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): November 8, 2017

 

 

Whiting Petroleum Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-31899   20-0098515

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

1700 Broadway, Suite 2300, Denver, Colorado 80290-2300

(Address of principal executive offices, including ZIP code)

(303) 837-1661

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 C.F.R. §230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 C.F.R. §240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 C.F.R. §240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 C.F.R. §240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


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

Items 5.07 and 8.01 are incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

Whiting Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”) held a special meeting of stockholders on November 8, 2017 (the “Special Meeting”). Of the 368,105,296 shares outstanding as of the record date for the Special Meeting, 307,486,201 shares (approximately 83.53%) were present or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting. The proposal voted on at the Special Meeting, which was approved by stockholders, and the result of the voting on the proposal submitted to the stockholders was as follows:

 

1. Adoption and approval of an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect (a) a reverse stock split (the “Reverse Stock Split”) of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 (the “Common Stock”), and (b) a reduction in the number of authorized shares of the Common Stock.

Shares Voted

 

For    Against      Abstain  
265,847,806      39,074,798        2,563,597  

 

Item 8.01 Other Events

Following the Special Meeting, the Company’s Board of Directors determined to effect the Reverse Stock Split of Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-4. In addition, and at the same time, the total number of shares of Common Stock the Company is authorized to issue changed from 600,000,000 shares to 225,000,000 shares. The Company filed a Certificate of Amendment (the “Certificate”) to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation to reflect the Amendment with the Delaware Secretary of State, which Certificate became effective at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 8, 2017. Also on November 8, 2017, the Company filed a Restated Certificate of Incorporation reflecting the Certificate with the Delaware Secretary of State.

Upon the effectiveness of the Reverse Stock Split, every four shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock will be automatically combined and converted into one issued and outstanding share of Common Stock. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. Instead, any stockholder who would have been entitled to receive a fractional share(s) will receive cash payments in lieu of such fractional shares. The Reverse Stock Split will not affect any stockholder’s ownership’s percentage of Common Stock, except to the extent that the Reverse Stock Split results in stockholders receiving cash in lieu of fractional shares.

The foregoing summary of the Certificate and the Restated Certificate of Incorporation is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate and the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

At the market open on November 9, 2017, the Common Stock will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WLL,” but will be assigned a new CUSIP number (966387 409) and will trade on a split-adjusted basis.

 

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On November 8, 2017, the Company issued a press release announcing the foregoing. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Effective with the Reverse Stock Split, the Company’s 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) was amended and restated to reflect the reduction of the number of shares available under the Plan and the limitations on awards to individual participants under the Plan proportionate with the Reverse Stock Split. The Plan, as amended and restated, is attached here to as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired . Not applicable.

 

  (b) Pro Forma Financial Information . Not applicable.

 

  (c) Shell Company Transactions . Not applicable.

 

  (d) Exhibits : The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index below are filed as part of this report.

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

  (3.1)   Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Whiting Petroleum Corporation.
  (3.2)   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Whiting Petroleum Corporation.
(10.1)   Whiting Petroleum Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated.
(99.1)   Press Release issued by Whiting Petroleum Corporation, dated as of November 8, 2017.

 

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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.

 

    WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION
Date: November 9, 2017     By:   /s/ Bruce R. DeBoer
    Bruce R. DeBoer
    Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

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Exhibit 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION

Whiting Petroleum Corporation (the “ Corporation ”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ GCL ”), does hereby certify as follows:

1. That at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corporation resolutions were duly adopted setting forth a proposed amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, declaring said amendment to be advisable and calling for the stockholders of the Corporation to consider such amendment at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, which amendment would amend and restate Paragraph (a) of Article FOURTH of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation in its entirety to read as follows:

“(a) Authorized Capital Stock . The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 230,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of (i) 225,000,000 shares of common stock, each having a par value of $0.001 per share, (the “Common Stock”), and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, each having a par value of $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

At 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 8, 2017 (the “Effective Time”), each four shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, automatically and without any action on the part of the respective holders thereof, be combined and converted into one fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock. From and after the Effective Time, certificates representing shares of Common Stock prior to such combination and conversion shall represent the number of shares of Common Stock into which such Common Stock prior to such combination and conversion shall have been combined and converted at the Effective Time. No fractional shares shall be issued at the Effective Time and, in lieu thereof, the Corporation’s transfer agent shall aggregate all fractional shares and sell them as soon as practicable after the Effective Time at the then-prevailing prices on the open market, on behalf of those stockholders who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share, and after the transfer agent’s completion of such sale, stockholders shall receive a cash payment from the transfer agent in an amount equal to their respective pro rata shares of the total net proceeds of that sale.”

2. That pursuant to a resolution of the Board of the Directors a Special Meeting of Stockholders of the Corporation was duly called and held upon notice in accordance with Section 222 of the GCL at which meeting the necessary number of shares as required by the GCL were voted in favor of the amendment.

3. That said amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the GCL.

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be executed on its behalf this 8th day of November, 2017.

 

By:  

/s/ Bruce R. DeBoer

 

Name:

 

Bruce R. DeBoer

 

Title:

  Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

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Exhibit 3.2

RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION

Pursuant to Section 245 of the

Delaware General Corporation Law

Whiting Petroleum Corporation, (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “GCL”), does hereby certify as follows:

(1) The name of the Corporation is Whiting Petroleum Corporation. The Corporation was originally incorporated under the name Whiting Petroleum Holdings, Inc. The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on the 18 th day of July, 2003.

(2) This Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation in accordance with Section 245 of the GCL.

(3) This Restated Certificate of Incorporation restates and integrates and does not further amend the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as heretofore restated, amended or supplemented. There is no discrepancy between those provisions and the provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation

(4) The text of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation is restated in its entirety as follows:

FIRST: Name . The name of the Corporation is Whiting Petroleum Corporation (the “Corporation”).

SECOND: Agent for Service . The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be at 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle; and the name of its registered agent at such address shall be Corporation Trust Company.

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

FOURTH: Capital Stock .

(a) Authorized Capital Stock . The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 230,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of (i) 225,000,000 shares of common stock, each having a par value of $0.001 per share, (the “Common Stock”), and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, each having a par value of $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

 


At 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 8, 2017 (the “Effective Time”), each four shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, automatically and without any action on the part of the respective holders thereof, be combined and converted into one fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock. From and after the Effective Time, certificates representing shares of Common Stock prior to such combination and conversion shall represent the number of shares of Common Stock into which such Common Stock prior to such combination and conversion shall have been combined and converted at the Effective Time. No fractional shares shall be issued at the Effective Time and, in lieu thereof, the Corporation’s transfer agent shall aggregate all fractional shares and sell them as soon as practicable after the Effective Time at the then-prevailing prices on the open market, on behalf of those stockholders who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share, and after the transfer agent’s completion of such sale, stockholders shall receive a cash payment from the transfer agent in an amount equal to their respective pro rata shares of the total net proceeds of that sale.

(b) Common Stock . The powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions, of each class of the Common Stock are as follows:

(1) No Cumulative Voting . The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights.

(2) Dividends; Stock Splits . Subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, and subject to any other provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as it may be amended from time to time, holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Corporation when, as and if declared thereon by the Board of Directors from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor.

(3) Liquidation, Dissolution, etc. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up (either voluntary or involuntary) of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the assets and funds of the Corporation available for distribution after payments to creditors and to the holders of any Preferred Stock of the Corporation that may at the time be outstanding, in proportion to the number of shares held by them, respectively.

(4) Merger, etc. In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another entity (whether or not the Corporation is the surviving entity), the holders of each share of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the same per share consideration on a per share basis.

(5) No Preemptive or Subscription Rights . No holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to preemptive or subscription rights.

(c) Preferred Stock . The Board of Directors is hereby expressly authorized to provide for the issuance of all or any shares of the Preferred Stock in one or more classes or series, and to fix for each such class or series such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special

 

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rights and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such class or series, including, without limitation, the authority to provide that any such class or series may be (i) subject to redemption at such time or times and at such price or prices; (ii) entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates (which may be fixed or variable), on such conditions, and at such times, and payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or any other series; (iii) entitled to such rights upon the dissolution of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation; or (iv) convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of stock, or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock, of the Corporation at such price or prices or at such rates of exchange and with such adjustments; all as may be stated in such resolution or resolutions.

(d) Power to Sell and Purchase Shares . Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Corporation shall have the power to issue and sell all or any part of any shares of any class of stock herein or hereafter authorized to such persons, and for such consideration, as the Board of Directors shall from time to time, in its discretion, determine, whether or not greater consideration could be received upon the issue or sale of the same number of shares of another class, and as otherwise permitted by law. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Corporation shall have the power to purchase any shares of any class of stock herein or hereafter authorized from such persons, and for such consideration, as the Board of Directors shall from time to time, in its discretion, determine, whether or not less consideration could be paid upon the purchase of the same number of shares of another class, and as otherwise permitted by law.

FIFTH: Directors . 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) Business and Affairs of the Corporation . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

(b) Number of Directors . The number of directors of the Corporation shall be as from time to time fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the By-Laws of the Corporation.

(c) Classified Board of Directors . The directors shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors. The initial division of the Board of Directors into classes shall be made by the decision of the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors. The term of the initial Class I directors shall terminate on the date of the 2004 annual meeting; the term of the initial Class  II directors shall terminate on the date of the 2005 annual meeting; and the term of the initial Class III directors shall terminate on the date of the 2006 annual meeting. At each succeeding annual meeting of stockholders beginning in 2004, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to

 

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maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case will a decrease in the number of directors shorten the term of any incumbent director. As used in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the term “entire Board of Directors” means the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.

(d) Term . A director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.

(e) Vacancies; Removal . Subject to the terms of any one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock, any vacancy on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors may be filled only by a majority of the Board of Directors then in office, provided that a quorum is present, and any other vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors may be filled only by a majority of the Board of Directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors of such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class. Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall have the same remaining term as that of his predecessor. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any or all of the directors of the Corporation may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy percent (70%) of the voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation applicable thereto, and such directors so elected shall not be divided into classes pursuant to this Article FIFTH unless expressly provided by such terms.

(f) Power of the Directors . In addition to the powers and authority hereinbefore or by statute expressly conferred upon them, 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, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the GCL, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and any By-Laws adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no By-Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such By-Laws had not been adopted.

SIXTH: Director Liability . No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the GCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended. If the GCL is amended hereafter to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the GCL, as so amended. Any repeal or modification of this Article SIXTH shall

 

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not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

SEVENTH: Indemnification . The Corporation shall indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by law, as now or hereafter in effect, and such right to indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives; provided, however, that, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or his or her heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors. The right to indemnification conferred by this Article SEVENTH shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition.

The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this Article SEVENTH to directors and officers of the Corporation.

The rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this Article SEVENTH shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws of the Corporation, any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

Any repeal or modification of this Article SEVENTH shall not adversely affect any rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.

EIGHTH: Special Stockholder Meetings . Unless otherwise required by law, special meetings of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called only by (a) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if there be one, (b) the President or (c) a majority of the entire Board of Directors. The ability of the stockholders to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied.

NINTH: No Action by Written Consent . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, and the ability of the stockholders to consent in writing to the taking of any action is hereby specifically denied.

TENTH: Place of Stockholder Meetings and Corporate Books . Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the By-Laws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the GCL) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the By-Laws of the Corporation.

 

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ELEVENTH: Amendment of By-Laws . In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Corporation’s By-Laws. The affirmative vote of at least a majority of the entire Board of Directors shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Corporation’s By-Laws. The Corporation’s By-Laws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy percent (70%) of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors.

TWELFTH: Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation . The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter prescribed in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Corporation’s By-Laws or the GCL, and all rights herein conferred upon stockholders are granted subject to such reservation; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation (and in addition to any other vote that may be required by law), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy percent (70%) of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors shall be required to amend, alter, change or repeal, or to adopt any provisions as part of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with the purpose and intent of Articles FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH, NINTH and ELEVENTH of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or this Article TWELFTH.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed on its behalf this 8th day of November, 2017.

 

By:   /s/ Bruce R. DeBoer
  Name:   Bruce R. DeBoer
  Title:   Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

7

Exhibit 10.1

As Amended and Restated November 8, 2017

WHITING PETROLEUM CORPORATION

2013 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

Amended and Restated

 

1. Purpose, Effective Date and Prior Plan

(a) Purpose . The purpose of the Whiting Petroleum Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the “Plan”), is to promote the best interests of Whiting Petroleum Corporation (together with any successor thereto, the “Company”) and its stockholders by providing key employees and non-employee directors of the Company and its Affiliates (as defined below) with an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company, receive monetary payments based on the value of the Company’s shares, or receive other incentive compensation. It is intended that the Plan will promote continuity of management and increased incentive and personal interest in the welfare of the Company by those key employees who are primarily responsible for shaping and carrying out the long-range plans of the Company and securing the Company’s continued growth and financial success. In addition, by encouraging stock ownership by directors who are not employees of the Company or its Affiliates, the Company seeks to attract and retain on its Board of Directors persons of exceptional competence and to provide a further incentive to serve as a director of the Company.

(b) Original Effective Date . The Plan became effective on, and Awards could be granted under the Plan on and after, May 7, 2013, the date that the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders (the “Original Effective Date”).

(c) History . Prior to the Original Effective Date, the Company had in effect the Whiting Petroleum Corporation 2003 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”). Upon stockholder approval of the Plan on the Original Effective Date, the Prior Plan terminated and no new awards have been granted under the Prior Plan after such date; provided that the Prior Plan continues to govern awards outstanding as of the date of its termination and such awards shall continue in force and effect until fully distributed or terminated pursuant to their terms. The Board amended and restated the Plan effective February 18, 2016, contingent on subsequent stockholder approval of the Plan as amended and restated, and stockholders approved the amendment and restatement on May 17, 2016. The Committee further amended and restated the Plan effective January 1, 2017. The Plan was most recently amended effective November 8, 2017 to adjust the share reserve and individual award limits under the Plan to reflect the one-for-four reverse stock split effective November 8, 2017.

 

2. Definitions

As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

(a) “10% Stockholder” shall mean a Participating Key Employee who, as of the date an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such individual, owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock then issued by the Company or a subsidiary corporation.

 


(b) “Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(c) “Affiliate” shall mean any entity that, directly or through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by, controls, or is under common control with, the Company within the meaning of Code Section 414(b) or (c); provided that, in applying such provisions, the phrase “at least 50 percent” shall be used in place of “at least 80 percent” each place it appears therein.

(d) “Amendment Approval Date” means the date on which the Company’s stockholders approve the Plan as amended and restated.

(e) “Award” shall mean any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Annual Incentive Award or Long-Term Incentive Award granted under the Plan.

(f) “Award Agreement” shall mean any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted under the Plan.

(g) “Beneficial Ownership” shall mean a Person’s beneficial ownership of any securities:

(i) which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase, or (B) securities issuable upon exercise of rights issued pursuant to the terms of any Rights Agreement of the Company, at any time before the issuance of such securities;

(ii) which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose of or has “beneficial ownership” of (as determined pursuant to Rule l3d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Act), including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security under this clause (ii) as a result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security if the agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations under the Act and (B) is not also then reportable on a Schedule l3D under the Act (or any comparable or successor report); or

(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person with which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in clause (ii) above) or disposing of any voting securities of the Company.

 

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(h) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

(i) “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) any Person (other than (A) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (B) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (C) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (D) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock in the Company (“Excluded Persons”)) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates after the Original Effective Date, pursuant to express authorization by the Board that refers to this exception) representing 20% or more of either the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the combined Voting Power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or

(ii) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors of the Company then serving: (A) individuals who, on the Original Effective Date constituted the Board and (B) any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the Original Effective Date, or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively the “Continuing Directors”); provided, however, that individuals who are appointed to the Board pursuant to or in accordance with the terms of an agreement relating to a merger, consolidation, or share exchange involving the Company (or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company) shall not be Continuing Directors for purposes of this definition until after such individuals are first nominated for election by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the then Continuing Directors and are thereafter elected as directors by the shareholders of the Company at a meeting of shareholders held following consummation of such merger, consolidation, or share exchange; and, provided further, that in the event the failure of any such persons appointed to the Board to be Continuing Directors results in a Change in Control of the Company, the subsequent qualification of such persons as Continuing Directors shall not alter the fact that a Change in Control of the Company occurred; or

(iii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or share exchange of the Company with any other corporation or the issuance of voting securities of the

 

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Company in connection with a merger, consolidation or share exchange of the Company (or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company) pursuant to applicable stock exchange requirements, other than (A) a merger, consolidation or share exchange which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or share exchange continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof) at least 50% of the combined Voting Power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation or share exchange, or (B) a merger, consolidation or share exchange effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person (other than an Excluded Person) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates after the Original Effective Date, pursuant to express authorization by the Board that refers to this exception) representing 20% or more of either the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the combined Voting Power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or

(iv) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company is effected or there is a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (in one transaction or a series of related transactions within any period of 24 consecutive months), other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity at least 75% of the combined Voting Power of the voting securities of which are owned by Persons in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) no “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if there is consummated any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the Stock immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to own, directly or indirectly, in the same proportions as their ownership in the Company, an entity that owns all or substantially all of the assets or voting securities of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions and (2) with respect to an Award that is or may be considered deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A, the definition of “Change in Control” herein shall be amended and interpreted in a manner that allows the definition to satisfy the requirements of a change of control under Code Section 409A solely for purposes of complying with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

(j) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. Any reference to a specific provision of the Code shall also be deemed a reference to any successor provision thereto.

(k) “Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

 

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(l) “Committee” shall mean a committee of the Board of Directors of the Company or a subcommittee thereof designated by such Board to administer the Plan and comprised solely of not less than two directors, each of whom will be a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, each of whom will be an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code; provided that the mere fact that the Committee shall fail to qualify under the foregoing requirements shall not invalidate any Award made by the Committee that is otherwise validly made under the Plan, unless the Committee is aware at the time of the Award’s grant of the Committee’s failure to so qualify.

(m) “Dividend Equivalent” shall mean a right, granted to a Participating Key Employee or a Non-Employee Director under the Plan, to receive cash equal to the cash dividends paid with respect to a specified number of Shares. Dividend Equivalents shall not be deemed to be Awards under the Plan.

(n) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

(o) “Excluded Items” shall mean any items which the Committee determines shall be excluded in fixing Performance Goals, including, without limitation, any gains or losses from discontinued operations, any extraordinary gains or losses and the effects of accounting changes.

(p) “Fair Market Value” shall mean, with respect to a Share on a particular date: (i) the last sales price on such date on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in The Wall Street Journal, or if no sales of Shares occur on the date in question, on the last preceding date on which there was a sale on such market; (ii) if the Shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, but are traded on another national securities exchange or in an over-the-counter market, the last sales price (or, if there is no last sales price reported, the average of the closing bid and asked prices) for the Shares on the particular date, or on the last preceding date on which there was a sale of Shares on that exchange or market; or (iii) if the Shares are neither listed on a national securities exchange nor traded in an over-the-counter market, the price determined by the Committee. With respect to any property other than Shares, Fair Market Value shall mean the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee.

(q) “Incentive Award” shall mean the right to receive a cash payment to the extent Performance Goals are achieved, and shall include “Annual Incentive Awards” as described in Section 6(f) of the Plan and “Long-Term Incentive Awards” as described in Section 6(g) of the Plan.

(r) “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

(s) “Key Employee” shall mean any officer or other key employee of the Company or of any Affiliate who is responsible for or contributes to the management, growth or profitability of the business of the Company or any Affiliate as determined by the Committee.

 

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(t) “Non-Employee Director” shall mean a director of the Company or any Affiliate who is not an employee of the Company or any Affiliate.

(u) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a) of the Plan that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

(v) “Option” shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(w) “Participant” shall mean a Participating Key Employee or a Non-Employee Director who is selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan.

(x) “Participating Key Employee” shall mean a Key Employee designated to be granted an Award under the Plan.

(y) “Performance Goals” shall mean each of, or a combination of one or more of, the following (in all cases after excluding the impact of applicable Excluded Items):

 

  (i) Return on equity;

 

  (ii) Return on investment;

 

  (iii) Return on net assets;

 

  (iv) Return on revenues;

 

  (v) Operating income;

 

  (vi) Performance value added (as defined by the Committee at the time of selection);

 

  (vii) Pre-tax profits;

 

  (viii) Net income;

 

  (ix) Net earnings per Share;

 

  (x) Working capital as a percent of net revenues;

 

  (xi) Net cash provided by operating activities;

 

  (xii) Market price per Share of common stock;

 

  (xiii) Market price per Share of common stock in comparison with peers;

 

  (xiv) Total stockholder return;

 

  (xv) Cash flow or cash flow per share;

 

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  (xvi) Reserve value or reserve value per share;

 

  (xvii) Net asset value or net asset value per share;

 

  (xviii) Production volumes;

 

  (xix) Reserve addition; and

 

  (xx) Finding and development costs.

measured in each case for the Performance Period (aa) for the Company on a consolidated basis, (bb) for any one or more Affiliates or divisions of the Company, where appropriate, and/or (cc) for any other business unit or units of the Company or any Affiliate, where appropriate, as defined by the Committee at the time of selection; provided that it shall only be appropriate to measure net earnings per Share and market price per Share on a consolidated basis. As to each Performance Goal, the relevant measurement of performance shall be computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, if applicable, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of granting the Award. The Committee may, at the time of establishing the Performance Goal(s) or at the time of measuring performance, exclude the effects of Excluded Items; provided that with respect to any Award intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, such exclusions shall be made only to the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may also provide for other adjustments to Performance Goals in the Award Agreement or plan document evidencing any Award at the time the Award is granted; provided that, with respect to any Award intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, such adjustment may be made only to the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code. Where applicable, the Performance Goals may be expressed, without limitation, in terms of attaining a specified level of the particular criterion or the attainment of an increase or decrease (expressed as absolute numbers, averages and/or percentages) in the particular criterion or achievement in relation to a peer group or other index. The Performance Goals may include a threshold level of performance below which no payment will be made (or no vesting will occur), levels of performance at which specified payments will be paid (or specified vesting will occur), and a maximum level of performance above which no additional payment will be made (or at which full vesting will occur).

(z) “Performance Period” shall mean, in relation to Performance Shares or Performance Units, any period for which a Performance Goal or Goals have been established; provided, however , that such period shall not be less than one year.

(aa) “Performance Share” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(e) of the Plan that will be paid out in cash, as a Share (which, in specified circumstances, may be a Share of Restricted Stock) or as a Restricted Stock Unit, which right is contingent on the achievement of one or more Performance Goals during a specified Performance Period.

(bb) “Performance Unit” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(e) of the Plan to receive a designated dollar value amount in cash, Shares (which, in specified circumstances, may be a designated dollar value amount of Shares of Restricted Stock) or Restricted Stock Units, which right is contingent on the achievement of one or more Performance Goals during a specified Performance Period.

 

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(cc) “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, or government or political subdivision thereof.

(dd) “Released Securities” shall mean Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which all applicable restrictions have expired, lapsed, or been waived.

(ee) “Restricted Securities” shall mean Awards of Restricted Stock or other Awards under which issued and outstanding Shares are held subject to certain restrictions.

(ff) “Restricted Stock” shall mean any Share granted under Section 6(c) of the Plan or, in specified circumstances, a Share paid in connection with another Award, with such Share subject to risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer or other restrictions that will lapse upon the achievement of one or more goals relating to completion of service by the Key Employee or Non-Employee Director or the achievement of performance or other objectives, as determined by the Committee.

(gg) “Restricted Stock Unit” shall mean any right to receive Shares in the future granted under Section 6(d) of the Plan or paid in connection with another Award, with such right subject to risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer or other restrictions that will lapse upon the achievement of one or more goals relating to completion of service by the Key Employee or Non-Employee Director or the achievement of performance or other objectives, as determined by the Committee.

(hh) “Rule 16b-3” shall mean Rule 16b-3 as promulgated by the Commission under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule or regulation thereto.

(ii) “Shares” shall mean shares of common stock of the Company, $.001 par value, and such other securities or property as may become subject to Awards pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 4(b) of the Plan.

(jj) “Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean any right granted under Section 6(b) of the Plan.

(kk) “Voting Power” means the voting power of the outstanding securities of the Company having the right under ordinary circumstances to vote at an election of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

3. Administration

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee; provided, however , that if at any time the Committee shall not be in existence, the functions of the Committee as specified in the Plan shall be exercised by a committee consisting of those members of the Board of Directors of the Company who qualify as “non-employee directors” under Rule 16b-3 and as “outside directors” under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code. To the extent permitted by applicable law,

 

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the Committee may delegate to one or more executive officers of the Company any or all of the authority and responsibility of the Committee with respect to the Plan, other than with respect to Persons who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. To the extent the Committee has so delegated to one or more executive officers the authority and responsibility of the Committee, all references to the Committee herein shall include such officer or officers.

Subject to the terms of the Plan and without limitation by reason of enumeration, the Committee shall have full discretionary power and authority to: (i) designate Participating Key Employees and select Non-Employee Directors to be participants under the Plan; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participating Key Employee and Non-Employee Director under the Plan; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by (or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with), or the amount of cash to be earned pursuant to, Awards granted to Participating Key Employees or Non-Employee Directors; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted to a Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards granted to Participating Key Employees or Non-Employee Directors may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, or other property, and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, cancelled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other Awards, and other amounts payable with respect to an Award granted to Participating Key Employees of Non-Employee Directors under the Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee; (vii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan (including, without limitation, any Award Agreement); (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (ix) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award 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, including the Company, any Affiliate, any Participating Key Employee, any Non-Employee Director, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, any stockholder, and any employee of the Company or of any Affiliate.

The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee and the Board of Directors of the Company and each executive officer or member of any other committee to whom a delegation under this Section 3 has been made, as to any acts or omissions with respect to this Plan or any Award to the maximum extent that the law and the Company’s by-laws permit.

 

4. Shares Available for Award

(a) Shares Available . Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(b):

(i) Number of Shares Available . As of the Amendment Approval Date, the number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be 1,375,000 Shares, plus the number of Shares issuable under

 

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Awards outstanding under the Plan as of the Amendment Approval Date, plus the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan that have not been made subject to an outstanding Award as of the Amendment Approval Date, all of which may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options. To the extent an Award provides that it shall be paid in the form of cash, then the Shares underlying such Award (which serve as the basis for determining the cash payment that may be due thereunder) shall not deplete the Plan’s reserve. In addition, if (A) an Award lapses, expires, terminates or is cancelled without the issuance of Shares thereunder (whether on a current or deferred basis), (B) it is determined during or at the conclusion of the term of an Award that all or some portion of the Shares with respect to which the Award was granted will not be issuable on the basis that the conditions for such issuance will not be satisfied, (C) Shares are forfeited under an Award or (D) Shares are issued under any Award and the Company subsequently reacquires them pursuant to rights reserved upon the issuance of the Shares, then such Shares shall be recredited to the Plan’s reserve and may again be used for new Awards under this Plan, but Shares recredited to the Plan’s reserve pursuant to clause (D) may not be issued pursuant to Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the following Shares be recredited to the Plan’s reserve: Shares tendered in payment of the exercise price of an Option; Shares withheld to satisfy federal, state or local tax withholding obligations; Shares purchased by the Company using proceeds from Option exercises; and Shares subject to a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the Stock Appreciation Right upon its exercise. If, after the Amendment Approval Date, any Shares subject to awards granted under the Prior Plan would again become available for new grants under the terms of such plan if such plan were still in effect (taking into account such plan’s provisions concerning termination or expiration, if any), then those Shares will be available for the purpose of granting Awards under this Plan, thereby increasing the number of Shares available for issuance under this Plan as determined under this Section 4(a)(i). Any such Shares will not be available for future awards under the terms of the Prior Plan.

(ii) Limitations on Awards to Individual Participants . No Participating Key Employee shall be granted, during any calendar year, Options for more than 225,000 Shares, Stock Appreciation Rights with respect to more than 225,000 Shares, more than 150,000 Shares of Restricted Stock, more than 150,000 Restricted Stock Units, more than 150,000 Performance Shares, more than 150,000 Performance Units the value of which is based on the Fair Market Value of a Share, Performance Units the value of which is not based on the Fair Market Value of a Share that would pay more than $3,000,000, an Annual Incentive Award that would pay more than $3,000,000, or a Long-Term Incentive Award that would pay more than $6,000,000 under the Plan. No Non-Employee Director shall be granted, during any calendar year, Options for more than 25,000 Shares, Stock Appreciation Rights with respect to more than 25,000 Shares, more than 25,000 Shares of Restricted Stock, or more than 25,000 Restricted Stock Units. In all cases, determinations under this Section 4(a)(ii) shall be made in a manner that is consistent with the exemption for performance-based

 

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compensation provided by Section 162(m) of the Code and any regulations promulgated thereunder to the extent required for Awards that are otherwise eligible to qualify as performance-based compensation to qualify for such exemption.

(iii) Accounting for Awards. The number of Shares covered by an Award under the Plan shall be counted on the date of grant of such Award against the number of Shares available for granting Awards under the Plan.

(iv) Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Awards . Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury Shares.

(b) Adjustments; Change in Control . If: (i) the Company shall at any time be involved in a merger or other transaction in which the Shares are changed or exchanged; (ii) the Company shall subdivide or combine the Shares or the Company shall declare a dividend payable in Shares, other securities or other property; (iii) the Company shall effect a cash dividend the amount of which, on a per Share basis, exceeds ten percent (10%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share at the time the dividend is declared, or the Company shall effect any other dividend or other distribution on the Shares in the form of cash, or a repurchase of Shares, that the Board determines by resolution is special or extraordinary in nature or that is in connection with a transaction that the Company characterizes publicly as a recapitalization or reorganization involving the Shares; or (iv) any other event shall occur, which, in the case of this clause (iv), in the judgment of the Committee necessitates an adjustment to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan, adjust as applicable: (A) the number and type of Shares subject to this Plan (including the number and type of Shares described in Section 4(a)(i) and (ii), and which may after the event be made the subject of Awards; (B) the number and type of Shares subject to outstanding Awards; (C) the grant, purchase, or exercise price with respect to any Award; and (D) to the extent such discretion does not cause an Award that is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) to lose its status as such, the Performance Goals of an Award; or, if deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash payment in an amount determined by the Committee to the holder of an outstanding Award in exchange for cancellation of some or all of such Award (without the consent of the holder of an Award) effective at such time as the Committee specifies (which may be the time such transaction or event is effective) or in lieu of any or all of the foregoing adjustments; provided, however , in each case, that with respect to Awards of Incentive Stock Options no such adjustment shall be authorized to the extent that such authority would cause the Plan to violate Section 422(b) of the Code; and provided further that the number of Shares subject to any Award payable or denominated in Shares shall always be a whole number. In any event, previously granted Options or Stock Appreciation Rights are subject only to such adjustments as are necessary to maintain the relative proportionate interest the Options and Stock Appreciation Rights represented immediately prior to any such event and to preserve, without exceeding, the value of such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

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Without limitation, in the event of any reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination or other similar corporate transaction or event, the Committee may substitute, on an equitable basis as the Committee determines, for each Share then subject to an Award and the Shares subject to this Plan (if the Plan will continue in effect), the number and kind of shares of stock, other securities, cash or other property to which holders of Shares are or will be entitled in respect of each Share pursuant to the transaction.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a stock dividend (other than a stock dividend declared in lieu of an ordinary cash dividend) or subdivision or combination of the Shares (including a reverse stock split), if no action is taken by the Committee, adjustments contemplated by this subsection that are proportionate shall nevertheless automatically be made as of the date of such stock dividend or subdivision or combination of the Shares.

In order to preserve a Participant’s rights under an Award in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee in its discretion may, at the time an Award is granted or at anytime thereafter, take one or more of the following actions with respect to a Change in Control: (i) provide for the acceleration of any time period relating to the Award or the exercise of the Award in connection with a Change in Control; (ii) provide for the cancellation of the Award upon or immediately prior to the Change in Control in exchange for an amount of cash or other property equal to the value of the Award or the value that could have been received upon the exercise of the Award had the Award then been vested and/or exercisable; (iii) adjust the terms of the Award in the manner determined by the Committee to be appropriate to reflect the Change in Control; (iv) cause the Award to be assumed, or new right substituted therefor, by another entity; or (v) make such other provision as the Committee may consider equitable and in the best interests of the Company in connection with a Change in Control.

(c) Issuance or Assumption . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, and without affecting the number of Shares otherwise reserved or available under this Plan, in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization, the Committee may authorize the issuance or assumption of awards under this Plan upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate.

 

5. Eligibility

The Committee may designate any Key Employee as a Participating Key Employee. All Non-Employee Directors shall be eligible to receive, at the discretion of the Committee, Awards of Non-Qualified Stock Options pursuant to Section 6(a), Stock Appreciation Rights pursuant to Section 6(b), Restricted Stock pursuant to Section 6(c) and Restricted Stock Units pursuant to Section 6(d). The Committee’s granting of an Award to a Participant will not require the Committee to grant an Award to such individual at any future time. The Committee’s granting of a particular type of Award to a Participant will not require the Committee to grant any other type of Award to such individual.

 

6. Awards

(a) Option Awards . The Committee may grant Options to Key Employees and Non-Employee Directors with the terms and conditions as set forth below and with such additional terms and conditions, in either case not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine.

 

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(i) Type of Option . The Committee shall determine whether an Option granted to a Participating Key Employee is to be an Incentive Stock Option or Non-Qualified Stock Option; provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Key Employees of the Company, a parent corporation (within the meaning of Code Section 424(e)) or a subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of Code Section 424(f)). All Options granted to Non-Employee Directors shall be Non-Qualified Stock Options.

(ii) Exercise Price . The exercise price per Share of an Option granted pursuant to this Section 6(a) shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that such exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option; and provided further that an Incentive Stock Option granted to a 10% Stockholder must have an exercise price at least equal to 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Option as determined on the date of grant.

(iii) Option Term . The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee; provided, however, that in no event shall the term of any Option exceed a period of ten years from the date of its grant; and provided further that each Incentive Stock Option granted to a 10% Stockholder must terminate no later than five years after the date of its grant.

(iv) Grant Date . The date of grant of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee; provided, however, that such date of grant may not be prior to the date of the Committee’s approval of the grant.

(v) Vesting, Exercisability and Method of Exercise . An Option shall become vested and exercisable in such manner and within such period or periods and in such installments or otherwise as shall be determined by the Committee, except that Options may not be granted with a vesting period shorter than one year (other than Options relating to Shares that, in combination with the Shares relating to all other Awards granted with a vesting period shorter than one year, do not exceed 5% of the total Shares authorized under Section 4(a)). The Committee also shall determine the method or methods by which, and the form or forms, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, or other property, or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price, in which payment of the exercise price with respect to any Option may be made or deemed to have been made.

(vi) Incentive Stock Options . The terms of any Incentive Stock Option granted to a Key Employee under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and any regulations promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, no

 

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Incentive Stock Option may be granted hereunder after the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors. If the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to all Incentive Stock Options granted to a Participating Key Employee (as determined on the date of grant of each such Option) that become exercisable during a calendar year exceed $100,000, or if Options that are intended to be Incentive Stock Options otherwise fail to meet the applicable requirements of the Code, then such Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Options to the extent such $100,000 limitation is exceeded or to the extent of such other failure.

(b) Stock Appreciation Rights . The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Key Employees or Non-Employee Directors. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, a Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall confer on the holder thereof a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over (ii) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as specified by the Committee, which shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the grant price, grant date (which may not be prior to the date of the Committee’s approval of the grant), term (which may not extend more than ten years from the date of the grant), methods of exercise, methods of settlement (including whether the Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director will be paid in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, or other property, or any combination thereof), and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall also determine the vesting provisions of Stock Appreciation Rights, provided that Stock Appreciation Rights may not be granted with a vesting period shorter than one year (other than Stock Appreciation Rights relating to Shares that, in combination with the Shares relating to all other Awards granted with a vesting period shorter than one year, do not exceed 5% of the total Shares authorized under Section 4(a)). The Committee may impose such conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right as it may deem appropriate.

(c) Restricted Stock Awards .

(i) Issuance . The Committee may grant Awards of Restricted Stock to Key Employees and Non-Employee Directors.

(ii) Restrictions . Shares of Restricted Stock granted to Participating Key Employees and Non-Employee Directors shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, any limitation on the right to vote a Share of Restricted Stock or the right to receive any dividend or other right or property), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate, provided that Shares of Restricted Stock may not be granted with a vesting period shorter than one year (other than Shares of Restricted Stock that, in combination with the Shares relating to all other Awards granted with a vesting period shorter than one year, do not exceed 5% of the total Shares authorized under Section 4(a)).

 

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(iii) Registration . Any Restricted Stock granted under the Plan to a Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee may deem appropriate, including, without limitation, book-entry registration or issuance of a stock certificate or certificates. In the event any stock certificate is issued in respect of Shares of Restricted Stock granted under the Plan to a Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director, such certificate shall be registered in the name of the Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director and shall bear an appropriate legend (as determined by the Committee) referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.

(iv) Payment of Restricted Stock . At the end of the applicable restriction period relating to Restricted Stock granted to a Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director, one or more stock certificates for the appropriate number of Shares, free of restrictions imposed under the Plan, shall be delivered to the Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director, or, if the Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director received stock certificates representing the Restricted Stock at the time of grant, the legends placed on such certificates to describe the restrictions imposed under the Plan shall be removed.

(v) Forfeiture . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of employment of a Participating Key Employee or service as a director of a Non-Employee Director (as determined under criteria established by the Committee) for any reason during the applicable restriction period, all Shares of Restricted Stock still subject to restriction shall be forfeited by the Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director; provided, however, that the Committee may, when it finds that a waiver would be in the best interests of the Company, waive in whole or in part any or all remaining restrictions with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock held by a Participating Key Employee or Non Employee Director.

(d) Restricted Stock Units .

(i) Issuance . The Committee may grant Awards of Restricted Stock Units to Key Employees or Non-Employee Directors.

(ii) Restrictions . Restricted Stock Units granted to Participating Key Employees or Non-Employee Directors shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate, provided that Restricted Stock Units may not be granted with a vesting period shorter than one year (other than Restricted Stock Units relating to Shares that, in combination with the Shares relating to all other Awards granted with a vesting period shorter than one year, do not exceed 5% of the total Shares authorized under Section 4(a)).

 

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(iii) Payment of Shares . The Committee shall determine whether to settle Restricted Stock Units in cash, in Shares, or a combination thereof at end of any applicable restriction period; provided, however, that the Committee may defer, or make available such deferral elections with respect to, the settlement of Restricted Stock Units as it deems appropriate, subject in each case to the requirements of Code Section 409A.

(iv) Forfeiture . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of employment of a Participating Key Employee or service as a director of a Non-Employee Director (as determined under criteria established by the Committee) for any reason during the applicable restriction period, all unvested Restricted Stock Units shall be forfeited by the Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director; provided, however, that the Committee may, when it finds that a waiver would be in the best interests of the Company, waive in whole or in part any or all remaining restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock Units held by a Participating Key Employee or Non Employee Director.

(e) Performance Shares and Performance Units .

(i) Issuance . The Committee may grant Awards of Performance Shares and/or Performance Units to Key Employees. Non-Employee Directors are not eligible to be granted Performance Shares or Performance Units under the Plan.

(ii) Performance Goals and Other Terms . The Committee shall determine the Performance Period, the Performance Goal or Goals (and the performance level or levels related thereto) to be achieved during any Performance Period, the proportion of payments, if any, to be made for performance between the minimum and full performance levels for any Performance Goal and, if applicable, the relative percentage weighting given to each of the selected Performance Goals, provided that Performance Shares and/or Performance Units may not be granted with a vesting period shorter than one year (other than Performance Shares or Performance Units relating to Shares that, in combination with the Shares relating to all other Awards granted with a vesting period shorter than one year, do not exceed 5% of the total Shares authorized under Section 4(a)). The Committee shall also determine the restrictions applicable to Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units received upon payment of Performance Shares or Performance Units if Performance Shares or Performance Units are paid in such manner, and any other terms, conditions and rights relating to a grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units. The Committee shall have sole discretion to choose among the selected Performance Goals set forth in Section 2(y). Subject to stockholder approval to the extent required to qualify the Award for the performance-based exemption provided by Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall have sole discretion to choose Performance Goals in addition to those set forth in Section 2(y). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Committee determines it is advisable to grant

 

16


Performance Shares or Performance Units which do not qualify for the performance-based exemption under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements thereof.

(iii) No Voting Rights . Participating Key Employees shall have no voting rights with respect to Performance Shares or Shares underlying Performance Units held by them during the applicable Performance Period.

(iv) Payment . As soon as is reasonably practicable following the end of the applicable Performance Period, and subject to the Committee certifying in writing as to the satisfaction of the requisite Performance Goal or Goals if such certification is required in order to qualify the Award for the performance-based exemption provided by Section 162(m) of the Code, payment of earned Performance Shares and/or Performance Units shall be made. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Shares and Performance Units in the form of cash, Shares (which may be Shares of Restricted Stock), Restricted Stock Units or a combination of cash, Shares (which may be Shares of Restricted Stock) and/or Restricted Stock Units, which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Shares and Shares underlying earned Performance Units at the close of the applicable Performance Period. Any Shares of Restricted Stock payable in connection with Performance Shares or Performance Units shall, pending the expiration, lapse, or waiver of the applicable restrictions, be evidenced in the manner as set forth in Section 6(c)(iii) hereof.

(f) Annual Incentive Awards . Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Committee may grant Annual Incentive Awards to Key Employees. Non-Employee Directors are not eligible to be granted Annual Incentive Awards. The Committee shall determine all terms and conditions of an Annual Incentive Award, including but not limited to the Performance Goals, performance period, the potential amount payable, and the timing of payment, subject to the following: (i) the Committee must require that payment of all or any portion of the amount subject to the Annual Incentive Award is contingent on the achievement of one or more Performance Goals during the period the Committee specifies, although the Committee may specify that all or a portion of the Performance Goals subject to an Award are deemed achieved upon a Participant’s death, disability or retirement, or such other circumstances as the Committee may specify; and (ii) the performance period must relate to a period of one fiscal year of the Company except that, if the Award is made at the time of commencement of employment with the Company or an Affiliate or on the occasion of a promotion, then the Award may relate to a period shorter than one fiscal year.

(g) Long-Term Incentive Awards . Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Committee may grant Long-Term Incentive Awards to Key Employees. Non-Employee Directors are not eligible to be granted Long-Term Incentive Awards. The Committee shall determine all terms and conditions of a Long-Term Incentive Award, including but not limited to the Performance Goals, performance period, the potential amount payable, and the timing of payment, subject to the following: (i) the Committee must require that payment of all or any portion of the amount subject to the Long-Term Incentive Award is contingent on the achievement of one or more Performance Goals during the period the Committee specifies,

 

17


although the Committee may specify that all or a portion of the Performance Goals subject to an Award are deemed achieved upon a Participant’s death, disability or retirement, or such other circumstances as the Committee may specify; and (ii) the performance period must relate to a period of more than one fiscal year of the Company.

(h) General .

(i) No Consideration for Awards . Awards shall be granted to Participating Key Employees and Non-Employee Directors for no cash consideration unless otherwise determined by the Committee.

(ii) Award Agreements . Each Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement in such form (consistent with the terms of the Plan) as shall have been approved by the Committee.

(iii) Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together . Awards to Participating Key Employees under the Plan may be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or (subject to the limitations of Section 6(j)) in substitution for any other Award or any award granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards, or in addition to or in tandem with awards granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate, may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.

(iv) Forms of Payment Under Awards . Subject to the terms of the Plan and of any applicable Award Agreement, payments or transfers to be made by the Company or an Affiliate upon the grant, exercise, or payment of an Award to a Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director may be made in such form or forms as the Committee shall determine, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee. Such rules and procedures may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of interest on installment or deferred payments.

(v) Limits on Transfer of Awards . Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, no Award (other than Released Securities), and no right under any such Award, shall be assignable, alienable, saleable, or transferable by a Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution (or, in the case of an Award of Restricted Securities, to the Company); provided, however, that a Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director at the discretion of the Committee may be entitled, in the manner established by the Committee, to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise his or her rights, and to receive any property distributable, with respect to any Award upon the death of the Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director, as the case may be. Each Award, and each right under any Award, shall be exercisable, during the lifetime of the Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director, only by such individual

 

18


or, if permissible under applicable law, by such individual’s guardian or legal representative. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, no Award (other than Released Securities), and no right under any such Award, may be pledged, alienated, attached, or otherwise encumbered, and any purported pledge, alienation, attachment, or encumbrance thereof shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.

(vi) Term of Awards . Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee.

(vii) Share Certificates; Representation . In addition to the restrictions imposed pursuant to Section 6(c) and Section 6(e) hereof, all certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Commission, any stock exchange or other market upon which such Shares are then listed or traded, and any applicable federal or state securities laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. The Committee may require each Participating Key Employee, Non-Employee Director or other Person who acquires Shares under the Plan by means of an Award originally made to a Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director to represent to the Company in writing that such Participating Key Employee, Non-Employee Director or other Person is acquiring the Shares without a view to the distribution thereof.

(i) Dividend Equivalents . In addition to Awards granted under the Plan, the Committee may grant Dividend Equivalents to Participating Key Employees and Non-Employee Directors, entitling the Participating Key Employees and Non-Employee Directors to receive cash equal to cash dividends paid with respect to a specified number of Shares. Dividend Equivalents may only be granted in connection with “full-value” Awards granted to the Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director under the Plan. For this purpose, a “full-value” Award includes Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units (valued in relation to a Share) and any other similar Award under which the value of the Award is measured as the full value of a Share, rather than the increase in the value of a Share. The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in such investment vehicles as determined by the Committee, subject to such restrictions and risks of forfeiture as the Committee may impose and provided that Dividend Equivalents on Performance Shares and Performance Units (valued in relation to a Share) shall be earned only to the extent the related Performance Shares and Performance Units also are earned.

(j) No Repricing or Backdating of Options of Stock Appreciation Rights . Except for adjustments made pursuant to Section 4(b), neither the Committee nor any other person may decrease the exercise or grant price for any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right after the date of grant, cancel an outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation

 

19


Right in exchange for cash or other Awards (other than cash or other Awards with a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right at the time of cancellation over the exercise or grant price for such Shares) or allow a Participant to surrender an outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right to the Company as consideration for the grant of a new Option or Stock Appreciation Right with a lower exercise price. In addition, the Committee may not make a grant of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right with a grant date that is effective prior to the date the Committee takes action to approve such Award.

(k) Code Section  409A . The provisions of Code Section 409A are incorporated herein by reference to the extent necessary for any Award that is subject to Code Section 409A to comply therewith.

 

7. Amendment and Termination of the Plan; Correction of Defects and Omissions

(a) Amendments to and Termination of the Plan . Except as otherwise provided herein, the Board of Directors of the Company or the Committee may at any time amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan; provided, however, that:

(i) approval by the Board of Directors shall be required for any such action to the extent the Company determines such approval is required by: (A) prior action of the Board, (B) applicable corporate law, or (C) any other applicable law;

(ii) stockholder approval of any amendment of the Plan shall also be obtained to the extent the Company determines such approval is required by: (A) Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (B) the Code, (C) the listing requirements of any principal securities exchange or market on which the Shares are then traded, or (D) any other applicable law; and

(iii) stockholder approval is required for any of the following Plan amendments: (A) an amendment to materially increase any number of Shares or limits specified in Section 4(a) (except as contemplated by Section 4(b)), (B) an amendment to expand the group of individuals that may become Participants, or (C) an amendment that would diminish the protections afforded by Section 6(j) or that would materially change the minimum vesting and performance requirements of an Award as required in the Plan.

(b) Amendment, Modification or Cancellation of Awards . Subject to the requirements of this Plan, the Committee may modify, amend or cancel any Award, or waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or the exercise of the Award, provided that any modification or amendment that materially diminishes the rights of the Participant, or any cancellation of an Award, shall be effective only if agreed to by the Participant or any other person(s) as may then have an interest in the Award, but the Committee need not obtain Participant (or other interested party) consent for the adjustment or cancellation of an Award pursuant to the provisions of Section 4(b) or the modification of an Award to the extent deemed necessary to comply with any applicable law, the listing requirements of any principal securities

 

20


exchange or market on which the Shares are then traded, or to preserve favorable accounting or tax treatment of any Award for the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless determined otherwise by the Committee, any such amendment shall be made in a manner that will enable an Award intended to be exempt from Code Section 409A to continue to be so exempt, or to enable an Award intended to comply with Code Section 409A to continue to so comply.

(c) Recoupment of Awards . Any Awards granted pursuant to this Plan, and any Stock issued or cash paid pursuant to an Award, shall be subject to (i) any recoupment, clawback, equity holding, stock ownership or similar policies adopted by the Company from time to time (to the extent contemplated by such policies) and (ii) any recoupment, clawback, equity holding, stock ownership or similar requirements made applicable by law, regulation or listing standards to the Company from time to time (to the extent contemplated by such requirements).

(d) Correction of Defects, Omissions and Inconsistencies . The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to carry the Plan into effect.

(e) Survival Of Awards . Termination of the Plan shall not affect the rights of Participating Key Employees or Non-Employee Directors with respect to Awards previously granted to them, and all unexpired Awards shall continue in force and effect after termination of the Plan except as they may lapse or be terminated by their own terms and conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the authority of the Board and the Committee under this Section 7 and to otherwise administer the Plan will extend beyond the date of this Plan’s termination.

 

8. General Provisions

(a) No Rights to Awards . No Key Employee, Participating Key Employee, Non-Employee Director or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Key Employees, Participating Key Employees, Non-Employee Directors or holders or beneficiaries of Awards under the Plan. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participating Key Employee or Non-Employee Director.

(b) Withholding . No later than the date as of which tax withholding is first required with respect to any Award under the Plan, the Participating Key Employee shall pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding the payment of, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such amount. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, withholding obligations arising with respect to Awards to Participating Key Employees under the Plan may be settled with Shares (other than Restricted Securities), including Shares that are part of, or are received upon exercise of, the Award that gives rise to the withholding requirement; provided , however , that the amount to be withheld may not exceed the total maximum statutory tax rates associated with the transaction to the extent needed for the Company to avoid adverse accounting treatment. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on such payment or arrangements, and the Company and any Affiliate shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the

 

21


right to deduct any such taxes from any payment otherwise due to the Participating Key Employee. The Committee may establish such procedures as it deems appropriate for the settling of withholding obligations with Shares, including, without limitation, the establishment of such procedures as may be necessary to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3.

(c) No Guarantee of Tax Treatment . Notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan, the Company does not guarantee to any Participant or any other Person with an interest in an Award that (i) any Award intended to be exempt from Code Section 409A shall be so exempt, (ii) any Award intended to comply with Code Section 409A or Code Section 422 shall so comply, or (iii) any Award shall otherwise receive a specific tax treatment under any other applicable tax law, nor in any such case will the Company or any Affiliate indemnify, defend or hold harmless any individual with respect to the tax consequences of any Award.

(d) No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements . Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional compensation arrangements, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(e) Rights and Status of Recipients of Awards . The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participating Key Employee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate. Further, the Company or any Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participating Key Employee from employment, free from any liability, or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement. The grant of an Award to a Non-Employee Director pursuant to Section 6(a) of the Plan shall confer no right on such Non-Employee Director to continue as a director of the Company or any Affiliate. Except for rights accorded under the Plan and under any applicable Award Agreement, Participating Key Employees and Non-Employee Directors shall have no rights as holders of Shares as a result of the granting of Awards hereunder.

(f) No Compensation for Benefit Plans . No Award payable under this Plan shall be deemed salary or compensation for the purpose of computing benefits under any benefit plan or other arrangement of the Company or any Affiliate for the benefit of its employees or directors unless the Company or appropriate Affiliate shall determine otherwise.

(g) Approval of Material Terms of Performance Goals . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if so determined by the Board of Directors, the Plan provisions specifying the material terms of the Plan’s performance goals (within the meaning of Code Section 162(m)) shall be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for re-approval no later than the first stockholder meeting that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which stockholders previously approved such Plan provisions.

(h) Unfunded Status of the Plan . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Plan shall be unfunded and shall not create (or be construed to create) a trust or a separate fund or funds. The Plan shall not establish any fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participating Key Employee, Non-Employee Director or other Person. To the extent any Person holds any right by virtue of a grant under the Plan, such right (unless otherwise determined by the Committee) shall be no greater than the right of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

 

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(i) Governing Law; Limitations on Actions . The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to conflict of law principles thereof, and applicable federal law. Any action or other legal proceeding with respect to the Plan or any Award may be brought only within the period ending on the earlier of (i) one year after the date the claimant in such action or proceeding knows or with the exercise of reasonable care should have known of the facts giving rise to the claim, or (ii) the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations period under applicable law. Exclusive jurisdiction over any such actions or legal proceedings shall reside in the courts of the State of Colorado and the United States District Court located in Denver, Colorado.

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

(k) No Fractional Shares . No fractional Shares or other securities shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan, any Award Agreement or any Award, and the Committee shall determine (except as otherwise provided in the Plan) whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or other securities, or whether such fractional Shares or other securities or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.

(l) Headings . Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

 

 

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Appendix A

In connection with the consummation of the acquisition (the “Acquisition”) contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”), dated July 13, 2014, among Whiting Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”), Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. (“Kodiak”) and 1007695 B.C. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Acquiror Canadian Sub”), pursuant to which Acquiror Canadian Sub acquired all of the outstanding common shares of Kodiak, and Acquiror Canadian Sub and Kodiak amalgamated to form one corporate entity with Kodiak surviving the amalgamation as part of a plan of arrangement, on December 8, 2014, the Company assumed under the Company’s 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and converted to awards relating to Shares (as defined in the Plan) the outstanding awards under Kodiak’s 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Kodiak Stock Plan”) that, prior to the Acquisition, related to the common shares of Kodiak (such assumed and converted awards, the “Assumed Awards”).

The Assumed Awards shall continue to be subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable award agreements issued under the Kodiak Stock Plan, except that references to Kodiak shall be deemed to refer instead to the Company, the shares to which the awards relate shall be Shares and the number of Shares to which the awards relate and the exercise prices thereof shall be adjusted as provided in the Arrangement Agreement. The Assumed Awards shall otherwise be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, except as set forth below or to the extent required for compliance with the regulations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, concerning performance-based compensation and incentive stock options, for compliance with any other applicable regulations or listing standards or to preserve favorable accounting or tax treatment for the Company.

Terms and Conditions Applicable to the Assumed Awards

(capitalized terms used and not defined below having the meanings originally set forth in

the Kodiak Stock Plan)

 

  1. Options which are outstanding under the Kodiak Incentive Share Option Plan (the “Pre-Existing Plan”) as of the effective date of the Kodiak Stock Plan shall continue to be exercisable and shall be governed by and be subject to the terms of the Pre-Existing Plan and the stock option agreements evidencing their issuance.

 

  2.

In the event that the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Whiting Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”) shall determine that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of the common stock of the Company (“Shares”), other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under an Award, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and type of Shares (or other


  securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards and (ii) the purchase price or exercise price with respect to any Award; provided, however, that the number of Shares covered by any Award or to which such Award relates shall always be a whole number.

 

  3. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon a Participant’s termination of employment or resignation or removal as a director (in either case as determined under criteria established by the Committee) during the applicable restriction period, all applicable Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units at such time subject to restriction shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may, when it finds that a waiver would be in the best interest of the Company, waive in whole or in part any or all remaining restrictions with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

 

  4. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, the Committee may not amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively, if such action would adversely affect the rights of the holder of such Award, without the consent of the Participant or holder or beneficiary thereof.

 

  5. The validity, construction and effect of any Award, and any rules and regulations relating to any Award, shall be determined in accordance with the internal laws, and not the law of conflicts, of the Yukon Territory.

 

  6. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise or payment of the purchase price relating to an Award unless such exercise or payment and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the requirements of any applicable stock exchange and the laws of the Yukon Territory.

 

2

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO  

1700 Broadway, Suite 2300, Denver, CO 80290-2300

Phone: 303.837.1661 | FAX: 303.861.4023

News Release

 

Company Contact: Eric K. Hagen

Title: Vice President, Investor Relations

Phone: 303.837.1661

Email: Eric.Hagen@whiting.com

   

November 8, 2017

For immediate release

Whiting Petroleum Corporation Announces 1-for 4

Reverse Stock Split

DENVER – November 8, 2017 – Whiting Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: WLL) announced today that, following approval of the reverse stock split and authorized share reduction by Whiting stockholders at a special meeting of stockholders earlier today, Whiting’s Board of Directors determined to effect the reverse stock split of Whiting’s common stock at a ratio of 1-for-4. The applicable Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and will become effective at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 8, 2017. In addition, and at the same time, the total number of shares of common stock Whiting is authorized to issue will change from 600,000,000 shares to 225,000,000 shares.

Whiting common stock will begin trading on a split-adjusted basis when markets open on November 9, 2017. Whiting common stock will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WLL,” although a new CUSIP number (966387 409) has been assigned to it as a result of the reverse stock split.

No fractional shares have been issued in connection with the reverse stock split. Stockholders otherwise entitled to receive fractional share(s) as a result of the reverse stock split will receive cash payments in lieu of such shares.

Additional information about the reverse stock split can be found in Whiting’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), available free of charge at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov, or at Whiting’s website, www.whiting.com.

About Whiting Petroleum Corporation

Whiting Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation, is an independent oil and gas company that develops, produces, acquires and explores for crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids primarily in the Rocky Mountains region of the United States. The Company’s largest projects are in the Bakken and Three Forks plays in North Dakota and Montana and the Niobrara play in northeast Colorado. The Company trades publicly under the symbol WLL on the New York Stock Exchange. For further information, please visit http://www.whiting.com.

 


Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that we believe to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than historical facts, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, projected revenues, earnings, costs, capital expenditures and debt levels, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as we “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe” or “should” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such statements.

These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the possibility that the reverse stock split proposal may not have its intended effects; the possibility that factors unrelated to the reverse stock split may impact the per share trading price of Whiting’s common stock; declines in, or extended periods of low oil, NGL or natural gas prices; our level of success in exploration, development and production activities; risks related to our level of indebtedness, ability to comply with debt covenants and periodic redeterminations of the borrowing base under our credit agreement; impacts to financial statements as a result of impairment write-downs; our ability to successfully complete asset dispositions and the risks related thereto; revisions to reserve estimates as a result of changes in commodity prices, regulation and other factors; adverse weather conditions that may negatively impact development or production activities; the timing of our exploration and development expenditures; inaccuracies of our reserve estimates or our assumptions underlying them; risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities of ours; our ability to generate sufficient cash flows from operations to meet the internally funded portion of our capital expenditures budget; our ability to obtain external capital to finance exploration and development operations; federal and state initiatives relating to the regulation of hydraulic fracturing and air emissions; unforeseen underperformance of or liabilities associated with acquired properties; the impacts of hedging on our results of operations; failure of our properties to yield oil or gas in commercially viable quantities; availability of, and risks associated with, transport of oil and gas; our ability to drill producing wells on undeveloped acreage prior to its lease expiration; shortages of or delays in obtaining qualified personnel or equipment, including drilling rigs and completion services; uninsured or underinsured losses resulting from our oil and gas operations; our inability to access oil and gas markets due to market conditions or operational impediments; the impact and costs of compliance with laws and regulations governing our oil and gas operations; the potential impact of changes in laws, including tax reform, that could have a negative effect on the oil and gas industry; our ability to replace our oil and natural gas reserves; any loss of our senior management or technical personnel; competition in the oil and gas industry; cyber security attacks or failures of our telecommunication systems; and other risks described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2016. We assume no obligation, and disclaim any duty, to update the forward-looking statements in this news release.

 

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