PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL
TRANSITION SERVICES AND SEPARATION AGREEMENT
This TRANSITION SERVICES AND SEPARATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into on this 8th day of November, 2022 by and between Excelerate Energy, L.P. (the “Company”) and Calvin (Cal) Bancroft (“Executive”). Executive and the Company are each referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”
WHEREAS, Executive and the Company have agreed that Executive’s employment with the Company will terminate effective September 30, 2023, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms hereof or extended, on a monthly basis, upon mutual agreement of the Parties; and
WHEREAS, Executive and the Company wish to set forth the terms and conditions of Executive’s continued employment through his termination, Executive’s post-employment relationship with the Company and the related rights and obligations of the Parties, each as described in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Resignation; Transition; Termination of Employment.
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becoming eligible for other employer-sponsored group health plan coverage, and (C) the expiration of Executive’s rights under COBRA (the “COBRA Period”). Executive agrees to immediately notify the Company when, at any time during the COBRA Period, Executive becomes eligible for other employer-sponsored medical, dental and/or vision coverage in connection with new employment or self-employment. In the event that the benefits provided herein would subject the Company or any of its affiliates to any tax or penalty under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or Section 105(h) of the Code, Executive and the Company agree to work together in good faith to restructure the foregoing benefit. In the event of death or Disability of the Executive during the COBRA Period, the Company shall pay or reimburse Executive’s spouse for COBRA premiums until the COBRA Period would have otherwise expired absent Executive’s death or Disability.
(vii) Deferred Compensation Contributions. Subject to Executive’s continued employment hereunder, the Company will continue to make contributions to Executive’s account under the Excelerate Energy Deferred Compensation Plan (each, a “Contribution”) through September 30, 2023. Such Contributions shall consist of a $37,500 Contribution on December 31, 2022 and a $50,000 Contribution on June 30, 2023. In addition, subject to Executive’s continued employment through the payment date and Executive’s execution and nonrevocation of the Supplemental Release (as defined below), the Company will pay Executive a lump sum of $175,000 within thirty (30) days following the Separation Date in lieu of any additional Contributions to such plan.
(c) Termination of Employment. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive’s employment with the Company may end prior to September 30, 2023, as a result of (i) the Company’s termination of Executive’s employment for Cause or (ii) Executive’s death or Disability. In the event of such earlier termination of employment, Executive shall receive no further payments hereunder and all then outstanding equity awards shall be governed as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement (e.g., on account of a termination as a result of death, disability or for cause as defined and set forth therein). For purposes of this Agreement, the terms “Cause” and “Disability” shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Excelerate Energy Severance Plan (the “Severance Plan”).
2. General Release of Claims.
(a) For good and valuable consideration, including the consideration set forth in Section 1(b) hereof, Executive knowingly and voluntarily (for and on behalf of Executive, Executive’s family, and Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns) hereby releases and forever discharges the Company and its affiliates, predecessors, successors and subsidiaries, and the foregoing entities’ respective equity-holders, officers, directors, managers, members, partners, employees, agents, representatives, and other affiliated persons, and the Company’s and its affiliates’ benefit plans (and the fiduciaries and trustees of such plans) (collectively, the “Company Parties”), from liability for, and Executive hereby waives, any and all claims, damages, or causes of action of any kind related to Executive’s employment with any Company Party and any other acts or omissions related to any matter occurring on or prior to the date that Executive executes this Agreement, including (i) any alleged violation through such time of: (A) any federal, state or local anti-discrimination or anti-retaliation law, regulation or ordinance, including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (including as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Sections 1981 through 1988 of
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Title 42 of the United States Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; (B) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”); (C) the Immigration Reform Control Act; (D) the National Labor Relations Act; (E) the Occupational Safety and Health Act; (F) the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; (G) the Texas Labor Code (specifically including the Texas Payday Law, the Texas Anti-Retaliation Act, Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code, and the Texas Whistleblower Act); (H) any federal, state or local wage and hour law; (I) any other local, state or federal law, regulation or ordinance; or (J) any public policy, contract, tort, or common law claim; (ii) any allegation for costs, fees, or other expenses including attorneys’ fees incurred in or with respect to a Released Claim (as defined below); and (iii) any claim for compensation or benefits of any kind not expressly set forth in this Agreement (collectively, the “Released Claims”). This Agreement is not intended to indicate that any such claims exist or that, if they do exist, they are meritorious. Rather, Executive is simply agreeing that, in exchange for the consideration received by Executive pursuant to this Agreement, any and all potential claims of this nature that Executive may have against the Company Parties, regardless of whether they actually exist, are expressly settled, compromised and waived. THIS RELEASE INCLUDES MATTERS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE SOLE OR PARTIAL NEGLIGENCE (WHETHER GROSS OR SIMPLE) OR OTHER FAULT, INCLUDING STRICT LIABILITY, OF ANY OF THE COMPANY PARTIES.
(b) In no event shall the Released Claims include (i) any claim that arises after the date that Executive signs this Agreement; (ii) any claim to vested benefits under an employee benefit plan that is subject to ERISA; (iii) any claim for breach of, or otherwise arising out of, this Agreement; or (iv) any claim for indemnification, advancement of expenses or D&O liability insurance coverage under any indemnification agreement with the Company or the Company’s governing documents or the Company’s D&O insurance policies. Further notwithstanding this release of liability, nothing in this Agreement prevents Executive from filing any non-legally waivable claim (including a challenge to the validity of this Agreement) with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or comparable state or local agency or participating in (or cooperating with) any investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC or comparable state or local agency or cooperating in any such investigation or proceeding; however, Executive understands and agrees that Executive is waiving any and all rights to recover any monetary or personal relief from a Company Party as a result of such EEOC or comparable state or local agency or proceeding or subsequent legal actions. Further, nothing in this Agreement prohibits or restricts Executive from filing a charge or complaint with, or cooperating in any investigation with, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or any other governmental agency, entity or authority (each, a “Government Agency”). This Agreement does not limit Executive’s right to receive an award for information provided to a Government Agency.
3. Representations and Warranties Regarding Claims. Executive represents and warrants that, as of the time at which Executive signs this Agreement, Executive has not filed or joined any claims, complaints, charges, or lawsuits against any of the Company Parties with any governmental agency or with any state or federal court or arbitrator for, or with respect to, a matter, claim, or incident that occurred or arose out of one or more occurrences that took place on or prior to the time at which Executive signs this Agreement. Executive further represents and warrants that Executive has not made any assignment, sale, delivery, transfer or conveyance of any rights Executive has asserted or may have against any of the Company Parties with respect to any Released Claim.
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actions and do such other things, as may be reasonably necessary or desirable, as determined in the sole discretion of the Company, to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.
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[Signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the dates set forth beneath their names below, effective for all purposes as provided above.
EXECUTIVE
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| /s/ Calvin Bancroft |
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| Calvin Bancroft |
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| Date: | 11/8/2022 |
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EXCELERATE ENERGY, L.P.
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| By: | /s/Steven Kobos |
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| Name: | Steven Kobos |
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| Title: | President & CEO |
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| Date: | 11/7/2022 |
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO
TRANSITION SERVICES AND SEPARATION AGREEMENT
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EXHIBIT B
CONFIRMING RELEASE AGREEMENT
This Confirming Release Agreement (the “Confirming Release”) is that certain Confirming Release referenced in the Transition Services and Separation Agreement (the “Separation Agreement”), entered into by and between Excelerate Energy Inc. (the “Company”) and Cal Bancroft (“Executive”). Unless sooner revoked by Executive pursuant to the terms of Section 5 below, Executive’s acceptance of this Confirming Release becomes irrevocable and this Confirming Release becomes effective on the eighth day after Executive signs it. Capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined have the meanings assigned to them in the Separation Agreement. In signing below, Executive agrees as follows:
(a) For good and valuable consideration, including the consideration set forth in Section 1 of the Separation Agreement, Executive knowingly and voluntarily (for and on behalf of Executive, Executive’s family, and Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns) hereby releases and forever discharges the Company Parties from liability for, and Executive hereby waives, any and all claims, damages, or causes of action of any kind related to Executive’s employment with any Company Party, the termination of such employment, and any other acts or omissions related to any matter occurring on or prior to the date that Executive executes this Confirming Agreement, including (i) any alleged violation through such time of: (A) any federal, state or local antidiscrimination or anti-retaliation law, regulation or ordinance, including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (including as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; (B) ERISA; (C) the Immigration Reform Control Act; (D) the National Labor Relations Act; (E) the Occupational Safety and Health Act; (F) the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; (G) the Texas Labor Code (specifically including the Texas Payday Law, the Texas Anti-Retaliation Act, Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code, and the Texas Whistleblower Act; (H) any federal, state or local wage and hour law; (I) any other local, state or federal law, regulation or ordinance; or (J) any public policy, contract, tort, or common law claim; (ii) any allegation for costs, fees, or other expenses including attorneys’ fees incurred in or with respect to a Further Released Claim (as defined below); and (iii) any claim for compensation or benefits of any kind not expressly set forth in this Confirming Release or the Separation Agreement (collectively, the “Further Released Claims”). This Confirming Release is not intended to indicate that any such claims exist or that, if they do exist, they are
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meritorious. Rather, Executive is simply agreeing that, in exchange for any consideration received by Executive pursuant to Section 1 of the Separation Agreement, any and all potential claims of this nature that Executive may have against the Company Parties, regardless of whether they actually exist, are expressly settled, compromised and waived. THIS RELEASE INCLUDES MATTERS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE SOLE OR PARTIAL NEGLIGENCE (WHETHER GROSS OR SIMPLE) OR OTHER FAULT, INCLUDING STRICT LIABILITY, OF ANY OF THE COMPANY PARTIES.
(b) In no event shall the Further Released Claims include (i) any claim that arises after the date that Executive signs this Confirming Release; (ii) any claim to vested benefits under an employee benefit plan that is subject to ERISA; (iii) any claim for breach of, or otherwise arising out of, this Confirming Release; and (iv) any claim for indemnification, advancement of expenses or D&O liability insurance coverage under any indemnification agreement with the Company or the Company’s governing documents or the Company’s D&O insurance policies. Further notwithstanding this release of liability, nothing in this Confirming Release prevents Executive from filing any non-legally waivable claim (including a challenge to the validity of this Confirming Release) with the EEOC or comparable state or local agency or participating in (or cooperating with) any investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC or comparable state or local agency or cooperating in any such investigation or proceeding; however, Executive understands and agrees that Executive is waiving any and all rights to recover any monetary or personal relief from a Company Party as a result of such EEOC or comparable state or local agency or proceeding or subsequent legal actions. Further, nothing in this Confirming Release or the Separation Agreement prohibits or restricts Executive from filing a charge or complaint with, or cooperating in any investigation with, any Government Agency. This Confirming Release does not limit Executive’s right to receive an award for information provided to a Government Agency.
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5. Revocation Right. Notwithstanding the initial effectiveness of this Confirming Release, Executive may revoke the delivery (and therefore the effectiveness) of this Confirming Release within the seven-day period beginning on the date Executive executes this Confirming Release (such seven-day period being referred to herein as the “Confirming Release Revocation Period”). To be effective, such revocation must be in writing signed by Executive and must be delivered personally or by courier to the Company so that it is received by Amy Thompson, Chief Human Resources Officer, Excelerate Energy, Inc., 2445 Technology Forest Blvd., Level 6, The Woodlands, TX 77381, amy.thompson@excelerateenergy.com no later than 11:59 pm CT on the last day of the Confirming Release Revocation Period. If an effective revocation is delivered in the foregoing manner and timeframe, this Confirming Release will be of no force or effect and Executive will not receive the benefits set forth in Sections 1(b) of the Separation Agreement.
EXECUTIVE HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS CONFIRMING RELEASE, FULLY
UNDERSTANDS HIS AGREEMENT, AND SIGNS IT AS HIS OWN FREE ACT.
EXECUTIVE
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| /s/ Calvin Bancroft |
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| Calvin Bancroft |
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| Date: | 11/8/2022 |
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