trade secret under seal, and (b) do not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

(b) As an incentive for the Company to issue you this Award, and in consideration of the Company’s promise to provide you with Confidential Information and so as to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, including the protection of its Confidential Information and the goodwill with which you will be associated, and that this Award will encourage you to build, you agree that during your employment relationship with the Company and each of its Subsidiaries by which you are employed, and for a period of 12 months immediately following the time that you are no longer employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, you will not, directly or indirectly (i) solicit or encourage (or assist another in soliciting or encouraging) any employee, contractor, consultant, supplier, or vendor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate or lessen his, her or its relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) on behalf of a Competitive Business, engage, employ, or solicit or contact for employment or engagement (or assist another in such activity) any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any person who was an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at any time during the last 12 months of your employment with the Company and any of its Subsidiaries (or, if you are employed by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries for less than 12 months, those persons who were employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries during your employment with the Company and any of its Subsidiaries).

(c) You agree that the Company’s substantial investments in its business interests, goodwill, and Confidential Information are worthy of protection, and that the Company’s need for the protection afforded by this Section 11 is greater than any hardship you might experience by complying with its terms. You further acknowledge and agree that the restrictions set forth in this Section are not adverse to the public interest. You further agree that the limitations as to time and scope of activity to be restrained contained herein are reasonable and are not greater than necessary to protect the Confidential Information, goodwill and other legitimate business interests of the Company. Although the Company and you believe the limitations as to time and scope of activity contained in this Section 11 are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint than necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, if this is judicially determined not to be the case, the Company and you specifically request that the limitations contained in this Section be reformed to the extent necessary to make this Section 11 enforceable.

(d) You acknowledge and agree that your violation or threatened or attempted violation of the covenants contained in this Section 11 will cause irreparable harm to the Company and that money damages would not be sufficient remedy for any breach of this Section. You agree that the Company shall be entitled as a matter of right to specific performance of the covenants in this Section 11, including entry of an ex parte temporary restraining order in state or federal court, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against activities in violation of this Section 11, or both, or other appropriate judicial remedy, writ or order, in any court of competent jurisdiction, restraining any violation or further violation of such agreements by you or others acting on your behalf, without any showing of irreparable harm and without any showing that the Company does not have an adequate remedy at law. Such remedies shall be in addition to all other remedies available to the Company at law and equity.

(e) Your obligations under this Section 11 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and your employment, regardless of the reason for such termination.

(f) As a part of your employment by the Company, and in further consideration for the granting of this Award and by your acceptance of this Award in whole or in part, you accept and agree to be bound by the Company’s Intellectual Property Policy (as the same may be modified, amended or replaced by the Company from time to time), including without limitation, (A) the Company’s ownership of the worldwide right, title and interest in and to any and all Pioneer Intellectual Property; (B) your agreement to assign, and pursuant to the Company’s Intellectual Property Policy and your acceptance of this Award you do hereby assign, to the Company all worldwide right, title and interest in and to all Pioneer Intellectual Property; and (C) your agreement to disclose in writing to the Company all Pioneer Intellectual Property and, upon request by the Company, to promptly produce and deliver to the Company all originals of materials embodying Pioneer Intellectual Property. The term, “Pioneer Intellectual Property,” is defined in the Company’s Intellectual Property Policy (and is incorporated herein by reference), and includes, without limitation, any and all creations, works and/or intellectual property (including but not limited to all tangible and intangible ideas and expressions of ideas whether or not

 

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the subject matter of copyright, confidential and non-confidential information, data, drawings, reports, programs, processes, analyses, business methods, computer programs, works of authorship, trademarks and service marks, improvements, discoveries and/or inventions whether or not patentable), and all of the intellectual property rights therein provided by the various legal systems throughout the world (including but not limited to trade secret rights, patent rights, trademark rights, and rights of copyright), that are conceived, created, made, invented, developed, reduced to practice, reduced to a tangible medium of expression, and/or acquired by you, individually or jointly with others, during the time of your employment relationship with the Company, that pertain to the actual or anticipated business or activities of the Company or that are suggested by or result from any task or work by you for or on behalf of the Company, irrespective whether you are or were hired-to-invent such creations, works or intellectual property, or whether such creations, works or intellectual property were conceived, created, made, invented, developed, reduced to practice, reduced to a tangible medium of expression or acquired in the course or scope of your employment, or whether at home or not, or whether or not during business hours, or whether or not using the Company’s time, facilities or resources. You may review the Company’s Intellectual Property Policy at the Company’s internal portal website, and obtain a copy by written request to the Company’s Legal Department.

(g) Nothing in this Agreement or any other agreement between you and the Company (i) prevents you from exercising any rights that cannot be lawfully waived or restricted, (ii) prevents you from testifying at a hearing, deposition, or in court in response to a lawful subpoena or (iii) limits your ability to file a charge or complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the United States Department of Justice, Congress, any agency Inspector General or any other federal, state or local governmental agency or commission (“Government Agencies”). Further, this Agreement does not limit (i) your ability to communicate with any Government Agencies or otherwise participate in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any Government Agency, including providing documents or other information, without notice to the Company, (ii) your right to receive an award from a Government Agency for information provided to any Government Agencies or (iii) making any disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any applicable law.

12. Payment of Taxes. The Company, in its discretion, may from time to time require you to pay to the Company (or the Company’s Subsidiary if you are an employee of a Subsidiary of the Company) the amount that the Company deems necessary to satisfy the Company’s or its Subsidiary’s current or future obligation to withhold federal, state or local income or other taxes or social security or other obligations that you incur as a result of this Award, including without limitation with respect to any payment pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement. With respect to any required tax withholding, unless another arrangement is permitted by the Committee in its discretion (which discretion may not be delegated to management), the Company shall withhold from the shares of Stock to be issued to you the number of shares the Company determines is necessary to satisfy the Company’s obligation to withhold taxes, that determination to be based on the shares’ Fair Market Value at the time as of which such determination is made. In the event the Company subsequently determines that the aggregate Fair Market Value of any shares of Stock withheld as payment of any tax withholding obligation is insufficient to discharge that tax withholding obligation, then you shall pay to the Company, immediately upon the Company’s request, the amount of that deficiency.

13. Right of the Company and Subsidiaries to Terminate Employment. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall confer upon you the right to continue in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or interfere in any way with the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to terminate your employment at any time.

14. No Liability for Good Faith Determinations. Neither the Company nor the members of the Board and the Committee shall be liable for any act, omission or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to this Agreement or the Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder.

15. No Guarantee of Interests. The Board and the Company do not guarantee the Stock of the Company from loss or depreciation.

16. Company Records. Records of the Company or its Subsidiaries regarding your period of employment, termination of employment and the reason therefor, leaves of absence, re-employment, and other matters shall be conclusive for all purposes hereunder, unless determined by the Company to be incorrect.

17. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof, but such provision shall be fully severable and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein.

18. Notices. Whenever any notice is required or permitted hereunder, such notice must be in writing and personally delivered or sent by mail. Any such notice required or permitted to be delivered hereunder shall be deemed to be delivered on the date on which it is personally delivered, or, whether actually received or not, on the third business day after it is deposited in the United States mail, certified or registered, postage prepaid, addressed to the person who is to receive it at the address which such person has theretofore specified by written notice delivered in accordance herewith. The Company or you may change, at any time and from time to time, by written notice to the other, the address which it or he had previously specified for receiving notices.

 

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The Company and you agree that any notices shall be given to the Company or to you at the following addresses:

 

Company:    Pioneer Natural Resources Company
   Attn: Corporate Secretary
   777 Hidden Ridge
   Irving, Texas 75038

Holder: At your current address as shown in the Company’s records.

19. Waiver of Notice. Any person entitled to notice hereunder may waive such notice in writing.

20. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon you, your legal representatives, heirs, legatees and distributees, and upon the Company, its successors and assigns.

21. Headings. The titles and headings of Sections are included for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construction of the provisions hereof.

22. Governing Law. All questions arising with respect to the provisions of this Agreement shall be determined by application of the laws of the State of Delaware except to the extent Delaware law is preempted by federal law. The obligation of the Company to sell and deliver Stock hereunder is subject to applicable laws and to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance, sale, or delivery of such Stock.

23. Execution of Receipts and Releases. Any payment of cash or any issuance or transfer of shares of Stock or other property to you, or to your legal representative, heir, legatee or distributee, in accordance with the provisions hereof, shall, to the extent thereof, be in full satisfaction of all claims of such Persons hereunder. The Company may require you or your legal representative, heir, legatee or distributee, as a condition precedent to such payment or issuance, to execute a waiver and release agreement and receipt therefor in such form as it shall determine.

24. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended at any time unilaterally by the Company, provided that such amendment is consistent with all applicable laws and does not reduce any rights or benefits you have accrued pursuant to this Agreement. This Agreement may also be amended at any time unilaterally by the Company to the extent the Company believes in good faith that such amendment is necessary or advisable to bring this Agreement in compliance with any applicable laws, including the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.

25. The Plan. This Agreement is subject to all the terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions contained in the Plan; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any provision of this Agreement that is inconsistent with the provisions of Section 9(c) and 9(e) of the Plan shall control over such provisions of the Plan.

26. Agreement Respecting Securities Act. You represent and agree that you will not sell the Stock that may be issued to you pursuant to your Restricted Stock Units except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act (including Rule 144 of the Securities Act).

27. Special Provisions Addressing Section 409A of the Code.

(a) Early Tax Payments. To the extent permitted under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules, payments may be made to you in respect of this Award prior to the date of your scheduled payment dates herein if, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, it would be necessary to pay employment or other taxes imposed upon this Award prior to the scheduled payment date.

(b) Separate Payments. Each payment made under this Award, if any, shall be treated as a separate payment under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.

(c) Section 409A General Compliance. You and the Company intend that any amounts or benefits payable or provided under this Agreement comply with the provisions of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules so as not to subject you to the payment of the tax, interest and any tax penalty which may be imposed under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules. The provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent. In furtherance thereof, this Agreement may be amended for compliance with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules as set forth in Section 24.

28. Clawback Policy. By your acceptance of this Award, you acknowledge that (a) you are subject to and agree to comply with any repayment obligation imposed on you under the Company’s Incentive-Based Compensation Clawback Policy (the “Policy”), (b) you will not be entitled to and hereby knowingly, voluntarily and intentionally waive any indemnification for any liability or loss incurred by you in connection with or as a result of any action taken to enforce the Policy, and (c) the Company is not responsible for and will not make you whole for any effect under any tax law or regulation of the recovery of any compensation pursuant to the Policy, or for any taxes paid by you on compensation that is subject to recovery or is recovered pursuant to the Policy.

 

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29. Electronic Delivery and Acknowledgement. No signature by you is required to accept the Award represented by this Agreement. By your acceptance of this Award, you are acknowledging that you have received and read, understood and accepted all the terms, conditions and restrictions of this Agreement and the Plan. The Company may, in its sole discretion, deliver any documents related to this Award and this Agreement, or other awards that have been or may be awarded under the Plan, by electronic means, including prospectuses, proxy materials, annual reports and other related documents, and the Company may, in its sole discretion, engage a third party to effect the delivery of these documents on its behalf and provide other administrative services related to this Award and the Plan. By your acceptance of the Award represented by this Agreement, you consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and to the engagement of any such third party.

 

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