EX-10.7 8 exhibit107severanceagr.htm EXHIBIT 10.7
Exhibit 10.7
SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
THIS SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made on this 15 th day of February, 2019 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Forum Energy Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and John C. Ivascu (“Executive”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Executive is an employee of the Company, and the Company desires to provide additional inducement for Executive to remain in the ongoing employ of the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and obligations contained herein, the Company and Executive agree as follows:
Article I
DEFINITIONS
In addition to the terms defined in the body of this Agreement, for purposes of this Agreement, the following capitalized words shall have the meanings indicated below:
1.1 “Acquiring Person” shall mean any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act).
1.2 “Annual Bonus” shall mean Executive’s annual incentive bonus opportunity under the Company’s Management Incentive Plan or a successor plan.
1.3 “Base Salary” shall mean Executive’s annual base salary.
1.4 “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
1.5 “Cause” shall mean a determination by the Company that Executive (%3) has engaged in gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of Executive’s duties with respect to the Company or any of its affiliates, (%3) has materially breached any material provision of this Agreement or any written agreement or corporate policy or code of conduct established by the Company or any of its affiliates, (%3) has willfully engaged in conduct that is materially injurious to the Company or any of its affiliates, or (%3) has been convicted of, pleaded no contest to or received adjudicated probation or deferred adjudication in connection with a felony involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude (or a crime of similar import in a foreign jurisdiction).
1.6 “Change in Control” shall mean:
(a) The acquisition by any Acquiring Person of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of fifty percent (50%) or more of either (1) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (2) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this

subsection (a) any acquisition by any Acquiring Person pursuant to a transaction which complies with clause (c)(1) of this definition shall not constitute a Change in Control; or
(b) Individuals, who, immediately following the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered for purposes of this definition as though such individual was a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for these purposes, any such individual whose initial assumption of office as a director occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an Acquiring Person other than the Board; or
(c) The consummation of a Corporate Transaction unless, following such Corporate Transaction, (1) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the Company (if it be the ultimate parent entity following such Corporate Transaction) or the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction (or the ultimate parent entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), and (2) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the ultimate parent entity resulting from such Corporate Transaction were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Corporate Transaction. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, only (A) shares of common stock and voting securities of the Company, assuming the Company is the ultimate parent entity following such Corporate Transaction, held by a beneficial owner immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction and any additional shares of common stock and voting securities of the Company issuable to such beneficial owner in connection with such Corporate Transaction in respect of the shares of common stock and voting securities of the Company held by such beneficial owner immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, or (B) shares of common stock and voting securities of the ultimate parent entity following such Corporate Transaction, assuming the Company is not the ultimate parent entity following such Corporate Transaction, issuable to a beneficial owner in respect of the shares of common stock and voting securities of the Company held by such beneficial owner immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, in either case shall be included in determining whether or not the fifty percent (50%) ownership test in this subsection (c) has been satisfied.
1.7 “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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1.8 “Corporate Transaction” shall mean a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (other than to an entity wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company) or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
1.9 “Date of Termination” shall mean the date Executive’s employment with the Company is considered to have terminated pursuant to Section 2.4.
1.10 “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
1.11 “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) a material diminution in Executive’s Base Salary, other than as part of a decrease of up to 10% for all of the Company’s executive officers; or
(b) if Executive is not the Chief Executive Officer of the Company at the time of the event, a material diminution in Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities, excluding a change in management structure primarily affecting reporting responsibility where Executive continues to report to the same position that such individual reported to prior to the event or the change or reports directly to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer; or
(c) if Executive is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company at the time of the event, Executive ceases to be employed in the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company; or
(d) the involuntary relocation of the geographic location of Executive’s principal place of employment by more than 75 miles from the location of Executive’s principal place of employment as of the Effective Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.11 or any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, any assertion by Executive of a termination of employment for “Good Reason” shall not be effective unless all of the following requirements are satisfied: (%4) the condition described in Section 1.11(a), (b), (c) or (d) giving rise to Executive’s termination of employment must have arisen without Executive’s consent; (%3) Executive must provide written notice to the Company of such condition in accordance with Section 9.1 within 45 days of the initial existence of the condition; (%3) the condition specified in such notice must remain uncorrected for 30 days after receipt of such notice by the Company; and (%3) the date of Executive’s termination of employment must occur within 90 days after the initial existence of the condition specified in such notice.
1.12 “Notice of Termination” shall mean a written notice delivered to the other party indicating the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon for termination of Executive’s employment and the intended Date of Termination and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated.
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1.13 “Section 409A Payment Date” shall mean the earlier of (%3) the date of Executive’s death or (%3) the date that is six months after the date of termination of Executive’s employment with the Company.
1.14 “Severance Multiple” shall mean two; provided, however, that the Severance Multiple shall mean three if Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate on or within two years after the occurrence of a Change in Control.
1.15 “Target Bonus Percentage” shall mean Executive’s highest target Annual Bonus opportunity (expressed as a percentage of Executive’s Base Salary) for the year in which the Date of Termination occurs or for the two calendar years immediately preceding such year.
ARTICLE II
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
2.1 Company’s Right to Terminate. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time for any of the following reasons by providing Executive with a Notice of Termination:
(a) upon Executive being unable to perform Executive’s employment duties or fulfill Executive’s employment obligations by reason of any physical or mental impairment for a continuous period of not less than three months as determined by the Company and certified in writing by a competent medical physician selected by the Company; or
(b) Executive’s death; or
(c) for Cause; or
(d) for any other reason whatsoever or for no reason at all, in the sole discretion of the Company.
2.2 Executive’s Right to Terminate. Executive shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment with the Company for Good Reason or for any other reason whatsoever or for no reason at all, in the sole discretion of Executive, by providing the Company with a Notice of Termination. In the case of a termination of employment by Executive pursuant to this Section 2.2, the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination shall not be less than 15 nor more than 60 days from the date such Notice of Termination is given, and the Company may require a Date of Termination earlier than that specified in the Notice of Termination (and, if such earlier Date of Termination is so required, it shall not change the basis for Executive’s termination nor be construed or interpreted as a termination of employment pursuant to Section 2.1).
2.3 Deemed Resignations. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company and Executive prior to the termination of Executive’s employment, any termination of Executive’s employment shall constitute (%3) an automatic resignation of Executive as an officer of the Company and each affiliate of the Company and (%3) an automatic resignation of Executive from the Board (if applicable), from the board of directors of any affiliate of the Company and from the
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board of directors or similar governing body of any corporation, limited liability entity or other entity in which the Company or any affiliate holds an equity interest and with respect to which board or similar governing body Executive serves as the Company’s or such affiliate’s designee or other representative.
2.4 Meaning of Termination of Employment. For all purposes of this Agreement, Executive shall be considered to have terminated employment with the Company when Executive incurs a “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code and applicable administrative guidance issued thereunder; provided, however, that whether such a separation from service has occurred shall be determined based upon a reasonably anticipated permanent reduction in the level of bona fide services to be performed to no more than 49% of the average level of bona fide services provided in the immediately preceding 36 months.
ARTICLE III
PROTECTION OF INFORMATION
3.1 Disclosure to and Property of the Company. For purposes of this Article III, the term “the Company” shall include the Company and any of its affiliates, and any reference to “employment” or similar terms shall include a director and/or consulting relationship. All information, trade secrets, designs, ideas, concepts, improvements, product developments, discoveries and inventions, whether patentable or not, that are conceived, made, developed, disclosed to or acquired by Executive, individually or in conjunction with others, during the period of Executive’s employment by the Company (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise) that relate to the Company’s or any of its affiliates’ businesses, trade secrets, products or services (including, without limitation, all such information relating to corporate opportunities, strategies, business plans, product specifications, compositions, manufacturing and distribution methods and processes, research, financial and sales data, pricing terms, evaluations, opinions, interpretations, acquisition prospects, the identity of customers or their requirements, the identity of key contacts within the customer’s organizations or within the organization of acquisition prospects, or production, marketing and merchandising techniques, prospective names and marks) and all writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression (collectively, “Confidential Information”) shall be disclosed to the Company and are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company or its affiliates, as applicable. Moreover, all documents, videotapes, written presentations, brochures, drawings, memoranda, notes, records, files, correspondence, manuals, models, specifications, computer programs, E‑mail, voice mail, electronic databases, maps, drawings, architectural renditions, models and all other writings or materials of any type embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression (collectively, “Work Product”) are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company (or its affiliates). Executive agrees to perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company or its affiliates to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership. Upon termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, for any reason, Executive promptly shall deliver such Confidential Information and Work Product, and all copies thereof, to the Company.
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3.2 Disclosure to Executive. The Company shall disclose to Executive and place Executive in a position to have access to or develop Confidential Information and Work Product of the Company (or its affiliates); and shall entrust Executive with business opportunities of the Company (or its affiliates); and shall place Executive in a position to develop business good will on behalf of the Company (or its affiliates).
3.3 No Unauthorized Use or Disclosure. Executive agrees to preserve and protect the confidentiality of all Confidential Information and Work Product of the Company and its affiliates. Executive agrees that Executive will not, at any time during or after Executive’s employment with the Company, make any unauthorized disclosure of, and Executive shall not remove from the Company premises, Confidential Information or Work Product of the Company or its affiliates, or make any use thereof, except, in each case, in the carrying out of Executive’s responsibilities hereunder. Executive shall use all reasonable efforts to cause all persons or entities to whom any Confidential Information shall be disclosed by Executive hereunder to preserve and protect the confidentiality of such Confidential Information. Executive shall have no obligation hereunder to keep confidential any Confidential Information if and to the extent disclosure thereof is specifically required by law. At the request of the Company at any time, Executive agrees to deliver to the Company all Confidential Information that Executive may possess or control. Executive agrees that all Confidential Information of the Company (whether now or hereafter existing) conceived, discovered or made by Executive during the period of Executive’s employment by the Company exclusively belongs to the Company (and not to Executive), and upon request by the Company for specified Confidential Information, Executive will promptly disclose such Confidential Information to the Company and perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company to establish and confirm such exclusive ownership. Affiliates of the Company shall be third party beneficiaries of Executive’s obligations under this Article III. As a result of Executive’s employment by the Company, Executive may also from time to time have access to, or knowledge of, Confidential Information or Work Product of third parties, such as customers, suppliers, partners, joint venturers, and the like, of the Company and its affiliates. Executive also agrees to preserve and protect the confidentiality of such third party Confidential Information and Work Product.
3.4 Ownership by the Company. If, during Executive’s employment by the Company, Executive creates any work of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression that is the subject matter of copyright (such as videotapes, written presentations, or acquisitions, computer programs, E‑mail, voice mail, electronic databases, drawings, maps, architectural renditions, models, manuals, brochures, or the like) relating to the Company’s business, products, or services, whether such work is created solely by Executive or jointly with others (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise), including any Work Product, the Company shall be deemed the author of such work if the work is prepared by Executive in the scope of Executive’s employment; or, if the work relating to the Company’s business, products, or services is not prepared by Executive within the scope of Executive’s employment but is specially ordered by the Company as a contribution to a collective work, as a part of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, as a translation, as a supplementary work, as a compilation, or as an instructional text, then the work shall be considered to be work made for hire and the Company shall be the author of the work. If the work relating to the Company’s business, products, or services is neither prepared by Executive within the scope of Executive’s employment nor a work specially ordered
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that is deemed to be a work made for hire during Executive’s employment by the Company, then Executive hereby agrees to assign, and by these presents does assign, to the Company all of Executive’s worldwide right, title, and interest in and to such work and all rights of copyright therein.
3.5 Assistance by Executive. During the period of Executive’s employment by the Company, Executive shall assist the Company and its nominee, at any time, in the protection of the Company’s or its affiliates’ worldwide right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information and Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by the Company or its nominee(s) and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries. After Executive’s employment with the Company terminates, at the request from time to time and expense of the Company or its affiliates, Executive shall assist the Company or its nominee(s) in the protection of the Company’s or its affiliates’ worldwide right, title and interest in and to Confidential Information and Work Product and the execution of all formal assignment documents requested by the Company or its nominee and the execution of all lawful oaths and applications for patents and registration of copyright in the United States and foreign countries.
3.6 Remedies. Executive acknowledges that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article III by Executive, and the Company or its affiliates shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Article III by terminating payments then owing to Executive under this Agreement or otherwise and to specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach. Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article III but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from Executive and Executive’s agents. However, if it is determined that Executive has not committed a breach of this Article III, then the Company shall resume the payments and benefits due under this Agreement and pay to Executive and Executive’s spouse, if applicable, all payments and benefits that had been suspended pending such determination.
3.7 Protected Rights. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, nothing contained in this Agreement limits Executive’s ability to file a charge or complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal, state or local governmental agency or commission (“Government Agencies”). This Agreement does not limit Executive’s ability to communicate with any Government Agencies or otherwise participate in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any Government Agency, including providing documents or other information, without notice to the Company. This Agreement does not limit Executive’s right to receive an award for information provided to any Government Agencies. Executive has been informed that nothing herein shall prevent Executive from making a disclosure of a trade secret that: (1) is made (A) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (B) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (2) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Further, Executive has been informed that an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer of reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose a trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (x) files any document
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containing the trade secret under seal and (y) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order
ARTICLE IV
STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE COMPANY
4.1 Statements Concerning the Company. Executive shall refrain, both during and after the termination of the employment relationship, from publishing any oral or written statements about the Company, any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or such affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives that (%3) are slanderous, libelous or defamatory, (%3) disclose Confidential Information of the Company, any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ business affairs, directors, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives, or (%3) place the Company, any of its affiliates, or any of the Company’s or any such affiliates’ directors, officers, employees, consultants, agents or representatives in a false light before the public. A violation or threatened violation of this prohibition may be enjoined by the courts. The rights afforded the Company and its affiliates under this provision are in addition to any and all rights and remedies otherwise afforded by law.
ARTICLE V
EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
5.1 Effect of Termination of Employment.
(a) If Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate for any reason described in Section 2.1(a), 2.1(b), or 2.1(c) or pursuant to Executive’s resignation for other than Good Reason, then all compensation and all benefits to Executive hereunder shall terminate contemporaneously with such termination of employment, except that Executive shall be entitled to (%3) payment of all accrued and unpaid Base Salary to the Date of Termination, (%3) reimbursement for all incurred but unreimbursed expenses for which Executive is entitled to reimbursement in accordance with Company policies, (%3) payment of all accrued and unused paid vacation for the calendar year in which the Date of Termination occurs, and (%3) benefits to which Executive is entitled under the terms of any applicable benefit plan or program.
(b) If Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate pursuant to Executive’s resignation for Good Reason or by action of the Company pursuant to Section 2.1 for any reason other than those encompassed by Section 2.1(a), 2.1(b), or 2.1(c), then all compensation and all benefits to Executive shall terminate contemporaneously with such termination of employment, except that (i) Executive shall be entitled to receive the compensation and benefits described in clauses ‎(i) through (iv) of Section 5.1(a) and (ii) if, on the Date of Termination, the Company does not have a right to terminate Executive’s employment under Section 2.1(a), 2.1(b), or 2.1(c) and subject to Executive’s delivery, within 50 days after the Date of Termination, and non-revocation of an executed release substantially in the form of the release contained at Appendix A (the “Release”), Executive shall receive the following additional compensation and benefits from the Company (but no other additional compensation or benefits after such termination):
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(A) the Company shall pay to Executive any unpaid Annual Bonus for the calendar year ending prior to the Date of Termination, which amount shall be payable in a lump-sum on the date such annual bonuses are paid to executives who have continued employment with the Company (but in no event earlier than 60 days after the Date of Termination (or, if earlier, the December 31 next following such calendar year) nor later than the December 31 next following such calendar year);
(B) the Company shall pay to Executive a bonus for the calendar year in which the Date of Termination occurs in an amount equal to the Annual Bonus for such year as determined in good faith by the Board in accordance with the applicable performance criteria and based on the Company’s performance for such year, which amount shall be prorated through and including the Date of Termination (based on the ratio of the number of days Executive was employed by the Company during such year to the number of days in such year), payable in a lump-sum on or before the date such annual bonuses are paid to executives who have continued employment with the Company (but in no event earlier than 60 days after the Date of Termination nor later than the May 15 next following such calendar year);
(C) the Company shall pay to Executive an amount equal to the Severance Multiple times the sum of (i) Executive’s Base Salary as of the Date of Termination and (ii) Executive’s Target Bonus Percentage as of the Date of Termination multiplied by Executive’s Base Salary as of the Date of Termination, which amount shall be paid in a lump sum payment on the date that is 60 days after the Date of Termination occurs; and
(D) during the portion, if any, of the 18-month period following the Date of Termination that Executive elects to continue coverage for Executive and Executive’s spouse and eligible dependents, if any, under the Company’s group health plans under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (COBRA), and/or sections 601 through 608 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, the Company shall promptly reimburse Executive on a monthly basis for the difference between the amount Executive pays to effect and continue such coverage and the employee contribution amount that active senior executive employees of the Company pay for the same or similar coverage under such group health plans.
Notwithstanding the time of payment provisions of Section 5.1(b)(ii) above, if Executive is a specified employee (as such term is defined in section 409A of the Code and as determined by the Company in accordance with any method permitted under section 409A of the Code) and the payment of any amounts described in such Section would be subject to additional taxes and interest under section 409A of the Code because the timing of such payment is not delayed as provided in section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, then such amount (together with interest on a non-compounded basis, from the date such payment would have been made had this payment delay not applied to the actual
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date of payment, at the prime rate of interest announced by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (or any successor thereto) at its principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina on the date of Executive’s termination of employment (or the first business day following such date if such termination does not occur on a business day)) shall be paid within five business days after the Section 409A Payment Date.
ARTICLE VI
NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT
6.1 Definitions. As used in this ‎Article VI, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Business” means (a) during the period of Executive’s employment by the Company, the design, manufacture and supply of products and services for the oil and gas industry provided by the Company and its subsidiaries during such period and other products and services that are functionally equivalent to the foregoing, and (b) during the portion of the Prohibited Period that begins on the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, the design, manufacture and supply of products and services for the oil and gas industry provided by the Company and its subsidiaries at the time of such termination of employment (or, if earlier, at the time immediately preceding the date upon which a Change in Control occurs) and other products and services that are functionally equivalent to the foregoing.
“Competing Business” means any business, individual, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity (other than an affiliate of the Company, L. E. Simmons & Associates, Inc. (“LESA”) and its affiliates, or another entity in which SCF-V, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, SCF-VI, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, SCF-VII, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, or any future limited partnership established by an affiliate of LESA has an ownership interest) which wholly or in any significant part engages in any business competing with the Business in the Restricted Area. In no event will the Company or any of its subsidiaries be deemed a Competing Business.
“Governmental Authority” means any governmental, quasi-governmental, state, county, city or other political subdivision of the United States or any other country, or any agency, court or instrumentality, foreign or domestic, or statutory or regulatory body thereof.
“Legal Requirement” means any law, statute, code, ordinance, order, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction, franchise, permit, certificate, license, authorization, or other directional requirement (including, without limitation, any of the foregoing that relates to environmental standards or controls, energy regulations and occupational, safety and health standards or controls including those arising under environmental laws) of any Governmental Authority.
“Prohibited Period” means the period during which Executive is employed by the Company hereunder and a period of two years following the end of Executive’s employment with the Company.
“Restricted Area” means any geographical area within 100 miles in which the Company and its subsidiaries engage in the Business during the period during which Executive is employed
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hereunder, which such area includes, without limitation, the parishes in Louisiana set forth on Appendix B hereto.
6.2 Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation. Executive and the Company agree to the non-competition and non-solicitation provisions of this Article VI in consideration for the Confidential Information provided by the Company to Executive pursuant to Article III of this Agreement, to protect the trade secrets and confidential information of the Company or its affiliates disclosed or entrusted to Executive by the Company or its affiliates or created or developed by Executive for the Company or its affiliates, to protect the business goodwill of the Company or its affiliates developed through the efforts of Executive and/or the business opportunities disclosed or entrusted to Executive by the Company or its affiliates and as an additional incentive for the Company to enter into this Agreement.
(a) Subject to the exceptions set forth in Section 6.2(b) below, Executive expressly covenants and agrees that during the Prohibited Period (%3) Executive will refrain from carrying on or engaging in, directly or indirectly, any Competing Business in the Restricted Area and (%3) Executive will not, and Executive will cause Executive’s affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, become an employee of, partner in, owner or member of (or an independent contractor to), control or participate in, be connected with or loan money to, sell or lease equipment or property to, or otherwise be affiliated with any business, individual, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity which engages in a Competing Business in the Restricted Area, as Executive expressly agrees that each of the foregoing activities would represent carrying on or engaging in a Competitive Business, as prohibited by this Section 6.2(a).
(b) Notwithstanding the restrictions contained in Section 6.2(a), Executive or any of Executive’s affiliates may own an aggregate of not more than 2% of the outstanding stock of any class of any corporation engaged in a Competing Business, if such stock is listed on a national securities exchange or regularly traded in the over-the-counter market by a member of a national securities exchange, without violating the provisions of Section 6.2(a), provided that neither Executive nor any of Executive’s affiliates has the power, directly or indirectly, to control or direct the management or affairs of any such corporation and is not involved in the management of such corporation.
(c) Executive further expressly covenants and agrees that during the Prohibited Period, Executive will not, and Executive will cause Executive’s affiliates not to (%3) engage or employ, or solicit or contact with a view to the engagement or employment of, or recommend or refer to any person or entity (other than the Company or one of its affiliates) for engagement or employment any person who is an officer or employee of the Company or any of its affiliates or (%3) canvass, solicit, approach or entice away or cause to be canvassed, solicited, approached or enticed away from the Company or any of its affiliates any person or entity who or which is a customer of any of such entities during the period during which Executive is employed by the Company.
(d) The restrictions contained in Section 6.2 shall not apply to any product or service that the Company provided during Executive’s employment but that the Company
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no longer provides at the Date of Termination. Further, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 6.2, within the State of Oklahoma, the restrictions of Sections 6.2(a) and 6.2(c)(ii) shall be limited to preventing Executive from directly soliciting the sale of goods, services or a combination of goods and services from any established customer of the Company, as may exist from time-to-time.
(e) Before accepting employment with any other person or entity while employed by the Company or during the Prohibited Period, Executive will inform such person or entity of the restrictions contained in this Article VI.
6.3 Relief. Executive and the Company agree and acknowledge that the limitations as to time, geographical area and scope of activity to be restrained as set forth in Section 6.2 are reasonable and do not impose any greater restraint than is necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company. Executive and the Company also acknowledge that money damages would not be sufficient remedy for any breach of this Article VI by Executive, and the Company or its affiliates shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Article VI by terminating payments then owing to Executive under this Agreement or otherwise and to specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach. Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Article VI but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from Executive and Executive’s agents. However, if it is determined that Executive has not committed a breach of this Article VI, then the Company shall resume the payments and benefits due under this Agreement and pay to Executive all payments and benefits that had been suspended pending such determination.
6.4 Reasonableness; Enforcement. Executive hereby represents to the Company that Executive has read and understands, and agrees to be bound by, the terms of this Article VI. Executive acknowledges that the geographic scope and duration of the covenants contained in this Article VI are the result of arm’s-length bargaining and are fair and reasonable in light of (%3) the nature and wide geographic scope of the operations of the Business, (%3) Executive’s level of control over and contact with the Business in all jurisdictions in which it is conducted, (%3) the fact that the Business is conducted throughout the Restricted Area and (%3) the amount of Confidential Information that Executive is receiving in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Article VI be enforced to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Legal Requirements, whether now or hereafter in effect and therefore, to the extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, Executive and the Company hereby waive any provision of applicable Legal Requirements that would render any provision of this Article VI invalid or unenforceable.
6.5 Reformation. The Company and Executive agree that the foregoing restrictions are reasonable under the circumstances and that any breach of the covenants contained in this Article VI would cause irreparable injury to the Company. Executive understands that the foregoing restrictions may limit Executive’s ability to engage in certain businesses anywhere in the Restricted Area during the Prohibited Period, but acknowledges that Executive will receive sufficient consideration from the Company to justify such restriction. Further, Executive acknowledges that Executive’s skills are such that Executive can be gainfully employed in non-competitive
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employment, and that the agreement not to compete will not prevent Executive from earning a living. Nevertheless, if any of the aforesaid restrictions are found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unreasonable, or overly broad as to geographic area or time, or otherwise unenforceable, the parties intend for the restrictions herein set forth to be modified by the court making such determination so as to be reasonable and enforceable and, as so modified, to be fully enforced. By agreeing to this contractual modification prospectively at this time, the Company and Executive intend to make this provision enforceable under the law or laws of all applicable States, Provinces and other jurisdictions so that the entire agreement not to compete and this Agreement as prospectively modified shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be rendered void or illegal. Such modification shall not affect the payments made to Executive under this Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
7.1 Arbitration. All claims or disputes between Executive and the Company or its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates (including, without limitation, claims relating to the validity, scope, and enforceability of this Article VII and claims arising under any federal, state or local law regarding the terms and conditions of employment or prohibiting discrimination in employment or governing the employment relationship in any way) shall be submitted for final and binding arbitration in Houston, Texas in accordance with the then-applicable rules for resolution of employment disputes of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator chosen pursuant to the then-applicable rules for resolution of employment disputes of the AAA, and the Company shall bear the costs of such arbitration. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company’s assumption of costs referenced in the previous sentence applies to the costs of the AAA only, and does not include attorney or expert fees or other fees or costs incurred by Executive. The arbitrator shall apply the substantive law of the State of Texas (excluding Texas choice-of-law principles that might call for the application of some other state’s law), or federal law, or both as applicable to the claims asserted. The results of the arbitration and the decision of the arbitrator will be final and binding on the parties and each party agrees and acknowledges that these results shall be enforceable in a court of law. No demand for arbitration may be made after the date when the institution of legal or equitable proceedings based on such claim or dispute would be barred by the applicable statute(s) of limitations. In the event either party must resort to the judicial process to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, the award of an arbitrator or equitable relief granted by an arbitrator, the party successfully seeking enforcement shall be entitled to recover from the other party all costs of such litigation including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs. To the fullest extent permitted by law, all proceedings conducted pursuant to this agreement to arbitrate, including any order, decision or award of the arbitrator, shall be kept confidential by all parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive and the Company further acknowledge and agree that a court of competent jurisdiction residing in Houston, Texas shall have the power to maintain the status quo pending the arbitration of any dispute under this Article VII, and this Article VII shall not require the arbitration of any application for emergency, temporary or preliminary injunctive relief (including temporary restraining orders) by either party pending arbitration, including, without limitation, any application for emergency, temporary or preliminary injunctive relief for any claim arising out of Article III or Article VI of this Agreement; provided, however, that the remainder of any such dispute beyond the application
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for such emergency, temporary or preliminary injunctive relief shall be subject to arbitration under this Article VII. THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, THEY ARE KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVING ANY RIGHTS THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL OR, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN, A COURT TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM THAT IS SUBJECT TO THIS ARTICLE VII.
ARTICLE VIII
CERTAIN EXCISE TAXES
8.1 Certain Excise Taxes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is a “disqualified individual” (as defined in section 280G(c) of the Code), and the payments and benefits provided for in this Agreement, together with any other payments and benefits which Executive has the right to receive from the Company or any of its affiliates, would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), then the payments and benefits provided for in this Agreement shall be either (a) reduced (but not below zero) so that the present value of such total amounts and benefits received by Executive from the Company and its affiliates will be one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Executive’s “base amount” (as defined in section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) and so that no portion of such amounts and benefits received by Executive shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by section 4999 of the Code or (b) paid in full, whichever produces the better net after-tax position to Executive (taking into account any applicable excise tax under section 4999 of the Code and any other applicable taxes). The reduction of payments and benefits hereunder, if applicable, shall be made by reducing, first, payments or benefits to be paid in cash hereunder in the order in which such payment or benefit would be paid or provided (beginning with such payment or benefit that would be made last in time and continuing, to the extent necessary, through to such payment or benefit that would be made first in time) and, then, reducing any benefit to be provided in-kind hereunder in a similar order. The determination as to whether any such reduction in the amount of the payments and benefits provided hereunder is necessary shall be made by the Company in good faith. If a reduced payment or benefit is made or provided and through error or otherwise that payment or benefit, when aggregated with other payments and benefits from the Company (or its affiliates) used in determining if a “parachute payment” exists, exceeds one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Executive’s base amount, then Executive shall immediately repay such excess to the Company upon notification that an overpayment has been made. Nothing in this Section 8.1 shall require the Company to be responsible for, or have any liability or obligation with respect to, Executive’s excise tax liabilities under section 4999 of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shareholder approval (obtained in a manner that satisfies the requirements of section 280G(b)(5) of the Code) of a payment or benefit to be provided to Executive by the Company or any other person (whether under this Agreement or otherwise) would prevent Executive from receiving a “parachute payment” (as defined in section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), then, upon the request of Executive and his agreement (to the extent necessary) to subject his entitlement to the receipt of such payment or benefit to shareholder approval, the Company shall seek such approval in a manner that satisfies the requirements of section 280G of the Code and the regulations thereunder.
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ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 Notices. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (%3) when received if delivered personally or by courier, (%3) on the date receipt is acknowledged if delivered by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or (%3) one day after transmission if sent by facsimile transmission with confirmation of transmission, as follows:

If to Executive, addressed to: | the most recent home address for Executive in the Company’s files.

If to the Company, addressed to: | Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. 920 Memorial City Way Suite 1000 Houston, Texas 77024 Attention: Chief Executive Officer Facsimile: (281) 949-2555

or to such other address as either party may furnish to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices or changes of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
9.2 Applicable Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.
(a) This Agreement is entered into under, and shall be governed for all purposes by, the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.
(b) With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts located in Harris County, Texas.
9.3 No Waiver. No failure by either party hereto at any time to give notice of any breach by the other party of, or to require compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.
9.4 Severability. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity or unenforceability of that provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
9.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement.
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9.6 Withholding of Taxes and Other Employee Deductions. The Company may withhold from any benefits and payments made pursuant to this Agreement all federal, state, city and other taxes and withholdings as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and all other customary deductions made with respect to the Company’s employees generally.
9.7 Headings. The Section headings have been inserted for purposes of convenience and shall not be used for interpretive purposes.
9.8 Gender and Plurals. Wherever the context so requires, the masculine gender includes the feminine or neuter, and the singular number includes the plural and conversely.
9.9 Affiliate and Subsidiary. As used in this Agreement, (a) the term “affiliate” as used with respect to a particular person or entity shall mean any other person or entity which owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or control with, such particular person or entity and (b) the term “subsidiary” as used with respect to a particular entity shall mean a direct or indirect subsidiary of such entity.
9.10 Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor of the Company. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, this Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, are personal and neither this Agreement, nor any right, benefit or obligation of either party hereto, shall be subject to voluntary or involuntary assignment, alienation or transfer, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other party. In addition, any payment owed to Executive hereunder after the date of Executive’s death shall be paid to Executive’s estate.
9.11 Term. Termination of this Agreement shall not affect any right or obligation of any party which is accrued or vested prior to such termination. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, the provisions of Articles III, IV, V, ‎IV, and ‎V shall survive any termination of the employment relationship and/or of this Agreement.
9.12 Entire Agreement. Except as provided in any signed written agreement contemporaneously or hereafter executed by the Company and Executive, this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof, and contains all the covenants, promises, representations, warranties and agreements between the parties with respect to employment of Executive by the Company. Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, all understandings and agreements preceding the date of execution of this Agreement and relating to the subject matter hereof including, without limitation, any prior employment agreement or severance agreement between Executive and the Company or an affiliate, are hereby null and void and of no further force and effect, and this Agreement supersedes and cancels Executive’s prior eligibility, if any, under any severance plan of the Company and its affiliates.
9.13 Modification; Waiver. Any modification to or waiver of this Agreement will be effective only if it is in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement.
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9.14 Actions by the Board. Any and all determinations or other actions required of the Board hereunder that relate specifically to Executive’s employment by the Company or the terms and conditions of such employment shall be made by the members of the Board other than Executive if Executive is a member of the Board, and Executive shall not have any right to vote or decide upon any such matter.
9.15 Executive’s Representations and Warranties. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that (%3) Executive does not have any agreements with Executive’s prior employer that will prohibit Executive from working for the Company or fulfilling Executive’s duties and obligations to the Company and (%3) Executive has complied with all duties imposed on Executive with respect to Executive’s former employer, e.g., Executive does not possess any tangible property belonging to Executive’s former employer.
9.16 Delayed Payment Restriction. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or benefit provided for herein would be subject to additional taxes and interest under section 409A of the Code if Executive’s receipt of such payment or benefit is not delayed until the Section 409A Payment Date, then such payment or benefit shall not be provided to Executive (or Executive’s estate, if applicable) until the Section 409A Payment Date.
[Signatures begin on next page.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement effective as of the Effective Date.
FORUM ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ C. Christopher Gaut
Name: C. Christopher Gaut
Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board
EXECUTIVE
/s/ John C. Ivascu
John C. Ivascu
Appendix A
RELEASE AGREEMENT
This Release Agreement (this “Agreement”) constitutes the release referred to in that certain Severance Agreement (the “Severance Agreement”) effective as of ___________, 20__, by and between John C. Ivascu (“Executive”) and Forum Energy Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).
1.General Release.
(a) For good and valuable consideration, including the Company’s provision of certain payments and benefits to Executive in accordance with Section 5.1(b)(ii) of the Severance Agreement, Executive hereby releases, discharges and forever acquits the Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries, the past, present and future stockholders, members, partners, directors, managers, employees, agents, attorneys, heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the foregoing, as well as all employee benefit plans maintained by the Company or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries and all fiduciaries and administrators of any such plan, in their personal and representative capacities (collectively, the “Company Parties”), from liability for, and hereby waives, any and all claims, rights, damages, or causes of action of any kind related to Executive’s employment with any Company Party, the termination of such employment, and any other acts or omissions related to any matter on or prior to the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “Released Claims”).
(b) The Released Claims include without limitation those arising under or related to: (%3) the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; (%3) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; (%3) the Civil Rights Act of 1991; (%3) sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code; (%3) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, including, but not limited to, sections 502(a)(1)(A), 502(a)(1)(B), 502(a)(2), and 502(a)(3) to the extent the release of such claims is not prohibited by applicable law; (%3) the Immigration Reform Control Act; (%3) the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; (%3) the National Labor Relations Act; (%3) the Occupational Safety and Health Act; (%3) the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; (%3) any state or federal anti-discrimination law; (%3) any state or federal wage and hour law; (%3) any other local, state or federal law, regulation or ordinance; (%3) any public policy, contract, tort, or common law; (%3) costs, fees, or other expenses including attorneys’ fees incurred in these matters; (%3) any employment contract, incentive compensation plan or stock option plan with any Company Party or to any ownership interest in any Company Party except as expressly provided in the Severance Agreement and any stock option or other equity compensation agreement between Executive and the Company; and (%3) compensation or benefits of any kind not expressly set forth in the Severance Agreement or any such stock option or other equity compensation agreement.
(c) In no event shall the Released Claims include (%3) any claim which arises after the date of this Agreement, or (%3) any claims for the payments and benefits payable to Executive under Section 5.1(b)(ii) of the Severance Agreement.
(d) Notwithstanding this release of liability, nothing in this Agreement prevents Executive from filing any non-legally waivable claim (including a challenge to the validity of this Agreement) with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or comparable state or local agency or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC or comparable state or local agency; however, Executive understands and agrees that Executive is waiving any and all rights to recover any monetary or personal relief or recovery as a result of such EEOC, or comparable state or local agency proceeding or subsequent legal actions.
(e) This Agreement is not intended to indicate that any such claims exist or that, if they do exist, they are meritorious. Rather, Executive is simply agreeing that, in exchange for the consideration recited in the first sentence of Section 1(a) of this Agreement, any and all potential claims of this nature that Executive may have against the Company Parties, regardless of whether they actually exist, are expressly settled, compromised and waived.
(f) By signing this Agreement, Executive is bound by it. Anyone who succeeds to Executive’s rights and responsibilities, such as heirs or the executor of Executive’s estate, is also bound by this Agreement. This release also applies to any claims brought by any person or agency or class action under which Executive may have a right or benefit. THIS RELEASE INCLUDES MATTERS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE SOLE OR PARTIAL NEGLIGENCE (WHETHER GROSS OR SIMPLE) OR OTHER FAULT, INCLUDING STRICT LIABILITY, OF ANY OF THE COMPANY PARTIES.
2. Covenant Not to Sue; Executive’s Representation. Executive agrees not to bring or join any lawsuit against any of the Company Parties in any court relating to any of the Released Claims. Executive represents that Executive has not brought or joined any claim, lawsuit or arbitration against any of the Company Parties in any court or before any administrative agency or arbitral authority and has made no assignment of any rights Executive has asserted or may have against any of the Company Parties to any person or entity, in each case, with respect to any Released Claims. Executive expressly represents that, as of the date Executive executes this Agreement, Executive has been provided all leaves (paid and unpaid) and paid all wages and compensation owed to Executive by the Company Parties with the exception of all payments owed as a condition of Executive’s executing (and not revoking) this Agreement.
3. Acknowledgments. By executing and delivering this Agreement, Executive acknowledges that:
(a) Executive has carefully read this Agreement;
(b) Executive has had at least [twenty-one (21)] [forty-five (45)] days to consider this Agreement before the execution and delivery hereof to the Company [Add if 45 days applies: , and Executive acknowledges that attached to this Agreement is a list of (%3) the job titles and ages of all employees selected for participation in the employment termination or exit incentive program pursuant to which Executive is being offered this Agreement, (%3) the job titles and ages of all employees in the same job classification or organizational unit who were not selected for participation in the program, and (%3) information about the unit affected by the program, including any eligibility factors for such program and any time limits applicable to such program];
(c) Executive has been and hereby is advised in writing that Executive may, at Executive’s option, discuss this Agreement with an attorney of Executive’s choice and that Executive has had adequate opportunity to do so; and
(d) Executive fully understands the final and binding effect of this Agreement; the only promises made to Executive to sign this Agreement are those stated in the Severance Agreement and herein; and Executive is signing this Agreement voluntarily and of Executive’s own free will, and that Executive understands and agrees to each of the terms of this Agreement.
4. Revocation Right. Executive may revoke this Agreement within the seven day period beginning on the date Executive signs this Agreement (such seven day period being referred to herein as the “Release Revocation Period”). To be effective, such revocation must be in writing signed by Executive and must be delivered to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company before 11:59 p.m., Houston, Texas time, on the last day of the Release Revocation Period. This Agreement is not effective, and no consideration shall be paid to Executive, until the expiration of the Release Revocation Period without Executive’s revocation. If an effective revocation is delivered in the foregoing manner and timeframe, this Agreement shall be of no force or effect and shall be null and void ab initio.
Executed on this ___________ day of _____________, _______.
__________________________________________
John C. Ivascu
STATE OF ________________ §
§
COUNTY OF ________________ §
BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority personally appeared C. Christopher Gaut, by me known or who produced valid identification as described below, who executed the foregoing instrument and acknowledged before me that he subscribed to such instrument on this _____ day of ______________, ________.
NOTARY PUBLIC in and for the
State of ___________________
My Commission Expires: ___________________
Identification produced:
APPENDIX B
RESTRICTED AREA
The following parishes in the State of Louisiana:
Caddo
Iberia
Lafayette
St. Martin
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