Document:

exv10w8

Exhibit 10.8

SEAHAWK DRILLING, INC.

2009 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

     1. Plan. The Seahawk Drilling, Inc. 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) was adopted by
the Board of Directors of Seahawk Drilling, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and was
approved on                     , 2009 by Pride International, Inc. as the sole stockholder of the Company, to
reward certain officers, employees and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries by providing
for certain cash benefits and by enabling them to acquire shares of Common Stock of the Company.
The Plan is effective as of the date of the Distribution as defined below.

     2. Objectives. The Plan is designed to attract and retain officers, employees and directors
of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to encourage the sense of proprietorship of such officers,
employees and directors and to stimulate the active interest of such persons in the development and
financial success of the Company and its Subsidiaries. These objectives are to be accomplished by
making Awards under this Plan and thereby providing Participants with a proprietary interest in the
growth and performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

     3. Definitions. As used herein, the terms set forth below shall have the following respective
meanings:

          “Authorized Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (or any other senior
officer of the Company to whom the Chief Executive Officer delegates the authority to execute any
Award Agreement, where applicable).

          “Award” means an Employee Award or a Director Award.

          “Award Agreement” means a written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms, conditions
and limitations applicable to an Award, to the extent the Committee determines such agreement is
necessary.

          “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

          “Cash Award” means an award denominated in cash.

          “Change in Control” means, and shall be deemed to have occurred on the date of the first to
occur of any of the following:

     (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange
Act) is or becomes a beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing 30 percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s
then-outstanding securities;

     (ii) during any period of 12 consecutive months, individuals who, as of the date of the
Distribution, constitute the members of the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any
reason other than due to death or disability to constitute at least a majority of the
members of the Board, provided that any director who was nominated for election

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or was elected with the approval of at least a majority of the members of the Board who
are at the time Incumbent Directors shall be considered an Incumbent Director;

     (iii) the consummation of any transaction (including any merger, amalgamation,
consolidation or scheme of arrangement), the result of which is that less than 50 percent
(50%) of the total voting power of the surviving corporation is represented by shares held
by former shareholders of the Company prior to such transaction; or

     (v) the Company shall have sold, transferred or exchanged all, or substantially all, of
its assets to another corporation or other entity or person.

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

          “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

          “Common Stock” means the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

          “Company” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.

          “Director” means an individual serving as a member of the Board who is not an Employee.

          “Director Award” means any Non-qualified Stock Option, SAR, Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit
Award, Cash Award or Performance Award (other than a Qualified Performance Award) granted, whether
singly, in combination or in tandem, to a Participant who is a Director pursuant to such applicable
terms, conditions and limitations (including treatment as a Performance Award) as the Committee may
establish in order to fulfill the objectives of the Plan.

          “Distribution” means the distribution by Pride International, Inc., on a pro-rata basis to the
holders of the common stock of Pride International, Inc., of all of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock owned by Pride International, Inc.

          “Dividend Equivalents” means, with respect to Restricted Stock Units, an amount equal to all
dividends and other distributions (or the economic equivalent thereof) that are payable to
stockholders of record during the Restriction Period on a like number of shares of Common Stock
granted in the Award.

          “Employee” means a person employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a common law
employee, including an officer, as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1 of the Exchange Act, of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries and including a member of the Board who is also an Employee.

          “Employee Award” means any Option, SAR, Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Cash Award
or Performance Award granted, whether singly, in combination or in tandem, to a Participant who is
an Employee pursuant to such applicable terms, conditions and

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limitations (including treatment as a Performance Award) as the Committee may establish in
order to fulfill the objectives of the Plan.

          “Equity Award” means any Option, SAR, Stock Award, or Performance Award (other than a
Performance Award denominated in cash) granted to a Participant under the Plan.

          “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

          “Fair Market Value” means, as of a particular date, (i) if the shares of Common Stock are
listed on a national securities exchange, the mean between the highest and lowest sales price per
share of Common Stock on the consolidated transaction reporting system for the primary national
securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock are listed on that date, or, if there shall
have been no such sale so reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which such a sale
was so reported, (ii) if the shares of Common Stock are not so listed but are quoted by The NASDAQ
Stock Market, Inc., the mean between the highest and lowest sales price per share of Common Stock
on the consolidated transaction reporting system for The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. on that date,
or, if there shall have been no such sale so reported on that date, on the last preceding date on
which such a sale was so reported, (iii) if the Common Stock is not so listed or quoted, the mean
between the closing bid and asked price on that date, or, if there are no quotations available for
such date, on the last preceding date on which such quotations shall be available, as reported by
The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc., or, if not reported by The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc., by the
National Quotation Bureau, Inc., or (iv) if none of the above are applicable, the fair market value
of a share of Common Stock as determined in good faith by the Committee under a method or means
which shall comply with the requirements of a reasonable valuation method as described under
Section 409A of the Code.

          “Grant Date” means the date an Award is granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan. The
“Grant Date” of an Option or SAR Award shall be the date the Company completes the corporate action
constituting an offer of stock for sale to a holder under the terms and conditions of the Option or
SAR; provided that (i) such corporate action shall not be considered complete until the date on
which the maximum number of shares that can be purchased or exercised under the Option or SAR and
the minimum Grant Price are fixed or determinable; (ii) if such corporate action contemplates an
immediate offer of stock for sale to a class of individuals, then the Grant Date of an Option or
SAR is the time or date of that corporate action, if the offer is to be made immediately; and/or
(iii) if such corporate action contemplates a particular date on which the offer is to be made,
then the Grant Date is the contemplated date of the offer.

          “Grant Price” means the price at which a Participant may exercise his or her right to receive
cash or Common Stock, as applicable, under the terms of an Award.

          “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to comply with the requirements set
forth in Section 422 of the Code.

          “Non-qualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

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          “Option” means a right to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock at a specified
Grant Price, which may be an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-qualified Stock Option.

          “Participant” means an Employee or Director to whom an Award has been granted under this Plan.

          “Performance Award” means an Award made pursuant to this Plan that is subject to the
attainment of one or more performance goals.

          “Performance Goal” means a standard established by the Committee to determine in whole or in
part whether a Qualified Performance Award shall be earned.

          “Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.

          “Qualified Performance Award” means a Performance Award made to a Participant who is an
Employee that is intended to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation under Section
162(m) of the Code, as described in Section 8(a)(vii)(B) of the Plan.

          “Restricted Stock” means Common Stock that is restricted or subject to forfeiture provisions.

          “Restricted Stock Unit” means a unit evidencing the right to receive in specified
circumstances one share of Common Stock or equivalent value in cash that is restricted or subject
to forfeiture provisions.

          “Restricted Stock Unit Award” means an Award in the form of Restricted Stock Units.

          “Restriction Period” means a period of time beginning as of the Grant Date of an Award of
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units and ending as of the date upon which the Common Stock
subject to such Award is issued (if not previously issued), no longer restricted or subject to
forfeiture provisions.

          “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right to receive a payment, in cash or Common
Stock, equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value or other specified valuation of a specified
number of shares of Common Stock on the date the right is exercised over a specified Grant Price.

          “Stock Award” means an Award in the form of, or denominated in, or by reference to, shares of
Common Stock, including an award of Restricted Stock.

          “Subsidiary” means (i) with respect to any Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, any
corporation, limited liability company or similar entity of which the Company directly or
indirectly owns shares representing more than 50 percent (50%) of the voting power of all classes
or series of equity securities of such entity, which have the right to vote generally on matters
submitted to a vote of the holders of equity interests in such entity, and (ii) with

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respect to Awards of Incentive Stock Options, any subsidiary within the meaning of Section
424(f) of the Code or any successor provision.

     4. Eligibility. All Employees are eligible for Employee Awards under this Plan. All
Directors are eligible for Director Awards under the Plan. The Committee shall select the
Participants in the Plan from time to time by the grant of Awards under the Plan.

     5. Common Stock Available for Awards. Subject to the provisions of Section 16 hereof, no
Award shall be granted if it shall result in the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued
under the Plan plus the number of shares of Common Stock covered by or subject to Awards then
outstanding (after giving effect to the grant of the Award in question) to exceed thirteen percent
(13%) of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock on the date of the Distribution. No
more than                      shares of Common Stock shall be available for Incentive Stock Option Awards. No
more than                      shares of Common Stock shall be available for Awards other than Options or SARs.
The number of shares of Common Stock that are the subject of Awards under this Plan that are
forfeited, terminated or expire unexercised shall again immediately become available for Awards
hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for
issuance shall be reduced by the total number of Options or SARs exercised, and the number of
shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan shall not be increased by (i) any
shares tendered or Award surrendered in connection with the purchase of shares of Common Stock upon
the exercise of an Option as described in Section 12 or (ii) any shares of Common Stock deducted
from an Award payment in connection with the Company’s tax withholding obligations as described in
Section 13. The Committee may from time to time adopt and observe such procedures concerning the
counting of shares against the Plan maximum as it may deem appropriate. The Board and the
appropriate officers of the Company shall from time to time take whatever actions are necessary to
file any required documents with governmental authorities, stock exchanges and transaction
reporting systems to ensure that shares of Common Stock are available for issuance pursuant to
Awards.

     6. Administration.

     (a) Authority of the Committee. This Plan shall be administered by the Committee
except as otherwise provided herein. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Committee shall
have full and exclusive power and authority to administer this Plan and to take all actions
that are specifically contemplated hereby or are necessary or appropriate in connection with
the administration hereof. The Committee shall also have full and exclusive power to
interpret this Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations and guidelines for carrying out
this Plan as it may deem necessary or proper, all of which powers shall be exercised in the
best interests of the Company and in keeping with the objectives of this Plan. Subject to
Section 6(d) hereof, the Committee may, in its discretion, impose such conditions and/or
restrictions on any Award 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 Common Stock issued under an Award, including Stock Awards or Restricted Stock
Units, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals, time-based
restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the performance goals, time-based
restrictions, and/or restrictions under applicable laws or under the requirements of any
stock exchange or

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market upon which such shares of Common Stock are listed or traded, or holding
requirements or sale restrictions placed on the shares of Common Stock by the Company as the
Committee deems appropriate and provide for the extension of the exercisability of an Award,
accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an Award, eliminate or make less restrictive any
restrictions contained in an Award, waive any restriction or other provision of this Plan
(insofar as such provision relates to Awards) or an Award or otherwise amend or modify an
Award in any manner that is (i) not adverse to the Participant to whom such Award was
granted, (ii) consented to by such Participant or (iii) authorized by Section 16(c) hereof;
provided, however, that no such action shall permit the term of any Option to be greater
than ten (10) years from the applicable Grant Date. The Committee may correct any defect or
supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan or in any Award in the
manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable to further the Plan
purposes. Any decision of the Committee, with respect to Awards, in the interpretation and
administration of this Plan shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion and shall be
final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned.

     (b) Indemnification. No member of the Committee or officer of the Company to whom the
Committee has delegated authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 of this
Plan shall be liable for anything done or omitted to be done by him or her, by any member of
the Committee or by any officer of the Company in connection with the performance of any
duties under this Plan, except for his or her own willful misconduct or as expressly
provided by statute.

     (c) Authority of the Board. The Board shall have the same powers, duties, and
authority to administer the Plan as the Committee.

     (d) Prohibition on Repricing of Awards. No Option or SAR may be repriced, replaced,
regranted through cancellation or modified without stockholder approval (except in
connection with a change in the Company’s capitalization), if the effect would be to reduce
the Grant Price for the shares underlying such Award.

     7. Delegation of Authority. The Committee may delegate to the Authorized Officer and to other
senior officers of the Company its duties under this Plan in accordance with applicable law and
pursuant to such conditions or limitations as the Committee may establish with respect to Awards,
except that the Committee may not delegate to any person the authority to grant Awards to, or take
other action with respect to, Participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The
Committee may engage or authorize the engagement of a third party administrator to carry out
administrative functions under the Plan.

     8. Awards.

     (a) Employee Awards. The Committee shall determine the type or types of Employee
Awards to be made under this Plan and shall designate from time to time the Employees who
are to be the recipients of such Employee Awards. Each Employee Award shall evidenced in
such communications as the Committee deems appropriate, including in an Award Agreement,
shall contain such terms, conditions and limitations as

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shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and may be signed by an
Authorized Officer for and on behalf of the Company. Employee Awards may consist of those
listed in this Section 8(a) and may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem. Awards
may also be granted in combination or in tandem with, in replacement of, or as alternatives
to, grants or rights under this Plan or any other employee plan of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, including the plan of any acquired entity; provided, however, that, except as
contemplated in Section 16 hereof, no Option may be issued in exchange for the cancellation
of an Option with a higher Grant Price nor may the Grant Price of any Option be reduced.
All or part of an Employee Award may be subject to conditions established by the Committee.
Upon the termination of employment or service by a Participant, any unexercised, deferred,
unvested or unpaid Awards shall be treated as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement or
in any other agreement between the Company and the Participant.

     (i) Option. An Employee Award may be in the form of an Option consisting of
either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-qualified Stock Option. An Option Award
Agreement also shall specify whether the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock
Option or a Non-qualified Stock Option. On the Grant Date, the Grant Price of an
Option shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to
such Option. The term of the Option shall extend no more than ten (10) years after
the Grant Date. Options may not include provisions that “reload” the option upon
exercise. Subject to the foregoing provisions, the terms, conditions and
limitations applicable to any Options awarded to Employees pursuant to this Plan,
including the Grant Price, the term of the Options, the number of shares subject to
the Option and the date or dates upon which they become exercisable, shall be
determined by the Committee.

     (ii) Incentive Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to
eligible Employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary. With respect to an
Incentive Stock Option granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock
Option is granted, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary as
determined for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, the Grant Price must not be less
than 110 percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on
the Grant Date and the Incentive Stock Option must not be exercisable later than the
fifth (5th) anniversary of the Grant Date. In addition, to the extent
that the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of Common Stock with respect to which
Incentive Stock Options first become exercisable by a Participant in any calendar
year exceeds $100,000, taking into account both shares of Common Stock subject to
Incentive Stock Options under the Plan and Common Stock subject to Incentive Stock
Options under all other plans of the Company, such Options shall be treated as
Non-qualified Stock Options. For this purpose, the “Fair Market Value” of the
shares of Common Stock subject to Options shall be determined as of the Grant Date
of the Options. In reducing the number of Options treated as Incentive Stock
Options to meet the $100,000 limit, the most recently granted Options shall be
reduced first. To the extent a reduction of simultaneously granted Options is
necessary to meet the $100,000 limit, the

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Committee may, in the manner and to the extent permitted by law, designate
which shares of Common Stock are to be treated as shares acquired pursuant to the
exercise of an Incentive Stock Option.

     (iii) Stock Appreciation Rights. An Employee Award may be in the form of an
SAR. On the Grant Date, the Grant Price of an SAR shall be not less than the Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock subject to such SAR. The holder of a tandem SAR
may elect to exercise either the option or the SAR, but not both. The exercise
period for an SAR shall extend no more than ten (10) years after the Grant Date.
SARs may not include provisions that “reload” the SAR upon exercise. Subject to the
foregoing provisions, the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any SARs
awarded to Employees pursuant to this Plan, including the Grant Price, the term of
any SARs and the date or dates upon which they become exercisable, shall be
determined by the Committee.

     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, with respect
to a SAR granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option: (a) the tandem SAR will
expire no later than the expiration of the underlying Incentive Stock Option; (b)
the value of the payout with respect to the tandem SAR may be for no more than 100
percent (100%) of the excess of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock
subject to the underlying Incentive Stock Option at the time the tandem SAR is
exercised over the Grant Price of the underlying Incentive Stock Option; and (c) the
tandem SAR may be exercised only when the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common
Stock subject to the Incentive Stock Option exceeds the Grant Price of the Incentive
Stock Option.

     (iv) Stock Award. An Employee Award may be in the form of a Stock Award. The
terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Stock Award, including, but not
limited to, vesting or other restrictions, shall be determined by the Committee.

     (v) Restricted Stock Unit Awards. An Employee Award may be in the form of a
Restricted Stock Unit Award. The terms, conditions and limitations applicable to a
Restricted Stock Unit Award, including, but not limited to, the Restriction Period
and the right to Dividend Equivalents, shall be determined by the Committee.

     (vi) Cash Award. An Employee Award may be in the form of a Cash Award. The
terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Cash Awards granted to Employees
pursuant to this Plan, including, but not limited to, vesting or other restrictions,
shall be determined by the Committee.

     (vii) Performance Award. Without limiting the type or number of Awards that
may be made under the other provisions of this Plan, an Award may be in the form of
a Performance Award. The terms, conditions and limitations applicable to an Award
that is a Performance Award shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee
shall set performance goals in its discretion which,

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depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value and/or
amount of Performance Awards that will be paid out to the Participant and/or the
portion that may be exercised.

     (A) Non-qualified Performance Awards. Performance Awards granted to
Employees or Directors that are not intended to qualify as qualified
performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be
based on achievement of such goals and be subject to such terms, conditions
and restrictions as the Committee or its delegate shall determine.

     (B) Qualified Performance Awards. Performance Awards granted to
Employees under the Plan that are intended to qualify as qualified
performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be
paid, vested or otherwise deliverable solely on account of the attainment of
one or more pre-established, objective Performance Goals established by the
Committee prior to the earlier to occur of (x) 90 days after the
commencement of the period of service to which the Performance Goal relates
or (y) the lapse of 25% of the period of service (as scheduled in good faith
at the time the goal is established), and in any event while the outcome is
substantially uncertain. A Performance Goal is objective if a third party
having knowledge of the relevant facts could determine whether the goal is
met. Such a Performance Goal may be based on one or more business criteria
that apply to the Employee, one or more business segments, units, or
divisions of the Company, or the Company as a whole, and if so desired by
the Committee, by comparison with a peer group of companies. A Performance
Goal may include one or more of the following:

	 	•	 	Stock price measures (including but not limited to growth
measures and total stockholder return);
	 
	 	•	 	Earnings per share (actual or targeted growth);
	 
	 	•	 	Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and
amortization (“EBITDA”);
	 
	 	•	 	Economic value added (“EVA”);
	 
	 	•	 	Net income measures (including but not limited to income
after capital costs and income before or after taxes);
	 
	 	•	 	Operating income;
	 
	 	•	 	Cash flow measures;
	 
	 	•	 	Return measures (including but not limited to return on
capital employed, return on equity, return on investment and
return on assets);
	 
	 	•	 	Operating measures (including but not limited to
productivity, efficiency, and scheduling measures);

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	 	•	 	Expense targets (including but not limited to finding and
development costs and general and administrative expenses);
	 
	 	•	 	Margins;
	 
	 	•	 	Revenue or Sales; and
	 
	 	•	 	Corporate values measures (including but not limited to
diversity commitment, ethics compliance, environmental, and
safety).

Unless otherwise stated, such a Performance Goal need not be based upon an
increase or positive result under a particular business criterion and could
include, for example, maintaining the status quo or limiting economic losses
(measured, in each case, by reference to specific business criteria). In
interpreting Plan provisions applicable to Performance Goals with respect to
Qualified Performance Awards, it is the intent of the Plan to conform with
the standards of Section 162(m) of the Code and Treasury Regulation
§1.162-27(e)(2)(i), as to grants to those Employees whose compensation is,
or is likely to be, subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, and the Committee
in establishing such goals and interpreting the Plan shall be guided by such
provisions. Prior to the payment of any compensation based on the
achievement of Performance Goals under Qualified Performance Awards, the
Committee must certify in writing that applicable Performance Goals and any
of the material terms thereof were, in fact, satisfied. None of the
Committee or the Board may increase the amount of compensation payable under
a Qualified Performance Award. If the time at which a Qualified Performance
Award will be paid is accelerated for any reason, the amount payable under
the Qualified Performance Award shall be reduced to the extent required
pursuant to Department of Treasury Regulation section 1.162-27(e)(2)(iii) to
reasonably reflect the time value of money. Subject to the foregoing
provisions, the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any
Qualified Performance Awards made pursuant to this Plan shall be determined
by the Committee.

     (viii) Vesting. Unless otherwise provided in a Participant’s Award Agreement
or otherwise determined at any time by the Committee, any Employee Award that (a) is
not a Performance Award shall have a minimum vesting period or Restriction Period of
three years from the Grant Date or (b) is a Performance Award shall have a minimum
vesting period or Restriction Period of one year from the Grant Date; provided,
however, that (1) the Committee may provide for earlier vesting upon an Employee’s
termination of employment by reason of death, disability or retirement, (2) such
three-year or one-year minimum vesting period or Restriction Period, as applicable,
shall not apply to an Employee Award that is granted in lieu of salary or bonus
(provided that the Employee is given the opportunity to accept cash in lieu of such
Award) or to new hires to replace forfeited awards from a prior employer, and (3)
vesting of, or the lapse of

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restrictions under, an Employee Award may occur incrementally over the
three-year or one-year minimum vesting period or Restriction Period, as applicable.

     (b) Award Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Plan, the following limitations shall apply to any Employee Awards made hereunder:

     (i) no Employee may be granted, during any calendar year, Awards consisting of,
relating to, denominated in or exercisable for more than                      shares of Common
Stock (the limitation set forth in this Section 8(b)(i) being hereinafter referred
to as “Stock Based Awards Limitations”); and

     (ii) the maximum cash payment to be made to any one individual pursuant to any
Cash Award during any calendar year shall not exceed $                    .

If an Award is cancelled, the cancelled Award shall continue to be counted toward the Award
limitations provided in this Section 8(b).

     (c) Director Awards. The Committee may grant a Director one or more Director Awards
and establish the terms thereof consistent with the foregoing provisions of this Section 8
for granting awards to Employees and subject to such terms, conditions and limitations as
shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

     9. Change in Control. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8 hereof, unless otherwise
expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, or as otherwise specified in the terms of an
Equity Award, in the event of a Change in Control during a Participant’s employment or service with
the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, each Equity Award granted under this Plan to the
Participant shall become immediately vested and fully exercisable, with performance-based equity
awards vested at target level.

     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 9 to the contrary, to the extent a payment
under or vesting of an Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, then any such payment or
vesting of an amount that is otherwise accelerated under this Section 9 shall be delayed until the
earliest time that such payment would be permitted under Section 409A of the Code such that the
payment would not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Section 409A of the
Code.

     10. Non-United States Participants. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the
contrary, the Committee may grant awards to persons outside the United States under such terms and
conditions as may, in the judgment of the Committee, with the advice of legal counsel, be necessary
or advisable to comply with the laws of the applicable foreign jurisdictions and, to that end, may
(i) determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which Employees
employed outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) amend or vary the
terms and provisions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of any Award granted to persons who
reside outside the United States; (iv) establish sub-plans, modified option exercise procedures and
other terms and procedures to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable, provided that
any subplans and modifications to Plan terms and procedures established under this Section 10 by
the Committee shall be attached to the Plan document as

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Appendices. Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and
no Awards shall be granted, that would violate the Exchange Act, the Code, any securities law, any
governing statute or regulation, or any other applicable law.

     11. Payment of Awards.

     (a) General. Payment of Awards may be made in the form of cash or Common Stock, or a
combination thereof, and may include such restrictions as the Committee shall determine,
including, but not limited to, in the case of Common Stock, restrictions on transfer and
forfeiture provisions. For an Award of Restricted Stock, the certificates evidencing the
shares of such Restricted Stock (to the extent that such shares are so evidenced) shall
contain appropriate legends and restrictions that describe the terms and conditions of the
restrictions applicable thereto. For an Award of Restricted Stock Units, the shares of
Common Stock that may be issued at the end of the Restriction Period shall be evidenced by
book entry registration or in such other manner as the Committee may determine.

     (b) Deferral. With the approval of the Committee, amounts payable in respect of Awards
may be deferred and paid either in the form of installments or as a lump-sum payment;
provided, however, that if deferral is permitted, each provision of the Award shall be
interpreted to permit the deferral only as allowed in compliance with the requirements of
Section 409A of the Code, and any provision that would conflict with such requirements shall
not be valid or enforceable. The Committee may permit selected Participants who are members
of a “select group of management or highly compensated employees” to elect to defer payments
of some or all types of Awards in accordance with procedures established by the Committee.
If a deferral is permitted under this Section 11(b), even though the Plan is not intended to
be subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), in
accordance with the Department of Labor Regulation § 2520.104-23, the Company shall file a
“protective” letter with the Department of Letter that would serve as the alternative method
of compliance with the reporting and disclosure requirements of Part I of Title I of ERISA
in the event the Plan were to be construed as subject to ERISA. Any deferred payment
pursuant to an Award, whether elected by the Participant or specified by the Award Agreement
or the terms of the Award or by the Committee, may be forfeited if and to the extent that
the Award Agreement or the terms of the Award so provide.

     (c) Dividends and Interest. Rights to (i) dividends will be extended to and made part
of any Stock Award and (ii) Dividend Equivalents may be extended to and made part of any
Restricted Stock Unit, subject in each case to such terms, conditions and restrictions as
the Committee may establish. The Committee may also establish rules and procedures for the
crediting of interest on deferred cash payments for Awards.

     12. Option Exercise. The Grant Price shall be paid in full at the time of exercise in cash,
certified check, bank draft or postal or express money order or, if elected by the Participant, the
Participant may purchase such shares by means of tendering Common Stock held by the Participant for
at least six (6) months (or such other period to avoid accounting charges against the Company’s
earnings) valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise, or any

-12-

 

combination thereof. The Committee shall determine acceptable methods for Participants to
tender Common Stock or other Awards. The Committee may provide for procedures to permit the
exercise or purchase of such Awards by use of the proceeds to be received from the sale of Common
Stock issuable pursuant to an Award (including “cashless exercise”). The Committee may adopt
additional rules and procedures regarding the exercise of Options from time to time, provided that
such rules and procedures are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 12.

     13. Taxes. The Company or its designated third party administrator shall have the right to
deduct applicable taxes from any Award payment or other compensation payable to the Participant and
withhold, at the time of delivery or vesting of cash or shares of Common Stock under this Plan, an
appropriate amount of cash or number of shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof for payment
of taxes or other amounts required by law or to take such other action as may be necessary in the
opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for withholding of such taxes. The Committee may
also permit withholding to be satisfied by a payment of such sums for taxes directly to the Company
or its designated third party administrator in cash or by check or by the transfer to the Company
of shares of Common Stock theretofore owned by the holder of the Award with respect to which
withholding is required, each at such time as required by the Committee. If shares of Common Stock
are used to satisfy tax withholding, such shares shall be valued based on the Fair Market Value
when the tax withholding is required to be made.

     14. Amendment, Modification, Suspension or Termination of the Plan. The Board may amend,
modify, suspend or terminate this Plan for the purpose of meeting or addressing any changes in
legal requirements or for any other purpose permitted by law, except that (i) no amendment or
alteration that would adversely affect the rights of any Participant under any Award previously
granted to such Participant shall be made without the consent of such Participant and (ii) no
amendment or alteration shall be effective prior to its approval by the stockholders of the Company
to the extent such approval is required by applicable legal requirements or the requirements of the
securities exchange on which the Company’s stock is listed.

     15. Assignability. Except as otherwise provided herein, no Award granted under this Plan
shall be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated by a
Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of
a Participant, any Award shall be exercisable only by him, or, in the case of a Participant who is
mentally incapacitated, the Award shall be exercisable by his guardian or legal representative.
The Committee may prescribe and include in applicable Award Agreements other restrictions on
transfer. Any attempted assignment or transfer in violation of this Section 15 shall be null and
void. Upon the Participant’s death, the personal representative or other person entitled to
succeed to the rights of the Participant (the “Successor Participant”) may exercise such rights. A
Successor Participant must furnish proof satisfactory to the Company of his or her right to
exercise the Award under the Participant’s will or under the applicable laws of descent and
distribution.

     Subject to approval by the Committee in its sole discretion, all or a portion of the Awards
granted to a Participant under the Plan which are not intended to be Incentive Stock Options may

-13-

 

be transferable by the Participant, to the extent and only to the extent specified in such
approval, to (i) the children or grandchildren of the Participant (“Immediate Family Members”),
(ii) a trust or trusts for the exclusive benefit of such Immediate Family Members (“Immediate
Family Member Trusts”), or (iii) a partnership or partnerships in which such Immediate Family
Members have at least ninety-nine percent (99%) of the equity, profit and loss interests
(“Immediate Family Member Partnerships”); provided that the Award Agreement pursuant to which such
Awards are granted (or an amendment thereto) must expressly provide for transferability in a manner
consistent with this Section 15. Subsequent transfers of transferred Awards shall be prohibited
except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, unless such transfers are made to the
original Participant or a person to whom the original Participant could have made a transfer in the
manner described herein. No transfer shall be effective unless and until written notice of such
transfer is provided to the Committee, in the form and manner prescribed by the Committee.
Following transfer, any such Awards shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions
as were applicable immediately prior to transfer, and, except as otherwise provided herein, the
term “Participant” shall be deemed to refer to the transferee.

     16. Adjustments.

     (a) The existence of outstanding Awards shall not affect in any manner the right or
power of the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments,
recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the capital stock of the Company or
its business or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of bonds,
debentures, preferred or prior preference stock (whether or not such issue is prior to, on a
parity with or junior to the existing Common Stock) or the dissolution or liquidation of the
Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other
corporate act or proceeding of any kind, whether or not of a character similar to that of
the acts or proceedings enumerated above.

     (b) In the event of any subdivision or consolidation of outstanding shares of Common
Stock, declaration of a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or other stock split,
then (i) the number of shares of Common Stock reserved under this Plan, (ii) the number of
shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Awards in the form of Common Stock or units
denominated in Common Stock, (iii) the Grant Price or other price in respect of such Awards,
(iv) the appropriate Fair Market Value and other price determinations for such Awards, and
(v) the Stock Based Awards Limitations shall each be proportionately adjusted by the Board
as appropriate to reflect such transaction. In the event of any other recapitalization or
capital reorganization of the Company, any consolidation or merger of the Company with
another corporation or entity, the adoption by the Company of any plan of exchange affecting
Common Stock or any distribution to holders of Common Stock of securities or property (other
than normal cash dividends or dividends payable in Common Stock), the Board shall make
appropriate adjustments to (i) the number of shares of Common Stock covered by Awards in the
form of Common Stock or units denominated in Common Stock, (ii) the Grant Price or other
price in respect of such Awards, (iii) the appropriate Fair Market Value and other price
determinations for such Awards, and (iv) the Stock Based Awards Limitations to reflect such
transaction; provided that such adjustments shall only be such as are necessary to

-14-

 

maintain the proportionate interest of the holders of the Awards and preserve, without
increasing, the value of such Awards.

     (c) In the event of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or
stock, separation, reorganization or liquidation, the Board may make such adjustments to
Awards or other provisions for the disposition of Awards as it deems equitable, and shall be
authorized, in its discretion, (1) to provide for the substitution of a new Award or other
arrangement (which, if applicable, may be exercisable for such property or stock as the
Board determines) for an Award or the assumption of the Award, regardless of whether in a
transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies, (2) to provide, prior to the
transaction, for the acceleration of the vesting and exercisability of, or lapse of
restrictions with respect to, the Award and, if the transaction is a cash merger, provide
for the termination of any portion of the Award that remains unexercised at the time of such
transaction, or (3) to cancel any such Awards and to deliver to the Participants cash in an
amount that the Board shall determine in its sole discretion is equal to the fair market
value of such Awards on the date of such event, which in the case of Options or SARs shall
be the excess of the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on such date over the Grant Price of
such Award.

     17. Restrictions. No Common Stock or other form of payment shall be issued with respect to
any Award unless the Company shall be satisfied based on the advice of its counsel that such
issuance will be in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. Certificates
evidencing shares of Common Stock delivered under this Plan (to the extent that such shares are so
evidenced) may be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may
deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, any securities exchange or transaction reporting system upon which the Common Stock is
then listed or to which it is admitted for quotation and any applicable federal or state securities
law. The Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed upon such certificates (if any) to
make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

     18. Unfunded Plan. Insofar as it provides for Awards of cash, Common Stock or rights thereto,
this Plan shall be unfunded. Although bookkeeping accounts may be established with respect to
Participants who are entitled to cash, Common Stock or rights thereto under this Plan, any such
accounts shall be used merely as a bookkeeping convenience. The Company shall not be required to
segregate any assets that may at any time be represented by cash, Common Stock or rights thereto,
nor shall this Plan be construed as providing for such segregation, nor shall the Company, the
Board or the Committee be deemed to be a trustee of any cash, Common Stock or rights thereto to be
granted under this Plan. Any liability or obligation of the Company to any Participant with
respect to an Award of cash, Common Stock or rights thereto under this Plan shall be based solely
upon any contractual obligations that may be created by this Plan and any Award Agreement, and no
such liability or obligation of the Company shall be deemed to be secured by any pledge or other
encumbrance on any property of the Company. Neither the Company nor the Board nor the Committee
shall be required to give any security or bond for the performance of any obligation that may be
created by this Plan. The Plan is not intended to be subject to ERISA.

-15-

 

     19. Section 409A of the Code. It is intended that any Awards under the Plan satisfy the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code to avoid imposition of applicable taxes thereunder. Thus,
notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, if any Plan provision or Award under the
Plan would result in the imposition of an applicable tax under Section 409A of the Code and related
regulations and Treasury pronouncements, that Plan provision or Award will be reformed to avoid
imposition of the applicable tax and no action taken to comply with Section 409A of the Code shall
be deemed to adversely affect the Participant’s rights to an Award.

     An Award Agreement shall provide that the payment thereunder will be made (1) by a date that
is no later than the date that is two and one-half (2 1/2) months after the end of the year in
which the Award payment is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture as determined for
purposes of Section 409A of the Code or (2) at a time that would not subject the compensation at
issue to be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Section 409A of the Code.

     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, if a Participant is a “specified employee”
(within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), , then no payment of any amounts that are
deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) shall be made under the
Award due to a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) for any
reason before the date that is the earlier of (i) six (6) months after the date on which the
Participant incurs such separation from service, (ii) the date of the Participant’s death or (iii)
such other date as complies with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

     20. Parachute Payment Limitation. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan, the
Committee may provide in the Award Agreement or in any other agreement with the Participant for a
limitation on the acceleration of vesting and exercisability of unmatured Awards to the extent
necessary to avoid or mitigate the impact of the golden parachute excise tax under Section 4999 of
the Code on the Participant or may provide for a supplemental payment to be made to the Participant
as necessary to offset or mitigate the impact of the golden parachute excise tax on the
Participant. In the event the Award Agreement or other agreement with the Participant does not
contain any contrary provision regarding the method of avoiding or mitigating the impact of the
golden parachute excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code on the Participant, then notwithstanding
any contrary provision of this Plan, the aggregate present value of all parachute payments payable
to or for the benefit of a Participant, whether payable pursuant to this Plan or otherwise, shall
be limited to three times the Participant’s base amount less one dollar and, to the extent
necessary, the exercisability of an unmatured Award shall be reduced in order that this limitation
not be exceeded. For purposes of this Section 20, the terms “parachute payment,” “base amount” and
“present value” shall have the meanings assigned thereto under Section 280G of the Code. It is the
intention of this Section 20 to avoid excise taxes on the Participant under Section 4999 of the
Code or the disallowance of a deduction to the Company pursuant to Section 280G of the Code.

     21. No Right to Continued Employment or Service. Nothing in the Plan or an Award Agreement
shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate any Participant’s
employment or other service relationship at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to
continue in the capacity in which he or she is employed or otherwise serves the Company.

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     22. Retirement and Welfare Plans. Neither Awards made under the Plan nor shares of Common
Stock or cash paid pursuant to such Awards, may be included as “compensation” for purposes of
computing the benefits payable to any Participant under the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s
retirement plans (both qualified and non-qualified) or welfare benefit plans unless such other plan
expressly provides that such compensation shall be taken into account in computing a participant’s
benefit.

     23. 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 and/or assets of the Company.

     24. Governing Law. This Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto,
to the extent not otherwise governed by mandatory provisions of the Code or the securities laws of
the United States, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Texas. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, Participants are deemed to submit to the
exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts of located in Harris County, Texas,
to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to the Plan or any related Award
Agreement.

     25. Effectiveness. The Plan was approved by the Board of Directors of Pride International,
Inc., as the sole stockholder of the Company, on                     , 2009. The Plan will be submitted to the
stockholders of the Company for approval at the first annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders
that convenes more than 12 months after the Distribution.

-17-exv10w9

Exhibit 10.9

SEAHAWK DRILLING, INC.

EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

1. Purpose

          The Seahawk Drilling, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) is designed to encourage
and assist all employees of Seahawk Drilling, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Seahawk”) and
Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 4) (hereafter collectively referred to as the “Company”), where
permitted by applicable laws and regulations, to acquire an equity interest in Seahawk through the
purchase of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Seahawk (“Common Stock”). It is
intended that this Plan shall constitute an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of
Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Any reference to
“shares” herein shall be deemed to include only full (if applicable) shares of Common Stock, unless
the Compensation Committee exercises its discretion to determine otherwise.

2. Administration of the Plan

          The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”)
appointed by the Board of Directors of Seahawk (the “Board”), which Committee of the Board shall
consist of at least two (2) persons. The Committee shall supervise the administration and
enforcement of the Plan according to its terms and provisions and shall have all powers necessary
to accomplish these purposes and discharge its duties hereunder including, but not by way of
limitation, the power to (i) employ and compensate agents of the Committee for the purpose of
administering the accounts of participating employees; (ii) construe or interpret the Plan; (iii)
determine all questions of eligibility; and (iv) compute the amount and determine the manner and
time of payment of all benefits according to the Plan.

          The Committee may act by decision of a majority of its members at a regular or special meeting
of the Committee or by decision reduced to writing and signed by all members of the Committee
without holding a formal meeting.

3. Nature and Number of Shares

          The Common Stock subject to issuance under the terms of the Plan shall be shares of Seahawk’s
authorized but unissued shares, previously issued shares reacquired and held by Seahawk or shares
purchased on the open market. The aggregate number of shares which may be issued under the Plan
shall not exceed seven hundred fifty thousand (750,000) shares of Common Stock. All shares
purchased under the Plan, regardless of source, shall be counted against the seven hundred fifty
thousand (750,000) share limitation.

          In the event of any reorganization, stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend,
combination of shares, merger, consolidation, offering of rights or other similar change in the
capital structure of Seahawk, the Committee may make such adjustment, if any, as it deems
appropriate in the number, kind and purchase price of the shares available for purchase under the
Plan and in the maximum number of shares which may be issued under the Plan, subject to the
approval of the Board and in accordance with Section 19.

 

 

4. Eligibility Requirements

          Each “Employee” (as hereinafter defined), except as described in the next following paragraph,
shall become eligible to participate in the Plan in accordance with Section 5 on the first
“Enrollment Date” (as defined therein) following employment by the Company; provided, however, that
such Employee must be employed by Seahawk or a participating Subsidiary on the day immediately
preceding the Enrollment Date. Participation in the Plan is voluntary.

          The following Employees are not eligible to participate in the Plan:

     (i) Employees who would, immediately upon enrollment in the Plan, own directly
or indirectly, or hold options or rights to acquire, an aggregate of five percent
(5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all outstanding shares
of all classes of Seahawk or any Subsidiary (in determining stock ownership of an
individual, the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall be applied, and the
Committee may rely on representations of fact made to it by the employee and
believed by it to be true);

     (ii) Employees who are customarily employed by the Company less than twenty
(20) hours per week or less than five (5) months in any calendar year; and

     (iii) Employees who were not employed by Seahawk or a participating Subsidiary
on the day immediately preceding the Enrollment Date.

          “Employee” shall mean any individual employed by Seahawk or any Subsidiary (as hereinafter
defined). “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation (a) which is in an unbroken chain of
corporations beginning with Seahawk if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in
the chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain and (b) which has adopted the
Plan with the approval of the Committee. The following Subsidiaries are participating
Subsidiaries: Seahawk Drilling Management LLC and Seahawk Offshore Management LLC.

5. Enrollment

          Each eligible Employee of Seahawk or a participating Subsidiary who becomes eligible to
participate in the Plan may enroll in the Plan on the first day of the Purchase Period (as defined
in Section 6) following the date he first meets the eligibility requirements of Section 4. Any
eligible Employee not enrolling in the Plan when first eligible may enroll in the Plan on the first
day any subsequent Purchase Period. Any eligible Employee may enroll or re-enroll in the Plan on
the dates hereinabove prescribed or such other specific dates established by the Committee from
time to time (“Enrollment Dates”). In order to enroll, an eligible Employee must complete, sign
and submit the appropriate form to the person designated by the Committee, all of which may be
accomplished in electronic format in the form and manner established by the Committee.

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6. Method of Payment

          Payment for shares is to be made as of the applicable “Purchase Date” (as defined in
Section 9) through payroll deductions on an after-tax basis (with no right of prepayment) over the
Plan’s designated purchase period (the “Purchase Period”), with the first such deduction commencing
with the first payroll period ending after the Enrollment Date. Each Purchase Period under the
Plan shall be a six (6) month period commencing on January 1 or July 1 of each calendar year, or
such other period as the Committee may prescribe. The first Purchase Period under the Plan shall
be the six (6) month period commencing on January 1, 2010. Each participating Employee
(hereinafter referred to as a “Participant”) will authorize such deductions from his pay for each
month during the Purchase Period and such amounts will be deducted in conformity with his
employer’s payroll deduction schedule.

          Each Participant may elect to make contributions each pay period in amounts not less than the
greater of $10 or one percent (1%) of “Compensation,” not to exceed an annual contribution equal to
ten percent (10%) of “Compensation” (or such other dollar amounts and percentages as the Committee
may establish from time to time before an Enrollment Date for all purchases to occur during the
relevant Purchase Period). “Compensation” shall mean the Participant’s base earnings or salary
plus any wages paid for overtime. In establishing other dollar amounts and percentages of
permitted contributions, the Committee may take into account the “Maximum Share Limitation” (as
defined in Section 8). The rate of contribution shall be designated by the Participant in the
enrollment form.

          A Participant may elect to increase or decrease the rate of contribution effective as of the
first day of the Purchase Period by giving prior notice to the person designated by the Committee
in the form and manner approved by the Committee. A Participant may not elect to increase or
decrease the rate of contribution during a Purchase Period. A Participant may suspend payroll
deductions at any time during the Purchase Period, by giving prior notice to the person designated
by the Committee in the form and manner approved by the Committee. If a Participant elects to
suspend his payroll deductions, only the balance of the Participant’s account at the time of such
election shall be used to purchase shares, which shall be accomplished at the end of the Purchase
Period.

          A Participant may also elect to withdraw his entire contributions for the current Purchase
Period at any time by giving prior notice to the person designated by the Committee in the form and
manner approved by the Committee. Any Participant who withdraws his contributions will receive, as
soon as administratively practicable, his entire account balance, including any dividends. Any
Participant who suspends payroll deductions or withdraws contributions during any Purchase Period
cannot resume payroll deductions during such Purchase Period and must re-enroll in the Plan in
order to participate in the next Purchase Period.

          Except in case of cancellation of election to purchase, death, resignation or other
terminating event, the amount in a Participant’s account at the end of the Purchase Period will be
applied to the purchase of the shares.

-3-

 

7. Crediting of Contributions, Interest and Dividends

          Contributions shall be deposited into an account maintained by Seahawk with the financial
institution designated by the Committee for this purpose (the “Custodian”) and shall be invested in
a money market account or such other investment vehicle or vehicles designated by the Committee for
purposes of the Plan. Seahawk shall maintain a record of the amount of contributions allocable to
each Participant’s account. As of the end of each Purchase Period or as of such other date as the
Committee may establish from time to time, interest accrued on the money market account or such
other investment vehicle(s) shall be used to offset administrative expenses associated with
maintaining the Plan; however, should such interest exceed administrative expenses, any such excess
interest accumulation shall be credited to participant’s accounts based on the balance in the
Participant’s account on the last business day of the Purchase Period or on such other date as the
Committee may establish from time to time. Dividends on shares held in a Participant’s account in
the Plan will also be credited to such Participant’s account. Any such contributions, applicable
interest and dividends shall be deposited in Seahawk’s account with the Custodian.

8. Grant of Right to Purchase Shares on Enrollment

          Enrollment in the Plan by an Employee on an Enrollment Date will constitute the grant, as of
the Grant Date, by the Company to the Participant of the right to purchase shares of Common Stock
under the Plan. Re-enrollment by a Participant in the Plan will constitute a grant by the Company
to the Participant of a new opportunity to purchase shares on the Enrollment Date on which such
re-enrollment occurs. A Participant who has not (a) terminated employment, (b) withdrawn his
contributions from the Plan, or (c) notified the Company, in the form and manner designated by the
Committee, by such date as the Committee shall establish (which date shall not be later than the
last day of the Purchase Period), of his election to withdraw his payroll deductions as of the last
day of the Purchase Period will have shares of Common Stock purchased for him on the applicable
Purchase Date, and he will automatically be re-enrolled in the Plan on the Enrollment Date
immediately following the Purchase Date on which such purchase has occurred, unless each
Participant notifies the person designated by the Committee in the form and manner approved by the
Committee that he elects not to re-enroll.

          Each right to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan during a Purchase Period shall
have the following terms:

-4-

 

     (i) the right to purchase shares of Common Stock during a particular Purchase
Period shall expire on the earlier of: (A) the completion of the purchase of shares
on the Purchase Date occurring in the Purchase Period, or (B) the date on which
participation of such Participant in the Plan terminates for any reason;

     (ii) payment for shares purchased will be made only through payroll withholding
and the crediting of other amounts, if applicable, in accordance with Sections 6 and
7;

     (iii) purchase of shares will be accomplished only in accordance with
Section 9;

     (iv) the price per share will be determined as provided in Section 9;

     (v) the right to purchase shares (taken together with all other such rights
then outstanding under this Plan and under all other similar stock purchase plans of
Seahawk or any Subsidiary) will in no event give the Participant the right to
purchase a number of shares during a calendar year in excess of the number of shares
of Common Stock derived by dividing $25,000 by the fair market value of the Common
Stock (the “Maximum Share Limitation”) on the applicable Grant Date determined in
accordance with Section 9;

     (vi) the right to purchase shares will in all respects be subject to the terms
and conditions of the Plan, as interpreted by the Committee from time to time; and

     (vii) Seahawk and the Custodian can agree to limitations on the transfer, gift,
or margin of shares held with the Custodian. Such limitations, if any, shall apply
to such shares.

9. Purchase of Shares

          The right to purchase shares of Common Stock granted by Seahawk under the Plan is for the term
of a Purchase Period. The fair market value of the Common Stock (“Fair Market Value”) to be
purchased during such Purchase Period will be, as of the first trading day of the Purchase Period
or such other trading date designated by the Committee (the “Grant Date”), (i) if the shares of
Common Stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, then the final closing sales price per
share of Common Stock as reported on the Consolidated Transaction Reporting System, or a report
selected by the Committee, on that date, or, if there shall have been no such sale so reported on
that date, on the last preceding date on which such a sale was so reported, (ii) if the shares of
Common Stock are listed on The NASDAQ National Stock Market System LLC, the final closing sales
price per share of Common Stock as reported on the Consolidated Transaction Reporting System, or a
report selected by the Committee, on that date, or, if there shall have been no such sale so
reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which such a sale was so reported, (iii) if
the shares of Common Stock are listed on a national securities exchange other than the New York
Stock Exchange or The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, the mean between the highest and lowest sales price
per share of Common Stock on the primary such national securities exchange on that date, or, if
there shall have been no such sale so reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which
such a sale was so reported, or (iv)

-5-

 

if the shares of Common Stock are not so listed or quoted, the mean between the closing bid
and asked price on that date, or, if there are no quotations available for such date, on the last
preceding date on which such quotations shall be available, as reported by the National Quotation
Bureau, Inc., Pink OTC Markets Inc. or similar report selected by the Committee, or (v) if none of
the above are applicable, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on such date as
determined in good faith by the Committee. The Fair Market Value of the Common Stock will again be
determined in the same manner on the last trading day of the Purchase Period or such other trading
date designated by the Committee (the “Purchase Date”); however, in no event shall the Committee,
in the exercise of its discretion, designate a Purchase Date beyond twenty-seven (27) months from
the related Grant Date or otherwise fail to meet the requirements of Section 423(b)(7) of the Code.
These dates constitute the date of grant and the date of exercise for valuation purposes of
Section 423 of the Code.

          As of the Purchase Date, the Committee shall apply the funds then credited to each
Participant’s account to the purchase of full shares of Common Stock (and fractional shares of
Common Stock if authorized by the Committee in its sole discretion). The cost to the Participant
for the shares purchased during a Purchase Period shall be the lower of:

     (i) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the
Grant Date; or

     (ii) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the
Purchase Date.

          Certificates evidencing shares purchased shall be delivered to the Custodian or to any other
bank or financial institution designated by the Committee for this purpose or delivered to the
Participant (if the Participant has notified the Custodian or such other designated bank or
financial institution, in the appropriate manner, of his election to receive the certificate) as
soon as administratively feasible after the Purchase Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Participants shall be treated as the record owners of their shares effective as of the Purchase
Date. Shares that are held by the Custodian or any other designated bank or financial institution
shall be held in a Plan Omnibus account. Any cash equal to less than the price of a whole share of
Common Stock shall be credited to a Participant’s account on the Purchase Date and carried forward
in his account for application during the next Purchase Period; provided, however, that cash equal
to less than the price of a whole share will be used to purchase fractional shares only if the
Committee, in its sole discretion, permits the purchase of fractional shares under the Plan. Any
Participant (i) who purchases shares at the end of a Purchase Period and is not re-enrolled in the
Plan for the next Purchase Period or (ii) who withdraws his contributions from the Plan prior to
the next Purchase Date will receive any cash or dividends remaining in his account and a
certificate for the number of shares held in his account provided that the Participant has notified
the Custodian or such other designated bank or financial institution, in the appropriate manner, of
his election to receive the certificate. Such Participant may elect to receive a certificate for
the remaining number of shares held in his account upon such Participant’s termination of
employment by giving the appropriate notice to the Custodian or such other designated bank or
financial institution. Any Participant who terminates employment will receive a cash refund
attributable to amounts equal to less than the price of a whole share, and any accumulated
contributions and dividends and may receive a certificate for the number of full shares held in his

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account by giving notice to the Custodian or such other designated bank or financial
institution, in the appropriate manner, of his election to receive the certificate.

          If for any reason the purchase of shares with a Participant’s allocations to the Plan exceeds
or would exceed the Maximum Share Limitation, such excess amounts shall be refunded to the
Participant as soon as practicable after such excess has been determined to exist.

          If as of any Purchase Date the shares authorized for purchase under the Plan are exceeded,
enrollments shall be reduced proportionately to eliminate the excess. Any funds in a Participant’s
account (other than amounts not applicable to the purchase of shares and interest) that cannot be
applied to the purchase of shares due to excess enrollment shall be refunded as soon as
administratively feasible. The Committee in its discretion may also provide that excess
enrollments may be carried over to the next Purchase Period under this Plan or any successor plan
according to the regulations set forth under Section 423 of the Code.

10. Withdrawal of Shares and Sale of Shares

     (a) Withdrawal of Shares. A Participant may elect to withdraw at any time
(without withdrawing from participation in the Plan) whole shares held in his
account by giving notice to the Custodian (or other person designated by the
Committee) in the appropriate manner. Upon receipt of such notice from the
Participant, the Custodian, bank or other financial institution designated by the
Committee for this purpose will arrange for the issuance and delivery of such shares
held in the Participant’s account as soon as administratively feasible.

     (b) Sale of Shares. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, a
Participant may sell whole shares (and fractional shares if authorized by the
Committee in its sole discretion) which are held in his account by giving notice to
the Custodian (or such other person designated by the Committee) in the appropriate
manner. Upon receipt of such notice from the Participant, the Custodian, bank or
other financial institution designated by the Committee for this purpose will
arrange for the sale of such Participant’s shares. Any sale will occur as soon as
administratively feasible.

11. Termination of Participation

          The right to participate in the Plan terminates immediately when a Participant ceases to be
employed by the Company for any reason whatsoever (including death, unpaid disability or when the
Participant’s employer ceases to be a Subsidiary) or the Participant otherwise becomes ineligible.
Participation also terminates immediately when the Participant voluntarily withdraws his
contributions from the Plan. Participation terminates immediately after the Purchase Date if the
Participant is not re-enrolled in the Plan for the next Purchase Period or if the Participant has
suspended payroll deductions during any Purchase Period and has not re-enrolled in the Plan for the
next Purchase Period. As soon as administratively feasible after termination of participation, the
Participant or, if applicable, his beneficiary or legal representative, shall be entitled to
receive (i) payment of all cash amounts credited to the Participant’s account, including interest
and dividends, if any, determined in accordance with Section 7, (ii) payment of the net proceeds of
the sale of fractional shares, if any, held in the

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Participant’s account, and (iii) a certificate for the number of whole shares held in the
Participant’s account to be delivered to the Participant or, if applicable, his beneficiary or
legal representative, provided that such Participant, beneficiary or legal representative has given
notice, in the appropriate manner, to the Custodian or such other designated bank or financial
institution of his election to receive the certificate. Once participation terminates, the
Participant’s account will be maintained as a part of the Plan for thirty (30) days thereafter,
subject to any agreements between Seahawk and the Custodian. After the thirty (30) day period
expires, the Participant’s account will no longer be considered a part of the Plan. For purposes
of the Plan, a Participant is not deemed to have terminated his employment if he transfers
employment from Seahawk to a Subsidiary, or vice versa, or transfers employment between
Subsidiaries.

12. Unpaid Leave of Absence

          Unless the Participant has voluntarily withdrawn his contributions from the Plan, shares will
be purchased for his account on the Purchase Date next following commencement of an unpaid leave of
absence by such Participant, provided such leave does not constitute a termination of employment.
The number of shares to be purchased will be determined by applying to the purchase the amount of
the Participant’s contributions made up to the commencement of such unpaid leave of absence,
determined in accordance with Section 7. If the Participant’s unpaid leave of absence both
commences and terminates during the same Purchase Period and he has resumed eligible employment
prior to the Purchase Date related to that Purchase Period, he may also resume payroll deductions
immediately, and shares will be purchased for him on such Purchase Date as otherwise provided in
Section 9.

13. Designation of Beneficiary

          Each Participant may designate to the Company in writing one or more beneficiaries of a
Participant’s benefits under this Plan in the event of death, and the Participant may, in his sole
discretion, change such designation at any time by notifying the Company in writing. Oral
designations shall not be acceptable. Any such written designation shall be effective upon receipt
by the person designated by the Committee and shall control over any disposition by will or
otherwise. Notifications received after a Participant’s death shall not be valid.

          As soon as administratively feasible after the death of a Participant, amounts credited to his
account, determined in accordance with Section 7, shall be paid in cash and a certificate for any
shares shall be delivered to the Participant’s designated beneficiaries or, in the absence of such
designation, to the executor, administrator or other legal representative of the Participant’s
estate provided that such person or persons has or have given notice to the Custodian or such other
designated bank or financial institution, in the appropriate manner, of his or her election to
receive the certificate. Such payment shall relieve the Company of further liability to the
deceased Participant with respect to the Plan. If more than one beneficiary is designated, each
beneficiary shall receive an equal portion of the account unless the Participant has given express
contrary instructions.

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14. Assignment

          Except as provided in Section 13, the rights of a Participant under the Plan will not be
assignable or otherwise transferable by the Participant, other than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution or pursuant to a “qualified domestic relations order,” as defined in
Section 414(p) of the Code. No purported assignment or transfer of such rights of a Participant
under the Plan, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, shall vest in
the purported assignee or transferee any interest or right therein whatsoever, but immediately upon
such assignment or transfer, or any attempt to make the same, such rights shall terminate and
become of no further effect. If this provision is violated, the Participant’s election to purchase
Common Stock shall terminate, and the only obligation of the Company remaining under the Plan will
be to pay to the person entitled thereto the amount then credited to the Participant’s account. No
Participant may create a lien on any funds, securities, rights or other property held for the
account of the Participant under the Plan, except to the extent that there has been a designation
of beneficiaries in accordance with the Plan, and except to the extent permitted by will or the
laws of descent and distribution if beneficiaries have not been designated. A Participant’s right
to purchase shares under the Plan shall be exercisable only during the Participant’s lifetime and
only by him.

15. Costs

          All costs and expenses incurred in administering this Plan shall be paid by the Company. Any
brokerage fees for the sale of shares purchased under the Plan shall be paid by the Participant.

16. Reports

          At the end of each Purchase Period, Seahawk shall provide or cause to be provided to each
Participant a report of his contributions, including any other amounts earned and accruing to such
Participant in accordance with the terms herein, and the number of whole shares of Common Stock
purchased with such contributions by that Participant on each Purchase Date.

17. Equal Rights and Privileges

          All eligible Employees shall have equal rights and privileges with respect to the Plan so that
the Plan qualifies as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423 or any
successor provision of the Code and related regulations. Any provision of the Plan which is
inconsistent with Section 423 or any successor provision of the Code shall without further act or
amendment by the Company be reformed to comply with the requirements of Section 423. This
Section 17 shall take precedence over all other provisions in the Plan.

18. Rights as Shareholders

          A Participant will have no rights as a stockholder under the election to purchase until he
becomes a stockholder as herein provided. A Participant will become a stockholder with respect to
shares for which payment has been completed as provided in Section 9 at the close of business on
the last business day of the Purchase Period.

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19. Modification and Termination

          The Plan may be amended or terminated at any time insofar as permitted by law. Amendments to
the Plan may be accomplished by action of the Committee subject to the provisions of Section 2,
while termination may only take place upon a Board resolution. Notwithstanding the prior sentence
or anything else contained herein, no amendment shall be effective without Board resolution unless
within one (1) year after it is adopted by the Board it is approved by the holders of Seahawk’s
outstanding shares if and to the extent such amendment is required to be approved by shareholders
in order to cause the rights granted under the Plan to purchase shares of Common Stock to meet the
requirements of Section 423 of the Code (or any successor provision).

          The Plan shall terminate after all Common Stock issued under the Plan has been purchased,
unless terminated earlier by the Board or unless additional Common Stock is issued under the Plan
with the approval of the shareholders. In the event the Plan is terminated, the Committee may
elect to terminate all outstanding rights to purchase shares under the Plan either immediately or
upon completion of the purchase of shares on the next Purchase Date, unless the Committee has
designated that the right to make all such purchases shall expire on some other designated date
occurring prior to the next Purchase Date. If the rights to purchase shares under the Plan are
terminated prior to expiration, all funds contributed to the Plan which have not been used to
purchase shares shall be returned to the Participants as soon as administratively feasible, which
funds shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.

20. Board and Shareholder Approval; Effective Date

          This Plan was adopted by the Board on                           , 2009. The Plan was approved by the sole
shareholder of Seahawk by unanimous consent on                           , 2009, effective as of the date of, and
contingent upon the closing of the distribution by Pride International, Inc., on a pro rata basis
to the holders of outstanding shares of Pride International, Inc. common stock, of all of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock of Seahawk.

21. Governmental Approvals or Consents

          This Plan and any offering or sale made to Employees under it are subject to any governmental
approvals or consents that may be or become applicable in connection therewith. Subject to the
provisions of Section 19, the Board may make such changes in the Plan and include such terms in any
offering under the Plan as may be desirable to comply with the rules or regulations of any
governmental authority.

22. Listing of Shares and Related Matters

          If at any time the Board or the Committee shall determine, based on opinion of legal counsel,
that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares covered by the Plan upon any national
securities exchange or reporting system or under any state or federal law is necessary or desirable
as a condition of, or in connection with, the sale or purchase of shares under the Plan, no shares
will be sold, issued or delivered unless and until such listing, registration or qualification
shall have been effected or obtained, or otherwise provided for, free of any conditions not
acceptable to legal counsel.

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23. Employment Rights

          The Plan shall neither impose any obligation on Seahawk or on any Subsidiary to continue the
employment of any Participant, nor impose any obligation on any Participant to remain in the employ
of Seahawk or of any Subsidiary.

24. Withholding of Taxes

          The Committee may make such provisions as it may deem appropriate for the withholding of any
taxes which it determines is required in connection with the purchase of Common Stock under the
Plan.

25. Governing Law

          This Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto, to the extent not
otherwise governed by mandatory provisions of the Code or the securities laws of the United States,
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.

26. Use of Gender

          The gender of words used in the Plan shall be construed to include whichever may be
appropriate under any particular circumstances of the masculine, feminine or neuter genders.

27. Other Provisions

          The agreements to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall contain such other
provisions as the Committee and the Board shall deem advisable, provided that no such provision
shall in any way be in conflict with the terms of the Plan.

[Signature Page to Follow]

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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this document has been executed effective as set forth herein.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	SEAHAWK DRILLING, INC.

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 

	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	Title:  	 	 
	 

-12-

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