UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO

SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 22, 2011 (December 19, 2011)

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-35380

 

45-3007926

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or
Organization)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

15 W. Sixth Street, Suite 1800, Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

74119

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (918) 513-4570

 

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o             Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o             Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01.  Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On December 20, 2011, Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. (the “ Company ”) completed its initial public offering (the “ Offering ”) of 20,125,000 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), at a price to the public of $17.00 per share of Common Stock pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-176439), initially filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), on August 24, 2011, including a prospectus (the “ Prospectus ”) filed with the Commission on December 15, 2011 pursuant to Rule 424(b).

 

Supplement No. 1 to the Third Amended and Restated Security Agreement and Third Amended and Restated Guaranty

 

On December 19, 2011, the Company entered into Supplement No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Security Agreement and Third Amended and Restated Guaranty (“ Supplement No. 1 ”) with Laredo Petroleum, Inc. (“ Laredo Inc. ”), the Company and the other guarantors signatories thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, pursuant to which the Company agreed to be bound by the security agreement and the guaranty, each relating to Laredo Inc.’s $1 billion revolving credit facility which will mature on July 1, 2016.

 

The foregoing description is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of Supplement No. 1, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Second Supplemental Indenture

 

On December 19, 2011, after the Company’s entry into Supplement No. 1, but prior to the closing of the Merger (as defined below) and the Offering, the Company entered into a second supplemental indenture (the “ Second Supplemental Indenture ”) with Laredo Inc., the guarantors listed on Schedule A thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), pursuant to which the Company was added as a guarantor under the Indenture dated as of January 20, 2011 among Laredo Inc., the guarantors listed on Schedule A thereto and the Trustee (as supplemented from time to time, the “ Indenture ”) providing for the issuance of 9½% senior notes due 2019 (the “ Notes ”) by Laredo Inc. and the Company became a guarantor of the Notes, which have a principal aggregate amount outstanding of $550,000,000.

 

The foregoing description is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Second Supplemental Indenture, which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Third Supplemental Indenture

 

On December 19, 2011, after the Company’s entry into Supplement No. 1 and the Second Supplemental Indenture, but prior to the closing of the Merger and the Offering, the Company entered into a third supplemental indenture (the “ Third Supplemental Indenture ”) with Laredo Inc., the guarantors listed on Schedule A thereto and the Trustee, pursuant to which the Company agreed to assume all of the obligations of the parent guarantor under the Indenture upon effectiveness of the Merger.

 

The foregoing description is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Third Supplemental Indenture, which is attached as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Merger Agreement

 

On December 19, 2011, after the Company’s entry into Supplement No. 1, the Second Supplemental Indenture and Third Supplemental Indenture, but prior to the closing of the Offering, the Company entered into a merger agreement (“ Merger Agreement ”) with Laredo Petroleum, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Laredo LLC ”), pursuant to which Laredo LLC merged with and into the Company (the “ Merger ”), with the Company surviving the Merger.  Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, all issued and outstanding preferred equity units of Laredo LLC and certain series of incentive units of Laredo LLC were exchanged for shares of Common Stock of the Company in accordance with the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Laredo LLC (the “ LLC Agreement ”).  The transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement were consummated on December 19, 2011. Upon completion of the Merger, the LLC Agreement was no longer in effect.

 

The foregoing description is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

1



 

Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan

 

The description of the Plan provided under Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K (and as defined therein) is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference. A copy of the Plan is attached as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

On December 20, 2011, in connection with the closing of the Offering, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”) with affiliates of Warburg Pincus LLC (“ Warburg Pincus ”) and the other former unitholders of Laredo LLC (together with Warburg Pincus, the “ Holders ”).  The Registration Rights Agreement requires the Company to file, within 30 days of receipt of a demand notice issued by Warburg Pincus, a registration statement with the Commission permitting the public offering of registrable securities. In addition, the Registration Rights Agreement grants the Holders the right to join the Company, or “piggyback”, in certain circumstances, if the Company is selling its Common Stock in an offering at any time after the Offering.  The Registration Rights Agreement also includes customary provisions dealing with indemnification, contribution and allocation of expenses.

 

The foregoing description is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Registration Rights Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

In connection with the closing of the Offering, the Company entered into Indemnification Agreements (“ Indemnification Agreements ”) with each of its officers and directors (each, an “ Indemnitee ”).  Each Indemnification Agreement provides, among other things, that the Company will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify and hold harmless an Indemnitee against all losses and expenses that an Indemnitee reasonably incurs in connection with certain proceedings that relate to or are by reason of an Indemnitee’s service as a director or officer, as applicable, or in any other capacity for the Company or its subsidiaries at the request of Company.  Under the Indemnification Agreements, in specified circumstances, the Company must advance payment of expenses to an Indemnitee, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, in connection with certain proceedings.  The Indemnification Agreements also provide that the Company must use its reasonable efforts to maintain specified insurance policies and coverages.

 

The foregoing description is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Indemnification Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.6 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03.  Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

 

The descriptions of Supplement No. 1, the Second Supplemental Indenture and Third Supplemental Indenture provided above under Item 1.01 are incorporated in this Item 2.03 by reference. A copy of Supplement No. 1, the Second Supplemental Indenture and Third Supplemental Indenture are filed as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.02.  Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities.

 

On December 19, 2011, in connection with the Merger, the Company issued an aggregate of approximately 107,500,000 shares of Common Stock to the prior unitholders of Laredo LLC in exchange for an aggregate of 215,236,554 equity units in Laredo LLC. Such issuance was exempt from the registration requirements pursuant to Sections 3(a)(9) and 4(2) of the Securities Act.

 

Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

(e)   On December 20, 2011, upon the closing of the Offering, the Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) became effective.  Under the Plan, awards of stock options, including both incentive stock options and nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units, stock bonus awards and performance compensation awards may be granted to current and future employees, consultants and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries, provided that incentive stock options may be granted only to employees.  Subject to adjustment for certain corporate events, 10,000,000 shares is the maximum number of shares of Common Stock authorized and reserved for issuance under the Plan.

 

2



 

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan, which is attached as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

Item 5.03.  Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc.

 

On December 19, 2011, immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger, the Company amended and restated its Certificate of Incorporation (as so amended and restated, the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”).  A description of the Certificate of Incorporation is contained in the Prospectus in the section entitled “Description of capital stock” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The foregoing description and the description contained in the Prospectus are not complete and each is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate of Incorporation, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 5.03 by reference.

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc.

 

On December 19, 2011, immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger, the Company amended and restated its Bylaws (as amended, the “ Bylaws ”).  A description of the Bylaws is contained in the Prospectus in the section entitled “Description of capital stock” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The foregoing description and the description contained in the Prospectus are not complete and each is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaws, which is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 5.03 by reference.

 

Item 7.01.  Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On December 20, 2011, the Company announced the completion of the Merger and the Offering.  A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the press release is deemed to be “furnished” and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information and Exhibit be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)  Exhibits .

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description

 

 

 

2.1

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between Laredo Petroleum, LLC and Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. dated as of December 19, 2011

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc.

3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc.

10.1

 

Supplement No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Security Agreement and Third Amended and Restated Guaranty dated as of December 19, 2011 by and among Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., Laredo Petroleum, Inc., the guarantors signatories thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent

10.2

 

Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 19, 2011 among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., the guarantors listed on Schedule A thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee

10.3

 

Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 19, 2011 among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., the guarantors listed on Schedule A thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee

10.4#

 

Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan

 

3



 

10.5

 

Form of Registration Rights Agreement dated December 20, 2011 among Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. and the signatories thereto

10.6

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement between Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. and each of the officers and directors thereof

99.1

 

Press release dated December 20, 2011

 


# Compensatory plan, contract or arrangement

 

4



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: December 22, 2011

By:

/s/ Kenneth E. Dornblaser

 

 

Kenneth E. Dornblaser

 

 

Senior Vice President and General Counsel

 

5



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number

 

Description

 

 

 

2.1

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between Laredo Petroleum, LLC and Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. dated as of December 19, 2011

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc.

3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc.

10.1

 

Supplement No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Security Agreement and Third Amended and Restated Guaranty dated as of December 19, 2011 by and among Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., Laredo Petroleum, Inc., the guarantors signatories thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent

10.2

 

Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 19, 2011 among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., the guarantors listed on Schedule A thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee

10.3

 

Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 19, 2011 among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., the guarantors listed on Schedule A thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee

10.4#

 

Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan

10.5

 

Form of Registration Rights Agreement dated December 20, 2011 among Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. and the signatories thereto

10.6

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement between Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. and each of the officers and directors thereof

99.1

 

Press release dated December 20, 2011

 


# Compensatory plan, contract or arrangement

 

6


 

Exhibit 2.1

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

by and between

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, LLC

 

and

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM HOLDINGS, INC.

 

This Agreement and Plan of Merger (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of December 19, 2011 by and between Laredo Petroleum, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Laredo LLC ”) and Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ” and, together with Laredo LLC, the “ Constituent Entities ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Managers of Laredo LLC and the Board of Directors of Holdings deem it advisable and in the best interests of each of the Constituent Entities that Laredo LLC be merged with and into Holdings (hereinafter, in such capacity, sometimes referred to as the “ Surviving Corporation ”) as permitted by Section 264 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”) and Section 18-209 of the Limited Liability Company Act of the State of Delaware (the “ DLLCA ”) pursuant to the terms hereinafter set forth;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Managers of Laredo LLC intends that the transaction contemplated by this Agreement will constitute an “IPO Exchange,” as such term is defined in Section 7.7 (“ Section 7.7 ”) of the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Laredo LLC (the “ LLC Agreement ”); and

 

WHEREAS, the transactions described in this Agreement together with the initial public offering of Holdings are intended to be a transaction described in Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1985.

 

Now, therefore, the parties hereto have agreed as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
THE MERGER

 

Section 1.1            The Merger.   Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined herein), Laredo LLC shall be merged with and into Holdings (the “ Merger ”), and the separate existence of Laredo LLC shall cease.  The Surviving Corporation shall be Holdings.

 

Section 1.2            Filing.   At such time as mutually agreed upon by Laredo LLC and Holdings, such parties shall cause a properly executed certificate of merger conforming to the requirements of the DGCL and the DLLCA to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.  The Merger shall become effective at the time specified in the aforementioned certificate of merger or, if no such time is specified, upon such filing (the “ Effective Time ”).

 



 

Section 1.3            Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DGCL (including without limitation Section 259 of the DGCL) and the DLLCA.

 

Section 1.4            Treatment of Capital Stock and Membership Interests.

 

(a)           Each share of common stock of Holdings, par value $0.01 per share (“ Holdings Common Stock ”), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall upon the Effective Time be cancelled and retired and cease to exist, without the payment of any consideration therefor.

 

(b)           Each Series A-1 Preferred Unit of Laredo LLC (each, a “ Series A-1 Preferred Unit ”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall by virtue of the Merger and without any further action by the holder thereof cease to be outstanding and shall be converted into the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock to which the holder thereof is entitled pursuant to Section 7.7, as will be determined by the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of Holdings (the “ Committee ”) and set forth in a spreadsheet (the “ Spreadsheet ”) to be made available to any holder or former holder of Laredo LLC Units (defined below) upon request (the “ Series A-1 Preferred Merger Consideration ”), and each holder of a Series A-1 Preferred Unit shall at and after the Effective Time cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive, upon surrender of such Series A-1 Preferred Unit, the Series A-1 Preferred Merger Consideration.

 

(c)           Each Series A-2 Preferred Unit of Laredo LLC (each, a “ Series A-2 Preferred Unit ”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall by virtue of the Merger and without any further action by the holder thereof cease to be outstanding and shall be converted into the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock to which the holder thereof is entitled pursuant to Section 7.7, as will be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Spreadsheet (the “ Series A-2 Preferred Merger Consideration ”), and each holder of a Series A-2 Preferred Unit shall at and after the Effective Time cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive, upon surrender of such Series A-2 Preferred Unit, the Series A-2 Preferred Merger Consideration.

 

(d)           Each BOE Preferred Unit of Laredo LLC (each, a “ BOE Preferred Unit ”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall by virtue of the Merger and without any further action by the holder thereof cease to be outstanding and shall be converted into the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock to which the holder thereof is entitled pursuant to Section 7.7, as will be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Spreadsheet (the “ BOE Preferred Merger Consideration ”), and each holder of a BOE Preferred Unit shall at and after the Effective Time cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive, upon surrender of such BOE Preferred Unit, the BOE Preferred Merger Consideration.

 

2



 

(e)           Each Series B Unit of Laredo LLC (each, a “ Series B Unit ”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall by virtue of the Merger and without any further action by the holder thereof cease to be outstanding and shall be converted into the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock to which the holder thereof is entitled pursuant to Section 7.7, as will be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Spreadsheet (the “ Series B Merger Consideration ”), and each holder of a Series B Unit shall at and after the Effective Time cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive, upon surrender of such Series B Unit, the Series B Merger Consideration.

 

(f)            Each Series C Unit of Laredo LLC (each, a “ Series C Unit ”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall by virtue of the Merger and without any further action by the holder thereof be cancelled and retired and cease to be outstanding, without the payment of any consideration therefor, and each holder of a Series C Unit shall at and after the Effective Time cease to have any rights with respect thereto.

 

(g)           Each Series D Unit of Laredo LLC (each, a “ Series D Unit ”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall by virtue of the Merger and without any further action by the holder thereof cease to be outstanding and shall be converted into the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock to which the holder thereof is entitled pursuant to Section 7.7, as will be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Spreadsheet (the “ Series D Merger Consideration ”), and each holder of a Series D Unit shall at and after the Effective Time cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive, upon surrender of such Series D Unit, the Series D Merger Consideration.

 

(h)           Each Series E Unit of Laredo LLC (each, a “Series E Unit”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall by virtue of the Merger and without any further action by the holder thereof be cancelled and retired and cease to be outstanding, without the payment of any consideration therefor, and each holder of a Series E Unit shall at and after the Effective Time cease to have any rights with respect thereto.

 

(i)            Each Series F Unit of Laredo LLC (each, a “ Series F Unit ”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall by virtue of the Merger and without any further action by the holder thereof cease to be outstanding and shall be converted into the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock to which the holder thereof is entitled pursuant to Section 7.7, as will be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Spreadsheet (the “ Series F Merger Consideration ”), and each holder of a Series F Unit shall at and after the Effective Time cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive, upon surrender of such Series F Unit, the Series F Merger Consideration.

 

3



 

(j)            Each Series G Unit of Laredo LLC (each, a “ Series G Unit ”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall by virtue of the Merger and without any further action by the holder thereof cease to be outstanding and shall be converted into the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock to which the holder thereof is entitled pursuant to Section 7.7, as will be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Spreadsheet (the “ Series G Merger Consideration ”), and each holder of a Series G Unit shall at and after the Effective Time cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive, upon surrender of such Series G Unit, the Series G Merger Consideration.

 

(k)           Each BOE Incentive Unit of Laredo LLC (each, a “ BOE Incentive Unit ” and, together with the Series A-1 Preferred Units, Series A-2 Preferred Units, BOE Preferred Units, Series B Units, Series C Units, Series D Units, Series E Units, Series F Units and Series G Units, the “ Laredo LLC Units ”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall by virtue of the Merger and without any further action by the holder thereof cease to be outstanding and shall be converted into the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock to which the holder thereof is entitled pursuant to Section 7.7, as will be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Spreadsheet (the “ BOE Incentive Merger Consideration ”), and each holder of a BOE Incentive Unit shall at and after the Effective Time cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive, upon surrender of such BOE Incentive Unit, the BOE Incentive Merger Consideration.

 

(l)            All Laredo LLC Units which immediately prior to the Effective Time are beneficially owned by Laredo LLC or by any wholly owned subsidiaries of Laredo LLC shall at the Effective Time be cancelled and retired and cease to exist, without the payment of any consideration therefor or any conversion thereof into Holdings Common Stock.

 

(m)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, any shares of Holdings Common Stock to be issued in accordance with this Section with respect to Laredo LLC Units that immediately prior to the Effective Time constituted “Unvested Profits Units” (as defined in the LLC Agreement) shall remain subject to vesting in accordance with, and to the extent provided in, the applicable “Restricted Unit Agreement” (as defined in the LLC Agreement).

 

4



 

Section 1.5            Surrender; Fractional Shares.

 

(a)           Each holder of Laredo LLC Units immediately prior to the Effective Time that are being converted into Holdings Common Stock in accordance with Section 1.4 hereof may thereafter surrender such Laredo LLC Units, such surrender being evidenced by such holder’s execution and delivery of a Restricted Stock Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and/or a Surrender and Acknowledgement Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, as applicable, or other appropriate evidence of surrender, and shall be entitled, upon such surrender, to receive in exchange therefor the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock into which such Laredo LLC Units shall have been converted in accordance with Section 1.4 hereof.  Subject to the restrictions on disposition of Laredo LLC Units provided in the LLC Agreement, if any such share of Holdings Common Stock is to be issued in a name other than that in which the surrendered Laredo LLC Unit registered, it shall be a condition of such exchange that the person requesting such exchange shall have paid any transfer and other taxes required by reason of such issuance of shares of Holdings Common Stock in a name other than that of the registered holder of the Laredo LLC Unit surrendered, or shall have established to the satisfaction of Holdings that such tax has been paid or is not applicable.  As of the Effective Time, the transfer books of Laredo LLC shall be deemed closed, and no transfer of Laredo LLC Units shall thereafter be made or consummated.  If, after the Effective Time, a Laredo LLC Unit is presented to Holdings for any reason, it shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in Section 1.4.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, no fractional shares of Holdings Common Stock shall be issued as a result of the Merger.  Instead of any fractional share of Holdings Common Stock which would otherwise be issuable as a result of the Merger, after aggregating all fractional interests into whole shares of Holdings Common Stock to which each holder of Laredo LLC Units is otherwise entitled, Holdings shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of such fractional interest in a per share amount equal to $17.00; which payment shall constitute a sale of such fractional interests to Holdings pursuant to Section 7.7(c)  of the LLC Agreement.

 

Section 1.6            Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.  The certificate of incorporation of Holdings in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until amended in accordance with its terms and applicable law.

 

Section 1.7            Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.  The bylaws of Holdings in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until amended in accordance with their terms and applicable law.

 

Section 1.8            Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation.  At the Effective Time, the directors of Holdings, as in office immediately before the Effective Time, shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation, until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.  At the Effective Time, the officers of Holdings, as in office immediately before the Effective Time, shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.

 

5



 

ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Section 2.1            Representations and Warranties of Holdings.  Holdings hereby warrants and represents that (a) it is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under Delaware law; (b) it has all requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement; (c) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Holdings enforceable against it in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and (d) the authorized capital stock of Holdings consists of 450,000,000 shares of Holdings Common Stock, of which 1,000 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, all of which are held of record by Laredo LLC.

 

Section 2.2            Representations and Warranties of Laredo LLC.  Laredo LLC hereby warrants and represents that: (a) it is a limited liability company duly organized under the DLLCA and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; (b) it has all requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement; and (c) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Laredo LLC and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Laredo LLC enforceable against it in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS

 

The obligations of each of the Constituent Entities to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions as of the Effective Time:

 

(a)           no provision of any applicable law or regulation and no judgment, injunction, order or decree shall prohibit the consummation of the Merger;

 

(b)           all actions by or in respect of or filings with any governmental body, agency, official or authority required to permit the consummation of the Merger shall have been obtained;

 

(c)           this Agreement shall have been adopted by (i) any required vote of holders of Laredo LLC Units and (ii) the affirmative vote of the sole stockholder of Holdings (collectively, the “ Required Equityholder Approval ”);

 

(d)           each current employee of Laredo LLC or its subsidiaries that is a party to one or more Restricted Unit Agreements shall have executed and delivered a Restricted Stock Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (including the delivery of an executed spousal consent on the signature page thereto, if applicable); and

 

(e)           each current manager, officer or employee of Laredo LLC or its subsidiaries that owns Series A-1 Preferred Units, Series A-2 Preferred Units or BOE Preferred Units shall have executed and delivered a Surrender and Acknowledgment Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (including the delivery of an executed spousal consent on the signature page thereto, if applicable).

 

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ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION

 

This Agreement may be terminated, and the Merger may be abandoned, by mutual consent of the Board of Directors of Holdings and the Board of Managers of Laredo LLC at any time prior to the Effective Time.

 

ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 5.1            Amendments to this Agreement.  This Agreement may be amended at any time prior to the Effective Time by the parties hereto, whether before or after adoption of this Agreement by the Required Equityholder Approval; provided, however, that after any such Required Equityholder Approval, no amendment shall be made to this Agreement that by law requires further approval or authorization by the holders of Laredo LLC Units or the sole stockholder of Holdings without such further approval or authorization.

 

Section 5.2            Governing Law.   To the fullest extent permitted by law, this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws.

 

Section 5.3            Counterparts; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile transmission or by portable document format (“ pdf ”), and signatures transmitted by facsimile or pdf shall be deemed to be original signatures for all purposes.  This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall have received the counterpart hereof signed by the other party hereto.

 

Section 5.4            No Third Party Rights.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer or shall confer upon any person (other than the parties hereto) any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 5.5            Further Assurances.  The parties hereto agree to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such further instruments or documents or take such other action as may be reasonably necessary or convenient to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 5.6            Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement is held to be unenforceable, illegal or invalid such holding shall not invalidate the remaining provisions thereof, and the Agreement shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.  The invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any provision of the Agreement in any one jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 5.7            Headings.  The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of the Agreement.

 

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[Signature page follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Agreement have caused it to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Randy A. Foutch

 

 

Randy A. Foutch

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Randy A. Foutch

 

 

Randy A. Foutch

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Merger Agreement]

 

 


Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM HOLDINGS, INC.

 

(Originally incorporated on August 12, 2011)

 

FIRST:                                                The name of the corporation is Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the “Corporation”).

 

SECOND:                                 The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, County of New Castle, Wilmington, Delaware, 19801.  The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at that address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

THIRD:                                            The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

FOURTH:                              A.  The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is five hundred million (500,000,000), consisting of four hundred and fifty million (450,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par value one cent ($.01) per share (the “Common Stock”), and fifty million (50,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, par value one cent ($.01) per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

 

B.              The board of directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (such certificate being hereinafter referred to as a “Preferred Stock Designation”), to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.  The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, without a vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation.

 

C.              Each outstanding share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation for their vote; provided , however , that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of

 



 

Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock).

 

FIFTH:                                               The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:

 

A.            The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the board of directors.  In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.

 

B.              The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the bylaws so provide.

 

C.              Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the board of directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board.  For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, the term “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.

 

D.             An annual meeting of stockholders, for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the board of directors shall fix.

 

SIXTH:                                           A.  The number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board.

 

B.              Until the Triggering Event (as defined below), and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, at each annual meeting of stockholders, directors shall be elected for a term of one year ending on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting at which the director was elected, with each director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

Upon the tenth business day after the earlier of (i) the public announcement, after the consummation of the initial public offering of the Common Stock (the “IPO”), by the Corporation or affiliates of Warburg Pincus LLC that, or (ii) the public disclosure, after the IPO, of facts by the Corporation or affiliates of Warburg Pincus LLC indicating that, affiliates of Warburg Pincus LLC no longer beneficially own more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Common Stock (the “Triggering Event”) and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the board of directors, other than those directors who may be elected by the holders of any series of preferred stock under specified circumstances, shall be divided into three classes, with the term of office of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Triggering Event, the term of office of

 

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the second class to expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the Triggering Event and the term of office of the third class to expire at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the Triggering Event, with each director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, and the board of directors shall be authorized to assign members of the board of directors already in office, other than those directors who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock under specified circumstances, to such classes at the time such classification becomes effective.  At each annual meeting of stockholders following the Triggering Event, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election, with each director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

C.              If authorized by a resolution of the board of directors, directors may be elected by the stockholders to fill any vacancy on the board of directors, regardless of how such vacancy shall have been created.

 

D.             A majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes at any meeting of the board of directors, and, except as otherwise expressly required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, all matters shall be determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present.

 

E.               Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the board of directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall, unless otherwise required by law or by resolution of the board of directors, be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum (and not by stockholders), and directors so chosen shall serve for a term expiring (i) if the Triggering Event has not occurred, at the succeeding annual meeting of stockholders and (ii) if the Triggering Event has occurred, at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office of the class to which they have been chosen expires, in either case with each director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.  No decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

F.               Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the bylaws of the Corporation.

 

G.              Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any director, or the entire board of directors, may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause if the Triggering Event has not occurred, and only for cause if the Triggering Event has occurred, but in either case only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote at an election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

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SEVENTH:                           The board of directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws of the Corporation.  Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the bylaws of the Corporation by the board of directors shall require the approval of a majority of the Whole Board.  The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of the bylaws of the Corporation.

 

EIGHTH:                                     A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.  If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.

 

Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.  All references in this Article EIGHTH to a director shall also be deemed to refer to any such director acting in his or her capacity as a Continuing Director (as defined below).

 

NINTH:                                           Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding capital stock of the Corporation having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon were present and voted; provided, however, that, following the IPO, on and after the date on which affiliates of Warburg Pincus LLC cease to beneficially own more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Common Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by stockholders may be effected only at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by a written consent or consents by stockholders in lieu of such a meeting.

 

TENTH:                                         The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware and all rights conferred upon stockholders are granted subject to this reservation; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of the stock of this corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, and the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the

 

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Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal this Article TENTH, Sections C or D of Article FIFTH, Article SIXTH, Article SEVENTH, Article EIGHTH or Article ELEVENTH.

 

ELEVENTH:                    To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in any business opportunity, transaction or other matter in which Warburg Pincus LLC or any private fund that it manages or advises, any of their officers, directors, partners, employees, and any portfolio company in which such entities or persons have an equity interest (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) (each, a “Specified Party”) participates or desires or seeks to participate in and that involves any aspect of the energy business or industry, even if the opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so and each such Specified Party shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Corporation and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or any stockholder for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or controlling stockholder or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Specified Party pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, does not hereby renounce any interest or expectancy it or its subsidiaries may have in any business opportunity, transaction or other matter that is offered in writing solely to (1) a director or officer of the Corporation or its subsidiaries who is not also a Specified Party, or (2) a Specified Party who is a director, officer or employee of the Corporation and who is offered such opportunity solely in his or her capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Corporation.

 

Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article ELEVENTH, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, any modification of law, shall adversely affect any right or protection of any person granted pursuant hereto existing at, or arising out of or related to any event, act or omission that occurred prior to, the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification.

 

If any provision or provisions of this Article ELEVENTH shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article ELEVENTH (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article ELEVENTH containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article ELEVENTH (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Article ELEVENTH containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

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This Article ELEVENTH shall not limit any protections or defenses available to, or indemnification rights of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any securities of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article ELEVENTH.

 

TWELFTH:                                                           Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to, or a claim with respect to the interpretation or application of, any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, this Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine.  Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article TWELFTH.

 

THIRTEENTH:                                         The board of directors is expressly authorized to cause the Corporation to issue rights pursuant to Section 157 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and, in connection therewith, to enter into any agreements necessary or convenient for such issuance, and to enter into other agreements necessary and convenient to the conduct of the business of the Corporation.  Any such agreement may include provisions limiting, in certain circumstances, the ability of the board of directors of the Corporation to redeem the securities issued pursuant thereto or to take other action thereunder or in connection therewith unless there is a specified number or percentage of Continuing Directors then in office.  Pursuant to Section 141(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Continuing Directors shall have the power and authority to make all decisions and determinations, and exercise or perform such other acts, that any such agreement provides that such Continuing Directors shall make, exercise or perform.  For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation and any such agreement, the term “Continuing Directors” shall mean (1) those directors who were members of the board of directors of the Corporation at the time the Corporation entered into such agreement and any director who subsequently becomes a member of the board of directors, if such director’s nomination for election to the board of directors is recommended or approved by the majority vote of the Continuing Directors then in office and (2) such other members of the board of directors, if any, designated in, or in the manner provided in, such agreement as Continuing Directors.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which restates and integrates and further amends the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of this Corporation, and which has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, has been executed by its duly authorized officer this 19 th  day of December, 2011.

 

 

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Randy A. Foutch

 

 

Randy A. Foutch

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]

 


Exhibit 3.2

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM HOLDINGS, INC.

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

ARTICLE I - STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.                Annual Meeting.

 

(1)            An annual meeting of stockholders, for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) shall fix.

 

(2)            Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be transacted by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s proxy materials with respect to such meeting, (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (c) by any stockholder of record of the Corporation (the “Record Stockholder”) at the time of the giving of the notice required in the following paragraph, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this section.  For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (c) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or propose business (other than business included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (such act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange Act”)) at an annual meeting of stockholders.

 

(3)            For nominations or business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Record Stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of the foregoing paragraph, (a) the Record Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (b) any such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law and (c) the Record Stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf any such proposal or nomination is made, must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Solicitation Statement required by these Amended and Restated Bylaws (“Bylaws”).  To be timely, a Record Stockholder’s notice shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 45 or more than 75 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that, subject to the last sentence of this Section 1(3), if the meeting is convened more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held, or written consent delivered in lieu thereof, in the preceding year, notice by the Record Stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 90th day before such annual meeting or (ii) the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.  Notwithstanding anything in the preceding sentence to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there has been no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or indicating the increase in the size of the Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least 10 days before the last day a Record Stockholder may deliver a notice of

 



 

nomination in accordance with the preceding sentence, a Record Stockholder’s notice required by this bylaw shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.  In no event shall an adjournment, or postponement of an annual meeting for which notice has been given, commence a new time period for the giving of a Record Stockholder’s notice.

 

(4)            Such Record Stockholder’s notice shall set forth:

 

a.              if such notice pertains to the nomination of directors, as to each person whom the Record Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person as would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of such nominees as directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, and such person’s written consent to serve as a director if elected;

 

b.              as to any business that the Record Stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of such business, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such Record Stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and

 

c.              as to (1) the Record Stockholder giving the notice and (2) the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (each, a “party”):

 

(i)             the name and address of each such party;

 

(ii)            (A) the class, series, and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record by each such party, (B) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by each such party, and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation, (C) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which either party has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares of any security of the Corporation, (D) any short interest in any security of the Corporation held by each such party (for purposes of this Section 1(4), a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security), (E) any

 

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rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially directly or indirectly by each such party that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which either party is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that each such party is directly or indirectly entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of each such party’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information set forth in this paragraph shall be supplemented by such stockholder or such beneficial owner, as the case may be, not later than 10 days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting; provided, that if such date is after the date of the meeting, not later than the day prior to the meeting);

 

(iii)           any other information relating to each such party that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act; and

 

(iv)           a statement whether or not each such party will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation reasonably believed by the Record Stockholder or beneficial holder, as the case may be, to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by the Record Stockholder (such statement, a “Solicitation Statement”).

 

(5)            A person shall not be eligible for election or re-election as a director at an annual meeting unless (i) the person is nominated by a Record Stockholder in accordance with Section 1(2)(c) or (ii) the person is nominated by or at the direction of the Board of Directors.  Only such business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section.  The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting has been made in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defectively proposed business or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded.

 

(6)            For purposes of these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a

 

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comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(7)            Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 1.  Nothing in this Section 1 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

 

Section 2.                Special Meetings.

 

(1)            Special meetings of the stockholders, other than those required by statute, may be called at any time by the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board.  For purposes of these Bylaws, the term “Whole Board” shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.  The Board of Directors may postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting.

 

(2)            Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors.  The notice of such special meeting shall include the purpose for which the meeting is called.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (b) by any stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this paragraph, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who delivers a written notice to the Secretary setting forth the information set forth in Section 1(4)(a) and 1(4)(c) of this Article I.  Nominations by stockholders of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at such a special meeting of stockholders only if such stockholder of record’s notice required by the preceding sentence shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.  In no event shall an adjournment, or postponement of a special meeting for which notice has been given, commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder of record’s notice.  A person shall not be eligible for election or reelection as a director at a special meeting unless the person is nominated (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by a stockholder of record in accordance with the notice procedures set forth in this Article I.

 

(3)            Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 2.  Nothing in this Section 2 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

 

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Section 3.                Notice of Meetings.

 

Notice of the place, if any, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, shall be given, not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”)).

 

When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than 30 days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, notice of the place, if any, date, and time of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, shall be given to each stockholder in conformity herewith.  If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and, except as otherwise required by law, shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.  At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

Section 4.                Quorum.

 

At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law or by the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed.  Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.

 

If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date, or time.

 

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Section 5.                Organization.

 

Such person as the Board of Directors may have designated or, in the absence of such a person, the Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence, the President of the Corporation or, in his or her absence, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chairman of the meeting.  In the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chairman of the meeting appoints.

 

Section 6.                Conduct of Business.

 

The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in order.  The chairman shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time.  The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.

 

Section 7.                Proxies and Voting.

 

At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting.  Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this paragraph may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

 

The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law, shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof.  The Corporation may designate one or more alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act.  If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.  Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.  Every vote taken by ballots shall be counted by a duly appointed inspector or inspectors.

 

All elections shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and except as otherwise required by law or the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, all other matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively.

 

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Section 8.                Stock List.

 

The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, prepare and make a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10th day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his or her name.  Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting in the manner provided by law.

 

A stock list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting as provided by law.  This list shall presumptively determine (a) the identity of the stockholders entitled to examine such stock list and to vote at the meeting and (b) the number of shares held by each of them.

 

Section 9.                Stockholder Action by Written Consent.

 

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding capital stock of the Corporation having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon were present and voted; provided, however, that following the consummation of the initial public offering of the common stock of the Corporation (the “IPO”), on and after the date on which affiliates of Warburg Pincus LLC cease to beneficially own more than 50% of the outstanding common stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by stockholders may be effected only at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by a written consent or consents by stockholders in lieu of such a meeting.

 

ARTICLE II - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.                Number, Election and Term of Directors.

 

The number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board.

 

Until the Triggering Event (as defined below), and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, at each annual meeting of stockholders, directors shall be elected for a term of one year ending on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting at which the director was elected, with each director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

Upon the tenth business day after the earlier of (i) the public announcement, after the IPO, by the Corporation or affiliates of Warburg Pincus LLC that, or (ii) the public disclosure, after the IPO, of facts by the Corporation or affiliates of Warburg Pincus LLC

 

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indicating that, affiliates of Warburg Pincus LLC no longer beneficially own more than 50% of the outstanding common stock of the Corporation (the “Triggering Event”) and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the board of directors, other than those directors who may be elected by the holders of any series of preferred stock under specified circumstances, shall be divided into three classes, with the term of office of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Triggering Event, the term of office of the second class to expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the Triggering Event and the term of office of the third class to expire at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the Triggering Event, with each director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, and the board of directors shall be authorized to assign members of the board of directors already in office, other than those directors who may be elected by the holders of any series of preferred stock under specified circumstances, to such classes at the time such classification becomes effective.  At each annual meeting of stockholders following the Triggering Event, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election, with each director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

If authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors, directors may be elected by the stockholders to fill any vacancy on the Board of Directors, regardless of how such vacancy shall have been created.

 

Section 2.                Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies.

 

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall, unless otherwise required by law or by resolution of the Board of Directors, be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum (and not by stockholders), and directors so chosen shall serve for a term expiring (i) if the Triggering Event has not occurred, at the succeeding annual meeting of stockholders and (ii) if the Triggering Event has occurred, at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office of the class to which they have been chosen expires, or, in either case, until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.  No decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

Section 3.                Regular Meetings.

 

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors.  A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.

 

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Section 4.                Special Meetings.

 

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President or by the Board of Directors and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as they or he or she shall fix.  Notice of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given to each director by whom it is not waived by mailing written notice not less than five days before the meeting or by telephone or by telegraphing or telexing or by facsimile or electronic transmission of the same not less than 24 hours before the meeting.  Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

 

Section 5.                Quorum.

 

A majority of the Whole Board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes at any meeting of the Board of Directors.  If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.

 

Section 6.                Participation in Meetings By Conference Telephone.

 

Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board of Directors or committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 7.                Conduct of Business.

 

At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, and, except as otherwise expressly required by law, all matters shall be determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present.  Action may be taken by the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.  Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

Section 8.                Compensation of Directors.

 

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of the directors.  The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or paid a stated salary or paid other compensation as director.  No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.  Members of special or standing committees may be allowed compensation for attending committee meetings.

 

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ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES

 

Section 1.                Committees of the Board of Directors.

 

The Board of Directors may from time to time designate committees of the Board of Directors, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and shall, for those committees and any others provided for herein, elect a director or directors to serve as the member or members, designating, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.  In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.

 

Section 2.                Conduct of Business.

 

Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law.  Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings; a majority of the members shall constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one or two members, in which event one member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present.  Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

 

Section 1.                Generally.

 

The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, one or more Vice Presidents, Secretary and such other officers as may from time to time be appointed by the Board of Directors.  Officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors, which shall consider that subject at its first meeting after every annual meeting of stockholders.  Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person.  The salaries of officers elected by the Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors or by such officers as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.                Chairman of the Board.

 

The Chairman of the Board shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board.  The Chairman of the Board shall advise and counsel the Chief Executive Officer and other officers and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as

 

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shall be assigned to or required of the Chairman of the Board from time to time by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws.

 

Section 3.                Chief Executive Officer.

 

The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Corporation and general control of all of its business subject to the ultimate authority of the Board of Directors, and shall be responsible for the execution of the policies of the Board of Directors.  In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.                Chief Financial Officer.

 

The Chief Financial Officer shall exercise all the powers and perform the duties of the office of the chief financial officer and in general have overall supervision of the financial operations of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 5.                President.

 

The President shall be the chief operating officer of the Corporation.  He or she shall have general responsibility for the management and control of the operations of the Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of chief operating officer or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.  Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, the President shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are authorized and shall have general supervision of all of the other officers (other than the Chairman of the Board or any Vice Chairman), employees and agents of the Corporation.

 

Section 6.                Vice President; Senior Vice President.

 

Each Vice President and Senior Vice President shall have such powers and duties as may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors.  One Senior Vice President shall be designated by the Board of Directors to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President in the event of the President’s absence or disability.

 

Section 7.                Secretary.

 

The Secretary shall issue all authorized notices for, and shall keep minutes of, all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors.  He or she shall have charge of the corporate books and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

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Section 8.                Delegation of Authority.

 

The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

 

Section 9.                Removal.

 

Any officer of the Corporation may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 10.              Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations.

 

Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the Chief Executive Officer shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders of or with respect to any action of stockholders of any other corporation in which this Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.

 

ARTICLE V - STOCK

 

Section 1.                Certificates of Stock.

 

The shares of the Corporation may be represented by certificates or may be issued in uncertificated form in accordance with Delaware law.  Each holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board or the President or a Vice President, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, if any, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her.  Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile.

 

Section 2.                Transfers of Stock.

 

Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation.  Except where a certificate is issued in accordance with Section 4 of Article V of these Bylaws, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved, if one has been issued,  shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate, if any, is issued therefor.

 

Section 3.                Record Date.

 

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting.  If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the

 

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stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination.  If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.  A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 3 at the adjourned meeting.

 

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which date shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action.  If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

Section 4.                Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.

 

In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock, another may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.

 

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Section 5.                Regulations.

 

The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.

 

ARTICLE VI - NOTICES

 

Section 1.                Notices.

 

If mailed, notice to stockholders shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.  Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

Section 2.                Waivers.

 

A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person.  Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.  Attendance at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

ARTICLE VII - MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 1.                Facsimile Signatures.

 

In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.

 

Section 2.                Corporate Seal.

 

The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary.  If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.

 

Section 3.                Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records.

 

Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such director, committee member or

 

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officer reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

Section 4.                Fiscal Year.

 

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.                Time Periods.

 

In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

 

ARTICLE VIII - INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

Section 1.                Right to Indemnification.

 

Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 3 of this Article VIII with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.                Right to Advancement of Expenses.

 

In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 1 of this Article VIII, an indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an

 

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“undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 2 or otherwise.

 

Section 3.                Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit.

 

If a claim under Section 1 or 2 of this Article VIII is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, if successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit.  In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law.  Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit.  In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VIII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

 

Section 4.                Non-Exclusivity of Rights.

 

The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or directors or otherwise.

 

Section 5.                Insurance.

 

The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the

 

16



 

Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

Section 6.                Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation.

 

The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.

 

Section 7.                Nature of Rights.

 

The rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article VIII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or trustee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.  Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VIII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS

 

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend and repeal these Bylaws subject to the power of the holders of capital stock of the Corporation to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws; provided, however, that, with respect to the power of holders of capital stock to adopt, amend and repeal bylaws of the Corporation, notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation required by law, these Bylaws or any preferred stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws.

 

17


Exhibit 10.1

 

SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT AND THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY

 

This Supplement No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Security Agreement and Third Amended and Restated Guaranty dated as of December 19, 2011 (this “ Agreement ”), is delivered in connection with (a) the Third Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of July 1, 2011 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Security Agreement ”), among Laredo Petroleum, Inc. (“ Borrower ”), Laredo Petroleum, LLC (“ Parent ”), certain subsidiaries of Borrower specified as “Guarantors” on the signature pages hereto (such subsidiaries together with Parent and Borrower, the “ Debtors ”), and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, “ Administrative Agent ”) for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined therein), and (b) the Third Amended and Restated Guaranty dated as of July 1, 2011 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Guaranty ”) by Parent and the subsidiaries of Borrower party thereto.

 

A.                                    Reference is made to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of July 1, 2011 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “ Lenders ”), and Administrative Agent.

 

B.                                      The Debtors have entered into the Security Agreement and the Debtors (other than Borrower) have entered into the Guaranty, in each case as a condition precedent to the effectiveness of the Credit Agreement.

 

C.                                      Borrower has advised Administrative Agent and the Banks that Parent has formed a wholly-owned Subsidiary, Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ New Parent ”), for purposes of making a public offering of Equity in New Parent.  In connection with such public offering, (1) Parent will be merging with New Parent with New Parent being the surviving entity and (2) all of the outstanding preferred equity units and certain series of incentive equity units of Parent will be exchanged into shares of New Parent’s common stock in accordance with the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Parent (such transactions, collectively, the “ IPO Related Corporate Reorganization ”).

 

D.                                     Section 5.5 of the Credit Agreement requires that, in connection with the IPO Related Corporate Reorganization, New Parent execute and deliver to Administrative Agent this Agreement to provide that (1) one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Equity of Borrower will continue to be pledged to Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Banks to secure the Obligations as required by Section 5.1(a) of the Credit Agreement and (2) New Parent will, and as a successor by merger to the obligations of Parent, will continue to, guarantee payment and performance of the Obligations as required by Section 5.3 of the Credit Agreement.

 

E.                                       Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

 

Accordingly, Administrative Agent, New Parent and the Guarantors (as defined in the Guaranty) agree as follows:

 



 

SECTION 1.                                 New Parent hereby (a) acknowledges that, by operation of law as part of the IPO Related Corporate Reorganization, upon consummation of the IPO Related Corporate Reorganization, it will have assumed all the obligations of Parent as a Guarantor (as defined in the Guaranty) under the Guaranty, (b) agrees, as of the date hereof and whether or not the IPO Related Corporate Reorganization is consummated, to be bound by the provisions of the Guaranty as if New Parent had been an original party to the Guaranty, and (c) confirms that, after giving effect to the assumption of the obligations of Parent under the Guaranty by New Parent, the representations and warranties set forth in the Guaranty with respect to New Parent are true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement.  Each of the other Guarantors (as defined in the Guaranty) hereby confirms its respective guarantees under the Guaranty and agrees that, notwithstanding the effectiveness of the transactions contemplated hereby, such guarantees and other obligations, and the terms of the Guaranty, are not impaired or affected in any manner whatsoever and shall continue to be in full force and effect and shall continue to guarantee all of the Guaranteed Obligations (as defined in the Guaranty), as amended, increased and/or extended pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.                                 New Parent hereby (a) acknowledges that, by operation of law as part of the IPO Related Corporate Transaction, upon consummation of the IPO Related Corporate Reorganization, it will have assumed all of the obligations of Parent as a Debtor (as defined in the Security Agreement) under the Security Agreement, (b) agrees, as of the date hereof and whether or not the IPO Related Corporate Reorganization is consummated, to be bound by the provisions of the Security Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Debtor (as defined in the Security Agreement), (c) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties made by it as a Debtor (as defined in the Security Agreement) thereunder are true and correct on and as of the date hereof, (d) reaffirms and confirms the security interest granted by Parent in and lien on all of Parent’s Collateral (as defined in the Security Agreement) including, without limitation, one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Equity of Borrower and (d) as security for the payment and performance in full of the Secured Obligations (as defined in the Security Agreement), does hereby create and grant to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Security Agreement), a security interest in and lien on all of New Parent’s right, title and interest in and to the Collateral (as defined in the Security Agreement), whether now existing or hereafter arising, including, without limitation, one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Equity of Borrower.  The Schedules to the Security Agreement are hereby supplemented by the Schedules attached hereto with respect to New Parent.  Each reference to a “Debtor” in the Security Agreement shall be deemed to include New Parent.

 

SECTION 3.                                 New Parent, Borrower and each other Guarantor (as defined in the Guaranty) represents and warrants to Administrative Agent that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

SECTION 4.                                 This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 



 

SECTION 5.                                 Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Security Agreement and the Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 6.                                 THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND INTERPRETED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

SECTION 7.                                 All communications and notices to New Parent under the Security Agreement shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 7.2 of the Security Agreement to the address for New Parent set forth in Schedule 7.2 to the Security Agreement (as supplemented hereby).

 

SECTION 8.                                 Borrower agrees to reimburse Administrative Agent for its reasonable out of-pocket expenses in connection with this Agreement, including the reasonable fees, other charges and disbursements of counsel for Administrative Agent.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , New Parent, Borrower, the other Guarantors and Administrative Agent have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

NEW PARENT:

LAREDO PETROLEUM HODLINGS, INC. , as successor by merger to Laredo Petroleum, LLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ W. Mark Womble

 

 

W. Mark Womble

 

 

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

BORROWER:

LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ W. Mark Womble

 

 

W. Mark Womble

 

 

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

GUARANTORS:

LAREDO PETROLEUM TEXAS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ W. Mark Womble

 

 

W. Mark Womble

 

 

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

LAREDO GAS SERVICES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ W. Mark Womble

 

 

W. Mark Womble

 

 

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM — DALLAS, INC. ,

 

f/k/a Broad Oak Energy, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ W. Mark Womble

 

 

W. Mark Womble

 

 

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT AND THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY]

 



 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. , as

 

Administrative Agent

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Matthew W. Coleman

 

 

Matthew W. Coleman, Vice President

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT AND THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY]

 


Exhibit 10.2

 

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Second Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of December 19, 2011, among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ New Guarantor ”), the Guarantors listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “ Existing Guarantors ”) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “ Trustee ”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Existing Guarantors and the Trustee are parties to an indenture, dated as of January 20, 2011, as supplemented by the supplemental indenture, dated as of July 20, 2011 (as so supplemented, the “ Indenture ”), providing for the issuance of 9½% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “ Notes ”);

 

WHEREAS, Section 9.01 of the Indenture provides that, without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Existing Guarantors, when authorized by a Board Resolution of the Company, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may supplement or amend the Indenture to add a Guarantor or additional obligor under the Indenture or permit any Person to guarantee the Notes and/or obligations under the Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, the New Guarantor wishes to guarantee the Notes pursuant to the Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4.12 and Article Ten of the Indenture, the Company, the Existing Guarantors, the New Guarantor and the Trustee have agreed to enter into this Second Supplemental Indenture for the purposes stated herein; and

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary have been done to make this Second Supplemental Indenture, when executed and delivered by the Company, the Existing Guarantors and the New Guarantor, the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, the Existing Guarantors and the New Guarantor, in accordance with its terms.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, the New Guarantor, the Existing Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

 

Section 1.  Capitalized Terms .  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

Section 2.  Guarantee .  The New Guarantor hereby guarantees, on a senior unsecured basis, to each Holder of a Note and to the Trustee, the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes pursuant to the terms and conditions of Article Ten of the Indenture (such guarantee, a “ Guarantee ”) and the New Guarantor agrees to be bound as a Guarantor under the Indenture as if and to the same extent as the New Guarantor had been a signatory thereto as

 



 

an Initial Guarantor; provided that the New Guarantor can be released from its Guarantee to the same extent as any other Guarantor under the Indenture.

 

Section 3.  GOVERNING LAW .  THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 4.  Counterparts .  The parties may sign any number of copies of this Second Supplemental Indenture.  Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Second Supplemental Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Second Supplemental Indenture.  Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Second Supplemental Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission also shall deliver an original executed counterpart of this Second Supplemental Indenture, but the failure to deliver an original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability and binding effect of this Second Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 5.  Effect of Headings .  The section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

Section 6.  The Trustee .  The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Second Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company, the Existing Guarantors and the New Guarantor.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

2



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Second Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ W. Mark Womble

 

 

W. Mark Womble

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ W. Mark Womble

 

 

W. Mark Womble

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, LLC

 

LAREDO GAS SERVICES, LLC

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM TEXAS, LLC

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM — DALLAS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ W. Mark Womble

 

 

W. Mark Womble

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[ Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture ]

 



 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Patrick Giordano

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

[ Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture ]

 



 

SCHEDULE A

 

EXISTING GUARANTORS

 

1.                Laredo Petroleum, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

2.                Laredo Gas Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

3.                Laredo Petroleum Texas, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

 

4.                Laredo Petroleum — Dallas, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

A-1


Exhibit 10.3

 

THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Third Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of December 19, 2011, among Laredo Petroleum, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Laredo Petroleum, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Laredo LLC ” or the “ Parent Guarantor ”), Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ New Parent Guarantor ”), the Guarantors listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “ Existing Guarantors ” and, together with Laredo LLC and the Parent Guarantor, the “ Guarantors ”) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “ Trustee ”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Existing Guarantors, Laredo LLC, the New Parent Guarantor and the Trustee are parties to an indenture, dated as of January 20, 2011, as supplemented by that certain Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 20, 2011, and the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 19, 2011 (as so supplemented, the “ Indenture ”), providing for the issuance of 9½% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “ Notes ”);

 

WHEREAS, Section 9.01 of the Indenture provides that, without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Guarantors, when authorized by a Board Resolution of the Company, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may supplement or amend the Indenture to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, a Guarantor, or any other obligor under the Notes, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company, such Guarantor or such obligor in the Indenture and the Notes and in any Guarantee in accordance with Section 5.01 of the Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, Laredo LLC wishes to merge on the date hereof with and into the New Parent Guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 19, 2011 (the “ Merger Agreement ”), by and between Laredo LLC and the New Parent Guarantor pursuant to which, at the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), Laredo LLC will merge with and into the New Parent Guarantor (the “ Merger ”), with the New Parent Guarantor as the surviving corporation;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Article Five of the Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors (including the New Parent Guarantor) and the Trustee have agreed to enter into this Third Supplemental Indenture for the purposes stated herein; and

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary have been done to make this Third Supplemental Indenture, when executed and delivered by the Company, the Guarantors (including the New Parent Guarantor), the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, the Guarantors (including the New Parent Guarantor), in accordance with its terms.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, the New Parent Guarantor, the other Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

 



 

Section 1.  Capitalized Terms .  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

Section 2.  Assumption .

 

(a) The New Parent Guarantor hereby assumes all the obligations of the Parent Guarantor under the Indenture.

 

(b) Section 2(a) shall become effective on the date hereof at the Effective Time.

 

Section 3.  GOVERNING LAW .  THIS THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 4.  Counterparts .  The parties may sign any number of copies of this Third Supplemental Indenture.  Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Third Supplemental Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Third Supplemental Indenture.  Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Third Supplemental Indenture by facsimile or electronic transmission also shall deliver an original executed counterpart of this Third Supplemental Indenture, but the failure to deliver an original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability and binding effect of this Third Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 5.  Effect of Headings .  The section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

Section 6.  The Trustee .  The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Third Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company and the Guarantors (including the New Parent Guarantor).

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

2



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Third Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ W. Mark Womble

 

 

W. Mark Womble

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ W. Mark Womble

 

 

W. Mark Womble

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM, LLC

 

LAREDO GAS SERVICES, LLC

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM TEXAS, LLC

 

LAREDO PETROLEUM — DALLAS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ W. Mark Womble

 

 

W. Mark Womble

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[ Signature Page to Third Supplemental Indenture ]

 



 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Patrick Giordano

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

[ Signature Page to Third Supplemental Indenture ]

 



 

SCHEDULE A

 

EXISTING GUARANTORS

 

1.                Laredo Gas Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

2.                Laredo Petroleum Texas, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.

 

3.                Laredo Petroleum — Dallas, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

A-1


Exhibit 10.4

 

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 Stock, 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

 

1



 

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.  In addition, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in any circumstance in which the definition of “Change in Control” under this Plan would otherwise be operative and with respect to which the additional tax under Section 409A of the Code would apply or be imposed, but where such tax would not apply or be imposed if the meaning of the term "Change in Control" met the requirements of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code, then the term "Change in Control" herein shall mean, but only for the transaction, event or circumstance so affected and the item of income with respect to which the additional tax under Section 409A of the Code would otherwise be imposed, a transaction, event or circumstance that is both (x) described in the preceding provisions of this definition, and (y) a "change in control event" within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

 

(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 Stock is 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 Stock is listed or quoted at any relevant time).

 

(h)                                  Common Stock ” 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; provided , however , that such date complies with the requirements of Sections 422 and 409A of the Code, as applicable.

 

(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 on which the initial public offering of the Company’s Common Stock pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, as initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 24, 2011, is consummated.

 

(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 the Common Stock determined as follows:

 

(i)                                      The closing sales price for a share of Common Stock 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 for which such a price is reported), 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 Stock on any established national stock exchange or interdealer quotation system on a last sale basis, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock, 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 shares of Common Stock, 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 (10 th ) 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 shares of Common Stock 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, shares of Common Stock, 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, shares of Common Stock, 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 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock; (ii) subject to Section 12 of the Plan, grants of Options or SARs under the Plan in respect of no more than 10,000,000 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 10,000,000 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 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock may be earned in respect of Performance Compensation Awards denominated in shares of Common Stock 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 10,000,000 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 $5,000,000.

 

(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 shares of Common Stock 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. For the avoidance of doubt, Awards that can only be settled in cash shall not be treated as shares of Common Stock granted for purposes of this Plan.

 

(d)                                  Shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock underlying any Substitute Awards shall be counted against the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock 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 share of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock in lieu of actual delivery of such shares to the Company), provided , that such shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock for which the Option was exercised that number of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Exercise Price for the shares of Common Stock for which the Option was exercised.  Any fractional shares of Common Stock shall be settled in cash.  The Committee may specify a reasonable minimum number of shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option.  A disqualifying disposition is any disposition (including, without limitation, any sale) of such shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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 share of Common Stock 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 share of Common Stock 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 share of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock with a Fair Market Value equal to such amount, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee in an Award agreement.  Any fractional share of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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 share of Common Stock 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 Stock in lieu of delivering only shares of Common Stock in respect of such Restricted Stock Units or (ii) defer the delivery of shares of Common Stock (or cash or part Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock, or other Awards denominated in shares of Common Stock, 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 Criteria/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, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, split-up, split-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of Common Stock or

 

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other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to acquire shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a Change in Control) that affects the shares of Common Stock, 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 shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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, shares of Common Stock, 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 share of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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 share of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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. 

 

(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 Stock 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 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 Stock is 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 Stock 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, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other property deliverable under any Award or from any compensation or other amounts owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, shares of Common Stock, 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 shares of Common Stock (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 shares of Common Stock 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.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent that a Participant’s beneficiary designation would result in a duplication of, or unintended, benefits payable under this Plan or would otherwise violate applicable law, the Committee shall have the authority to disregard such designation and payments shall be made in accordance with applicable law.

 

(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 shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock to be offered or sold under the Plan.  The Committee shall have the authority to provide that all certificates for shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock from the public markets, the Company’s issuance of shares of Common Stock to the Participant, the Participant’s acquisition of shares of Common Stock from the Company and/or the Participant’s sale of shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock (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 (3 rd ) calendar year following the year in which the Company’s initial public offering of its Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock under any Award made under the Plan.

 

(v)            Section 409A .   The Plan and the Awards hereunder are intended to either comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that the Plan or any Award is not exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the Plan and any such Award intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed by Section 409A of the Code or any damages relating to any failure to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

 

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Exhibit 10.5

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of December 20, 2011 among Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and the stockholders of the Company listed on the signature pages hereto.

 

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. The Company 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, 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 receipt of 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 Company or 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:

 

(a)           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

 

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Registrable Securities covered by 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.

 

(b)           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.

 

(c)           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

 

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any 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, 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.

 

(d)           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.

 

(e)           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.

 

(f)            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).

 

(g)           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.

 

(h)           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.

 

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(i)            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 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.

 

(j)            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.

 

(k)           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.

 

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

 

(m)          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.

 

(n)           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.

 

(o)           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

 

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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 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.

 

(p)           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

 

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disclosure prior to such disclosure and, if requested by the Company, assist the Company in seeking to prevent or limit the proposed disclosure.

 

(q)           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.

 

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

 

(s)           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.

 

(t)            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

 

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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.

 

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, (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 .

 

(a)           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

 

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substantially the same basis as that provided to the Stockholder Indemnified Persons in this Section 7(a).

 

(b)           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).

 

(c)           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

 

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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 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.

 

(d)           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

 

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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 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.

 

(e)           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 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

 

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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 whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders 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.

 

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(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.

 

(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:]

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 


Exhibit 10.6

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of the          day of               , 2011, by and between Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and                         , an individual (“ Indemnitee ”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.            Competent and experienced persons are reluctant to serve or to continue to serve as directors and officers of corporations or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or indemnification (or both) against claims against them arising out of their service and activities on behalf of the corporation.

 

B.            The current uncertainties relating to the availability and cost of adequate insurance have increased the difficulty for corporations of attracting and retaining competent and experienced persons to serve in such capacity.

 

C.            The Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board of Directors ”) has determined that the continuation of present trends in litigation will make it more difficult to attract and retain competent and experienced persons to serve as directors and officers of the Company, that this situation is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of adequate protection in the future.

 

D.            As a supplement to and in the furtherance of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “ Certificate ”) and Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “ Bylaws ”), it is reasonable, prudent, desirable and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to pay in advance expenses on behalf of, officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from concern that they will not be so indemnified and that their expenses will not be so paid in advance;

 

E.             This Agreement is not a substitute for, nor does it diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee under, the Certificate and the Bylaws or any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto (including any contractual rights of Indemnitee that may exist).

 

F.             Indemnitee is a director and/or officer of the Company and his or her willingness to continue to serve in such capacity is predicated, in substantial part, upon the Company’s willingness to indemnify him or her to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware and upon the other undertakings set forth in this Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as follows:

 



 

ARTICLE 1
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the meanings set forth below:

 

Corporate Status ” means the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company. In addition to any service at the actual request of the Company, Indemnitee will be deemed, for purposes of this Agreement, to be serving or to have served at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of another Enterprise if Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, fiduciary, trustee or agent of such Enterprise and (i) such Enterprise is or at the time of such service was a Controlled Affiliate, (ii) such Enterprise is or at the time of such service was an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or a Controlled Affiliate or (iii) the Company or a Controlled Affiliate directly or indirectly caused Indemnitee to be nominated, elected, appointed, designated, employed, engaged or selected to serve in such capacity.

 

Controlled Affiliate ” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other Enterprise, whether or not for profit, that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct, or cause the direction of, the management or policies of an Enterprise, whether through the ownership of voting securities, through other voting rights, by contract or otherwise; provided , however , that direct or indirect beneficial ownership of capital stock or other interests in an Enterprise entitling the holder to cast 30% or more of the total number of votes generally entitled to be cast in the election of directors (or persons performing comparable functions) of such Enterprise will be deemed to constitute “control” for purposes of this definition.

 

Disinterested Director ” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

Enterprise ” means the Company and any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other entity or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving in a Corporate Status.

 

Expenses ” means all attorney’s fees, disbursements and retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, fax transmission charges, secretarial services, delivery service fees and all other disbursements or expenses paid or incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding, or in connection with seeking indemnification under this Agreement. Expenses will also include Expenses paid or incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including the premium, security for and other costs

 

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relating to any appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, will not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

Independent Counsel ” means an attorney or firm of attorneys that is experienced in matters of Delaware corporation law and neither currently is, nor in the past five (5) years has been, retained to represent: (i) any Enterprise or Indemnitee in any matter material to any such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement and/or the indemnification provisions of the Certificate or Bylaws, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” does not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

Losses ” means any loss, liability, judgments, damages, amounts paid in settlement, fines (including excise taxes and penalties assessed with respect to employee benefit plans), penalties (whether civil, criminal or otherwise) and all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of any of the foregoing.

 

Proceeding ” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, demand, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, including any and all appeals, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, whether formal or informal, and in each case whether or not commenced prior to the date of this Agreement, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of or relating to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status and by reason of or relating to either (i) any action or alleged action taken by Indemnitee (or failure or alleged failure to act) or of any action or alleged action (or failure or alleged failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part, while acting in his or her Corporate Status or (ii) the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of another Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any Loss or Expense is paid or incurred for which indemnification or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement, except one initiated by Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights under this Agreement. For purposes of this definition, the term “threatened” will be deemed to include Indemnitee’s good faith belief that a claim or other assertion may lead to the institution of a Proceeding.

 

References to “ serving at the request of the Company ” include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan will be deemed to have acted in a manner “ not opposed to the best interests of the Company ” as referred to under applicable law or in this Agreement.

 

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ARTICLE 2
SERVICES TO THE COMPANY

 

2.1          Services to the Company . Indemnitee agrees to serve as a [director][officer] of the Company. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company will have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement will not be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained in such position or in the employ of the Company (or any other Enterprise) generally.  The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a [director][officer] of the Company.

 

ARTICLE 3
INDEMNIFICATION

 

3.1          Company Indemnification . Except as otherwise provided in this Article 3 , if Indemnitee was, is or becomes a party to, or was or is threatened to be made a party to, or was or is otherwise involved in, any Proceeding, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, interpreted or replaced, against any and all Expenses and Losses, and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, that are actually and reasonably paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding and in compliance with this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the meaning of the phrase “ to the fullest extent permitted by law ” will include to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“ DGCL ”) or any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify or provide advancement to its officers and directors.

 

3.2          Mandatory Indemnification if Indemnitee is Wholly or Partly Successful . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (other than Section 6.9 and Section 3.4 ), to the extent that Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of any Proceeding or any part thereof, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses that are actually and reasonably paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but fewer than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses that are actually and reasonably paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter on which Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section 3.2 , the termination of any Proceeding, or any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding, by dismissal with or without prejudice, will be deemed to be a successful result as to such Proceeding, claim, issue or matter.

 

3.3          Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably paid or incurred by Indemnitee on his or her behalf in connection therewith.

 

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3.4          Exclusions . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company will not be obligated under this Agreement to provide indemnification in connection with the following:

 

(a)           Any Proceeding (or part of any Proceeding) initiated or brought voluntarily by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnities, unless the Board of Directors has authorized or consented to the initiation of the Proceeding (or such part of any Proceeding); provided , however , that nothing in this Section 3.4(a)  shall limit the right of Indemnitee to be indemnified under Section 8.4 .  For the avoidance of doubt, Indemnitee shall not be deemed, for purposes of this subsection, to have initiated or brought any claim by reason of (i) having asserted any affirmative defenses in connection with a claim not initiated by Indemnitee or (ii) having made any counterclaim (whether permissive or mandatory) in connection with any claim not initiated by Indemnitee.

 

(b)           For an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor statute.

 

(c)           For amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such amounts under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

(d)           For any indemnity that is prohibited by applicable law.

 

ARTICLE 4
ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

 

4.1          Expense Advances . Except as set forth in Section 4.2 , the Company will, if requested by Indemnitee, advance, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to Indemnitee (hereinafter an “ Expense Advance ”) any and all Expenses actually and reasonably paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (whether prior to or after its final disposition). Indemnitee’s right to each Expense Advance will not be subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct and will be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement, or under provisions of the Certificate or Bylaws or otherwise. Each Expense Advance will be unsecured and interest free and will be made by the Company without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expense Advance; provided , however , an Expense Advance will be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (hereinafter an “ Undertaking ”), by or on behalf of Indemnitee, to repay such Expense Advance if it is ultimately determined, by final decision by a court or arbitrator, as applicable, from which there is no further right to appeal, that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such Expenses under the Certificate, Bylaws, the DGCL, this Agreement or otherwise. An Expense eligible for an Expense Advance will include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce the right of advancement provided for in this Article 4 , including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the Expense Advances claimed.

 

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4.2          Exclusions . Indemnitee will not be entitled to any Expense Advance in connection with any of the matters for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 3.4 .

 

4.3          Timing . An Expense Advance pursuant to Section 4.1 will be made within 20 business days after the receipt by the Company of a written statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such Expense Advance (which statement or statements will include, if requested by the Company, reasonable detail underlying the Expenses for which the Expense Advance is requested), whether such request is made prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such request must be accompanied by or preceded by the Undertaking, if then required by the DGCL or any other applicable law.

 

ARTICLE 5
CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF JOINT LIABILITY

 

5.1          Contribution by Company . To the fullest extent permitted by law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, will contribute to the amount of Expenses and Losses actually and reasonably incurred or paid by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding in proportion to the relative benefits received by the Company and all officers, directors and employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which such Proceeding arose; provided , however , that the proportion determined on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors and employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the events that resulted in such Expenses and Losses, as well as any other equitable considerations which applicable law may require to be considered. The relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors and employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, will be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the degree to which their liability is primary or secondary, and the degree to which their conduct was active or passive.

 

5.2          Indemnification for Contribution Claims by Others . To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless from any claims of contribution which may be brought by other officers, directors or employees of the Company who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee for any Loss or Expense arising from a Proceeding.

 

ARTICLE 6
PROCEDURES AND PRESUMPTIONS FOR THE
DETERMINATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO INDEMNIFICATION

 

6.1          Notification of Claims; Request for Indemnification . Indemnitee agrees to notify promptly the Company in writing of any claim made against Indemnitee for which

 

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indemnification will or could be sought under this Agreement; provided , however , that a delay in giving such notice will not deprive Indemnitee of any right to be indemnified under this Agreement unless, and then only to the extent that, the Company did not otherwise learn of the Proceeding and such delay is materially prejudicial to the Company’s ability to defend such Proceeding; and, provided , further , that notice will be deemed to have been given without any action on the part of Indemnitee in the event the Company is a party to the same Proceeding. The omission to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any liability for indemnification which it may have to Indemnitee otherwise than under this Agreement. Indemnitee agrees to deliver to the Company a written request to have the Company indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee in accordance with this Agreement. Subject to Section 6.9 , such request may be delivered from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in his or her sole discretion. Following such a written request for indemnification, Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be determined according to Section 6.2 . The Secretary of the Company will, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification. The Company will be entitled to participate in any Proceeding at its own expense.

 

6.2          Determination of Right to Indemnification . Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof with respect to any Proceeding, a determination, if, but only if, required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto will be made by one of the following, at the election of the Board of Directors: (1) so long as there are Disinterested Directors with respect to such Proceeding, a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, (2) so long as there are Disinterested Directors with respect to such Proceeding, a committee of such Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of such Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors or (3) Independent Counsel in a written opinion delivered to the Board of Directors, a copy of which will also be delivered to Indemnitee. The person, persons or entity chosen to make a determination under this Agreement of the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification will act reasonably and in good faith in making such determination.

 

6.3          Selection of Independent Counsel . If the determination of entitlement to indemnification pursuant to Section 6.2 will be made by an Independent Counsel, the Independent Counsel will be selected as provided in this Section 6.3 . The Independent Counsel will be selected by the Board of Directors.  The Company will give written notice to Indemnitee advising him or her of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. Indemnitee may, within ten days after such written notice of selection is given, deliver to the Company a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in this Agreement, and the objection will set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected will act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 30 days after the later of (1) submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6.1 and (2) the final disposition of the Proceeding, including any appeal therein, no Independent Counsel is selected, or an Independent Counsel for which an objection thereto has

 

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been properly made remains unresolved, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which has been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court may designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed will act as Independent Counsel under Section 6.2 . The Company will pay any and all fees and expenses incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof, and the Company will pay all fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 6.3 , regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

6.4          Burden of Proof . In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons or entity making such determination will presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption will have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence. In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder which under this Agreement, the Certificate, Bylaws or applicable law requires a determination of Indemnitee’s good faith and/or whether Indemnitee acted in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, the person, persons or entity making such determination will presume that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption will have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence. Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action with respect to a particular Enterprise is based on the records or books of account of such Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of such Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for such Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to such Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by such Enterprise; provided , however this sentence will not be deemed to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met such standard of conduct. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, agent or employee of such Enterprise will not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

6.5          No Presumption in Absence of a Determination or As Result of an Adverse Determination; Presumption Regarding Success . Neither the failure of any person, persons or entity chosen to make a determination as to whether Indemnitee has met any particular standard of conduct or had any particular belief to make such determination, nor an actual determination by such person, persons or entity that Indemnitee has not met such standard of conduct or did not have such belief, prior to or after the commencement of legal proceedings by Indemnitee to secure a judicial determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under this Agreement under applicable law, will be a defense to Indemnitee’s claim or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of conduct or did not have any particular belief.

 

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In addition, the termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, will not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by this Agreement or applicable law. In the event that any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by final adverse judgment (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) against Indemnitee (including, without limitation, settlement of such Proceeding with or without payment of money or other consideration), it will be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such Proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption will have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence.

 

6.6          Timing of Determination . The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause any determination required to be made pursuant to Section 6.2 to be made as promptly as practicable after Indemnitee has submitted a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6.1 . If the person, persons or entity chosen to make a determination does not make such determination within 30 days after the later of the date (a) the Company receives Indemnitee’s request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6.1 and (b) on which an Independent Counsel is selected pursuant to Section 6.3 , if applicable (and all objections to such person, if any, have been resolved), the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification will be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee will be entitled to such indemnification, so long as (i) Indemnitee has fulfilled his or her obligations pursuant to Section 6.8 and (ii) such indemnification is not prohibited under applicable law; provided , however , that such 30 day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional 15 days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining of or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.

 

6.7          Timing of Payments . All payments of Losses and Expenses and any other amounts by the Company to the Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement will be made as soon as practicable after a written request or demand therefor by Indemnitee is presented to the Company, but in no event later than 60 days after (a) such demand is presented or (b) such later date as a determination of entitlement to indemnification is made in accordance with Section 6.6 , if applicable; provided , however , that an Expense Advance will be made within the time provided in Section 4.3 or Section 8.4 hereof.

 

6.8          Cooperation . Indemnitee will cooperate with the person, persons or entity making a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity, upon reasonable advance request, any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination will be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company will indemnify Indemnitee therefor and will hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

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6.9          Time for Submission of Request . Indemnitee will be required to submit any request for Indemnification pursuant to this Article 6 within a reasonable time, not to exceed two years, after any judgment, order, settlement, dismissal, arbitration award, conviction, acceptance of a plea of nolo contendere (or its equivalent) or other full or partial final determination or disposition of the Proceeding (with the latest date of the occurrence of any such event to be considered the commencement of the two year period).

 

ARTICLE 7
LIABILITY INSURANCE

 

7.1          Company Insurance . Subject to Section 7.3 , the Company will obtain and maintain a policy or policies of insurance with one or more reputable insurance companies providing Indemnitee with coverage in such amount as will be determined by the Board of Directors for Losses and Expenses paid or incurred by Indemnitee as a result of acts or omissions of Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status, and to ensure the Company’s performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement; provided , however , in all policies of director and officer liability insurance obtained by the Company, Indemnitee will be named as an insured party in such manner as to provide Indemnitee with the same rights and benefits as are afforded to the most favorably insured director or officer, as applicable, of the Company under such policies. Any reductions to the amount of director and officer liability insurance coverage maintained by the Company as of the date hereof will be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.

 

7.2          Notice to Insurers . At the time of receipt by the Company of a notice from any source of a Proceeding as to which Indemnitee is a party or participant, the Company will give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies, and the Company will provide Indemnitee with a copy of such notice and copies of all subsequent correspondence between the Company and such insurers related thereto. The Company will thereafter take all necessary or desirable actions to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

7.3          Insurance Not Required . Notwithstanding Section 7.1 , the Company will have no obligation to obtain or maintain the insurance contemplated by Section 7.1 if the Board of Directors determines in good faith that such insurance is not reasonably available, if the premium costs for such insurance are disproportionately high compared to the amount of coverage provided, or if the coverage provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so as to provide an insufficient benefit. The Company will promptly notify Indemnitee of any such determination not to provide insurance coverage.

 

7.4          Other Rights. The Company hereby agrees (i) that it is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to Indemnitee are the primary source of indemnification and advancement of expenses of Indemnitee for any Expenses or Losses for which Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement and any obligation of the Warburg Group (as defined below) to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or losses incurred by Indemnitee are secondary to the Company’s obligation), (ii) that it shall be required to advance the full amount of Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all Expenses and Losses to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement and the Certificate and Bylaws (or any other agreement between the Company and Indemnitee), without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against the Warburg Group.  If the Warburg Group pays or causes to be paid any amount otherwise payable or indemnifiable hereunder, then the Warburg Group shall have a right of contribution and/or be fully subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee against the Company, and the Company shall fully indemnify, reimburse and hold harmless the Warburg Group for all such payments actually made by the Warburg Group.  For purposes of this Agreement, the “ Warburg Group ” shall mean Warburg Pincus Private Equity IX, L.P. and Warburg Pincus Private Equity X O&G, L.P. and their affiliates other than the Company.

 

ARTICLE 8
REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE

 

8.1          Action by Indemnitee . In the event that (a) a determination is made pursuant to Article 6 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (b) an Expense Advance is not timely made pursuant to Section 4.3 of this Agreement, (c) no determination of entitlement to indemnification is made within the applicable

 

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time periods specified in Section 6.6 or (d) payment of indemnified amounts is not made within the applicable time periods specified in Section 6.7 , Indemnitee will be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of Delaware, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or payment of an Expense Advance. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The provisions of Delaware law (without regard to its conflict of laws rules) will apply to any such arbitration. The Company will not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

8.2          De Novo Review if Prior Adverse Determination . In the event that a determination is made pursuant to Article 6 that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Article 8 will be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial or arbitration, as applicable, on the merits and Indemnitee will not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Article 8 , Indemnitee will be presumed to be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, the Company will have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification and the Company may not refer to or introduce evidence of any determination pursuant to Article 6 adverse to Indemnitee for any purpose. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Article 8 , Indemnitee will not be required to reimburse the Company for any Expense Advance made pursuant to Article 4 until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).

 

8.3          Company Bound by Favorable Determination by Reviewing Party . If a determination is made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification pursuant to Article 6 , the Company will be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Article 8 , absent (a) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statements in connection with the request for indemnification not materially misleading or (b) a prohibition of such indemnification under law.

 

8.4          Company Bears Expenses if Indemnitee Seeks Adjudication . In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Article 8 , seeks a judicial adjudication or arbitration of his or her rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, any other agreement for indemnification, the indemnification or advancement of expenses provisions in the Certificate or Bylaws, payment of an Expense Advance or contribution hereunder or to recover under any director and officer liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, the Company will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against any and all Expenses which are paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, payment of Expense Advance or contribution or insurance recovery. In addition, following a determination that Indemnitee is entitled to an Expense Advance under this Section 8.4, if requested by Indemnitee, the Company will (within five days after receipt by the Company of the written request therefor), pay as an Expense Advance such Expenses, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

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8.5          Company Bound by Provisions of this Agreement . The Company will be precluded from asserting in any judicial or arbitration proceeding commenced pursuant to this Article 8 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and will stipulate in any such judicial or arbitration proceeding that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 9
NON-EXCLUSIVITY, SUBROGATION; NO DUPLICATIVE PAYMENTS;
MORE FAVORABLE TERMS

 

9.1          Non-Exclusivity . The rights of indemnification and to receive Expense Advances as provided by this Agreement will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of the Board of Directors or otherwise. To the extent Indemnitee otherwise would have any greater right to indemnification or payment of any advancement of Expenses under any other provisions under applicable law, the Certificate, Bylaws, any agreement, vote of stockholders, a resolution of Board of Directors or otherwise, Indemnitee will be entitled under this Agreement to such greater right. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement than would be afforded currently under the Certificate, Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy will be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, will not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

9.2          Subrogation . In the event of any payment by the Company under this Agreement, the Company will be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee with respect thereto and Indemnitee will execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights (it being understood that all of Indemnitee’s reasonable Expenses related thereto will be borne by the Company).

 

9.3          No Duplicative Payments . The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee in respect of Proceedings relating to Indemnitee’s service at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, trustee, fiduciary or agent of any Enterprise other than the Company will be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such other Enterprise.

 

9.4          More Favorable Terms . In the event the Company enters into an indemnification agreement with another officer or director, as the case may be, containing terms more favorable to the indemnitee thereof than the terms contained herein (and absent special circumstances

 

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justifying such more favorable terms), Indemnitee will be afforded the benefit of such more favorable terms and such more favorable terms will be deemed incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in full herein. As promptly as practicable following the execution thereof, the Company will (a) send a copy of the agreement containing more favorable terms to Indemnitee, and (b) prepare, execute and deliver to Indemnitee an amendment to this Agreement containing such more favorable terms.

 

ARTICLE 10
DEFENSE OF PROCEEDINGS

 

10.1        Company Assuming the Defense . Subject to Section 10.3 below, in the event the Company is obligated to pay in advance the Expenses of any Proceeding pursuant to Article 4 , the Company will be entitled, by written notice to Indemnitee, to assume the defense of such Proceeding, with counsel approved by Indemnitee, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld. The Company will identify the counsel it proposes to employ in connection with such defense as part of the written notice sent to Indemnitee notifying Indemnitee of the Company’s election to assume such defense, and Indemnitee will be required, within ten days following Indemnitee’s receipt of such notice, to inform the Company of its approval of such counsel or, if it has objections, the reasons therefor. If such objections cannot be resolved by the parties, the Company will identify alternative counsel, which counsel will also be subject to approval by Indemnitee in accordance with the procedure described in the prior sentence.

 

10.2        Right of Indemnitee to Employ Counsel . Following approval of counsel by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 10.1 and retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees and expenses of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding; provided , however , that (a) Indemnitee has the right to employ counsel in any such Proceeding at Indemnitee’s expense and (b) the Company will be required to pay the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s counsel if (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the Company, (ii) Indemnitee reasonably concludes that there is an actual or potential conflict between the Company (or any other person or persons included in a joint defense) and Indemnitee in the conduct of such defense or representation by such counsel retained by the Company or (iii) the Company does not continue to retain the counsel approved by Indemnitee.

 

10.3        Company Not Entitled to Assume Defense . Notwithstanding Section 10.1 , the Company will not be entitled to assume the defense of any Proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company or any Proceeding as to which Indemnitee has reasonably made the conclusion provided for in Section 10.2(b)(ii) .

 

ARTICLE 11
SETTLEMENT

 

11.1        Company Bound by Provisions of this Agreement . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company will have no obligation to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any Proceeding effected without the Company’s prior written consent.

 

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11.2        When Indemnitee’s Prior Consent Required . The Company will not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, consent to the entry of any judgment against Indemnitee or enter into any settlement or compromise which (a) includes an admission of fault of Indemnitee, any non-monetary remedy imposed on Indemnitee or a Loss for which Indemnitee is not wholly indemnified hereunder or (b) with respect to any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee may be or is made a party or a participant or may be or is otherwise entitled to seek indemnification hereunder, does not include, as an unconditional term thereof, the full release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such Proceeding, which release will be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee.

 

11.3        Consent .  Neither the Company nor Indemnitee will unreasonably withhold, condition or delay its consent to any proposed settlement; provided, however, Indemnitee may withhold consent to any settlement that does not provide a full and unconditional release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such Proceeding.

 

ARTICLE 12
DURATION OF AGREEMENT

 

12.1        Duration of Agreement . This Agreement will continue until and terminate upon the latest of (a) the statute of limitations applicable to any claim that could be asserted against an Indemnitee with respect to which Indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification and/or an Expense Advance under this Agreement, (b) ten years after the date that Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, employee, partner, member, manager, fiduciary or agent of any other Enterprise which Indemnitee served at the request of the Company, or (c) if, at the later of the dates referred to in (a) and (b) above, there is pending a Proceeding in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or the right to an Expense Advance under this Agreement or a Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Article 8 of this Agreement, one year after the final termination of such Proceeding, including any and all appeals.

 

ARTICLE 13
MISCELLANEOUS

 

13.1        Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof; provided , however , it is agreed that the provisions contained in this Agreement are a supplement to, and not a substitute for, any provisions regarding the same subject matter contained in the Certificate, the Bylaws and any employment or similar agreement between the parties.

 

13.2        Assignment; Binding Effect; Third Party Beneficiaries . No party may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other party and any such assignment by a party without prior written approval of the other parties will be deemed invalid and not binding on such other parties.  All of the terms, agreements, covenants, representations, warranties and conditions of this Agreement are binding upon, and inure to the benefit of and are enforceable by, the parties and their

 

14



 

respective successors, permitted assigns, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. There are no third party beneficiaries having rights under or with respect to this Agreement.

 

13.3        Notices . All notices, requests and other communications provided for or permitted to be given under this Agreement must be in writing and be given by personal delivery, by certified or registered United States mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for next day delivery, or by facsimile transmission, as follows (or to such other address as any party may give in a notice given in accordance with the provisions hereof):

 

 

If to Indemnitee, to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attention:

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

If to the Company, to:

 

 

 

Laredo Petroleum Holding, Inc.

 

15 W. Sixth Street, Suite 1800

 

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119

 

Attention: General Counsel

 

Facsimile: (918) 513-4571

 

 

 

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

 

 

 

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

 

1111 Louisiana Street, 44 th  Floor

 

Houston, Texas 77002

 

Attention: Christine B. LaFollette

 

Facsimile: (713) 236-0822

 

All notices, requests or other communications will be effective and deemed given only as follows: (i) if given by personal delivery, upon such personal delivery, (ii) if sent by certified or registered mail, on the fifth business day after being deposited in the United States mail, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by overnight delivery service, on the date of delivery as confirmed by written confirmation of delivery, (iv) if sent by facsimile, upon the transmitter’s confirmation of receipt of such facsimile transmission, except that if such confirmation is received after 5:00 p.m. (in the recipient’s time zone) on a business day, or is received on a day that is not a business day, then such notice, request or communication will not be deemed effective or given until the

 

15



 

next succeeding business day. Notices, requests and other communications sent in any other manner, including by electronic mail, will not be effective.

 

13.4        Specific Performance; Remedies . Each party acknowledges and agrees that the other party would be damaged irreparably if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, the parties will be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically this Agreement and its provisions in any action or proceeding instituted in any state or federal court sitting in Delaware having jurisdiction over the parties and the matter, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled, at law or in equity. Except as expressly provided herein, the rights, obligations and remedies created by this Agreement are cumulative and in addition to any other rights, obligations or remedies otherwise available at law or in equity. Except as expressly provided herein, nothing herein will be considered an election of remedies.

 

13.5        Submission to Jurisdiction . Except with respect to any arbitration or suit in an alternative court of competent jurisdiction commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof, any Proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement may only be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such Court shall lack subject-matter jurisdiction over such action, then in any such other state court of the State of Delaware as may have subject-matter jurisdiction over such action, which will be the exclusive and only proper forum for adjudicating such Proceeding, and each party consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such court (and of the appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such Proceeding and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such Proceeding in any such court or that any such Proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such action, suit or proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court, and the parties hereto consent to service of process at the address provided in Section 13.3 hereof with the same legal force and validity as if served on such party personally within the State of Delaware.

 

13.6        Headings . The article and section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

13.7        Governing Law . This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law principles.

 

13.8        Amendment . This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a writing signed by all of the parties.

 

13.9        Extensions; Waivers . Any party may, for itself only, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of any other party under this Agreement, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of any other party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or

 

16



 

conditions for the benefit of such party contained herein. Any such extension or waiver will be valid only if set forth in a writing signed by the party to be bound thereby. No waiver by any party of any default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, may be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising because of any prior or subsequent such occurrence. Neither the failure nor any delay on the part of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of the same or of any other right or remedy.

 

13.10      Severability . The provisions of this Agreement will be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision will not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof; provided that if any provision of this Agreement, as applied to any party or to any circumstance, is judicially determined not to be enforceable in accordance with its terms, the parties agree that the court judicially making such determination may modify the provision in a manner consistent with its objectives such that it is enforceable, and/or to delete specific words or phrases, and in its modified form, such provision will then be enforceable and will be enforced.

 

13.11      Counterparts; Effectiveness . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement will become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, which delivery may be made by exchange of copies of the signature page by facsimile transmission.

 

13.12      Construction . This Agreement has been freely and fairly negotiated among the parties. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. Any reference to any law will be deemed also to refer to such law as amended and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The parties intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If any party has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which the party has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that the party is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant. Time is of the essence in the performance of this Agreement.

 

[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:

 

 

 

 

 

Indemnitee

 

 

 

 

 

Signature

 

 

 

 

 

Print Name

 

[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]

 


Exhibit 99.1

 

Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. Closes Initial Public Offering
and Exercise of Underwriters’ Option to Purchase Additional Shares

 

TULSA, OKLAHOMA December 20, 2011— Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LPI) (the “Company” or “Laredo Petroleum”), announced today that it has completed its initial public offering of 20,125,000 shares of its common stock at $17.00 per share, including all 2,625,000 shares of common stock subject to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

 

Prior to the consummation of the initial public offering, Laredo Petroleum, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Laredo LLC”), merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the merger.  In the merger, all outstanding equity units in Laredo LLC were exchanged for approximately 107,500,000 restricted shares of common stock of the Company.

 

Net proceeds received by the Company from the initial public offering were approximately $319 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.  The Company intends to use these net proceeds to repay a portion of its outstanding indebtedness under its revolving credit facility.

 

J.P. Morgan, Goldman, Sachs & Co., BofA Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo Securities acted as joint book-running managers for the offering. Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. acted as lead manager for the offering. Société Generale, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities, BMO Capital Markets, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Scotia Capital, Capital One Southcoast, BOSC, Inc., BB&T Capital Markets, Comerica Securities and Howard Weil Incorporated acted as co-managers for the offering.

 

The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of a written prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be obtained from the offices of:

 

J.P. Morgan

via Broadridge Financial Solutions

1155 Long Island Avenue

Edgewood, New York 11717

Telephone: (866) 803-9204

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Prospectus Department

200 West Street

New York, NY 10282

Telephone: 1-866-471-2526

Facsimile: 212-902-9316

By email at prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com

 

BofA Merrill Lynch

4 World Financial Center

New York, NY 10080

Attn: Prospectus Department

By email at dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com

 



 

Wells Fargo Securities

Attn: Equity Syndicate Dept.

375 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10152

Telephone: (800) 326-5897

By email at cmclientsupport@wellsfargo.com

 

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission.  This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

 

Laredo Petroleum is an independent oil and gas company with headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Laredo Petroleum’s business strategy is focused on the exploration, development and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties in the Permian and Mid-Continent regions of the United States.

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined under federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties and actual results could differ materially. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.

 

Contact

Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc.

Attn: W. Mark Womble

Office: (918) 513-4570

Fax: (918) 513-4571

mwomble@laredopetro.com

 

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