SD 10K 12.31.14EX10.2.6 PSU Certificate


        


Exhibit 10.2.6




	
			
	
	 
	 

	 
	SandRidge Energy, Inc.

	 
	ID: 20-8084793

	 
	123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue

	 
	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

	 
	 








Performance Share Units: Notice of Grant of Award and Award Certificate
January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017 Performance Period






	
				
	Participant:
	 
	 
	 

	[Name]
	 
	Award Number:
	[number]

	[Address]
	 
	Plan:
	2009 Incentive Plan

	[Address]
	 
	ID:
	[ID]








Effective [DATE] (the “Grant Date”), you have been granted an award of [number] Performance Share Units under the SandRidge Energy, Inc. 2009 Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”) for the performance period from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2017 (the “Performance Period”).  Each Performance Share Unit has a base value (the “Base Value”) of $[value], which is the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) of one share of SandRidge Energy, Inc. common stock on the Grant Date.  Subject to the provisions of the attached agreement, the award is scheduled to vest in increments on the date(s) shown below.


	
		
	Percentage of Units
	Vesting Dates

	33%
	December 31, 2015

	33%
	December 31, 2016

	Remainder
	December 31, 2017












This award is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the SandRidge Energy, Inc. 2009 Incentive Plan, as amended, and the Performance Share Unit Award Certificate.  The Award Certificate shall be deemed accepted, unless you provide written notice to the Company within ten (10) business days following the grant date stating that you do not wish to accept this award.  A copy of the 2009 Incentive Plan can be found under the Company Information – Documents tabs of your E*Trade account or the Department – Stock Plan Administration tabs of the Company’s intranet. 



















SandRidge Energy, Inc.
Performance Share Unit Award Certificate 
Granted Under 2009 Incentive Plan 
January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017 Performance Period
This Performance Share Unit Award Certificate (“Award Certificate”) is granted by SandRidge Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) to the Participant.  This Award Certificate consists of the following Award Agreement and the “Notice of Grant Award” attached as the cover sheet to this Award Certificate, which identifies the Participant, the number of Performance Share Units, the Grant Date, the Base Value, the Performance Period and the Vesting Dates of this Award.
In consideration of services performed, and to be performed, by the Participant for the Company, the Company makes this Award of Performance Share Units to the Participant.  This Award Certificate, the Performance Share Units, and any payment with respect to the Performance Share Units are conditioned on the following terms and the terms of the SandRidge Energy, Inc. 2009 Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”), which are incorporated into this Award Certificate by reference.  All capitalized terms used but not defined in this Award Certificate have the meaning set forth in the Plan.
1.Grant.  The Company hereby grants to the Participant the number of Performance Share Units set forth on the attached Notice of Grant Award on the Grant Date.  A Performance Share Unit does not represent an equity (or any other) interest in the Company and carries no voting rights.  The Performance Share Unit applies with regard to the Performance Period (as defined in the Notice of Grant Award and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3).
2.    Performance Share Unit Values.
(a)    Subject to the limit described in clause (b), below, the value of a Performance Share Unit will equal the Applicable Multiple times the Fair Market Value of a share of the Company’s Common Stock on the last day of the Performance Period, as may be adjusted pursuant to Section 3.  The Applicable Multiple is based on the relative position of the average total shareholder return (“TSR”) of the Company’s Common Stock during the Performance Period, compared to the TSR of each peer company during the same Performance Period, as provided in the following tables:

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	Relative TSR* Position Compared to Peer Companies
	Applicable Multiple
	 
	Relative TSR* Position Compared to Peer Companies
	Applicable Multiple

	20th
	0.0%
	 
	10th
	100.0%

	19th
	20.0%
	 
	9th
	111.1%

	18th
	28.8%
	 
	8th
	122.2%

	17th
	37.7%
	 
	7th
	133.3%

	16th
	46.6%
	 
	6th
	144.4%

	15th
	55.5%
	 
	5th
	155.5%

	14th
	64.4%
	 
	4th
	166.6%

	13th
	73.3%
	 
	3rd
	177.7%

	12th
	82.2%
	 
	2nd
	188.8%

	11th
	91.1%
	 
	1st
	200.0%




 
*TSR will be determined using the volume-weighted average share price of the relevant share during the 20 business day period ending on the first and last business days of the Performance Period, and assuming that any dividends paid are reinvested as of the ex-dividend date.
The group of peer companies consists of Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., Cimarex Energy Co., Concho Resources Inc., Continental Resources Inc., Denbury Resources Inc., Energen Corp., Halcon Resources Corp., Laredo Petroleum Inc., Midstates Petroleum Company Inc., Newfield Exploration Co., Oasis Petroleum Inc., Pioneer Natural Resources Co., QEP Resources Inc., Range Resources Corp., SM Energy Co., Southwestern Energy Co., Ultra Petroleum Corp., Whiting Petroleum Corp., and WPX Energy Inc.; provided however, that the Compensation Committee may remove any such company from the group if the such company ceases to be a peer company (e.g., by merger or other corporate transaction or by ceasing to be a publicly-traded company), in which case the Compensation Committee will equitably adjust the positions and Applicable Multiples set forth in the tables above.
(b)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the value of a Performance Share Unit shall not exceed 4 times the Base Value set forth on the attached Notice of Grant Award.
3.    Vesting Period.  The Performance Share Units set forth in this Award Certificate shall vest (rounded down to the nearest whole unit) in accordance with the vesting schedule provided in the Notice of Grant Award, subject, however, to the following rules:  
(a)    Except as provided in subsection (c) below, if the Participant’s employment or service with the Company terminates before the applicable Vesting Date, then all unvested Performance Share Units shall be canceled immediately and shall not be payable.  A Participant’s interruption of service on an approved leave of absence shall not be considered a termination of the Participant’s employment or service with the Company.

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(b)    Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan), including during a Participant’s approved leave of absence, on or before the last day of the Performance Period, all Performance Share Units shall become 100% vested and paid out based on actual performance, after adjusting the Performance Period to end on the last business day immediately prior to the Change in Control.     
(c)    If, before the end of the Performance Period, the Participant’s employment or service with the Company terminates by reason of the Participant’s death or Disability, all Performance Share Units shall become 100% vested upon the Participant’s death or Disability and be paid out at the 10th position value (Applicable Multiple of 100.0%), after adjusting the Performance Period to end on the date of termination or, if such date is not a business day, the last business day immediately prior to the date of termination.
(d)    For purposes of any vesting acceleration provision in an agreement or arrangement between the Participant and the Company (such as acceleration of vesting upon termination of employment), the Performance Share Units will be considered equity-based compensation and entitled to the same treatment as other equity-based compensation, including performance shares or other equity-based units.
4.    Payment.
(a)    The value of each vested Performance Share Unit shall be paid in a single cash payment to the Participant (or, if the Participant is not living at the time of payment, to the Participant’s beneficiary).  Such payment shall be made within 30 days after the end of the Performance Period (as may be adjusted pursuant to Section 3); provided that, to the extent required by section 162(m) of the Code, no payments will be made until the Compensation Committee certifies that the performance goals have been attained.
(b)    If the Company issues dividends on Common Stock after the Grant Date and before the end of the Performance Period, the Compensation Committee shall equitably adjust the payment hereunder to reflect the value of such dividends.
(c)    Following any payment made under this Section 4, the Participant will have no further rights with respect to the Performance Share Units, and no additional amounts will be due or paid with respect to such Performance Share Units.
5.    No Transfer.  The Participant may not sell, assign, transfer, pledge, or otherwise dispose of any portion of this Award or the Performance Share Units described in this Award Certificate.  
6.    No Rights of the Participant as a Stockholder.  The Participant, by virtue of receipt or vesting of Performance Share Units, shall have no rights related to any stock of the Company, such as the right to vote, the right to receive dividends payable either in stock or in cash, and the right to receive shares in any recapitalization of the Company.
7.    Withholding Taxes.
(a)    The Company has the right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due to the Participant any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the issuance, vesting, or payment pursuant to the Performance Share Units.

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(b)    The Participant has had the opportunity to review with the Participant’s own tax advisors the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of the Performance Share Units and the transactions contemplated by this Award Certificate.  The Participant is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents.  The Participant understands that the Participant (and not the Company) shall be responsible for the Participant’s own tax liability that may arise as a result of this Award.
8.    Miscellaneous.
(a)    No Rights to Employment.  The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the vesting set forth in Section 3 shall apply only if the Participant provides continuous services to the Company during the Performance Period, and that any such services (as an employee or otherwise) remain at the will of the Company.  The Participant further acknowledges that nothing in this Award Certificate or the Plan constitutes an express or implied promise of continued engagement as an employee or consultant.
(b)    Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Award Certificate shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Award Certificate, and each other provision of this Award Certificate shall be severable and enforceable to the extent permitted by law.
(c)    Waiver.  Any provision for the benefit of the Company contained in this Award Certificate may be waived, either generally or in any particular instance, by the Compensation Committee or its authorized delegees.
(d)    Binding Effect.  This Award Certificate shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and the Participant and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns. 
(e)    Entire Agreement.  This Award Certificate and the Plan constitute the entire agreement between the parties, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, relating to the subject matter of this Award Certificate.
(f)    Amendment.  The Company may revoke this Award Certificate at any time during the Performance Period if the Award Certificate is determined by the Company to be contrary to law and, in that event, the Company may give notice to the Participant that the Performance Share Units are to be assigned to the Company following the date of the notice.  The Company may also modify this Award Certificate to the extent necessary to bring the Award Certificate into compliance with any applicable and mandatory law or regulation.  The Compensation Committee shall obtain the Participant’s consent before it amends this Award Certificate to the extent required under the terms of the Plan.
(g)    Governing Law.  This Award Certificate shall be construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard to any applicable conflicts of laws.
(h)    Tax and Benefits Issues. The payments under this Award Certificate are intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and the provisions hereof shall be interpreted and administered consistently with such intent.  This award is intended to qualify as a performance-

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based award within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and Section 6.7 of the Plan.  Nothing in this Award shall transfer liability for any tax or penalty from the Participant to the Company or any other individual or entity.  This Award will not be “benefit bearing” and will not be considered as compensation for purposes of the Company’s 401(k) plan, the non-qualified deferred compensation plan, or accrual of PTO or other leave.
(i)    Participant’s Acknowledgments.  The Participant shall be deemed to have accepted this Award Certificate unless the Participant provides written notice to the Company, within ten (10) business days following the Grant Date, that the Participant does not wish to accept the Award.  By accepting this Award Certificate, the Participant acknowledges that he or she: (1) has read this Award Certificate; (2) has had the opportunity to be represented by legal counsel in connection with his or her acceptance of this Award Certificate; (3) understands the terms and consequences of this Award Certificate; and (4) is fully aware of the legal effect of this Award Certificate.


SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC.


By:________________________________________
Title: ______________________________________

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