2013Q2_Ex_10.4






Exhibit 10.4 
PDC Energy, Inc.
Amended and Restated
2010 Long-Term Equity Compensation Plan
June 6, 2013




I.     ESTABLISHMENT, OBJECTIVES AND DURATION


A.     ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLAN. PDC Energy, Inc., a Nevada corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”), hereby amends, restates and renames the incentive compensation plan previously known as the “2010 Petroleum Development Corporation Long-Term Equity Compensation Plan”, as set forth in this document (the “Plan”). The Plan permits the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units.


The 2010 Petroleum Development Corporation Long-Term Equity Compensation Plan was originally adopted effective April 1, 2010 and was approved by the Company’s stockholders on June 4, 2010. This amended and restated version of the Plan shall become effective as of June 6, 2013 upon approval of the Company’s stockholders (the “Effective Date”). The Plan shall remain in effect as provided in Section I.C hereof.


B.    OBJECTIVES OF THE PLAN. The objectives of the Plan are to optimize the profitability and growth of the Company through incentives which are consistent with the Company’s goals and which link the personal interests of Participants to those of the Company’s stockholders; to provide Participants with an incentive for excellence in individual performance; and to promote teamwork among Participants.


It is also intended with respect to the Non-Employee Directors of the Company that the Compensation Committee be able to choose from among Awards of Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units which will (a) permit Non-Employee Directors to increase their ownership and proprietary interest in the Company and enhance their identification with the interests of the Company’s stockholders, (b) provide a means of compensating Non-Employee Directors that will help attract qualified candidates to serve as Non-Employee Directors, and (c) induce incumbent Non-Employee Directors to continue to serve if the Board desires that they remain on the Board.


C.    DURATION OF THE PLAN. This amended and restated version of the Plan shall be effective on the Effective Date, as described in Section I.A hereof, and shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Board of Directors to amend or terminate the Plan at any time pursuant to Article XV hereof, until all Shares subject to it shall have been purchased or acquired according to the Plan’s provisions. However, in no event may an Award be granted under the Plan on or after June 5, 2023.


II.    DEFINITIONS


Whenever used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below, and when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word shall be capitalized:


A.    “AFFILIATE” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations of the Exchange Act.


B.    “AWARD” means, individually or collectively, a grant under this Plan of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units.


C.    “AWARD AGREEMENT” means an agreement entered into by the Company and each Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to Awards granted under this Plan.


D.    “BENEFICIAL OWNER” or “BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.


E.    “BOARD” or “BOARD OF DIRECTORS” means the Board of Directors of the Company.



1






F.    “CHANGE IN CONTROL” shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day that any one or more of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:


		
	1.
	the “Beneficial Ownership” of securities as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act representing more than thirty-three percent (33%) of the combined voting power of the Company is acquired by any “person” as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company); or




		
	2.
	the consummation of the transactions contemplated by a definitive agreement to merge or consolidate the Company with or into another corporation or to sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, or the approval by the stockholders of a plan of liquidation; or




		
	3.
	during any period of three consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period were members of the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof (unless the election, or the nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, of each new director was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination was previously so approved).




Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award subject to Code Section 409A, a “Change in Control” of the Company is deemed to have occurred as of the first day that any one or more of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:


		
	4.
	Change in Ownership. A change in ownership of the Company occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company, excluding the acquisition of additional stock by a person or more than one person acting as a group who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company.




		
	5.
	Change in Effective Control. A change in effective control of the Company occurs only on either of the following dates:




		
	a.
	The date any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending in the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 30% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; or




		
	b.
	The date a majority of the members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the board of directors before the date of the appointment or election; provided that this paragraph (b) shall apply only to the company for which no other corporation is a majority shareholder.




		
	6.
	Change in Ownership of Substantial Assets. A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than ninety percent (90%) of the total gross fair market value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.




It is the intent that this definition be construed to satisfy the definition of “Change of Control” as defined under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the applicable Treasury Regulations, as amended from time to time.


G.    “CODE” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.


H.    “COMMITTEE” means any committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, as specified in Article III herein.

2






I.    “COMPANY” means PDC Energy, Inc., a Nevada corporation, including any and all Subsidiaries, and any successor thereto as provided in Article XX herein.


J.    “COVERED EMPLOYEE” means a Participant who, as of the date of vesting and/or payout of an Award, as applicable, is one of the group of “covered employees,” as defined in Code Section 162(m) and the regulations promulgated under Code Section 162(m), or any successor statute.


K.    “DIRECTOR” means any individual who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that any Director who is employed by the Company shall be considered an Employee under the Plan.


L.    “DISABILITY” with respect to any Award, a Participant shall be considered Disabled if the Participant:


		
	1.
	is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or




		
	2.
	is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering Employees of the Company.




M.    “EFFECTIVE DATE” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section I.A hereof.


N.    “EMPLOYEE” means any full-time, active employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries.  Directors who are not employed by the Company shall not be considered Employees under this Plan.


O.    “EXCHANGE ACT” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto.


P.    “FAIR MARKET VALUE” shall be the officially reported closing sale price of Shares on the principal securities exchange on which the Shares are traded or, if there is no such sale on the relevant date, then on the last previous day on which there was such a sale.


Q.    “FREESTANDING SAR” means an SAR that is granted independently of any Options, as described in Article VII herein.


R.    “INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION” or “ISO” means an option to purchase Shares granted under Article VI herein and which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and which is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422.


S.    “INSIDER” shall mean an individual who is, on the relevant date, an officer, Director or more than ten percent (10%) Beneficial Owner of any class of the Company’s equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, all as defined under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.


T.    “NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR” shall mean a Director who is not also an Employee.


U.    “NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION” or “NQSO” means an option to purchase Shares granted under Article VI herein and which is not intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422.


V.    “OPTION” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, as described in Article VI herein.


W.    “OPTION PRICE” means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option.


X.    “PARTICIPANT” means an Employee or Non-Employee Director who has been selected to receive an Award or a current or former Employee or Non-Employee Director who has an outstanding Award granted under the Plan.


Y.    “PERFORMANCE-BASED EXCEPTION” means the performance-based exception from the tax deductibility limitations of Code Section 162(m).


Z.    “PERFORMANCE SHARE” means an Award granted to a Participant (other than a Non-Employee Director), 

3






as described in Article X herein, that shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.


AA.    “PERFORMANCE UNIT” means an Award granted to a Participant (other than a Non-Employee Director), as described in Article X herein, that shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee on the date of grant.


BB.    “PERIOD OF RESTRICTION” means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units is limited in some way (based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, at its discretion, as specified in the Award Agreement), and the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, as provided in Article VIII and Article IX herein.


CC.    “PERSON” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.


DD.    “RESTRICTED STOCK” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article VIII herein.


EE.    “RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT” or “RSU” means an award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article IX herein.


FF.    “SEPARATION FROM SERVICE” means a termination of employment or other separation from service as described in Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder.


GG.    “SHARES” means the shares of common stock of the Company.


HH.    “SPECIFIED EMPLOYEE” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and determined as of the date of an individual’s separation from service from the Company (1) any officer during the prior twelve (12) month period with annual compensation in excess of $145,000 (as adjusted from time to time under the Code), (2) a five-percent (5%) owner of the Company’s outstanding equity stock during the prior twelve (12) month period or (3) a one-percent (1%) owner of the Company’s outstanding equity stock during the prior twelve (12) month period with annual compensation in excess of $150,000 (as adjusted from time under Code), provided that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is publicly-traded within the meaning of Code Section 409A on the date of determination.


II.    “STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT” or “SAR” means an Award, granted alone or, in connection with a related Option, designated as an SAR, pursuant to the terms of Article VII herein.


JJ.    “SUBSIDIARY” means any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company has a majority voting interest (including all divisions, affiliates and related entities).


KK.    “TANDEM SAR” means an SAR that is granted in connection with a related Option pursuant to Article VII herein, the exercise of which shall require forfeiture of the right to purchase an equal number of Shares under the related Option (and when a Share is purchased under the Option, the Tandem SAR shall similarly be canceled as to the same number of Shares).


III.    ADMINISTRATION


A.    THE COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by Board or a Committee of the Board consisting of not less than two Directors who meet the “Non-Employee Director” requirements of Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, the “Independent Director” requirements of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a), and the outside director requirements of Code Section 162(m), or by any other committee appointed by the Board, provided the members of such committee meet such requirements.


B.    AUTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEE. Except as limited by law or by the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, and subject to the provisions herein, the Board or the Committee shall have full power to select Employees and Non-Employee Directors who shall participate in the Plan; determine the sizes and types of Awards; determine the terms and conditions of Awards in a manner consistent with the Plan; construe and interpret the Plan and any agreement or instrument entered into under the Plan; establish or amend rules and regulations for the Plan’s administration; and (subject to the provisions of Article XV herein) amend the terms and conditions of any outstanding Award to the extent such terms and conditions are within the discretion of the Board or the Committee as provided in the Plan. Further, the Board or the Committee is empowered hereby to make all other determinations which may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. As permitted by law, the Board or the Committee may delegate its authority as identified herein.



4






C.    DECISIONS BINDING. All determinations and decisions made by the Board or the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan and all related orders and resolutions of the Board shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its stockholders, Directors, Employees, Participants and their estates and beneficiaries.


IV.    SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN AND MAXIMUM AWARDS


A.    NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR GRANTS. Subject to the continued application of Sections IV.B and IV.C herein, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted to Participants under the Plan shall be: (i) 1,400,000, which is the number of Shares originally approved under the Plan as of June 4, 2010, minus (ii) the number of such Shares that are permanently unavailable for issuance under the Plan as of the Effective Date by virtue of application of Section IV.B prior to the Effective Date, plus (iii) an additional 1,600,000 Shares. Shares issued under the Plan may be either authorized but unissued Shares, treasury Shares or any combination thereof.


Unless and until the Committee determines that an Award to a Covered Employee is not designed to comply with the Performance-Based Exception, the following rules shall apply to grants of Awards to Covered Employees under the Plan, subject to Sections IV.B and IV.C.


		
	1.
	STOCK OPTIONS: The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be subject to Stock Options granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant shall be eight hundred thousand (800,000).




		
	2.
	SARs: The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be granted in the form of SARs in any fiscal year to any one Participant shall be eight hundred thousand (800,000).




		
	3.
	RESTRICTED STOCK: The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Awards of Restricted Stock which are granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant shall be four hundred thousand (400,000) Shares.




		
	4.
	RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS: The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be covered by grants of Restricted Stock Units in any one fiscal year to any one Participant shall be four hundred thousand (400,000) Shares; provided, however, that the maximum aggregate grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units for any one fiscal year shall be coordinated so that in no event shall any one Participant receive Awards covering more than the four hundred thousand (400,000) Shares taking into account all such grants.




		
	5.
	PERFORMANCE SHARES: The maximum aggregate payout (determined as of the event of the applicable performance period) with respect to Awards of Performance Shares which are granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of four hundred thousand (400,000) Shares.




		
	6.
	PERFORMANCE UNITS: The maximum aggregate payout (determined as of the end of the applicable performance period) with respect to Awards of Performance Units which are granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant shall be equal to five million dollars ($5,000,000).




B.    ADJUSTMENTS FOR AWARDS AND PAYOUTS. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee, the following Awards and payouts will reduce, on a one-for-one basis, the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan:
		
	1.
	An Award of an Option;


		
	2.
	An Award of a SAR that may be settled in Shares;


		
	3.
	An Award of Restricted Stock;


		
	4.
	An Award of a Restricted Stock Unit that may be settled in Shares;


		
	5.
	A Performance Share Award that may be settled in Shares; and


		
	6.
	A Performance Unit Award that may be settled in Shares.





5






Unless determined otherwise by the Committee, the following transactions will restore, on a one-for-one basis, the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan:


		
	1.
	A payout of a SAR or a Tandem SAR, or any other Award, in cash;




		
	2.
	A cancellation, termination, expiration, forfeiture or lapse for any reason (with the exception of the termination of a Tandem SAR upon exercise of the related Options, or the termination of a related Option upon exercise of the corresponding Tandem SAR) of any Award payable in Shares;




		
	3.
	Shares tendered in payment of the exercise price of an Option;




		
	4.
	Shares withheld for payment of federal, state or local taxes;




		
	5.
	Shares repurchased by the Company with proceeds collected in connection with the exercise of outstanding Options; and




		
	6.
	Shares withheld or retained in connection with the exercise of SARs (i.e. only the net Shares issued, as opposed to the full number of Shares underlying the exercised portion of the SAR, shall count against and reduce the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan).




C.    ADJUSTMENTS IN AUTHORIZED SHARES. In the event of any change in corporate capitalization such as a stock split or stock dividend, or a corporate transaction such as any merger, consolidation, separation, including a spin-off, or other distribution of stock or property of the Company, any reorganization (whether or not such reorganization comes within the definition of such term in Code Section 368) or any partial or complete liquidation of the Company, such adjustment shall be made in the number and class of Shares which are reserved and may be delivered under Section IV.A, in the number and class of and/or price of Shares subject to outstanding Awards granted under the Plan, and in the Award limits set forth in subsections IV.A.1 through IV.A.6, inclusive, as may be determined to be appropriate and equitable by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights; provided, however, that the number of Shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number.


V.    ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION


A.    ELIGIBILITY. Persons eligible to participate in this Plan include officers and certain key salaried Employees of the Company with potential to contribute to the success of the Company or its Subsidiaries, including Employees who are members of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Non-Employee Directors of the Company shall be eligible to participate in the Plan with respect to Awards of Non-Qualified Stock Options, SARs, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, as specified in Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII and Article IX. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Plan, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Awards to Non-Employee Directors, including the terms and conditions which shall apply upon a termination of the Non-Employee Director’s service as a member of the Board, and shall have full power and authority in its discretion to administer such Awards, subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law.


B.    ACTUAL PARTICIPATION. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select in its sole and broad discretion, upon or without the recommendation of officers of the Company, from all eligible Employees those to whom Awards shall be granted, and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award.


C.    MINIMUM VESTING SCHEDULE. Except as provided below: (1) all Awards granted under this Plan that vest based on the passage of time shall vest no more rapidly than pro-rata over a three (3) year period from the date of grant (excluding any accelerated vesting as a result of a Participant’s termination of employment, a Change in Control, or similar items); and (2) all Awards granted under this Plan that vest based on the achievement of specific performance measures shall vest no more rapidly than one (1) year from the date of grant (excluding any accelerated vesting as a result of a Participant’s termination of employment, a Change in Control, or similar items). Notwithstanding the foregoing, up to ten percent (10%) of the total number of Shares authorized by the Board and the stockholders for issuance under the Plan since its inception on April 1, 2010 may be granted pursuant to Awards (including Awards granted prior to June 6, 2013) with more accelerated time-based or performance-based vesting schedules, as applicable, than those described above. The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures similar to those in Section IV.B., above, to determine whether the ten percent (10%) limit in the preceding sentence has been attained.



6






VI.    STOCK OPTIONS


A.    GRANT OF OPTIONS. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee. For purposes of this Article VI, with respect to NQSOs only, the term “Participant” shall include Non-Employee Directors of the Company.


B.    AWARD AGREEMENT. Subject to Section V.C, each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the duration of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the Option is intended to be an ISO within the meaning of Code Section 422, or an NQSO, whose grant is intended not to fall under the provisions of Code Section 422.


C.    OPTION PRICE. The Option Price for each grant of an Option under this Plan shall be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no ISO shall be granted to any person who, immediately prior to the grant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, unless the Option Price is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of the Option.


D.    DURATION OF OPTIONS. Each Option granted to a Participant shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant; provided, however, that no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th) anniversary following the date of its grant and provided further that no Option that is an ISO shall be exercisable later than the fifth (5th) anniversary following the date of its grant to a Participant, who at the time of such grant owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company.


E.    EXERCISE OF OPTIONS. Options granted under this Article VI shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, which need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant.


F.    PAYMENT. Options granted under this Article VI shall be exercised by the delivery of a written notice of exercise to the Company, setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the Shares.


The Option Price upon exercise of any Option shall be payable to the Company in full either: (a) in cash or its equivalent; or (b) by tendering previously acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price (provided that the Shares which are tendered must have been held by the Participant for at least six months prior to their tender to satisfy the Option Price); or (c) by a combination of (a) and (b).


The Committee may also (a) allow cashless exercise as permitted under Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation T, subject to applicable securities law restrictions, (b) cashless exercise by the Participant by the Company’s withholding of Shares issuable upon exercise of an Option, or (c) by any other means which the Committee determines to be consistent with the Plan’s purpose and applicable law.


Subject to any governing rules or regulations, as soon as practicable after receipt of a written notification of exercise and full payment, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, in the Participant’s name, Share certificates in an appropriate amount based upon the number of Shares purchased under the Option(s).


G.    RESTRICTIONS ON SHARE TRANSFERABILITY. The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option granted under this Article VI as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed and/or traded, and under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares.


H.    TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT BY A PARTICIPANT WHO IS AN EMPLOYEE. With respect to a Participant who is an Employee, each Option Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the Option following termination of the Participant’s employment with the Company. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee but shall conform to the limitations established in Section VI.D, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to this Article VI, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of employment.



7






I.    NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.


		
	1.
	INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. No ISO granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, all ISOs granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s legal representative (to the extent permitted under Code Section 422).




		
	2.
	NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS. No NQSO granted under this Article VI may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, all NQSOs granted to a Participant under this Article VI shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s legal representative.




VII.    SARs


A.    GRANT OF SARs. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, SARs may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee may grant Freestanding SARs, Tandem SARs or any combination of these forms of SAR. For purposes of this Article VII, the term “Participant” shall include Non-Employee Directors of the Company; provided, however, that a Tandem SAR may not be granted to a Non-Employee Director unless the related Option is a NQSO.


The Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of SARs granted to each Participant (subject to Article IV herein) and, consistent with the provisions of the Plan, in determining the terms and conditions pertaining to such SARs.


The grant price of a Freestanding SAR shall equal the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of the SAR. The grant price of Tandem SARs shall equal the Option Price of the related Option.


B.    EXERCISE OF TANDEM SARS. Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or part of the Shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option. A Tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to the Shares for which its related Option is then exercisable.


Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, with respect to a Tandem SAR granted to an Employee in connection with an ISO: (i) the Tandem SAR will expire no later than the expiration of the underlying ISO; (ii) the value of the payout with respect to the Tandem SAR may be for no more than one hundred percent (100%) of the difference between the Option Price of the underlying ISO and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the underlying ISO at the time the Tandem SAR is exercised; and (iii) the Tandem SAR may be exercised only when the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the ISO exceeds the Option Price of the ISO.


C.    EXERCISE OF FREESTANDING SARS. Freestanding SARs may be exercised upon whatever terms and conditions the Committee, in its sole discretion, imposes upon them.


D.    SAR AGREEMENT. Subject to Section V.C, each SAR grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the grant price, the term of the SAR, and such other provisions as the Committee may determine.


E.    TERM OF SARS. The term of an SAR granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion; provided, however, that such term shall not exceed ten (10) years.


F.    PAYMENT OF SAR AMOUNT. Upon exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:


		
	1.
	the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the grant price; by




		
	2.
	the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.




At the discretion of the Committee, the payment upon SAR exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof. The Committee’s determination regarding the form of SAR payout shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the SAR.

8








G.    TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT BY A PARTICIPANT WHO IS AN EMPLOYEE. With respect to a Participant who is an Employee, each SAR Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the SAR following termination of the Participant’s employment with the Company and/or its Subsidiaries. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with Participants, need not be uniform among all SARs issued pursuant to the Plan and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of employment.


H.    NONTRANSFERABILITY OF SARS. No SAR granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, all SARs granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s legal representative.


VIII.    RESTRICTED STOCK


A.    GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Participants in such amounts as the Committee shall determine. For purposes of this Article VIII, the term “Participant” shall include Non-Employee Directors of the Company.


B.    RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT. Subject to Section V.C, each Restricted Stock grant shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Award Agreement that shall specify the Period(s) of Restriction, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock granted and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.


C.    NONTRANSFERABILITY. Except as provided in this Article VIII and subject to federal securities laws, the Shares of Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction established by the Committee and specified in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, or upon earlier satisfaction of any other conditions, as specified by the Committee in its sole discretion and as set forth in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement. All rights with respect to the Restricted Stock granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be available during his or her lifetime only to such Participant or the Participant’s legal representative for the Period of Restriction.


D.    OTHER RESTRICTIONS. Subject to Article XI herein, the Committee may impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, a requirement that Participants pay a stipulated purchase price for each Share of Restricted Stock, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals (Company-wide, divisional and/or individual), time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the performance goals and/or restrictions under applicable federal or state securities laws.


The Company may retain the certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock in the Company’s possession until such time as all conditions and/or restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied.


Except as otherwise provided in this Article VIII and subject to Federal securities laws, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan shall become freely transferable by the Participant after the last day of the applicable Period of Restriction.


E.    VOTING RIGHTS. Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may be granted the right to exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares during the Period of Restriction.


F.    DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS. During the Period of Restriction, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder shall be credited with regular cash dividends paid with respect to the underlying Shares while they are so held. The Committee may apply any restrictions to the dividends that the Committee deems appropriate. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, if the grant or vesting of Restricted Stock granted to a Covered Employee is designed to comply with the requirements of the Performance-Based Exception, the Committee may apply any restrictions it deems appropriate to the payment of dividends declared with respect to such Restricted Stock, such that the dividends and/or the Restricted Stock maintain eligibility for the Performance-Based Exception. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) dividends accrued on Restricted Stock will only be paid if the Restricted Stock vests; and (ii) for any Award that is governed by Code Section 409A regarding non-qualified deferred compensation, the Committee shall establish the schedule of any payments of dividends in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A or any guidance promulgated thereunder.



9






G.    TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT BY A PARTICIPANT WHO IS AN EMPLOYEE. With respect to a Participant who is an Employee, each Restricted Stock Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to receive nonvested Restricted Shares following termination of the Participant’s employment with the Company. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Shares of Restricted Stock issued pursuant to the Plan and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of employment.


H.    ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS TO NONEMPLOYEE
DIRECTORS.


		
	1.
	AWARD DATES. Effective as of the date specified by the Committee in its sole discretion, each Non-Employee Director will be awarded such number of Shares of Restricted Stock as determined by the Board, after consideration of the recommendation of the Committee. Non-Employee Directors may, but need not, be awarded the same number of Shares of Restricted Stock. A Non-Employee Director who is first elected to the Board on a date subsequent to the date specified by the Committee in its sole discretion will be awarded such number of Shares of Restricted Stock as of such date of election as determined by the Board, after consideration of the recommendation of the Committee.




		
	2.
	DIVIDEND RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED STOCK. Notwithstanding Section VIII.F, upon issuance of a Restricted Stock Agreement, the Non-Employee Director in whose name the Restricted Stock Agreement is registered will, subject to the provisions of the Plan, have the right to receive immediately all cash dividends and other cash distributions thereon.




		
	3.
	PERIOD OF RESTRICTION. Restricted Stock will be subject to forfeiture as set forth in Section VIII.H.4 and the other provisions of the Plan during the Period of Restriction commencing on the date as of which the Restricted Stock is awarded (the “Award Date”) and ending on the earliest of the first to occur of the following:




		
	a.
	the retirement of the Non-Employee Director from the Board in compliance with the Board’s retirement policy as then in effect;




		
	b.
	the termination of the Non-Employee Director’s service on the Board as a result of the Non-Employee Director’s not being nominated for reelection by the Board;




		
	c.
	the termination of the Non-Employee Director’s service on the Board because of the Non-Employee Director’s resignation or failure to stand for reelection with the consent of the Company’s Board (which means approval by at least eighty percent (80%) of the Directors voting, with the affected Non-Employee Director abstaining);




		
	d.
	the termination of the Non-Employee Director’s service on the Board because the Non-Employee Director, although nominated for reelection by the Board, is not reelected by the stockholders;




		
	e.
	the termination of the Non-Employee Director’s service on the Board because of (i) the Non-Employee’s Director’s resignation at the request of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board (or successor committee); (ii) the Non- Employee Director’s removal by action of the stockholders or by the Board; or (iii) a Change in Control of the Company;




		
	f.
	the termination of the Non-Employee Director’s service on the Board because of Disability or death; or




		
	g.
	the vesting of the Restricted Stock.




Section VIII.H.3.a. through g. above are subject to the further restrictions that a removal or resignation for “Cause” will be deemed to not constitute completion of the Period of Restriction and will result in a forfeiture of Restricted Stock not previously vested under Section VIII.H.4. For purposes of this Plan, “Cause” will be a good faith determination by the Board that the Non-Employee Director (i) failed to substantially perform his or her duties (other than a failure resulting from his or her incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after a written demand for substantial performance has been delivered to him or her by the Board, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes 

10






such Non-Employee Director has not substantially performed his or her duties; (ii) has engaged in conduct the consequences of which are materially adverse to the Company, monetarily or otherwise; or (iii) has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to or been convicted of a felony. The Non-Employee Director will not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless there will have been delivered to the Non-Employee Director a letter from the Board setting forth the reasons for the Company’s termination of the Non-Employee Director for Cause and, with respect to (i) or (ii), stating that the Non- Employee Director has failed to cure such reason for termination within thirty (30) days after the Non-Employee Director’s receipt of such notice.


		
	4.
	FORFEITURE OF RESTRICTED STOCK. As of the date (“Termination Date”) a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a member of the Board for any reason, including but not limited to removal or resignation for Cause, the Non-Employee Director shall forfeit to the Company all Restricted Stock awarded to the Non-Employee Director for which the Period of Restriction has not ended pursuant to Section VIII.H.3. as of or prior to the Termination Date.




IX.    RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS


A.    GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS. Subject to the terms of the Plan, Restricted Stock Units may be granted to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee. For purposes of this Article IX, the term “Participant” shall include Non-Employee Directors of the Company.


B.    RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT. Subject to Section V.C, each Restricted Stock Unit grant shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement that shall specify the Period(s) of Restriction, the number of Restricted Stock Units granted, and such other provisions as the Committee may determine.


C.    VALUE OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT. Each Restricted Stock Unit shall have a value that is equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.


D.    FORM AND TIMING OF PAYMENT OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS. Settlement of vested Restricted Stock Units may be made in the form of (i) cash; (ii) Shares; or (iii) any combination of both, as determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Restricted Stock Units, in its sole discretion. Vested Restricted Stock Units shall be settled in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable after the vesting date, but in no event later than two and one-half (21⁄2) months following the vesting date. The amount of such settlement shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Restricted Stock Units on the vesting date.


E.    DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS. Each Restricted Stock Unit shall be credited with an amount equal to the dividends paid on a Share between the date of grant and the date such Restricted Stock Unit is paid to the Participant (if at all). Dividend equivalents shall vest, if at all, upon the same terms and conditions governing the vesting of Restricted Stock Units under the Plan. Payment of the dividend equivalent shall be made at the same time as payment of the Restricted Stock Unit and shall be made without interest or other adjustment. If the Restricted Stock Unit is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to dividend equivalents.


F.    VOTING RIGHTS. The holders of Restricted Stock Units shall have no voting rights.


G.    NONTRANSFERABILITY. Restricted Stock Units may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by laws of descent and distribution.


H.    TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT BY A PARTICIPANT WHO IS AN EMPLOYEE. With respect to a Participant who is an Employee, each Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to receive nonvested Restricted Stock Units following termination of the Participant’s employment with the Company. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Restricted Stock Units issued pursuant to the Plan and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of employment.


X.    PERFORMANCE UNITS AND PERFORMANCE SHARES


A.    GRANT OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES. Subject to the terms of the Plan, Performance Units and/or Performance Shares may be granted to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee.

11








B.    PERFORMANCE UNIT/SHARE AGREEMENT. Subject to Section V.C, each Performance Unit or Performance Share grant shall be evidenced by a Performance Unit or Performance Share Award Agreement, as the case may be, that shall specify the number of Performance Units or Performance Shares granted and such other provisions as the Committee may determine.


C.    VALUE OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES. Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant. Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. The Committee shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number and/or value of Performance Units/Shares that will be paid out to the Participant. For purposes of this Article X, the time period during which the performance goals must be met shall be called a “Performance Period.”


D.    EARNING OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES. Subject to the terms of this Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units/Shares shall be entitled to receive payout on the number and value of Performance Units/Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance goals have been achieved.


E.    FORM AND TIMING OF PAYMENT OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES. Payment of earned Performance Units/Shares shall be made in a single lump sum following the close of the applicable Performance Period. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Shares in the form of cash or in Shares (or in a combination thereof) which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period. Such Shares may be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee. The determination of the Committee with respect to the form of payout of such Awards shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the Award. Payment shall be made no later than two and one-half (2 1 / 2) months following the close of the Performance Period.


F.    SEPARATION FROM SERVICE DUE TO DEATH OR DISABILITY. In the event the Participant incurs a Separation From Service by reason of death or Disability during a Performance Period, the Participant shall not receive a payout of the Performance Units/Shares, unless determined otherwise by the Committee or set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement.


Payment of earned Performance Units/Shares shall be made at a time specified by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement.


G.    TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT FOR OTHER REASONS. In the event that a Participant’s employment terminates for any reason other than those reasons set forth in Section X.F herein, all Performance Units/Shares intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception shall be forfeited by the Participant to the Company.


H.    NONTRANSFERABILITY. Performance Units/Shares may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, a Participant’s rights under the Plan shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative.


I.    NO DIVIDEND AND VOTING RIGHTS. Participants will not be entitled to receive any dividends declared with respect to Shares which have been earned in connection with grants of Performance Units and/or Performance Shares, but not yet distributed to Participants nor shall Participants have voting rights with respect to such Shares.


XI.    PERFORMANCE MEASURES


Unless and until the Committee proposes for stockholder vote and the Company’s stockholders approve a change in the general performance measures set forth in this Article XI, the attainment of which may determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to Awards to Covered Employees which measures are designed to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, the performance measure(s) to be used as determined in the Committee’s discretion for purposes of such grants may be measured (i) on a total basis, on a per Mcf or BOE equivalent basis (mcf or barrels equivalent for gas and oil), on a per share basis, or on such other measurement basis as may be determined by the Committee; and/or (ii) at the Company, Subsidiary, Affiliate or operating unit level; and/or (iii) on an absolute or a comparative basis against the Company’s internal targets, the Company’s competitors, the industry or some other comparator group. The measures shall be chosen from among the following: net income either before or after taxes (including adjusted net income), share price, earnings per share (basic or diluted), total stockholder return, return on assets, return on equity, operating income, return on capital or investment, cash flow or adjusted cash flow, economic value added, debt level, cost reduction targets, equity ratios, capital efficiency (adjusted EBITDA divided by production and divided by 

12






average funding and development cost), coverage ratio (adjusted EBITDAX/interest), EBITDA or EBIDTA margin, operating and general and administrative expense (the sum of total lease operating expense, exploration general and administrative expense and corporate general and administrative expense), average reserve replacement ratio (the sum of extensions and discoveries, revisions in previous estimates and purchase of reserves divided by the sum of the same), production or production growth, oil and gas reserves or growth in reserves, oil and gas reserve additions, and costs of finding oil and gas reserves.


The Committee shall have the discretion to adjust the determinations of the degree of attainment of the preestablished performance goals; provided, however, that Awards which are designed to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, and which are held by Covered Employees, may not be adjusted upward (the Committee shall retain the discretion to adjust such Awards downward).


In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws or exchange listing standards change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing performance measures without obtaining stockholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining stockholder approval. In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant Awards which shall not qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m).


In the case of any Award which is granted subject to the condition that a specified performance measure be achieved, no payment under such Award shall be made prior to the time that the Committee certifies in writing that the performance measure has been satisfied, in accordance with Internal Revenue Service requirements. No such certification is required, however, in the case of an Award that is based solely on an increase in the value of a Share from the date such Award was made.


XII.    BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION


Each Participant under the Plan may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designated beneficiary, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.


XIII.    DEFERRALS


The Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer such Participant’s receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of the exercise of an Option or SAR, the lapse or waiver of restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, or the satisfaction of any requirements or goals with respect to Performance Units/Shares. If any such deferral election is required or permitted, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, establish rules and procedures for such payment deferrals, provided, however, all deferrals shall be designed to be made in accordance with all applicable requirements of Code Section 409A or any guidance promulgated thereunder.


XIV.    RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES


A.    EMPLOYMENT. Nothing in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate any Participant’s employment at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company.


B.    PARTICIPATION. No Employee shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under this Plan or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future Award.


XV.    AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, TERMINATION AND ADJUSTMENTS


A.    AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Board, upon recommendation of the Committee, may at any time and from time to time, alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part for any purpose which the Committee deems appropriate and consistent with Code Section 409A; provided, however, no amendment shall, without shareholder approval, (i) materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan; (ii) materially increase the number of securities which may be issued under the Plan; or (iii) materially modify the requirements for participation in the Plan.



13






Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, or exchange of shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or SARs or cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for cash, other awards or Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options or SARs without shareholder approval.


B.    ADJUSTMENT OF AWARDS UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF CERTAIN UNUSUAL OR NONRECURRING EVENTS. The Committee may make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section IV.C. hereof) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan; provided that unless the Committee determines otherwise, no such adjustment shall be authorized to the extent that such authority would be inconsistent with the Plan or Awards meeting the requirements of Code Sections 162(m) and 409A, as from time to time amended.


C.    AWARDS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary (but subject to Section XV.B. hereof), no termination, amendment or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under the Plan without the written consent of the Participant holding such Award.


D.    COMPLIANCE WITH CODE SECTION 162(m). At all times when Code Section 162(m) is applicable, all Awards granted under this Plan shall comply with the requirements of Code Section 162(m); provided, however, that in the event the Committee determines that such compliance is not desired with respect to any Award or Awards available for grant under the Plan, then compliance with Code Section 162(m) will not be required. In addition, in the event that changes are made to Code Section 162(m) to permit greater flexibility with respect to any Award or Awards available under the Plan, the Committee may, subject to this Article XV, make any adjustments it deems appropriate consistent with the changes made to Code Section 162(m).


XVI.    PAYMENT OF PLAN AWARDS AND CONDITIONS THEREON


A.    EFFECT OF COMPETITIVE ACTIVITY. Anything contained in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, unless otherwise covered in an employment or other agreement by and between the Company and the Participant or in any applicable severance or similar plan sponsored by the Company, with respect to any Participant who is an Employee, if the employment of any Participant shall terminate, for any reason other than death, while any Award to such Participant is outstanding hereunder, and such Participant has not yet received the Shares covered by such Award or otherwise received the full benefit of such Award, such Participant, if otherwise entitled thereto, shall receive such Shares or benefit only if, during the entire period from the date of such Participant’s termination to the date of such receipt, such Participant shall have earned such Award by: (i) making himself or herself available, upon request, at reasonable times and upon a reasonable basis, to consult with, supply information to, and otherwise cooperate with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof with respect to any matter that shall have been handled by him or her or under his or her supervision while he or she was in the employ of the Company or of any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof; and (ii) refraining from engaging in any activity within any county or parish, or adjacent to any county or parish, in which the Company owns any oil and gas interests that is directly or indirectly in competition with any gas, exploration and production activities, including oil and gas leasing or drilling activities of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof for a period of one (1) year following his or her termination of employment.


B.    NONFULFILLMENT OF COMPETITIVE ACTIVITY CONDITIONS; WAIVERS UNDER THE PLAN. In the event of a Participant’s nonfulfillment of any condition set forth in Section XVI.A. hereof, such Participant’s rights under any Award shall be forfeited and canceled forthwith; provided, however, that the nonfulfillment of such condition may at any time (whether before, at the time of, or subsequent to termination of employment) be waived by the Committee upon its determination that in its sole judgment there shall not have been and will not be any substantial adverse effect upon the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof by reason of the nonfulfillment of such condition.


XVII.    CHANGE IN CONTROL


A.    TREATMENT OF EXISTING AWARDS. With respect to Awards existing as of the Effective Date, unless otherwise provided in an applicable Award Agreement, the Change in Control provisions set forth in the Plan as in effect on the date such Awards were granted shall govern the treatment of such Awards upon a Change in Control.



14






B.    TREATMENT OF NEW AWARDS. With respect to Awards granted on and after the Effective Date, unless otherwise provided in an applicable Award Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, the Board or the Committee (as applicable) shall have full discretion to take whatever actions it deems necessary or appropriate with respect to outstanding Awards, including, but not limited to: (i) to provide for full or partial accelerated vesting of any Award or portion thereof, either immediately prior to such Change in Control or on such terms and conditions following the Change in Control (such as a termination without cause) as the Board or the Committee determine in their sole and absolute discretion; (ii) to provide for the assumption of such Awards (or portions thereof) or the substitution of such Awards (or portions thereof) with similar awards of the surviving or acquiring Company, in a manner designed to comply with Section 409A of the Code; (iii) to provide for the cash out and cancellation of any Award (or portion thereof) immediately prior to such Change in Control, which cash out may (in a manner designed to comply with Code Section 409A) be subject to any escrow, earn-out or other contingent or deferred payment arrangement that is contemplated by such Change in Control; and (iv) take any other actions as the Board or Committee deem necessary or advisable in connection with such Change in Control transaction; provided, however, that in the event the surviving or acquiring company does not assume the outstanding Awards (or portions thereof) or substitute similar stock awards for those outstanding under the Plan as of the Change in Control, then (i) the vesting and exercisability (if applicable) of all Awards (or portions thereof) shall be accelerated in full immediately prior to such Change in Control; and (ii) such outstanding Awards (or portions thereof) shall terminate and/or be payable upon the occurrence of the Change in Control. The Board or the Committee, as applicable, may take different actions with respect to different Participants under the Plan, different Awards under the Plan, and different portions of Awards granted under the Plan.


XVIII.    TAX PROVISIONS


A.    TAX WITHHOLDING. The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant who is an Employee to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan.


B.    SHARE WITHHOLDING. With respect to withholding required upon the exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, upon achievement of the performance goals on Performance Shares or Performance Units or upon any other taxable event arising as a result of Awards granted hereunder, Participants who are Employees may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined no more than the minimum statutory tax which could be imposed on the transaction. All such elections shall be irrevocable, made in writing, and signed by the Participant, and shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.


C.    REQUIREMENT OF NOTIFICATION OF CODE SECTION 83(b) ELECTION. If any Participants shall make an election under Code Section 83(b) (to include in gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Code Section 83(b)) or under a similar provisions of the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, such Participant shall notify the Company of such election within ten (10) days after filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other government authority, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under Code Section 83(b) or other applicable provision.


D.    REQUIREMENT OF NOTIFICATION UPON DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION UNDER CODE SECTION 421(b). If any Participant shall make any disposition of shares of stock delivered pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option under the circumstances described in Code Section 421(b) (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions), such Participant shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten (10) days thereof.


XIX.    INDEMNIFICATION


Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.



15






XX.    SUCCESSORS


All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company.


XXI.    LEGAL CONSTRUCTION


A.    GENDER AND NUMBER. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine, the plural shall include the singular, and the singular shall include the plural.


B.    SEVERABILITY. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.


C.    REQUIREMENTS OF LAW. The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.


D.    SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE. With respect to Insiders, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act. To the extent any provision of the Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee.


E.    CODE SECTION 409A COMPLIANCE. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, all Awards under this Plan that are subject to Code Section 409A shall be designed and administered in a manner that is intended to avoid the imposition of tax or penalties under Code Section 409A. Accordingly, Awards under this Plan that are subject to Code Section 409A shall be designed to comply with the following requirements, as applicable.


		
	1.
	Distribution to Specified Employees Upon Separation from Service. To the extent that payment under an Award which is subject to Code Section 409A is due to a Specified Employee on account of the Specified Employee’s Separation from Service from the Company or its Affiliate or Subsidiary, such payment shall be delayed until the first day of the seventh (7th) month following such Separation from Service (or as soon as practicable thereafter). The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Award document for the payment of interest at a rate set by the Committee for such six-month period. In the event that a payment under an Award is exempt from Code Section 409A, payment shall be made to a Specified Employee without any such six-month delay.




		
	2.
	No Acceleration of Payment. To the extent that an Award is subject to Code Section 409A, payment under such Award shall not be accelerated from the date(s)specified in the Award documents as of the date of grant.




		
	3.
	Subsequent Delay in Payment. To the extent that an Award is subject to Code Section 409A, payment under such Award shall not be deferred beyond the dates specified in the Award document as of the date of grant, unless the Committee or Participant, as the case may be, makes the decision to delay payment at least one year prior to the scheduled payment date, and payment is delayed at least five (5) years.




		
	4.
	No Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, in no event shall the Company, the Board, the Committee, or any of their respective agents, assigns, or representatives have any liability to any Plan Participant for any taxes, penalties, or interest assessed against such Participant as a result of the application of Code Section 409A to any Award made hereunder.





16






F.    GOVERNING LAW. To the extent not preempted by federal law, the Plan, and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Colorado.






/s/ James M. Trimble
James M. Trimble
Chief Executive Officer and President







17