ex10_1.htm


     

    Exhibit 10.1

     


    FIRST AMENDMENT

    TO

    ENERGY
PARTNERS, LTD.

    AMENDED
AND RESTATED

    2000
LONG TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

     

    The
Energy Partners, Ltd. Amended and Restated 2000 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan
is hereby amended in the following respects:

     

    1.           A
new subsection (f) is added to Section 3 to read in its entirety as
follows:

     

    “(f)
Limitation on
Committee’s Authority under Code Section 409A.  Anything in the
Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, the Committee’s authority to modify
outstanding Awards shall be limited to the extent necessary so that the
existence of such authority does not (i) cause an Award that is not otherwise
deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code to become deferred
compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code or (ii) cause an Award that is
otherwise deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code to fail
to meet the requirements prescribed by Section 409A of the
Code.”

     

    2.           Subsection
(c) of Section 4 is amended by adding the following sentence at the end
thereof:

     

    “Anything
in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment shall be made
pursuant to this Section 4(c) that causes any Award that is not otherwise
deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code to become deferred
compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code.”

     

    3.           A
new subsection (n) is added to Section 8 to read in its entirety as
follows:

     

    “(n)
Code Section 409A
Compliance. It is intended that the
Plan and Awards issued thereunder will comply with Section 409A of the Code (and
any regulations and guidance issued thereunder) to the extent the Awards are
subject thereto, and the Plan and such Awards shall be interpreted on a basis
consistent with such intent.  The Plan and any Award Agreements issued
thereunder may be amended in any respect deemed by the Board or the Committee to
be necessary to preserve compliance with Section 409A of the Code.  In
the case of any Award that, for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, was not
earned and vested on December 31, 2004 and that is treated as “deferred
compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, notwithstanding any provision
in an

     


    
      
         


      

      
         


        
          

        

      

      
         


      

    


    Award
Agreement to the contrary, (i) in the case of any payment under the Award that
is to be made upon a termination of employment or other service, (x) such
termination of employment or other service will be deemed to occur upon the
Participant’s “separation from service” with the employer (within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder), and (y) if the
Participant is on the date of his or her “separation from service” a “specified
employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations
thereunder and as determined by the Company in accordance with said Section
409A), then with regard to any payment that is required to be delayed pursuant
to Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, such payment shall not be made prior to
the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the
date of the Participant’s “separation from service,” or (B) the date of the
Participant’s death (the “Delay Period”); and, upon the expiration of the Delay
Period, all payments delayed pursuant hereto (whether they would have otherwise
been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay)
shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum, and any remaining payments due
under the Award shall be paid in accordance with the normal payment dates
specified for them, and (ii) in the case of any payment under the Award that is
to be made upon a Change of Control, for this purpose Change of Control shall
mean a transaction or event that constitutes a change in the ownership or
effective control of the Company, or in the ownership of a substantial portion
of the assets of the Company, within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and
the regulations thereunder.”

     

     

     

    
       

      Dated:
November 13, 2008

      
        	 
      	
                ENERGY
      PARTNERS, LTD.

                 

                 

                By:  /s/ John H. Peper        

                        John
      H. Peper

                        Executive
      Vice President, General

                        Counsel
      and Corporate Secretary