SEC Exhibit



Exhibit 10.1



FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE 
STONE ENERGY CORPORATION
2009 AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN


THIS FIRST AMENDMENT (this “First Amendment”) to the Stone Energy Corporation 2009 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated December 17, 2015) (the “Plan”), is made by Stone Energy Corporation (the “Company”).  


W I T N E S S E T H:


WHEREAS, the Company previously adopted the Plan, under which the Company is authorized to grant equity-based incentive awards to certain employees and other service providers of the Company; 


WHEREAS, Article X of the Plan provides that the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) may amend the Plan from time to time without approval of the stockholders of the Company, subject to certain exceptions including the requirement that any amendment to the Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) that may be issued under the Plan must be approved by the stockholders of the Company; 


 WHEREAS, the Board desires to increase the number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan and to make certain other revisions determined to be advisable by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company; and


WHEREAS, in connection with such approval, the Company hereby adopts this First Amendment, effective as of May 19, 2016 (the “Effective Date”) and subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company, to (i) increase the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan and (ii) increase the maximum award that may be made to an “covered employee” under the Plan in any calendar year.


NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan shall be amended as of the Effective Date, subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders, as set forth below:


1.      Subparagraph V(a) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows: 


(a)    Shares Subject to the Plan and Award Limits.  Subject to adjustment in the same manner as provided in Paragraph IX with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to Options then outstanding, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan, and the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan through Incentive Stock Options, shall not exceed 10,575,000 shares (which number includes the number of shares of Common Stock previously issued pursuant to an award (or made subject to an award that has not expired or been terminated) granted under the 2004 Plan, the 2001 Plan, the 2000 Plan, or the 1993 Plan).  Shares of Common Stock subject to an Award under this Plan that expires or is canceled, forfeited, exchanged, settled in cash or otherwise terminated without the actual delivery of shares (Restricted Stock Awards shall not be considered “delivered shares” for this purpose), will again be available for Awards under this Plan, except that if any such shares could not again be available for Awards to a particular Participant under any applicable law or regulation, such shares shall be available exclusively for Awards to Participants who are not subject to such limitation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the number of shares tendered or withheld in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an Award or taxes relating to an Award, (ii) shares that were subject to an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right but were not issued or delivered as a result of the net settlement or net exercise of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right and (iii) shares repurchased on the open market with the proceeds of an Option’s exercise price, will not, in each case, be available for Awards under this Plan. The Board may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute Awards) and make adjustments if the 









number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award. 
     
2.    Subparagraph XII(b)(iv) of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:


(ix)    Limits on Awards to Covered Employees.  In each calendar year during any part of which this Plan is in effect, a Covered Employee may not be granted Awards intended to be Section 162(m) Awards, (i) to the extent such Award is based on a number of shares of Stock, relating to more than 1,500,000 shares of Stock, subject to adjustment in a manner consistent with any adjustment made pursuant to Paragraph IX and (ii) to the extent such award is designated to be paid only in cash, or  an Award the settlement of which is not based on a number of shares of Stock, having a value determined on the date of grant in excess of $10,000,000.




RESOLVED FURTHER, that except as provided above, the Plan shall continue to read in the current state.  


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused the execution of this First Amendment by its duly authorized officer.  
	
				
	 
	STONE ENERGY CORPORATION
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	/s/ David Welch                  
	 

	 
	 
	David Welch
	 

	 
	 
	Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	Date:
	May 19, 2016