425

UNITED STATES  

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT  

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)  

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 13, 2017

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-07964	73-0785597
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	Commission File Number	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1001 Noble Energy Way,  Houston, Texas	77070
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (281) 872-3100

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

x Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On January 13, 2017, Noble Energy, Inc. (the “Company” or “Noble Energy”), Wild West Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), NBL Permian LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub II”), and Clayton Williams Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CWEI”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company will acquire CWEI in exchange for a combination of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Noble Energy Common Shares”) and cash. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, (i) Merger Sub will merge with and into CWEI (the “Merger”), with CWEI continuing as the surviving corporation in the Merger and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and (ii) thereafter, CWEI will merge with and into Merger Sub II, with Merger Sub II continuing as the surviving company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each share of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of CWEI (each, a “CWEI Common Share”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than CWEI Common Shares held in treasury and CWEI Common Shares held by stockholders who properly comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 262 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”) as to appraisal rights) and each unexercised warrant to purchase or otherwise acquire CWEI Common Shares (each, a “CWEI Warrant”) issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time, will be cancelled and extinguished and automatically converted into the right to receive, at the election of the stockholder or warrant holder, as applicable, and subject to proration as described below, one of the following forms of consideration (the “Merger Consideration”):

• for each CWEI Common Share, one of (i) 3.7222 Noble Energy Common Shares (the “Share Consideration”); (ii)(A) $34.75 in cash (subject to applicable withholding tax), without interest and (B) 2.7874 Noble Energy Common Shares (the “Mixed Consideration”); or (iii) $138.39 in cash (subject to applicable withholding tax), without interest (the “Cash Consideration”); and

• for each CWEI Warrant, either (i) the Share Consideration in respect of the number of CWEI Common Shares that would be issued upon a cashless exercise of such CWEI Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time (“Warrant Notional Common Shares”); (ii) the Mixed Consideration in respect of the number of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by such CWEI Warrant; or (iii) the Cash Consideration in respect of the number of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by such CWEI Warrant.

The Merger Consideration is subject to proration so that the aggregate Merger Consideration paid in respect of all CWEI Common Shares and CWEI Warrants consists of 75% Noble Energy Common Shares and 25% cash. No fractional Noble Energy Common Shares will be issued in the Merger, and holders of CWEI Common Shares will, instead, receive cash in lieu of fractional Noble Energy Common Shares, if any. The implied value of the aggregate Merger Consideration is $2.7 billion based on the per share closing trading price of Noble Energy Common Shares on January 13, 2017.

At the Effective Time, each share of preferred stock, par value $0.10 per share, of CWEI (each, a “CWEI Preferred Share”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into the right to receive cash in an amount equal to $1.00 (subject to any applicable withholding tax), without interest.

Each option to purchase CWEI Common Shares (each, a “CWEI Option”) that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will vest and be exchanged for the number of Noble Energy Common Shares, rounded down to the nearest whole share, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the product of (A) the number of CWEI Common Shares subject to the CWEI Option and (B) the amount, if any, by which the per share closing trading price of CWEI Common Shares on the business day immediately before the closing date of the Merger exceeds the exercise price per CWEI Common Share otherwise purchasable pursuant to the CWEI Option immediately prior to the Effective Time by (ii) the average of the closing sale prices of a Noble Energy Common Share as reported on the New York Stock Exchange for the ten consecutive full trading days, ending at the close of trading on the full trading day immediately preceding the date on which the Effective Time occurs. If such calculation results in zero or a negative number, the applicable CWEI Option shall be forfeited for no consideration.

At the Effective Time, the restricted CWEI Common Shares (“CWEI Restricted Share”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into a number of restricted Noble Energy Common Shares equal to the number of CWEI Restricted Shares multiplied by the Share Consideration, rounded up to the nearest whole share, and subject to the same vesting, repurchase and other restrictions as the CWEI Restricted Shares.

Each of the Company, Merger Sub and CWEI has made customary representations and warranties and agreed to customary covenants in the Merger Agreement. The Merger is subject to various closing conditions, including but not limited to (i) approval of the Merger Agreement by at least a majority of the outstanding CWEI Common Shares, (ii) the expiration or earlier termination of the waiting period under the Hart–Scott–Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, (iii) the absence of any law, order or injunction prohibiting the Merger, (iv) the accuracy of each party’s representations and warranties, (v) each party’s compliance with its covenants and agreements contained in the Merger Agreement and (vi) that the aggregate number of CWEI Common Shares as to which appraisal rights are exercised does not exceed 10% of the outstanding CWEI Common Shares.

The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for both the Company and CWEI, including if the Merger is not consummated by July 17, 2017, and further provides that, upon termination of the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances, CWEI may be required to pay the Company a termination fee equal to $87,000,000.

The Merger Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference. The foregoing summary of the Merger Agreement has been included to provide investors and security holders with information regarding the terms of the Merger Agreement and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement. It is not intended to provide any other factual information about the Company, CWEI or their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties by each of the parties to the Merger Agreement, which were made only for purposes of the Merger Agreement and as of dates specified therein. The representations, warranties and covenants in the Merger Agreement were made solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement; may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Merger Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts; and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors. Investors should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the Company, CWEI or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations, warranties and covenants may change after the date of the Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in the Company’s or CWEI’s public disclosures.

Support Agreement

Contemporaneously with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Company, CWEI (solely for certain specified purposes), and certain CWEI stockholders affiliated with Ares Management, LLC (the “Ares Stockholders”) entered into a support agreement (the “Support Agreement”) pursuant to which the Ares Stockholders agreed, among other things, not to exercise or assert any appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL in connection with the Merger. The Ares Stockholders also have agreed, among other things, during the period from January 13, 2017 to and including the date of termination of the Merger Agreement, if any (the “Applicable Period”), to vote all of the CWEI Common Shares and the CWEI Preferred Shares they beneficially own as of the record date of the special meeting held for the purpose of adopting the Merger Agreement (the “Record Date”) (i) in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement, (ii) against any alternative proposal, and (iii) against any amendment of CWEI’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other proposal or transaction involving CWEI or any of its subsidiaries which amendment or other proposal or transaction would in any manner delay, impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify the Merger, the Merger Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or change in any manner the voting rights of any outstanding class of capital stock of CWEI. As of December 31, 2016, the Ares Stockholders owned approximately 35% of the outstanding shares of CWEI.

The Support Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference. The foregoing summary has been included to provide investors and security holders with information regarding the terms of the Support Agreement and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Support Agreement. It is not intended to provide any other factual information about the parties or their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. The Support Agreement contains representations and warranties by each of the parties to the Support Agreement, which were made only for purposes of the Support Agreement and as of specified dates. The representations, warranties and covenants in the Support Agreement were made solely for the benefit of the parties to the Support Agreement; may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Support Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts; and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors. Investors should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the parties or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations, warranties and covenants may change after the date of the Support Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in the Company’s or CWEI’s public disclosures.

Non-Dissent Agreements

Contemporaneously with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Company and CWEI (solely for certain specified purposes) entered into agreements not to dissent (the “Non-Dissent Agreements”) with Clayton W. Williams, Jr. and The Williams Children’s Partnership Ltd., each a stockholder of CWEI (together, the “Non-Dissenting Parties”), pursuant to which the Non-Dissenting Parties agreed, among other things, not to exercise or assert any appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL in connection with the Merger. The Non-Dissenting Parties also have agreed, among other things, during the Applicable Period, to vote all of the CWEI Common Shares they beneficially own as of the Record Date against any alternative proposals and against any amendment of CWEI’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other proposal or transaction involving CWEI or any of its subsidiaries, which amendment or other proposal or transaction would in any manner delay, impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify the Merger, the Merger Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or change in any manner the voting rights of any outstanding class of capital stock of CWEI. If the Merger Agreement is terminated by Parent in certain circumstances, including if the CWEI stockholders do not adopt the Merger Agreement, then the term of the Applicable Period under the Non-Dissent Agreements will be extended for an additional 180 days following the termination of the Merger Agreement.

The Non-Dissent Agreements are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.2 and 10.3, respectively, and are incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference. The foregoing summary has been included to provide investors and security holders with information regarding the terms of the Non-Dissent Agreements and are qualified in their entirety by the terms and conditions of the Non-Dissent Agreements. It is not intended to provide any other factual information about the parties or their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. The Non-Dissent Agreements contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the Non-Dissent Agreements, which were made only for purposes of the Non-Dissent Agreements and as of specified dates. The representations, warranties and covenants in the Non-Dissent Agreements were made solely for the benefit of the parties to the Non-Dissent Agreements; may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Non-Dissent Agreements instead of establishing these matters as facts; and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors. Investors should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the parties or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations, warranties and covenants may change after the date of the Non-Dissent Agreements, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in the Company’s or CWEI’s public disclosures.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On January 16, 2017, the Company and CWEI issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. In addition, the Company provided supplemental information regarding the proposed transaction in connection with presentations to analysts and investors. A copy of the investor presentation is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2. The Company also provided supplemental information regarding the proposed transaction to employees of the Company. A copy of the email to the Company’s employees announcing the proposed transaction is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

2.1	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 13, 2017, by and among Noble Energy Inc., Wild West Merger Sub Inc., NBL Permian LLC, and Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.*
10.1	Support Agreement, dated as of January 13, 2017, by and among certain stockholders affiliated with Ares Management, LLC, Noble Energy, Inc., and solely for certain purposes specified therein, Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.
10.2	Agreement Not to Dissent, dated as of January 13, 2017, by and among Clayton W. Williams, Jr., Noble Energy, Inc., and solely for certain purposes specified therein, Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.
10.3	Agreement Not to Dissent, dated as of January 13, 2017, by and among The Williams Children’s Partnership, Ltd., Noble Energy, Inc., and solely for certain purposes specified therein, Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.
99.1	Press Release dated January 16, 2017, announcing entry into the Merger Agreement.
99.2	Investor Presentation, dated January 17, 2017.
99.3	Email to Noble Energy employees, dated January 16, 2017.

* This filing excludes schedules and exhibits pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, which the registrant agrees to furnish supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request.

INFORMATION FURNISHED

The information in Item 7.01 and Exhibits 99.1-99.3 of this Form 8-K is being furnished, not filed. Accordingly, the information will not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified as being incorporated by reference therein.

Forward Looking Statements

This filing contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws. Words such as "anticipates", "believes," "expects", "intends", "will", "should", "may", and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Noble Energy's and Clayton Williams' current views about future events. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the proposed merger involving Noble Energy and Clayton Williams, including future financial and operating results, Noble Energy's and Clayton Williams' plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, the expected timing of completion of the transaction, and other statements that are not historical facts, including estimates of oil and natural gas reserves and resources, estimates of future production, assumptions regarding future oil and natural gas pricing, planned drilling activity, future results of operations, projected cash flow and liquidity, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements contained in this filing will occur as projected and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the ability to obtain the requisite Clayton Williams shareholder approval; the risk that Clayton Williams or Noble Energy may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the merger, or required governmental and regulatory approvals may delay the merger or result in the imposition of conditions that could cause the parties to abandon the merger, the risk that a condition to closing of the merger may not be satisfied, the timing to consummate the proposed merger, the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully, the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers, the diversion of management time on merger-related issues, the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas, the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves, the ability to replace reserves, environmental risks, drilling and operating risks, exploration and development risks, competition, government regulation or other actions, the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals and other risks inherent in Noble Energy's and Clayton Williams' businesses that are discussed in Noble Energy's and Clayton Williams' most recent annual reports on Form 10-K, respectively, and in other Noble Energy and Clayton Williams reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). These reports are also available from the sources described above. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Noble Energy undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This filing also contains certain historical and forward-looking non-GAAP measures of financial performance that management believes are good tools for internal use and the investment community in evaluating Noble Energy's overall financial performance. These non-GAAP measures are broadly used to value and compare companies in the crude oil and natural gas industry. Please also see Noble Energy's website at www.nobleenergyinc.com under "Investors" for reconciliations of the differences between any historical non-GAAP measures used in this presentation and the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. The GAAP measures most comparable to the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures are not accessible on a forward-looking basis and reconciling information is not available without unreasonable effort.

The SEC requires oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions. The SEC permits the optional disclosure of probable and possible reserves, however, we have not disclosed our probable and possible reserves in our filings with the SEC. We use certain terms in this presentation, such as "discovered unbooked resources", "resources", "risked resources", "recoverable resources", "unrisked resources", "unrisked exploration prospectivity" and "estimated ultimate recovery" (EUR). These estimates are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved, probable and possible reserves and accordingly are subject to substantially greater risk of being actually realized. The SEC guidelines strictly prohibit us from including these estimates in filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures and risk factors in our most recent Form 10-K and in other reports on file with the SEC, available from Noble Energy's offices or website, www.nobleenergyinc.com.

Additional Information And Where To Find It

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed merger between Noble Energy and Clayton Williams, Noble Energy will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement of Clayton Williams that also constitutes a prospectus of Noble Energy. Clayton Williams will mail the proxy statement/prospectus to its shareholders. This document is not a substitute for any prospectus, proxy statement or any other document which Noble Energy or Clayton Williams may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. Noble Energy and Clayton Williams urge Clayton Williams investors and shareholders to read the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC, because they will contain important information. You may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Noble Energy's website (www.nobleenergyinc.com) under the tab "Investors" and then under the heading "SEC Filings." You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Clayton Williams' website (www.claytonwilliams.com) under the tab "Investors" and then under the heading "SEC Filings."

Participants In The Merger Solicitation

Noble Energy, Clayton Williams, and their respective directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees may be soliciting proxies from Clayton Williams shareholders in favor of the merger and related matters. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Clayton Williams shareholders in connection with the proposed merger will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find information about Noble Energy's executive officers and directors in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 11, 2016. You can find information about Clayton Williams' executive officers and directors in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 28, 2016. Additional information about Noble Energy's executive officers and directors and Clayton Williams' executive officers and directors can be found in the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-4 when it becomes available. You can obtain free copies of these documents from Noble Energy and Clayton Williams using the contact information above.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
Date: January 17, 2017
	By:	/s/ Arnold J. Johnson
		Arnold J. Johnson
		Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Description
2.1	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 13, 2017, by and among Noble Energy Inc., Wild West Merger Sub Inc., NBL Permian LLC, and Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.*
10.1	Support Agreement, dated as of January 13, 2017, by and among certain stockholders affiliated with Ares Management, LLC, Noble Energy, Inc., and solely for certain purposes specified therein, Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.
10.2	Agreement Not to Dissent, dated as of January 13, 2017, by and among Clayton W. Williams, Jr., Noble Energy, Inc., and solely for certain purposes specified therein, Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.
10.3	Agreement Not to Dissent, dated as of January 13, 2017, by and among The Williams Children’s Partnership, Ltd., Noble Energy, Inc., and solely for certain purposes specified therein, Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.
99.1	Press Release dated January 16, 2017, announcing entry into the Merger Agreement.
99.2	Investor Presentation, dated January 17, 2017.
99.3	Email to Noble Energy employees, dated January 16, 2017.

* This filing excludes schedules and exhibits pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, which the registrant agrees to furnish supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request.

EX-2.1

Exhibit 2.1

Execution Copy

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
   
   
BY AND AMONG
   
   
NOBLE ENERGY, INC.,
   
   
WILD WEST MERGER SUB, INC.,
   
   
NBL PERMIAN LLC
   
   
AND
   
   
CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY, INC.
   
   
   
   
   
DATED AS OF JANUARY 13, 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
ARTICLE I CERTAIN DEFINITIONS			4
1.1	Certain Definitions		4
1.2	Terms Defined Elsewhere		13
1.3	Interpretation		16
ARTICLE II THE INTEGRATED MERGERS; EFFECTS OF THE INTEGRATED MERGERS			17
2.1	The Integrated Mergers		17
2.2	Closing		18
ARTICLE III MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES			18
3.1	Merger Consideration		18
3.2	Rights As Stockholders; Share Transfers		19
3.3	Exchange of Certificates		19
3.4	Election Procedures		22
3.5	Proration		23
3.6	Anti-Dilution Provisions		25
3.7	Treatment of Company Preferred Shares		25
3.8	Treatment of Company Options and Company Restricted Shares		25
3.9	Dissenting Shares		26
ARTICLE IV ACTIONS PENDING MERGER			26
4.1	Conduct of Business by the Company		26
4.2	Conduct of Business by Parent		29
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY			30
5.1	Organization, General Authority and Standing		30
5.2	Capitalization		30
5.3	Equity Interests in other Entities		32
5.4	Power, Authority and Approvals of Transactions		32
5.5	No Violations or Defaults		32
5.6	Consents and Approvals		32
5.7	Financial Reports and the Company SEC Documents		33
5.8	Internal Controls and Procedures		34
5.9	Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities		34
5.10	Absence of Certain Changes or Events		35
5.11	Compliance with Applicable Law; Permits		35
5.12	Material Contracts		36
5.13	Environmental Matters		38
5.14	Reserve Report		39
5.15	Title to Properties		39
5.16	Litigation		41
5.17	Information Supplied		42
5.18	Tax Matters		42
5.19	Employee Benefits		43
5.20	Intellectual Property		44
5.21	Financial Advisors		45
5.22	Regulatory Matters		45
5.23	Insurance		45
5.24	Affiliate Transactions		45

i

		Page
5.25	Fairness Opinion		45
5.26	Section 203 of the DGCL		45
5.27	Independent Investigation		46
5.28	No Other Representations and Warranties		46
ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB			46
6.1	Organization, General Authority and Standing		46
6.2	Capitalization		47
6.3	Equity Interests in other Entities		47
6.4	Power, Authority and Approvals of Transactions		47
6.5	No Violations or Defaults		48
6.6	Consents and Approvals		48
6.7	Financial Reports and Parent SEC Documents		48
6.8	Internal Controls and Procedures		49
6.9	Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities		49
6.10	Absence of Certain Changes or Events		50
6.11	Compliance with Applicable Law		50
6.12	Litigation		50
6.13	Information Supplied		50
6.14	Employee Benefits		50
6.15	Tax Matters.		51
6.16	Status under Section 203 of the DGCL		51
6.17	Insurance Coverage		51
6.18	Operations of Merger Sub		51
6.19	Sufficiency of Funds		51
6.20	Independent Investigation		52
6.21	No Other Representations and Warranties		52
ARTICLE VII COVENANTS			52
7.1	Consummation of the Merger		52
7.2	Registration Statement; Proxy Statement		53
7.3	Alternative Proposals; Change in Recommendation		54
7.4	Access to Information; Confidentiality		58
7.5	Public Statements		59
7.6	Confidentiality		59
7.7	Takeover Laws		59
7.8	New Common Shares Listed		59
7.9	Third-Party Approvals		59
7.10	Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance		60
7.11	Notification of Certain Matters		62
7.12	Section 16 Matters		62
7.13	Employee Benefits		62
7.14	Certain Tax Matters		63
7.15	Transaction Litigation		63
7.16	Target Debt and Termination of Mortgages.		64
ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER			64
8.1	Mutual Closing Conditions		64
8.2	Additional Company Conditions to Closing		65
8.3	Additional Parent Conditions to Closing		65

ii

		Page
ARTICLE IX TERMINATION			66
9.1	Termination of Agreement		66
9.2	Procedure Upon Termination		66
9.3	Effect of Termination		67
9.4	Fees and Expenses		67
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS			68
10.1	Amendment or Supplement; Waiver		68
10.2	Counterparts		68
10.3	Governing Law		68
10.4	Notices		68
10.5	Assignment		69
10.6	Entire Understanding; No Third-Party Beneficiaries		69
10.7	Severability		69
10.8	Jurisdiction		69
10.9	Waiver of Jury Trial		70
10.10	No Recourse		70
10.11	Specific Performance		70
10.12	Survival		70

iii

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of January 13, 2017 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among NOBLE ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), WILD WEST MERGER SUB, INC., a Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), NBL PERMIAN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Marshall Texas”), and CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” and, together with Parent and Merger Sub, the “Parties”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “DLLCA”), the Parties intend that (i) Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation in the Merger and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (sometimes referred to in such capacity as the “Surviving Corporation”), and (ii) thereafter, the Company will merge (the “Second Step Merger” and, together with the Merger, the “Integrated Mergers”) with and into Marshall Texas, with Marshall Texas being the surviving company (sometimes referred to in such capacity as the “Surviving Company”);

WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Integrated Mergers are intended to qualify as a single integrated transaction that qualifies as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and this Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code and within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-2(g);

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Company Board”) has (a) determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and the Company Stockholders (as defined herein) to enter into, and has declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Integrated Mergers, (b) approved the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Support Agreement (as defined below), the Non-Dissent Agreements (as defined below) and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Integrated Mergers, and (c) resolved to submit this Agreement to a vote of the Company Stockholders and recommend adoption of this Agreement by the Company Stockholders;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Parent (the “Parent Board”) has (a) determined that it is in the best interests of Parent, and declared it advisable, to enter into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Integrated Mergers, and (b) approved the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Integrated Mergers;

WHEREAS, in order to induce Parent to enter into this Agreement, certain affiliates of Ares Management LLC are contemporaneously entering into a Support Agreement, of even date herewith (the “Support Agreement”), with Parent, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, and each of The Williams Children's Partnership, Ltd. and Clayton W. Williams, Jr. is contemporaneously entering into a Non-Dissent Agreement, of even date herewith (the “Non-Dissent Agreements”), with Parent, in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto; and

WHEREAS, Parent will cause the sole stockholder of Merger Sub to adopt this Agreement promptly following its execution.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and conditions contained herein, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

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

“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person, whether now in existence or hereafter created, directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition and the definition of Subsidiary, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means, with respect to a Person, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or

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indirectly, whether through the ownership of equity interests, including but not limited to voting securities, by contract or agency or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (a) none of the CONE Midstream Companies or Marshall Midstream Companies shall constitute an Affiliate of Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates for any reason under this Agreement and (b) none of Ares Management LLC or its Affiliates (other than any individual serving on the Company Board) shall constitute an Affiliate of the Company or its Subsidiaries for any reason under this Agreement.

“Average Closing Price” means, as of any date, the average of the closing sale prices of a Parent Common Share as reported on the NYSE for the ten (10) consecutive full trading days (in which such Parent Common Shares are traded on the NYSE), ending at the close of trading on the full trading day immediately preceding such date.

“Business Day” means any day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks are authorized or required to be closed in the City of New York, New York.

“CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. §9601 et seq, as amended.

“Company Bylaws” means the Corporate Bylaws of the Company, as amended through July 22, 2016.

“Company Charter” means the Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, dated as of September 30, 1996, as amended on September 27, 2000 and further amended by the Certificate of Designation, dated as of March 15, 2016, establishing the terms of the Company’s Special Voting Preferred Stock.

“Company Common Shares” means the shares of common stock, $0.10 par value per share, of the Company.

“Company Financial Advisors” means Evercore Group, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., financial advisors to the Company.

“Company Option” means an award of an option to purchase Company Common Shares granted pursuant to a Company Stock Plan.

“Company Preferred Share” means a share of preferred stock, par value $0.10 per share, designated as “Special Voting Preferred Stock” of the Company.

“Company Restricted Share” means a restricted Company Common Share granted pursuant to a Company Stock Plan.

“Company Stock Plans” means the Clayton Williams Energy, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, and any other employee or director stock plan pursuant to which any option, restricted share, performance share unit or other equity compensation award is outstanding, each as amended or amended and restated from time to time.

“Company Stockholders” means the holders of outstanding Company Common Shares and Company Preferred Shares.

“Company Warrant” means each outstanding unexercised warrant to purchase or otherwise acquire Company Common Shares as set forth in Section 1.1(a)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

“CONE Midstream Companies” means CONE Gathering, LLC, CONE Midstream GP LLC and CONE Midstream Partners LP and their respective Subsidiaries.

“Confidentiality Agreement” means that certain Confidentiality Agreement entered into by and between Parent and the Company dated as of December 21, 2016.

“Data Site” means the “Project Cactus” electronic data site established and maintained by the Company at www.dfsco.com/venue/, as in existence as of the date of this Agreement.

“Director and Officer Indemnification Agreements” means those certain Indemnification Agreements between the directors and officers of the Company and the Company, as listed on Section 1.1(a)(iv) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

“Employee Benefit Plan” means:

(a) any “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA), and

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(b) any other personnel policy (oral or written), share or unit option, restricted share or unit, share or unit purchase plan, equity compensation plan, phantom equity or appreciation rights plan, collective bargaining agreement, bonus plan or arrangement, incentive award plan or arrangement, vacation or holiday pay policy, retention or severance pay plan or arrangement, policy or agreement, deferred compensation agreement or arrangement, change in control, hospitalization or other medical, dental, vision, accident, disability, life or other insurance, executive compensation or supplemental income arrangement, consulting agreement, employment agreement, acquisition right agreement, participation agreement and any other employee benefit or compensation plan, policy, agreement, arrangement, program, practice, or understanding.

“Employees” means all individuals employed by the Company or any of its Affiliates as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

“Environmental Law” means any applicable Law that relates to:

(a) the protection of the environment (including air, surface water, groundwater, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural resource), human health or safety (to the extent related to exposure of persons to Hazardous Materials); or

(b) the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling, labeling, production, or Release of Hazardous Materials, in each case as in effect at the date of this Agreement.

“Environmental Permit” means any permit, license, regulation, consent, variance, exemption, approval or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

“ERISA Affiliate” means any Person under common control with the Company or Parent, as applicable, within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), or (m) of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Existing Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement by and among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as administrative agent, dated as of March 8, 2016, as amended prior to the date hereof.

“FCPA” means the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“GAAP” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

“Governmental Authority” means any national, state, local, county, parish or municipal government, domestic or foreign, any agency, board, bureau, commission, court, tribunal, subdivision, department or other governmental or regulatory authority or instrumentality, or any arbitrator or arbitral body, in each case that has jurisdiction over Parent or the Company, as the case may be, or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their or their respective Subsidiaries’ properties or assets.

“Hazardous Material” means any substance, material or waste that is listed, defined, designated or classified or otherwise regulated as hazardous, toxic, radioactive, dangerous or a “pollutant” or “contaminant” pursuant to any Environmental Law, including without limitation Hydrocarbons and greenhouse gases or any hazardous substance as that term is defined in CERCLA and any similar term used in any similar state authority.

“HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Hydrocarbons” means crude oil, natural gas, condensate, drip gas and natural gas liquids (including coalbed gas), ethane, propane, iso-butane, nor-butane, gasoline, scrubber liquids and other liquids or gaseous hydrocarbons or other substances (including minerals or gases), or any combination thereof, produced or associated therewith.

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“Indebtedness” of any Person means:

(a) indebtedness created, issued or incurred by such Person for borrowed money (whether by loan or the issuance and sale of debt securities or the sale of property of such Person to another Person subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to repurchase such property) or payment obligations issued or incurred by such Person in substitution or exchange for payment obligations for borrowed money;

(b) obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase or acquisition price for any property of such Person or any services received by such person, including, in any such case, “earnout” payments;

(c) obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit or similar instruments issued or accepted by banks and other financial institutions for the account of such Person;

(d) obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) any property to such Person to the extent such obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP;

(e) payment obligations secured by (or for which the holder of such payment obligations has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien, other than a Permitted Encumbrance, on assets or properties of such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed;

(f) obligations to repay deposits or other amounts advanced by and therefore owing to any party that is not an Affiliate of such Person;

(g) obligations of such Person under any Derivative Instrument;

(h) indebtedness of others as described in clauses (a) through (g) above in any manner guaranteed by such Person or for which it is or may become contingently liable;

but Indebtedness does not include accounts payable to trade creditors, or accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, in each case, that are not yet due and payable, or are being disputed in good faith, and the endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business.

“Indemnitees” means each Person entitled to indemnification by the Company under Article VI of the Company Charter or Article 6 of the Company Bylaws.

“Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property rights of every kind and description throughout the world, including all U.S., foreign and transnational patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names and other indicia of source or origin, together with all goodwill symbolized thereby, copyrights and copyrightable subject matter, trade secrets and all other proprietary rights to confidential information (including any seismic and other exploration, drilling and production data and information), all other proprietary rights in technology, and all applications and registrations for any of the foregoing.

“Knowledge” means the actual knowledge of, in the case of the Company, the individuals listed on Section 1.1(a)(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule and, in the case of Parent, the individuals listed on Section 1.1(a)(ii) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule.

“Law” means any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, judgment, order, treaty, convention, governmental directive or other legally enforceable requirement, U.S. or non-U.S., of any Governmental Authority, including common law.

“Lien” means any mortgage, lien, charge, restriction (including restrictions on transfer), pledge, security interest, option, right of first offer or refusal, preemptive right, lease or sublease, claim, right of any Third Party, covenant, right of way, easement, encroachment or encumbrance.

“Marshall Midstream Companies” means NBL Midstream, LLC, NBL Midstream Holdings LLC, Noble Midstream GP LLC and Noble Midstream Partners LP and their respective Subsidiaries.

“Material Adverse Effect” means, when used with respect to a Person, (i) a material adverse effect on the ability of such Person to perform or comply with any material obligation under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the terms hereof, or (ii) any change, event, development, circumstance, condition, occurrence, effect or combination of the foregoing that has or would be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of

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operations of such Person and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, but none of the following changes, events, developments, conditions, occurrences or effects (either alone or in combination) will be taken into account for purposes of determining whether or not a Material Adverse Effect has occurred:

(a) changes in the general economic, financial, credit or securities markets, including prevailing interest rates or currency rates, or regulatory or political conditions and changes in oil, natural gas, condensate or natural gas liquids prices or the prices of other commodities, including changes in price differentials;

(b) changes in general economic conditions in the:

(i) oil and gas exploration and production industry;

(ii) the oil and natural gas gathering, compressing, treating, processing and transportation industry generally;

(iii) the natural gas liquids fractionating and transportation industry generally;

(iv) the crude oil and condensate logistics and marketing industry generally; and

(v) the natural gas marketing and trading industry generally (including in each case changes in law affecting such industries);

(c) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities or acts of war or terrorism;

(d) any hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake or other natural disaster;

(e) with respect to the Company only, the identity of, or actions or omissions of, Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Affiliates, or any action taken pursuant to or in accordance with this Agreement or at the request of or with the consent of Parent; provided that the exception in this clause (e) shall not apply to references to “Company Material Adverse Effect” in the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.5 and, to the extent related thereto, the condition set forth in Section 8.3(a).

(f) the announcement or pendency of this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, compliance with or performance of obligations under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby); provided that the exception in this clause (f) shall not apply to references to “Company Material Adverse Effect” in the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.5 and, to the extent related thereto, the condition set forth in Section 8.3(a) or to references to “Parent Material Adverse Effect” in the representations and warranties set forth in Section 6.5 and, to the extent related thereto, the condition set forth in Section 8.2(a).

(g) any change in the market price or trading volume of the common stock of such Person (it being understood and agreed that the exception in this clause (g) shall not preclude, prevent or otherwise affect a determination that the facts, circumstances, changes, events, developments, conditions, occurrences or effects giving rise to such change (unless excepted under the other clauses of this definition) should be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been, a Material Adverse Effect);

(h) any failure to meet any financial projections or estimates or forecasts of revenues, earnings or other financial metrics for any period (it being understood and agreed that the exception in this clause (h) shall not preclude, prevent or otherwise affect a determination that the facts, circumstances, changes, events, developments, conditions, occurrences or effects giving rise to such failure (unless excepted under the other clauses of this definition) should be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been, a Material Adverse Effect);

(i) any downgrade in rating of any Indebtedness or debt securities of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries (it being understood and agreed that the exception in this clause (i) shall not preclude, prevent or otherwise affect a determination that the facts, circumstances, changes, events, developments, conditions, occurrences or effects giving rise to such downgrade (unless excepted under the other clauses of this definition) should be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been, a Material Adverse Effect);

(j) changes in any Laws or regulations applicable to such Person;

(k) changes in applicable accounting regulations or the interpretations thereof; and

(l) any legal proceedings commenced by or involving any current or former member, director, partner or stockholder of such Person (on their own behalf or on behalf of such Person) arising out of or related to this Agreement or the Merger or other transactions contemplated hereby;

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provided, however, that any change, event, development, circumstance, condition, occurrence or effect referred to in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) will, unless otherwise excluded, be taken into account for purposes of determining whether or not a Material Adverse Effect has occurred if and to the extent that such change, event, development, circumstance, condition, occurrence or effect disproportionately adversely affects such Person, as compared to other similarly situated Persons operating in the industries in which such Person operates.

“Merger Sub Bylaws” means the Bylaws of Merger Sub, dated January 13, 2017.

“Merger Sub Charter” means the Certificate of Incorporation of Merger Sub, dated January 13, 2017.

“Mineral Interest” means any fee mineral interests or an undivided fee mineral interest, mineral interests, non-participating royalty interests, term mineral interests, coalbed methane interests, oil interests, gas interests, reversionary interests, reservations, concessions, executive rights or other similar interests in Hydrocarbons in place or other fee interests in Hydrocarbons.

“New Common Shares” means the Parent Common Shares issued as Mixed Consideration, together with the Parent Common Shares issued as Share Consideration.

“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.

“Oil and Gas Leases” means all Hydrocarbon and mineral leases and subleases, royalties, overriding royalties, net profits interests, mineral fee interests, carried interests, and other rights to Hydrocarbons in place, and mineral servitudes, and all leases, subleases, licenses or other occupancy or similar agreements under which a Person acquires or obtains operating rights in and to Hydrocarbons or any other real property which is material to the operation of such Person’s business.

“Oil and Gas Properties” means (a) all direct and indirect interests in and rights with respect to Hydrocarbon, mineral, water and similar properties of any kind and nature, including all Oil and Gas Leases and the interests in lands covered thereby or included in Units with which the Oil and Gas Leases may have been pooled, communitized or unitized, working, leasehold and Mineral Interests and estates and operating rights and royalties, overriding royalties, production payments, net profit interests, carried interests, non-participating royalty interests and other non-working interests and non-operating interests (including all Oil and Gas Leases, operating agreements, unitization, communitization and pooling agreements and orders, division orders, transfer orders, mineral deeds, royalty deeds, and in each case, interests thereunder), fee interests, reversionary interests, back-in interests, reservations, and concessions, (b) all surface interests, easements, surface use agreements, rights of way, licenses and permits, in each case, in connection with Oil and Gas Leases, the drilling of Wells or the production, gathering, processing, storage, disposition, transportation or sale of Hydrocarbons, (c) all interests in machinery, equipment (including Wells, well equipment and machinery), production, completion, injection, disposal, gathering, transportation, transmission, treating, processing, and storage facilities (including tanks, tank batteries, pipelines, flow lines, gathering systems and metering equipment), rigs, pumps, water plants, electric plants, platforms, processing plants, separation plants, refineries, testing and monitoring equipment, in each case, in connection with Oil and Gas Leases, the drilling of Wells or the production, gathering, processing, storage, disposition, transportation or sale of Hydrocarbons and (d) all other interests of any kind or character associated with, appurtenant to, or necessary for the operation of any of the foregoing.

“Other Party” means, with respect to the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, and, with respect to Parent and Merger Sub, the Company.

“Parent Bylaws” means the By-Laws of Parent, as amended through July 27, 2016.

“Parent Charter” means the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Parent, dated as of July 27, 2016.

“Parent Common Shares” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Parent.

“Parent Option” means an award of an option to purchase Parent Common Shares granted pursuant to a Parent Stock Plan.

“Parent Restricted Share” means an unvested restricted Parent Common Share or restricted stock unit granted pursuant to a Parent Stock Plan.

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“Parent Stock Plan” means any share or unit option, restricted share or unit, share or unit purchase plan, equity compensation plan, phantom equity or appreciation rights plan, bonus plan or arrangement, incentive award plan or arrangement, or other similar plan or arrangement of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Permitted Encumbrances” means:

(a) to the extent waived prior to the Effective Time, preferential purchase rights, rights of first refusal, purchase options and similar rights granted pursuant to any contracts, including joint operating agreements, joint ownership agreements, stockholders agreements, organic documents and other similar agreements and documents;

(b) contractual or statutory mechanic’s, materialmen’s, warehouseman’s, journeyman’s and carrier’s Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet delinquent and Liens for current Taxes or assessments that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith in the ordinary course of business and in each case for which adequate reserves have been established by the party responsible for payment thereof;

(c) lease burdens payable to Third Parties which are deducted in the calculation of discounted present value in the Company Reserve Reports, including, without limitation, any royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, production payment, carried interest or reversionary working interest;

(d) (i) contractual or statutory Liens securing obligations for labor, services, materials and supplies furnished to Mineral Interests, or (ii) Liens on pipeline or pipeline facilities which arise out of operation of Law, or (iii) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, Oil and Gas Leases, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, transportation, processing or exchange of oil, gas or other Hydrocarbons, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements, development agreements, joint ownership arrangements and other agreements which are customary in the oil and gas business, provided, however, that, in the case of any Lien described in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), such Lien (A) secures obligations that are not Indebtedness and are not delinquent and (B) has no material adverse effect on the value, use or operation of the property encumbered thereby;

(e) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business on cash or securities pledged in connection with workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of governmental insurance or benefits, or to secure performance of tenders, statutory obligations, leases and contracts (other than for Indebtedness) entered into in the ordinary course of business (including lessee and operator obligations under statute, governmental regulations or instruments related to the ownership, exploration and production of oil, gas and minerals on state, federal or foreign lands or waters) or to secure obligations on surety or appeal bonds;

(f) customary Liens for the fees, costs and expenses of trustees and escrow agents pursuant to the indenture, escrow agreement or other similar agreement establishing such trust or escrow arrangement;

(g) such title defects as Parent (in the case of title defects with respect to properties or assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries) may have expressly waived in writing;

(h) rights reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate any of the Company’s or Parent’s or their respective Subsidiaries’ properties or assets in any manner;

(i) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement securing any Indebtedness reflected on the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016 or incurred after the date of such balance sheet in the ordinary course of business;

(j) all easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way, servitudes, permits, surface leases and other similar rights in respect of surface operations, and easements for pipelines, streets, alleys, highways, telephone lines, power lines, railways and other easements and rights-of-way, on, over or in respect of any of the Company Real Property or the properties of Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries that are of record and customarily granted in the oil and gas industry and do not materially interfere with the operation, value, development, exploration or use of the property or asset affected;

(k) any Liens discharged at or prior to the Effective Time; and

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(l) all other Liens, charges, encumbrances, defects and irregularities not arising in connection with Indebtedness, and any encroachments, overlapping improvements, and other state of facts as would be shown on a current and accurate survey of any Company Real Property, that in each case does not materially interfere with the operation, value, development, exploration or use of the property or asset affected.

“Person” or “person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, limited or general partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability limited partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority, or any group comprised of two or more of the foregoing.

“Production Burdens” means all royalty interests, overriding royalty interests, production payments, reversionary interests, net profit interests, production payments, carried interests, non-participating royalty interests, royalty burdens or other similar interests or encumbrances that constitute a burden on, and are measured by or are payable out of, the production of Hydrocarbons from, or allocated to, the Oil and Gas Properties or the proceeds realized from the sale or other disposition thereof (including any amounts payable to publicly traded royalty trusts), other than Taxes and assessments of Governmental Authorities.

“Release” means any depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, placing, emitting, discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging, migrating, injecting, escaping, leaching, seeping, dumping or disposing.

“Representatives” means with respect to a Person, its directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives, including any investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other advisor, agent or representative.

“Revolving Credit Facility” means the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 23, 2014, as amended, among the Company as borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Company as guarantors, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as syndication agent, Union Bank, N.A. as documentation agent and J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC as sole bookrunner and lead arranger.

“Rights” means, with respect to any person, (a) options, warrants, preemptive rights, subscriptions, calls or other rights, convertible securities, exchangeable securities, agreements, claims or commitments of any character obligating such person (or the general partner of such person) or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, transfer or sell any partnership or other equity interest of such person or any of its Subsidiaries or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for such partnership interests or equity interests, or (b) contractual obligations of such person (or the general partner of such person) to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any partnership interest or other equity interest in such person or any of its Subsidiaries or any such securities or agreements listed in clause (a) of this definition.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Subsidiary” of a Person means any other Person, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which such Person (either alone or through or together with any other Subsidiary), owns, directly or indirectly, (a) more than 50% of the stock or other equity interests, the holders of which are generally entitled to vote for the election of the board of directors or other governing body of such corporation or other legal entity, (b) a general partner interest or (c) a managing member interest. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, none of the CONE Midstream Companies or the Marshall Midstream Companies shall constitute a Subsidiary of Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates for any reason under this Agreement.

“Takeover Law” means any “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “business combination” or any other anti-takeover statute or similar statute enacted under state or federal law.

“Tax” or “Taxes” means all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments, including all net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, goods and services, capital, transfer, franchise, profits, license, withholding, payroll, employment, employer health, excise, estimated, severance, stamp, occupation, property or other taxes, custom duties, or other similar assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any taxing authority, whether disputed or not.

“Tax Law” means any Law relating to Taxes.

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“Tax Return” means any return, report or similar filing (including any attached schedules, supplements and additional or supporting material) filed or required to be filed with respect to Taxes, including any information return, claim for refund, amended return or declaration of estimated Taxes (and including any amendments with respect thereto).

“Taxing Authority” means, with respect to any Tax, the Governmental Authority that imposes such Tax, and the agency (if any) charged with the collection of such Tax for such Governmental Authority.

“Third Party” means any Person that is not a Party or an Affiliate of any of the Parties.

“Unit” means each separate pooled, communitized or unitized acreage unit which includes all or any portion of any Oil or Gas Lease or other Oil and Gas Properties.

“Warrant Notional Common Shares” means, with respect to a particular Company Warrant that is outstanding and has not been exercised as of the Effective Time, the number of Company Common Shares that would be issued upon a cashless exercise of such Company Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time.

“Wells” means Hydrocarbon wells, saltwater disposal wells, injection wells, and storage wells, whether producing, operating, shut-in or temporarily abandoned, located on any real property associated with an Oil and Gas Property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, together with all Hydrocarbon and mineral production from such wells.

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1.2   Terms Defined Elsewhere.   For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth in the sections indicated:

Term	Section
Action	7.10(a)
Adjusted Restricted Shares	3.8(b)
Affiliate	1.1
Aggregate Non-Election Number	3.5(b)(iii)(A)
Agreement	Preamble
Alternative Proposal	7.3(h)(i)
Antitrust Laws	7.1(a)
Average Closing Price	1.1
Balance Sheet Date	5.9
Book-Entry Shares	3.2
Business Day	1.1
Cash Component	3.5(a)
Cash Conversion Number	3.5(a)
Cash Election	3.1(b)(iii)
Cash Election Share	3.1(b)(iii)
Cash Election Warrant	3.1(b)(iii)
Cash Consideration	3.1(b)(iii)
Certificate	3.2
Certificate of Merger	2.1(b)
CERCLA	1.1
Change in Recommendation	7.3(d)
Claim	7.10(a)
Closing	2.2
Closing Date	2.2
Code	Recitals
Company	Preamble
Company Board	Recitals
Company Board Recommendation	7.2(b)
Company Bylaws	1.1
Company Charter	1.1
Company Common Shares	1.1
Company Disclosure Schedule	4.1
Company Employee Benefit Plan	5.19(a)
Company Financial Advisors	1.1
Company Financial Statements	5.7(b)
Company Holder	3.4
Company Intellectual Property	5.20
Company Leased Real Property	5.15(c)
Company Material Adverse Effect	Article V
Company Material Agreement	5.12(a)
Company Meeting	5.6
Company Option	1.1
Company Owned Real Property	5.15(c)
Company Permits	5.11(b)
Company Preferred Shares	1.1
Company Real Property	5.15(c)
Company Real Property Leases	5.15(c)
Company Reserve Reports	5.14

13

Term	Section
Company Restricted Share	1.1
Company Risk Policies	5.7(d)
Company SEC Documents	Article V
Company Service Provider	4.1(o)
Company Stock Plans	1.1
Company Stockholder Approval	8.1(a)
Company Stockholders	1.1
Company Warrant	1.1
CONE Midstream Companies	1.1
Confidentiality Agreement	1.1
Continuing Employees	7.13(a)
control	1.1
controlled by	1.1
controlling	1.1
Data Site	1.1
Debt Transactions	7.16(c)
Derivative Instrument	5.12(a)(vii)
DGCL	Recitals
Director and Officer Indemnification Agreements	1.1
Dissenting Share	3.9
Divestiture Action	7.1(d)
DLLCA	Recitals
Effective Time	2.1(b)
Election	3.4(b)
Election Deadline	3.4(d)
Employee Benefit Plan	1.1
Employees	1.1
Environmental Claim	5.13(d)
Environmental Law	1.1
Environmental Permit	1.1
ERISA	1.1
ERISA Affiliate	1.1
Exchange Act	1.1
Exchange Agent	3.3(a)
Exchange Fund	3.3(a)
Existing Credit Agreement	1.1
FCPA	1.1
Form of Election	3.4(a)
GAAP	1.1
Governmental Authority	1.1
Hazardous Material	1.1
HSR Act	1.1
Hydrocarbons	1.1
Indebtedness	1.1
Indemnification Expenses	7.10(a)
Indemnified Parties	7.10(a)
Indemnitees	1.1
Integrated Mergers	Recitals
Intellectual Property	1.1
Intervening Event	7.3(h)(ii)

14

Term	Section
Knowledge	1.1
Law	1.1
Lien	1.1
Losses	7.16(d)
Marshall Midstream Companies	1.1
Marshall Texas	Preamble
Material Adverse Effect	1.1
Merger	Recitals
Merger Consideration	3.1(b)
Merger Sub	Preamble
Merger Sub Bylaws	1.1
Merger Sub Charter	1.1
Mineral Interest	1.1
Mixed Consideration	3.1(b)(ii)
Mixed Election	3.1(b)(ii)
Mixed Election Share	3.1(b)(ii)
Mixed Election Warrant	3.1(b)(ii)
New Common Shares	1.1
Non-Dissent Agreements	Recitals
Non-Election Share	3.1(b)(iv)
Non-Election Warrant	3.1(b)(iv)
Notes	7.16(c)
Notice Period	7.3(e)(i)
NYSE	1.1
Oil and Gas Leases	1.1
Oil and Gas Properties	1.1
Other Party	1.1
Other Proxy Materials	7.2(a)
Outside Date	9.1(e)
Parent	Preamble
Parent Board	Recitals
Parent Bylaws	1.1
Parent Charter	1.1
Parent Common Shares	1.1
Parent Disclosure Schedule	4.2
Parent Employee Benefit Plan	6.14(a)
Parent Material Adverse Effect	Article VI
Parent Option	1.1
Parent Preferred Stock	6.2(a)
Parent Restricted Share	1.1
Parent SEC Documents	Article VI
Parent Stock Plans	1.1
Parties	Preamble
Permitted Encumbrances	1.1
person	1.1
Person	1.1
Preferred Share Consideration	3.7
Proceedings	5.16(a)
Production Burdens	1.1
Proxy Statement	5.6

15

Term	Section
Registration Statement	6.6
Related Person	4.1(r)
Release	1.1
Representatives	1.1
Revolving Credit Facility	1.1
Rights	1.1
SEC	1.1
Second Step Certificate of Merger	2.1(b)(ii)
Second Step Merger	Recitals
Section 203	6.16
Securities Act	1.1
Share Consideration	3.1(b)(i)
Share Election	3.1(b)(i)
Share Election Share	3.1(b)(i)
Share Election Warrant	3.1(b)(i)
Shortfall Number	3.5(b)(iii)
Subsidiary	1.1
Superior Proposal	7.3(h)(iii)
Support Agreement	Recitals
Surviving Company	Recitals
Surviving Corporation	Recitals
Takeover Law	1.1
Tax Law	1.1
Tax Return	1.1
Tax or Taxes	1.1
Taxing Authority	1.1
Termination Fee	9.4(g)
Third Party	1.1
Total Cash Election Number	3.5(b)(i)
Treasury Shares	3.1(d)
under common control with	1.1
Unit	1.1
WARN Act	5.19(g)
Warrant Notional Common Shares	1.1
Wells	1.1
Willful Breach	9.3

1.3   Interpretation.   Unless expressly provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, this Agreement will be interpreted in accordance with the following provisions:

(a) the words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” and other equivalent words refer to this Agreement as an entirety and not solely to the particular portion, article, section, subsection or other subdivision of this Agreement in which any such word is used;

(b) examples are not to be construed to limit, expressly or by implication, the matter they illustrate;

(c) the word “including” and its derivatives means “including without limitation” and is a term of illustration and not of limitation;

(d) all definitions set forth herein are deemed applicable whether the words defined are used herein in the singular or in the plural and correlative forms of defined terms have corresponding meanings;

(e) the word “or” is not exclusive, and has the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase “and/or”;

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(f) a defined term has its defined meaning throughout this Agreement and each exhibit and schedule to this Agreement, regardless of whether it appears before or after the place where it is defined;

(g) all references to prices, values or monetary amounts refer to United States dollars;

(h) wherever used herein, any pronoun or pronouns will be deemed to include both the singular and plural and to cover all genders;

(i) this Agreement has been jointly prepared by the Parties hereto, and this Agreement will not be construed against any Person as the principal draftsperson hereof or thereof and no consideration may be given to any fact or presumption that any Party had a greater or lesser hand in drafting this Agreement;

(j) the captions of the articles, sections or subsections appearing in this Agreement are inserted only as a matter of convenience and in no way define, limit, construe or describe the scope or extent of such section, or in any way affect this Agreement;

(k) any references herein to a particular Section, Article, Annex or Schedule means a Section or Article of, or an Annex or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise expressly stated herein;

(l) the Annexes and Schedules attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference and will be considered part of this Agreement;

(m) unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein will be interpreted, and all determinations with respect to accounting matters hereunder will be made, in accordance with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis;

(n) all references to days mean calendar days unless otherwise provided;

(o) all references to time mean Houston, Texas time; and

(p) all references to “the date of this Agreement,” “date hereof” and terms of similar import, unless the context otherwise requires, shall be deemed to refer to January 13, 2017.

ARTICLE II
THE INTEGRATED MERGERS; EFFECTS OF THE INTEGRATED MERGERS

2.1   The Integrated Mergers.

(a) The Merger and Surviving Corporation; The Second Step Merger and the Surviving Company.

(i) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, the separate existence of Merger Sub will cease, and the Company will survive and continue to exist as a Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.

(ii) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL and the DLLCA, after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation will merge with and into Marshall Texas, the separate corporate existence of the Surviving Corporation shall cease, and Marshall Texas will survive and continue to exist as a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.

(iii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, (A) at the Effective Time, all of the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation and (B) at the effective time of the Second Step Merger, all of the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Surviving Corporation and Marshall Texas shall vest in the Surviving Company, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation and Marshall Texas shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Company.

(b) Effectiveness and Effects of the Merger.

(i) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Merger will become effective upon the filing of a properly executed certificate of merger (the “Certificate of Merger”) with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or such later date and time as may be agreed to by Parent and the Company and set forth in such Certificate of Merger (the “Effective Time”), in accordance with the DGCL. The Merger will have the effects set forth in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DGCL.

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(ii) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Second Step Merger will be effective upon the filing of the properly executed certificate of merger for the Second Step Merger (the “Second Step Certificate of Merger”), which shall be filed within two (2) Business Days after the Effective time, with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or such later day and time as may be set forth in such Second Step Certificate of Merger in accordance with the DGCL and the DLLCA. The Second Step Merger will have the effects set forth in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DGCL and the DLLCA.

(c) Charter and Bylaws.

(i) At the Effective Time, the Company Charter and Company Bylaws as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time will remain unchanged and will be the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until duly amended in accordance with the terms thereof and applicable Law.

(ii) At the effective time of the Second Step Merger, the certificate of formation and the limited liability company agreement of Marshall Texas as in effect immediately prior to the Second Step Merger will remain unchanged and will be the certificate of formation and the limited liability company agreement of the Surviving Company until duly amended in accordance with the terms thereof and applicable Law.

(d) Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation. The directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors of the Surviving Corporation until their successors shall have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation. The officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation and shall hold office until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

2.2   Closing.   Subject to the provisions of Article VIII, the closing of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby (the “Closing”) will occur on (a) the later of (i) April 8, 2017 and (ii) the third (3rd) Business Day after the day on which the last of the conditions set forth in Article VIII (excluding conditions that, by their nature, cannot be satisfied until the Closing Date, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions) have been satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or (b) such other date to which Parent and the Company may agree in writing. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to as the “Closing Date.” The Closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will take place at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, 811 Main Street, Suite 3700, Houston, Texas 77002, at 10:00 a.m. Houston time on the Closing Date.

ARTICLE III
MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES

3.1   Merger Consideration.   Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, including Sections 3.4 and 3.5, at the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or any holder of Parent Common Shares or Company Common Shares:

(a) Each share of common stock of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will automatically be converted into and become one fully paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation and shall constitute the only outstanding shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation. From and after the Effective Time, all certificates representing the common stock of Merger Sub shall be deemed for all purposes to represent the number of shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation into which they were converted in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence.

(b) Each Company Common Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than Treasury Shares and except for Dissenting Shares, and each unexercised Company Warrant issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time, will be cancelled and extinguished and automatically converted into the right to receive one of the following forms of consideration (on a per Company Common Share or Warrant Notional Common Share basis, the “Merger Consideration”):

(i) for each Company Common Share with respect to which an election to receive shares (a “Share Election”) has been validly made and not revoked (each, a “Share Election Share”), 3.7222 Parent Common Shares (the “Share Consideration”), and for each Company Warrant with respect to which a Share Election has

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been validly made and not revoked (each, “Share Election Warrant”), the Share Consideration in respect of the number of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by such Company Warrant, in each case, which Parent Common Shares will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable Laws and the Parent Charter;

(ii) for each Company Common Share with respect to which an election to receive shares and cash (a “Mixed Election”) has been validly made and not revoked (each, a “Mixed Election Share”), (A) cash in an amount (subject to applicable withholding Tax) equal to $34.75 and (B) 2.7874 Parent Common Shares (collectively, the “Mixed Consideration”), and for each Company Warrant with respect to which a Mixed Election has been validly made and not revoked (each, a “Mixed Election Warrant”), the Mixed Consideration in respect of the number of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by such Company Warrant, in each case, which Parent Common Shares will be duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with applicable Laws and the Parent Charter;

(iii) for each Company Common Share with respect to which an election to receive cash (a “Cash Election”) has been validly made and not revoked (each, a “Cash Election Share”), cash in an amount (subject to applicable withholding Tax) equal to $138.39 (the “Cash Consideration”), and for each Company Warrant with respect to which a Cash Election has been validly made and not revoked (each, a “Cash Election Warrant”), the Cash Consideration in respect of the number of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by such Company Warrant; and

(iv) for each Company Common Share (each, a “Non-Election Share”) or Company Warrant (each, a “Non-Election Warrant”), as applicable, that is not a Share Election Share, Share Election Warrant, Mixed Election Share, Mixed Election Warrant, or Cash Election Share or Cash Election Warrant, such Share Consideration and/or Cash Consideration as is determined in accordance with Section 3.5.

(c) Each Parent Common Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will remain issued and outstanding and will not be affected by the Merger.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all Company Common Shares (if any) owned by the Company or its wholly-owned Subsidiaries or by Parent or its wholly-owned Subsidiaries as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than those held in a fiduciary capacity (“Treasury Shares”), will automatically be cancelled and no consideration will be received therefor.

(e) Company Preferred Shares will be treated in accordance with Section 3.7. Company Options and Company Restricted Shares will be treated in accordance with Section 3.8.

3.2   Rights As Stockholders or Warrant Holders; Share and Warrant Transfers.   All Company Common Shares and all Company Warrants converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 3.1(b) will cease to be outstanding and will automatically be canceled and will cease to exist when converted as a result of and pursuant to the Merger. At the Effective Time, each holder of a certificate representing Company Common Shares (a “Certificate”), each holder of non-certificated Company Common Shares represented by book-entry (“Book-Entry Shares”), and each holder of a Company Warrant will cease to have any rights with respect thereto or thereunder, except the right to receive (a) the Merger Consideration, (b) any cash to be paid in lieu of any fractional New Common Share in accordance with Section 3.3(d), and (c) any distributions in accordance with Section 3.3(c), in each case to be issued or paid, without interest, in consideration therefor in accordance with Section 3.3; provided, however, that the rights of (i) any holder of Company Preferred Shares, or Company Options or Company Restricted Shares will be as set forth in Section 3.7 and Section 3.8, respectively, (ii) any holder of Treasury Shares will be as set forth in Section 3.1(d) and (iii) any holder of Dissenting Shares will be as set forth in Section 3.9. At the Effective Time, the transfer books of the Company will be closed immediately and there will be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Company with respect to Company Common Shares, Company Warrants or Company Preferred Shares.

3.3   Exchange of Certificates.

(a) Exchange Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent will appoint a commercial bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as exchange and payment agent hereunder for the purpose of receiving elections and exchanging Company Common Shares and Company Warrants for the Merger Consideration as required by this Article III (the “Exchange Agent”). Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent will deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent for the benefit of the holders of the applicable Company Common Shares,

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Company Preferred Shares and Company Warrants, for exchange in accordance with this Article III, through the Exchange Agent, New Common Shares and cash as required by this Article III. Parent agrees to make available to the Exchange Agent, from time to time as needed, cash sufficient to pay the cash portion of the Mixed Consideration, the Cash Consideration, the Preferred Share Consideration, and any distributions pursuant to Section 3.3(c) and to make payments in lieu of any fractional New Common Shares pursuant to Section 3.3(d), in each case without interest. Any cash as payment for any fractional New Common Shares in accordance with Section 3.3(d), any distributions with respect to New Common Shares in accordance with Section 3.3(c), and New Common Shares and cash for payment of the Merger Consideration deposited with the Exchange Agent are hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Fund.” The Exchange Agent will, pursuant to irrevocable instructions from Parent and the Company, deliver the Merger Consideration, and the Preferred Share Consideration contemplated to be paid for Company Common Shares, Company Warrants and Company Preferred Shares, as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement out of the Exchange Fund. Except as contemplated by Sections 3.3(c) and 3.3(d), the Exchange Fund will not be used for any other purpose.

(b) Exchange Procedures. Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent will instruct the Exchange Agent to mail to each record holder of Company Common Shares as of the Effective Time (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries and Parent and its Subsidiaries) (i) a letter of transmittal (specifying that in respect of certificated Company Common Shares, delivery will be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates will pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent, and which will be in customary form and agreed to by Parent and the Company prior to the Effective Time) and (ii) instructions (in customary form and agreed to by Parent and the Company prior to the Effective Time) for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares in exchange for the Merger Consideration payable in respect of Company Common Shares represented by such Certificates or Book-Entry Shares, as applicable. Promptly after the Effective Time, upon surrender of Certificates, if any, for cancellation to the Exchange Agent together with such letters of transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, and such other documents (including in respect of Book-Entry Shares) as may be reasonably required pursuant to such instructions, each holder who held Company Common Shares immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries and Parent and its Subsidiaries) will be entitled to receive upon surrender of the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares therefor (x) New Common Shares representing, in the aggregate, the whole number of New Common Shares that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to this Article III (after taking into account all Company Common Shares then held by such holder) and/or (y) a check in an amount equal to the aggregate amount of cash that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to this Article III, including (A) cash in an amount (subject to any applicable withholding Tax) equal to the product of (x) the number of Company Common Shares represented by such Certificate (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof) or Book-Entry Shares in the name of such holder multiplied by (y) the Cash Consideration or the cash portion of the Mixed Consideration, if and as applicable, (B) cash payable in lieu of any fractional New Common Shares pursuant to Section 3.3(d) and (C) distributions pursuant to Section 3.3(c). No interest will be paid or accrued on any Merger Consideration, Preferred Share Consideration, any cash payment in lieu of fractional New Common Shares, or any Parent distributions payable pursuant to Section 3.3(c). In the event of a transfer of ownership of Company Common Shares that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company, the Merger Consideration payable in respect of such Company Common Shares may be paid to a transferee, if the Certificate representing such Company Common Shares or evidence of ownership of the Book-Entry Shares is presented to the Exchange Agent, and in the case of both certificated and book-entry Company Common Shares, accompanied by all documents reasonably required to evidence and effect such transfer and the Person requesting such exchange will pay to the Exchange Agent in advance any transfer or other Taxes required by reason of the delivery of the Merger Consideration in any name other than that of the record holder of such Company Common Shares, or will establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such Taxes have been paid or are not payable. Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent will instruct the Exchange Agent to follow similar procedures with respect to the surrender of certificates representing Company Preferred Shares in exchange for the Preferred Share Consideration payable in respect thereof and Company Warrants in exchange for the Merger Consideration payable in respect thereof. Until all such required documentation has been delivered and Certificates, if any, Company Warrants or certificates representing Company Preferred Shares, as applicable, have been surrendered as contemplated by this Section 3.3, each Certificate or Book-Entry Share, Company Warrant or certificate representing a Company Preferred Share, as applicable, will be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive the Merger Consideration, or Preferred Share Consideration payable in respect of such Company Common Shares, Company Warrants or Company Preferred Shares, as applicable, upon such delivery and surrender, and any cash or distributions to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Sections 3.3(c) and 3.3(d).

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(c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Company Common Shares. No distributions declared or made with respect to Parent Common Shares with a record date after the Effective Time will be paid to the holder of any Company Common Shares or Company Warrants with respect to New Common Shares that such holder would be entitled to receive in accordance herewith and no cash payment in lieu of fractional New Common Shares will be paid to any such holder until such holder has delivered the required documentation and surrendered any Certificates, Book-Entry Shares or Company Warrants as contemplated by this Section 3.3. Subject to applicable Law, following compliance with the requirements of Section 3.3(b), there will be paid to such holder of New Common Shares issuable in exchange therefor, without interest, (i) promptly after the time of such compliance, the amount of any cash payable in lieu of fractional New Common Shares to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 3.3(d) (which shall be paid by the Exchange Agent as provided therein) and the amount of distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to New Common Shares and payable with respect to such New Common Shares, and (ii) promptly after such compliance, or, if later, at the appropriate payment date, the amount of distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to such delivery and surrender and a payment date subsequent to such compliance payable with respect to such New Common Shares (which shall be paid by Parent).

(d) Fractional New Common Shares. No certificates or scrip for New Common Shares representing fractional New Common Shares or book entry credit of the same will be issued upon the surrender of Company Common Shares or Company Warrants outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time in accordance with Section 3.3(b), and such fractional interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to have any rights as a holder of any New Common Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each holder of Company Common Shares or Company Warrants converted in the Merger who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a New Common Share (after taking into account all Company Common Shares and Company Warrants exchanged by such holder) will receive, in lieu thereof, cash (without interest rounded up to the nearest whole cent) in an amount equal to the product of (i) the Average Closing Price as of the Closing Date and (ii) the fraction of a New Common Share that such holder would otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to this Article III. As promptly as practicable after the determination of the amount of cash, if any, to be paid to holders of fractional interests, Parent will cause the Exchange Agent to forward payments to such holders of fractional interests subject to and in accordance with the terms hereof.

(e) No Further Rights in Company Common Shares or Company Warrants. The Merger Consideration issued upon conversion of a Company Common Share or Company Warrant in accordance with the terms hereof (including any cash paid pursuant to Section 3.3(d)) will be deemed to have been issued and/or paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such Company Common Share or Company Warrant. From and after the Effective Time, each Company Warrant shall no longer be exercisable by the former holder thereof, but shall only entitle such holder to the payment of the Merger Consideration in respect of such Company Warrant.

(f) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains undistributed to the holders of Company Common Shares, Company Preferred Shares or Company Warrants after 180 days following the Effective Time will be delivered to Parent upon demand by Parent and, from and after such delivery, any former holders of Company Common Shares, Company Preferred Shares or Company Warrants who have not theretofore complied with this Article III will thereafter look only to Parent for the Merger Consideration or other consideration as applicable, payable in respect of such Company Common Shares, Company Preferred Shares or Company Warrants, any cash in lieu of fractional New Common Shares to which they are entitled pursuant to Section 3.3(d), or any distributions with respect to New Common Shares to which they are entitled pursuant to Section 3.3(c), in each case, without any interest thereon. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by holders of Company Common Shares, Company Preferred Shares or Company Warrants immediately prior to such time as such amounts would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Authority will, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of Parent. Without limitation of the foregoing, after 180 days following the Effective Time, any amounts remaining unclaimed by holders of Company Common Shares, Company Preferred Shares or Company Warrants will become the property of Parent, subject to the legitimate claims of any Person previously entitled thereto hereunder or under abandoned property, escheat or similar laws. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, none of the Company, Parent, Merger Sub, the Surviving Corporation, the Exchange Agent, or any other Person shall be liable to any former holder of Company Common Shares, Company Preferred Shares or Company Warrants for any amount properly delivered to a public official pursuant to any abandoned property, escheat or similar Law.

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(g) Lost Certificates. If any Certificate or Company Warrant is lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by Parent, the posting by such Person of an indemnity agreement or a bond, in a customary amount, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate or Company Warrant, the Exchange Agent will pay in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate and affidavit the Merger Consideration payable in respect of Company Common Shares represented by such Certificate or Warrant Notational Common Shares represented by such Company Warrant, as applicable, and any amounts to which the holders thereof are entitled pursuant to Sections 3.3(c) and 3.3(d).

(h) Withholding. The Company, Parent, Merger Sub, Marshall Texas and the Exchange Agent are entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any Person such amounts or securities as the Company, Parent, Merger Sub, Marshall Texas or the Exchange Agent reasonably deems to be required to deduct and withhold under the Code or any provision of state, local, or foreign Tax Law, with respect to the making of such payment or issuance. To the extent that amounts or securities are so deducted and withheld, such amounts will be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid or issued to the Person in respect of whom such deduction and withholding was made.

(i) Book Entry Shares. All New Common Shares to be issued in the Merger will be issued in book-entry form, without physical certificates.

(j) Investment of the Exchange Fund. Parent will cause the Exchange Agent to invest the cash in the Exchange Fund as directed by Parent on a daily basis, in Parent’s sole discretion; provided, however, that no such investment or loss thereon affects the amounts payable or the timing of the amounts payable to the holders of Company Common Shares, Company Preferred Shares, Company Options, Company Restricted Shares and Company Warrants, as applicable, pursuant to the other provisions of this Section 3.3 and Section 3.7, Section 3.8 and Section 3.9. Any interest and other income resulting from such investments will be paid promptly to Parent.

(k) Tax Characterization of Merger. The Company and Parent each acknowledges and agrees that for U.S. federal income Tax purposes the Integrated Mergers are intended to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. Each of the Company and Parent agrees to prepare and file all U.S. federal income Tax Returns in accordance with the foregoing and shall not take any position inconsistent therewith on any such Tax Return, or in the course of any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to U.S. federal income Taxes, except as otherwise required by applicable Laws following a final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction or other final administrative decision by an applicable Taxing Authority.

3.4   Election Procedures.   Each holder of record of a Company Common Share or Company Warrant issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Election Deadline (a “Company Holder”) shall have the right, subject to the limitations set forth in this Article III, to submit an election on or prior to the Election Deadline in accordance with the following procedures:

(a) Parent shall prepare a form reasonably acceptable to the Company (the “Form of Election”), which shall be mailed by Parent to record holders of Company Common Shares and Company Warrants so as to permit the Company Holders to exercise their right to make an Election prior to the Election Deadline. For the avoidance of doubt, a holder of a Company Warrant may only make one type of Election (i.e., a Share Election, Mixed Election or Cash Election) with respect to such Company Warrant.

(b) Each Company Holder may specify on the Form of Election in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.4 and the instructions on such form (an “Election”), (i) the number of Company Common Shares with respect to which such Company Holder desires to make a Share Election, (ii) the number of Company Common Shares with respect to which such Company Holder desires to make a Mixed Election, (iii) the number of Company Common Shares with respect to which such Company Holder desires to make a Cash Election and (iv) with respect to each Company Warrant held by such Company Holder, whether such Company Holder desires to make a Share Election, a Mixed Election or a Cash Election with respect to such Company Warrant. Any holder of Company Common Shares who makes an Election shall be required to waive all appraisal rights in connection with the Company Common Shares subject to such Election.

(c) Parent shall mail or cause to be mailed or delivered, as applicable, the Form of Election to the holders of the Company Warrants and to record holders of Company Common Shares as of the record date for the Company Meeting not less than 20 Business Days prior to the anticipated Election Deadline. Parent shall make available one

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or more Forms of Election as may reasonably be requested from time to time by all persons who become holders of record of Company Common Shares or Company Warrants during the period following the record date for the Company Meeting and prior to the Election Deadline, and the Company shall provide to the Exchange Agent all information reasonably necessary for the Exchange Agent to perform as specified herein.

(d) Any Election shall have been made properly only if the Exchange Agent shall have received, prior to the Election Deadline, a Form of Election properly completed and signed and accompanied by Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu of the Certificates), if any, for the Company Common Shares to which such Form of Election relates, or the Company Warrants to which such Form of Election relates, as the case may be, duly endorsed in blank or otherwise in form acceptable for transfer on the books of the Company or by an appropriate customary guarantee of delivery of such Certificates or Company Warrants, as applicable, as set forth in such Form of Election, from a firm that is an eligible guarantor institution (as defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act); provided that such Certificates or Company Warrants, as applicable, are in fact delivered to the Exchange Agent by the time required in such guarantee of delivery, and, in the case of Company Common Shares in book-entry form, any additional documents specified in the procedures set forth in the Form of Election. Failure to deliver Company Common Shares or Company Warrants, as applicable, covered by such a guarantee of delivery within the time set forth on such guarantee shall be deemed to invalidate any otherwise properly made Election, unless otherwise determined by Parent, in its sole and absolute discretion. As used herein, unless otherwise jointly agreed in advance by the Company and Parent, “Election Deadline” means 5:00 p.m. local time (in the city in which the principal office of the Exchange Agent is located) on a date mutually agreed by the Company and Parent but which in no event shall be less than one (1) day prior to the anticipated Closing Date. Parent and the Company shall issue a joint press release reasonably satisfactory to each of them announcing the anticipated date of the Election Deadline not more than 15 Business Days before, and at least five Business Days prior to, the anticipated date of the Election Deadline. Without limiting the other provisions set forth in this Section 3.4, any Company Common Shares or Company Warrants with respect to which the Exchange Agent has not received an effective, properly completed Form of Election prior to the Election Deadline (other than any Company Common Shares that constitute Dissenting Shares as of such time) shall also be deemed to be Non-Election Shares.

(e) Any Company Holder may, at any time prior to the Election Deadline, change or revoke such Company Holder’s Election by written notice received by the Exchange Agent prior to the Election Deadline accompanied by a properly completed and signed revised Form of Election or by written withdrawal prior to the Election Deadline of such Company Holder’s Certificates or Company Warrants, as applicable, or of the guarantee of delivery of such Certificates or Company Warrants, or any documents in respect of shares of Company Common Stock in book-entry form, previously deposited with the Exchange Agent. After an Election is validly made with respect to any Company Common Shares or Company Warrants, any subsequent transfer of such Company Common Shares or Company Warrants shall automatically revoke such Election. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all Elections shall be automatically deemed revoked upon receipt by the Exchange Agent of written notification from the Company that this Agreement has been terminated in accordance with Article IX. The Exchange Agent shall have reasonable discretion to determine if any Election is not properly made with respect to any Company Common Shares or Company Warrants (none of the Parties or the Exchange Agent being under any duty to notify any Company Holder of any such defect). In the event the Exchange Agent makes such a determination, such Election shall be deemed to be not in effect, and the Company Common Shares or Company Warrant, as applicable, covered by such Election shall, for purposes hereof, be deemed to be Non-Election Shares or a Non-Election Warrant, as applicable, unless a proper Election is thereafter timely made with respect to such Company Common Shares or Company Warrant. In the event that any Company Warrant in respect of which an Election shall have been made is subsequently exercised, such Election shall automatically be deemed to have been withdrawn as to such Company Warrant.

(f) Parent, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, shall have the right to make all determinations, not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, governing the manner and extent to which Elections are to be taken into account in making the determinations prescribed by Section 3.5.

3.5   Proration.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, the aggregate number of Company Common Shares and the aggregate number of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by all of the Company Warrants to be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration pursuant to Section 3.1(b) (the “Cash Conversion Number”) shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Cash Component minus the product obtained by multiplying (x) the sum of the number of Mixed Election Shares and the aggregate number of Warrant

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Notional Common Shares represented by all of the Mixed Election Warrants by (y) $34.75, by (ii) the Cash Consideration. The “Cash Component” shall be equal to the amount by which (i) the product obtained by multiplying (A) the sum of the number of Company Common Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding all Treasury Shares) plus the number of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by all of the Company Warrants that are outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time by (B) $34.75, exceeds (ii) the product obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Dissenting Shares by (2) the Cash Consideration. All other Company Common Shares and Company Warrants (other than Mixed Election Shares and Mixed Election Warrants, which shall be converted into the Mixed Consideration, and other than Dissenting Shares) shall be converted into the right to receive the Share Consideration, subject to Section 3.5(b)(iii).

(b) As promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to effect the allocation of Merger Consideration among the holders of Company Common Shares and Company Warrants as follows:

(i) if the sum of the aggregate number of Cash Election Shares and the aggregate number of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by Cash Election Warrants (such sum, the “Total Cash Election Number”) exceeds the Cash Conversion Number, then (A) all Share Election Shares, all Share Election Warrants, all Non-Election Shares and all Non-Election Warrants shall be converted into the right to receive the Share Consideration, (B) all Mixed Election Shares and all Mixed Election Warrants shall be converted into the right to receive the Mixed Consideration, (C) Cash Election Shares of each holder thereof shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration in respect of that number of Cash Election Shares equal to the product obtained by multiplying (x) the number of Cash Election Shares held by such holder by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Cash Conversion Number and the denominator of which is the Total Cash Election Number (with the Exchange Agent to determine, consistent with Section 3.5, whether fractions of Cash Election Shares shall be rounded up or down), with the remaining number of such holder’s Cash Election Shares being converted into the right to receive the Share Consideration, and (D) each Cash Election Warrant shall be converted into the right to receive (x) the Cash Consideration in respect of the portion of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by such Cash Election Warrant equal to the product obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by such Cash Election Warrant by (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Cash Conversion Number and the denominator of which is the Total Cash Election Number (with the Exchange Agent to determine, consistent with Section 3.5, whether fractions of Warrant Notional Common Shares shall be rounded up or down), and (y) the Share Consideration in respect of the remaining portion of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by such Cash Election Warrant;

(ii) if the Total Cash Election Number equals the Cash Conversion Number, then (A) all Cash Election Shares and all Cash Election Warrants shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration, (B) all Mixed Election Shares and all Mixed Election Warrants shall be converted into the right to receive the Mixed Consideration, and (C) all Share Election Shares, all Share Election Warrants, all Non-Election Shares and all Non-Election Warrants shall be converted into the right to receive the Share Consideration; and

(iii) if the Total Cash Election Number is less than the Cash Conversion Number (the amount by which the Cash Conversion Number exceeds the Total Cash Election Number being referred to herein as the “Shortfall Number”), then (x) all Cash Election Shares and all Cash Election Warrants shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration, (y) all Mixed Election Shares and all Mixed Election Warrants shall be converted into the right to receive the Mixed Consideration, and (z) the Share Election Shares, the Share Election Warrants, the Non-Election Shares and the Non-Election Warrants shall be treated in the following manner:

(A) if the Shortfall Number is less than or equal to the sum of the aggregate number of all Non-Election Shares and the aggregate number of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by all of the Non-Election Warrants (such sum, the “Aggregate Non-Election Number”), then all Share Election Shares and all Share Election Warrants shall be converted into the right to receive the Share Consideration, and (x) the Non-Election Shares of each holder thereof shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration in respect of that number of Non-Election Shares equal to the product obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Non-Election Shares held by such holder by (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Shortfall Number and the denominator of which is the Aggregate Non-Election Number (with the Exchange Agent to determine, consistent with Section 3.3, whether fractions of Non-Election Shares shall be rounded up or down), with the remaining number of such holder’s Non-Election Shares being

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converted into the right to receive the Share Consideration, and (y) each Non-Election Warrant shall be converted into the right to receive (I) the Cash Consideration in respect of that portion of the Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by such Company Warrant equal to the product obtained by multiplying (1) the total number of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by such Non-Election Warrant by (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Shortfall Number and the denominator of which is the Aggregate Non-Election Number (with the Exchange Agent to determine, consistent with Section 3.3, whether fractions of Warrant Notional Common Shares shall be rounded up or down), and (II) the Share Consideration with respect to the remaining portion of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by such Non-Election Warrant; or

(B) if the Shortfall Number exceeds the Aggregate Non-Election Number, then all Non-Election Shares and all Non-Election Warrants shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration, and (A) the Share Election Shares of each holder thereof shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration in respect of that number of Share Election Shares equal to the product obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Share Election Shares held by such holder by (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount by which (x) the Shortfall Number exceeds (y) the Aggregate Non-Election Number, and the denominator of which is the sum of the total number of Share Election Shares and the aggregate number of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by all of the Share Election Warrants (with the Exchange Agent to determine, consistent with this Section 3.5, whether fractions of Share Election Shares shall be rounded up or down), with the remaining number of such holder’s Share Election Shares being converted into the right to receive the Share Consideration, and (B) each Share Election Warrant shall be converted into the right to receive (I) the Cash Consideration in respect of that portion of the Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by such Company Warrant equal to the product obtained by multiplying (1) the total number of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by such Share Election Warrant by (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount by which (x) the Shortfall Number exceeds (y) the Aggregate Non-Election Number, and the denominator of which is the sum of the aggregate number of Share Election Shares and the total number of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by the Share Election Warrants (with the Exchange Agent to determine, consistent with this Section 3.5, whether fractions of Warrant Notional Common Shares shall be rounded up or down), and (II) the Share Consideration with respect to the remaining portion of Warrant Notional Common Shares represented by such Share Election Warrant.

3.6   Anti-Dilution Provisions.   Without limiting the covenants in Sections 4.1 and 4.2, in the event the outstanding Company Common Shares or Parent Common Shares shall have been changed between the date of this Agreement and the Closing into a different number of shares or a different class after the date hereof by reason of any subdivisions, reclassifications, splits, share distributions, combinations or exchanges of Company Common Shares or Parent Common Shares, then the Merger Consideration will be correspondingly adjusted to provide to the holders of Company Common Shares, Company Options, Company Restricted Shares and Company Warrants, as applicable, the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 3.6 shall be deemed to permit or authorize any Party hereto to affect any such change that it is not otherwise authorized or permitted to undertake pursuant to this Agreement.

3.7   Treatment of Company Preferred Shares.   At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any further action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, or the Company, each Company Preferred Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into the right to receive cash in an amount (subject to any applicable withholding Tax) equal to one dollar ($1.00), without interest (the “Preferred Share Consideration”). The Preferred Share Consideration issued upon conversion of a Company Preferred Share in accordance with the terms hereof will be deemed to have been issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such Company Preferred Share. All Company Preferred Shares converted into the right to receive the Preferred Share Consideration pursuant to this Section 3.7 will cease to be outstanding and will automatically be canceled and will cease to exist when converted as a result of and pursuant to the Merger.

3.8   Treatment of Company Options and Company Restricted Shares.   

(a) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company Board (or, if appropriate, any committee thereof) shall adopt such resolutions or take such other actions to cause all outstanding Company Options to vest immediately prior to the Effective Time and provide that each Company Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, as of the Effective Time, be exchanged for the number of Parent Common Shares, rounded down to the nearest

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whole share, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the product of (A) the number of Company Common Shares subject to the Company Option and (B) the amount, if any, by which the per share closing trading price of Company Common Shares on the Business Day immediately before the Closing Date exceeds the exercise price per Company Common Share otherwise purchasable pursuant to the Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time by (ii) the Average Closing Price; provided if such calculation results in zero or a negative number, the applicable Company Option shall be forfeited for no consideration.

(b) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company Board (or, if appropriate, any committee thereof) shall adopt such resolutions or take such other actions to adjust the terms of all outstanding Company Restricted Shares to provide that, as of the Effective Time, the Company Restricted Shares that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into a number of restricted Parent Common Shares (“Adjusted Restricted Shares”) subject to the same vesting, repurchase or other lapse restrictions equal to the number of corresponding Company Restricted Shares multiplied by the Share Consideration, rounded up to the nearest whole share.

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, all Adjusted Restricted Shares shall be subject to the same vesting and other terms and restrictions that applied to the corresponding Company Restricted Share, as applicable, including all vesting acceleration provisions as may be set forth in an applicable employment agreement or otherwise.

(d) As of the Effective Time, Parent shall (i) assume all of the obligations of the Company under the Company Stock Plans with respect to the outstanding Adjusted Restricted Shares, and (ii) file one or more appropriate registration statements (on Form S-3 or Form S-8, or any successor or other appropriate forms) with respect to all Parent Common Shares underlying Adjusted Restricted Shares.

(e) At the Effective Time, if Parent determines that it desires to do so, Parent may assume any or all of the Company Stock Plans. If Parent assumes any Company Stock Plan, then, under such Company Stock Plan Parent will be entitled to grant equity or equity-based incentive awards with respect to Parent Shares, to the extent permissible under applicable Law, using the share reserves of such Company Stock Plan (including any Parent Shares returned to such share reserves as a result of the termination or forfeiture of any equity awards). If Parent notifies the Company that it does not wish to assume a Company Stock Plan, the Company shall ensure that such Company Stock Plan is terminated as of the Effective Time and no future rights remain under such Company Stock Plan, except with respect to the Adjusted Restricted Shares.

3.9   Dissenting Shares.   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, with respect to each Company Common Share that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time as to which the holder thereof shall have properly complied in all respects with the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL as to appraisal rights (each, a “Dissenting Share”), such Dissenting Share shall not be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration but instead shall be canceled and shall represent the right to receive only the payment, solely from the Surviving Company, of the appraisal value of the Dissenting Shares to the extent permitted by and in accordance with the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL; provided, however, that if any such Person shall fail to perfect or otherwise shall waive, withdraw or lose the right to appraisal under Section 262 of the DGCL, then the right of such Person to receive those rights under Section 262 of the DGCL shall cease and such Company Common Shares shall be deemed to have been converted as of the Effective Time into, and shall represent only the right to right to receive, the same type of Merger Consideration, without interest thereon, as was payable in respect of an equivalent number of Non-Election Shares. The Company shall give Parent prompt notice of any demands received by the Company for appraisal of Company Common Shares, and Parent shall have the right to control all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. The Company shall not settle, make any payments with respect to, or offer to settle, any claim with respect to Dissenting Shares without the written consent of Parent.

ARTICLE IV
ACTIONS PENDING MERGER

4.1   Conduct of Business by the Company.   From the date hereof until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article IX, and except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (ii) as may be required by applicable Law, (iii) as set forth in the correspondingly numbered section of the disclosure letter delivered by the Company to Parent at or prior to the execution hereof (the “Company Disclosure Schedule”), or (iv) with the prior written consent of Parent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), the Company will not, and will cause each of its respective Subsidiaries not to:

(a) (i) conduct its business and the business of its Subsidiaries in all material respects other than in the ordinary course, (ii) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact its business organizations, goodwill and

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assets and maintain its rights, franchises and existing relations with customers, suppliers, employees and business associates, or (iii) take any action that adversely affects the ability of either Party to obtain any approvals required under the HSR Act for the transactions contemplated hereby;

(b) (i) create, issue, sell or otherwise permit to become outstanding, deliver, pledge, dispose of, grant, transfer, encumber or authorize the creation, issuance, sale, delivery, pledge, disposition, grant, transfer or encumbrance of, any additional equity or any additional Rights, other than issuances of Company Common Shares upon the exercise or settlement of Company Options outstanding as of the date of this Agreement in accordance with their terms or issued after the date hereof in accordance with the terms hereof, (ii) amend any term of the Company Common Shares or any Rights (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise), or (iii) enter into any agreement, understanding or commitment with respect to the foregoing;

(c) (i) subdivide, recapitalize, adjust, split, combine, exchange or reclassify or enter into any similar transaction with respect to equity interests in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or issue or authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for equity interests in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or offer to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or offer to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any capital stock, membership, partnership or other equity interests or Rights in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except upon the forfeiture of Company Options and Company Restricted Shares in connection with the terms thereof or to satisfy any applicable exercise price or Tax withholding obligations of the holder of such interests of Rights;

(d) (i) sell, lease, dispose of or discontinue, assign, license, mortgage or otherwise transfer, or create or incur any Lien (other than Permitted Encumbrances) upon, or pledge, surrender, encumber, divest, cancel, abandon, release or allow to lapse or expire or otherwise dispose of any of the Oil and Gas Properties or assets (including any intangible assets), licenses, operations, rights, securities, properties, interests or businesses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than sales, leases, assignments or transfers of Oil and Gas Properties or other assets, properties or businesses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with a value of less than $10,000,000 in the aggregate; provided, that the Company shall make commercially reasonable efforts to notify Parent at least ten (10) days prior to entering into any such transaction and (3) sales of Hydrocarbons and equipment in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) acquire (by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets or otherwise), directly or indirectly, or lease any assets (including any intangible assets), securities, properties, interests or businesses other than the acquisition or lease of Oil and Gas Properties or other assets in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iii) merge, consolidate or enter into any partnership, joint venture or other business combination transaction with any Person, (iv) convert from a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, to any other business entity, or (v) become a non-consenting party in any operation proposed with respect to any of the Oil and Gas Properties;

(e) (i) make, declare, set aside or pay dividends or other distributions (whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of Company Common Shares or the equity securities of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, other than (A) pro rata dividends and pro rata distributions paid by any Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or its Subsidiaries and (B) purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of Company Common Shares, Company Options or Company Restricted Shares, as applicable, required by the terms of the Company Stock Plans as in effect on the date of this Agreement; or (ii) enter into any agreement, undertaking or commitment with respect to the voting of its equity or voting securities or Rights;

(f) amend or adopt or propose any amendment to the Company Charter or Company Bylaws or any organizational document of the Company’s Subsidiaries as in effect on the date of this Agreement (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets or otherwise);

(g) enter into any contract, agreement or arrangement that (i) would be a Company Material Agreement had it been entered into prior to the date of this Agreement or (ii) would prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(h) modify, amend, terminate, default under or assign, or waive, assign or release any rights, claims or benefits of the Company or its Subsidiaries under, any Company Material Agreement in any material respect in each case (other than in the case of a default), except for renewals or term expirations in accordance with the terms of any

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Company Material Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be permitted to enter into any contract, agreement or arrangement that would prevent or materially delay the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement

(i) enter into new contracts to sell Hydrocarbons other than in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, but in no event shall any such contracts (x) have a duration of more than one (1) month or (y) include pricing to sell such Hydrocarbons that are not based on a published market based index;

(j) (i) materially deviate from drilling and completing 15 net Wells through June 30, 2017; provided, however that the cost of drilling and completing each such Well shall not exceed $9,000,000 individually, or (ii) create or incur any Production Burden on any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ Oil and Gas Properties, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(k) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any claim, action or proceeding, including any state or federal regulatory proceeding seeking damages or injunction or other equitable relief, that would, (i) require the payment of monetary damages by any of the Company or its Subsidiaries after the date hereof of $750,000 per claim, action or proceeding or $1,500,000 in the aggregate or (ii) involve any injunctive or other non-monetary relief which, in either case, imposes material restrictions on the business operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(l) change in any material respect any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ methods of accounting or accounting practices, policies or procedures, except as required by concurrent changes in GAAP or SEC rules and regulations, in either case as agreed to by its independent public accountants;

(m) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain, with financially responsible insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks and losses as is maintained by it at present;

(n) (i) change any material Tax election, including elections for any and all joint ventures, partnerships, limited liability companies or other investments where it has the capacity to make such binding election, (ii) amend any material Tax Return, (iii) change any material Tax accounting method, (iv) enter into any closing agreement, (v) settle, compromise or surrender any material claim, action, suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or controversy relating to Taxes, (vi) surrender any material claim for a refund of Taxes, (vii) file any Tax Return that is inconsistent with past practice or (viii) consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any material Tax claim or assessment;

(o) except as required pursuant to any Company Employee Benefit Plan in effect prior to the date hereof or as required by Law: (i) grant or increase any retention, deal bonus, change-in-control, severance or termination pay to (or materially amend any existing arrangement with) any former or current employee, officer, consultant, or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (excluding independent contractors) (each, a “Company Service Provider”), (ii) increase compensation or benefits payable under any existing change-in-control, severance or termination pay policies, (iii) establish, adopt or materially amend any material Company Employee Benefit Plan, (iv) enter into any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with a labor union, works council or similar organization, (E) increase in any manner compensation, bonus, commission, long-term incentive opportunities or other benefits payable to any Company Service Provider, except for increases in connection with any applicable promotion not involving an executive officer position and for increases made in the ordinary course of business for non-executive officer level employees, (v) take any action to accelerate the vesting or payment (except as permitted under clause (ix) below), or fund or in any other way secure the payment, of compensation or benefits under any Company Employee Benefit Plan, to the extent not already provided in any such Company Employee Benefit Plan, (vi) materially change any actuarial or other assumptions used to calculate funding obligations with respect to any Company Employee Benefit Plan that is required by Law to be funded or change the manner in which contributions to such plans are made or the basis on which such contributions are determined, except as may be required by GAAP or Law, (vii) forgive any loans to any Company Service Provider, (viii) waive any post-employment restrictive covenant with any Company Service Provider, (ix) vest or waive any restrictions with respect to any equity or equity-based awards, except in connection with any employee termination or retirement not involving an executive officer level employee, (x) grant any equity or equity-based awards to Company Service Providers, (xi) amend or modify any outstanding awards under the Company Stock Plans (except as permitted under clause (ix) above), (xii) grant any gross-up, make whole or indemnification with respect to or related to Sections 409A or 4999 of the Code, or (xiii) hire or fire any executive officer level employee;

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(p) (i) create, incur, assume, guarantee, endorse, suffer to exist or otherwise become liable with respect to any Indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise), issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt security of any of the Company or its Subsidiaries or enter into any “keep well” or other agreement to maintain any financial statement condition of another Person other than borrowings under existing revolving credit facilities reflected in the Company Financial Statements or incurred in the ordinary course of business prior to the date of this Agreement, (ii) enter into any material lease (whether operating or capital), other than Oil and Gas Leases and compressor leases entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iii) create any Lien or grant any Production Burden on its property or the property of its Subsidiaries in connection with any pre-existing Indebtedness, new Indebtedness or lease or otherwise, or (iv) make or commit to make any material capital expenditures or engage in any material exploration, development, drilling, well completion or other development activities, other than (A) except for the 15 net Wells as provided for in Section 4.1(j), such capital expenditures or activities as do not exceed $5,000,000 individually or $15,000,000 in the aggregate or (B) such capital expenditures or activities as are required to respond on a bona fide emergency basis or for the bona fide safety of individuals, assets or the environment, and when there is insufficient time to obtain advance consent of Parent; provided that the Company promptly notifies Parent of any such emergency expenditures, including the amount and reason therefor;

(q) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any Person (other than any of the Company or its Subsidiaries and other than (i) advances to employees for travel and other business expenses in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (ii) pursuant to customary provisions in joint operating agreements);

(r) enter into any contract or transaction with (including the making of any payment to) a director or officer of the Company or members of their “immediate family” (as such terms are defined in Rule 16a-1 of the Exchange Act) (each of the foregoing, a “Related Person”) (other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries) or an Affiliate of a Related Person (other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries), in each case of a type that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC;

(s) authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial dissolution or liquidation;

(t) convene any special meeting of the Company Stockholders;

(u) become party to or approve or adopt any stockholder rights plan or “poison pill” agreement;

(v) fail to timely file any material report required to be filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority;

(w) recognize any union or labor organization as the bargaining representative for any Employees or enter into any labor agreement or collective bargaining agreement, except as required by Law; or

(x) agree or commit to do anything prohibited by clauses (a) through (w) of this Section 4.1.

4.2   Conduct of Business by Parent.   From the date hereof until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article IX, and except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (ii) as may be required by applicable Law, (iii) as set forth in the correspondingly numbered section of the disclosure letter delivered by Parent to the Company (the “Parent Disclosure Schedule”), or (iv) with the prior written consent of the Company (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), Parent will not:

(a) make, declare, set aside or pay any special or extraordinary dividends or other distributions in respect of Parent Common Shares; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall prohibit Parent from increasing the quarterly cash dividend on the Parent Common Shares;

(b) amend or adopt or propose any amendment to the Parent Charter or Parent Bylaws in a manner that adversely affects the terms of the Parent Common Shares;

(c) enter into any contract, agreement or arrangement that would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on, or materially delay, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or

(d) implement or adopt any material change in its GAAP accounting principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required by GAAP or SEC rules and regulations;

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(e) authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial dissolution or liquidation; or

(f) agree or commit to do anything prohibited by clauses (a) through (f) of this Section 4.2.

ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

Except as set forth in (a) all forms, registration statements, reports, schedules and statements filed by the Company with the SEC under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act since January 1, 2015 and prior to the date of this Agreement, and in each case including all exhibits and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein (collectively, the “Company SEC Documents”) (but (i) excluding any disclosure contained in any such Company SEC Documents under the heading “Risk Factors” or “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” or similar heading (other than any historical factual information contained within such headings, disclosure or statements) and (ii) without giving effect to any amendment thereof or supplement thereto filed with, or furnished to, the SEC on or after the date hereof, but only to the extent (A) such Company SEC Documents are publicly available on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System and (B) the relevance of the applicable disclosure as an exception to the applicable representations and warranties is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure) or (b) the Company Disclosure Schedule prior to the execution of this Agreement (provided that (i) disclosure in any section of such Company Disclosure Schedule is deemed to be disclosed with respect to any other section of this Agreement to the extent that it is reasonably apparent on the face of the Company Disclosure Schedule that such disclosure is applicable to such other section notwithstanding the omission of a reference or cross reference thereto and (ii) the mere inclusion of an item in such Company Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty is not deemed an admission that such item represents a material exception or material fact, event or circumstance or that such item has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company (a “Company Material Adverse Effect”)), the Company represents and warrants to Parent as follows:

5.1   Organization, General Authority and Standing.   The Company is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of the Company’s Subsidiaries. Each of the Company’s Subsidiaries is a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) has all corporate or other organizational power and authority required to own, lease or otherwise hold, use and operate its properties, rights and other assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted and (ii) is duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good standing to do business as a foreign corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, in each jurisdiction in which the conduct or nature of its business or the ownership, leasing, holding or operating of its properties makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except, in the case of clause (ii), for such jurisdictions where the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made available to Parent complete and accurate copies of the Company Charter and the Company Bylaws and each of the Company’s Subsidiaries’ certificate of incorporation, certification of formation, certification of limited partnership, by-laws, operating agreements, partnership agreements or similar organizational documents, each as amended to the date of this Agreement, and each such document as so delivered is in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in material violation of any of the provisions contained therein.

5.2   Capitalization.   

(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 30,000,000 Company Common Shares and 3,000,000 Company Preferred Shares. As of the date hereof, there are (i) 17,245,636 Company Common Shares (excluding unvested Company Restricted Shares) issued and outstanding, (ii) 1,463 Company Common Shares held in the treasury of the Company, (iii) 3,500 Company Preferred Shares issued and outstanding, and (iv) no Company Preferred Shares held in the treasury of the Company. All of the issued and outstanding Company Common Shares and Company Preferred Shares were duly authorized and are validly issued in accordance with the Company Charter, are fully paid and nonassessable and are not subject to any preemptive or similar rights (and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights). All Company Common Shares that may be issued or granted pursuant

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to the exercise of Company Options or Company Warrants will be, when issued or granted in accordance with the respective terms thereof, duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Company Charter, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive or similar rights (and will not be issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights).

(b) As of the date hereof, except as set forth above in Section 5.2(a) and except for (i) 282,000 Company Common Shares reserved for issuance on exercise of Company Options outstanding on the date hereof, (ii) 383,702 unvested Company Restricted Shares outstanding on the date hereof, (iii) 2,251,364 Company Common Shares reserved for issuance on exercise of outstanding Company Warrants, and (iv) 709,298 additional Company Common Shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to the Company Stock Plans, (A) there are no shares, partnership interests, limited liability company interests or other equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries issued or authorized and reserved for issuance, (B) there are no outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, subscriptions, calls or other Rights, convertible securities, exchangeable securities, agreements or commitments of any character obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to (1) issue, transfer or sell any equity interests of the Company or such Subsidiary or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for such equity interests, (2) grant, extend or enter into any such subscription, option, warrant, call, convertible securities or other similar Right, agreement or arrangement, (3) provide a material amount of funds to, or make any material investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any Subsidiary, (4) make any payment to any person the value of which is derived from or calculated based on the value of Company Common Shares, or (5) make any commitment to authorize, issue or sell any such equity interests or securities or other Rights, except pursuant to this Agreement, (C) there are no contractual obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any equity interest in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any such securities or agreements listed in clause (B) of this sentence, and (D) there are no agreements granting any preemptive or antidilutive or similar rights with respect to any security issued by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. No Subsidiary of the Company owns any Company Common Shares. With respect to each grant of any Company Common Shares under the Company Stock Plans, each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the applicable Company Stock Plan, the Exchange Act and all other applicable Laws, including the rules of the NYSE.

(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness, the holders of which have the right to vote (or which are convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the Company Stockholders on any matter.

(d) There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with respect to the voting or registration of capital stock or other equity interest of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(e) All outstanding Company Common Shares and Company Preferred Shares have been issued and granted in compliance in all material respects with (i) applicable securities Laws and other applicable Law and (ii) all requirements set forth in applicable contracts.

(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has agreed to register any securities under the Securities Act or under any state securities Law or granted registration rights to any person.

(g) Section 5.2(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth the following information with respect to each Company Option and each Company Warrant outstanding on the date of this Agreement: (i) name of the holder; (ii) number of Company Common Shares issuable upon exercise thereof; (iii) exercise price; (iv) issue date; (v) termination date; (vi) vesting schedule; and (vii) whether such option or warrant contains any put, redemption or similar feature (other than a provision for the net settlement thereof or payment of tax withholdings with respect thereto).

(h) Except for the Company Options and Company Warrants, at the Effective Time, there will not be any outstanding Rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, agreements, claims or commitments of any character by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will be bound calling for the purchase or issuance of any shares of the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or any other such securities or agreements.

(i) At the Effective Time, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will be a party to any agreement prohibiting the ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make any payments, directly or indirectly, to

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Parent by way of dividends, advances, repayments of loans or advances, reimbursements of management and other intercompany charges, expenses and accruals or other returns on investments, or any other agreement or arrangement which restricts the ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make any payment, directly or indirectly, to Parent.

5.3   Equity Interests in other Entities.   Other than ownership interests in its Subsidiaries as set forth in Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns beneficially, directly or indirectly, any equity securities or similar interests of any person, or any interest in a partnership or joint venture of any kind. All outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests in the Company’s Subsidiaries are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and the Company owns such interests in its Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Encumbrances. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has agreed or is obligated to, directly or indirectly, make any future investment in or capital contribution or advance to any Person (other than in or to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries).

5.4   Power, Authority and Approvals of Transactions.   

(a) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and, subject to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Subject to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval in order to consummate the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action by the Company. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent, constitutes the Company’s valid and binding obligation, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (except to the extent that its enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles).

(b) At a meeting duly called and held, the Company Board has unanimously (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of the Company and the holders of Company Common Shares, (ii) approved this Agreement, the Support Agreement, the Non-Dissent Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and (iii) approved (subject to Section 7.3) the Company Board Recommendation. As of the date of this Agreement, none of the actions described in the immediately preceding sentence has been amended, rescinded or modified in any respect.

5.5   No Violations or Defaults.   Subject to required filings under federal and state securities laws and with NYSE, assuming the other consents and approvals contemplated by Section 5.6 and Article VIII are duly obtained and assuming the consents, waivers and approvals specified in Section 7.9(a) are obtained, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Company do not and will not (i) constitute a breach or violation of, or result in a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or result in the termination or in a right of termination, cancellation or modification of, or result in the acceleration of performance required by or the loss of any benefit to which any of the Company or its Subsidiaries is entitled under, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, franchise, lease, contract, agreement, joint venture, permit or other instrument or obligation to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective properties is subject or bound except for such breaches, violations, defaults, terminations, cancellations or accelerations which, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (ii) conflict with or constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under the Company Charter or Company Bylaws or the similar organizational documents of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, (iii) materially contravene or conflict with or constitute a material violation of any provision of any Law binding upon or applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iv) result in the creation of any material Lien on any of the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

5.6   Consents and Approvals.   No consents or approvals of, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority or other Person are necessary in connection with: (i) the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement; or (ii) the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for (A) the filing with the SEC of a proxy statement relating to the matters to be submitted to the Company Stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”) at a special meeting of such holders for the purpose of adopting this Agreement (including any adjournment thereof, the “Company Meeting”) and other filings required under federal or state securities Law, (B) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,

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(C) any consents, authorizations, approvals, filings or exemptions in connection with compliance with the rules of the NYSE, (D) such filings and approvals as may be required to be made or obtained under the Antitrust Laws, and (E) such other consents, authorizations, approvals, filings or registrations the absence or unavailability of which would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially delay consummation of the Merger.

5.7   Financial Reports and the Company SEC Documents.   

(a) Since January 1, 2015, the Company has filed with or furnished to the SEC all forms, registration statements, reports, schedules and statements required to be filed or furnished under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act. None of the Company’s Subsidiaries is required to file periodic reports with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act. At the time filed (or, in the case of registration statements, solely on the dates of effectiveness) (except to the extent amended by a subsequently filed Company SEC Document prior to the date hereof, in which case as of the date of such amendment), each Company SEC Document complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as the case may be, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company SEC Documents, and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(b) Any consolidated financial statements of the Company included in the Company SEC Documents (the “Company Financial Statements”) as of their respective dates (if amended, as of the date of the last such amendment) (A) complied as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (B) were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be expressly indicated in the notes thereto, to the extent permitted by applicable SEC regulations), and (C) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly statements, to normal year-end adjustments which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material). The financial statements to be filed by the Company with the SEC after the date of this Agreement (i) will comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) will be prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be expressly indicated in the notes thereto), and (iii) will fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly statements, to normal year-end adjustments which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material).

(c) None of the Company or its Subsidiaries is a party to, nor has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, off-balance sheet partnership or any similar contract or agreement (including any agreement relating to any transaction or relationship between or among one or more of the Company and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated Affiliate, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or Person, on the other hand), or any “off-balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC), where the result, purpose or intended effect of such contract or agreement is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s published financial statements or other Company SEC Documents.

(d) Section 5.7(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains (i) a complete and accurate list of all Derivative Instruments entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for the account of any of its customers as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) the Company has made available to Parent pricing and other supporting information relating to the positions summarized in Section 5.7(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. All such Derivative Instruments were, and any Derivative Instrument entered into after the date of this Agreement will be, entered into in accordance with applicable Laws, and in accordance with the investment, securities, commodities, risk management and other policies, practices and procedures employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Risk Policies”), and were, and will be, entered into with counterparties believed at the time to be financially responsible and able to understand (either alone or in consultation with their advisers) and to bear the risks of such Derivative Instrument. Section 5.7(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies any such counterparty as to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any reasonable concerns regarding financial responsibility with respect to any such Derivative Instrument. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have, and will have, duly performed in all material respects all of their respective obligations under the Derivative Instruments

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to the extent that such obligations to perform have accrued, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there are and will be no material breaches, violations, collateral deficiencies, requests for collateral or demands for payment, or defaults or allegations or assertions of such by any party thereunder. Prior to the date of this Agreement, the Company has delivered or made available to Parent an accurate and complete copy of the Company Risk Policies in effect as of the date of this Agreement and the Company Risk Policies contain a complete and accurate description of the practice of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries with respect to Derivative Instrument positions, as of the date hereof. Since December 31, 2012, there have been no material violations of the Company Risk Policies.

5.8   Internal Controls and Procedures.   The Company has established and maintains internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures (as such terms are defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting, including policies and procedures that (a) mandate the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the material transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (b) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company and its Subsidiaries are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations of management and the Company Board and (c) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its Subsidiaries, required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms. The Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer have disclosed, based on their most recent evaluation, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company Board (x) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the Company’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls and (y) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls. To the Knowledge of the Company, since January 1, 2014, no complaints from any source regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters have been received by the Company. Since January 1, 2014, the Company has not received any material complaints through the Company’s whistleblower hotline or equivalent system for receipt of employee concerns regarding possible violations of applicable Law. Since January 1, 2014, no attorney representing the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a violation of applicable Law that are securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Company or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents to the Company’s chief legal officer, audit committee of the Company Board or to the Company Board pursuant to the rules adopted pursuant to Section 307 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or any Company policy contemplating such reporting. The principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of the Company have made all certifications required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Exchange Act and any related rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC with respect to the Company SEC Documents, and the statements contained in such certifications were complete and correct as of the dates they were made.

5.9   Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.   Except as disclosed in the audited financial statements (or notes thereto) included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, the unaudited financial statements (or notes thereto) included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016 (the “Balance Sheet Date”), and in the financial statements (or notes thereto) included in subsequent Company SEC Documents filed by the Company prior to the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its consolidated Subsidiaries had at the Balance Sheet Date, or has incurred since that date, any liabilities or obligations (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) of any nature, except: liabilities, obligations or contingencies that (A) are accrued or reserved against in the financial statements of the Company included in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, or reflected in the notes thereto, (B) were incurred since the Balance Sheet Date and prior to the date hereof in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices and that would not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or (C) relate to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

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5.10   Absence of Certain Changes or Events.   

(a) Since the Balance Sheet Date:

(i) there has not been any material damage, destruction or other casualty loss with respect to any material asset or property owned, leased or otherwise used by the Company or its Subsidiaries, whether or not covered by insurance;

(ii) there has not been any declaration, accrual, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution with respect to any shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (except for pro rata dividends or other pro rata distributions by any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or to any Subsidiary of the Company), or any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any outstanding Company securities;

(iii) there has not been (i) any (A) material increase in the compensation payable or to become payable to any Company Service Provider, in each case other than routine increases in the ordinary course of business, or (B) payment to any Company Service Provider of any material bonus, or grant to any director or officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries of any rights to receive severance, termination, retention or Tax gross-up compensation or benefits, in each case other than routine payments or grants in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any establishment, adoption, entry into or material amendment of any Employee Benefit Plan or (iii) any action taken by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to fund or in any other way secure the payment of compensation or benefits under any Employee Benefit Plan;

(iv) there has not been any material change in any method of accounting or accounting practice or internal controls (including internal control over financial reporting) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except insofar as may have been required by a change in GAAP or SEC rules and regulations; and

(v) there has not been any agreement to do any of the foregoing.

(b) Since the Balance Sheet Date, there has not been any change, event, development, circumstance, condition, occurrence or effect that has had, or would be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Since the Balance Sheet Date, except for this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company and its Subsidiaries have carried on and operated their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course of business.

5.11   Compliance with Applicable Law; Permits.   

(a) Except with respect to Tax matters (which are provided for in Section 5.18) and environmental matters (which are provided for in Section 5.13), each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is and has been in compliance with all, and is not in default under or in violation of any, applicable Law, including the FCPA, other than any noncompliance, default or violation which would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written communication since January 1, 2014 from a Governmental Authority alleging that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is not in compliance with or is in default or violation of any applicable Law, including the FCPA, except where such non-compliance, default or violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. No investigation or review by any Governmental Authority with respect to any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, has any Governmental Authority indicated an intention to conduct the same, except where such investigation or review would not, individually or in the aggregate, be required to be disclosed under the Exchange Act or Securities Act.

(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries are in possession of, and have at all times since January 1, 2014 been in possession of, all franchises, tariffs, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances, exemptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders of any Governmental Authority necessary under applicable Law to own, lease and operate their properties and to lawfully carry on their businesses as they are being conducted (collectively, the “Company Permits”), except where the failure to be in possession of such Company Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All Company Permits are in full force and effect, except where the failure to be in full force and effect would not, individually or

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in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. No suspension or cancellation of any of the Company Permits is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, except where such suspension or cancellation would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

5.12   Material Contracts.   

(a) Section 5.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a listing of the following contracts, arrangements, commitments or understandings (whether written or oral) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party and that are in effect (or under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any responsibility or obligation) on the date of this Agreement (each contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding that is described in this Section 5.12, whether or not set forth in Section 5.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule and whether or not in effect on the date of this Agreement, being a “Company Material Agreement”), other than contracts (including all amendments and modifications thereto) filed as exhibits to the Company SEC Documents prior to the date of this Agreement:

(i) each “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC);

(ii) each contract that provides for the acquisition, disposition, license, use, distribution or outsourcing of assets, services, rights or properties with respect to which the Company reasonably expects that the Company and its Subsidiaries will make annual payments, in excess of $7,500,000;

(iii) each contract that constitutes a commitment relating to indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured by any asset) in excess of $5,000,000, other than agreements solely between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(iv) each contract for lease of personal property or real property (other than Oil and Gas Leases) involving aggregate payments in excess of $5,000,000 in any calendar year that are not terminable without penalty within 60 days, other than contracts related to drilling rigs;

(v) each contract containing any area of mutual interest, joint bidding area, joint acquisition area, or a non-compete or similar type of provision that, following the Effective Time, by virtue of Parent becoming an Affiliate of the Company as a result of this transaction, would by its terms materially restrict the ability of the Surviving Corporation, Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any of the CONE Midstream Companies or Marshall Midstream Companies to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area during any period of time after the Effective Time;

(vi) each contract involving the pending acquisition or sale of (or option to purchase or sell) any material amount of the assets or properties (including Hydrocarbons) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (other than the sale of Hydrocarbons in the ordinary course of business);

(vii) each contract for any futures transaction, swap transaction, collar transaction, floor transaction, cap transaction, option, warrant, forward purchase or sale transaction relating to one or more currencies, commodities (including Hydrocarbons), interest rates, bonds, equity securities, loans, catastrophe events, weather-related events, credit-related events or conditions or any indexes, or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or combination of any of these transactions, including collateralized mortgage obligations or other similar instruments or any debt or equity instruments evidencing or embedding any such types of transactions, and any related credit support, collateral or other similar arrangements related to such transactions (each contract described in this Section 5.12(a)(vii), a “Derivative Instrument”);

(viii) each material partnership, joint venture or limited liability company agreement, other than any customary joint operating agreements, unit agreements or participation agreements affecting the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(ix) each joint development agreement, exploration agreement, farmout or farmin agreement, participation or program agreement or similar agreement that requires the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make expenditures that would reasonably be expected to be in excess of $7,500,000 in the aggregate during the twelve-month period following the date of this Agreement;

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(x) each labor agreement or collective bargaining agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is subject;

(xi) each agreement under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has advanced or loaned any amount of money to any of its officers, directors, employees or consultants, in each case with a principal amount in excess of $20,000;

(xii) each agreement that contains any standstill, “most favored nation” or most favored customer provision, tag-along right, drag-along right, preferential right or rights of first or last offer, negotiation or refusal, in each case other than those contained in (A) any agreement in which such provision is solely for the benefit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) customary royalty pricing provisions in Oil and Gas Leases or (C) customary preferential rights in joint operating agreements, unit agreements or participation agreements affecting the business or the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates is subject, and is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(xiii) each agreement (other than a Derivative Instrument) that includes any continuing indemnification obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which was granted outside of the ordinary course of business;

(xiv) each agreement pertaining to Intellectual Property or technology to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party and that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(xv) any contract that obligates any of the Company or its Subsidiaries to make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any Person other than advances for expenses required under customary joint operating agreements and customary advances to operators of Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries not covered by a joint operating agreement or participation agreement;

(xvi) any contract providing for the sale by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Hydrocarbons that (A) has a remaining term of greater than 60 days and does not allow the Company or such Subsidiary to terminate it without penalty on 60 days’ notice or less or (B) contains a “take-or-pay” clause or any similar material prepayment or forward sale arrangement or obligation (excluding “gas balancing” arrangements associated with customary joint operating agreements) to deliver Hydrocarbons at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor;

(xvii) each contract that is a transportation or processing agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party involving the transportation or processing of more than 6.0 MMcf of gaseous Hydrocarbons per day, or 2,000 barrels of liquid Hydrocarbons per day;

(xviii) any contract that provides for a “take-or-pay” clause or any similar prepayment obligation, acreage dedication, minimum volume commitments or capacity reservation fees to a gathering, transportation or other arrangement downstream of the wellhead, that cover, guaranty, dedicate or commit (a) in excess of 1,000 net acres (individually or in the aggregate), or (b) volumes in excess of 6.0 MMcf (or, in the case of liquids, in excess of 2,000 barrels of oil equivalent) of Hydrocarbons of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries per day over a period of one month (calculated on a yearly average basis) or for a term greater than ten years;

(xix) any Oil and Gas Lease that contains express provisions (A) establishing bonus obligations (which, for the avoidance of doubt, do not include royalty payments and shut-in payments) in excess of $5,000,000 that were not satisfied at the time of leasing or signing or (B) providing for a fixed term, even if there is still production in paying quantities;

(xx) any agreement pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have paid amounts associated with any Production Burden in excess of $5,000,000 during the immediately preceding fiscal year or with respect to which the Company reasonably expects that Company or its Subsidiaries will make payments associated with any Production Burden in any of the next three succeeding fiscal years that could, based on current projections, exceed $5,000,000 per year;

(xxi) any agreement, other than any Company Employee Benefit Plan, that contains a change of control provision that would become operative as a result of the transactions contemplated by this agreement; and

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(xxii) any charge, order, writ, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, determination, directive, award, settlement, settlement agreement, consent agreement or similar agreement with any Governmental Authority or consent of a Governmental Authority to which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is subject involving future performance by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries which is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(b) Except to the extent that enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity, and provided that any indemnity, contribution and exoneration provisions contained in any such Company Material Agreement may be limited by applicable Law and public policy, each of the Company Material Agreements (i) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company or its applicable Subsidiary and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the other parties thereto and (ii) is in full force and effect and (iii) other than with respect to the Existing Credit Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement (which shall be paid off at or prior to the Effective Time pursuant to Section 7.16(a) and Section 7.16(b)), immediately after the Effective Time will continue to constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company or its applicable Subsidiary, in each case unless the failure to be so would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (to the extent it is a party thereto or bound thereby) and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto has performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under each Company Material Agreement. There is not, to the Knowledge of the Company, under any Company Material Agreement, any default or event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default on the part of any of the parties thereto, or any notice of termination, cancellation or material modification, in each case, except such events of default, other events, notices or modifications as to which requisite waivers or consents have been obtained or which would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Since January 1, 2014, to the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of any material violation or breach of, material default under or intention to cancel, terminate, modify or not renew, any Company Material Agreement.

(e) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the acquisition of any Person, the capital stock or other equity interest of any Person, or any assets of any Person.

(f) The Company has made available to Parent accurate and complete copies of all written Company Material Agreements required to be identified in Section 5.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, including all amendments thereto.

5.13   Environmental Matters.   Except as reflected in the Company Financial Statements, and except for any such matter that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries are in possession of all Environmental Permits under any Environmental Law and all Environmental Permits are in full force and effect. No suspension or cancellation of any of the Environmental Permits is pending, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(b) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective assets, real properties and operations are currently and have been for the past three (3) years in compliance with all Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits;

(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice from any Governmental Authority alleging, with respect to any such entity or any of their respective assets, real properties or operations, the violation of or liability under any Environmental Law (including liability as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA or any analogous state laws) or any Environmental Permit;

(d) There are no actions, suits, proceedings (including civil, administrative and dispute resolution proceedings), claims, government investigations, orders, decrees or judgments pending or in effect, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened by a Governmental Authority or any Person against the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries or

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any of their assets or property, or to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets or property is otherwise a party or subject or, to the Knowledge of the Company, a threatened party which allege a violation of or liability under any Environmental Law (“Environmental Claim”);

(e) There has been no Release of any Hazardous Material at, on, under or from any real properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that has not been remediated as required by any Environmental Law or otherwise adequately reserved for in the Company Financial Statements;

(f) To the Knowledge of the Company, there are no actions, activities, circumstances, facts, conditions, events or incidents, including the presence of any Hazardous Material, which would be reasonably likely to form the basis of any Environmental Claim against the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or to the Knowledge of the Company, against any Person whose liability for such Environmental Claims the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has or may have retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of Law;

(g) To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company has not disposed of, sent or arranged for the transportation of Hazardous Material at or to a site, or owned or leased or operated a site, that (i) pursuant to CERCLA or any similar law, has been placed or is proposed to be placed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or similar state authority on the National Priorities List or similar state list, as in effect on the date hereof, or (ii) has been or is involved in any government sponsored cleanup program;

(h) To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company has delivered or made available to Buyer all environmental audits, reports and other material environmental documents relating to the Acquired Assets including, without limitation, the Real Property and any other real property previously owned or operated by the Acquired Companies, that are in its possession, custody or under its reasonable control; and

(i) This Section 5.13 constitutes the sole and exclusive representation and warranty of the Company with respect to Environmental Permits, Hazardous Materials and Environmental Law.

5.14   Reserve Report.   The Company has made available to Parent complete copies of all written reports delivered to or received by the Company or its Subsidiaries on or before the date of this Agreement estimating the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ Hydrocarbon reserves with respect to the Oil and Gas Properties. The factual, non-interpretive data relating to the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries on which the reserve reports prepared by Williamson Petroleum Consultants, Inc. and Ryder Scott Company, LP, in each case, referred to in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 (the “Company Reserve Reports”) was based was complete and accurate at the time such data was provided to Williamson Petroleum Consultants, Inc. and Ryder Scott Company, LP, except for any incompleteness or inaccuracy that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, there are no material errors in the assumptions and estimates provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with the preparation of the Company Reserve Reports. The Hydrocarbon reserve estimates of the Company and its Subsidiaries set forth in the Company Reserve Reports fairly reflect, in all material respects, the Hydrocarbon reserves of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the dates indicated therein and are in accordance with the rules promulgated by the SEC, as applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods reflected therein. Except for changes (including changes in Hydrocarbon commodity prices) generally affecting the oil and gas industry and normal depletion by production, there has been no change in respect of the matters addressed in the Company Reserve Reports that would, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The estimates of proved Hydrocarbon reserves provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries to Williamson Petroleum Consultants, Inc. and Ryder Scott Company, LP, respectively, in connection with the preparation of the Company Reserve Reports complied in all material respects with Rule 4-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.

5.15   Title to Properties.   

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and indefeasible title to all real and personal properties that are material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including all of the Oil and Gas Properties reflected in the Company Reserve Reports (excluding any Oil and Gas Properties sold or otherwise disposed of since December 31, 2015 under any Company Material Agreement disclosed on Section 5.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule), in each case free and clear of all Liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except (i) such as do not materially, individually or in the aggregate, affect the value of such property and do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by

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the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) for Permitted Encumbrances and (iii) such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, “good and indefeasible title” means title that is free from reasonable doubt to the end that a prudent person engaged in the business of purchasing and owning, developing, and operating producing or non-producing Oil and Gas Properties in the geographical areas in which they are located, with knowledge of all of the facts and their legal bearing, would be willing to accept, acting reasonably.

(b) Except to the extent that enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity, each material Oil and Gas Lease (i) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company or its applicable Subsidiary and, to the Knowledge of the Company, constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the other parties thereto, (ii) is in full force and effect, and (iii) immediately after the Effective Time will continue to constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company or its applicable Subsidiary and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each of the other parties thereto in accordance with its terms. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (to the extent it is a party thereto or bound thereby) and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto has performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under each material Oil and Gas Lease. There is not, to the Knowledge of the Company, under any Oil and Gas Lease, any default or event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default on the part of any of the parties thereto, or any notice of termination, cancellation or material modification, in each case, except such events of default, other events, notices or modifications as to which requisite waivers or consents have been obtained, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of any material violation or breach of, material default under or intention to cancel, terminate, modify or not renew any material Oil and Gas Lease.

(c) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has good and valid title, in all material respects, to each material real property (and each material real property at which its operations are conducted) owned by it (in each case excluding Oil and Gas Leases and Company Real Property Leases, the “Company Owned Real Property”) except for Permitted Encumbrances. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has a good and valid leasehold interest in each lease, sublease and other agreement under which it uses or occupies or has the right to use or occupy any material real property (or material real property at which its operations are conducted) (but excluding Oil and Gas Leases) (such property subject to a lease, sublease or other agreement, the “Company Leased Real Property” and such leases, subleases and other agreements are, collectively, the “Company Real Property Leases”), in each case, free and clear of all Liens other than any Permitted Encumbrances. Each Company Real Property Lease is valid, binding and in full force and effect, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity. No uncured default of a material nature on the part of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the Knowledge of the Company, the landlord thereunder, exists under any Company Real Property Lease, and no event has occurred or circumstance exists which, with or without the giving of notice, the passage of time, or both, would constitute a material breach or default under a Company Real Property Lease. Section 5.15(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth an accurate and complete list of the Company Owned Real Property and the Company Leased Real Property (collectively, the “Company Real Property”).

(d) There are no leases, subleases, licenses, rights or other agreements burdening or affecting any portion of the Company Real Property that would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the existing use of such Company Real Property by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the operation of their respective businesses thereon. Except for such arrangements solely between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries, there are no outstanding options or rights of first refusal in favor of any other party to purchase any Company Owned Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein that would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the existing use of the Company Owned Real Property by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the operation of their respective businesses thereon. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is currently leasing, subleasing, licensing or otherwise granting any person the right to use or occupy all or any portion of any Company Real Property that would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the existing use of such Company Real Property by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the operation of their respective businesses thereon. The Company Real Property constitutes all of the material real estate used in and necessary for the operation of the respective businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

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(e) There is no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, appropriation, condemnation or like Proceeding or order by any Governmental Authority or any other Person materially affecting any material Company Owned Real Property or any part thereof or of any sale or other disposition of any material Company Owned Real Property or any part thereof in lieu of condemnation or other matters materially affecting and impairing the current use, occupancy or value thereof.

(f) All material proceeds from the sale of Hydrocarbons produced from the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries are being received by the Company or its Subsidiaries in a timely manner and are not being held in suspense for any reason.

(g) To the Knowledge of the Company, all of the Hydrocarbon Wells and all water, CO₂ or injection Wells located on the Oil and Gas Leases or of the Company and its Subsidiaries or otherwise associated with an Oil and Gas Property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been drilled, completed and operated, as applicable, within the limits permitted by the applicable contracts and applicable Law, in all material respects, and all drilling and completion (and plugging and abandonment, including plugging and abandonment of permanently plugged wells located on the Oil and Gas Leases) of the Hydrocarbon Wells and such other Wells and all related development, production and other operations have been conducted in compliance with all applicable Law in all material respects.

(h) All Oil and Gas Properties operated by the Company and or any of its Subsidiaries have been operated in accordance with reasonable, prudent oil and gas field practices and in material compliance with the applicable Oil and Gas Leases and in material compliance with applicable Company Material Agreements, material joint operating agreements, and applicable Law.

(i) None of the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any preferential purchase, consent, transfer fee, termination fee, capital recovery fee, payout or similar right or obligation that would become operative or be required by the Company or any of its Affiliates as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(j) None of the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any Tax partnership agreement or provisions requiring a partnership income Tax Return to be filed under Subchapter K of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Code.

(k) Except as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company or one of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, or in the case of leased property and assets, has valid leasehold interests in or valid rights under contract to use, all tangible personal property reflected on the Company balance sheet or acquired after the Balance Sheet Date, except for tangible personal property sold since the Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of business, and none of such property or assets is subject to any Lien, except Permitted Encumbrances.

(l) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, to the Knowledge of the Company, all Production Burdens under any Company Material Agreement have been properly and timely paid (or which constitute suspense funds) and all expenses payable under the terms of the agreements and contracts have been properly and timely paid except for such expenses as are being currently paid prior to delinquency in the ordinary course of business.

(m) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no outstanding authorization for expenditure or similar request or invoice for funding or participation under any agreement or contract which are binding on the Company, its Subsidiaries or any Oil and Gas Properties and which the Company reasonably anticipates will individually require expenditures by the Company or its Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000.

5.16   Litigation.   

(a) Except with respect to environmental matters (which are provided for in Section 5.13), there are no civil, criminal or administrative actions, suits, litigation, claims, causes of action, investigations, arbitrations, mediations or other proceedings (collectively, “Proceedings”) pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets or property or to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets or property is otherwise a party or subject or, to the Knowledge of the Company, a threatened party, except for Proceedings that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or to prevent or materially delay consummation of the Merger.

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(b) There is no judgment, settlement, order, decision, direction, writ, injunction, decree, stipulation or legal or arbitration award of, or promulgated or issued by, any Governmental Authority in effect to which any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or subject which materially interferes with, or would be reasonably expected to materially interfere with, the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted.

5.17   Information Supplied.   None of the information supplied (or to be supplied) by or on behalf of the Company specifically for inclusion in (a) the Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto, is filed with the SEC or at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, or (b) the Proxy Statement (which will be included as a prospectus in the Registration Statement) will, on the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to Company Stockholders, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and at the time of the Company Meeting contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to information supplied by or on behalf of Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Affiliates or Representatives for inclusion or incorporation by reference in any of the foregoing documents.

5.18   Tax Matters.   

(a) (i) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has filed when due (taking into account extensions of time for filing) with the appropriate Taxing Authority all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it and all such Tax Returns were complete and correct in all material respects, and (ii) all material Taxes owed by the Company and its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return), including Taxes required to be collected or withheld from payments to employees, creditors, shareholders, independent contractors or other Third Parties, have been duly and timely paid in full, except in each case of clause (i) and (ii) for amounts being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP.

(b) There is no Proceeding now pending against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any material Tax, paid or unpaid, or material Tax Return, nor has any written adjustment with respect to a material Tax Return or written claim for additional material Tax been received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is still pending.

(c) There is no outstanding waiver or extension of any applicable statute of limitations for the assessment or collection of material Taxes due from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(d) No written claim has been made by any Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not currently file a Tax Return that it is or may be subject to any material Tax in such jurisdiction, nor has any such assertion been threatened or proposed in writing and received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(e) There are no Liens for Taxes upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than Permitted Encumbrances.

(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has participated in a “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b) or Treasury Regulations Section 301.6111-2(b).

(g) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any Tax allocation, sharing, indemnity or reimbursement agreement or arrangement (excluding any such agreements pursuant to customary provisions in contracts not primarily related to Taxes).

(h) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a member of an affiliated group within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code (or any similar group defined under a similar provision of foreign, state or local Law), other than a group of which the Company or any Subsidiary is or was the common parent, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liability for material Taxes of any other person (other than Taxes of the Company or any Subsidiary) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of foreign, state or local Law), as a transferee or successor, by contract (other than pursuant to any customary Tax indemnification provisions in ordinary course commercial agreements or arrangements that are not primarily related to Taxes) or otherwise.

(i) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary will be required, as a result of (A) a change in accounting method for a Tax period beginning on or before the Closing, to include any material adjustment under Section 481(c) of the

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Code (or any similar provision of Tax Law) in taxable income for any Tax period beginning on or after the Closing Date; (B) any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar provision of Tax Law); (C) an installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; (D) a prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date; or (E) an election under Section 108(i) of the Code, to include any material item of income in or exclude any material item of deduction from any Tax period beginning on or after the Closing.

(j) Within the last two years, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to any transaction intended to qualify under Section 355 of the Code.

(k) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken or agreed to take any action that would prevent the Integrated Mergers from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is aware of any agreement, plan or other circumstance that would prevent the Integrated Mergers from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

5.19   Employee Benefits.   

(a) Section 5.19(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of each material Employee Benefit Plan sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates or for which the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates has or could have any liability, contingent or otherwise (each, a “Company Employee Benefit Plan”).

(b) With respect to each Company Employee Benefit Plan, the Company has heretofore provided to Parent a true and complete copy, or summary if no plan document exists, of (i) each Company Employee Benefit Plan and all amendments thereto, (ii) each trust agreement or annuity contract, if any, in effect as of the date hereof that relates to any Company Employee Benefit Plan, (iii) the most recently prepared actuarial valuation report in connection with each Company Employee Benefit Plan for which an actuarial valuation report was required to be prepared under applicable Law, (iv) the most recent annual report on Form 5500 required to be filed with the IRS, if applicable, and (v) the most recently received IRS determination letter, if applicable.

(c) Each Company Employee Benefit Plan has been operated and administered, in all respects, in accordance with its terms, and in compliance with the applicable provisions of all Laws applicable to such Company Employee Benefit Plan, and complies with such terms and such Laws, in each case except where the failure to be so administered or to so comply, would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. There are no proceedings, audits or other claims (except routine claims for benefits payable under the Company Employee Benefit Plans) pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or involving any Company Employee Benefit Plan that would be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has any unsatisfied liability under Title IV of ERISA and there do not now exist, nor do any circumstances exist that would result in, any liabilities of the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates under (i) Title IV of ERISA, (ii) Section 302 of ERISA or (iii) Sections 412 and 4971 of the Code, in each case, that would reasonably be expected to be a liability of the Surviving Corporation or its Affiliates following the Effective Time. No Company Employee Benefit Plan is (and has not been in the last six years) subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.

(e) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect, each Company Employee Benefit Plan intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and each trust maintained thereunder is exempt from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code.

(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liability for providing health, medical or other welfare benefits after retirement or other termination of employment (other than for continuation coverage required under Section 4980(B)(f) of the Code or other applicable Law, for coverage through the end of the month of termination or for coverage during an applicable severance benefit period).

(g) The Company and its Affiliates are, and have been, in compliance in all respects with all applicable Law relating to the employment of labor or the engagement of independent contractors, including all such applicable Law relating to wages and other compensation, hours, overtime, collective bargaining, discrimination, retaliation, immigration status, layoffs, plant closings, classification of employees and independent contractors, civil rights, safety and health and workers’ compensation, except where the failure to comply would not, individually or in the

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aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Affiliates have complied with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, and similar state and local Laws related to plant closings, relocations, mass layoffs and employment losses (the “WARN Act”) and neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates have any plans to undertake any action that would give rise to any notice obligation or other obligation under the WARN Act.

(h) Except as otherwise provided under this Agreement, the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, either alone or in combination with another event (where such other event by itself would not result in such consequence), (i) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due to any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether by virtue of any termination, severance, change of control or similar benefits or otherwise), (ii) entitle any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to severance pay or any other payment, (iii) cause the Company to transfer or set aside any assets to fund any benefits under any Company Employee Benefit Plan or (iv) limit or restrict the right to amend, terminate, or transfer the assets of any Company Employee Benefit Plan on or following the Effective Time. The Company has made available to Parent calculations prepared by a nationally recognized accounting firm, using reasonable good faith assumptions, which estimates potential “parachute payments” (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2)(A) of the Code) to “disqualified individuals” (within the meaning of Section 280G(c) of the Code) with respect to any payment or benefit made in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(i) The Company and its Affiliates are neither party to, subject to, nor bound by, any labor agreement, collective bargaining agreement, work rules or practices, or any other labor-related agreements or arrangements with any labor union or labor organization; there are no labor agreements, collective bargaining agreements, work rules or practices, or any other labor-related agreements or arrangements that pertain to any Employees; no Employees are represented by any labor union, labor organization or works council with respect to their employment with the Company or any of its Affiliates.

(j) No labor union, labor organization or group of Employees has made a pending demand for recognition or certification, and there are no representation or certification proceedings or petitions seeking a representation proceeding presently pending or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing to be brought or filed with the National Labor Relations Board or any other labor relations tribunal or authority. To the Knowledge of the Company, no labor union is engaging in organizing activities with respect to any Employees.

(k) Since January 1, 2014, there has been no actual or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened unfair labor practice charges, grievances, arbitrations, strikes, lockouts, work stoppages, slowdowns, picketing, hand billing or other labor disputes against or affecting the Company or any of its Affiliates that would individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(l) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries are not delinquent in payments to any Employees or former employees of the Company or any of its Affiliates for any services or amounts required to be reimbursed or otherwise paid.

5.20   Intellectual Property.   The Company and its Subsidiaries own or have the right to use all Intellectual Property necessary for the operation of its business as presently conducted (collectively, the “Company Intellectual Property”) free and clear of all Encumbrances except for Permitted Encumbrances, except where the failure to own or have the right to use such Intellectual Property would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The use of the Company Intellectual Property by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the operation of the business of the Company as presently conducted does not infringe upon, misappropriate or otherwise conflict with any Intellectual Property of any other Person, except for such matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries exclusively own the material Intellectual Property applications and registrations purported to be owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Encumbrances, and such registrations are in full force and effect, and to the Knowledge of the Company, valid and enforceable in all material respects. The Company and its Subsidiaries use and have used commercially reasonable efforts to protect their material trade secrets and confidential information, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there have been no material compromises thereof. There are no information technology (including oil and gas infrastructure control system) deficiencies material to the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Company and its Subsidiaries take

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reasonable measures with respect to cybersecurity and business continuity and, since two (2) years prior to the date hereof, there have been no material information technology (including oil and gas infrastructure control system) outages nor any material information system, data or other cybersecurity breaches or compromises.

5.21   Financial Advisors.   Except for the Company Financial Advisors, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company is solely responsible for the fees and expenses of the Company Financial Advisors as and to the extent set forth in the engagement letters dated January 5, 2017. The Company has previously delivered to Parent a complete and accurate copy of each such engagement letter.

5.22   Regulatory Matters.   

(a) The Company is not a “holding company,” a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” an affiliate of a “holding company,” a “public utility” or a “public-utility company,” as each such term is defined in the U.S. Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005.

(b) All properties and related facilities constituting the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ properties (including any facilities under development) are (i) exempt from regulation by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under Applicable Law and (ii) not subject to rate regulation or comprehensive nondiscriminatory access regulation under the laws of any state or other local jurisdiction, including regulation by the Railroad Commission of Texas as a “utility,” “gas utility,” “local distribution company,” “gas gathering utility,” or “common carrier.”

(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries conducts any business of any kind with any U.S. federal Governmental Authority, directly or indirectly, including in respect of sales into the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and no such business is currently contemplated.

(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns, controls, or has under development any (i) refining capacity or (ii) oil or gas transportation infrastructure (other than gathering facilities).

5.23   Insurance.   The insurance policies maintained by the Company and its Subsidiaries are with reputable insurance carriers, provide full and adequate coverage for all normal risks incident to the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective properties and assets, and are in character and amount customary for Persons engaged in similar businesses and subject to the same or similar perils or hazards. All such insurance policies are in full force and effect, all premiums due with respect thereto have been paid and, since the most recent renewal date, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not received any written notice threatening termination of, premium increase with respect to, or material alteration of coverage under, any of such policies.

5.24   Affiliate Transactions.   No Related Person, other than in his or her capacity as a director, officer or employee of any of the Company or its Subsidiaries (a) is involved, directly or indirectly, in any material business arrangement or other material relationship with any of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (b) directly or indirectly owns, or otherwise has any right, title, interest in, to or under, any material property or right, tangible or intangible, that is used by any of the Company or its Subsidiaries and is material to the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, taken as a whole.

5.25   Fairness Opinion.   The Company Board has received the opinion of Goldman, Sachs & Co. to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion, and based upon and subject to the various qualifications, assumptions and limitations set forth therein, the Merger Consideration to be paid to the holders (other than Parent and its Affiliates) of Company Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders (other than Parent and its Affiliates) of Company Common Shares. A signed copy of the written opinion will be delivered to Parent promptly after receipt thereof by the Company solely for informational purposes.

5.26   Section 203 of the DGCL.   Assuming that the representations and warranties contained in Section 6.16 are true and correct, the Company Board has taken all actions necessary so that the restrictions contained in Section 203 of the DGCL applicable to a “business combination” (as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL) shall not apply to the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Non-Dissent Agreements or the Support Agreement. Except for Section 203 of the DGCL (which has been rendered inapplicable), there is no “moratorium,” “control share,” “fair price” or other anti-takeover Law or similar statute or regulation that would apply to the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, the Non-Dissent Agreements or the

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Support Agreement or the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. The Company has no stockholder rights plan, “poison-pill” or other comparable agreement designed to have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging any Person from acquiring control of the Company.

5.27   Independent Investigation.   Company represents, warrants, covenants and agrees, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, that (i) in determining to enter into and consummate this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, it is not relying upon, and has not been induced by, any representation or warranty made or purportedly made by or on behalf of any Person, other than those expressly made by Parent and Merger Sub as set forth in Article VI, (ii) any estimate, projection forecast, plan, budget or other prediction, any data, any financial information or any memoranda or presentations, including any memoranda and materials provided by or on behalf of Parent, Merger Sub, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any other Person, are not and shall not be deemed to be or to include representations or warranties, except to the extent explicitly set forth in Article VI hereof as a representation and warranty by Parent or Merger Sub.

5.28   No Other Representations and Warranties.    Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the representations and warranties of the Company expressly set forth in Article V are and shall constitute the sole and exclusive representations and warranties made with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Except for the representations and warranties referred to in previous sentence, none of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any other Person has made or is making any express or implied representations or warranty, statutory or otherwise, of any nature, including with respect to any express or implied representation or warranty as to the merchantability, quality, quantity, suitability or fitness for any particular purpose of the business or the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article V, all other warranties, express or implied, statutory or otherwise, of any nature, including with respect to any express or implied representation or warranty as to the merchantability, quality, quantity, suitability or fitness for any particular purpose of the business or the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, are hereby expressly disclaimed.

ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

Except as set forth in (a) all forms, registration statements, reports, schedules and statements filed by Parent with the SEC under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act since January 1, 2015 and prior to the date of this Agreement, and in each case including all exhibits and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein (collectively, the “Parent SEC Documents”) (but (i) excluding any disclosure contained in any such Parent SEC Documents under the heading “Risk Factors” or “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” or similar heading (other than any historical factual information contained within such headings, disclosure or statements) and (ii) without giving effect to any amendment thereof or supplement thereto filed with, or furnished to, the SEC on or after the date hereof), but only to the extent (A) such Parent SEC Documents are publicly available on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System and (B) the relevance of the applicable disclosure as an exception to the applicable representations and warranties is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure or (b) the Parent Disclosure Schedule prior to the execution of this Agreement (provided that (i) disclosure in any section of such Parent Disclosure Schedule is deemed to be disclosed with respect to any other section of this Agreement to the extent that it is reasonably apparent on the face of the Parent Disclosure Schedule that such disclosure is applicable to such other section notwithstanding the omission of a reference or cross reference thereto and (ii) the mere inclusion of an item in such Parent Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty is not deemed an admission that such item represents a material exception or material fact, event or circumstance or that such item has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent (a “Parent Material Adverse Effect”)), Parent and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

6.1   Organization, General Authority and Standing.   Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the state of Delaware. Section 6.1 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of Parent’s Subsidiaries. Each of Parent’s Subsidiaries is validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization. Each of Parent and Merger Sub (a) has all corporate or other organizational power and authority required to own, lease or otherwise hold, use and operate its properties, rights and other assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted and (b) is duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good standing to do business as a foreign organization in each jurisdiction in which the conduct or nature of its business or the ownership, leasing, holding or operating of its properties makes such

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licensing or qualification necessary, except in the case of clause (b) such jurisdictions where the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Parent has made available to the Company complete and accurate copies of the Parent Charter, Parent Bylaws, Merger Sub Charter and Merger Sub Bylaws, each as amended to the date of this Agreement, and each such document as so delivered is in full force and effect, and neither Parent nor Merger Sub is in material violation of any of the provisions contained therein.

6.2   Capitalization.   

(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized capital stock of Parent consists of 1,000,000,000 Parent Common Shares and 4,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Parent Preferred Stock”). As of the date hereof, there are (i) 431,200,654 Parent Common Shares (excluding Parent Common Shares held in the treasury of Parent and unvested Parent Restricted Shares) issued and outstanding, (ii) 37,309,628 Parent Common Shares held in the treasury of Parent, and (iii) no shares of Parent Preferred Stock issued and outstanding or held in treasury. All of the issued and outstanding Parent Common Shares were duly authorized and are validly issued in accordance with the Parent Charter, are fully paid and nonassessable and are not subject to any preemptive or similar rights (and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights). All Parent Common Shares that may be issued or granted pursuant to the exercise of Parent Options will be, when issued or granted in accordance with the respective terms thereof, duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Parent Charter, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive or similar rights (and will not be issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights).

(b) As of the date hereof, except as set forth above in Section 6.2(a) and except for 15,018,332 Parent Common Shares reserved for issuance on exercise of Parent Options outstanding on the date hereof pursuant to the Parent Stock Plans and except for 2,874,312 outstanding Company Restricted Shares, (i) there are no shares, partnership interests, limited liability company interests or other equity securities of Parent, including any Parent Common Shares and any shares of Parent Preferred Stock, issued or authorized and reserved for issuance, (ii) there are no outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, subscriptions, calls or other Rights, convertible securities, exchangeable securities, agreements or commitments of any character obligating Parent to (A) issue, transfer or sell any equity interests of Parent or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for such equity interests, (B) grant, extend or enter into any such subscription, option, warrant, call, convertible securities or other similar Right, agreement or arrangement, (C) make any payment to any person the value of which is derived from or calculated based on the value of Parent Common Shares, or (D) make any commitment to authorize, issue or sell any such equity interests or securities or other Rights, except pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) there are no contractual obligations of Parent to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any equity interest in Parent or any such securities or agreements listed in clause (ii) of this sentence, and (iv) there are no agreements granting any preemptive or antidilutive or similar rights with respect to any security issued by Parent.

(c) All outstanding Parent Common Shares have been issued and granted in compliance in all material respects with (i) applicable securities Laws and other applicable Law and (ii) all requirements set forth in applicable contracts.

(d) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness, the holders of which have the right to vote (or which are convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the holders of Parent Common Shares on any matter.

(e) There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with respect to the voting or registration of capital stock or other equity interest of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

6.3   Equity Interests in other Entities.   Other than ownership interests in its Subsidiaries as set forth in Section 6.1 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, Parent does not own beneficially, directly or indirectly, any equity securities or similar interests of any person, or any interest in a partnership or joint venture of any kind. Parent owns such interests in its Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Encumbrances.

6.4   Power, Authority and Approvals of Transactions.   Parent has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action by Parent (subject to the adoption of this Agreement, following its execution, by the sole stockholder of Merger Sub). This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and,

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assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Other Party hereto, constitutes, or will constitute at the Effective Time, Parent’s and Merger Sub’s valid and binding obligations, enforceable against Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms (except to the extent that its enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles).

6.5   No Violations or Defaults.   Subject to required filings under federal and state securities laws and with the NYSE, assuming the other consents and approvals contemplated by Section 6.6 and Article VIII are duly obtained and assuming the consents, waivers and approvals specified in Section 7.9(a) are obtained, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by Parent do not and will not: (i) constitute a breach or violation of, or result in a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default) under, or result in the termination or in a right of termination, cancellation or modification of, or result in the acceleration of performance required by or the loss of any benefit to which any of Parent or its Subsidiaries is entitled under, any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, franchise, lease, contract, agreement, joint venture, permit or other instrument or obligation to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective properties is subject or bound except for such breaches, violations, defaults, terminations, cancellations or accelerations which, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, (ii) conflict with or constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under the Parent Charter or Parent Bylaws, or the similar organizational documents of any of Parent’s Subsidiaries, (iii) materially contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law binding upon or applicable to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or (iv) result in the creation of any material Lien on any of the assets of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

6.6   Consents and Approvals.   No consents or approvals of, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person are necessary in connection with (i) the execution and delivery by Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement or (ii) the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for (A) the filing with the SEC of the registration statement on Form S-4 by Parent in connection with the issuance of New Common Shares in connection with the Merger (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Registration Statement”) and other filings required under federal or state securities laws, (B) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (C) any consents, authorizations, approvals, filings or exemptions in connection with compliance with the rules of the NYSE, (D) such filings and approvals as may be required to be made or obtained under the Antitrust Laws, and (E) such other consents, authorizations, approvals, filings or registrations the absence or unavailability of which would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially delay consummation of the Merger.

6.7   Financial Reports and Parent SEC Documents.   

(a) Since January 1, 2015, Parent has filed with or furnished to the SEC all forms, registration statements, reports, schedules and statements required to be filed or furnished under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act. At the time filed (or, in the case of registration statements, solely on the dates of effectiveness) (except to the extent amended by a subsequently filed Parent SEC Document prior to the date hereof, in which case as of the date of such amendment), each Parent SEC Document complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as the case may be, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to the Parent SEC Documents and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(b) Any consolidated financial statements of Parent included in the Parent SEC Documents as of their respective dates (if amended, as of the date of the last such amendment): (A) complied as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto; (B) were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be expressly indicated in the notes thereto, to the extent permitted by applicable SEC regulations); and (C) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly statements, to normal year-end adjustments which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material). The financial statements to be filed by Parent with the SEC after the date of this Agreement (i) will comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and

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regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) will be prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be expressly indicated in the notes thereto), and (iii) will fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited quarterly statements, to normal year-end adjustments which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material).

6.8   Internal Controls and Procedures.   Parent has established and maintains internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures (as such terms are defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting, including policies and procedures that (a) mandate the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the material transactions and dispositions of the assets of Parent and its Subsidiaries, (b) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of Parent and its Subsidiaries are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations of management and the Parent Board and (c) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the assets of Parent and its Subsidiaries. Such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to Parent, including its Subsidiaries, required to be disclosed by Parent in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to Parent’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Parent’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Parent in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms. Parent’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer have disclosed, based on their most recent evaluation, to Parent’s auditors and the audit committee of the Parent Board (x) all significant deficiencies, if any, in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect Parent’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for Parent’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls and (y) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Parent’s internal controls. To the Knowledge of Parent, since January 1, 2014, no complaints from any source regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters have been received by Parent. Since January 1, 2014, Parent has not received any material complaints through Parent’s whistleblower hotline or equivalent system for receipt of employee concerns regarding possible violations of applicable Law. Since January 1, 2014, no attorney representing Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a violation of applicable Law that are securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by Parent or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents to Parent’s chief legal officer, audit committee of the Parent Board or to the Parent Board pursuant to the rules adopted pursuant to Section 307 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or any Parent policy contemplating such reporting. The principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of Parent have made all certifications required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Exchange Act and any related rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC with respect to the Parent SEC Documents, and the statements contained in such certifications were complete and accurate as of the dates they were made.

6.9   Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.   Except as disclosed in the audited financial statements (or notes thereto) included in Parent’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, the unaudited financial statements (or notes thereto) included in Parent’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016, and in the financial statements (or notes thereto) included in subsequent Parent SEC Documents filed by Parent prior to the date hereof, neither Parent nor any of its consolidated Subsidiaries had at the Balance Sheet Date, or has incurred since that date, any liabilities or obligations (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) of any nature, except liabilities, obligations or contingencies that (A) are accrued or reserved against in the financial statements of Parent included in the Parent SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, or reflected in the notes thereto, (B) were incurred since the Balance Sheet Date and prior to the date hereof in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices and that would not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect or (C) relate to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

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6.10   Absence of Certain Changes or Events.   

(a) Since the Balance Sheet Date, there has not been any change, event, development, circumstance, condition, occurrence or effect that has had, or would be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Since the Balance Sheet Date, except for this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, Parent and its Subsidiaries have carried on and operated their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course of business.

6.11   Compliance with Applicable Law.   Each of Parent and its Subsidiaries is and has been in compliance with all, and is not in default under or in violation of any, applicable Laws (other than any Laws relating to Taxes), including the FCPA, other than any noncompliance, default or violation which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written communication since January 1, 2014 from a Governmental Authority that alleges that Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is not in compliance with or is in default or violation of any applicable Law, including the FCPA, except where such non-compliance, default or violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. No investigation or review by any Governmental Authority with respect to any of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened, nor, to the Knowledge of Parent, has any Governmental Authority indicated an intention to conduct the same, except where such investigation or review would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

6.12   Litigation.   There are no Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened, against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets or property or to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets or property is otherwise a party or, to the Knowledge of Parent, a threatened party, except for Proceedings that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect or to prevent or materially delay consummation of the Merger.

6.13   Information Supplied.   None of the information supplied (or to be supplied) by or on behalf of Parent specifically for inclusion in (a) the Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto, is filed with the SEC or at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, or (b) the Proxy Statement (which will be included as a prospectus in the Registration Statement) will, on the date the Proxy Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto is first mailed to Company Stockholders, and at the time of the Company Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Registration Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent makes no representation or warranty with respect to information supplied by or on behalf of the Company or its Affiliates or Representatives for inclusion or incorporation by reference in any of the foregoing documents.

6.14   Employee Benefits.   

(a) Each Employee Benefit Plan sponsored, maintained or contributed to by Parent or any of its ERISA Affiliates or for which Parent or any of its ERISA Affiliates has or could have any liability, contingent or otherwise (each, a “Parent Employee Benefit Plan”) has been operated and administered, in all material respects, in accordance with its terms, and in compliance with all applicable Laws, in each case except where the failure to be so administered or to so comply, would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. There are no proceedings, audits or other claims (except routine claims for benefits payable under the Parent Employee Benefit Plans) pending or, to the Knowledge of the Parent, threatened against or involving any Parent Employee Benefit Plan that would be reasonably expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Parent and its Affiliates are, and have been, in compliance in all respects with all applicable Law relating to the employment of labor or the engagement of independent contractors, including all such applicable Law relating to wages and other compensation, hours, overtime, collective bargaining, discrimination, retaliation, immigration status, layoffs, plant closings, classification of employees and independent contractors, civil rights, safety and health and workers’ compensation, except where the failure to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, be

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reasonably expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, Parent and its Affiliates have complied with the WARN Act and neither Parent nor any of its Affiliates have any plans to undertake any action that would give rise to any notice obligation or other obligation under the WARN Act.

(c) Since January 1, 2014, there has been no actual or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened unfair labor practice charges, grievances, arbitrations, strikes, lockouts, work stoppages, slowdowns, picketing, hand billing or other labor disputes against or affecting Parent or any of its Affiliates that would individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, Parent and its Subsidiaries are not delinquent in payments to any current or former employees for any services or amounts required to be reimbursed or otherwise paid.

6.15   Tax Matters.

(a) (i) Each of Parent and its Subsidiaries has filed when due (taking into account extensions of time for filing) with the appropriate Taxing Authority all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it and all such Tax Returns were complete and correct in all material respects, and (ii) all material Taxes owed by Parent and its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return), including Taxes required to be collected or withheld from payments to employees, creditors, shareholders, independent contractors or other third parties, have been duly and timely paid in full, except in each case of clause (i) and (ii) for amounts being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP.

(b) There is no Proceeding now pending against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any material Tax, paid or unpaid, or material Tax Return, nor has any written adjustment with respect to a material Tax Return or written claim for additional material Tax been received by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries that is still pending.

(c) Within the last two years, neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to any transaction intended to qualify under Section 355 of the Code.

(d) For U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) Parent is treated as directly owning all of the equity interests in Merger Sub and (ii) Marshall Texas is currently, and has been since its formation, classified as an entity whose existence is disregarded as separate from Parent.

(e) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken or agreed to take any action that would prevent the Integrated Mergers from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is aware of any agreement, plan or other circumstance that would prevent the Integrated Mergers from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

6.16   Status under Section 203 of the DGCL.   Neither Parent nor Merger Sub, nor any of their respective “affiliates” and “associates” (as such terms are defined in Section 203 of the DGCL (“Section 203”), is, or at any time within the past three years has been, an “interested stockholder” of the Company (as such term is defined in Section 203).

6.17   Insurance Coverage.   The insurance policies maintained by Parent and its Subsidiaries are with reputable insurance carriers, provide full and adequate coverage for all normal risks incident to the businesses of Parent and its Subsidiaries and their respective properties and assets, and are in character and amount customary for Persons engaged in similar businesses and subject to the same or similar perils or hazards. All such insurance policies are in full force and effect, all premiums due with respect thereto have been paid and, since the most recent renewal date, Parent and its Subsidiaries have not received any written notice threatening termination of, premium increase with respect to, or material alteration of coverage under, any of such policies.

6.18   Operations of Merger Sub.   Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and has engaged in no business other than in connection with entering into this Agreement and engaging in the transactions contemplated hereby.

6.19   Sufficiency of Funds.   Parent and Merger Sub have, or as of the Effective Time will have, available to them sufficient funds to pay all cash amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement. Parent and Merger Sub expressly acknowledge and agree that their obligations hereunder are not subject to, or conditioned on, receipt of financing.

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6.20   Independent Investigation.   Parent represents, warrants, covenants and agrees, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, that (i) in determining to enter into and consummate this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, it is not relying upon, and has not been induced by, any representation or warranty made or purportedly made by or on behalf of any Person, other than those expressly made by the Company as set forth in Article V, (ii) any estimate, projection forecast, plan, budget or other prediction, any data, any financial information or any memoranda or presentations, including any memoranda and materials provided by or on behalf of the Company, any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any other Person, are not and shall not be deemed to be or to include representations or warranties, except to the extent explicitly set forth in Article V hereof as a representation and warranty by the Company.

6.21   No Other Representations and Warranties.   Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub expressly set forth in Article VI are and shall constitute the sole and exclusive representations and warranties made with respect to Parent, Merger Sub and their respective Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Except for the representations and warranties referred to in previous sentence, none of Parent, Merger Sub, their respective Subsidiaries or any other Person has made or is making any express or implied representations or warranty, statutory or otherwise, of any nature, including with respect to any express or implied representation or warranty as to the merchantability, quality, quantity, suitability or fitness for any particular purpose of the business or the assets of Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Subsidiaries. Except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article VI, all other warranties, express or implied, statutory or otherwise, of any nature, including with respect to any express or implied representation or warranty as to the merchantability, quality, quantity, suitability or fitness for any particular purpose of the business or the assets of Parent, Merger Sub and their respective Subsidiaries, are hereby expressly disclaimed.

ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS

The Company hereby covenants to and agrees with Parent, and Parent and Merger Sub hereby covenant to and agree with the Company, on their behalf and on behalf of the Surviving Corporation, that:

7.1   Consummation of the Merger.   

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including Section 7.1(d)), Parent and Merger Sub, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, will cooperate with each other and use (and will cause their respective Subsidiaries to use) its reasonable best efforts (subject to, and in accordance with, applicable Law) to: (i) take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to be done, promptly and to assist and cooperate with the Other Party in doing, all things, necessary, proper or advisable to cause the conditions to the Closing to be satisfied as promptly as practicable (and in any event no later than the Outside Date) and to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the Merger, including preparing and filing promptly and fully all documentation to effect all necessary filings, notifications, notices, petitions, statements, registrations, submissions of information, applications and other documents (including any required or recommended filings under applicable Antitrust Laws), (ii) obtain promptly (and in any event no later than the Outside Date) all approvals, consents, clearances, expirations or terminations of waiting periods, registrations, permits, authorizations and other confirmations from any Governmental Authority or Third Party necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Merger, (iii) defend any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the Merger, including seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order entered by any court or Governmental Authority vacated, lifted, overturned or reversed, (iv) obtain all necessary consents, approvals or waivers from Third Parties, and (v) execute and deliver any additional instruments necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company, Parent or Merger Sub (or any of their respective Subsidiaries) be required to pay any penalty, compensation or other consideration to any Third Party for any consent or approval required under any license, contract or agreement for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, “Antitrust Laws” means the Sherman Act, as amended, the Clayton Act, as amended, the HSR Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, and all other applicable Laws issued by a Governmental Authority that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or lessening of competition.

(b) In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each Party hereto agrees to make an appropriate filing of a Notification and Report Form pursuant to the HSR Act with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby as

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promptly as practicable and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the date of this Agreement and to supply as promptly as practicable any additional information and documentary material that may be requested by any Governmental Authority pursuant to the HSR Act or any other Antitrust Law and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken (including by their respective Subsidiaries), all other actions consistent with this Section 7.1 necessary to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act as soon as practicable (and in any event no later than the Outside Date). Parent will pay any HSR Act filing fee.

(c) Each of the Parties hereto will use its reasonable best efforts to: (i) cooperate in all respects with each other in connection with any filing or submission with a Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry by or before a Governmental Authority relating to the Merger, including any proceeding initiated by a private Person; (ii) promptly inform the Other Party of (and supply to the Other Party) any communication received by such Party from, or given by such party to, the Federal Trade Commission, the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, or any other Governmental Authority and any material communication received or given in connection with any proceeding by a private Person, in each case regarding the Merger; (iii) permit the Other Party to review in advance and incorporate the Other Party’s reasonable comments in any communication to be given by it to any Governmental Authority with respect to obtaining any clearances required under any Antitrust Law in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; and (iv) consult with the Other Party in advance of any meeting or teleconference with any Governmental Authority or, in connection with any proceeding by a private Person, with any other Person, and, to the extent not prohibited by the Governmental Authority or other Person, give the Other Party the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and teleconferences. Subject to Section 7.4(a), the Parties will take reasonable efforts to share information protected from disclosure under the attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine, joint defense privilege or any other privilege pursuant to this Section 7.1 in a manner so as to preserve the applicable privilege. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, neither Party is required to disclose to the Other Party its documents responsive to Items 4(c) and 4(d) of the HSR Notification and Report Form.

(d) In furtherance of the covenants set forth in this Section 7.1 and subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 7.1(d), if any objections are asserted with respect to the Merger under any Antitrust Law or if any lawsuit or other proceeding, whether judicial or administrative, is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by the Federal Trade Commission, the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice or any other Governmental Authority challenging the Merger or which would otherwise prohibit or materially impede or delay the consummation of the Merger, each of Parent and the Company shall (and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to) take all actions necessary to resolve any such objections or lawsuits or other proceedings (or threatened lawsuits or other proceedings) so as to permit consummation of the Merger as soon as reasonably practicable, including becoming subject to, consenting to or agreeing to, or otherwise taking any action with respect to, any requirement, condition, understanding, agreement or order to sell, to hold separate or otherwise dispose of, or to conduct, restrict, operate, invest or otherwise change its respective assets or business (including that of its Affiliates) (each, a “Divestiture Action”); provided that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, none of Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall be required to take any such action that would reasonably be expected to impair the benefits of the Merger to Parent or to have a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Parent Material Adverse Effect; provided, further, that the obligations of the parties under this Section 7.1(d) to consummate any such Divestiture Action shall be conditioned upon the occurrence of the Closing or satisfaction of all of the conditions to the Closing in a case where the Closing will occur immediately following such Divestiture Action.

(e) In furtherance and not in limitation of the covenants of the Parties contained in this Section 7.1 (but subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7.1(d)), if any administrative or judicial action or proceeding, including any proceeding by a private Person, is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) challenging the Merger as violative of any Antitrust Law, each of Parent and the Company will use reasonable best efforts to contest and resist any such action or proceeding and to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any decree, judgment, injunction or other order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents or restricts consummation of the Merger.

7.2   Registration Statement; Proxy Statement.

(a) As soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Company and Parent will prepare and the Company will file with the SEC the Proxy Statement and the Company and Parent will prepare and Parent will file with the SEC the Registration Statement, in which the Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus. The Parties shall file, if necessary, any other statement or schedule relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated

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hereby. Each of the Company and Parent shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to furnish the information required to be included by the SEC in the Proxy Statement, the Registration Statement and any such statement or schedule. Each of the Company and Parent will use its reasonable best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing and keep the Registration Statement effective for so long as necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Parent also agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary state securities law or “Blue Sky” permits and approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the Company Stockholders as promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act. No filing of, or amendment or supplement to, the Registration Statement will be made by Parent, and no filing of, or amendment or supplement to, or dissemination to the Company Stockholders of, the Proxy Statement or any other materials used in connection with the Company Meeting that constitute “proxy materials” or “solicitation materials” as those terms are used in Rules 14a-1 through 14a-17 under the Exchange Act or are otherwise used for the “solicitation” of “proxies” as those terms are defined in Rule 14a-1 under the Exchange Act (“Other Proxy Materials”) will be made by the Company without providing the Other Party a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon (and good faith consideration by Parent or the Company, as applicable, of all such comments). If at any time prior to the Effective Time any information relating to the Company or Parent, or any of their respective Affiliates, directors or officers, is discovered by the Company or Parent that should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to either the Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement, so that either such document would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Party that discovers such information will promptly notify the Other Party hereto and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information will be promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by Law, disseminated to the Company Stockholders. The Parties will notify each other promptly of the receipt of any comments from the SEC or the staff of the SEC and of any request by the SEC or the staff of the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement or for additional information and each Party will supply the Other Party with copies of (i) all correspondence between it or any of its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC or the staff of the SEC, on the other hand, with respect to the Proxy Statement, the Registration Statement or the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) all orders of the SEC relating to the Registration Statement; provided that no responses to any oral or written request by the SEC with respect to the Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement or the Other Proxy Materials, will be made by Parent or the Company, as applicable, without providing the Other Party a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon (and good faith consideration by Parent or the Company, as applicable, of all such comments).

(b) Unless this Agreement has been validly terminated as provided in Section 9.1 prior thereto, the Company will, as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, establish a record date for, and as soon as reasonably practicable following the Registration Statement being declared effective by the SEC, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold, the Company Meeting. Without the prior written consent of Parent, the adoption of this Agreement by the Company Stockholders and an advisory vote on compensation payable to executive officers of the Company in connection with the Merger (together with related procedural matters) shall be the only proposals to be submitted to, or voted on by, the Company Stockholders at the Company Meeting. Subject to Section 7.3, the Company will, through the Company Board, recommend to the Company Stockholders that they adopt this Agreement (the “Company Board Recommendation”). The Proxy Statement shall (subject to Section 7.3) include the Company Board Recommendation. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not postpone or adjourn the Company Meeting without the consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), other than (i) to solicit additional proxies for the purpose of obtaining Company Stockholder Approval, (ii) in the absence of a quorum, (iii) to allow reasonable additional time for the filing and/or mailing of any supplemental or amended disclosure that the Company Board has determined, after consultation with outside legal counsel, is necessary under applicable Law and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated and reviewed by the Company Stockholders prior to the Company Meeting, and (iv) if the Company has delivered any notice contemplated by Section 7.3(e) or Section 7.3(f) and the time periods contemplated by Section 7.3(e) or Section 7.3(f) have not expired to extend the date of the Company Meeting beyond the end of such period.

7.3   Alternative Proposals; Change in Recommendation.   

(a) The Company will, and will cause its Subsidiaries and its and their respective Representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any discussions or negotiations with any Person conducted heretofore

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with respect to any possible Alternative Proposal, and request that each Person who has heretofore executed a confidentiality agreement in connection with such Person’s consideration of any Alternative Proposal return or destroy all confidential information previously provided to such Person by or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Except as permitted by this Section 7.3, the Company will not, and will cause its Subsidiaries and its and their respective Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate (including by way of furnishing information) any inquiries or the making or the submission of any proposal that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, an Alternative Proposal, (ii) participate or engage in any discussions or negotiations with, or disclose any non-public information or data relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or afford access to the properties, books or records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, any Person that has made an Alternative Proposal or to any Person in contemplation of an Alternative Proposal (other than, solely in response to an unsolicited inquiry, to refer the inquiring Person to this Section 7.3 and to limit its conversation or other communication exclusively to such referral), (iii) approve, endorse or recommend (or publicly propose to approve, endorse or recommend) any Alternative Proposal, (iv) enter into any letter of intent, term sheet, memorandum of understanding, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, exchange agreement or any other agreement providing for with respect to an Alternative Proposal or requiring the Company to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, (v) subject to the fiduciary duties of the Company Board, amend or grant any waiver, release or modification under, or fail to enforce, any standstill or similar agreement with respect to any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (vi) resolve or agree to do any of the foregoing. Any violation of the foregoing restrictions by any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or by any Representatives of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not such Representative is so authorized and whether or not such Representative is purporting to act on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a breach of this Agreement by the Company.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7.3, if at any time following the date of this Agreement and prior to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval, (i) the Company has received a written Alternative Proposal that the Company Board believes in good faith is bona fide, (ii) the Company Board, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, determines in good faith that such Alternative Proposal constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in a Superior Proposal, and (iii) the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, that the failure to participate in such negotiations or discussions or to furnish such information or data to such Third Party would be inconsistent with the Company Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law, then the Company may, subject to clauses (w)-(z) below, (A) furnish information, including confidential information, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries to the Person making such Alternative Proposal and (B) participate in discussions or negotiations regarding such Alternative Proposal; provided that (w) such Alternative Proposal was received after the date of this Agreement, such Alternative Proposal was not initiated, solicited, encouraged or facilitated in violation of Section 7.3(a) and such Alternative Proposal has not been withdrawn, (x) the Company provides to Parent the notice required by Section 7.3(c) with respect to such Alternative Proposal, (y) the Company will not, and will cause its Subsidiaries and its and their respective directors, officers and employees not to, and will use reasonable best efforts to cause their respective other Representatives not to, disclose any non-public information to such Person unless the Company has, or first enters into, a confidentiality agreement with such Person with confidentiality provisions that are not materially less restrictive to such Person than the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement are to Parent, a copy of which shall be promptly provided to Parent (it being agreed that such confidentiality agreement between the Company and such person shall permit such person to make any non-public Alternative Proposal to the Company Board) and (z) prior to or substantially concurrently with providing or making available to such other Person any non-public information about the Company and its Subsidiaries that was not previously provided or made available to Parent, the Company will provide such non-public information to Parent. If Parent or the Company believes that there has been a breach by a Third Party (or its Representatives) of any standstill provisions to which such Third Party and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or Parent or the Company reasonably anticipates such a breach, then upon written request by Parent, the Company, subject to the fiduciary duties of the Company Board, shall take all necessary actions to enforce such standstill provision.

(c) In addition to the obligations of the Company set forth in this Section 7.3, the Company will promptly (and in no event later than twenty-four (24) hours) after receipt of any Alternative Proposal or any inquiry or request for discussions or negotiations regarding an Alternative Proposal or non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with an Alternative Proposal advise Parent orally and in writing of such Alternative Proposal, inquiry or request (including providing the identity of the person making or submitting such

55

Alternative Proposal, inquiry or request and, (x) if it is in writing, a copy of such Alternative Proposal, inquiry or request and any related draft agreements and (y) if oral, a reasonably detailed summary thereof) (and any changes thereto). The Company will keep Parent reasonably informed of material developments with respect to any such Alternative Proposal (and in no event later than twenty-four (24) hours following any such development).

(d) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7.3, neither the Company Board nor any committee thereof will directly or indirectly: (i) withhold, withdraw, modify, qualify or fail to make, or publicly propose to withhold, withdraw, modify, qualify or fail to make, in any manner adverse to Parent, the Company Board Recommendation, including by failing to include the Company Board Recommendation in the Proxy Statement and Registration Statement, (ii) publicly approve, adopt or recommend, or publicly propose to approve, adopt or recommend, any Alternative Proposal, (iii) approve, adopt or recommend, or publicly propose to approve, adopt or recommend, or allow the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to execute or enter into, any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement, or other similar contract or any tender or exchange offer providing for, with respect to, or in connection with, any Alternative Proposal, (iv) approve any transaction under, or any Third Party becoming, an “interested stockholder” under, Section 203 of the DGCL (or similar concepts under any other applicable Takeover Law), or (v) resolve, propose, agree or publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing (any action described in this Section 7.3(d) being referred to as a “Change in Recommendation”). For the avoidance of doubt, a public statement that merely describes the Company’s receipt of an Alternative Proposal and the operation of this Agreement with respect thereto shall not be deemed a Change in Recommendation.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company receives a written Alternative Proposal that the Company Board believes in good faith is bona fide and such Alternative Proposal was not initiated, solicited, encouraged or facilitated in violation of Section 7.3(a) and the Company Board (i) after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, concludes that such Alternative Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal and (ii) following consultation with outside legal counsel, determines that the failure of the Company Board to make a Change in Recommendation would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, then the Company Board may at any time prior to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval, terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(h) and pay Parent a Termination Fee and/or effect a Change in Recommendation (provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective unless and until the Company shall have paid the Termination Fee in accordance with Section 9.4(c)); provided, however, that the Company Board may not take such action pursuant to the foregoing unless:

(i) the Company has provided prior written notice (which notice must state that the Company Board has made the determinations contemplated by the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 7.3(d)) to Parent specifying in reasonable detail the reasons for such action (including a description of the material terms of such Superior Proposal, identifying the Person or group making such Superior Proposal and delivering to Parent a copy of the proposed definitive agreement providing for the Alternative Proposal for such Superior Proposal in the form to be entered into and any other relevant proposed transaction agreements) at least four calendar days in advance of its intention to take such action with respect to a Change in Recommendation (the period inclusive of all such days, the “Notice Period”) (it being understood and agreed that any material amendment to the terms of a Superior Proposal shall require a new notice pursuant to this Section 7.3(e) and a new Notice Period, except that such new Notice Period in connection with any amendment shall be for three calendar days from the time Parent receives such notice (as opposed to four calendar days));

(ii) during the Notice Period, the Company has negotiated with Parent in good faith (to the extent Parent desires to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and

(iii) at the end of the Notice Period, the Company Board again concludes in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, and taking into account any adjustment or modification to the terms and conditions of this Agreement proposed by Parent, that such Alternative Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal and that the failure of the Company Board to effect a Change in Recommendation or to terminate this Agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law.

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(iv) For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding any Change in Recommendation pursuant to this Section 7.3, the Company shall not be entitled to enter into any agreement, including any definitive acquisition agreement, with respect to a Superior Proposal unless and until (i) this Agreement is terminated and (ii) if applicable, the Termination Fee has been paid to Parent pursuant to Section 9.4.

(f) Other than in connection with an Alternative Proposal (which shall be subject to Section 7.3(e) and shall not be subject to this Section 7.3(f)), nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict the Company Board from making a Change in Recommendation prior to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval in response to an Intervening Event to the extent that (i) the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Company’s outside legal counsel, that the failure of the Company Board to effect a Change in Recommendation would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, and (ii) (A) the Company provides Parent four calendar days written notice of its intention to take such action, which notice shall specify the reasons therefor, (B) after providing such notice and prior to making such Change in Recommendation, the Company shall negotiate in good faith with Parent during such four calendar day period (to the extent that Parent desires to negotiate) to make such revisions to the terms of this Agreement as would not permit the Company Board to make a Change in Recommendation pursuant to this Section 7.3(f), and (C) the Company Board shall have considered in good faith any changes to this Agreement offered in writing by Parent, and following such four calendar day period, shall have determined in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisors, that the Company Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law would continue to require a Change in Recommendation with respect to such Intervening Event.

(g) Nothing contained in this Agreement will prevent the Company or the Company Board from taking and disclosing to the Company Stockholders a position contemplated by Rule 14d-9 and Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act (or any similar communication to the Company Stockholders) or from making any legally required disclosure to Company Stockholders; provided, however, that any such disclosure that addresses or relates to the approval, recommendation or declaration of advisability by the Company Board with respect to this Agreement or an Alternative Proposal shall be deemed to be a Change in Recommendation unless the Company Board in connection with such communication publicly states that its recommendation with respect to this Agreement has not changed or refers to the prior recommendation of the Company Board. Any “stop-look-and-listen” communication by the Company or the Company Board to the Company Stockholders pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act (or any similar communication to the Company Stockholders) will not be considered a failure to make, or a withdrawal, modification or change in any manner adverse to Parent of, all or a portion of the Company Board Recommendation.

(h) For purposes of this Agreement:

(i) “Alternative Proposal” means any proposal or offer (whether or not in writing) from any Person or “group” (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than Parent and its Subsidiaries, relating to any (A) direct or indirect acquisition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries equal to 20% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries or to which 20% or more of the consolidated revenues or earnings of the Company and its Subsidiaries are attributable, (B) direct or indirect acquisition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of any class of equity securities or capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose business constitutes 20% or more of the net revenues, net income or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (C) tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any Person or “group” (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) beneficially owning 20% or more of the outstanding Company Common Shares, or (D) merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving the Company which is structured to permit such Person or group to acquire beneficial ownership of at least 20% of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries or at least 20% of any class of equity securities or capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose business constitutes 20% or more of the net revenues, net income or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; in each case, other than the transactions contemplated hereby.

(ii) “Intervening Event” means a material event, fact, circumstance, development or occurrence that is not known or reasonably foreseeable (or if known or reasonably foreseeable, the probability or magnitude of

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consequences of which were not known or reasonably foreseeable) to or by the Company Board as of the date of this Agreement, which event, fact, circumstance, development or occurrence becomes known to or by the Company Board prior to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval.

(iii) “Superior Proposal” means a written offer, obtained after the date of this Agreement, to acquire, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding Company Common Shares or more than 50% of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, made by a Third Party, which is on terms and conditions which the Company Board determines in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel) to be more favorable to the Company Stockholders (in their capacities as stockholders) than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, taking into account at the time of determination all financial, legal and regulatory terms and conditions of the Alternative Proposal and this Agreement, including any changes to the terms of this Agreement that as of that time had been committed to by Parent in writing in response to such Superior Proposal, including any conditions to and expected timing of consummation, and any risks of non-consummation, of such Alternative Proposal.

7.4   Access to Information; Confidentiality.   

(a) Upon reasonable notice, each Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, afford to the Other Party and its Representatives reasonable access during normal business hours to (and, with respect to books and records, the right to copy) all of its and its Subsidiaries’ properties (including for purposes of environmental assessment, which may include subsurface or other invasive testing or sampling only upon the Company’s prior written approval), commitments, books, contracts, records and correspondence (in each case, whether in physical or electronic form), officers, employees, accountants, counsel, financial advisors and other Representatives. Without limiting the foregoing, from the date hereof until the Effective Time, the Company shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, and provide Parent and its Representatives continued access to, the Data Site, and shall not remove any documents or information loaded onto the Data Site prior to, on or after the date hereof. The Company shall not remove any of the documents or items provided in the Data Site through and including the Closing Date. Each Party shall furnish promptly to the Other Party (i) a copy of each report, schedule and other document filed or submitted by it pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities Laws and a copy of any communication (including “comment letters”) received by such Party from the SEC concerning compliance with securities Laws and (ii) all other information concerning its and its Subsidiaries’ businesses, properties and personnel as the Other Party may reasonably request (including information necessary to prepare the Proxy Statement and the Registration Statement. Except for disclosures permitted by the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, each Party and its Representatives shall hold information received from the Other Party pursuant to this Section 7.4 in confidence in accordance with the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement.

(b) This Section 7.4 shall not require either Party to permit any access, or to disclose any information, that in the reasonable, good faith judgment (after consultation with counsel, which may be in-house counsel) of such Party (i) would reasonably be expected to result in any violation of any contract or Law to which such Party or its Subsidiaries is a party or is subject or cause any privilege (including attorney-client privilege) that such Party or any of its Subsidiaries would be entitled to assert to be undermined with respect to such information and such undermining of such privilege could in such Party’s good faith judgment (after consultation with counsel, which may be in-house counsel) adversely affect in any material respect such Party’s position in any pending or, what such Party believes in good faith (after consultation with counsel, which may be in-house counsel) could be, future litigation or (ii) is reasonably pertinent to any litigation, if any, in which such Party or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Other Party or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, are adverse parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of clause (i) above, the Parties hereto shall cooperate in seeking to find a way to allow disclosure of such information (including by entering into a joint-defense or similar agreement) to the extent doing so (1) would not (in the good faith belief of the Party being requested to disclose the information (after consultation with counsel, which may be in-house counsel)) reasonably be likely to result in the violation of any such contract or Law or reasonably be likely to cause such privilege to be undermined with respect to such information or (2) could reasonably (in the good faith belief of the Party being requested to disclose the information (after consultation with counsel, which may be in-house counsel)) be managed through the use of customary “clean-room” arrangements pursuant to which non-employee Representatives of the Other Party shall be provided access to such information. In addition, the Party being requested to disclose the information shall (x) notify the Other Party that such disclosures are reasonably likely to violate its or its Subsidiaries’ obligations under any such contract or Law or are reasonably likely to cause such privilege to be undermined, (y) communicate to the Other Party in reasonable detail the facts giving rise to such

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notification and the subject matter of such information (to the extent it is able to do so in accordance with the first proviso in this Section 7.4(b)) and (z) in the case where such disclosures are reasonably likely to violate its or its Subsidiaries’ obligations under any contract, use reasonable commercial efforts to seek consent from the applicable Third Party to any such contract with respect to the disclosures prohibited thereby (to the extent not otherwise expressly prohibited by the terms of such contract).

7.5   Public Statements.   The initial press release with respect to the execution of this Agreement shall be a joint press release to be reasonably agreed upon by Parent and the Company. Parent and the Company will not, and each will cause its respective Representatives not to, issue any public announcements or make other public disclosures regarding this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, without the prior written approval of the Other Party, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) a Party or its Representatives may issue a public announcement or other public disclosures required by Law or the rules of any stock exchange upon which such Party’s equity securities are traded, provided that such Party uses reasonable best efforts to afford the Other Party an opportunity to first review the content of the proposed disclosure and provide reasonable comment regarding same, (b) the Company shall not be required by this Section 7.5 to consult with Parent or any other Person with respect to a public announcement in connection with the receipt and existence of an Alternative Proposal and matters related thereto or a Change in Recommendation, (c) either Parent or Company may make public statements or presentations in connection with industry conferences, investor meetings, analyst or investor conference calls, or in response to questions from investors, analysts, press or other media, so long as such statements or presentations are not materially inconsistent with public statements or presentations previously approved by the other Party.

7.6   Confidentiality.   The obligations of Parent and the Company under the Confidentiality Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and all information provided to any Party hereto or its Representatives pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement is deemed to be “Evaluation Material” as defined under the Confidentiality Agreement; provided, however, that nothing in the Confidentiality Agreement shall be deemed to restrict the performance by the Company or Parent of their respective obligations under this Agreement and, in the case of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control.

7.7   Takeover Laws.   Neither the Company nor Parent will take any action that would cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be subject to requirements imposed by any Takeover Laws, and each of them will take all reasonable steps within its control to exempt (or ensure the continued exemption of) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement from the Takeover Laws of any state that purport to apply to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

7.8   New Common Shares Listed.   Parent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to list, prior to the Effective Time, on the NYSE, upon official notice of issuance, the New Common Shares.

7.9   Third-Party Approvals.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Parent and the Company and their respective Subsidiaries will cooperate and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to prepare all documentation, to effect all filings, to obtain all permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all Governmental Authorities and Third Parties necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, consents, approvals and authorizations and to cause the Merger to be consummated as expeditiously as practicable. Each of Parent and the Company has the right to review in advance, and to the extent practicable each will consult with the other, in each case subject to applicable Laws relating to the exchange of information, with respect to, all material written information submitted to any Third Party or any Governmental Authorities in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In exercising the foregoing right, each of the Parties agrees to act reasonably and promptly. Each Party agrees that it will consult with the Other Party with respect to the obtaining of all material permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all Third Parties and Governmental Authorities necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and each Party will keep the Other Party apprised of the status of material matters relating to completion of the transactions contemplated hereby.

(b) Each of Parent and the Company agrees, upon request, to furnish the Other Party with all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, directors, officers and stockholders and such other matters as may be reasonably

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necessary or advisable in connection with the Proxy Statement, the Registration Statement or any filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of such Other Party or any of such Other Party’s Subsidiaries to any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

(c) This Section 7.9 shall not apply to (i) approval under Antitrust Laws or (ii) approval of the SEC of the Registration Statement and Proxy Statement.

7.10   Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance.

(a) Without limiting any additional rights that any director, officer, trustee, employee, agent, or fiduciary may have under any employment or indemnification agreement or under the Company Charter or Company Bylaws, the Director and Officer Indemnification Agreements, this Agreement or, if applicable, similar organizational documents or agreements of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, from and after the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation, jointly and severally, will: (i) indemnify and hold harmless each Person who is now, or has been or becomes at any time prior to the Effective Time, (A) an officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (B) a director, officer, employee, member, trustee or fiduciary of another corporation, foundation, partnership, joint venture, trust, pension or other employee benefit plan or enterprise if such service was at the request or for the benefit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, together with such Person’s heirs, executors, trustees, fiduciaries and administrators (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable Law from and against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, Indemnification Expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of any thereof) arising out of or in connection with any Claim or Action; and (ii) promptly pay on behalf of or, within fifteen (15) days after any request for advancement, advance to each of the Indemnified Parties, any Indemnification Expenses incurred in defending, serving as a witness with respect to or otherwise participating with respect to any Claim or Action in advance of the final disposition of such Claim or Action, including payment on behalf of or advancement to the Indemnified Party of any Indemnification Expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with enforcing any rights with respect to such indemnification and/or advancement, in each case without the requirement of any bond or other security; provided, however, that it shall be a condition to the payment or advancement of any Indemnification Expenses that Parent or the Surviving Corporation receive an undertaking by the Indemnified Party to repay such Indemnification Expenses paid or advanced if it is ultimately determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified under applicable Law. The indemnification and advancement obligations of Parent and the Surviving Corporation pursuant to this Section 7.10(a) extend to acts or omissions occurring at or before the Effective Time in the capacity as a director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any Claim or Action relating thereto (including with respect to any acts or omissions occurring in connection with the approval of this Agreement and the consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the consideration and approval thereof and the process undertaken in connection therewith and any Claim or Action relating thereto), and all rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred hereunder continue as to any Indemnified Party who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries after the date hereof (with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such cessation) and inure to the benefit of such Indemnified Party’s heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. As used in this Section 7.10: (x) the term “Claim” means any threatened, asserted, pending or completed action or proceeding, whether instituted by any Party, any Governmental Authority or any other person, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other, including any arbitration or other alternative dispute resolution mechanism (“Action”) arising out of or pertaining to matters that relate to such Indemnified Party’s duties or service as a director or officer of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries or as a trustee of (or in a similar capacity with) any compensation and benefit plan of any thereof; (y) the term “Indemnification Expenses” means reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other reasonable costs, expenses and obligations (including reasonable experts’ fees, travel expenses, court costs, retainers, transcript fees, duplicating, printing and binding costs, as well as reasonable telecommunications, postage and courier charges) paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to investigate, defend, be a witness in or participate in, any Claim for which indemnification is sought pursuant to this Section 7.10(a), including any Action relating to a claim for indemnification or advancement brought by an Indemnified Party; and (z) the phrase “to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable Law” includes, but is not limited to (1) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any provision of the DGCL that authorizes or permits additional indemnification by agreement or otherwise, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL: and (2) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which an entity may

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indemnify its directors, officers, trustees, employees, agents, or fiduciaries or persons serving in any capacity in which any Indemnified Party serves. To the extent permitted by Law, any amendment, alteration or repeal of the DGCL that adversely affects any right of any Indemnified Party will be prospective only and does not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any Claim or Action involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal. Neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation will settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any actual or threatened Claim or Action in respect of which indemnification has been or would reasonably be expected to be sought by such Indemnified Party hereunder unless such settlement, compromise or judgment includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such Claim or Action without admission or finding of wrongdoing, or such Indemnified Party otherwise consents thereto, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation shall be liable for any settlement effected without either Parent’s or the Surviving Corporation’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) and Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (selected by a plurality of the applicable Indemnified Parties) for all Indemnified Parties in any jurisdiction with respect to any single such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, unless the use of one counsel for such Indemnified Parties would present such counsel with a conflict of interest that would make such joint representation inappropriate. In the event of any such Action, each applicable Indemnified Party, Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall reasonably cooperate in the defense thereof.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing, Parent and Merger Sub agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time now existing in favor of the Indemnitees as provided in the Company Charter and Company Bylaws (or, as applicable, the charter, bylaws, partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement, or other organizational documents of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries) and the Director and Officer Indemnification Agreements of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will be assumed by the Surviving Corporation in the Merger, without further action, at the Effective Time and will survive the Merger and continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.

(c) For a period of six (6) years from the Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation and the organizational documents of the Company’s Subsidiaries will contain provisions no less favorable with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses, exculpation and limitations on liability of directors and officers than are set forth in the Company Charter and Company Bylaws, which provisions will not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a period of six (6) years from the Effective Time in any manner that would affect adversely the rights thereunder of individuals who, at or prior to the Effective Time, were Indemnified Parties, unless such modification is required by Law and then only to the minimum extent required by Law; provided, however, that any such modification shall be prospective only and shall not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any Claim or Action involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to modification; and provided further that all rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses in respect of any Action pending or asserted or any Claim made within such period continue until the disposition of such Action or resolution of such Claim.

(d) For a period of six (6) years from the Effective Time, Parent or the Surviving Corporation will maintain in effect the current directors’ and officers’ liability and fiduciary liability insurance policies covering the Indemnified Parties (but may substitute therefor other policies of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions that are no less advantageous to the Indemnified Parties so long as that substitution does not result in gaps or lapses in coverage) with respect to matters occurring on or before the Effective Time. Neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation will be required to pay annual premiums in excess of 300% of the last annual premiums paid therefor prior to the date hereof and will purchase the maximum amount of coverage that can be obtained for that amount if the coverage described in this Section 7.10(d) would cost in excess of that amount.

(e) If Parent, the Surviving Corporation, the Surviving Company or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges with or into any other Person and is not the continuing or surviving corporation, partnership or other entity of such consolidation or merger, or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, proper provision will be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent or the Surviving Company, as applicable, assume the obligations set forth in this Section 7.10.

(f) Parent will cause the Surviving Corporation and, from and after the Second Step Merger, the Surviving Company, to perform all of the obligations of the Surviving Corporation under this Section 7.10.

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(g) This Section 7.10 survives the consummation of the Merger and the Second Step Merger and is intended to be for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, the Indemnified Parties and the Indemnitees and their respective heirs and personal representatives, and will be binding on the Surviving Corporation, the Surviving Company and their respective successors and assigns.

7.11   Notification of Certain Matters.   The Company shall give prompt notice to Parent, and Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company, to the extent in each case it obtains Knowledge thereof, of: (i) any notice or other communication received by such Party or its Subsidiaries from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, if the subject matter of such communication or the failure of such Party to obtain such consent is reasonably likely to be material to the Company, Parent or the Surviving Corporation or to materially impede or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; (ii) any actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings commenced or threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting such Party or any of its Subsidiaries and that relate to the Merger; (iii) any inaccuracy of any representation or warranty of the Company or Parent, as applicable, contained herein at any time during the term hereof; (iv) the discovery of any fact or circumstance that, or the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or non-occurrence of which, would result in the failure to be satisfied of any of the conditions to the Closing in Article VIII; and (v) any material failure of such Party to comply with or satisfy any covenant or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it hereby which would result in the failure to be satisfied of any of the conditions to the Closing in Article VIII. In the case of clauses (iii), (iv) and (v), however, the failure to comply with this Section 7.11 shall not result in the failure to be satisfied of any of the conditions to the Closing in Article VIII, or give rise to any right to terminate this Agreement under Article IX, if the underlying fact, circumstance, event or failure would not in and of itself give rise to such failure or right.

7.12   Section 16 Matters.   Prior to the Effective Time, Parent and the Company will take all such steps as may be required (to the extent permitted under applicable Law) to cause any dispositions of Company Common Shares (including derivative securities with respect to Company Common Shares) resulting from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by each individual who is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Company, or will become subject to such reporting requirements with respect to the Surviving Corporation, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

7.13   Employee Benefits.   

(a) From the Effective Time through December 31, 2017, Parent will, or will cause its Affiliates to, provide each of the Employees who remains in the active employment of Parent or any of its Affiliates following the Effective Time (the “Continuing Employees”) with (i) a base salary or wages that are no less than such Continuing Employee’s base salary or wages as of the Effective Time, and (ii) a target bonus opportunity that is no less favorable than the opportunity provided to such Continuing Employee as of the Effective Time.

(b) Parent will, or will cause its Affiliates to, honor all obligations under each Company Employee Benefit Plan listed on Section 5.19(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule that remains in effect after the Effective Time, including any rights or benefits arising as a result of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement (either alone or in combination with any other event, including termination of employment), and Parent hereby agrees and acknowledges that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement constitutes a “change of control” or a “change in control” or similar term, as the case may be, for all purposes under each Company Employee Benefit Plan.

(c) Effective as of the Effective Time, Parent will, or will cause its Affiliates to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each material Parent Employee Benefit Plan (including all applicable vacation, severance and defined contribution retirement benefit plans and programs) in which any Continuing Employee becomes eligible to participate to treat the prior service of such Continuing Employee with any of the Company and its Affiliates as service rendered to Parent for all purposes (including vesting, eligibility, level of benefit and benefit accrual purposes, but other than for purposes of benefit accrual under any defined benefit plan or vesting under any equity compensation plan) to the extent that such service crediting does not violate any applicable Law or result in duplication of benefits for the same period of service.

(d) Parent will, or will cause its Affiliates to, use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) waive any limitation on health and welfare coverage of any Continuing Employee and his or her eligible dependents due to pre-existing conditions and/or waiting periods, active employment requirements, and requirements to show evidence of good

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health under the applicable health and welfare plan of Parent or any Affiliate of Parent to the extent such Continuing Employee and his or her eligible dependents are covered under a health and welfare benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates (as the case may be), and such conditions, periods or requirements are satisfied or waived under such plan, immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) credit each Continuing Employee and his or her eligible dependents with all deductible payments, co-payments and co-insurance paid by such employee and covered dependents under the medical employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates (as the case may be) prior to the Effective Time during the year in which the Effective Time occurs for the purpose of determining the extent to which any such employee and his or her dependents have satisfied their deductible and whether they have reached the out-of-pocket maximum under any medical plan of Parent or any Affiliate of Parent for such year.

(e) For purposes of determining the number of vacation days and other paid time off to which each Continuing Employee is entitled during the calendar year in which the Effective Time occurs, Parent will, or will cause its Affiliates to, assume and honor all vacation and other paid time off days accrued or earned but not yet taken by such Continuing Employee as of the Effective Time to the extent reflected on the Company’s books and records.

(f) To the extent requested by Parent, the Company or its appropriate Affiliate shall execute and deliver such instruments and take such other actions as Parent may reasonably require in order to cause the amendment, termination and/or liquidation of any Company Employee Benefit Plan, on terms that are in accordance with the applicable amendment, termination and/or liquidation provisions of such Company Employee Benefit Plan and in accordance with applicable law and effective prior to the Effective Time. With respect to any Company Employee Benefit Plan for which the amendment or termination of such plan requires the consent of the participants of such plan, the Company or its appropriate Affiliate shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain such consent as necessary to amend or terminate such plan as requested by Parent.

(g) The provisions of this Section 7.13 are for the sole benefit of the Parties and nothing herein, expressed or implied, is intended or will be construed to confer upon or give to any person (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Continuing Employee or other current or former employee of the Company or any of their respective Affiliates), other than the Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns, any legal or equitable or other rights or remedies (including with respect to the matters provided for in this Section 7.13) under or by reason of any provision of this Agreement. Nothing in this Section 7.13 amends, or will be deemed to amend (or prevent the amendment or termination of), any Company Employee Benefit Plan or Parent Employee Benefit Plan. Parent and its Affiliates shall have no obligation to continue to employ or retain the services of any Continuing Employee for any period of time following the Effective Time and Parent and its Affiliates will be entitled to modify any compensation or benefits provided to, and any other terms or conditions of employment of, any such employees in its absolute discretion.

7.14   Certain Tax Matters.   

(a) The Parties to this Agreement adopt this Agreement as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-2(g). None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parent or any of its Subsidiaries shall take or cause to be taken any action that prevents or impedes, or could reasonably be expected to prevent or impede, the Integrated Mergers from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

(b) The Parties shall cooperate and use their respective reasonable efforts in order for the Company and Parent to obtain the tax opinions referenced in Section 8.2(d) and Section 8.3(d), respectively.

(c) Any liability arising out of any real estate transfer Tax with respect to interests in real property owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time, if applicable with respect to the Merger, shall be borne by the Company.

7.15   Transaction Litigation.   The Company shall give Parent the opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any security holder litigation against the Company and/or its directors relating to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no such settlement shall be agreed to without the prior written consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

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7.16   Target Debt and Termination of Mortgages.

(a) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, concurrently with the Effective Time (or before), (i) obtain customary payoff letters to terminate the Existing Credit Agreement, (ii) coordinate with Parent and hedge providers to make arrangements with respect to Derivative Instruments, and (iii) make arrangements satisfactory to Parent for the release of all Liens arising from or granted in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement.

(b) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, concurrently with the Effective Time (or before), pay in full any amounts then borrowed or currently outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, and shall take all such actions as may be necessary to terminate or cause to be terminated the Revolving Credit Facility and all applicable commitment related to or under the Revolving Credit Facility, and make arrangements satisfactory to Parent for the release of all Liens arising from or granted in connection with the Revolving Credit Facility. The Company and Parent shall cooperate with one another in good faith to cause the issuing institution for each letter of credit identified on Section 7.16(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule to release the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, and install Parent or one of its Subsidiaries, as obligor for each such letter of credit prior to the termination of the Revolving Credit Facility.

(c) In connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in the event that Parent desires to consummate an exchange offer, tender offer, repurchase offer, consent solicitation, discharge, defeasance, redemption or similar transaction, or any combination thereof (collectively, the “Debt Transactions”) with respect to the Company’s 7.75% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “Notes”), each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to, and to cause their respective Subsidiaries and Representatives (and, in the case of the Company, the trustee for the Notes) to, cooperate with one another in good faith to permit such Debt Transactions to be effected on such terms, conditions and timing as reasonably requested by Parent, including if so requested by Parent, causing those Debt Transactions to be consummated substantially concurrently with the Closing. For the avoidance of doubt, the consummation of any Debt Transaction shall not be a condition to Closing.

(d) Parent shall promptly reimburse the Company for any documented reasonable out-of-pocket costs, fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any Debt Transactions. In addition, Parent and Merger Sub shall, on a joint and several basis, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees, partners, members, directors and affiliates, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and any dealer-manager, information agent, solicitation agent, depositary or other agent or Person engaged by or on behalf of Parent or the Company (and such Person’s officers, employees, partners, members, directors and affiliates and each other Person, if any, who controls such Person within the meaning of Section 20 of the Exchange Act) at the request of Parent in connection with any Debt Transactions if applicable, for and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, claims, costs, expenses, interest, awards, judgments and penalties suffered or incurred by them in connection with any Debt Transactions (collectively, “Losses”) (other than, in each case, to the extent such Losses arise from (x) fraud, willful misconduct, intentional misrepresentation, misstatements or omissions on the part of the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective officers, employees, partners, members, directors or affiliates or other Representatives or (y) historical information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries and provided by the Company for use in connection with any Debt Transaction).

ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER

8.1   Mutual Closing Conditions.   The obligations of each of the Parties to consummate the Merger are conditioned upon the satisfaction (or waiver by both the Company and Parent) at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following:

(a) This Agreement has been adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders, as of the record date for the Company Meeting, of a majority of the outstanding Company Common Shares (the “Company Stockholder Approval”).

(b) All applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act have expired or been terminated.

(c) No Law, order, judgment or injunction (whether preliminary or permanent) issued, enacted, promulgated, issued, entered or enforced by a court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Authority restraining, prohibiting or rendering illegal the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is in effect.

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(d) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been initiated or threatened by the SEC.

(e) The New Common Shares deliverable to the holders of Company Common Shares (including holders of Company Options deemed to have been exercised and Company Restricted Shares deemed to have vested) as contemplated by this Agreement have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

8.2   Additional Company Conditions to Closing.   The obligation of the Company to consummate the Merger is further conditioned upon the satisfaction (or waiver by the Company) at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following:

(a) The representations and warranties of Parent contained (A) in Sections 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made as of such date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), and (B) in this Agreement (other than the representations and warranties of Parent set forth in Sections 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3) shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made as of such date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except (in the case of this clause (B)) where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Parent Material Adverse Effect” set forth in any individual such representation or warranty) would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Each and all of the agreements and covenants of Parent and Merger Sub to be performed and complied with pursuant to this Agreement on or prior to the Effective Time have been duly performed and complied with in all material respects.

(c) The Company has received a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Parent, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Section 8.2(a) and Section 8.2(b).

(d) The Company has received the opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel to the Company (or other counsel to the Company reasonably satisfactory to Parent, which the parties agree shall include Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP for purposes of this Section 8.2(d)), dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations, assumptions and exclusions set forth or referred to in such opinion, the Integrated Mergers will qualify for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, Latham & Watkins LLP shall be entitled to receive and rely upon representations, warranties and covenants of officers of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company and any of their respective Affiliates and Representatives as to such matters as such counsel may reasonably request.

8.3   Additional Parent Conditions to Closing.   The obligation of Parent to consummate the Merger is further conditioned upon the satisfaction (or waiver by Parent) at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following:

(a) The representations and warranties of the Company contained (A) in Sections 5.2(a) and 5.2(b) of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made as of such date, except for any de minimis inaccuracies, (B) in Sections 5.1, 5.2(c), 5.2(g) and 5.4 of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made as of such date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), and (C) in this Agreement (other than the representations and warranties of Company set forth in Sections 5.1, 5.2(a), 5.2(b), 5.2(c), 5.2(g) and 5.4) shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as if made as of such date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except (in the case of this clause (C)) where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” set forth in any individual such representation or warranty) would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Each and all of the agreements and covenants of the Company to be performed and complied with pursuant to this Agreement on or prior to the Effective Time have been duly performed and complied with in all material respects.

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(c) Parent has received a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Section 8.3(a) and Section 8.3(b).

(d) Parent has received the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel to Parent (or other counsel to the Parent reasonably satisfactory to the Company, which the parties agree shall include Latham & Watkins LLP for purposes of this Section 8.3(d)), dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations, assumptions and exclusions set forth or referred to in such opinion, the Integrated Mergers will qualify for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP shall be entitled to receive and rely upon representations, warranties and covenants of officers of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company and any of their respective Affiliates and Representatives as to such matters as such counsel may reasonably request.

(e) The number of Dissenting Shares does not exceed 10% of the outstanding Company Common Shares.

ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION

9.1   Termination of Agreement.   This Agreement may be terminated prior to the Effective Time (whether before or, except as otherwise provided below, after the Company Stockholder Approval has been obtained) as follows:

(a) by the mutual written consent of the Company and Parent;

(b) by the Company or Parent if there is in effect a final nonappealable order of a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby; provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1(b) is not available to the Company, on the one hand, or Parent, on the other hand, if such order was primarily due to the failure of the Company, on the one hand, or Parent or Merger Sub, on the other hand, to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement;

(c) by Parent if (i) the Company has breached or failed to perform any of its covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement; or (ii) any representation or warranty of the Company becomes untrue and, with respect to either (i) or (ii) above, the conditions set forth in Section 8.3(a) or (b) would not be satisfied and such breach, failure to perform or untruth is incapable of being cured (or becoming true) or, if capable of being cured (or becoming true), is not cured (or has not become true) within thirty (30) days following receipt by the Company of notice of such breach, failure or untruth from Parent;

(d) by the Company if (i) Parent has breached or failed to perform any of its covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement; or (ii) any representation or warranty of Parent becomes untrue and, with respect to either (i) or (ii) above, the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(a) or (b) would not be satisfied and such breach, failure to perform or untruth is incapable of being cured (or becoming true) or, if capable of being cured (or becoming true), is not cured (or has not become true) within thirty (30) days following receipt by Parent of notice of such breach, failure or untruth from the Company;

(e) by the Company or Parent if the Closing does not occur on or before July 17, 2017 (the “Outside Date”); provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(e) shall not be available to any party whose breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Closing to have occurred on or before the Outside Date;

(f) by the Company or Parent if the Company Meeting has concluded and the Company Stockholder Approval has not been obtained;

(g) by Parent if, prior to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval, a Change in Recommendation has occurred; or

(h) by the Company if the Company is terminating this Agreement to enter into a definitive agreement relating to a Superior Proposal in accordance with Section 7.3, provided that the Company has complied with Section 9.4(c).

9.2   Procedure Upon Termination.   In the event of termination of this Agreement by Parent or the Company, or both, pursuant to Section 9.1, written notice thereof will forthwith be given to the Other Party, and this Agreement will terminate without further action by Parent or the Company.

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9.3   Effect of Termination.   In the event that this Agreement is validly terminated as provided in Section 9.1, then each of the Parties will be relieved of its duties and obligations arising under this Agreement after the date of such termination and such termination will be without liability to Parent or the Company; provided, that the agreements and obligations of the Parties set forth in this Section 9.3, Section 9.4 and Article X hereof will survive and remain fully enforceable. In addition, nothing in this Section 9.3 relieves any of Parent or the Company of any liability for fraud or any Willful Breach of any covenant or agreement contained herein occurring prior to termination, or as provided in the Confidentiality Agreement. In the event of fraud or a Willful Breach, the aggrieved Party shall be entitled to all rights and remedies available at law or in equity. “Willful Breach” means an intentional and willful material breach, or an intentional and willful material failure to perform, in each case that is the consequence of an act or omission by a Party with the knowledge that the taking of, or failure to take, such act would, or would be reasonably expected to, cause a material breach of this Agreement.

9.4   Fees and Expenses.   

(a) In the event that (i) an Alternative Proposal is publicly proposed or publicly disclosed prior to, and not publicly withdrawn at the time of, the date of the Company Meeting (or, if the Company Meeting has not occurred, prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c) or Section 9.1(e)) and (ii) this Agreement is terminated by the Company or Parent pursuant to Section 9.1(c), Section 9.1(e) or Section 9.1(f) and (iii) the Company enters into a definitive agreement with respect to, or consummates, an Alternative Proposal within twelve (12) months after the date this Agreement is terminated, then the Company will pay to Parent the Termination Fee, upon the earlier of (x) the date of the execution of such definitive agreement by the Company (or, if such date is not a Business Day, then the first Business Day following such date) and (y) the date of the consummation of any such transaction. For purposes of this Section 9.4(a), the term “Alternative Proposal” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.3(h)(i), except that the references to “20% or more” are deemed to be references to “more than 50%.”

(b) In the event this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 9.1(g), then the Company will pay to Parent, within two (2) Business Days after the date of termination, the Termination Fee.

(c) In the event this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 9.1(h), then the Company will pay to Parent, immediately prior to or simultaneously with such termination, the Termination Fee.

(d) Any payment of the Termination Fee (or applicable portion thereof) will be made in cash by wire transfer of same day funds to an account designated in writing by Parent.

(e) Each Party will pay its own expenses incident to preparing for, entering into and carrying out this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; provided that Parent will pay 100% of the filing fees payable in connection with the filings required to be made under the HSR Act.

(f) The Company acknowledges that the provisions of this Section 9.4 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated hereby and that, without these agreements, Parent would not enter into this Agreement; accordingly, if the Company fails promptly to pay or cause to be paid the amounts due pursuant to this Section 9.4, and, in order to obtain such payment, Parent or Merger Sub commences a suit that results in a judgment against the Company for the amounts set forth in this Section 9.4, the Company shall pay to Parent and Merger Sub (as the case may be) its reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) in connection with such suit and any appeal relating thereto, together with interest on the amounts set forth in this Section 9.4 at the prime rate of Citibank N.A. in effect on the date such payment was required to be made. The Parties agree that in the event that the Company pays the Termination Fee to Parent, the Company has no further liability to Parent of any kind in respect of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (provided that nothing herein shall release any party from liability for Willful Breach or fraud), and that in no event will the Company be required to pay the Termination Fee on more than one occasion.

(g) As used herein, “Termination Fee” means a cash amount equal to eighty seven million dollars ($87,000,000).

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ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS

10.1   Amendment or Supplement; Waiver.

(a) At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be amended or supplemented in any and all respects, whether before or after receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, by written agreement of the Parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by their respective boards of directors; provided, however, that following receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, there will be no amendment or change to the provisions of this Agreement that by Law would require further approval by the Company Stockholders without such approval.

(b) At any time prior to the Effective Time, the Parties may (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the Other Party hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the Other Party contained herein or in any document, certificate or writing delivered pursuant hereto by the Other Party or (iii) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions of the Other Party hereto contained herein. Any agreement on the part of any Party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party. Any such waiver shall constitute a waiver only with respect to the specific matter described in such writing and shall in no way impair the rights of the Party granting such waiver in any other respect or at any other time. Neither the waiver by any of the Parties hereto of a breach of or a default under any of the provisions of this Agreement, nor the failure by any of the Parties, on one or more occasions, to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or to exercise any right or privilege hereunder, shall be construed as a waiver of any other breach or default of a similar nature, or as a waiver of any of such provisions, rights or privileges hereunder. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and none is exclusive of any other, or of any rights or remedies that any Party may otherwise have at Law or in equity.

10.2   Counterparts.   This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which is an original, and all of which, when taken together, constitute one Agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other customary means of electronic transmission (e.g., “pdf”) will be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

10.3   Governing Law.   This Agreement is governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of any Law other than the Law of the State of Delaware.

10.4   Notices.   All notices and other communications hereunder will be in writing and deemed given if delivered personally or by facsimile transmission, or mailed by a nationally recognized overnight courier, postage prepaid, to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as specified by like notice, provided, that notices of a change of address will be effective only upon receipt thereof):

(a)	If to Parent or Merger Sub, to:
	Noble Energy, Inc.
	1001 Noble Energy Way
	Houston, TX 77070
	Attention:	Arnold J. Johnson John P. Zabaneh
	With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
	Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
	1000 Louisiana St., Suite 6800
	Houston, TX 77002
	Attention:	Frank E. Bayouth Eric C. Otness
	Facsimile: (713) 655-5200

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(b)	If to the Company, to:
	Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.
	6 Desta Drive, Suite 6500
	Midland, TX 79705
	Attention: General Counsel
	Facsimile: 432-688-3468
	With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
	Latham & Watkins LLP
	811 Main Street, Suite 3700
	Houston, Texas 77002
	Attention:	Michael E. Dillard John M. Greer
	Facsimile: (713) 546-5401

Notices will be deemed to have been received (i) on the date of receipt if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or (ii) upon receipt of an appropriate electronic answerback or confirmation when so delivered by fax (to such number specified above or another number or numbers as such Person may subsequently designate by notice given hereunder).

10.5   Assignment.   Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise, by either Party without the prior written consent of the Other Party; provided that no such assignment will relieve any Party of its obligations hereunder. Any purported assignment not permitted under this Section 10.5 shall be null and void.

10.6   Entire Understanding; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.   This Agreement, together with the Confidentiality Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties with respect to the matters therein and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings on such matters. The provisions of this Agreement are binding upon, inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and, subject to Section 10.5, their respective successors and assigns. No provision of this Agreement is intended to confer any rights, benefits, remedies, obligations or liabilities hereunder upon any Person other than the Parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and, except as provided in Section 7.10 (which will be to the benefit of the Persons referred to in such Section).

10.7   Severability.   Any provision of this Agreement which is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction will, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability, without affecting in any way the remaining provisions hereof in such jurisdiction or rendering that or any other provision of this Agreement invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any other jurisdiction.

10.8   Jurisdiction.   

(a) The Parties hereto agree that any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be heard and determined in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware (Complex Commercial Division) or, if subject matter jurisdiction over the matter that is the subject of the action or proceeding is vested exclusively in the federal courts of the United States of America, the federal court of the United States of America sitting in the district of Delaware), and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of them irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts in any such action or proceeding and irrevocably waives the defense of an inconvenient forum and all other defenses to venue in any such court in any such action or proceeding. The consents to jurisdiction and venue set forth in this Section 10.8 shall not constitute general consents to service of process in the State of Delaware and shall have no effect for any purpose except as provided in this paragraph and shall not be deemed to confer rights on any Person other than the Parties. The Parties agree that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Law; provided, however,

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that nothing in the foregoing shall restrict any Party’s rights to seek any post-judgment relief regarding, or any appeal from, a final trial court judgment. The Parties agree that process in any such action or proceeding may be served by registered mail or in any other manner permitted by the rules of the court in which the action or proceeding is brought.

10.9   Waiver of Jury Trial.   To the extent not prohibited by applicable Law that cannot be waived, each Party hereby irrevocably waives and covenants that it will not assert (whether as plaintiff, defendant or otherwise) any right to trial by jury in any forum in respect of any issue, claim, demand, action or cause of action arising in whole or in part under, related to, based on, or in connection with, this Agreement or the subject matter hereof, whether now existing or hereafter arising and whether sounding in tort or contract or otherwise. Any Party may file an original counterpart or a copy of this Section 10.9 with any court as written evidence of the consent of each such Party to the waiver of its right to trial by jury.

10.10   No Recourse.   This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or causes of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be made against the entities that are expressly identified as parties hereto and no past, present or future Affiliate, director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, manager, partner, stockholder, agent, attorney or other representative of any Party hereto has any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the Parties to this Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby.

10.11   Specific Performance.   The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur and that the Parties would not have any adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in each case, in accordance with this Section 10.11 in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any other court of the State of Delaware or, to the extent permitted by law, in a federal court sitting in the State of Delaware, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Each of the parties agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief as provided herein on the basis that (x) either party has an adequate remedy at law or (y) an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity. Each party further agrees that no party shall be required to obtain, furnish or post any bond or similar instrument in connection with or as a condition to obtaining any remedy referred to in this Section 10.11, and each party irrevocably waives any right it may have to require the obtaining, furnishing or posting of any such bond or similar instrument.

10.12   Survival.   Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, none of the representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement will survive the Closing or the termination of this Agreement if this Agreement is terminated prior to the Closing; provided, however, that if the Closing occurs, the agreements of the parties in Sections 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 7.10, 7.13, 7.14 and this Article X will survive the Closing, and if this Agreement is terminated prior to the Closing, the agreements of the parties in Sections 7.6, 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4, and this Article X will survive such termination. The Confidentiality Agreement shall (i) survive termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms and (ii) terminate as of the Effective Time.

[signature pages follow]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in counterparts by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first written above.

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
By:	/s/ Arnold J. Johnson
Name:	Arnold J. Johnson
Title:	Senior Vice President
WILD WEST MERGER SUB, INC.
By:	/s/ Arnold J. Johnson
Name:	Arnold J. Johnson
Title:	President
NBL PERMIAN LLC
By:	/s/ Arnold J. Johnson
Name:	Arnold J. Johnson
Title:	President
CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY, INC.
By:	/s/ Mel G Riggs
Name:	Mel G Riggs
Title:	President

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

SUPPORT AGREEMENT

THIS SUPPORT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of January 13, 2017, by and among each stockholder of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto (each, a “Stockholder”), Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and, solely for purposes of Section 3(f)(ii) and Section 9 hereof, Clayton Williams Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent, the Company, Wild West Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”) and NBL Permian LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as the same may be amended or supplemented, the “Merger Agreement”), providing that, among other things, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Company will be merged with Merger Sub (the “Merger”), and each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) will be converted into the Merger Consideration;

WHEREAS, each Stockholder beneficially owns such number of shares of Company Common Stock and such number of shares of special voting preferred stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company (“Company Preferred Stock”) set forth opposite such Stockholder’s name on Schedule A hereto (collectively, such shares of Company Common Stock and Company Preferred Stock are referred to herein as the “Subject Shares”);

WHEREAS, as a condition to Parent to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent has required that the Stockholders enter into this Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Stockholders enter into this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholders, and the form and substance of this Agreement, have been reviewed by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board in consultation with outside legal counsel and recommended by the Committee for approval by the Board of Directors of the Company, and have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, to induce Parent to enter into, and in consideration of its entering into, the Merger Agreement, and in consideration of the promises and the representations, warranties and agreements contained herein and therein, the parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:

1.Representations and Warranties of each Stockholder. Each Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent, severally and not jointly, as of the date hereof as follows:

(a)Due Organization; Qualification. Such Stockholder is a limited partnership duly formed under the laws of Delaware and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws thereof.

(b)Authority; No Violation. Such Stockholder has full organizational power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder have been duly and validly approved by all requisite limited partnership action and no other organizational proceedings on the part of such Stockholder are necessary to approve this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Stockholder and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent) this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of such Stockholder, enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except that such enforceability (i) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) is subject to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceedings seeking injunctive relief or specific performance may be brought. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Stockholder, nor the consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by such Stockholder with any of the terms or provisions hereof, will (x) violate any provision of the governing documents of such Stockholder, (y) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to such Stockholder, or any of its properties or assets, or (z) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any lien, claim, mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, deed of trust, security interest, equity or charge of any kind (each, a “Lien”) upon any of the Subject Shares pursuant to any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which such Stockholder is a party, or by which it or any of its properties or assets may be bound or affected.

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(c)The Subject Shares. As of the date of this Agreement, such Stockholder is the beneficial owner of and has the sole right to vote and dispose of the Subject Shares set forth opposite such Stockholder’s name on Schedule A hereto, free and clear of any Liens whatsoever, except for any Liens which arise hereunder or, to the extent applicable, subject to the terms of the Company Preferred Stock or Company Warrant. None of the Subject Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or restriction, except as contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, there are no agreements or arrangements of any kind, contingent or otherwise, obligating such Stockholder to sell, transfer (including by tendering into any tender or exchange offer), assign, grant a participation interest in, option, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of or encumber, including by operation of law or otherwise (each, a “Transfer”), or cause to be Transferred, any of the Subject Shares, other than a Transfer, such as a hedging or derivative transaction, with respect to which such Shareholder retains its Subject Shares and the sole right to vote, dispose of and exercise dissenters’ rights with respect to its Subject Shares during the Applicable Period, and (ii) no Person has any contractual or other right or obligation to purchase or otherwise acquire any of the Subject Shares. Other than the Subject Shares and the Company Warrant, such Stockholder does not own any equity interests or other equity-based securities in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(d)Absence of Litigation. There is no litigation, suit, claim, action, proceeding or investigation pending, or to the knowledge of such Stockholder, threatened against such Stockholder, or any property or asset of such Stockholder, before any Governmental Authority that seeks to delay or prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(e)No Consents Required. No consent of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Person or Governmental Authority is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to such Stockholder in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and except for any applicable requirements and filings with the SEC, if any, under the Exchange Act and except where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not prevent or delay the performance by such Stockholder of such Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement in any material respect.

(f)Reliance. Such Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent is entering into, and causing Merger Sub to enter into, the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.

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(g)Company Warrant. Such Stockholder is the registered and beneficial owner of and has the sole right to dispose of the Company Warrants set forth opposite such Stockholder’s name on Schedule A hereto, free and clear of any Liens whatsoever, subject to its terms, and except for any Liens which arise hereunder. No Company Warrant has been exercised. There has been no adjustment to the “Exercise Price” or the number of “Warrant Shares” (each as defined in the Company Warrants) and, to the knowledge of such Stockholder, no event has occurred giving rise to any such adjustment.

(h)Stockholder Has Adequate Information. Such Stockholder is a sophisticated seller with respect to the Subject Shares and has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of Parent to make an informed decision regarding the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby and has independently and without reliance upon Parent and based on such information as such Stockholder has deemed appropriate, made its own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Such Stockholder acknowledges that Parent has not made and does not make any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, of any kind or character except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and for the elimination of doubt, Stockholder is not waiving and is expressly preserving any claims that might arise in connection with the Registration Statement contemplated to be filed in conncetion with the Merger.

2.Representations and Warranties of Parent. Parent hereby represents and warrants to each Stockholder as of the date hereof as follows:

(a)Due Organization. Parent is a corporation duly incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws thereof.

(b)Authority; No Violation. Parent has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been duly and validly approved by the Board of Directors of Parent and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent are necessary to approve this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Stockholder) this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with its terms except that such enforceability (i) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) is subject to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceedings seeking injunctive relief or specific performance may be brought. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent, nor the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by Parent with any of the terms or provisions hereof, will (x) violate any provision of the governing documents of Parent or the certificate of incorporation, by-laws or similar governing documents of any of Parent’s Subsidiaries, (y) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to the Parent or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or assets, or (z) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of Parent or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Parent or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries is a party, or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected.

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3.Covenants of Each Stockholder. Each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, agrees as follows; provided that all of the following covenants shall apply solely to actions taken by such Stockholder in its capacity as a stockholder of the Company:

(a)Agreement to Vote Subject Shares. During the Applicable Period (as defined below), at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, however called, or at any postponement or adjournment thereof, or in connection with any written consent of the stockholders of the Company or in any other circumstance upon which a vote, consent or other approval of all or some of the stockholders of the Company is sought, such Stockholder shall, and shall cause any holder of record of its Subject Shares on any applicable record date to, vote or, if stockholders are requested to vote their shares through the execution of an action by written consent in lieu of such meeting of stockholders of the Company, execute a written consent or consents with respect to all of its Subject Shares: (i) in favor of adoption of the Merger Agreement and approval of any other matter that is required to be approved by the stockholders of the Company in order to effect the Merger; (ii) against any merger agreement or merger (other than the Merger Agreement and the Merger), consolidation, combination, sale or transfer of a material amount of assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Alternative Proposal, and (iii) against any amendment of the Company’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other proposal or transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which amendment or other proposal or transaction would in any manner delay, impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify the Merger, the Merger Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or change in any manner the voting rights of any outstanding class of capital stock of the Company. During the Applicable Period, such Stockholder shall retain at all times the right to vote all of its Subject Shares in such Stockholder’s sole discretion and without any other limitation on those matters other than those set forth in this Section 3(a) that are at any time or from time to time presented for consideration to the Company’s stockholders generally. During the Applicable Period, in the event that any meeting of the stockholders of the Company is held, such Stockholder shall (or shall cause the holder of record on any applicable record date to) appear at such meeting or otherwise cause all of its Subject Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum. During the Applicable Period, such Stockholder further agrees not to commit or agree, and to cause any record holder of its Subject Shares not to commit or agree, to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing during the Applicable Period. “Applicable Period” means the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including the date of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5 hereof.

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(b)No Transfers. Except as provided in the second to last sentence of this Section 3(b), such Stockholder agrees not to, and to cause any record holder of its Subject Shares, not to, in any such case directly or indirectly, during the Applicable Period (i) Transfer or enter into any agreement, option or other arrangement (including any profit sharing arrangement) with respect to the Transfer of, any of its Subject Shares (or any interest therein) to any Person, other than the exchange of its Subject Shares for Merger Consideration in accordance with the Merger Agreement or (ii) grant any proxies, or deposit any of its Subject Shares into any voting trust or enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement or otherwise, with respect to its Subject Shares, other than pursuant to this Agreement. Subject to the second to last sentence of this Section 3(b), such Stockholder further agrees not to commit or agree to take, and to cause any record holder of any of its Subject Shares not to commit or agree to take, any of the foregoing actions during the Applicable Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such Stockholder shall have the right to (a) Transfer its Subject Shares to an Affiliate if and only if such Affiliate shall have agreed in writing, in a manner acceptable in form and substance to Parent, (i) to accept such Subject Shares subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and (ii) to be bound by this Agreement as if it were “the Stockholder” for all purposes of this Agreement; provided, however, that no such transfer shall relieve such Stockholder from its obligations under this Agreement with respect to any Subject Shares or (b) Transfer its Subject Shares in a transaction, such as a hedging or derivative transaction, with respect to which such Shareholder retains its Subject Shares and the sole right to vote, exercise dissenters’ rights with respect to and dispose of its Subject Shares during the Applicable Period, provided that no such transaction shall (x) in any way limit any of the obligations of such Stockholder under this Agreement, or (y) have any adverse effect on the ability of the Stockholder to perform its obligations under this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 3(b) only, the term “Subject Shares” shall include the Company Warrants and any shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of any Company Warrant.

(c)Dissenters’ Rights. Each Stockholder hereby waives, and agrees not to exercise or assert, if applicable, and to cause any record holder of any of its Subject Shares to waive and not to exercise or assert, if applicable, any appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL in connection with the Merger.

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(d)Adjustment to Subject Shares. In case of a stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the Company Common Stock or the Company Preferred Stock by reason of any stock dividend or distribution, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the like, the term “Subject Shares” shall be deemed to refer to and include the Subject Shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of the Subject Shares may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.

(e)Non-Solicitation. Except to the extent that the Company or the Company Board is permitted to do so under the Merger Agreement, but subject to any limitations imposed on the Company or the Company Board under the Merger Agreement, such Stockholder agrees, solely in its capacity as a stockholder of the Company, that it shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates and its and their respective agents and representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate (including by way of furnishing information) any Alternative Proposal, (ii) participate or engage in any discussions or negotiations with, or disclose any non-public information or data relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person that has made an Alternative Proposal, (iii) approve, endorse or recommend (or publicly propose to approve, endorse or recommend) any Alternative Proposal or (iv) enter into any letter of intent, term sheet, memorandum of understanding, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, exchange agreement or any other agreement with respect to an Alternative Proposal. Each Stockholder will, and will cause its Affiliates and its and their respective investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and other representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any discussions or negotiations with any Person conducted heretofore with respect to any Alternative Proposal. Nothing contained in this Section 3(e) shall prevent any Person affiliated with such Stockholder who is a director or officer of the Company or designated by such Stockholder as a director of officer of the Company, when acting in his capacity as a director or officer of the Company, from exercising his fiduciary duties as a director or officer of the Company including taking any actions permitted under Section 7.3 of the Merger Agreement.

(f)Company Warrants.

(i)Each Stockholder hereby consents, and shall cause each of its Affiliates, if any, that holds an interest in any Company Warrant to consent in writing, to the treatment of the Company Warrants pursuant to Article III of the Merger Agreement.

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(ii)Each Stockholder and the Company hereby agrees that each Company Warrant is hereby amended to permit and provide for the treatment of such Company Warrant as provided in Article III of the Merger Agreement; provided, however, that such amendment shall automatically become null and void and of no effect upon any termination of the Merger Agreement.

(iii)Each Stockholder hereby agrees not to exercise any Company Warrant prior to the record date for the Company Meeting.

4.Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided herein, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto, except that Parent may assign, it its sole discretion, any or all of its rights, interest and obligations hereunder to any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein) is not intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.

5.Termination. This Agreement and the covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement shall automatically terminate (without any further action of the parties) upon the earliest to occur of: (a) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms; (b) the Effective Time; (c) the date of any modification, waiver or amendment to the Merger Agreement effected without such Stockholder’s consent that (y) decreases the amount or changes the form of consideration payable to all of the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement as in effect on the date of this Agreement or (z) otherwise materially adversely affects the interests of the stockholders of the Company; (d) the mutual written consent of the parties hereto; and (e) the Outside Date. In the event of termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 5, this Agreement shall become void and of no effect with no liability on the part of any party; provided, however, that no such termination shall relieve any party from liability for any breach hereof prior to such termination.

6.General Provisions.

(a)Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

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(b)Notice. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, telecopied (which is confirmed) or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as specified by like notice, provided, that notices of a change of address will be effective only upon receipt thereof):

(i)If to the Stockholders, to:
Ares Management LLC
2000 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1200
Los Angeles California. 90067
Attention:	Eric Waxman
With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Latham & Watkins LLP
811 Main Street, Suite 3700
Houston, Texas, 77002
Attention:	Michael Dillard
	John Greer
Facsimile:	(713) 546-5401

(ii)If to Parent, to:
c/o Noble Energy, Inc.
1001 Noble Energy Way
Houston, TX 77070
Attention:	General Counsel
With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
1000 Louisiana St., Suite 6800
Houston, TX 77002
Attention:	Frank E. Bayouth
	Eric C. Otness
Facsimile:	(713) 655-5200

(c)Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Wherever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The phrases “the date of this Agreement”, “the date hereof” and terms of similar import, unless the context otherwise requires, shall be deemed to refer to January 13 , 2017.

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(d)Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to the other parties hereto, it being understood that all parties hereto need not sign the same counterpart.

(e)Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents and the instruments referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

(f)Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

(g)Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction herein, or the application thereof to any circumstance, shall, to any extent, be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions herein and the application thereof to any other circumstances, shall remain in full force and effect, shall not in any way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law, and the parties hereto shall reasonably negotiate in good faith a substitute term or provision that comes as close as possible to the invalidated and unenforceable term or provision, and that puts each party hereto in a position as nearly comparable as possible to the position each such party would have been in but for the finding of invalidity or unenforceability, while remaining valid and enforceable.

(h)Waiver. Any provisions of this Agreement may be waived at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefits thereof. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party, but such extension or waiver or failure to insist on strict compliance with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

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(i)Further Assurances. Each Stockholder will, from time to time, (i) at the request of Parent take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to be done, and assist and cooperate with the other parties hereto in doing, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement and (ii) execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional or further consents, documents and other instruments as Parent may reasonably request for the purpose of effectively carrying out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.

(j)Publicity. Except as otherwise required by law (including securities laws and regulations) and the regulations of any national stock exchange, so long as this Agreement is in effect, the Stockholder shall not issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to, or otherwise make any public statement concerning, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Merger Agreement, without the consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(k)Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement.

7.Stockholder Capacity. Each Stockholder signs solely in its capacity as the beneficial owner of its Subject Shares and nothing contained herein shall limit or affect any actions taken by any officer, director, partner, Affiliate or representative of such Stockholder who is or becomes an officer or a director of the Company in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company, and none of such actions in such capacity shall be deemed to constitute a breach of this Agreement. Each Stockholder signs individually solely on behalf of itself and not on behalf of any other Stockholder.

8.Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached and that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy of any such breach. It is accordingly agreed that, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity, the parties hereto shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief, without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and Merger Sub agree that with respect to any damage claim that might be brought against any Stockholder, any of its affiliates or the Company under this Agreement, and without regard to whether such claim sounds in contract, tort or any other legal or equitable theory of relief, that damages are limited to actual damages and expressly waive any right to recover special damages, including without limitation, lost profits as well as any punitive or exemplary damages. In the event of any litigation over the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party in any such litigation shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in connection with such litigation. The parties hereto further agree that any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be heard and determined in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware (Complex Commercial Division) or, if subject matter jurisdiction over the matter that is the subject of the action or proceeding is vested exclusively in the federal courts of the United States of America, the federal court of the United States of America sitting in the district of Delaware) and any appellate court from any thereof. In addition, each of the parties hereto (a) consents that each party hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts listed in this Section 8 in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) agrees that each party hereto irrevocably waives the defense of an inconvenient forum and all other defenses to venue in any such court in any such action or proceeding, and (c) waives any right to trial by jury with respect to any claim or proceeding related to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

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9.Expense Reimbursement. The Company shall reimburse each Stockholder for the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket third party expenses, including reasonable fees of attorneys, incurred by such Stockholder after the date hereof in connection with or arising from the execution and delivery of, or performance under, this Agreement within ten (10) Business Days of receipt by the Company of written request therefor from such Stockholder; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of reimbursements that the Company shall be required to make hereunder to all Stockholders shall not exceed $750,000. For the avoidance of doubt, no failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder shall limit or in any way excuse the obligations of any Stockholder under this Agreement.

10.No Ownership Interest. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Parent or any other Person any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of, or with respect to, any Subject Shares. Subject to the restrictions and requirements set forth in this Agreement, all rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Subject Shares shall remain vested in and belong to each Stockholder, and this Agreement shall not confer any right, power or authority upon Parent or any other Person to direct the Stockholder in the voting of any of the Subject Shares (except as otherwise specifically provided for herein).

[Remainder of the page intentionally left blank]

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

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
By:	/s/Arnold J. Johnson
	Name: Arnold J. Johnson
	Title: Senior Vice President
Solely for Purposes of Section 3(f)(ii) and Section 9:
CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY, INC.
By:	/s/ Mel G. Riggs, Jr.
	Name: Mel G. Riggs, Jr.
	Title: President

[Signature Page to Project Cactus Support Agreement]

AF IV ENERGY AIV A1, L.P.
By:	/s/ Naseem Sagati
	Name: Naseem Sagati
	Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Project Cactus Support Agreement]

AF IV ENERGY AIV A2, L.P.
By:	/s/ Naseem Sagati
	Name: Naseem Sagati
	Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Project Cactus Support Agreement]

AF IV ENERGY AIV A3, L.P.
By:	/s/ Naseem Sagati
	Name: Naseem Sagati
	Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Project Cactus Support Agreement]

AF IV ENERGY AIV A4, L.P.
By:	/s/ Naseem Sagati
	Name: Naseem Sagati
	Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Project Cactus Support Agreement]

AF IV ENERGY AIV A5, L.P.
By:	/s/ Naseem Sagati
	Name: Naseem Sagati
	Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Project Cactus Support Agreement]

AF IV ENERGY AIV A6, L.P.
By:	/s/ Naseem Sagati
	Name: Naseem Sagati
	Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Project Cactus Support Agreement]

AF IV ENERGY AIV A7, L.P.
By:	/s/ Naseem Sagati
	Name: Naseem Sagati
	Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Project Cactus Support Agreement]

AF IV ENERGY AIV A8, L.P.
By:	/s/ Naseem Sagati
	Name: Naseem Sagati
	Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Project Cactus Support Agreement]

AF IV ENERGY AIV A9, L.P.
By:	/s/ Naseem Sagati
	Name: Naseem Sagati
	Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Project Cactus Support Agreement]

AF IV ENERGY AIV A10, L.P.
By:	/s/ Naseem Sagati
	Name: Naseem Sagati
	Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Project Cactus Support Agreement]

AF IV ENERGY AIV A11, L.P.
By:	/s/ Naseem Sagati
	Name: Naseem Sagati
	Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Project Cactus Support Agreement]

AF IV ENERGY AIV B1, L.P.
By:	/s/ Naseem Sagati
	Name: Naseem Sagati
	Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Project Cactus Support Agreement]

AF IV (U), L.P.
By: AF IV Energy AIV GP, L.P., its general partner
By:	/s/ Naseem Sagati
	Name: Naseem Sagati
	Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Project Cactus Support Agreement]

Schedule A

Name of Stockholder	No. Shares of Company Common Stock	No. Shares of Company Preferred Stock	No. Company Warrants
AF IV Energy AIV A1, L.P.	339,543	161.62	103,971
AF IV Energy AIV A2, L.P.	92,697	44.13	28,385
AF IV Energy AIV A3, L.P.	229,063	109.05	70,141
AF IV Energy AIV A4, L.P.	50,282	23.94	15,397
AF IV Energy AIV A5, L.P.	335,212	159.57	102,645
AF IV Energy AIV A6, L.P.	223,475	106.38	68,431
AF IV Energy AIV A7, L.P.	251,407	119.68	76,984
AF IV Energy AIV A8, L.P.	195,540	93.09	59,877
AF IV Energy AIV A9, L.P.	156,432	74.47	47,901
AF IV Energy AIV A10, L.P.	236,604	112.64	72,451
AF IV Energy AIV A11, L.P.	335,212	159.57	102,646
AF IV Energy AIV B1, L.P.	2,806,188	1,335.86	859,288
AF IV (U), L.P.	841,850	1,000.00	643,247

A-1

EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

AGREEMENT NOT TO DISSENT

THIS AGREEMENT NOT TO DISSENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of January 13, 2017, by and among Clayton W. Williams, Jr., an individual (the “Stockholder”), Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and, solely for purposes of Section 9 hereof, Clayton Williams Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent, the Company, Wild West Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and NBL Permian LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as the same may be amended or supplemented, the “Merger Agreement”), providing that, among other things, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Company will be merged with Merger Sub (the “Merger”), and each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) will be converted into the Merger Consideration;

WHEREAS, the Stockholder beneficially owns 3,110,734 shares of Company Common Stock (such shares of Company Common Stock are referred to herein as the “Subject Shares”);

WHEREAS, as a condition to Parent to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent has required that the Stockholder enter into this Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Stockholder enter into this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder, and the form and substance of this Agreement, have been reviewed by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board in consultation with outside legal counsel and recommended by the Committee for approval by the Board of Directors of the Company, and have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, to induce Parent to enter into, and in consideration of its entering into, the Merger Agreement, and in consideration of the promises and the representations, warranties and agreements contained herein and therein, the parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:

1.Representations and Warranties of the Stockholder. The Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent as of the date hereof as follows:

(a)Due Organization; Qualification. If the Stockholder is an entity, the Stockholder is duly formed under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws thereof.

(b)Authority; No Violation. If the Stockholder is an entity, the Stockholder has full organizational power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. If the Stockholder is an entity, the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder have been duly and validly approved by the governing authority of the Stockholder, and no other organizational proceedings on the part of the Stockholder are necessary to approve this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Stockholder and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent) this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Stockholder, enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except that such enforceability (i) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) is subject to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceedings seeking injunctive relief or specific performance may be brought. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder, nor the consummation by the Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by the Stockholder with any of the terms or provisions hereof, will (x) if the Stockholder is an entity, violate any provision of the governing documents of the Stockholder, (y) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to the Stockholder, or any of its properties or assets, or (z) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any lien, claim, mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, deed of trust, security interest, equity or charge of any kind (each, a “Lien”) upon any of the Subject Shares pursuant to any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which the Stockholder is a party, or by which it or any of its properties or assets may be bound or affected.

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(c)The Subject Shares. As of the date of this Agreement, the Stockholder is the beneficial owner of and has the sole right to vote and dispose of the Subject Shares, free and clear of any Liens whatsoever, except for any Liens which arise hereunder. None of the Subject Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or restriction, except as contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) there are no agreements or arrangements of any kind, contingent or otherwise, obligating the Stockholder to sell, transfer (including by tendering into any tender or exchange offer), assign, grant a participation interest in, option, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of or encumber, including by operation of law or otherwise (each, a “Transfer”), or cause to be Transferred, any of the Subject Shares, other than a Transfer, such as a hedging or derivative transaction, with respect to which such Shareholder retains its Subject Shares and the sole right to vote, dispose of and exercise dissenters’ rights with respect to its Subject Shares during the Applicable Period, and (ii) no Person has any contractual or other right or obligation to purchase or otherwise acquire any of the Subject Shares. Other than the Subject Shares and the Company Warrant, such Stockholder does not own any equity interests or other equity-based securities in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(d)Absence of Litigation. There is no litigation, suit, claim, action, proceeding or investigation pending, or to the knowledge of the Stockholder, threatened against the Stockholder, or any property or asset of the Stockholder, before any Governmental Authority that seeks to delay or prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(e)No Consents Required. No consent of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Person or Governmental Authority is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to the Stockholder in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and except for any applicable requirements and filings with the SEC, if any, under the Exchange Act and except where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not prevent or delay the performance by the Stockholder of the Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement in any material respect.

(f)Reliance. The Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent is entering into, and causing Merger Sub to enter into, the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.

(g)Stockholder Has Adequate Information. The Stockholder is a sophisticated seller with respect to the Subject Shares and has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of Parent to make an informed decision regarding the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby and has independently and without reliance upon Parent and based on such information as the Stockholder has deemed appropriate, made its own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. The Stockholder acknowledges that Parent has not made and does not make any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, of any kind or character except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and for the elimination of doubt, Stockholder is not waiving and is expressly preserving any claims that might arise in connection with the Registration Statement contemplated to be filed in connection with the Merger.

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2.Representations and Warranties of Parent. Parent hereby represents and warrants to the Stockholder as of the date hereof as follows:

(a)Due Organization. Parent is a corporation duly incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws thereof.

(b)Authority; No Violation. Parent has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been duly and validly approved by the Board of Directors of Parent and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent are necessary to approve this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Stockholder) this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with its terms except that such enforceability (i) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) is subject to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceedings seeking injunctive relief or specific performance may be brought. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent, nor the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by Parent with any of the terms or provisions hereof, will (x) violate any provision of the governing documents of Parent or the certificate of incorporation, by-laws or similar governing documents of any of Parent’s Subsidiaries, (y) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to the Parent or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or assets, or (z) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of Parent or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Parent or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries is a party, or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected.

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3.Covenants of the Stockholder. The Stockholder agrees as follows; provided that all of the following covenants shall apply solely to actions taken by the Stockholder in its capacity as a stockholder of the Company:

(a)Dissenters’ Rights. The Stockholder hereby waives, and agrees not to exercise or assert, if applicable, and to cause any record holder of any Subject Shares to waive and not to exercise or assert, if applicable, any appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL in connection with the Merger.

(b)No Transfers. Except as provided in the last sentence of this Section 3(b), the Stockholder agrees not to, and to cause any record holder of any Subject Shares, not to, in any such case directly or indirectly, during the Applicable Period (i) Transfer or enter into any agreement, option or other arrangement (including any profit sharing arrangement) with respect to the Transfer of, any Subject Shares (or any interest therein) to any Person, other than the exchange of the Subject Shares for Merger Consideration in accordance with the Merger Agreement, or (ii) grant any proxies, or deposit any Subject Shares into any voting trust or enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement or otherwise, with respect to the Subject Shares, other than pursuant to this Agreement. Subject to the last sentence of this Section 3(b), the Stockholder further agrees not to commit or agree to take, and to cause any record holder of any Subject Shares not to commit or agree to take, any of the foregoing actions during the Applicable Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Stockholder shall have the right to Transfer its Subject Shares to an Affiliate if and only if such Affiliate shall have agreed in writing, in a manner acceptable in form and substance to Parent, (i) to accept such Subject Shares subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and (ii) to be bound by this Agreement as if it were “the Stockholder” for all purposes of this Agreement; provided, however, that no such transfer shall relieve the Stockholder from its obligations under this Agreement with respect to any Subject Shares.

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(c)Agreement to Vote Subject Shares Against Alternative Transactions. During the Applicable Period (as defined below), at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, however called, or at any postponement or adjournment thereof, or in connection with any written consent of the stockholders of the Company or in any other circumstance upon which a vote, consent or other approval of all or some of the stockholders of the Company is sought, the Stockholder shall, and shall cause any holder of record of the Subject Shares on any applicable record date to, vote or, if stockholders are requested to vote their shares through the execution of an action by written consent in lieu of such meeting of stockholders of the Company, execute a written consent or consents with respect to, all of the Subject Shares: (i) against any merger agreement or merger (other than the Merger Agreement and the Merger), consolidation, combination, sale or transfer of a material amount of assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Alternative Proposal, and (ii) against any amendment of the Company’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other proposal or transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which amendment or other proposal or transaction would in any manner delay, impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify the Merger, the Merger Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or change in any manner the voting rights of any outstanding class of capital stock of the Company. During the Applicable Period, the Stockholder shall retain at all times the right to vote all of the Subject Shares in the Stockholder’s sole discretion and without any other limitation on those matters other than those set forth in this Section 3(c) that are at any time or from time to time presented for consideration to the Company’s stockholders generally. During the Applicable Period, in the event that any meeting of the stockholders of the Company is held, the Stockholder shall (or shall cause the holder of record on any applicable record date to) appear at such meeting or otherwise cause all of the Subject Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum. During the Applicable Period, the Stockholder further agrees not to commit or agree, and to cause any record holder of any Subject Shares not to commit or agree, to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing during the Applicable Period. “Applicable Period” means the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including the date of the termination of the Merger Agreement; provided, however, that if the Merger Agreement is terminated by Parent or by the Company pursuant to Section 9.1(f) of the Merger Agreement or by Parent pursuant to Section 9.1(c) of the Merger Agreement, the Applicable Period shall extend through and including the date that is 180 days following such termination.

(d)Adjustment to Subject Shares. In case of a stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the Company Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend or distribution, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the like, the term “Subject Shares” shall be deemed to refer to and include the Subject Shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of the Subject Shares may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.

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(e)Non-Solicitation. Except to the extent that the Company or the Company Board is permitted to do so under the Merger Agreement, but subject to any limitations imposed on the Company or the Company Board under the Merger Agreement, the Stockholder agrees, solely in its capacity as a stockholder of the Company, that it shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates and its and their respective agents and representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate (including by way of furnishing information) any Alternative Proposal, (ii) participate or engage in any discussions or negotiations with, or disclose any non-public information or data relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person that has made an Alternative Proposal, (iii) approve, endorse or recommend (or publicly propose to approve, endorse or recommend) any Alternative Proposal or (iv) enter into any letter of intent, term sheet, memorandum of understanding, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, exchange agreement or any other agreement with respect to an Alternative Proposal. Each Stockholder will, and will cause its Affiliates and its and their respective investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and other representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any discussions or negotiations with any Person conducted heretofore with respect to any Alternative Proposal. Nothing contained in this Section 3(e) shall prevent any Person affiliated with the Stockholder who is a director or officer of the Company or designated by the Stockholder as a director of officer of the Company, when acting in his capacity as a director or officer of the Company, from exercising his fiduciary duties as a director or officer of the Company including taking any actions permitted under Section 7.3 of the Merger Agreement.

4.Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided herein, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto, except that Parent may assign, it its sole discretion, any or all of its rights, interest and obligations hereunder to any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein) is not intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder; provided, however, that the Company is an intended third party beneficiary of the agreement of the Stockholder set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

5.Termination. This Agreement and the covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement shall automatically terminate (without any further action of the parties) upon the earliest to occur of: (a) the expiration of the Applicable Period; (b) the Effective Time; (c) the date of any modification, waiver or amendment to the Merger Agreement effected without the Stockholder’s consent that (y) decreases the amount or changes the form of consideration payable to all of the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement as in effect on the date of this Agreement or (z) otherwise materially adversely affects the interests of the stockholders of the Company; and (d) the mutual written consent of the parties hereto. In the event of termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 5, this Agreement shall become void and of no effect with no liability on the part of any party; provided, however, that no such termination shall relieve any party from liability for any breach hereof prior to such termination

6.General Provisions.

(a)Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

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(b)Notice. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, telecopied (which is confirmed) or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as specified by like notice, provided, that notices of a change of address will be effective only upon receipt thereof):

(i)If to the Stockholder, to:
c/o Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.
6 Desta Drive, Suite 6500
Midland, TX 79705
Attention:	General Counsel
Facsimile:	432-688-3468
With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Latham & Watkins LLP
811 Main Street, Suite 3700
Houston, Texas, 77002
Attention:	Michael Dillard
	John Greer
Facsimile:	(713) 546-5401
(ii)If to Parent, to:
c/o Noble Energy, Inc.
1001 Noble Energy Way
Houston, TX 77070
Attention:	General Counsel
With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
1000 Louisiana St., Suite 6800
Houston, TX 77002
Attention:	Frank E. Bayouth
	Eric C. Otness
Facsimile:	(713) 655-5200

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(c)Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Wherever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The phrases “the date of this Agreement”, “the date hereof” and terms of similar import, unless the context otherwise requires, shall be deemed to refer to January 13 , 2017.

(d)Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to the other parties hereto, it being understood that all parties hereto need not sign the same counterpart.

(e)Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents and the instruments referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

(f)Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

(g)Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction herein, or the application thereof to any circumstance, shall, to any extent, be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions herein and the application thereof to any other circumstances, shall remain in full force and effect, shall not in any way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law, and the parties hereto shall reasonably negotiate in good faith a substitute term or provision that comes as close as possible to the invalidated and unenforceable term or provision, and that puts each party hereto in a position as nearly comparable as possible to the position each such party would have been in but for the finding of invalidity or unenforceability, while remaining valid and enforceable.

(h)Waiver. Any provisions of this Agreement may be waived at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefits thereof. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party, but such extension or waiver or failure to insist on strict compliance with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

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(i)Further Assurances. The Stockholder will, from time to time, (i) at the request of Parent take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to be done, and assist and cooperate with the other parties hereto in doing, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement and (ii) execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional or further consents, documents and other instruments as Parent may reasonably request for the purpose of effectively carrying out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.

(j)Publicity. Except as otherwise required by law (including securities laws and regulations) and the regulations of any national stock exchange, so long as this Agreement is in effect, the Stockholder shall not issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to, or otherwise make any public statement concerning, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Merger Agreement, without the consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(k)Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement.

7.Stockholder Capacity. The Stockholder signs solely in its capacity as the beneficial owner of the Subject Shares and nothing contained herein shall limit or affect any actions taken by any officer, director, partner, Affiliate or representative of the Stockholder who is or becomes an officer or a director of the Company in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company, and none of such actions in such capacity shall be deemed to constitute a breach of this Agreement.

8.Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached and that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy of any such breach. It is accordingly agreed that, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity, the parties hereto shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief, without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and Merger Sub agree that with respect to any damage claim that might be brought against the Stockholder or any of its affiliates under this Agreement, and without regard to whether such claim sounds in contract, tort or any other legal or equitable theory of relief, that damages are limited to actual damages and expressly waive any right to recover special damages, including without limitation, lost profits as well as any punitive or exemplary damages. In the event of any litigation over the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party in any such litigation shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in connection with such litigation. The parties hereto further agree that any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be heard and determined in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware (Complex Commercial Division) or, if subject matter jurisdiction over the matter that is the subject of the action or proceeding is vested exclusively in the federal courts of the United States of America, the federal court of the United States of America sitting in the district of Delaware) and any appellate court from any thereof. In addition, each of the parties hereto (a) consents that each party hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts listed in this Section 8 in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) agrees that each party hereto irrevocably waives the defense of an inconvenient forum and all other defenses to venue in any such court in any such action or proceeding, and (c) waives any right to trial by jury with respect to any claim or proceeding related to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

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9.Expense Reimbursement. The Company shall reimburse the Stockholder for the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket third party expenses, including reasonable fees of attorneys, incurred by the Stockholder after the date hereof in connection with or arising from the execution and delivery of, or performance under, this Agreement within ten (10) Business Days of the receipt by the Company of written request therefor from the Stockholder; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of reimbursements that the Company shall be required to make hereunder to the Stockholder shall not exceed $750,000. For the avoidance of doubt, no failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder shall limit or in any way excuse the obligations of the Stockholder under this Agreement.

10.No Ownership Interest. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Parent or any other Person any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of, or with respect to, any Subject Shares. Subject to the restrictions and requirements set forth in this Agreement, all rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Subject Shares shall remain vested in and belong to the Stockholder, and this Agreement shall not confer any right, power or authority upon Parent or any other Person to direct the Stockholder in the voting of any of the Subject Shares (except as otherwise specifically provided for herein).

[Remainder of the page intentionally left blank]

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

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
By:	/s/Arnold J. Johnson
	Name: Arnold J. Johnson
	Title: Senior Vice President
CLAYTON W. WILLIAMS, JR.
By:	/s/ Clayton W. Williams, Jr.
	Clayton W. Williams, Jr.
Solely for Purposes of Section 9:
CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY, INC.
By:	/s/ Mel G. Riggs, Jr.
	Name: Mel G. Riggs, Jr.
	Title: President

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EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

AGREEMENT NOT TO DISSENT

THIS AGREEMENT NOT TO DISSENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of January 13, 2017, by and among The Williams Children’s Partnership, Ltd. (the “Stockholder”), Noble Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and, solely for purposes of Section 9 hereof, Clayton Williams Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent, the Company, Wild West Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and NBL Permian LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as the same may be amended or supplemented, the “Merger Agreement”), providing that, among other things, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Company will be merged with Merger Sub (the “Merger”), and each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) will be converted into the Merger Consideration;

WHEREAS, the Stockholder beneficially owns of record 3,041,412 shares of Company Common Stock (such shares of Company Common Stock are referred to herein as the “Subject Shares”);

WHEREAS, as a condition to Parent to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent has required that the Stockholder enter into this Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Stockholder enter into this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder, and the form and substance of this Agreement, have been reviewed by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board in consultation with outside legal counsel and recommended by the Committee for approval by the Board of Directors of the Company, and have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, to induce Parent to enter into, and in consideration of its entering into, the Merger Agreement, and in consideration of the promises and the representations, warranties and agreements contained herein and therein, the parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:

1.Representations and Warranties of the Stockholder. The Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent as of the date hereof as follows:

(a)Due Organization; Qualification. If the Stockholder is an entity, the Stockholder is duly formed under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws thereof.

(b)Authority; No Violation. If the Stockholder is an entity, the Stockholder has full organizational power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. If the Stockholder is an entity, the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder have been duly and validly approved by the governing authority of the Stockholder, and no other organizational proceedings on the part of the Stockholder are necessary to approve this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Stockholder and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent) this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Stockholder, enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except that such enforceability (i) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) is subject to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceedings seeking injunctive relief or specific performance may be brought. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder, nor the consummation by the Stockholder of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by the Stockholder with any of the terms or provisions hereof, will (x) if the Stockholder is an entity, violate any provision of the governing documents of the Stockholder, (y) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to the Stockholder, or any of its properties or assets, or (z) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any lien, claim, mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, deed of trust, security interest, equity or charge of any kind (each, a “Lien”) upon any of the Subject Shares pursuant to any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which the Stockholder is a party, or by which it or any of its properties or assets may be bound or affected.

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(c)The Subject Shares. As of the date of this Agreement, the Stockholder is the beneficial owner of and has the sole right to vote and dispose of the Subject Shares, free and clear of any Liens whatsoever, except for any Liens which arise hereunder. None of the Subject Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or restriction, except as contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) there are no agreements or arrangements of any kind, contingent or otherwise, obligating the Stockholder to sell, transfer (including by tendering into any tender or exchange offer), assign, grant a participation interest in, option, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of or encumber, including by operation of law or otherwise (each, a “Transfer”), or cause to be Transferred, any of the Subject Shares, other than a Transfer, such as a hedging or derivative transaction, with respect to which such Shareholder retains its Subject Shares and the sole right to vote, dispose of and exercise dissenters’ rights with respect to its Subject Shares during the Applicable Period, and (ii) no Person has any contractual or other right or obligation to purchase or otherwise acquire any of the Subject Shares. Other than the Subject Shares and the Company Warrant, such Stockholder does not own any equity interests or other equity-based securities in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(d)Absence of Litigation. There is no litigation, suit, claim, action, proceeding or investigation pending, or to the knowledge of the Stockholder, threatened against the Stockholder, or any property or asset of the Stockholder, before any Governmental Authority that seeks to delay or prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(e)No Consents Required. No consent of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Person or Governmental Authority is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to the Stockholder in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and except for any applicable requirements and filings with the SEC, if any, under the Exchange Act and except where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not prevent or delay the performance by the Stockholder of the Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement in any material respect.

(f)Reliance. The Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent is entering into, and causing Merger Sub to enter into, the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.

(g)Stockholder Has Adequate Information. The Stockholder is a sophisticated seller with respect to the Subject Shares and has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of Parent to make an informed decision regarding the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby and has independently and without reliance upon Parent and based on such information as the Stockholder has deemed appropriate, made its own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. The Stockholder acknowledges that Parent has not made and does not make any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, of any kind or character except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and for the elimination of doubt, Stockholder is not waiving and is expressly preserving any claims that might arise in connection with the Registration Statement contemplated to be filed in connection with the Merger.

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2.Representations and Warranties of Parent. Parent hereby represents and warrants to the Stockholder as of the date hereof as follows:

(a)Due Organization. Parent is a corporation duly incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws thereof.

(b)Authority; No Violation. Parent has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been duly and validly approved by the Board of Directors of Parent and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent are necessary to approve this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Stockholder) this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with its terms except that such enforceability (i) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) is subject to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceedings seeking injunctive relief or specific performance may be brought. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent, nor the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by Parent with any of the terms or provisions hereof, will (x) violate any provision of the governing documents of Parent or the certificate of incorporation, by-laws or similar governing documents of any of Parent’s Subsidiaries, (y) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to the Parent or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or assets, or (z) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of Parent or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Parent or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries is a party, or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected.

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3.Covenants of the Stockholder. The Stockholder agrees as follows; provided that all of the following covenants shall apply solely to actions taken by the Stockholder in its capacity as a stockholder of the Company:

(a)Dissenters’ Rights. The Stockholder hereby waives, and agrees not to exercise or assert, if applicable, and to cause any record holder of any Subject Shares to waive and not to exercise or assert, if applicable, any appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL in connection with the Merger.

(b)No Transfers. Except as provided in the last sentence of this Section 3(b), the Stockholder agrees not to, and to cause any record holder of any Subject Shares, not to, in any such case directly or indirectly, during the Applicable Period (i) Transfer or enter into any agreement, option or other arrangement (including any profit sharing arrangement) with respect to the Transfer of, any Subject Shares (or any interest therein) to any Person, other than the exchange of the Subject Shares for Merger Consideration in accordance with the Merger Agreement, or (ii) grant any proxies, or deposit any Subject Shares into any voting trust or enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement or otherwise, with respect to the Subject Shares, other than pursuant to this Agreement. Subject to the last sentence of this Section 3(b), the Stockholder further agrees not to commit or agree to take, and to cause any record holder of any Subject Shares not to commit or agree to take, any of the foregoing actions during the Applicable Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Stockholder shall have the right to Transfer its Subject Shares to an Affiliate if and only if such Affiliate shall have agreed in writing, in a manner acceptable in form and substance to Parent, (i) to accept such Subject Shares subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and (ii) to be bound by this Agreement as if it were “the Stockholder” for all purposes of this Agreement; provided, however, that no such transfer shall relieve the Stockholder from its obligations under this Agreement with respect to any Subject Shares.

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(c)Agreement to Vote Subject Shares Against Alternative Transactions. During the Applicable Period (as defined below), at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, however called, or at any postponement or adjournment thereof, or in connection with any written consent of the stockholders of the Company or in any other circumstance upon which a vote, consent or other approval of all or some of the stockholders of the Company is sought, the Stockholder shall, and shall cause any holder of record of the Subject Shares on any applicable record date to, vote or, if stockholders are requested to vote their shares through the execution of an action by written consent in lieu of such meeting of stockholders of the Company, execute a written consent or consents with respect to, all of the Subject Shares: (i) against any merger agreement or merger (other than the Merger Agreement and the Merger), consolidation, combination, sale or transfer of a material amount of assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Alternative Proposal, and (ii) against any amendment of the Company’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other proposal or transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which amendment or other proposal or transaction would in any manner delay, impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify the Merger, the Merger Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or change in any manner the voting rights of any outstanding class of capital stock of the Company. During the Applicable Period, the Stockholder shall retain at all times the right to vote all of the Subject Shares in the Stockholder’s sole discretion and without any other limitation on those matters other than those set forth in this Section 3(c) that are at any time or from time to time presented for consideration to the Company’s stockholders generally. During the Applicable Period, in the event that any meeting of the stockholders of the Company is held, the Stockholder shall (or shall cause the holder of record on any applicable record date to) appear at such meeting or otherwise cause all of the Subject Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum. During the Applicable Period, the Stockholder further agrees not to commit or agree, and to cause any record holder of any Subject Shares not to commit or agree, to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing during the Applicable Period. “Applicable Period” means the period from and including the date of this Agreement to and including the date of the termination of the Merger Agreement; provided, however, that if the Merger Agreement is terminated by Parent or by the Company pursuant to Section 9.1(f) of the Merger Agreement or by Parent pursuant to Section 9.1(c) of the Merger Agreement, the Applicable Period shall extend through and including the date that is 180 days following such termination.

(d)Adjustment to Subject Shares. In case of a stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the Company Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend or distribution, split-up, recapitalization, combination, exchange of shares or the like, the term “Subject Shares” shall be deemed to refer to and include the Subject Shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of the Subject Shares may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.

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(e)Non-Solicitation. Except to the extent that the Company or the Company Board is permitted to do so under the Merger Agreement, but subject to any limitations imposed on the Company or the Company Board under the Merger Agreement, the Stockholder agrees, solely in its capacity as a stockholder of the Company, that it shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates and its and their respective agents and representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate (including by way of furnishing information) any Alternative Proposal, (ii) participate or engage in any discussions or negotiations with, or disclose any non-public information or data relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person that has made an Alternative Proposal, (iii) approve, endorse or recommend (or publicly propose to approve, endorse or recommend) any Alternative Proposal or (iv) enter into any letter of intent, term sheet, memorandum of understanding, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, exchange agreement or any other agreement with respect to an Alternative Proposal. Each Stockholder will, and will cause its Affiliates and its and their respective investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and other representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any discussions or negotiations with any Person conducted heretofore with respect to any Alternative Proposal. Nothing contained in this Section 3(e) shall prevent any Person affiliated with the Stockholder who is a director or officer of the Company or designated by the Stockholder as a director of officer of the Company, when acting in his capacity as a director or officer of the Company, from exercising his fiduciary duties as a director or officer of the Company including taking any actions permitted under Section 7.3 of the Merger Agreement.

4.Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided herein, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties without the prior written consent of the other parties hereto, except that Parent may assign, it its sole discretion, any or all of its rights, interest and obligations hereunder to any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein) is not intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder; provided, however, that the Company is an intended third party beneficiary of the agreement of the Stockholder set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

5.Termination. This Agreement and the covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement shall automatically terminate (without any further action of the parties) upon the earliest to occur of: (a) the expiration of the Applicable Period; (b) the Effective Time; (c) the date of any modification, waiver or amendment to the Merger Agreement effected without the Stockholder’s consent that (y) decreases the amount or changes the form of consideration payable to all of the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement as in effect on the date of this Agreement or (z) otherwise materially adversely affects the interests of the stockholders of the Company; and (d) the mutual written consent of the parties hereto. In the event of termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 5, this Agreement shall become void and of no effect with no liability on the part of any party; provided, however, that no such termination shall relieve any party from liability for any breach hereof prior to such termination.

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6.General Provisions.

(a)Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

(b)Notice. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, telecopied (which is confirmed) or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as specified by like notice, provided, that notices of a change of address will be effective only upon receipt thereof): 

(i)If to the Stockholder, to:
c/o Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.
6 Desta Drive, Suite 6500
Midland, TX 79705
Attention:	General Counsel
Facsimile:	432-688-3468
With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Latham & Watkins LLP
811 Main Street, Suite 3700
Houston, Texas, 77002
Attention:	Michael Dillard
	John Greer
Facsimile:	(713) 546-5401

(ii)If to Parent, to:
c/o Noble Energy, Inc.
1001 Noble Energy Way
Houston, TX 77070
Attention:	General Counsel
With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
1000 Louisiana St., Suite 6800
Houston, TX 77002
Attention:	Frank E. Bayouth
	Eric C. Otness
Facsimile:	(713) 655-5200

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(c)Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Wherever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The phrases “the date of this Agreement”, “the date hereof” and terms of similar import, unless the context otherwise requires, shall be deemed to refer to January 13 , 2017.

(d)Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to the other parties hereto, it being understood that all parties hereto need not sign the same counterpart.

(e)Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents and the instruments referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

(f)Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

(g)Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction herein, or the application thereof to any circumstance, shall, to any extent, be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions herein and the application thereof to any other circumstances, shall remain in full force and effect, shall not in any way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law, and the parties hereto shall reasonably negotiate in good faith a substitute term or provision that comes as close as possible to the invalidated and unenforceable term or provision, and that puts each party hereto in a position as nearly comparable as possible to the position each such party would have been in but for the finding of invalidity or unenforceability, while remaining valid and enforceable.

(h)Waiver. Any provisions of this Agreement may be waived at any time by the party that is entitled to the benefits thereof. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party, but such extension or waiver or failure to insist on strict compliance with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

(i)Further Assurances. The Stockholder will, from time to time, (i) at the request of Parent take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do, or cause to be done, and assist and cooperate with the other parties hereto in doing, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement and (ii) execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional or further consents, documents and other instruments as Parent may reasonably request for the purpose of effectively carrying out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.

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(j)Publicity. Except as otherwise required by law (including securities laws and regulations) and the regulations of any national stock exchange, so long as this Agreement is in effect, the Stockholder shall not issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to, or otherwise make any public statement concerning, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Merger Agreement, without the consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(k)Capitalized Terms. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement.

7.Stockholder Capacity. The Stockholder signs solely in its capacity as the beneficial owner of the Subject Shares and nothing contained herein shall limit or affect any actions taken by any officer, director, partner, Affiliate or representative of the Stockholder who is or becomes an officer or a director of the Company in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company, and none of such actions in such capacity shall be deemed to constitute a breach of this Agreement.

8.Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached and that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy of any such breach. It is accordingly agreed that, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity, the parties hereto shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief, without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and Merger Sub agree that with respect to any damage claim that might be brought against the Stockholder or any of its affiliates under this Agreement, and without regard to whether such claim sounds in contract, tort or any other legal or equitable theory of relief, that damages are limited to actual damages and expressly waive any right to recover special damages, including without limitation, lost profits as well as any punitive or exemplary damages. In the event of any litigation over the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party in any such litigation shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in connection with such litigation. The parties hereto further agree that any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be heard and determined in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware (Complex Commercial Division) or, if subject matter jurisdiction over the matter that is the subject of the action or proceeding is vested exclusively in the federal courts of the United States of America, the federal court of the United States of America sitting in the district of Delaware) and any appellate court from any thereof. In addition, each of the parties hereto (a) consents that each party hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts listed in this Section 8 in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) agrees that each party hereto irrevocably waives the defense of an inconvenient forum and all other defenses to venue in any such court in any such action or proceeding, and (c) waives any right to trial by jury with respect to any claim or proceeding related to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

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9.Expense Reimbursement. The Company shall reimburse the Stockholder for the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket third party expenses, including reasonable fees of attorneys, incurred by the Stockholder after the date hereof in connection with or arising from the execution and delivery of, or performance under, this Agreement within ten (10) Business Days of the receipt by the Company of written request therefor from the Stockholder; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of reimbursements that the Company shall be required to make hereunder to the Stockholder shall not exceed $750,000. For the avoidance of doubt, no failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder shall limit or in any way excuse the obligations of the Stockholder under this Agreement.

10.No Ownership Interest. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Parent or any other Person any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of, or with respect to, any Subject Shares. Subject to the restrictions and requirements set forth in this Agreement, all rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Subject Shares shall remain vested in and belong to the Stockholder, and this Agreement shall not confer any right, power or authority upon Parent or any other Person to direct the Stockholder in the voting of any of the Subject Shares (except as otherwise specifically provided for herein).

[Remainder of the page intentionally left blank]

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

NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
By:	/s/Arnold J. Johnson
	Name: Arnold J. Johnson
	Title: Senior Vice President
The Williams Children’s Partnership, Ltd.
By:	LPL/WILLIAMS GP, LLC
	its General Partner
By:	/s/Mel G. Riggs, Jr.
	Name: Mel G. Riggs
	Title: Sole Member
Solely for Purposes of Section 9:
CLAYTON WILLIAMS ENERGY, INC.
By:	/s/Jaime R. Casas
	Name: Jaime R. Casas
	Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

   

NEWS RELEASE  

Noble Energy to Acquire Clayton Williams Energy

Increases Core Delaware Basin Position to Nearly 120,000 Net Acres 

Materially Enhances Oil Growth Outlook, Adds Substantial Midstream Upside 

Noble Energy Also Updates Four-Year Operating Plan

HOUSTON and MIDLAND, Texas (January 16, 2017) - Noble Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NBL) (“Noble Energy” or “the Company”) and Clayton Williams Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CWEI) (“Clayton Williams Energy”) today announced that the Boards of Directors of both companies have unanimously approved and the companies have executed a definitive agreement under which Noble Energy will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Clayton Williams Energy for $2.7 billion in Noble Energy stock and cash.

David L. Stover, Noble Energy’s Chairman, President and CEO, stated, “We have been very disciplined in assessing expansion opportunities in the Delaware Basin and are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement with Clayton Williams Energy. This transaction brings all the key elements we value: excellent rock quality, a large contiguous acreage position adjacent to our own, and robust midstream opportunities, reinforcing the Delaware Basin as a long-term value and growth driver for Noble Energy. This combination creates the industry’s second largest Southern Delaware Basin acreage position and provides more than 4,200 drilling locations on approximately 120,000 net acres, with over 2 billion barrels of oil equivalent in net unrisked resource. In addition to the benefits driven by larger scale, the midstream assets and planned buildout provide significant synergies and substantial dropdown potential in association with our ownership in Noble Midstream Partners.”

Stover concluded, “We are rapidly accelerating activity in 2017, starting the year with four rigs operating in the Southern Delaware Basin – three on Noble Energy’s acreage and one on the Clayton Williams Energy position. A second rig is planned to be added to the new acreage in the second quarter, following closing of the transaction, and a third later in the year, in order to exit 2017 with a combined six rigs running in the Delaware Basin. Following our ramp of activity in 2017, the acquired assets are expected to be self-funding and accretive to Noble Energy’s earnings and cash flow per share beginning next year. This is an excellent fit for Noble Energy, and we expect the transaction to generate substantial shareholder value. We look forward to a smooth and seamless integration of Clayton Williams Energy.”

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Clayton W. Williams, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Clayton Williams Energy, stated, “I am very proud of the company we have built over the past 25 years and I am pleased that Noble Energy will be leading the development of our properties going forward. Noble Energy’s long track record of operational excellence and value creation, as well as its reputation as a tremendous corporate citizen, make it the ideal partner for us.  We look forward to being shareholders of Noble Energy and benefiting from its world class asset portfolio.”

Acquisition Highlights

· 71,000 highly contiguous net acres in the core of the Southern Delaware Basin in Reeves and Ward counties in Texas (directly adjacent to Noble Energy’s existing 47,200 net acres). In addition, there are an additional 100,000 net acres in other areas of the Permian Basin.

· 80% average working interest in the Southern Delaware position, with more than 95% of the acreage operated.

· 2,400 Delaware Basin gross drilling locations identified, targeting the Upper and Lower Wolfcamp A zones, along with the Wolfcamp B and C. The average lateral length of the future locations is 8,000 feet.

· Total estimated net unrisked resource potential on the acreage of over 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent in the Wolfcamp zones, with significant upside potential in other zones.

· Noble Energy’s outlook is to increase production on the acquired assets from 10 MBoe/d currently (70% oil) to approximately 60 MBoe/d in 2020 in the Company’s base plan.

· Highly competitive economics, with Wolfcamp A wells (estimated ultimate recovery of 1.0 million barrels of oil equivalent for a 7,500 foot lateral) generating approximately 60% to 90% before-tax rate of return at base and upside plan pricing, respectively.

· The acquired Delaware Basin acreage is largely undedicated to third-party oil and gas gathering and water systems, and approximately 12,500 acres are dedicated from a third-party operator.

· Existing midstream Delaware Basin assets include over 300 miles of oil, natural gas, and produced water gathering pipelines (over 100 miles for each product).

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Additional Transaction Details

Clayton Williams Energy shareholders will receive 2.7874 shares of Noble Energy common stock and $34.75 in cash for each share of common stock held. In the aggregate, this totals 55 million shares of Noble Energy stock and $665 million in cash. While the aggregate amount of cash and stock in the transaction will not change, on an individual basis shareholders will be able to elect to receive cash or stock, subject to proration. The value of the transaction, based on Noble Energy’s closing stock price as of January 13, 2017, is approximately $139 per Clayton Williams Energy share, or $3.2 billion in the aggregate, including the assumption of approximately $500 million in net debt.

The per share consideration represents a 21% premium to the average closing share price of Clayton Williams Energy over the past 30 days, and a 34% premium to the price on January 13, 2017, the last day of trading prior to the transaction.

Noble Energy intends to fund the cash portion of the acquisition through a draw on its revolving credit facility. As of the end of 2016, the Company’s $4 billion facility was completely undrawn. Through ongoing portfolio management / optimization, Noble Energy anticipates the Company will generate in excess of $1 billion in proceeds in 2017.

The Company also anticipates retiring outstanding debt of Clayton Williams Energy assumed as part of the transaction at or following the closing. This, along with general and administrative cost elimination, will result in annual cost synergies to Noble Energy of approximately $75 million.

As part of the Company’s valuation assessment, Noble Energy identified significant value relating to existing production and midstream opportunities. After adjusting for these items and net debt assumed, the purchase price represents approximately $32,000 per core Southern Delaware acre. The midstream valuation reflects the planned infrastructure buildout and the value of future cash flows.

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Shareholder Agreements and Timing to Close

Funds managed by Ares Management, L.P., which owned approximately 35% of the outstanding shares of Clayton Williams Energy as of December 31, 2016, have entered into a support agreement to vote in favor of the transaction. Following completion of the transaction, shareholders of Clayton Williams Energy are expected to own approximately 11% of the outstanding shares of Noble Energy.

Closing is expected in the second quarter of 2017 and is subject to customary regulatory approvals, approval by the holders of a majority of Clayton Williams Energy common stock, and certain other conditions.

Update on Four-Year Plan

The Company is providing an update to its four-year operating plan (2016 – 2020E). The updated plan includes the development of the acquired acreage, which is estimated to result in production growth from approximately 10 MBoe/d currently to 60 MBoe/d in 2020 in the Company’s base plan and to 70 MBoe/d in the upside plan. Rig activity on the new acreage is planned to accelerate from 1 rig currently to 3 rigs by year end 2017 and between 5 rigs (base plan) and 6 rigs (upside plan) in 2020.

Also included is the impact of an incremental 7,200 net acres acquired through multiple other Delaware Basin transactions, which closed in early 2017. This acreage represented offsetting sections to and additional working interest in Noble Energy’s existing Reeves Country acreage.

Key outcomes of the updated plan through 2020 are:

· Total Delaware Basin net production grows to 145 MBoe/d in the base plan (73% CAGR) and 180 MBoe/d in the upside plan (83% CAGR), from a combined 10-13 drilling rigs in the Delaware in 2020.

· Noble Energy’s onshore U.S. oil volume CAGR has been raised 5 percentage points, now estimated to grow pro forma at a 28% CAGR in the base plan and 34% CAGR in the upside plan.

· Total company oil volumes now increase at a 16% CAGR in the base plan and 21% CAGR in the upside plan, up 5 percentage points versus the November 2016 plan.

· Full company production in 2020 is expected to reach 600 MBoe/d in the base plan and nearly 700 MBoe/d in the upside plan. This represents an 11 to 15% CAGR.

· Operating cash flow is now projected to increase at a CAGR of 33% in the base plan and 45% in the upside plan, up 7 percentage points.

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The Company’s base plan utilizes $50 per barrel WTI and Brent and $3 per thousand cubic feet Henry Hub natural gas for 2017, with modest oil price acceleration through 2020. The upside plan adds $10 per barrel in commodity price to all periods.

With the anticipated closing of the transaction in the second quarter of 2017, Noble Energy now anticipates an incremental $150 million in reported 2017 capital to be allocated to the Delaware Basin, bringing total Delaware Basin reported capital in 2017 to approximately $500 million. Noble Energy’s total reported capital program for 2017, excluding Noble Midstream Partners’ capital, is now estimated to total between $2.1 and $2.5 billion. Total reported company sales volumes for 2017 are now estimated at 410 to 420 MBoe/d. The Company will provide detailed guidance for 2017 in association with is fourth quarter earnings conference call and webcast on February 14, 2017.

Recent Well Results for Noble Energy and Clayton Williams Energy

The two most recent Clayton Williams Energy Wolfcamp A completions include the Collier 34-51 1H and the Geltemeyer 297 1H. The Collier 34-51 1H, with a lateral length of 6,284 feet, was completed with approximately 2,250 pounds of proppant per lateral foot. The well is located in the southeastern part of the acreage and produced at an average 30-day rate of more than 2,000 Boe/d and a 90-day rate of more than 1,700 Boe/d, over 80% oil. Drilled to a lateral length of 4,737 feet, the Geltemeyer 297 1H was completed with approximately 2,440 pounds of proppant per lateral foot and produced at an average 30-day rate of 1,217 Boe/d and a 90 day rate of 1,000 Boe/d, also with more than 80% of the production being oil. When normalized to a 7,500 foot lateral, the wells are performing approximately 20-30% higher than the 1.0 MMBoe EUR Wolfcamp A type curve utilized in Noble Energy’s acquisition assessment.

Noble Energy recently commenced production on five new Delaware Basin wells on its acreage utilizing proppant concentrations ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 pounds per lateral foot, including the Company’s first Wolfcamp B completion. The wells are in the initial ramp up period and are performing at or above expectations.

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Advisors

Petrie Partners Securities, LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to Noble Energy.  Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP acted as legal advisor to Noble Energy. Evercore and Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as financial advisors to Clayton Williams Energy. Latham & Watkins LLP acted as legal advisor to Clayton Williams Energy.

Conference Call and Webcast

Noble Energy will host a conference call and webcast on January 17, 2017, at 7:30 a.m. Central Time to discuss the transaction. Conference call numbers for participation are 800-723-6751 and 785-830-7980 and the passcode is 4311549. The webcast will be accessible on the ‘Investors’ page of Noble Energy’s website, www.nobleenergyinc.com. Presentation materials are available at the same location.

About Noble Energy

Noble Energy (NYSE: NBL) is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company with a diversified high-quality portfolio of both U.S. unconventional and global offshore conventional assets spanning three continents. Founded more than 80 years ago, the company is committed to safely and responsibly delivering our purpose: Energizing the World, Bettering People’s Lives®. For more information, visit www.nobleenergyinc.com.

About Clayton Williams Energy

Clayton Williams Energy (NYSE:CWEI) is an independent energy company located in Midland, Texas.

Investor Contacts

Brad Whitmarsh 

(281) 943-1670  

Brad.Whitmarsh@nblenergy.com

Megan Repine 

(832) 639-7380 

Megan.Repine@nblenergy.com

Jaime Casas 

(432) 688-3224 

cwei@claytonwilliams.com

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Media Contacts

Deena McMullen 

(281) 943-1732 

media@nblenergy.com

Reba Reid 

(713) 412-8441 

media@nblenergy.com

This news release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities law. Words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “expects”, “intends”, “will”, “should”, “may”, “estimates”, and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Noble Energy’s and Clayton Williams Energy’s current views about future events. They may include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the proposed merger involving Noble Energy and Clayton Williams Energy, including future financial and operating results, Noble Energy’s and Clayton Williams Energy’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, the expected timing of completion of the transaction, and other statements that are not historical facts, including estimates of oil and natural gas reserves, estimates of future production, assumptions regarding future oil and natural gas pricing, planned drilling activity, future results of operations, projected cash flow and liquidity, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements contained in this news release will occur as projected and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the ability to obtain the requisite approval of the Clayton Williams Energy shareholders; the risk that Clayton Williams Energy or Noble Energy may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the merger, or required governmental and regulatory approvals may delay the merger or result in the imposition of conditions that could cause the parties to abandon the merger, the risk that a condition to closing of the proposed merger may not be satisfied, the timing to consummate the proposed merger, the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully, the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers, the diversion of management time on merger-related issues, the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas, the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves, the ability to replace reserves, environmental risks, drilling and operating risks, exploration and development risks, competition, government regulation or other actions, the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals and other risks inherent in Noble Energy’s and Clayton Williams Energy’s businesses that are discussed in Noble Energy’s and Clayton Williams Energy’s most recent annual reports on Form 10-K and in other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Noble Energy’s reports are also available from Noble Energy’s offices or website, http://www.nobleenergyinc.com, and Clayton Williams Energy’s reports are also available from Clayton Williams Energy’s offices or website, http://www.claytonwilliams.com. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Neither Noble Energy nor Clayton Williams Energy assumes any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances, management’s estimates, or opinions change.

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The Securities and Exchange Commission requires oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions. The SEC permits the optional disclosure of probable and possible reserves, however, we have not disclosed the Company’s probable and possible reserves in our filings with the SEC. We use certain terms in this news release, such as “net unrisked resources”, “type curve” and “EUR” or “estimated ultimate recovery”, which are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved, probable and possible reserves and accordingly are subject to substantially greater risk of being actually realized. The SEC guidelines strictly prohibit us from including these estimates in filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures and risk factors in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in other reports on file with the SEC, available from Noble Energy’s offices or website, http://www.nobleenergyinc.com.  

Additional Information And Where To Find It

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed merger between Noble Energy and Clayton Williams Energy, Noble Energy will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement of Clayton Williams Energy that also constitutes a prospectus of Noble Energy. Clayton Williams Energy will mail the proxy statement/prospectus to its shareholders. This document is not a substitute for any prospectus, proxy statement or any other document which Noble Energy or Clayton Williams Energy may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. Noble Energy and Clayton Williams Energy urge Clayton Williams Energy investors and shareholders to read the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC, because they will contain important information. You may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Noble Energy’s website (www.nobleenergyinc.com) under the tab “Investors” and then under the heading “SEC Filings.” You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Clayton Williams Energy’s website (www.claytonwilliams.com) under the tab “Investors” and then under the heading “SEC Filings.”

Participants In The Merger Solicitation

Noble Energy, Clayton Williams Energy, and their respective directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees may be soliciting proxies from Clayton Williams Energy shareholders in favor of the merger and related matters. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Clayton Williams Energy shareholders in connection with the proposed merger will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find information about Noble Energy’s executive officers and directors in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 11, 2016. You can find information about Clayton Williams Energy’s executive officers and directors in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 28, 2016. Additional information about Noble Energy’s executive officers and directors and Clayton Williams Energy’s executive officers and directors can be found in the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-4 when it becomes available. You can obtain free copies of these documents from Noble Energy and Clayton Williams Energy using the contact information above.

xxx

PR 720 01/16/2017

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EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

 

Acquisition of Clayton Williams Energy, Inc. January 2017

 

NBL Forward-Looking Statements and Other Matters This presentation contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities law. Words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “expects”, “intends”, “will”, “should”, “may”, “estimates”, and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Noble Energy’s current views about future events. They may include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the proposed merger involving Noble Energy and Clayton Williams Energy, including future financial and operating results, Noble Energy's plans, objectives, expectations andintentions, the expected timing of completion of the transaction, and other statements that are not historical facts, including estimates of oil and natural gas reserves, estimates of future production, assumptions regarding future oil and natural gas pricing, planned drilling activity, future results of operations, projected cash flow and liquidity, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements contained in this news release will occur as projected and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the ability to obtain the requisiteapproval of the Clayton Williams Energy shareholders; the risk that Clayton Williams Energy or Noble Energy may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for themerger, or required governmental and regulatory approvals may delay the merger or result in the imposition of conditions that could cause the parties to abandon the merger, therisk that a condition to closing of the proposed merger may not be satisfied, the timing to consummate the proposed merger, the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully, the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers, the diversion of management time on merger-related issues, the volatility in commodity prices for crude oil and natural gas, the presence or recoverability of estimated reserves, the ability to replace reserves, environmental risks, drilling and operating risks, exploration and development risks, competition, government regulation or other actions, the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals and other risks inherent in Noble Energy’s and Clayton Williams Energy's businesses that are discussed in Noble Energy’s and Clayton Williams Energy's most recent annual reports on Form 10-K and in other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Noble Energy's reports are also available from Noble Energy’s offices or website, http://www.nobleenergyinc.com, and Clayton Williams Energy's reports are also available from Clayton Williams Energy's offices or website, http://www.claytonwilliams.com. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Noble Energy does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances, management’s estimates, or opinions change. The SEC requires oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions. The SEC permits the optional disclosure of probable and possible reserves, however, we have not disclosed our probable and possible reserves in our filings with the SEC. We use certain terms in this presentation,such as “net unriskedresources”, “type curve”, and “EUR” or “estimated ultimate recovery”. These estimates are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved, probable andpossible reserves and accordingly are subject to substantially greater risk of being actually realized. The SEC guidelines strictly prohibit us from including these estimatesinfilings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosures and risk factors in our most recent Form 10-K and in other reports on file with the SEC, available from Noble Energy’s offices or website, http://www.nobleenergyinc.com.2

 

NBL Forward-Looking Statements and Other Matters This presentation also contains certain forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures, including return on average capital employed, net free cash flow, operating cash flow margin, EBITDA and net debt. Due to the forward-looking nature of the aforementioned non-GAAP financial measures, management cannot reliably or reasonably predict certain of the necessary components of the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measures, such as future impairments and future changes in working capital. Accordingly, we are unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of such forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measures. Amounts excluded from these non-GAAP measures in future periods could be significant. Management believes the aforementioned non-GAAP financial measures are good tools for internal use and the investment community in evaluating Noble Energy’s overall financial performance. These non-GAAP measures are broadlyused to value and compare companies in the crude oil and natural gas industry. Additional Information And Where To Find It This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed merger between Noble Energy and Clayton Williams Energy, Noble Energy will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on FormS-4 that will include a proxy statement of Clayton Williams Energy that also constitutes a prospectus of Noble Energy. Clayton Williams Energy will mail the proxy statement/prospectus to its shareholders. This document is not a substitute for any prospectus, proxy statement or any other document which Noble Energy or Clayton Williams Energy may file withthe SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. Noble Energy and Clayton Williams Energy urge Clayton Williams Energy investors and shareholders to read the proxystatement/prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC, because they will contain important information. You may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). You may also obtain these documents,free of charge, from Noble Energy's website (www.nobleenergyinc.com) under the tab "Investors" and then under the heading "SEC Filings." You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Clayton Williams Energy's website (www.claytonwilliams.com) under the tab "Investors" and then under the heading "SEC Filings." Participants In The Merger Solicitation Noble Energy, Clayton Williams Energy, and their respective directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees may be soliciting proxies from Clayton Williams Energy shareholders in favor of the merger and related matters. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Clayton Williams Energy shareholders in connection with the proposed merger will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find information about Noble Energy's executive officers and directors in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 11, 2016. You can find information about Clayton Williams Energy's executive officers and directors in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 28, 2016. Additional information about Noble Energy's executive officers and directors and Clayton Williams Energy's executive officers and directors can be found in the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-4 when it becomes available. You can obtain free copies of these documents from Noble Energy and Clayton Williams Energy using the contact information above.3

 

NBL Highly Strategic and Complementary Acquisition Creates an Industry-Leading Southern Delaware Basin Position ▪Nearly 120,000 net acres ▪More than 4,200 gross future drilling locations ▪Over 2 BBoenet unriskedresources High-Quality, Contiguous Bolt-on Consistent with Expansion Strategy ▪Majority of locations are operated extended-length laterals ▪Adjacent to NBL existing Delaware Basin position Substantial Midstream Value ▪Existing infrastructure assets and future monetization potential with NBLX Significantly Enhances Growth and Cash Flow Acceleration ▪2016–2020E: Combined Delaware volumes increase to 145 to 180 MBoe/d (73 –83% CAGR*)U.S. onshore oil now grows at a 28 –34% CAGR* Total company oil volume CAGR of 16 –21%*Operating cash flow outpaces volumes with a 33 –45% CAGR* Rapid acceleration plan materially enhances oil and long-term growth outlook * Ranges used throughout the presentation represent base to upside plan outcomes and reflect adjustments for divestitures. See base and upside plan pricing in appendix. 4

 

NBL NBL Acreage CWEI Acreage Clayton Williams Energy, Inc. Overview Premier Southern Delaware Basin position 71,000 Core Delaware Acres Adjacent to Existing NBL Position ▪Delaware position –avg. 80% WI, over 95% operated ▪Delaware potential -over 2,400 gross drilling locationswith average lateral length of over 8,000’ ▪Additional 100,000 other net Permian acres 1 Drilling Rig Currently Operating on the CWEI Delaware Assets Current CWEI Net Production of ~10 MBoe/d, 70% Oil ▪50% of production from the Delaware and remainder from various other interests Majority of Acreage Undedicated to Third Parties ▪Over 300 miles of existing oil, natural gas, and produced water gathering systems (~100 miles each product) 5

 

NBL Total Transaction Value of $3.2 Bn(Includes ~$500 MM Net Debt Assumed) 55 MM NBL Shares to CWEI Shareholders, Who Will Own ~11% of NBL $665 MM Cash Consideration Funded From Draw on Revolver Represents Valuation of ~$32,000* per Southern Delaware Acre Materially Enhances Oil Focus and Growth Outlook Accretive to NBL Earnings and Cash Flow Beginning in 2018 Anticipate $75 MM in Annual Synergies (G&A and Interest) Unanimously Approved by Both Companies’ Boards CWEI Shareholder Approval Required Regulatory Approval and Customary Closing Conditions Expected Closing in 2Q 2017 CWEI Transaction Overview Strategic acquisition creates long-term value Financial Highlights Roadmap to Closing Transaction Terms * Assumes $35,000 per flowing barrel of oil equivalent and $600 MM midstream value.6

 

NBL Transaction Advances NBL Delaware Expansion Strategy Superior rock, contiguous acreage, and midstream competitive advantages Focus on High-Quality Geology and Increase Oil Exposure ▪Acreage located in the over-pressured, low GOR area (over 75% oil) Capacity to Accelerate Activity and Growth ▪Increasing activity on CWEI acreage to 3 operated rigs by YE17 and 5 to 6 in 2020 ▪Base plan delivers 60 MBoe/d in 2020E on CWEI acreage, nearly 60% CAGR from 2016 Strong EURs and Returns That Enhance NBL Portfolio ▪1.0 MMBoeEUR WolfcampA type curve NBL Unconventional Expertise to Drive Significant Performance Upside ▪Utilize DJ Basin, Texas, Marcellus knowledge of enhanced completions and IDPs ▪Tremendous performance uplift in acquired ROSE assets since mid-2015 Leverage Midstream Capabilities to Increase Value 7

 

NBL Industry-Leading Combined Southern Delaware Basin Position Best-in-class assets and best-in-class operator Transaction Creates 2ndLargest Southern Delaware Operator Accelerating Activity and Applying NBL Expertise ▪Leverage NBL technical capabilities in onshore unconventionals Development Efficiencies From Long-Laterals, Drill Time Reduction and Increased Recovery Enhancing Long-Term Capital Efficiency ▪Avg. lateral length of 7,800 feet over combined position ▪NBL top-tier well results in the basin 0 25 50 75 100 125 CXO NBL +CWEI OXY FANG CDEV PDCE JAG PE CPE Southern Delaware Basin Net Acreage (000s) NBL Acreage CWEI Acreage Combined 120K Net Acres Source: review of public disclosures 8

 

NBL Additions Significantly Expand Delaware Scale More than doubling future opportunity set 47.2 NBL Net Acres (000s) 71 CWEI Added 118.2 Combined 3 NBL YE 2017 Rigs 3 CWEI Added 6 Combined 0 750 1,500 2,250 3,000 3,750 4,500 NBL CWEI Added Combined Gross Hz. Drilling Locations 0 5 10 15 20 NBL CWEI Added Combined Current Pro forma Production (MBoe/d) 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 NBL CWEI Added Combined Net UnriskedResources (BBoe)9

 

NBL Premier Geology Foundation for Value Creation Expanding Noble’s core of the core position Over-Pressured Oil Reservoir ▪Over 75% oil High-Quality Stacked Targets Across Position ▪Pay interval 3,200 ftthick Well Control Data Provides Certainty on Geologic Quality and Consistency ▪100 existing wells, including 48 horizontal wells Low Water Production Contributes to Advantaged Cost Structure / Margins NBL CWEI Acreage DelawareRange Porosity (%) 10-11 9-11 6-12 GOR(scf/b) 1,500-2,000 1,500-2,000 1,500-9,000 Water Production(BW/BO) 1-2 1.5-2 1-7

 

NBL Significant Stacked Pay Running Room Adds 2,400 identified future drilling locations Majority of Undeveloped CWEI Acreage Value Allocated to WolfcampA Upper and Lower Nearby Industry Well Results Indicate Substantial Stacked Pay Upside ▪Tests include 2ndand 3rdBone Spring, WolfcampB, WolfcampC Optionality From Potential Woodford and Barnett Prospectivity Transaction Value DriverTargeted Wells per Section NBL CWEIAcreage Peer Range Development Plan 3rd Bone Spring 4 ?? 4-7 Wolfcamp A Upper & Lower 12 12 7-15 Wolfcamp B 6 4 6 Wolfcamp C 6 6 4-6 Gross Inventory 1,825 2,400 PotentialUpside 1st Bone Spring & Avalon 4 6-16 2nd Bone Spring 4 ?? 4-6 TotalInventory 2,300 2,400

 

NBL Southern Delaware Basin Well Performance Strong results from multiple benches across Southern Delaware Basin Calamity Jane 2101H Lateral: 4,859’ Proppant: 3,072 lb/ft IP30: 2,541 BOE/D Lemur 24 1H Lateral: 4,498’ Proppant: 2,171 lb/ft IP30: 936BOE/D Lemur Unit 24 2H Lateral: 4,450’ Proppant: 2,900 lb/ft IP30: 1,100BOE/D KlipsingerState 24 E2 1H Lateral: 4,264’ Proppant: 1,833 lb/ft IP30: 1,154 BOE/D Collier 34-51 1H Lateral: 6,284’ Proppant: 2,242 lb/ft IP30: 2,003BOE/D Oppenheimer 188 2H Lateral: 4,176’ Proppant: 2,276 lb/ft IP30: 1,328 BOE/D Black Jack 16 7H Lateral: 4,616’ Proppant: 3,120 lb/ft In flowback Soapy Smith 36 1H Lateral: 2,801’ Proppant: 1,816 lb/ft IP30:728 BOE/D Sky King 47 4H Lateral: 4,611’ Proppant: 5006 lb/ft In flowback Sam Prewitt 255-256 2H Lateral: 3,417’ Proppant: 4,215 lb/ft In flowback Campbell 803H Lateral: 4,281’ Proppant: 1,800 lb/ft IP30: 758BOE/D Brooks 1H Lateral: 3,966’ Proppant: 1,233 lb/ft IP30: 679 BOE/D Jersey Lilly 17 1H Lateral: 4,848’ Proppant: 3,015 lb/ft In flowback Totsy206H Lateral: 3,600’ Proppant: 1,352 lb/ft IP30: 599BOE/D Oppenheimer 188 1H Lateral: 4,673’ Proppant: 1,836 lb/ft IP30: 1,894 BOE/D Johnny Ringo State 9 3H Lateral: 4,691’ Proppant: 2,556 lb/ft IP30: 1,504 BOE/D 3rdBoneSpring WolfcampA WolfcampB WolfcampC Armstrong 149 3H Lateral: 4,013’ Proppant: 1,274 lb/ft IP30: 777BOE/D Armstrong 149 1H Lateral: 3,862’ Proppant: 1,725 lb/ft IP30: 994BOE/D Johnny Ringo State 9 2H Lateral: 3,823’ Proppant: 546 lb/ft IP30: 900 BOE/D Collier –Hammett 1H Lateral: 4735’ Proppant: 990 lb/ft IP30: 917BOE/D Gaucho State 14-15 45H Lateral: 7,500’ Proppant: 3,078 lb/ft In flowback Geltemeyer297 1H Lateral: 4,737’ Proppant: 2,439 lb/ft IP30: 1,217BOE/D12

 

NBL Acquisition Stacks Up Well with Existing Delaware Inventory Robust WolfcampA economics enhanced with long laterals WolfcampA Driving Multi-Year Value and Production Growth With Estimated 1 MMBoeEUR and ROR Ranges 60% -90% at Base/Upside Plan Pricing ▪Most recent CWEI wells materially outperforming acquisition type curve Extended Laterals Significantly Enhance Returns and NPV ▪2,400 locations avg. 8,000’ lateral length 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 4,850' 7,500' 10,000' WolfcampA Well BTAX ROR* and NPV* BTAX ROR NPVLateral Length 4,850’ 7,500’ 10,000’ Well Cost ($MM) 6.5 8.5 10.0 EUR (MBoe) 650 1,000 1,300

 

NBL Material Value Through Acceleration and Unconventional Expertise Growing volumes on acquired acreage to 60 MBoe/d by 2020 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 CWEI '15-'16 Average NBL Plan Lateral Length (ft) 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 CWEI '15-'16 Average NBL Plan ProppantConcentration (lbs/ft) 0 10 20 30 40 Analyst Consensus NBL Plan 2018E Production (MBoe/d) from CWEI Acreage Rapid Ramp from 1 Operated Rig Currently to 3 Rigs by YE 17 and 5-6 Rigs by 2020 Capacity to Grow at Faster Pace ▪2018E sales volume over 2X current CWEI analyst consensus ▪Materially lower cost of capital Ideal Asset to Leverage NBL’s Unconventional Expertise ▪Multi-well pad drilling, long laterals ▪Completion optimization ▪Integrated infrastructure approach 14

 

NBL 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 2017E 2018E 2019E 2020E Sales Volumes 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 2017E 2018E 2019E 2020E Capital** $MM NBL Outlook for CWEI Assets Volumes Grow at ~60% CAGR 2016-2020E Asset Reaches 60 MBoe/d in 2020E in Base Plan and 70 MBoe/d in Upside Plan Net Free Cash Flow* Positive Beginning in 2018 Exit 2017 with 3 Operated Rigs Approximately 15 New Operated Wells Online in 2017 NBL accelerating activity and growth MBoe/d * See appendix for definition of this non-GAAP measure** Excludes NBLX estimated capital expenditures Note: 2017 sales volumes and capital are pro forma for a full year of operations CWEI Upside CWEI Base Operated Rig Count CWEI Upside CWEI Base Avg. Rig Count Upside Avg. Rig Count Base Increasing Total Operated Delaware Rig Count 3 YE 2017E 5-6 2020E15

 

NBL Midstream Assets Enhance Operational and Financial Flexibility Unique midstream position with acreage largely undedicated Material Benefits of Infrastructure Ownership ▪Supports long-term growth objectives ▪Ensures timely well connects ▪Lowers cost structure Further Enhances NBLX’s Permian Basin Scale and Drop Down Inventory Existing Acreage Largely Undedicated For Oil, Natural Gas and Produced Water Gathering Third-Party Acreage Dedication to Current and Future System Buildout(Avg. 12,500 Acres) CWEI Current MidstreamAsset Footprint Midstream Service Existing Pipeline (Miles) Capacity Utilization (%) Oil Gathering > 100 10 MBbl/d 60 Gas Gathering > 100 10 MMcf/d 70 Produced Water Gathering > 100 15 MBbl/d 100

 

NBL Planning Infrastructure for Optimal Long-Term Development NBL development plan drives $600 million in current midstream value Midstream Facility Build Out Consistent With Development Underway in Delaware ▪NBLX installing first central gathering facility on NBL existing acreage, operational mid 2017 ▪Design to maximize flexibility and match development pace ▪Incorporates produced water recycling and integrated water wells and ponds Anticipate Incremental 3-5 Central Gathering Facilities For Long-Term Development on Acquired CWEI Acreage ▪6-10 facilities total for combined 120,000 net acres Each Central Gathering Facility Capacity Approximates ▪20 to 30 MB/d oil ▪50 to 60 MMcf/d gas ▪30-50 MB/d produced water 17

 

NBL 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 2017E 2018E 2019E 2020E Delaware Sales Volumes 0 250 500 750 1,000 1,250 1,500 2017E 2018E 2019E 2020E Delaware Capital** $MM Updated Combined Delaware Outlook to 2020 73-83% CAGR 2016-2020E Pro forma ▪Plans for NBL existing acreage remain unchanged Combined Volumes Grow to 145-180 MBoe/d by 2020E Net Free Cash Flow* Positive Beginning in 2018 Approximately 50 New Operated Wells Online in 2017 Expanding on an already significant growth story MBoe/d Increasing Total Operated Rig Count * See appendix for definition of this non-GAAP measure** Excludes NBLX estimated capital expenditures Note: 2017 sales volumes and capital are pro forma for a full year of operations Combined Upside Combined Base 6 YE 2017 Pro forma Combined 10-13 2020E Pro forma Combined Operated Rig Count Pro forma Upside Pro forma Base Avg. Rig Count Upside Avg. Rig Count Base18

 

NBL Enhancing NBL Position as Leading U.S. Onshore Operator with Top Tier Acreage 2 BBoeeach in core oil positions in DJ and Delaware Delaware 352,000 net acres 3,220 gross locations 8,400’ average lateral length 2BBoe net unrisked resources Eagle Ford Marcellus 363,000 net acres 1,900 gross locations 8,000’ average lateral length 20 Tcfenet unrisked resources DJ Basin 118,000* net acres 4,225 gross locations 7,800’ average lateral length 2BBoe net unrisked resources 35,000 net acres 360 gross locations 7,600’ average lateral length 460 MMBoe net unrisked resources * Reflects acreage post acquisition close. Excludes 100,000 other Permian acres. 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 <$40/Bbl<$2/Mcf Base PlanPricing Gross IdentifiedLocations USO Gross Inventory 55% of Future Drilling Locations with at Least 10% BTAX Rate of Return at $40/Bbland $2/Mcf ▪8,000ft. lateral avg. Combined ~8 BBoe Net Unrisked Resources Eagle Ford NBL Existing Delaware DJ Marcellus BTAX PV10 or Greater Wells 7,200 Nov. 16 Increased USO Inventory by 35% 9,750 Pro forma CWEI Delaware Additions19

 

NBL Transaction Accelerates Volumes and Cash Flow Even Faster New addition increases volume growth by 3 to 5 percentage points, Cash flow up 7 points Total NBL 33% 45% Total Company Operating Cash Flow Grows Even Stronger * (2016 –2020E CAGR Pro forma) 11% 15% 16% 20% 16% 21% 28% 34% * Adjusted for divestitures New Upside New Base Nov. 16 Upside Nov. 16 Base New Upside New Base Nov. 16 Upside Nov. 16 Base Strong Total and Oil Volume Growth (2016 –2020E CAGR Pro forma)* Total NBL U.S. Onshore Total NBL Oil U.S. Onshore Oil20

 

NBL Track Record of Enhancing Value Through M&A Rosetta outcomes far exceeding merger plan 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 A NBL B C D E F G H I 2016 Delaware Basin Operator Average 24 Hour Test Rate per 1,000 ft Boe/d per 1,000 ft. Source: Analysis by KLR Group, report dated 10/20/16; Peers include APA, APC, BHP, CVX, CXO, EOG, MTDR, OXY, PE, REN Differentiated Well Performance Through Application of Unconventional Expertise Undeveloped Delaware Acreage Value Texas Net UnriskedResources 3.5-5.5X 80-120% 2020ETexas Volumes G&A Synergies 50% 2016 Interest Cost Savings 50% $50 MM 0 100 200 300 400 500 0 100 200 300 400 Cum. MBoe Days on Production Well Results Improving with Enhanced Completions Gen 1 Gen 2 Gen 3 WCA Current Type Curve Gen 4 Note: Gross 3 stream normalized to 7,500’ lateral NBLDesigned: 2,000+ lbs/ft Slickwater Legacy ROSE 21

 

NBL Highly Strategic and Complementary Acquisition Creates an Industry-Leading Southern Delaware Basin Position ▪Nearly 120,000 net acres ▪More than 4,200 gross future drilling locations ▪Over 2 BBoenet unriskedresources High-Quality, Contiguous Bolt-on Consistent with Expansion Strategy ▪Majority of locations are operated extended-length laterals ▪Adjacent to NBL existing Delaware Basin position Substantial Midstream Value ▪Existing infrastructure assets and future monetization potential with NBLX Significantly Enhances Growth and Cash Flow Acceleration ▪2016–2020E: Combined Delaware volumes increase to 145 to 180 MBoe/d (73 –83% CAGR*)U.S. onshore oil now grows at a 28 –34% CAGR* Total company oil volume CAGR of 16 –21%*Operating cash flow outpaces volumes with a 33 –45% CAGR* Rapid acceleration plan materially enhances oil and long-term growth outlook * Ranges used throughout the presentation represent base to upside plan outcomes and reflect adjustments for divestitures. See base and upside plan pricing in appendix. 22

 

NBL Appendix 23

 

NBL Period BasePlan Upside Plan WTI, Brent ($/Bbl) Henry Hub ($/Mcf) WTI,Brent ($/Bbl) Henry Hub ($/Mcf) 2017 $50 $3 $60 $3 2018 $55 $3 $65 $3 2019 $55 $3 $65 $3 2020 $56 $3 $66 $3 ’17-’20 Avg $54 $3 $64 $3

 

NBL Defined Terms Defined Terms and Divestment AdjustmentsTerm Definition Operating CashFlow GAAP Net cashprovided by operating activities Net Free Cash Flow Operating cash flow less organic cash capital lessdividend

EX-99.3

Exhibit 99.3

From: Suzette Brown
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2017 2:12 PM
Subject: To All Noble Employees

The Following is from Dave Stover:

This afternoon, we announced an agreement to acquire Clayton Williams Energy, a Midland, Texas based independent producer, increasing our core Permian acreage in the Southern Delaware Basin by more than two and half times and more than doubling our drilling locations.    Combined, we will have over 4,200 drilling locations on nearly 120,000 net acres, and over 2 billion barrels of oil equivalent in net unrisked resources. 

This acquisition gives Noble Energy an industry-leading position in the Southern Delaware Basin.  As a result, we will increase our total company and U.S. onshore growth outlook through 2020 and add substantial midstream upside. You can find more details on this transaction in the press release which can be accessed through the following link:  Click Here

Three years ago we made the strategic decision to increase our onshore U.S. oil exposure and take advantage of our horizontal development experience.  This led to our merger with Rosetta Resources in 2015 and this transaction represents another significant addition to our position. Clayton Williams is an excellent fit for Noble Energy, and I look forward to a smooth and seamless integration.

This is another step in solidifying our future.   It increases our annual growth rate through 2020 by three percentage points and is additive to our earnings and cash flow per share growth starting next year.  We plan to accelerate activity in this new asset without detracting from any of our plans in our existing portfolio that we outlined in November. 

The opportunity to develop two billion barrels oil equivalent of resources in both the DJ Basin and the Delaware Basin gives us an industry leading onshore U.S. portfolio.  Combined with the imminent next phase of our Eastern Mediterranean development, along with the cash flow generated from our other offshore assets, we are creating a bright and sustainable future for Noble Energy.

I will hold an employee town hall in Houston to discuss the transaction and answer questions at 10:00 a.m. Central time tomorrow. Conference rooms in Pecos, Dilley, Denver, Canonsburg and Greeley will be designated for viewing – and international locations will be able to dial-in. Further information will be provided later today. 

I also encourage you to listen to our investor call tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. Central time.  You can access the call by webcast at www.nobleenergyinc.com, Investors page, or by dialing 800.723.6751 in the U.S. or 785.830.7980 for international calls, conference ID 4311549. The slides that will accompany this presentation are already posted on the Investors page of our website.

Thank you for your continued dedication and commitment to our company, and to safely and responsibly developing the resources that ‘energize the world’. 

Dave

Additional Information And Where To Find It

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval.  In connection with the proposed merger between Noble Energy and Clayton Williams Energy, Noble Energy will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement of Clayton Williams Energy that also constitutes a prospectus of Noble Energy.  Clayton Williams Energy will mail the proxy statement/prospectus to its shareholders.  This document is not a substitute for any prospectus, proxy statement or any other document which Noble Energy or Clayton Williams Energy may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction.  Noble Energy and Clayton Williams Energy urge Clayton Williams Energy investors and shareholders to read the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC, because they will contain important information.  You may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).  You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Noble Energy’s website (www.nobleenergyinc.com) under the tab “Investors” and then under the heading “SEC Filings.”  You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Clayton Williams Energy’s website (www.claytonwilliams.com) under the tab “Investors” and then under the heading “SEC Filings.”

Participants In The Merger Solicitation

Noble Energy, Clayton Williams Energy, and their respective directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees may be soliciting proxies from Clayton Williams Energy shareholders in favor of the merger and related matters.  Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Clayton Williams Energy shareholders in connection with the proposed merger will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC.  You can find information about Noble Energy’s executive officers and directors in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 11, 2016.  You can find information about Clayton Williams Energy’s executive officers and directors in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 28, 2016.  Additional information about Noble Energy’s executive officers and directors and Clayton Williams Energy’s executive officers and directors can be found in the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-4 when it becomes available.  You can obtain free copies of these documents from Noble Energy and Clayton Williams Energy using the contact information above.

Suzette Brown 

Assistant to David Stover 

Chairman, President & CEO 

Noble Energy, Inc. 

1001 Noble Energy Way 

Houston, TX 77070 

281-872-3357

“Energizing the World, Bettering People’s Lives”

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