exv10w15






Exhibit 10.15




HERCULES OFFSHORE 2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN




SUMMARY OF STOCK OPTION GRANT




     You have been granted the option to purchase shares of Common Stock of Hercules Offshore,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), on the terms and conditions set forth below and in
accordance with the Stock Option Award Agreement (the “Agreement”) to which this Summary of Stock
Option Grant is attached and the Amended and Restated Hercules Offshore 2004 Long-Term Incentive
Plan (the “Plan”):



	 	 	 	 	 
	Optionee Name:	 	(Executive Name)
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Number of Option Shares Granted:	 	(No. Options)
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Type of Option (check one):	 	          Incentive Stock Option
	 	 	 X      Nonqualified Stock Option
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Effective Date:	 	(Date)
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Exercise Price per Share:	 	(Price)
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Vesting Schedule:

	 	% of Grant
	 	Date Vested
	 

	 	33-1/3 %
	 	                    
	 

	 	33-1/3 %
	 	                    
	 

	 	33-1/3 %
	 	                    






By your signature and the signature of the Company’s representative below, you and the Company
agree that the Option is granted under and governed by the terms of the Agreement and the Plan.




	 	 	 	 	 
	OPTIONEE:	 	HERCULES OFFSHORE, INC.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	                                                            

	 	By
	 	                                                            
	(Executive Name)

	 	 	 	     James W. Noe

     Senior Vice President, General Counsel,

     Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary






STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT




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HERCULES OFFSHORE, INC.




STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT




     THIS AGREEMENT is made as of the Effective Date (as set forth on the Summary of Stock Option
Grant) between HERCULES OFFSHORE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Optionee
pursuant to the Amended and Restated Hercules Offshore 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).



     WHEREAS, the Board, or a Committee designated by the Board, has authority to grant Options
under the Plan to Employees and directors of the Company; and



     WHEREAS, the Board or the Committee, as appropriate, has determined to award Optionee the
Option described in this Agreement;



     NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Optionee agree as follows:



     1. Effect of Plan and Authority of Board or Committee. This Agreement and the Option
granted hereunder are subject to the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. The Board or
the Committee is authorized to make all determinations and interpretations with respect to matters
arising under the Plan, this Agreement and the Option granted hereunder. Capitalized terms used
and not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings given them in the Plan or in the
Summary of Stock Option Grant, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference
for all purposes.



     2. Grant of Option. On the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the
Summary of Stock Option Grant and the Plan, as of the Effective Date, the Company hereby grants to
Optionee the option to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock set forth on the Summary of
Stock Option Grant at the Exercise Price per share set forth on the Summary of Stock Option Grant
(the “Option”). The Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock
Option, as provided in the Summary of Stock Option Grant. It is agreed that the exercise price is
at least 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Effective Date (110% of
Fair Market Value if the Option is intended to be an ISO and if Optionee owns stock possessing more
than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, within the
meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code).



     3. Exercisability. This Option may be exercised in installments on the vesting dates
in the Vesting Schedule set forth on the Summary of Stock Option Grant. Each installment shall be
exercisable, as to all or part of the shares covered by the installment, at any time or times after
the respective vesting date for such installment and until the expiration or termination of the
Option in accordance with Section 4 of this Agreement.



STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT




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     4. Term.



          (a) Term of Option. This Option may not be exercised after the expiration of 10 years
from the Effective Date (five years from the Effective Date if this Option is intended to be
an Incentive Stock Option and Optionee owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, within the meaning of Section
422(b)(6) of the Code).




          (b) Early Termination. Except as provided below, this Option may not be exercised
unless Optionee shall have been in the continuous employ or service of the Company or an
affiliate of the Company from the Effective Date to the date of exercise of the Option. This
Option may be exercised after the date of Optionee’s termination of employment or service
with the Company or a Subsidiary only in accordance with the following:





     (i) In the event Optionee’s employment or service is terminated on account of
death or permanent or total disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of
the Code), this Option will automatically vest in full and may be exercised, at any
time and from time to time, in whole or in part, by Optionee or a legal
representative of Optionee (in the case of Optionee’s death), for up to three years
from the date of such termination of employment or service, unless the Option, by
its terms, expires earlier.




     (ii) In the event Optionee’s employment or service is terminated by the Company
without Cause, as defined in Annex A hereto, this Option will automatically vest in
full and may be exercised by Optionee, at any time and from time to time, in whole
or in part, for up to three years from the date of such termination of employment or
service, unless the Option, by its terms, expires earlier.




     (iii) In the event Optionee’s employment or service is terminated for any
reason other than the reasons set forth in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this
Section 4(b), this Option may be exercised by Optionee, to the extent then vested,
at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, for up to three months from
the date of such termination of employment or service, unless the Option, by its
terms, expires earlier.



     5. Manner of Exercise and Payment. This Option shall be exercised by the delivery of
a written notice of exercise in a form prescribed by the Board or the Committee to the Company,
setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Option is to be
exercised, accompanied by full payment for such shares. The purchase price for such shares shall
be payable to the Company in the manner specified in Section 8 of the Plan.



STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT




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     6. Withholding Tax. Promptly after demand by the Company, and at its direction,
Optionee shall pay to the Company an amount equal to the applicable withholding taxes due in
connection with the exercise of the Option. Such withholding taxes may be paid in cash or, subject
to the further provisions of this Section 6 of this Agreement, in whole or in part, by having the
Company withhold from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option a
number of shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount of such withholding taxes or by
delivering to the Company a number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (excluding
restricted shares still subject to a risk of forfeiture) having a value equal to the amount of such
withholding taxes. The value of any shares of Common Stock so withheld by or delivered to the
Company shall be based on the Fair Market Value of such shares on the date on which the tax
withholding is to be made. Optionee shall pay to the Company in cash the amount, if any, by which
the amount of such withholding taxes exceeds the value of the shares of Common Stock so withheld or
delivered. An election by Optionee to have shares withheld or to deliver shares to pay withholding
taxes (an “Election”) must be made at or prior to the time of exercise of the Option. All
Elections shall be made in the same manner as is required for the exercise of the Option and shall
be made on a form approved by the Company.



     7. Delivery of Shares. Delivery of the certificates representing the shares of Common
Stock purchased upon exercise of this Option shall be made promptly after receipt of notice of
exercise and full payment of the exercise price and any required withholding taxes. If the Company
so elects, its obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Option shall
be conditioned upon its receipt from the person exercising this Option of an executed investment
letter, in form and content satisfactory to the Company and its legal counsel, evidencing the
investment intent of such person and such other matters as the Company may reasonably require. If
the Company so elects, the certificate or certificates representing the shares of Common Stock
issued upon exercise of this Option shall bear any legends required by the Company’s Bylaws as well
as a legend in substantially the following form:




THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND
HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS SUCH SHARES ARE
FIRST REGISTERED THEREUNDER OR UNLESS THE COMPANY RECEIVES A WRITTEN OPINION OF
COUNSEL, WHICH OPINION AND COUNSEL ARE ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, TO THE EFFECT THAT
REGISTRATION THEREUNDER IS NOT REQUIRED.



     8. Nonassignability. The Option granted hereunder may not be sold, transferred,
pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of, other than by will
or pursuant to the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of
Optionee, the Option may be exercised only by Optionee, or in the case Optionee is mentally
incapacitated, the Option shall be exercisable by his guardian or legal representative.



STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT




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Any attempted assignment or transfer in violation of this provision or Section 11 of the Plan
shall be null and void. In the case of Optionee’s death, the personal representative or other
person entitled to succeed to the rights of Optionee may exercise the Option after furnishing proof
satisfactory to the Company of his or her right to exercise the Option under Optionee’s will or
under the applicable laws of descent and distribution.




     9. Notices. All notices between the parties hereto shall be in writing. Notices to
Optionee shall be given to Optionee’s address as contained in the Company’s records. Notices to
the Company shall be addressed to Randall Stilley at the principal executive offices of the
Company.



     10. Relationship With Contract of Employment.



     (a) The grant of an Option does not form part of Optionee’s entitlement to remuneration or
benefit pursuant to his contract of employment, if any, nor does the existence of a contract of
employment between any person and the Company or a Subsidiary give such person any right or
entitlement to have an Option granted to him or any expectation that an Option might be granted to
him whether subject to any conditions or at all.



     (b) The rights and obligations of Optionee under the terms of his contract of employment with
the Company or a Subsidiary, if any, shall not be affected by the grant of an Option.



     (c) The rights granted to Optionee upon the grant of an Option shall not afford Optionee any
rights or additional rights to compensation or damages in consequence of the loss or termination of
his office or employment with the Company or a Subsidiary for any reason whatsoever.



     (d) Optionee shall not be entitled to any compensation or damages for any loss or potential
loss which he may suffer by reason of being or becoming unable to exercise an Option in consequence
of the loss or termination of his office or employment with the Company or a Subsidiary for any
reason (including, without limitation, any breach of contract by his employer) or in any other
circumstances whatsoever.



     11. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the internal laws (and not the principles relating to conflicts of laws) of the State of
Delaware, except as superseded by applicable federal law.



STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT




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Annex A




     Cause. For purposes of this Agreement “Cause” shall mean the occurrence of any of the
following: (a) engaging in material acts of dishonesty or fraud in connection with his or her
services rendered to or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (b) the performance of
acts of willful malfeasance or gross negligence in a matter of material importance to the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, (x) willful misrepresentation in any
material matter at any time by the Optionee to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (y)
willful and continued failure by the Optionee, after notice from the Company, to comply with any
material written rules, regulations, policies or procedures of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries); or (c) engaging in serious misconduct of such a nature that the continued employment
of the Optionee may reasonably be expected to adversely affect the business or properties of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, (i) any indictment for,
conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to (x) any felony or (y) any crime (whether or
not a felony) involving dishonesty, fraud, embezzlement, or breach of trust, whether of the United
States or any state thereof or any similar foreign law to which the Optionee may be subject or (ii)
the material and knowing breach of any written covenant regarding confidentiality, noncompetition,
nonsolicitation, nondisparagement or other similar written covenant to which the Optionee and the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries are parties.



STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT





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