Document:

Exhibit 10.5

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of                         , 2011 among Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the stockholders of the Company listed on the signature pages hereto (the “Holders”).

 

Section 1.              Certain Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them below:

 

“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are required or authorized by law to be closed in The City of New York.

 

“Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and any equity securities issued or issuable in exchange for or with respect to the Common Stock by way of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares or in connection with a reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization or otherwise.

 

“Demand Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2 hereof.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

“Holder” or “Holders” means any Person who holds or shall acquire and hold Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

“Institutional Investors” means Warburg Pincus Private Equity IX, L.P., WP IX Finance LP, Warburg Pincus Private Equity X O&G, L.P. and Warburg Pincus X Partners, L.P. and each of their respective Affiliates, successors and assigns.

 

“Investor Securities” means Registrable Securities obtained by a Holder other than an Institutional Investor through the exchange of Preferred Units in the Merger.

 

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to an offer of Registrable Securities.

 

“IPO” means a firm commitment underwritten initial public offering by the Company or its stockholders of Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act (a) for which aggregate cash proceeds to be received by the Company from such offering (without deducting underwriting discounts, expenses and commissions) are at least $100,000,000, and (b) pursuant to which such Common Stock is authorized and approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange or admitted to trading and quoted in the NASDAQ Global Market system.

 

 

“Losses” means all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses, judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement thereof, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees and any other fees and expenses incurred in connection with any investigation or Proceeding in connection therewith.

 

“Majority Holders” means Holders of more than 50% of the Registrable Securities proposed to be included in any offering of Registrable Securities by such Holders pursuant to Section 2 or Section 3 of this Agreement.

 

“Management Securities” means Registrable Securities obtained by a Holder through the exchange of Profits Units in the Merger.

 

“Merger” means the merger of Laredo Petroleum, LLC with and into the Company.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, syndicate, person, trust, association, organization or other entity or any governmental or regulatory body or other agency or authority or political subdivision thereof, including any successor, by merger or otherwise, of any of the foregoing.

 

“Preferred Units” means the preferred units issued by Laredo Petroleum, LLC.

 

“Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, arbitration or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

 

“Profits Units” means the profits units issued by Laredo Petroleum, LLC.

 

“Prospectus” means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including, without limitation, post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

 

“Registrable Securities” means the shares of Common Stock issued to the Holders as set forth on Schedule I hereto.  Any particular Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) they are sold pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act, (ii) they are sold pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act) and the transferee thereof does not receive “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144, (iii) they cease to be outstanding, (iv) they have been sold in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights hereunder are not assigned to the transferee of the securities in accordance with the terms herein, (v) they become eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar rule then in effect under the Securities Act) and the holder of such securities does not then beneficially own more than 2% of such class of securities or (vi) they become eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar rule then in effect under the

 

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Securities Act) and the holder of such securities does not then beneficially own more than 1% of such class of securities.

 

“Registration Expenses” means all fees and expenses (excluding underwriter discounts and commissions) incurred in connection with the Company’s performance of or compliance with the provisions of Section 2, including:  (i) all registration, listing, qualification and filing fees (including FINRA filing fees); (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws (including counsel fees in connection with the preparation of a blue sky and legal investment survey and FINRA filings); (iii) printing and copying expenses; (iv) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses; (v) expenses incurred in connection with any road show; (vi) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; (vii) with respect to each registration, the fees and disbursements of one counsel for the selling Holder(s) selected by the Majority Holders; (viii) fees and disbursements of independent public accountants, including the expenses of any audit or “cold comfort” letter, and fees and expenses of other persons, including special experts, retained by the Company; (ix) underwriter fees, excluding discounts and commissions, and any other expenses which are customarily borne by the issuer or seller of securities in a public equity offering; and (x) all internal expenses of the Company (including all salaries and expenses of officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties).

 

“Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company under the Securities Act which permits the public offering of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions herein, including, without limitation, the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

“Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.

 

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Shelf Registration” means a Demand Registration filed pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act on Form S-3 or other comparable form that permits the Company to incorporate by reference all of its filings under the Exchange Act.

 

“Warburg IX” means both of Warburg Pincus Private Equity IX, L.P. and WP IX Finance LP

 

“Warburg X” means both of Warburg Pincus Private Equity X O&G L.P. and Warburg Pincus X Partners L.P.

 

Section 2.              Demand Registration.

 

(a)           Requests for Registration.  Subject to the limits set forth in this Agreement, including, without limitation, the restrictions set forth in Section 4 hereof, at any time after an

 

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IPO, the Institutional Investors shall have the right, by delivering a written notice to the Company (a “Demand Notice”), to require the Company to register, pursuant to the terms herein and in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, the offer and sale of the number of Registrable Securities requested to be so registered pursuant to the terms herein (a “Demand Registration”).  Within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a Demand Notice, the Company shall give written notice (the “Notice”) of such Demand Notice to all Holders and shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2(b) hereof, include in such registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company receives written requests for inclusion therein within ten (10) days after such Notice is given by the Company to Holders.

 

Following receipt of a Demand Notice for a Demand Registration, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to file a Registration Statement as promptly as practicable, but not later than thirty (30) days after such Demand Notice, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof.

 

Warburg IX and Warburg X shall be entitled to two (2) Demand Registrations each; provided, however, that Warburg IX and Warburg X shall be entitled to an unlimited number of Demand Registrations that constitute Shelf Registrations.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2, in no event shall more than one Demand Registration occur within any six (6) month period from the effective date of any Registration Statement filed pursuant to a prior Demand Notice or within one hundred twenty (120) days after the effective date of a Registration Statement filed by the Company; provided, however, that no Demand Registration may be prohibited for such 120-day period more often than once in a twelve (12) month period.

 

No Demand Registration shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Section 2 if the Registration Statement relating thereto (i) does not become effective, (ii) is not maintained effective for the period required pursuant to this Section 2(a) or (iii) the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement is subject to a stop order, injunction or similar order or requirement of the SEC during such period.  In the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the requesting Holder shall be entitled to an additional Demand Registration.

 

All requests made pursuant to this Section 2 will specify the amount of Registrable Securities to be included in the Registration Statement and the intended methods of distribution thereof.

 

The Company shall be required to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (except in the case of a Shelf Registration) with respect to any Demand Registration for a period of at least one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date thereof or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement have actually been sold; provided, however, that such period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the Holder  refrains from selling any securities included in such Registration Statement at the request of (x) an underwriter or (y) the Company pursuant to the provisions herein.  The Company shall be required to maintain the effectiveness of a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration at all times after the effective date thereof until all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement have actually been sold; provided, however, that any

 

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Holder of Registrable Securities that have been included in a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration may request that such Registrable Securities be removed from such Registration Statement, in which event the Company shall promptly either withdraw such Registration Statement or file a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement removing such Registrable Securities.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company hereby agrees that (i) each Shelf Registration shall contain all language (including, without limitation, on the Prospectus cover sheet, the principal stockholders’ table and the plan of distribution) as may be reasonably requested by a Holder to allow for a distribution to, and resale by, the direct and indirect partners, members or stockholders of a Holder  (a “Partner Distribution”) and (ii) the Company shall, at the reasonable request of any Holder seeking to effect a Partner Distribution, file any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action reasonably necessary to include such language, if such language was not included in the initial Registration Statement, or revise such language if deemed reasonably necessary by such Holder to effect such Partner Distribution.

 

(b)           Priority on Demand Registration.  If any of the Registrable Securities included in a Demand Registration are to be sold in a firm commitment underwritten offering, and the managing underwriter or underwriters advise the Holders thereof in writing that in its or their view the total number or dollar amount of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such offering is such as to adversely affect the success of such offering (including, without limitation, Registrable Securities proposed to be included by other Holders entitled to participate in such offering pursuant to other registration rights granted herein), then the number of Registrable Securities that in the opinion of such managing underwriter can be sold without adversely affecting such offering shall be included in the following order:

 

First, Registrable Securities held by the Institutional Investors requesting the Demand Registration and then by the other Institutional Investors pro rata based on the amount of Registrable Securities held by such Institutional Investors;

 

Second, Investor Securities, pro rata based on the amount of Investor Securities requested to be included by the Holders thereof; and

 

Third, Management Securities pro rata based on the amount of Management Securities requested to be included by the Holders thereof.

 

In connection with any Demand Registration to which the provisions of this subsection (b) apply, no securities other than Registrable Securities shall be covered by such Demand Registration, and such registration shall not reduce the number of available Demand Registrations under this Section 2 in the event that the Registration Statement excludes more than 20% of the aggregate number of Registrable Securities requested to be included by the Institutional Investors (whether pursuant to the Demand Notice or in response to the Notice).

 

(c)           Postponement of Demand Registration.  The Company shall be entitled to postpone (but not more than once in any twelve-month period), for a reasonable period of time not in excess of sixty (60) days, the filing of a Registration Statement if the Company delivers to

 

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the Holders requesting registration a resolution of the Board that, in the good faith judgment of the Board, such registration and offering would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect any bona fide material financing of the Company or any material transaction under consideration by the Company or would require disclosure of information that has not been disclosed to the public and is not otherwise required to be disclosed at that time, the premature disclosure of which would materially adversely affect the Company.  Such Board resolution shall contain a statement of the reasons for such postponement and an approximation of the anticipated delay.  The Holders receiving such resolution shall keep the information contained in such resolution confidential on the same terms set forth in Section 5(p).  If the Company shall so postpone the filing of a Registration Statement, the Holder who made the Demand Registration shall have the right to withdraw the request for registration by giving written notice to the Company within twenty (20) days of the anticipated termination date of the postponement period, as provided in such resolution delivered to the Holders, and in the event of such withdrawal, such request shall not be counted for purposes of the number of Demand Registrations to which such Holder is entitled pursuant to the terms herein.

 

(d)           Use, and Suspension of Use, of Shelf Registration.  If the Company has filed a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration, the Company shall be entitled to suspend (but not more than an aggregate of ninety (90) days in any twelve month period), for a reasonable period of time not in excess of ninety (90) days, the offer or sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement if (i) a “road show” is not then in progress with respect to a proposed offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement and no Holder has executed an underwriting agreement with respect to a pending sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement and (ii) the Company delivers to the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement a resolution of the Board that, in the good faith judgment of the Board, such offer or sale would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect any bona fide material financing of the Company or any material transaction under consideration by the Company or would require disclosure of information that has not been disclosed to the public and is not otherwise required to be disclosed at that time, the premature disclosure of which would materially adversely affect the Company.  Such Board resolution shall contain a statement of the reasons for such postponement and an approximation of the anticipated delay.  The Holders receiving such resolution shall keep the information contained in such certificate confidential on the same terms set forth in Section 5(p).

 

Section 3.              Piggyback Registration.

 

(a)           Right to Piggyback.  If, at any time after an IPO, the Company proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of Common Stock (other than a registration statement (i) on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto, (ii) filed solely in connection with an exchange offer or any employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plan or (iii) filed for a Demand Registration that is not a Shelf Registration), then, each such time, the Company shall give prompt written notice of such proposed filing at least fifteen (15) days before the anticipated filing date (the “Piggyback Notice”) to all Holders.  The Piggyback Notice shall offer Holders the opportunity to include in such registration statement the number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request (a “Piggyback Registration”).  Subject to Section 3(b) hereof, the Company shall include in each such Piggyback Registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for

 

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inclusion therein within ten (10) days after notice has been given to the Holders.  Holders exercising their rights under this Section 3(a) shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of the Registrable Securities from a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effective date of such Piggyback Registration.  The Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement for a Piggyback Registration beyond the earlier to occur of (i) one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date thereof and (ii) consummation of the distribution of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Holder participating in a Shelf Registration may request that such Holder’s Registrable Securities be removed from such Registration Statement after effectiveness, in which event the Company shall promptly either withdraw such Registration Statement or file a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement removing such Registrable Securities.

 

(b)           Priority on Piggyback Registrations.  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to include all Registrable Securities requested by Holders under this Section on the same terms and conditions as any other shares of Common Stock of the Company included therein.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the managing underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering have informed the Company in writing that in its or their view the total number of shares or dollar amount of Common Stock that the Holders, the Company and any other Persons having rights to participate in such registration, intend to include in such offering is such as to adversely affect the success of such offering, then the number of shares of Common Stock that in the opinion of such managing underwriter can be sold without adversely affecting such offering shall be included in the following order:

 

First, the shares of Common Stock being offered for the account of the Company;

 

Second, the Investor Securities, pro rata based on the number of Investor Securities requested to be included by Holders thereof;

 

Third, the Management Securities, pro rata based on the number of Management Securities requested to be included by the Holders thereof; and

 

Fourth, the shares of Common Stock being offered for the account of any other Persons, pro rata based on the number of shares of Common Stock requested to be included by the holders thereof.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company hereby agrees that (i) any Piggyback Registration that is a Shelf Registration shall contain all language (including, without limitation, on the Prospectus cover sheet, the principal stockholders’ table and the plan of distribution) as may be reasonably requested by a Holder to allow for a Partner Distribution and (ii) the Company shall, at the reasonable request of any Holder seeking to effect a Partner Distribution, file any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action reasonably necessary to include such language, if such language was not included in the initial Registration Statement, or revise such language if deemed reasonably necessary by such Holder to effect such Partner Distribution.

 

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Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in respect of any offering contemplated herein (whether under Section 2, Section 3 or otherwise) no Holder or any of its affiliates (other than the Company), officers, directors, partners, members, stockholders or representatives shall be required, directly or indirectly, to make any representations or warranties to, or agreements with, the Company or the underwriters (including, without limitation, agreements with respect to indemnification) other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Holder, its ownership of and title to the Registrable Securities and its intended method of distribution, and any liability of any such Holder or its affiliates (other than the Company) to any underwriter or other Person under such underwriting agreement shall be limited to liability arising from breach of its representations and warranties and shall be limited to an amount equal to the total price at which the Registrable Securities sold by such Holder were offered to the public (net of discounts and commissions paid by such Holder in connection with such offering).

 

Section 4.              Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders.

 

Each Holder agrees, in connection with any underwritten offering made pursuant to a Registration Statement (whether or not such Holder elected to include Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement), if requested (pursuant to a written notice) by the managing underwriter or underwriters in an underwritten offering, not to effect any public sale or distribution of any Common Stock (except as part of such underwritten offering), including a sale pursuant to Rule 144, or to give any Demand Notice, in each case during the period commencing on the date of the request (which shall be no earlier than 14 days prior to the expected “pricing” of such offering) and continuing for not more than (a) ninety (90) days with respect to any underwritten public offering made prior to the second anniversary of the IPO or (b) sixty (60) days with respect to any underwritten public offering made after the second anniversary of the IPO, after the date of the Prospectus (or Prospectus supplement if the offering is a Shelf Registration) pursuant to which such public offering shall be made or such shorter period as is required by the managing underwriter, provided, however, that the Company and all officers, directors and managers, as applicable, of the Company must be subject to the same restrictions.

 

Section 5.              Registration Procedures.

 

If and whenever the Company is required to register the offer and sale under the Securities Act of any Registrable Securities pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall take all such actions as are reasonably necessary to cause such registration to be effected as expeditiously as possible, including the following:

 

Prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on any form which shall be available for the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution of such Registrable Securities (including, without limitation, a Partner Distribution), and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and to remain effective as provided herein; provided, however, that no later than ten (10) days before filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto (including, without limitation, documents that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall furnish or otherwise make available to the Holders of the Registrable Securities covered by

 

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such Registration Statement, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review and comments of such Holders, counsel and managing underwriters.  The Company shall not file any such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto (including, without limitation, such documents that, upon filing, would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) with respect to a Demand Registration to which the Holders of 66 2/3% of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel, or the managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object, unless, in the opinion of the Company and its counsel, such filing is necessary to comply with applicable law.

 

Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective during the period provided herein and comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement; and cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any Prospectus supplement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act; provided, however, that any Holder of Registrable Securities that has been included in a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration may request that such Holder’s Registrable Securities be removed from such Registration Statement, in which event the Company shall promptly either withdraw such Registration Statement or file a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement removing such Registrable Securities.

 

Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement, its counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, promptly, and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment related to such Registration Statements has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of any notice from the SEC that there will be a review of such Registration Statement and promptly provide such Holders, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, with a copy of any SEC comments received by the Company in connection therewith, (iii) of any request by the SEC or any other Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (v) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any applicable agreement (including, without limitation, any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 5(o) below cease to be true and correct, (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of such Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (vii) of the occurrence of any event that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in

 

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light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

Use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction.

 

If requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or any Holder of Registrable Securities being sold in connection with an underwritten offering, promptly include in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriters, if any, and such Holders may reasonably request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such Registrable Securities and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has received such request.

 

Furnish or make available to each Holder of Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement, its counsel and each managing underwriter, if any, without charge, at least five (5) conformed copies of such Registration Statement, the Prospectus and Prospectus supplements, if applicable, and each post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements (but excluding schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits, unless requested by such holder, counsel or underwriter).

 

Deliver to each Holder of Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement, its counsel and the underwriters, if any, without charge, as many copies of the  related Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of Prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in connection with the distribution of such Registrable Securities; and the Company, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 5, hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of such Holders and the underwriters, if any, in connection with the offer and sale of such Registrable Securities.

 

Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders of such Registrable Securities, the underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any seller or underwriter reasonably requests and to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and to take any other action that may be necessary or advisable to enable such Holders to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdiction; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

 

Cooperate with the Holders of Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement and the managing underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of

 

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certificates (not bearing any legends) representing such Registrable Securities, after receiving written representations from each such Holder that the Registrable Securities represented by the certificates so delivered by such Holder will be transferred in accordance with such Registration Statement, and enable certificates representing such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriters, if any, or Holders may request at least two (2) Business Days prior to any sale of such Registrable Securities in a firm commitment public offering, but in any other such sale, within ten (10) Business Days prior to having to deliver such certificates.

 

Use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities within the United States, except as may be required solely as a consequence of the nature of the business of the Holder of such Registrable Securities, in which case the Company will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of such registration and the granting of such approvals, as may be necessary to enable such Holders or the underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.

 

Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 5(c)(vii) above, prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold thereunder, such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

Prior to the effective date of a Registration Statement, provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Securities being offered and sold thereunder.

 

Provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement.

 

Use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be authorized to be quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market or listed on a national securities exchange if shares of the particular class of Registrable Securities are at that time quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market or listed on such exchange, as the case may be.

 

Enter into such agreements (including, without limitation, an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance as is customary in underwritten offerings) and take all such other actions reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement (including those reasonably requested by the managing underwriters, if any) to expedite or facilitate the offer and sale of such Registrable Securities, and in such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not such Registration Statement includes an underwritten offering, (i) make such representations and warranties to the Holders of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to

 

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underwriters in underwritten offerings, and, if true, confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) furnish to such Holders opinions of counsel and a negative assurance letter to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel, opinions and letter (in form, scope and substance, in the case of such opinions and such letter) shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Holders, the managing underwriters, if any, and counsels to such Holders), addressed to each such Holder and each of the underwriters, if any, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions and negative assurance letters requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders, counsel and underwriters, (iii) obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement) who have certified the financial statements included in such Registration Statement, addressed to each such Holder (unless such accountants shall be prohibited from so addressing such letters by applicable standards of the accounting profession) and each of the underwriters, if any, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, which form and substance shall be reasonably acceptable to such Holders, (iv) obtain a report of the independent petroleum engineers of the Company relating to the oil and natural gas reserves of the Company, such report to be in customary form and covering matters customarily covered in such reports, (v) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures substantially to the effect set forth in Section 7 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section and (vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by any such Holder, such Holder’s counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to Section 5(o)(i) above and to evidence compliance with the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company.  The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or similar agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder.

 

Make available for inspection by the Holders of Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement, any underwriter participating in an offer and sale of such Registrable Securities, if any, and any attorneys or accountants retained by such Holders or underwriter, at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement; provided, however, that any information that is not publicly available at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such Persons (other than disclosure by such Persons to such Persons’ respective affiliates) unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order or other legal process, (ii) disclosure of such information is required by law, or (iii) such information becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by such Person.  In the case of a proposed disclosure pursuant to (i) or (ii) above, such Person shall be required to give the Company written notice of the proposed disclosure prior to such disclosure and, if requested by the Company, assist the Company in seeking to prevent or limit the proposed disclosure.

 

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Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make available to the holders of the Common Stock earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder, or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act, no later than forty-five (45) days after the end of any twelve (12) month period (or ninety (90) days after the end of any twelve (12) month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover one of said twelve (12) month periods.

 

Cause its officers to support the marketing of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, participation in “road shows”).

 

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company hereby agrees that any Shelf Registration shall contain all language (including, without limitation, on the prospectus cover sheet, the principal stockholders’ table and the plan of distribution) as may be reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities included in such Shelf Registration.  The Company may require each such Holder to furnish to the Company in writing such information required in connection with such registration regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request in writing.

 

Each Holder agrees if such Holder has Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 5(c)(iii), 5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), 5(c)(vi) or 5(c)(vii) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus until such Holder is advised in writing by the Company that the disposition may be resumed and, if applicable, has received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof, together with any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus; provided, however, that the Company shall extend the time periods under Section 2 with respect to the length of time that the effectiveness of such Registration Statement must be maintained by the amount of time the holder is required to discontinue disposition of such securities.

 

Section 6.              Registration Expenses.

 

The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement regardless of whether or not any Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective.  In addition, the Company shall pay its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on any securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed and rating agency fees and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Company.

 

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The Company shall not be required to pay (i) fees and disbursements of any counsel retained by any Holder of Registrable Securities or by any underwriter (except as set forth in clauses 6(i)(B) and 6(viii)), (ii) any underwriter’s fees (including discounts, commissions or fees of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals) relating to the distribution of Registrable Securities for the account of a Holder or (iii) any other expenses of a Holder not specifically required to be paid by the Company pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 6.

 

Section 7.              Indemnification.

 

Indemnification by the Company.  The Company shall, without limitation as to time, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Holder whose Registrable Securities are covered by a Registration Statement or Prospectus, the affiliates, officers, directors, partners, members, managers, stockholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees of each of them, each Person who controls each such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, partners, members, managers, stockholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees of each such controlling person (collectively, the “Stockholder Indemnified Persons”), from and against any and all Losses, as incurred, arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, offering circular or other document (including, without limitation, any related Registration Statement, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or similar issuer information filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act) incident to any such registration, qualification, or compliance, (ii) any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or, with respect to any prospectus, necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (iii) any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or state securities or Blue Sky laws or, in each case, any rule or regulation thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification, or compliance, and will reimburse each such Stockholder Indemnified Person for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any Proceeding relating to any such Losses; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such Losses arise out of or are based on any untrue statement or omission by such Holder or underwriter, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular, or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder or underwriter specifically for use in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular or other document.  It is agreed that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such Losses if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).  The Company also agrees to indemnify any underwriter of Registrable Securities and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such underwriter, on substantially the same basis as that provided to the Stockholder Indemnified Persons in this Section 7(a).

 

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Indemnification by Holder of Registrable Securities.  In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with such Registration Statement or related Prospectus and agrees to indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, severally and not jointly, the Company, its directors, officers, managers, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, partners, members, managers, stockholders, accountants, attorneys, agents or employees of such controlling persons (collectively, the “Company Indemnified Persons”), from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular or other document, or (ii) any omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or, with respect to any Prospectus, necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and will reimburse each such Company Indemnified Person for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any Proceeding relating to any such Losses, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is made in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder specifically for use in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular or other document; provided, however, that the obligations of such Holder hereunder shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claims, losses, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) if such settlement is effected without the consent of such Holder (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); and provided further, however, that the liability of each such Holder shall be limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement. Each such Holder also agrees to indemnify any underwriter of Registrable Securities and each person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such underwriter, on substantially the same basis as that provided to the Company Indemnified Persons in this Section 7(b).

 

Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings.  If any Person shall be entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “indemnified party”), such indemnified party shall give prompt notice to the party from which such indemnity is sought (the “indemnifying party”) of any Proceeding with respect to which such indemnified party seeks indemnification or contribution pursuant hereto; provided, however, that the delay or failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any obligation or liability except to the extent that the indemnifying party has been prejudiced by such delay or failure.  The indemnifying party shall have the right, exercisable by giving written notice to an indemnified party promptly after the receipt of written notice from such indemnified party of such Proceeding, to, unless in the indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such Proceeding, assume, at the indemnifying party’s expense, the defense of any such Proceeding, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, that an indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless: (i) the indemnifying party agrees to pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the indemnifying party fails promptly to assume, or in

 

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the event of a conflict of interest cannot assume, the defense of such Proceeding or fails to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (in which case the indemnified party shall have the right to employ counsel and to assume the defense of such Proceeding), (iii) the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal or equitable defense available to such indemnified party which are additional to or conflict with those available to the indemnifying party or (iv) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them; provided further, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such Proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction, arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one firm of attorneys (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for all of the indemnified parties, or for fees and expenses that are not reasonable.  Whether or not such defense is assumed by the indemnifying party, such indemnified party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld).  The indemnifying party shall not consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, from all liability in respect of such Proceeding for which such indemnified party would be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

 

Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any Losses (other than in accordance with its terms), then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and indemnified party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been taken by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent any such action, statement or omission.

 

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(d), an indemnifying party that is a Holder shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds from the sale of the Registrable Securities sold by such indemnifying party exceeds the amount of any damages that such indemnifying party has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The obligation of each Holder to contribute pursuant to this Section 7(d) is

 

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several, and not joint, in proportion to the net proceeds of the offering received by such Holder in relation to the total net proceeds of the offering received by all of the Holders participating in such offering.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in any underwriting agreement entered into in connection with any underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.

 

Section 8.              Rule 144.

 

After an IPO, the Company shall file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner, and will take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144.  Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

Section 9.              Underwritten Registrations.

 

If any Demand Registration is an underwritten offering, the Institutional Investors shall have the right to select the investment banker or investment bankers and managers to administer the offering, subject to approval of the Board, not to be unreasonably withheld.  The Company shall have the right to select the investment banker or investment bankers and managers to administer any Piggyback Registration.

 

Section 10.            Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights.

 

The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the holders of 66 2/3% of the Investor Securities, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company, giving such holder or prospective holder any registration rights the terms of which are equivalent to or more favorable than the registration rights granted to Holders hereunder, or which would reduce the amount of Registrable Securities the Holders can include in any registration filed pursuant to Section 2 hereof, unless such rights are subordinate to those of the Holders.

 

Section 11.            Miscellaneous.

 

(a)           Amendments and Waivers.     The provisions herein, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given without the written consent of holders of 66 2/3% of the Investor Securities; provided, however, that in no event shall the obligations of any holder of Registrable Securities be materially increased or the rights of any such holder be adversely affected (without similarly adversely affecting the rights of all such holders), except upon the written consent of such holder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of holders of Registrable Securities whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration

 

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Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other holders of Registrable Securities may be given by holders of at least 66 2/3% of the Registrable Securities being sold by such holders pursuant to such Registration Statement.

 

(b)           Notices. All notices required to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly given if personally delivered, telecopied and confirmed, mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, or delivered by overnight delivery service with proof of receipt maintained, at the following address (or any other address that any such party may designate by written notice to the other parties):

 

(i)            if to the Company, to the address of its principal executive offices; and

 

(ii)           if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address as set forth in the records of the Company.

 

Any such notice shall, if delivered personally, be deemed received upon delivery; shall, if delivered by telecopy, be deemed received on the first (1st) Business Day following confirmation; shall, if delivered by overnight delivery service, be deemed received the first (1st) Business Day after being sent; and shall, if delivered by certified mail, be deemed received upon the earlier of actual receipt thereof or five (5) Business Days after the date of deposit in the United States mail.

 

(c)           Successors and Assigns.  The provisions herein shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including subsequent holders of Registrable Securities acquired, directly or indirectly, from a Holder, including, without limitation, parties who have received Registrable Securities pursuant to a Partner Distribution. Any such successor or assign shall agree in writing to hold the Registrable Securities acquired from such Holder subject to all of the terms hereof.

 

(d)           No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature under or by reason of this Agreement; provided, however, that Persons specifically entitled to indemnification under Section 7 of this Agreement shall be third party beneficiaries of the provisions of such Section 7.

 

(e)           Headings.  The section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of the provisions herein.

 

(f)            Securities Held by the Company or its Subsidiaries.  Whenever the consent or approval of Holders is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or its subsidiaries shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders.

 

(g)           Termination.  The provisions herein shall terminate on the date when no Registrable Securities remain outstanding; provided, that Sections 6 and 7 shall survive any termination hereof.

 

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(h)           Specific Performance.  The parties hereto recognize and agree that money damages may be insufficient to compensate the Holders for breaches by the Company of the terms hereof and, consequently, that the equitable remedy of specific performance of the terms hereof will be available in the event of any such breach.

 

(i)            Governing Law.  This Agreement and all disputes or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the laws of any other jurisdiction that might be applied by operation of conflicts of laws principles.

 

(j)            Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior written agreements, arrangements, communications and understandings and all prior and contemporaneous oral agreements, arrangements, communications and understandings between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

 

(k)           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same instrument and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties.

 

(l)            Facsimile Signature.  This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signature and a facsimile signature shall constitute an original for all purposes.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

 

	
LAREDO PETROLEUM HOLDINGS, INC.
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
[HOLDER]
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[Title:]Exhibit 10.6

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM HOLDINGS, INC.

2011 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.                                       Purpose.  The purpose of the Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan is to provide a means through which the Company and its Affiliates may attract and retain key personnel and to provide a means whereby directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors (and prospective directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors) of the Company and its Affiliates can acquire and maintain an equity interest in the Company, or be paid incentive compensation, which may (but need not) be measured by reference to the value of Common Shares, thereby strengthening their commitment to the welfare of the Company and its Affiliates and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s shareholders.

 

2.                                       Definitions.  The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan:

 

(a)                                  “Affiliate” means any parent or direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company; provided, that, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, the term shall only mean “parent corporation” and “subsidiary corporation” as defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code; further, provided, that, with respect to the award of any “stock right” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, such affiliate must qualify as a “service recipient” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and in applying Section 1563(a)(1), (2) and (3) of the Code for purposes of determining a controlled group of corporations under Section 414(b) of the Code and in applying Treasury Regulation Section 1.414(c)-2 for purposes of determining trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) that are under common control for purposes of Section 414(c) of the Code, the language “at least 50 percent” is used instead of “at least 80 percent”.

 

(b)                                 “Award” means, individually or collectively, any Incentive Stock Option, Nonqualified Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Bonus Award, and Performance Compensation Award granted under the Plan.

 

(c)                                  “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(d)                                 “Cause” means, in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award agreement states otherwise, (i) the Company or an Affiliate having “cause” or “good cause” to terminate a Participant’s employment or service, as defined in any employment or consulting agreement or similar services agreement between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate in effect at the time of such termination or (ii) in the absence of any such employment, consulting, or similar services agreement (or the absence of any definition of “Cause” or “Good Cause” contained therein), (A) the Participant’s commission of, conviction for, plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, or other material act or omission involving dishonesty or fraud, (B) the Participant’s conduct that results in or is reasonably likely to result in harm to the reputation or business of the Company or any of its Affiliates in any material way, (C) the Participant’s failure to perform duties as reasonably directed by the Company or the Participant’s material violation of any rule, regulation, policy or plan for the conduct of any service provider to the Company or its Affiliates or its or their business (which, if curable, is not cured within 5 days after notice thereof is provided to the

 

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Participant) or (D) the Participant’s gross negligence, willful malfeasance or material act of disloyalty with respect to the Company or its Affiliates (which, if curable, is not cured within 5 days after notice thereof is provided to the Participant).  Any determination of whether Cause exists shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

(e)                                  “Change in Control” shall, in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award agreement states otherwise or contains a different definition of “Change in Control,” be deemed to occur upon:

 

(i)                                     Any “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) (other than (A) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any affiliate thereof or (B) the Institutional Investors as of the Effective Date) acquires “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company representing 40% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; provided, however, that if the Company engages in a merger or consolidation in which the Company or the surviving entity in such merger or consolidation becomes a subsidiary of another entity, then references to the Company’s then outstanding securities shall be deemed to refer to the outstanding securities of such parent entity;

 

(ii)                                  A majority of the members of the Board shall not be Continuing Directors; or

 

(iii)                               The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity (or if the surviving entity is or shall become a subsidiary of another entity, then such parent entity)) more than 40% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company (or such surviving entity or parent entity, as the case may be) outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation.

 

To the extent a Plan Award provides for “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and a Change in Control is intended to constitute a payment event under such Plan Award, then Change in Control shall mean a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) and any interpretative guidance promulgated under Section 409A of the Code.

 

(f)                                    “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto.  Reference in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, regulations or guidance.

 

(g)                                 “Committee” means the Compensation Committee, as constituted from time to time, of the Board, or if no such committee shall be in existence at any relevant time, the term “Committee” for purposes of the Plan shall mean the Board; provided, however, that while the Common Shares are publicly traded, (i) the Committee shall be a committee of the Board

 

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consisting solely of two or more Eligible Directors as necessary in each case to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act with respect to Awards granted under the Plan and (ii) with respect to Awards to directors who are not employees of the Company, the Committee shall consist solely of one or more members of the Board who are “independent” within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance listing standards (or, if the Common Shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, such similar standards of any other applicable registered stock exchange on which the Common Shares are listed or quoted at any relevant time).

 

(h)                                 “Common Shares” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (and any stock or other securities into which such shares of common stock may be converted or into which they may be exchanged).

 

(i)                                     “Company” means Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

(j)                                     “Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board who: (i) was a member of the Board on the Effective Date; or (ii) was nominated for election or elected to the Board with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of the Board at the time of such nomination or election.

 

(k)                                  “Date of Grant” means the date on which the granting of an Award is authorized, or such other date as may be specified in such authorization.

 

(l)                                     “Disability” means the “disability” of a person as defined in a then effective long-term disability plan maintained by the Company that covers such person, or if such a plan does not exist at any relevant time, “Disability” means the permanent and total disability of a person within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.  For purposes of determining the time during which an Incentive Stock Option may be exercised under the terms of an Option Agreement, “Disability” means the permanent and total disability of a person within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.  Section 22(e)(3) of the Code provides that an individual is totally and permanently disabled if he 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 which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months.

 

(m)                               “Effective Date” means the date as of which this Plan is adopted by the Board.

 

(n)                                 “Eligible Director” means a person who is (i) a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and (ii) an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(o)                                 “Eligible Person” means any (i) individual employed by the Company or an Affiliate; (ii) director of the Company or an Affiliate; (iii) consultant or advisor to the Company or an Affiliate, provided that if the Securities Act applies, such persons must be eligible to be offered securities registrable on Form S-8 under the Securities Act; or (iv) prospective employees, directors, officers, consultants or advisors who have accepted offers

 

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of employment or consultancy from the Company or its Affiliates (and would satisfy the provisions of clauses (i) through (iii) above once he or she begins employment with or begins providing services to the Company or its Affiliates).

 

(p)                                 “Exchange Act” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control,” and any reference in the Plan to any section of (or rule promulgated under) the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section or rule, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.

 

(q)                                 “Exercise Price” has the meaning given such term in Section 7(b) of the Plan.

 

(r)                                    “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Shares determined as follows:

 

(i)                                     The closing sales price for a Common Share on the New York Stock Exchange on the day of determination (or if no such price is reported on that day, on last market trading day prior to the day of determination), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable.

 

(ii)                                  In the absence of any listing or quotation of the Common Shares on any established national stock exchange or interdealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the Fair Market Value of a Common Share shall be determined in good faith by the Committee in a manner intended to satisfy the principles of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(s)                                  “Immediate Family Members” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14(b).

 

(t)                                    “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is designated by the Committee as an incentive stock option as described in Section 422 of the Code and otherwise meets the requirements set forth in the Plan and Section 422 of the Code.

 

(u)                                 “Indemnifiable Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(e) of the Plan.

 

(v)                                 “Institutional Investors” means Warburg Pincus Private Equity IX, L.P., WP IX Finance LP (collectively, “Warburg Pincus IX”), Warburg Pincus Private Equity X O&G, L.P. and Warburg Pincus X Partners, L.P. (collectively, “Warburg Pincus X”) and any transferee of capital stock of the Company (including subsequent transferees) directly or indirectly (in a chain of title) from Warburg Pincus IX or Warburg Pincus X and who is a stockholder of the Company.

 

(w)                               “Negative Discretion” shall mean the discretion authorized by the Plan to be applied by the Committee to eliminate or reduce the size of a Performance Compensation Award consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

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(x)                                   “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(y)                                 “Officer”  means a person who is an “officer” of the Company or any Affiliate within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act (whether or not the Company is subject to the requirements of the Exchange Act).

 

(z)                                   “Option” means an Award granted under Section 7 of the Plan.

 

(aa)                            “Option Period” has the meaning given such term in Section 7(b) of the Plan.

 

(bb)                          “Participant” means an Eligible Person who has been selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan and to receive an Award pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan.

 

(cc)                            “Performance Compensation Award” shall mean any Award designated by the Committee as a Performance Compensation Award pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan, which, for the avoidance of doubt, could include, without limitation, performance units, performance-based shares and other equity and non-equity performance-based awards.

 

(dd)                          “Performance Criteria” shall mean the criterion or criteria that the Committee shall select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal(s) for a Performance Period with respect to any Performance Compensation Award under the Plan.

 

(ee)                            “Performance Formula” shall mean, for a Performance Period, the one or more objective formulae applied against the relevant Performance Goal to determine, with regard to the Performance Compensation Award of a particular Participant, whether all, some portion but less than all, or none of the Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period.

 

(ff)                                “Performance Goals” shall mean, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria.

 

(gg)                          “Performance Period” shall mean the one or more periods of time, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to, and the payment of, a Performance Compensation Award.

 

(hh)                          “Permitted Transferee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14(b) of the Plan.

 

(ii)                                  “Person” has the meaning given such term in the definition of “Change in Control.”

 

(jj)                                  “Plan” means this Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.

 

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(kk)                            “Restricted Period” means the period of time determined by the Committee during which an Award is subject to restrictions or, as applicable, the period of time within which performance is measured for purposes of determining whether an Award has been earned.

 

(ll)                                  “Restricted Stock Unit” means an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Common Shares, cash, other securities or other property, subject to certain restrictions (including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 9 of the Plan.

 

(mm)                      “Restricted Stock” means Common Shares, subject to certain specified restrictions (including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous services for a specified period of time), granted under Section 9 of the Plan.

 

(nn)                          “SAR Period” has the meaning given such term in Section 8(b) of the Plan.

 

(oo)                          “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto.  Reference in the Plan to any section of the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any rules, regulations or other interpretative guidance under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, rules, regulations or guidance.

 

(pp)                          “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means an Award granted under Section 8 of the Plan.

 

(qq)                          “Stock Bonus Award” means an Award granted under Section 10 of the Plan.

 

(rr)                                “Strike Price” means, except as otherwise provided by the Committee in the case of Substitute Awards, (i) in the case of a SAR granted in tandem with an Option, the Exercise Price of the related Option, or (ii) in the case of a SAR granted independent of an Option, an amount not less than the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant.

 

(ss)                            “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(1)                                  any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares or any equivalent equity-type ownership (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or shareholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

 

(2)                                  any partnership (or any comparable foreign entity) (a) the sole general partner (or functional equivalent thereof) or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners (or functional equivalents thereof) of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

 

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(tt)                                “Substitute Award” has the meaning given such term in Section 5(e).

 

3.                                       Effective Date; Duration.  The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date.  Unless sooner terminated by the Board in accordance with Section 13 hereof, the expiration date of the Plan, on and after which date no Awards may be granted hereunder, shall be the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, that such expiration shall not affect Awards then outstanding, and the terms and conditions of the Plan shall continue to apply to such Awards.

 

4.                                       Administration.

 

(a)                                  The Committee shall administer the Plan.  To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (if the Board is not acting as the Committee under the Plan) or necessary to obtain the exception for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, as applicable, it is intended that each member of the Committee shall, at the time he takes any action with respect to an Award under the Plan, be an Eligible Director.  However, the fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify as an Eligible Director shall not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted under the Plan.  The acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present or acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee shall be deemed the acts of the Committee.

 

(b)                                 Subject to the provisions of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee shall have the sole and plenary authority, in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, to:  (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Common Shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Common Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances the delivery of cash, Common Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant or of the Committee; (vii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive any rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Committee shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (ix) accelerate the vesting or exercisability of, payment for or lapse of restrictions on, Awards; and (x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

 

(c)                                  The Committee may delegate to one or more Officers of the Company or any Affiliate the authority to act on behalf of the Committee with respect to any matter, right, obligation, or election that is the responsibility of or that is allocated to the Committee herein, and that may be so delegated as a matter of law, except for grants of Awards to persons (i) subject

 

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to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or (ii) who are, or who are reasonably expected to be, “covered employees” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(d)                                 Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award or any documents evidencing Awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all persons or entities, including, without limitation, the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, and any shareholder of the Company.

 

(e)                                  No member of the Board, the Committee, delegate of the Committee or any employee or agent of the Company (each such person, an “Indemnifiable Person”) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder.  Each Indemnifiable Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Indemnifiable Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Indemnifiable Person may be a party or in which such Indemnifiable Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Plan or any Award agreement and against and from any and all amounts paid by such Indemnifiable Person with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Indemnifiable Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Indemnifiable Person, provided, that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding and once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to an Indemnifiable Person to the extent that a final judgment or other final adjudication (in either case not subject to further appeal) binding upon such Indemnifiable Person determines that the acts or omissions of such Indemnifiable Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Indemnifiable Person’s bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law or by the Company’s constituent documents. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such Indemnifiable Persons may be entitled under the Company’s constituent documents, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such Indemnifiable Persons or hold them harmless.

 

(f)                                    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards and administer the Plan with respect to such Awards.  In any such case, the Board shall have all the authority granted to the Committee under the Plan.

 

5.                                       Shares Subject to the Plan; Grant of Awards; Limitations.

 

(a)                                  Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following limitations:  (i) subject to Section 12 of the Plan, the Committee is authorized to deliver under the Plan                    shares; (ii) subject to Section 12 of the Plan, grants of Options or SARs under the Plan in respect of no more than                    shares of Common Stock may be made to

 

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any single Participant during any calendar year and subject to Section 12 of the Plan, grants of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan in respect of no more than                   shares of Common Stock may be made to any single Participant during any calendar year; (iii) subject to Section 12 of the Plan, no more than                   shares of Common Stock may be earned in respect of Performance Compensation Awards granted pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan to any single Participant for a single calendar year during a Performance Period, or in the event such Performance Compensation Award is paid in cash, other securities, other Awards or other property, no more than the Fair Market Value of                   shares of Common Stock on the last day of the Performance Period to which such Award relates; and (iv) the maximum amount that can be paid to any single Participant in any one calendar year pursuant to a cash bonus Award described in Section 11(a) of the Plan shall be $              .

 

(b)                                 The Committee may, from time to time, grant Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Bonus Awards and/or Performance Compensation Awards to one or more Eligible Persons selected in its sole discretion.  An Eligible Person may be granted more than one Award under the Plan, and Awards may be granted at any time or times during the term of the Plan. The grant of an Award to an Eligible Person shall not be deemed either to entitle that individual to, or to disqualify that individual from, participation in any other grant of Awards under the Plan.

 

(c)                                  Use of Common Shares to pay the required Exercise Price or tax obligations, or shares not issued in connection with settlement of an Option or SAR shall, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, not be available again for other Awards under the Plan.  Shares underlying Awards under this Plan that are forfeited, cancelled, expire unexercised, or are settled in cash are available again for Awards under the Plan.

 

(d)                                 Common Shares delivered by the Company in settlement of Awards may be authorized and unissued shares, shares held in the treasury of the Company, shares purchased on the open market or by private purchase, or a combination of the foregoing.

 

(e)                                  Awards may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (“Substitute Awards”).  The number of Common Shares underlying any Substitute Awards shall be counted against the aggregate number of Common Shares available for Awards under the Plan.

 

6.                                       Eligibility.  Participation shall be limited to Eligible Persons who have entered into an Award agreement or who have received written notification from the Committee, or from a person designated by the Committee, that they have been selected to participate in the Plan.

 

7.                                       Options.

 

(a)                                  Generally.  Each Option granted under the Plan shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement.  All Options granted under the Plan shall be Nonqualified Stock Options unless the applicable Award agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.  Incentive Stock Options shall be granted

 

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only to Eligible Persons who are employees of the Company and its Affiliates, and no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any Eligible Person who is ineligible to receive an Incentive Stock Option under the Code.  No Option shall be treated as an Incentive Stock Option unless the Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company in a manner intended to comply with the stockholder approval requirements of Section 422(b)(1) of the Code, provided, that any Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not fail to be effective solely on account of a failure to obtain such approval, but rather such Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option unless and until such approval is obtained.  In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the terms and conditions of such grant shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed by Section 422 of the Code.  If for any reason an Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option or portion thereof shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Stock Option appropriately granted under the Plan.

 

(b)                                 Exercise Price.  The exercise price (“Exercise Price”) per Common Share for each Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such share determined as of the Date of Grant; provided, however, that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an employee who, at the time of the grant of such Option, owns shares representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or any Affiliate, the Exercise Price per share shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per share on the Date of Grant.

 

(c)                                  Vesting and Expiration.  Options shall (i) vest and become exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates, and (ii) expire after such period, not to exceed ten years (the “Option Period”), in each case as may be determined by the Committee and as set forth in an Award agreement; provided, however, that the Option Period shall not exceed five years from the Date of Grant in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who on the Date of Grant owns shares representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or any Affiliate; provided, further, that notwithstanding any vesting dates set by the Committee in the Award agreement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the exercisability of any Option, which acceleration shall not affect the terms and conditions of such Option other than with respect to exercisability.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award agreement:  (i)  the unvested portion of an Option shall expire upon termination of employment or service of the Participant granted the Option, and the vested portion of such Option shall remain exercisable for (A) one year following termination of employment or service by reason of such Participant’s death or Disability, but not later than the expiration of the Option Period or (B) ninety (90) days following termination of employment or service for any reason other than such Participant’s death or Disability, and other than such Participant’s termination of employment or service for Cause, but not later than the expiration of the Option Period and (ii) both the unvested and the vested portion of an Option shall expire upon the termination of the Participant’s employment or service by the Company for Cause.

 

(d)                                 Method of Exercise and Form of Payment.  No Common Shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the Exercise Price therefor is received by the Company and the Participant has paid to the Company an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld.  Options that have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written notice

 

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of exercise or, if provided for, electronic notice of exercise, to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Option accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price.  The Exercise Price shall be payable (i) in cash, check, cash equivalent and/or Common Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price (including, pursuant to procedures approved by the Committee, by means of attestation of ownership of a sufficient number of Common Shares in lieu of actual delivery of such shares to the Company), provided, that such Common Shares are not subject to any pledge or other security interest and are held for the applicable period as determined by the Company’s auditors to avoid adverse accounting charges, and (ii) by such other method as the Committee may permit in accordance with applicable law, in its sole discretion, including without limitation:  (A) in other property having a fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price or (B) if there is a public market for the Common Shares at such time, by means of a broker-assisted “cashless exercise” pursuant to which the Company is delivered a copy of irrevocable instructions to a stockbroker to sell the Common Shares otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the Exercise Price or (C) by a “net exercise” method whereby the Company withholds from the delivery of the Common Shares for which the Option was exercised that number of Common Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Exercise Price for the Common Shares for which the Option was exercised.  Any fractional Common Shares shall be settled in cash.  The Committee may specify a reasonable minimum number of Common Shares or a percentage of the shares subject to an Option that may be purchased on any exercise of an Option; provided, that such minimum number will not prevent Optionee from exercising the full number of Common Shares as to which the Option is then exercisable.

 

(e)                                  Notification upon Disqualifying Disposition of an Incentive Stock Option.  Each Participant awarded an Incentive Stock Option under the Plan shall notify the Company in writing immediately after the date the Participant makes a disqualifying disposition of any Common Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option.  A disqualifying disposition is any disposition (including, without limitation, any sale) of such Common Shares before the later of (A) two years after the Date of Grant of the Incentive Stock Option or (B) one year after the date of exercise of the Incentive Stock Option.  The Company may, if determined by the Committee and in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, retain possession of any Common Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option as agent for the applicable Participant until the end of the period described in the preceding sentence.

 

(f)                                    Compliance With Laws, etc.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a Participant be permitted to exercise an Option in a manner that the Committee determines would violate the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, if applicable, or any other applicable law or the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or the applicable rules and regulations of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed, traded or reported.

 

8.                                       Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

(a)                                  Generally.  Each SAR granted under the Plan shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 8, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan

 

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as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement.  Any Option granted under the Plan may include tandem SARs.  The Committee also may award SARs to Eligible Persons independent of any Option.

 

(b)                                 Strike Price.  The Strike Price per Common Share for each SAR shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such share determined as of the Date of Grant

 

(c)                                  Vesting and Expiration.  A SAR granted in connection with an Option shall become exercisable and shall expire according to the same vesting schedule and expiration provisions as the corresponding Option.  A SAR shall (i) vest and become exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates, and (ii) expire after such period, not to exceed ten years (the “SAR Period”), in each case as may be determined by the Committee and as set forth in an Award agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding any vesting dates set by the Committee in the Award agreement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the exercisability of any SAR, which acceleration shall not affect the terms and conditions of such SAR other than with respect to exercisability.  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award agreement:  (i) the unvested portion of a SAR shall expire upon termination of employment or service of the Participant granted the SAR, and the vested portion of such SAR shall remain exercisable for (A) one year following termination of employment or service by reason of such Participant’s death or Disability, but not later than the expiration of the SAR Period or (B) ninety (90) days following termination of employment or service for any reason other than such Participant’s death or Disability, and other than such Participant’s termination of employment or service for Cause, but not later than the expiration of the SAR Period and (ii) both the unvested and the vested portion of a SAR shall expire upon the termination of the Participant’s employment or service by the Company for Cause.

 

(d)                                 Method of Exercise.  SARs that have become exercisable may be exercised by delivery of written or electronic notice of exercise to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award, specifying the number of SARs to be exercised and the date on which such SARs were awarded.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if on the last day of the Option Period (or in the case of a SAR independent of an Option, the SAR Period), the Fair Market Value of a Common Shares exceeds the Strike Price, the Participant has not exercised the SAR or the corresponding Option (if applicable), and neither the SAR nor the corresponding Option (if applicable) has expired, such SAR shall be deemed to have been exercised by the Participant on such last day and the Company shall make the appropriate payment therefor.

 

(e)                                  Payment.  Upon the exercise of a SAR, the Company shall pay to the Participant an amount equal to the number of shares subject to the SAR that are being exercised multiplied by the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the exercise date over the Strike Price, less an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld.  The Company shall pay such amount in cash, in Common Shares with a Fair Market Value equal to such amount, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee in an Award agreement.  Any fractional Common Share shall be settled in cash.

 

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9.                                       Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.

 

(a)                                  Generally.  Each such grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under the Plan shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 9, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement.

 

(b)                                 Restricted Stock — Accounts, Escrow or Similar Arrangement.  Upon the grant of Restricted Stock, a book entry in a restricted account shall be established in the Participant’s name at the Company’s transfer agent and, if the Committee determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than held in such restricted account pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Committee may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (i) an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Committee, if applicable, and (ii) the appropriate share power (endorsed in blank) with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement.  If a Participant shall fail to execute an agreement evidencing an Award of Restricted Stock and, if applicable, an escrow agreement and blank share power within the amount of time specified by the Committee, the Award shall be null and void.  Subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 9 and unless otherwise set forth in an applicable Award agreement, the Participant generally shall have the rights and privileges of a shareholder as to such Restricted Stock, including without limitation the right to vote such Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends, if applicable.  To the extent shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited, any share certificates issued to the Participant evidencing such shares shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the Participant to such shares and as a shareholder with respect thereto shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company.

 

(c)                                  Vesting; Acceleration of Lapse of Restrictions.  The Restricted Period shall lapse with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units at such times as provided by the Committee in an Award agreement, and the unvested portion of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall terminate and be forfeited upon termination of employment or service of the Participant.

 

(d)                                 Delivery of Restricted Stock and Settlement of Restricted Stock Units.

 

(i)                                     Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any shares of Restricted Stock, the restrictions set forth in the applicable Award agreement shall be of no further force or effect with respect to such shares, except as set forth in the applicable Award agreement.  If an escrow arrangement is used, upon such expiration, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his beneficiary, without charge, the share certificate evidencing the shares of Restricted Stock that have not then been forfeited and with respect to which the Restricted Period has expired (rounded down to the nearest full share).  Dividends, if any, that may have been withheld by the Committee and attributable to any particular share of Restricted Stock shall be distributed to the Participant in cash or, at the sole discretion of the Committee, in Common Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, upon the release of restrictions on such share and, if such share is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such dividends (except as otherwise set forth by the Committee in the applicable Award agreement).

 

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(ii)                                  Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in an Award agreement, upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any outstanding Restricted Stock Units, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his beneficiary, without charge, one Common Share for each such outstanding Restricted Stock Unit; provided, however, that the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to (i) pay cash or part cash and part Common Share in lieu of delivering only Common Shares in respect of such Restricted Stock Units or (ii) defer the delivery of Common Shares (or cash or part Common Shares and part cash, as the case may be) beyond the expiration of the Restricted Period if such delivery would result in a violation of applicable law until such time as is no longer the case.  If a cash payment is made in lieu of delivering Common Shares, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares as of the date on which the Restricted Period lapsed with respect to such Restricted Stock Units, less an amount equal to any federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and employment taxes required to be withheld.

 

10.                                 Stock Bonus Awards.  The Committee may issue unrestricted Common Shares, or other Awards denominated in Common Shares, under the Plan to Eligible Persons, either alone or in tandem with other awards, in such amounts as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine.  Each Stock Bonus Award granted under the Plan shall be subject to such conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award agreement.

 

11.                                 Performance Compensation Awards.

 

(a)                                  Generally.  The Committee shall have the authority, at the time of grant of any Award described in Sections 9 or 10 of the Plan, to designate such Award as a Performance Compensation Award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.  The Committee shall also have the authority to make an award of a cash bonus to any Participant and designate such Award as a Performance Compensation Award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(b)                                 Discretion of Committee with Respect to Performance Compensation Awards.  With regard to a particular Performance Period, the Committee shall have sole discretion to select the length of such Performance Period, the type(s) of Performance Compensation Awards to be issued, the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s), the kind(s) and/or level(s) of the Performance Goals(s) that is (are) to apply and the Performance Formula.  Within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if longer or shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code, if applicable), the Committee shall, with regard to the Performance Compensation Awards to be issued for such Performance Period, exercise its discretion with respect to each of the matters enumerated in the immediately preceding sentence and record the same in writing.

 

(c)                                  Performance Criteria.  The Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s) shall be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company (and/or one or more Affiliates, divisions, reportable segments or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing) and shall include one or more of the following:  (i) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); (ii) basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes); (iii) net revenue or revenue growth; (iv) gross profit or gross profit

 

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growth; (v) operating income or profit (before or after taxes); (vi) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, or sales); (vii) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and cash flow return on capital); (viii) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; (ix) gross or operating margins; (x) productivity ratios; (xi) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return (absolute or relative)); (xii) expense targets; (xiii) margins; (xiv) operating efficiency; (xv) working capital targets; (xvi) measures of economic value added; (xvii) enterprise value; (xviii) debt levels and net debt; (xix) combined ratio; (xx) timely launch of new facilities; (xxi) employee retention; (xxii) performance relative to budget; (xxiii) safety performance targets; (xxiv)  objective measures of personal targets, goals or completion of projects; (xxv) drilling capital efficiency; (xxvi) drilling rate of return; (xxvii) production; (xxviii) new reserves; (xxix) direct lifting costs; and (xxx) SEC finding costs.  Any one or more of the Performance Criteria may be used on an absolute or relative basis to measure the performance of a Participant and the Company (and/or one or more Affiliates, divisions, reportable segments or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing), as the Committee may deem appropriate, or any of the above Performance Criteria may be compared to the performance of a selected group of comparison companies or a published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or as compared to various stock market indices.  The Committee also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of Performance Goals pursuant to the Performance Criteria specified in this paragraph.  To the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall, within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period and thereafter promptly communicate such Performance Criteria to the Participant.

 

(d)                                 Modification of Performance Goal(s).  In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing Performance Criteria without obtaining shareholder approval of such alterations, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such alterations without obtaining shareholder approval.  The Committee shall adjust or modify the calculation of a Performance Goal for a Performance Period, based on and in order to appropriately reflect the following events:  (i) asset write-downs; (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (iii) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or regulatory rules affecting reported results; (iv) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (v) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 (or any successor pronouncement thereto) and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to shareholders for the applicable year; (vi) acquisitions or divestitures; (vii) any other specific unusual or nonrecurring events, or objectively determinable category thereof; (viii) foreign exchange gains and losses; and (ix) a change in the Company’s fiscal year.

 

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(e)           Payment of Performance Compensation Awards.

 

(i)            Condition to Receipt of Payment.  Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award agreement, a Participant must be employed by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company on the date of payment with respect to a Performance Period to be eligible to receive such payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award for the preceding Performance Period.

 

(ii)           Limitation.  A Participant shall be eligible to receive payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award only to the extent that:  (A) the Performance Goals for such period are achieved; and (B) all or some of the portion of such Participant’s Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period based on the application of the Performance Formula to such achieved Performance Goals.

 

(iii)          Certification.  Following the completion of a Performance Period, the Committee shall review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Performance Period have been achieved and, if so, calculate and certify in writing that amount of the Performance Compensation Awards earned for the period based upon the Performance Formula.  The Committee shall then determine the amount of each Participant’s Performance Compensation Award actually payable for the Performance Period and, in so doing, may apply Negative Discretion.

 

(iv)          Use of Negative Discretion.  In determining the actual amount of an individual Participant’s Performance Compensation Award for a Performance Period, the Committee may reduce or eliminate the amount of the Performance Compensation Award earned under the Performance Formula in the Performance Period through the use of Negative Discretion if, in its sole judgment, such reduction or elimination is appropriate.  The Committee shall not have the discretion, except as is otherwise provided in the Plan, to (A) grant or provide payment in respect of Performance Compensation Awards for a Performance Period if the Performance Goals for such Performance Period have not been attained; or (B) increase a Performance Compensation Award above the applicable limitations set forth in Section 5 of the Plan.

 

(f)            Timing of Award Payments.  Performance Compensation Awards granted for a Performance Period shall be paid to Participants as soon as administratively practicable following completion of the certifications required by this Section 11, but in no event later than two-and-one-half months following the end of the fiscal year during which the Performance Period is completed; provided, however, that such Performance Compensation Awards may be deferred and paid after such date so long deferrals are made in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance thereunder.

 

12.           Changes in Capital Structure and Similar Events.

 

(a)           Effect of Certain Events. In the event of (A) any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, split-up, split-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Common Shares or

 

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other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to acquire Common Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a Change in Control) that affects the Common Shares, or (B) unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, a Change in Control) affecting the Company, any Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system, accounting principles or law, such that in either case an adjustment is determined by the Committee in its sole discretion to be necessary or appropriate, then the Committee shall make any such adjustments in such manner as it may deem equitable, including without limitation any or all of the following:

 

(i)            adjusting any or all of (A) the number of Common Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) that may be delivered in respect of Awards or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including, without limitation, adjusting any or all of the limitations under Section 5 of the Plan) and (B) the terms of any outstanding Award, including, without limitation, (1) the number of Common Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards or to which outstanding Awards relate, (2) the Exercise Price or Strike Price with respect to any Award or (3) any applicable performance measures (including, without limitation, Performance Criteria and Performance Goals);

 

(ii)           providing for a substitution or assumption of Awards, accelerating the exercisability of, lapse of restrictions on, or termination of, Awards or providing for a period of time for exercise prior to the occurrence of such event; and

 

(iii)          canceling any one or more outstanding Awards or portion thereof and causing to be paid to the holders thereof, in cash, Common Shares, other securities or other property, or any combination thereof, the value of such Awards, if any, as determined by the Committee (which if applicable may be based upon the price per Common Share received or to be received by other shareholders of the Company in such event), including without limitation, in the case of an outstanding Option or SAR, a cash payment in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the Common Shares subject to such Option or SAR over the aggregate Exercise Price or Strike Price of such Option or SAR, respectively (it being understood that, in such event, any Option or SAR having a per share Exercise Price or Strike Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a Common Share subject thereto may be canceled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor); provided, however, that in the case of any “equity restructuring” (within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (Revised 2004) and FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718) or any successor rule, the Committee shall make an equitable or proportionate adjustment to outstanding Awards to reflect such equity restructuring.  Any adjustment in Incentive Stock Options under this Section 12 (other than any cancellation of Incentive Stock Options) shall be made only to the extent not constituting a “modification” within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code, and any adjustments under this Section 12 shall be made in a manner that does not adversely affect the exemption provided pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or the exemption under Section 409A, to the extent applicable.  The Company

 

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shall give each Participant notice of an adjustment hereunder and, upon notice, such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.

 

(b)           Effect of Change in Control.  Unless specifically provided otherwise with respect to Change in Control events in an Award or in a then-effective written employment agreement between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, if, during the effectiveness of the Plan, a Change in Control occurs, (i) each Option and SAR which is at the time outstanding under the Plan shall automatically become fully vested and exercisable with respect to all Common Shares covered thereby, (ii) the Restricted Period shall expire and restrictions applicable to all outstanding Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units shall lapse and such Awards shall become fully vested and (iii) Performance Periods in effect on the date the Change in Control occurs shall end on such date and the Committee shall (A) determine the extent to which Performance Goals with respect to each such Performance Period have been met based upon such audited or unaudited financial information or other information then available as it deems relevant and (B) cause the Participant to receive partial or full payment of Awards for each such Performance Period based upon the Committee’s determination of the degree of attainment of the Performance Goals, or assuming that the applicable “target” levels of performance have been attained or on such other basis determined by the Committee whichever is greater.  To the extent practicable, any actions taken by the Committee under this Section 12(b) shall occur in a manner and at a time which allows affected Participants the ability to participate in the Change in Control transactions with respect to the Common Shares subject to their Awards.

 

(c)           The existence of this Plan and Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Company Shares or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.

 

13.           Amendments and Termination.

 

(a)           Amendment and Termination of the Plan.  The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided, that (i) no amendment to Section 11(c) or Section 13(b) (to the extent required by the proviso in such Section 13(b)) shall be made without shareholder approval and (ii) no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without shareholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to the Plan (including, without limitation, as necessary to comply with any rules or requirements of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Common Shares may be listed or quoted or to prevent the Company from being denied a tax deduction under Section 162(m) of the Code); provided, further, that any such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary.

 

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(b)           Amendment of Award agreements.  The Committee may, to the extent consistent with the terms of any applicable Award agreement, waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted or the associated Award agreement, prospectively or retroactively; provided  that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant with respect to any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant; provided, further, that without shareholder approval, except as otherwise permitted under Section 12 of the Plan, (i) no amendment or modification may reduce the Exercise Price of any Option or the Strike Price of any SAR, (ii) the Committee may not cancel any outstanding Option or SAR and replace it with a new Option or SAR, another Award or cash and (iii) the Committee may not take any other action that is considered a “repricing” for purposes of the shareholder approval rules of the applicable securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the Common Shares are listed or quoted.

 

14.           General.

 

(a)           Award Agreements.  Each Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant (whether in paper or electronic medium (including email or the posting on a web site maintained by the Company or a third party under contract with the Company)) and shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto, including without limitation, the effect on such Award of the death, Disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant, or of such other events as may be determined by the Committee.

 

(b)           Nontransferability.

 

(i)            Each Award shall be exercisable only by a Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s legal guardian or representative.  No Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or an Affiliate; provided  that the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance.

 

(ii)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit Awards (other than Incentive Stock Options) to be transferred by a Participant, without consideration, subject to such rules as the Committee may adopt consistent with any applicable Award agreement to preserve the purposes of the Plan, to:  (A) any person who is a “family member” of the Participant, as such term is used in the instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act (collectively, the “Immediate Family Members”); (B) a trust solely for the benefit of the Participant and his or her Immediate Family Members; (C) a partnership or limited liability company whose only partners or stockholders are the Participant and his or her Immediate Family Members; or (D) any other transferee as may be approved either (I) by the Board or the Committee in its sole discretion, or (II) as provided in the applicable Award agreement (each transferee described in clauses (A), (B) (C) and (D) above is hereinafter referred

 

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to as a “Permitted Transferee”); provided, that the Participant gives the Committee advance written notice describing the terms and conditions of the proposed transfer and the Committee notifies the Participant in writing that such a transfer would comply with the requirements of the Plan.

 

(iii)          The terms of any Award transferred in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to the Permitted Transferee, and any reference in the Plan, or in any applicable Award agreement, to a Participant shall be deemed to refer to the Permitted Transferee, except that (A) Permitted Transferees shall not be entitled to transfer any Award, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; (B) Permitted Transferees shall not be entitled to exercise any transferred Option unless there shall be in effect a registration statement on an appropriate form covering the Common Shares to be acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Option if the Committee determines, consistent with any applicable Award agreement, that such a registration statement is necessary or appropriate; (C) the Committee or the Company shall not be required to provide any notice to a Permitted Transferee, whether or not such notice is or would otherwise have been required to be given to the Participant under the Plan or otherwise; and (D) the consequences of the termination of the Participant’s employment by, or services to, the Company or an Affiliate under the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award agreement shall continue to be applied with respect to the Participant, including, without limitation, that an Option shall be exercisable by the Permitted Transferee only to the extent, and for the periods, specified in the Plan and the applicable Award agreement.

 

(c)           Tax Withholding.

 

(i)            A Participant shall be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate, and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold, from any cash, Common Shares, other securities or other property deliverable under any Award or from any compensation or other amounts owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, Common Shares, other securities or other property) of any required withholding taxes in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Committee or the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such withholding taxes.

 

(ii)           Without limiting the generality of clause (i) above, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit a Participant to satisfy, in whole or in part, the foregoing withholding liability by (A) the delivery of Common Shares (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest and are held for the applicable period as determined by the Company’s auditors to avoid adverse accounting charges) owned by the Participant having a fair market value equal to such withholding liability or (B) having the Company withhold from the number of Common Shares otherwise issuable or deliverable pursuant to the exercise or settlement of the Award a number of shares with a fair market value equal to such withholding liability (but no more than the minimum required statutory withholding liability).

 

(d)           No Claim to Awards; No Rights to Continued Employment; Waiver.  No employee of the Company or an Affiliate, or other person, shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or, having been selected for the grant of an Award, to be selected for a grant of any other Award.  There is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of

 

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Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards.  The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated.  Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant any right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or an Affiliate, nor shall it be construed as giving any Participant any rights to continued service on the Board.  The Company or any of its Affiliates may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or discontinue any consulting relationship, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or any Award agreement.  By accepting an Award under the Plan, a Participant shall thereby be deemed to have waived any claim to continued exercise or vesting of an Award or to damages or severance entitlement related to non-continuation of the Award beyond the period provided under the Plan or any Award agreement, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in any written employment contract or other agreement between the Company and its Affiliates and the Participant, whether any such agreement is executed before, on or after the Date of Grant.

 

(e)           International Participants.  With respect to Participants who reside or work outside of the United States of America and who are not (and who are not expected to be) “covered employees” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may in its sole discretion amend the terms of the Plan or outstanding Awards (or adopt a subplan) with respect to such Participants in order to conform such terms with the requirements of local law or to obtain more favorable tax or other treatment for a Participant, the Company or its Affiliates.

 

(f)            Designation and Change of Beneficiary.  Each Participant may file with the Committee a written designation of one or more persons as the beneficiary(ies) who shall be entitled to receive the amounts payable with respect to an Award, if any, due under the Plan upon his death.  A Participant may, from time to time, revoke or change his beneficiary designation without the consent of any prior beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Committee.  The last such designation received by the Committee shall be controlling; provided, however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Committee prior to the Participant’s death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt.  If no beneficiary designation is filed by a Participant, the beneficiary shall be deemed to be his or her spouse or, if the Participant is unmarried at the time of death, his or her estate.

 

(g)           Termination of Employment/Service.  Unless determined otherwise by the Committee at any point following such event or as otherwise provided in an Award agreement, service shall not be considered terminated in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Affiliate, or any successor, in any capacity of any employee, director or consultant, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or an Affiliate in any capacity of employee, director or consultant.  An approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave.  For purposes of each Incentive Stock Option, if such leave exceeds three (3) months, and re-employment upon expiration of such leave is not guaranteed by statute or contract, then the Incentive Stock Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option on the day following the expiration of such three (3) month period.

 

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(h)           No Rights as a Stockholder.  Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Plan or any Award agreement, no person shall be entitled to the privileges of ownership in respect of Common Shares that are subject to Awards hereunder until such shares have been issued or delivered to that person.

 

(i)            Government and Other Regulations.

 

(i)            The obligation of the Company to settle Awards in Common Shares or other consideration shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by governmental agencies as may be required.  Notwithstanding any terms or conditions of any Award to the contrary, the Company shall be under no obligation to offer to sell or to sell, and shall be prohibited from offering to sell or selling, any Common Shares pursuant to an Award unless such shares have been properly registered for sale pursuant to the Securities Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission or unless the Company has received an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that such shares may be offered or sold without such registration pursuant to an available exemption therefrom and the terms and conditions of such exemption have been fully complied with.  The Company shall be under no obligation to register for sale under the Securities Act any of the Common Shares to be offered or sold under the Plan.  The Committee shall have the authority to provide that all certificates for Common Shares or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, the applicable Award agreement, the federal securities laws, or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system upon which such shares or other securities are then listed or quoted and any other applicable federal, state, local or non-U.S. laws, and, without limiting the generality of Section 9 of the Plan, the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.  Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee reserves the right to add any additional terms or provisions to any Award granted under the Plan that it in its sole discretion deems necessary or advisable in order that such Award complies with the legal requirements of any governmental entity to whose jurisdiction the Award is subject.

 

(ii)           The Committee may cancel an Award or any portion thereof if it determines, in its sole discretion, that legal or contractual restrictions and/or blockage and/or other market considerations would make the Company’s acquisition of Common Shares from the public markets, the Company’s issuance of Common Shares to the Participant, the Participant’s acquisition of Common Shares from the Company and/or the Participant’s sale of Common Shares to the public markets, illegal, impracticable or inadvisable.  If the Committee determines to cancel all or any portion of an Award in accordance with the foregoing, the Company shall pay to the Participant an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Common Shares subject to such Award or portion thereof canceled (determined as of the applicable exercise date, or the date that the shares would have been vested or delivered, as applicable), over (B) the aggregate Exercise Price or Strike Price (in the case of an Option or SAR, respectively) or any amount payable as a condition of delivery of Common Shares (in the case of any other Award).  Such amount shall be delivered to the Participant as soon as practicable following the cancellation of such Award or portion thereof.

 

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(iii)          Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan or any Award agreement to the contrary, Awards granted hereunder shall be subject, to the extent applicable, (A) to any clawback policy adopted by the Company, and (B) to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, as amended, and rules, regulations and binding, published guidance thereunder, which legislation provides for the clawback and recovery of incentive compensation in the event of certain financial statement restatements.  If, pursuant to Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company would not be eligible for continued listing, if applicable, under Section 10D(a) of the Exchange Act if it did not adopt policies consistent with Section 10D(b) of the Exchange Act, then, in accordance with those policies that are so required, any incentive-based compensation payable to a Participant under this Plan shall be subject to claw-back in the circumstances, to the extent, and in the manner, required by Section 10D(b)(2) of the Exchange Act, as interpreted by rules of the Securities Exchange Commission.

 

(j)            Payments to Persons Other Than Participants.  If the Committee shall find that any person to whom any amount is payable under the Plan is unable to care for his affairs because of illness or accident, or is a minor, or has died, then any payment due to such person or his estate (unless a prior claim therefor has been made by a duly appointed legal representative) may, if the Committee so directs the Company, be paid to his spouse, child, relative, an institution maintaining or having custody of such person, or any other person deemed by the Committee to be a proper recipient on behalf of such person otherwise entitled to payment.  Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Committee and the Company therefor.

 

(k)           Nonexclusivity of the Plan.  Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board nor the submission of this Plan to the shareholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options or other equity-based awards otherwise than under this Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

 

(l)            No Trust or Fund Created.  Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate, on the one hand, and a Participant or other person or entity, on the other hand.  No provision of the Plan or any Award shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under the Plan, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any assets, nor shall the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes.  Participants shall have no rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of the Company, except that insofar as they may have become entitled to payment of additional compensation by performance of services, they shall have the same rights as other employees under general law.

 

(m)          Reliance on Reports.  Each member of the Committee and each member of the Board shall be fully justified in acting or failing to act, as the case may be, and shall not be liable for having so acted or failed to act in good faith, in reliance upon any report made by the independent public accountant of the Company and its Affiliates and/or any other information

 

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furnished in connection with the Plan by any agent of the Company or the Committee or the Board, other than himself.

 

(n)           Relationship to Other Benefits.  No payment under the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, profit sharing, group insurance or other benefit plan of the Company except as otherwise specifically provided in such other plan.

 

(o)           Governing Law.  The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

 

(p)           Severability.  If any provision of the Plan or any Award or Award agreement is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any person or entity or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be construed or deemed stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or entity or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(q)           Obligations Binding on Successors.  The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to substantially all of the assets and business of the Company.

 

(r)            Shareholder Approval.  The Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date, provided, however, that, no Incentive Stock Options shall be valid as an Incentive Stock Option unless and until the Plan has been approved by shareholders within the twelve (12) month period following adoption of by the Board in the manner provided under Section 424 and Treasury Regulations thereunder, and any Option awarded as an Incentive Stock Option prior to such shareholder approval shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option.  If so determined by the Committee, the provisions of the Plan regarding Performance Compensation Awards shall be disclosed and approved by shareholders at a meeting at which directors are to be elected that occurs after the close of the third (3rd) calendar year following the year in which the Company’s initial public offering of its Common Shares occurred or earlier as may be required so as to comply with Code Section 162(m).  Nothing in this clause, however, shall affect the validity of Awards granted after such time if such shareholder approval has not been obtained.

 

(s)           Expenses; Gender; Titles and Headings.  The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates.  Masculine pronouns and other words of masculine gender shall refer to both men and women.  The titles and headings of the sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings shall control.

 

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(t)            Other Agreements.  Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may require, as a condition to the grant of and/or the receipt of Common Shares under an Award, that the Participant execute lock-up, shareholder or other agreements, as it may determine in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

(u)           Payments.  Participants shall be required to pay, to the extent required by applicable law, any amounts required to receive Common Shares under any Award made under the Plan.

 

(v)           Section 409A.  The provisions of the Plan are intended to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder so as to avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code (a “409A Tax”).  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if any provision of the Plan or Award agreement would result in the imposition of a 409A Tax, such provision shall be automatically reformed so as to avoid the imposition of a 409A Tax and such reformation shall be deemed to not have an adverse effect on a Participant’s rights with respect any Award.

 

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