*Employee Agreement*

**EXHIBIT 10.1**

 

**CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC.**

**2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN**

**RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT**

This Restricted Stock Award Agreement (the “***Agreement***”) is made and entered into as of the Date of Grant set forth below by and between Crimson Exploration Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “***Company***”), and the Participant named below. This Agreement represents a            distribution to the Participant pursuant to the Company’s Long Term Incentive Performance Plan for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. Capitalized terms not defined shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Company’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective as of August 15, 2008 (the “***Plan***”).

|   | Participant: |
|--------|--------------|

|   | Social Security Number: | _____ - ___ - ______ |
|--------|-------------------------|----------------------|

|   | Address: |  

  |
|--------|----------|----------------|

 

|   | Total Restricted Shares: |
|--------|--------------------------|

|   | Fair Market Value per Share: | $ _____ |
|--------|------------------------------|---------|

|   | Fair Market Value Aggregate: | $ ___________ |
|--------|------------------------------|---------------|

|   | Purchase Price/Consideration: | Granted as compensation for services rendered as an employee of the Company. |
|--------|-------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

 

|   | Date of Grant: | _________________ |
|--------|----------------|-------------------|

1.         **Grant of Restricted Shares**. The Company hereby grants to Participant the total number of unvested restricted shares of Common Stock of the Company set forth above as Total Restricted Shares (the “***Shares***”), subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan. This grant of            restricted shares is being issued pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Plan.

|   | 2. | **Vesting Period**. |
|--------|----|---------------------|

2.1       Regular Vesting. Provided Participant continues to provide Continuous Service to the Company or any Affiliate, the Shares will vest as follows:

|   | First anniversary of Date of Grant | 25% |
|--------|------------------------------------|-----|

|   | Second anniversary of Date of Grant | 25% |
|--------|-------------------------------------|-----|

|   | Third anniversary of Date of Grant | 25% |
|--------|------------------------------------|-----|

|   | Fourth anniversary of Date of Grant | 25% |
|--------|-------------------------------------|-----|

When issued, the certificates evidencing the Shares will be held by the Company until the applicable tranche of Shares is fully vested, at which time a certificate representing such vested Shares will be released to the Participant. Such Certificate shall be delivered to Participant not 

 

 

 

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*Employee Agreement*

 

later than the date that is 21⁄2 months after the end of the Participant’s taxable year in which the applicable tranche of Shares has vested.

2.2       Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control vesting shall be accelerated and the Shares shall become immediately vested with respect to one hundred percent (100%) of the Shares without regard to the Participant’s number of years of Continuous Service.

2.3       Termination for Cause or Participant’s Voluntary Resignation. In the event Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated by the Company for Cause or by the Participant’s voluntary resignation, the Company may exercise its Right of Repurchase or otherwise reacquire,            or the Participant shall forfeit unvested shares, and any or all of the Shares which have not vested as of the date of termination shall be forfeited and the Participant shall have no further rights with respect to such Shares.

2.4       Termination Without Cause. In the event Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated by the Company without Cause, for purposes of determining vesting under Section 2.1, Participant shall be deemed to continue Continuous Service            through the date that is the anniversary of the Date of Grant coincident with or next following the date of such termination.

2.5       Death or Disability. In the event Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated on account of death or Disability, for purposes of determining vesting under Section_2.1,            Participant shall be deemed to continue Continuous Service through the date that is the anniversary of the Date of Grant coincident with or next following the date of such termination.

3.         **Compliance with Laws and Regulations**. The issuance and transfer of Shares shall be subject to compliance by the Company and Participant with all applicable requirements of federal and state securities laws and with all applicable requirements of any stock exchange on which the Company’s Common Stock may be listed            at the time of such issuance or transfer. Participant understands that the Company is under no obligation to register or qualify the Shares with the SEC, any state securities commission or any stock exchange to effect such compliance.

|   | 4. | **General**. |
|--------|----|--------------|

4.1       Interpretation. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Agreement shall be submitted by Participant or the Company to the Administrator for review. The resolution of such a dispute by the Administrator shall be final and binding on the Company and Participant.

4.2       Entire Agreement. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supercede all prior undertakings and agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof. If any inconsistency should exist between the            nondiscretionary terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan, the Plan shall govern and control.

 

 

 

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|--------|---|

 

 

 

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*Employee Agreement*

 

4.3       Notices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to the Company under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at its principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to Participant shall be in            writing and addressed to Participant at the address indicated above or to such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time to the Company. All notices shall be deemed to have been given or delivered upon: (a) personal delivery; (b) five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested); (c) two (2) business days after deposit with any return receipt express courier (prepaid); or (d) one (1) business            day after transmission by facsimile.

4.4       Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein or in the Plan, this Agreement            shall be binding upon Participant and Participant’s heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

4.5       Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without giving effect to its conflict of law principles. If any provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of law to be illegal or unenforceable, then such            provision will be enforced to the maximum extent possible and the other provisions will remain fully effective and enforceable.

5.         **Acceptance**. Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and this Agreement. Participant has read and understands the terms and provisions thereof, and accepts the award of the Shares subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement. Participant acknowledges that there may be            adverse tax consequences upon disposition of the Shares and that Participant should consult a tax advisor prior to such disposition.

 

**[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]**

 

 

 

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**IN WITNESS WHEREOF**, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative and Participant has executed this Agreement, effective as of the Date of Grant.
|                                | **CRIMSON EXPLORATION INC.**                                               |
|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                |                                                                       |
| By:                                 |                                                                       |
| Name:                        Title: | ____________________________________

____________________________________ |

 

 

 
|   | **PARTICIPANT** |
|--------|-----------------|
|   |            |
|   |            |
|   | (Signature)     |