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): August 22, 2018

 

 

GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-12719   76-0466193

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

801 Louisiana St., Suite 700, Houston, Texas   77002
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 713-780-9494

Not Applicable

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging grown 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 5.02.

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

On August 22, 2018, the board of directors (the “Board”) of Goodrich Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”) approved the amendment and restatement of severance agreements maintained with certain of the Company’s named executive officers (the “Prior Severance Agreements”) and the amendment and restatement of an officer severance plan in which certain of the Company’s executives, including some of the Company’s named executive officers, participate (the “Prior Severance Plan”). In consultation with the Company’s independent compensation consultant, Longnecker & Associates (“Longnecker”), the Board determined that it was in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to amend and restate the Prior Severance Agreements and the Prior Severance Plan in order to, among other things, (i) substantially reduce the benefits payable under such arrangements, (ii) eliminate all excise tax-gross up payments (if applicable), (iii) subject participants to non-competition and non-solicitation covenants that apply during their term of employment and for 12 months thereafter and (iv) standardize the benefits calculation under such arrangements so that participants such as the Company’s named executive officers are each entitled to a substantially similar benefits calculation.

Based on an analysis performed by Longnecker, the Board believes that the amended and restated arrangements substantially reduce the potential benefits payable to participants such as the Company’s named executive officers in the event of a hypothetical change of control of the Company followed by a termination of a participant’s employment without cause by the Company or for good reason by the participant (a “Double Trigger Termination”) or in the event of a termination by the Company without Cause prior to a change of control of the Company.

The following table illustrates the estimated reduction in benefits payable under the amended and restated arrangements if each of the Company’s named executive officers were to experience a Double Trigger Termination during calendar year 2018 (assuming a price for the Company’s common stock of $20.00 per share on the date of the Double Trigger Termination):

 

     Prior Severance Agreements /
Prior Severance Plan
     Amended Severance Agreements
/ Amended Severance Plan
     Total
Reduction/Savings
 
     Total Severance
Payable
     Total Excise Tax
Gross-up
Payment
     Total Severance
Payable
     Total Excise Tax
Gross-up
Payment
 

Walter G. Goodrich

   $ 15,052,860      $ 2,731,171      $ 9,133,358      $ 0      $ 8,650,673  

Robert C. Turnham

   $ 15,052,860      $ 2,743,969      $ 9,133,358      $ 0      $ 8,663,471  

Mark E. Ferchau

   $ 6,317,664      $ 1,089,742      $ 4,030,936      $ 0      $ 3,376,470  

Michael J. Killelea

   $ 5,091,666      $ 0      $ 3,244,230      $ 0      $ 1,847,436  

Robert T. Barker

   $ 2,792,884      $ 0      $ 1,619,138      $ 0      $ 1,173,746  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 44,307,934      $ 6,564,882      $ 27,161,020      $ 0      $ 23,711,796  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As the table above illustrates, the Company estimates that the amended and restated arrangements would result in a $23,711,796 potential reduction in estimated benefits payable to the Company’s named executive officers in the event of a Double Trigger Termination during calendar year 2018.

The following table illustrates the estimated reduction in benefits payable under the amended and restated arrangements if each of the Company’s named executive officers were to experience a Double Trigger Termination during calendar year 2019 (assuming a price for the Company’s common stock of $20.00 per share on the date of the Double Trigger Termination):

 

     Prior Severance Agreements /
Prior Severance Plan
     Amended Severance Agreements
/ Amended Severance Plan
     Total
Reduction/Savings
 
     Total Severance
Payable
     Total Excise Tax
Gross-up
Payment
     Total Severance
Payable
     Total Excise Tax
Gross-up
Payment
 

Walter G. Goodrich

   $ 16,617,080      $ 3,044,015      $ 6,602,998      $ 0      $ 13,058,097  

Robert C. Turnham

   $ 16,617,080      $ 3,056,813      $ 6,602,998      $ 0      $ 13,070,895  

Mark E. Ferchau

   $ 6,785,684      $ 1,183,346      $ 3,003,756      $ 0      $ 4,965,274  

Michael J. Killelea

   $ 5,475,906      $ 0      $ 2,420,510      $ 0      $ 3,055,396  

Robert T. Barker

   $ 3,301,524      $ 0      $ 1,321,638      $ 0      $ 1,979,886  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 48,797,274      $ 7,284,174      $ 19,951,900      $ 0      $ 36,129,548  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 


As the table above illustrates, the amended and restated arrangements would result in a $36,129,548 potential reduction in estimated benefits payable to the Company’s named executive officers in the event of a Double Trigger Termination during calendar year 2019.

The amounts shown in the tables above represent estimates of the benefits payable to the Company’s named executive officers in the event of a Double Trigger Termination in calendar years 2018 and 2019, and Company believes the amounts shown have been calculated using reasonable assumptions. All amounts shown are before taxes, which would reduce the amounts ultimately received by the Company’s named executive officers. Any actual payments that may be made under the amended and restated arrangements depend on several factors, any of which may or may not exist at the time a Double Trigger Termination actually occurs.

A summary of the material terms of the amended and restated arrangements is contained below.

Amended and Restated Severance Agreements

On August 22, 2018, following approval by the Board, the Company entered into an amended and restated severance agreement (the “Amended Severance Agreement”) with each of Walter G. Goodrich, Robert C. Turnham and Mark E. Ferchau, which Amended Severance Agreements supersede and replace the Prior Severance Agreements previously entered into with Messrs. Goodrich, Turnham and Ferchau.

Each Amended Severance Agreement provides for a term that commences on August 22, 2018 and ends on the third anniversary of such date. The term of each Amended Severance Agreement may be renewed and extended by mutual agreement of the parties thereto.

Each Amended Severance Agreement provides that if the executive incurs a Qualifying Termination (as defined below), the executive will generally receive (i) a lump sum payment in cash equal to two times the sum of the executive’s annualized base salary and the most recent annual cash bonus awarded to the executive and (ii) health and life insurance coverage under the Company’s plans (or the equivalent thereof) on the same basis as it is provided to other senior executives of the Company through the second anniversary of the date of the Qualifying Termination. The Amended Severance Agreements do not entitle an executive to a payment based on the value of the equity awards granted by the Company to such executive within a specified period preceding a Qualifying Termination as the Prior Severance Agreements did.

In addition, upon a Qualifying Termination, subject to an executive’s compliance with non-competition and non-solicitation covenants that apply during the executive’s employment and for 12 months thereafter, the executive will be entitled to (x) immediate vesting of the portion of any outstanding and unvested restricted stock (or restricted stock unit) awards subject to time-based vesting (“Restricted Stock”) that would have vested during the Vesting Continuation Period (as defined below) if the executive had remained employed and (y) pro-rata vesting (based on the number of months from the date of grant through the end of the Vesting Continuation Period) of outstanding and unearned performance awards (“Performance Shares”) based on actual performance through the date of the Qualifying Termination. However, subject to the executive’s compliance with the aforementioned non-competition and non-solicitation covenants, the executive will be entitled to full accelerated vesting of Restricted Stock on the date of a Qualifying Termination if such Qualifying Termination occurs on or within 18 months following a Change of Control (as defined in the Amended Severance Agreements). Further notwithstanding the foregoing, upon a Change of Control, any unearned Performance Shares will vest based on actual performance through the date of the Change of Control. However, the awards granted to the executives in connection with the Company’s emergence from bankruptcy, specifically the Grant of Restricted Stock (Secondary Exit Award; UCC Warrant Exercise) and the Grant of Restricted Stock (Secondary Exit Award: 2L Note Conversion), are not entitled to any accelerated vesting pursuant to the Amended Severance Agreements.


For purposes of the Amended Severance Agreements, the terms below are generally defined as follows:

 

   

“Qualifying Termination” means the termination of the executive’s employment with the Company either by the Company without Cause (as defined in the Amended Severance Agreements), whether before or after a Change of Control, or by the executive due to a Change in Duties (as defined in the Amended Severance Agreements) on or within 18 months following a Change of Control.

 

   

“Vesting Continuation Period” means, as applicable, (i) if the executive experiences a Qualifying Termination on or before December 31, 2018, the period beginning on the date of the Qualifying Termination and ending on December 31, 2019 or (ii) if executive experiences a Qualifying Termination after December 31, 2018, the period beginning on the date of the Qualifying Termination and ending on the date that is 12 months following the date of the Qualifying Termination.

The foregoing description of the Amended Severance Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Amended Severance Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Amended and Restated Officer Severance Plan

On August 22, 2018, the Board adopted the Goodrich Petroleum Amended and Restated Officer Severance Plan (the “Amended Severance Plan”), which supersedes and replaces the Goodrich Petroleum Officer Severance Plan originally adopted by the Company effective as of December 12, 2006 and amended and restated effective as of December 31, 2010.

Certain executives of the Company, including Michael J. Killelea and Robert T. Barker but not Messrs. Goodrich, Turnham and Ferchau, participate in the Amended Severance Plan. The Amended Severance Plan provides for a term that commences on August 22, 2018 and ends on the third anniversary of such date, unless extended by the Board.

The Amended Severance Plan provides that if a participating executive incurs an Involuntary Termination (which is defined in a manner that is substantially similar to a Qualifying Termination under the Amended Severance Agreements), the executive will generally receive (i) (a) if the executive is a named executive officer (within the meaning of Item 402 of Regulation S-K), a lump sum payment in cash equal to two times the sum of the executive’s annualized base salary and the most recent annual cash bonus awarded to the executive or (b) if the executive is a vice president but not a named executive officer, a lump sum payment in cash equal to one times the sum of the executive’s annualized base salary and the most recent annual cash bonus awarded to the executive, (ii) if COBRA continuation coverage is timely elected by the executive, subsidized COBRA coverage for up to 24 months and (iii) lump sum payment of earned but unpaid base salary and accrued but unused vacation or paid time off. The awards granted to certain executives in connection with the Company’s emergence from bankruptcy, specifically the Grant of Restricted Stock (Secondary Exit Award; UCC Warrant Exercise) and the Grant of Restricted Stock (Secondary Exit Award: 2L Note Conversion), are not entitled to any accelerated vesting pursuant to the Amended Severance Plan.

In addition, under the Amended Severance Plan, participating executives are entitled to substantially similar treatment of equity awards in connection with an Involuntary Termination and Change of Control (as defined in the Amended Severance Plan) as described above with respect to the Amended Severance Agreements.

The foregoing description of the Amended Severance Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended Severance Plan, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.
  

Description of Exhibit

10.1    Form of Amended and Restated Severance Agreement
10.2    Goodrich Petroleum Amended and Restated Officer Severance Plan


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.

 

    GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION
August 22, 2018     By:  

/s/ Michael J. Killelea

    Name:   Michael J. Killelea
    Title:   Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Exhibit 10.1

FORM OF

AMENDED AND RESTATED

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into by and between Goodrich Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation, having an office at 801 Louisiana Street, Suite 700, Houston, Texas, 77002 (hereinafter referred to as “Company” and “Employer”), and                              (hereinafter referred to as “Employee”), is amended and restated effective as of                             (the “Effective Date”). This Agreement will continue in effect for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date. On the third anniversary of the Effective Date and on each subsequent anniversary thereafter, this Agreement may be renewed and extended for a period of 12 months by mutual agreement of the parties hereto.

Attendant to Employee’s continued employment by Employer, Employer and Employee hereby agree that, if Employee incurs a Qualifying Termination (as defined below), the Employer will pay Employee a cash lump sum payment equal to two times Employee’s then “current annual rate of total compensation” (as defined below). The cash payment shall be made within 90 days of Employee’s “separation from service” (as such term is defined in Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(h), a “Separation from Service”), but not later than the March 15 following the taxable year of Employee’s Separation from Service, unless it is determined that at the time of his Separation from Service Employee is a “specified employee,” as defined in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (the “specified employee identification date” shall be December 31 and the “specified employee effective date” shall be April 1), in which event such lump sum payment shall instead be made (without interest) on the first business day that is six months after Employee’s Separation from Service (or on his death, if earlier). Also, through the second anniversary of the date of his Qualifying Termination, health and life insurance coverage under the Company plans or the equivalent thereof shall be provided to Employee on the same basis as it is provided to the other senior executives of the Company.

In addition, upon a Qualifying Termination that occurs prior to a Change of Control (as defined below), provided that Employee complies with the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants attached hereto as Exhibit A , (1) the portion of any unvested and unearned restricted stock (or restricted stock unit) awards vesting solely pursuant to the passage of time and continued services and granted pursuant to the Company’s Management Incentive Plan (or other equity compensation plan) (the “Restricted Stock”) held by Employee that would, but for Employee’s termination, vest during the Vesting Continuation Period (as defined below) will immediately vest on the date of the Qualifying Termination, and (2) any unearned performance awards to be settled in common stock of the Company, conditioned upon the achievement of performance targets and granted pursuant to the Company’s Management Incentive Plan (or other equity compensation plan) (the “Performance Shares”) held by Employee will (a) be prorated by multiplying the number of Performance Shares by a fraction (no greater than one) the numerator of which is the number of months in the period beginning on the date of grant of the Performance Shares and ending on last day of the Vesting Continuation Period and the denominator of which is the number of months in the performance period under the Performance Shares (with the remainder of the Performance Shares being immediately forfeited to the Company for no consideration upon Employee’s termination of employment) and (b) such reduced award will vest, if at all, based on the achievement of the performance goals set forth in each outstanding Performance Share


award utilizing a shortened performance period under the award ending on the date of the Qualifying Termination; provided, however, that the preceding sentence is not intended to modify the vesting provisions applicable to either the “Grant of Restricted Stock (Secondary Exit Award; UCC Warrant Exercise)” or the “Grant of Restricted Stock (Secondary Exit Award: 2L Note Conversion)” (together the “Emergence Awards”).

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, upon a Qualifying Termination that occurs on or within 18 months following a Change of Control, provided that Employee complies with the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants attached hereto as Exhibit A , any unvested and unearned Restricted Stock held by Employee will immediately vest in full on the date of the Qualifying Termination. In addition, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, upon a Change of Control, any unearned Performance Shares held by Employee will vest, if at all, based on the achievement of the performance goals set forth in each outstanding Performance Share award utilizing a shortened performance period under the award ending on the date of the Change of Control. Nothing contained in this paragraph is intended to modify the vesting provisions applicable to the Emergence Awards.

If Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason or no reason prior to the vesting of the Emergence Awards they will be automatically forfeited to the Company for no consideration upon such termination. In the event Employee violates any of the terms of the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants set forth on Exhibit A, Employee will automatically forfeit to the Company for no consideration all outstanding unvested equity and equity-based compensation awards related to the common stock of the Company. After giving effect to any accelerated or continued vesting pursuant to the two immediately preceding paragraphs, any outstanding unvested equity and equity-based compensation awards related to the common stock of the Company (which awards did not vest pursuant to the two immediately preceding paragraphs) will immediately be forfeited to the Company for no consideration.

In addition, and notwithstanding the terms of any outstanding agreements evidencing Restricted Stock or Performance Shares, (1) if Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason other than pursuant to a Qualifying Termination prior to the vesting of the Restricted Stock or Performance Shares, the Restricted Stock and Performance Shares will be forfeited to the Company for no consideration upon such termination, and (2) Section 3(c) of all outstanding agreements evidencing Restricted Stock or Performance Shares is hereby deleted such that the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the Company’s Management Incentive Plan) will not automatically result in accelerated vesting of the Employee’s Restricted Stock or Performance Shares or the shortening of the performance period under Employee’s Performance Shares. The parties agree that this paragraph is intended to amend Employee’s outstanding Restricted Stock and Performance Share agreements to modify, in the manner described herein, the provision of accelerated vesting with respect to Employee’s outstanding Restricted Stock and Performance Shares and that by signing this Agreement such additional agreements are amended without the need to execute any further documents.

As used in this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

1.    “Current annual rate of total compensation” means the sum of (i) Employee’s rate of annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control or subsequent termination of employment, whichever is greater, and (ii) the annual cash bonus last awarded to Employee immediately prior to the Change of Control or the most recent

 

2


annual cash bonus awarded to Employee, whichever is greater. In regards to cash bonuses received pursuant to item (ii) above, for purposes of this calculation, any special or one time cash bonuses shall be excluded. No other items of compensation shall be considered for this purpose.

2.    “Cause” means (i) any material failure of Employee, after written notice, to perform his duties as an officer of the Company; (ii) the commission of fraud, embezzlement or misappropriation by Employee against the Company; (iii) a material breach by Employee of his fiduciary duty owed by him to the Company or its affiliates, or of any written workplace policies applicable to him (including the Company’s code of conduct and policy on workplace harassment), whether adopted on or after the date of this Agreement; or the (iv) conviction of Employee of a felony offense or a crime involving moral turpitude.

3.    A “Change of Control” of the Company is deemed to have occurred if, at any time on or after the date hereof, (i) there is a sale, lease or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; (ii) the Company or its shareholders adopt a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (iii) any person or group of persons acting in concert becomes the beneficial owner of fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of the Company’s securities generally entitled to vote in the election of directors; or (iv) there occurs a merger or consolidation of the Company unless, for at least six months after the transaction, beneficially own greater than fifty (50%) of the total voting power of all securities generally entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the surviving entity.

4.    “Change in Duties” shall mean the occurrence, on or within 18 months after the date upon which a Change of Control occurs, of any one or more of the following: (i) a reduction in the duties or responsibilities of Employee from those applicable to him immediately prior to the date on which the Change of Control occurs; (ii) a reduction in Employee’s current annual rate of total compensation; or (iii) a change in the location of Employee’s principal place of employment by more than 50 miles from the location where he was principally employed immediately prior to the date on which the Change of Control occurs, unless such relocation is agreed to in writing by Employee; provided, however, that a relocation scheduled prior to the date of the Change of Control shall not constitute a Change in Duties. Employee must provide written notice to the Company of any alleged Change in Duties within 60 days of such change and the Company shall have a period of 30 days in which it may remedy the condition. In the event it is remedied by the Company within such “cure” period, such event shall cease to be a Change in Duties for purposes of this Agreement. In the event it is not timely remedied by the Company, Employee may terminate his employment due to a Change in Duties at any time during the 30 day period following the end of the “cure” period.

5.    “Qualifying Termination” shall mean the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company either by the Company without “Cause,” whether before or after a Change of Control, or by Employee due to a Change in Duties on or within 18 months following a Change of Control.

6.    “Vesting Continuation Period” shall mean, as applicable, (i) if Employee experiences a Qualifying Termination on or before December 31, 2018, the period beginning on the date of the Qualifying Termination and ending on December 31, 2019 or (ii) if Employee experiences a Qualifying Termination after December 31, 2018, the period beginning on the date of the Qualifying Termination and ending on the date that is 12 months following the date of the Qualifying Termination.

 

3


This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors, legal representatives and assigns, and upon Employee, his heirs, executors, administrators, representatives and assigns; provided, however, Employee agrees that his rights and obligations hereunder are personal to him and may not be assigned without the express written consent of the Company.

This Agreement replaces and merges all previous agreements and discussions relating to the same or similar subject matters between Employee and the Company and constitutes the entire agreement between Employee and the Company with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement (including, but not limited to, the Amended and Restated Severance Agreement entered into effective as of November 5, 2007 and outstanding equity based compensation awards). This Agreement may not be modified or amended other than through a written agreement executed by Employee and an officer of the Company who is expressly authorized by the Company to execute such document.

If any provision of this Agreement or application thereof to anyone or under any circumstances shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions or applications of this Agreement that can be given effect without the invalid or unenforceable provision or application.

Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the breach thereof, Employee’s employment with the Company, or the termination thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Employment Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. To select an arbitrator, each party shall strike a name from the list submitted by AAA with the grieving party striking first. The arbitrator shall not have the power to add to or ignore any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement. His decision shall not go beyond what is necessary for the interpretation and application if this Agreement and obligations of the parties under this Agreement. Cost of such arbitration, but not attorney’s fees, will be paid by the losing party.

Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph, Employee agrees that the Company would be damaged irreparably and would have no adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the terms of Exhibit A are not performed in accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached. Accordingly, the Company shall be entitled to obtain an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the covenants set forth in Exhibit A by Employee and to specifically enforce Exhibit A, this being in addition to any other remedies to which the Company is entitled at law and in equity, without proof of actual damages or any obligation to post any bond or other security as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief. Employee agrees not to dispute or resist any such application for relief on the basis that the Company has an adequate remedy at law or that damage arising from such non-performance or breach is not irreparable.

The laws of the State of Texas will govern the interpretation, validity and effect of this Agreement.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute the same instrument.

 

4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned intending to be legally bound, have executed this Agreement on                     , effective as of the date provided above.

 

GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
EMPLOYEE

 

 

5


EXHIBIT A

NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION COVENANTS

1.     Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation . As a condition of Employee’s employment by the Company, and in order to protect the Company’s trade secret and other confidential information and the Company’s other legitimate business interests, including the Company’s goodwill and customer and client relationships and for good and valuable consideration, including the benefits set forth in the Amended and Restated Severance Agreement to which this Exhibit A is attached, Employee covenants and agrees that, without prior written consent from the Company, during the Prohibited Period, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, for Employee or on behalf of or in conjunction with any person or entity of any nature:

(a)    engage or participate in competition with the Company within the Market Area in any aspect of the Business, which prohibition shall prevent Employee from directly or indirectly owning, managing, operating, joining, becoming an officer, director, employee or consultant of, or loaning money to, or selling or leasing equipment or real estate to, or otherwise being affiliated with any person or entity engaged in, or planning to engage in, the Business in the Market Area in competition, or anticipated competition, with the Company;

(b)    appropriate any Business Opportunity of the Company located in the Market Area;

(c)    solicit, canvass, approach, encourage, entice or induce any customer or supplier of the Company to cease or lessen such customer’s or supplier’s business with the Company; or

(d)    solicit, canvass, approach, encourage, entice or induce any employee or contractor of the Company to terminate his, her or its employment or engagement with the Company.

Nothing herein shall prohibit Employee from being a passive owner of not more than 1% of the outstanding stock of any class of securities of any person listed on a national securities exchange which is engaged in the Business, so long as Employee has no active participation in the Business of such person and does not serve on the board of directors or similar body of such person.

2.     Definitions . For purposes of these Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Covenants, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a)    “Business” shall mean the business and operations that are the same or similar to those performed by the Company for which Employee provides services or about which Employee obtains Company trade secrets or other confidential information during the period that Employee is employed by the Company, which business and operations include the exploration, development and production of natural gas and crude oil.

(b)    “Business Opportunity” shall mean any commercial, investment or other business opportunity in the Business.

 

6


(c)    “Market Area” shall mean (i) the Haynesville Shale, the Haynesville/Bossier Shale Angelina River Trend, and the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale; (ii) the following parishes in Louisiana: Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Catahoula, Concordia, East Feliciana, East Baton Rouge, Evangeline, Grant, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vernon, Washington, and West Feliciana; (iii) a one (1) mile area surrounding the outermost boundary of each lease or property owned by the Company immediately prior to the point in time Employee is no longer employed by the Company and (iv) the lands covered by any lease or property under substantial consideration or evaluation by the Company but not yet acquired prior to Employee’s Separation from Service for which Employee provided services or about which Employee received any confidential information.

(d)    “Prohibited Period” shall mean the period during which Employee is employed by the Company and continuing for a period of twelve (12) months following the date that Employee is no longer employed by the Company, regardless of the reason for such separation.

3.     Employee Representations . Employee agrees and acknowledges that the limitations and restrictions set forth herein, including geographical and temporal restrictions on certain activities, are reasonable in all respects, will not cause Employee undue hardship, and are intended and necessary to prevent unfair competition and to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests.

4.     Modification . In the event any court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction shall determine that the scope, time or territorial restrictions set forth in this Exhibit A are unreasonable, then such restrictions shall be enforced to the fullest extent which such court or arbitrator deems reasonable, and the terms of this Exhibit A shall thereby be reformed.

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
EMPLOYEE

 

 

7

Exhibit 10.2

GOODRICH PETROLEUM

AMENDED AND RESTATED

OFFICER SEVERANCE PLAN

(As Amended and Restated August 22, 2018)

The Goodrich Petroleum Amended and Restated Officer Severance Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”) is amended and restated effective as of August 22, 2018 (the “Effective Date”), pursuant to the authorization of the Board of Directors (“Board”) of Goodrich Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”), to provide financial security to Covered Executives in the event of an involuntary termination of employment.

The Plan as set forth herein constitutes an amendment and restatement of the Goodrich Petroleum Officer Severance Plan originally adopted by Goodrich Petroleum Company, L.L.C. (“GPC LLC”) effective as of December 12, 2006 and amended and restated effective as of December 31, 2010.

I.

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

1.1     Definitions . Where the following words and phrases appear in the Plan, they shall have the respective meanings set forth below, unless their context clearly indicates to the contrary.

“Annual Base Salary” shall mean the highest annual rate of base salary of a Covered Executive in effect during the six - month period ending immediately prior to (i) a Change of Control (if one has occurred) or (ii) the Covered Executive’s Involuntary Termination, whichever results in the greater amount.

“Board” shall mean the board of directors or managers, as the case may be, of the Company or its successor.

“Bonus Amount” shall mean the annual cash bonus last awarded to the Covered Executive for the preceding fiscal year or, if greater (and applicable), the annual cash bonus awarded to the Covered Executive for the fiscal year immediately prior to the fiscal year in which a Change of Control occurs.

“Cause” shall mean any termination of a Covered Executive’s employment by the Employer by reason of the Covered Executive’s: (1) willful and continued failure to perform substantially the Covered Executive’s duties (other than any such failure resulting from the Covered Executive’s incapacity due to a physical or mental illness) after written notice of such failure has been given to the Covered Executive by the Committee specifying in detail such failure and the Covered Executive has had a reasonable period (not to exceed 30 days) to correct such failure; (2) conviction (or plea of nolo contendere) for any felony or any other crime which involves moral turpitude; or (3) gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of the Covered Executive’s duties; provided, however, that no act or failure to act on the part of the Covered Executive shall be considered “gross negligence” or “willful misconduct” if done or omitted to be done by the Covered Executive in good faith and in the reasonable belief that such act or failure to act was in the best interest of the Employer or its affiliates.


“Change in Duties” shall mean the occurrence, on or within 18 months after the date upon which a Change of Control occurs, of any one or more of the following:

(1)    a material reduction in the duties or responsibilities of a Covered Executive from those applicable to him immediately prior to the date on which the Change of Control occurs;

(2)    a material reduction in a Covered Executive’s annual rate of base salary in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control; or

(3)    a change in the location of a Covered Executive’s principal place of employment by more than 50 miles from the location where he was principally employed immediately prior to the date on which the Change of Control occurs, unless such relocation is agreed to in writing by the Covered Executive; provided, however, that a relocation scheduled prior to the date of the Change of Control shall not constitute a Change in Duties.

“Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:

(1)    the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger, consolidation, tender offer, or exchange offer) the result of which is that any individual, entity, group or “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2), of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)), other than the Company, a subsidiary thereof or an employee benefit plan of either, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of stock and/or securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company,

(2)    a change in the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the non-executive directors are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” shall mean non-executive directors who either (A) are non-executive directors as of December 31, 2010, or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, thereafter to the Board of Directors of the Company with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination, but “Incumbent Director” shall not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with (i) an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) or an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board or (ii) a plan or agreement to replace a majority of the then Incumbent Directors,

(3)    the consummation of the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (including by merger or consolidation) in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (other than to an entity wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company), unless, following such transaction, all or substantially all of the persons who were the beneficial owners of the outstanding voting stock and securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding voting stock and securities of the entity resulting from such transaction in substantially the same proportions as immediately prior to such transaction, or

 

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(4)    the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control must also be a “change of control” as defined in Section 409A of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Committee” shall mean the Board; however, the Board may delegate all or part of its authority under the Plan to the Board of Directors of the Company or to any executive of the Company , GPC LLC or any other Employer, as it may choose.

“Covered Executive” shall mean an executive who (i) is a senior vice president or a vice president of an Employer, and (ii) does not have a written employment or severance agreement with the Employer. For purposes of this Plan, any adverse change in a Covered Executive’s status as being a senior vice president or vice president of an Employer that occurs within six months prior to his Involuntary Termination shall be disregarded.

“Employer” shall mean the Company, GPC LLC and each eligible entity designated as an Employer in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.4 of the Plan.

“ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

“Executive Officer” shall mean an “officer” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, provided such individual has been appointed by the Board accordingly.

“Health Benefit Coverages” shall mean coverage under each group health plan sponsored or contributed to by an Employer for its similarly situated active executives.

“Involuntary Termination” shall mean any termination of the Covered Executive’s employment with the Employer that results from either:

(1)    a termination (whether before, on or following a Change of Control) by the Employer other than for Cause; or

(2)    a Qualified Termination by the Covered Executive on or within 18 months following a Change of Control;

provided, however, that the term ‘Involuntary Termination’ shall not include: (i) a termination by the Employer for Cause; (ii) any termination as a result of the Covered Executive’s death or a disability under circumstances entitling him to disability benefits under the standard long-term disability plan of the Employer; (iii) any termination as a result of the Covered Executive declining to accept an offer of comparable employment from a successor employer; or (iv) any

 

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voluntary resignation or retirement by the Covered Executive. For purposes of clause (iii), “comparable employment” shall mean employment that would not result in a Change in Duties for the Covered Executive.

“Qualified Termination” shall mean that, within 60 days of the Covered Executive receiving notice of, or learning of, a Change in Duties, the Covered Executive gives written notice of such Change in Duties to the Committee and the Employer fails to remedy such Change in Duties within 30 days of the Committee’s receipt of the notice thereof from the Covered Executive. If the Employer fails to remedy the Change in Duties event during such 30-day “cure” period, the Covered Executive’s employment shall terminate due to a Change in Duties immediately following the end of the 30-day “cure” period. If the Employer remedies the Change in Duties event within such 30-day period, then the event giving rise to the Covered Executive’s notice shall not constitute a Change in Duties and the Covered Executive’s employment shall continue.

“Release” shall mean a general release, substantially in the form attached hereto, from the Covered Executive that releases the Company and its affiliates from employment-related claims.

“Vesting Continuation Period” shall mean, as applicable, (i) if a Covered Executive who is an Executive Officer experiences an Involuntary Termination on or before December 31, 2018, the period beginning on the date of the Involuntary Termination and ending on December 31, 2019 or (ii) if a Covered Executive who is an Executive Officer experiences an Involuntary Termination after December 31, 2018, the period beginning on the date of the Involuntary Termination and ending on the date that is 12 months following the date of the Involuntary Termination.

1.2     Number and Gender . Wherever appropriate herein, words used in the singular shall be considered to include the plural and the plural to include the singular. The masculine gender, where appearing in this Plan, shall be deemed to include the feminine gender.

1.3     Headings . The headings of Articles and Sections herein are included solely for convenience and if there is any conflict between such headings and the text of the Plan, the text will control.

II.

SEVERANCE BENEFITS

2.1     Post Change of Control Severance Payments . Subject to the further provisions of (i) this Article II, including Section 2.3, and (ii) Sections 4.10 and 4.12, if a Covered Executive incurs an Involuntary Termination on or within 18 months following a Change of Control, then, as soon as practical following his Release becoming irrevocable, but not later than 10 days after such date, such Covered Executive shall be entitled to the following severance benefits:

(a)    a lump sum cash payment equal to (i) if the Covered Executive is an Executive Officer or a senior vice president of an Employer, two times the sum of his Annual

 

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Base Salary and Bonus Amount, or (ii) if the Covered Executive is a vice president of an Employer but is not an Executive Officer, the sum of his Annual Base Salary and Bonus Amount;

(b)    if, following his Involuntary Termination, the Covered Executive timely elects COBRA continuation coverage for the Covered Executive and, where applicable, his eligible dependents, his monthly premium for such COBRA coverage, for up to 18 months (or, in the case of a Covered Executive who is an Executive Officer, 24 months), shall be equal to the active employee monthly premium charged for similar Health Benefit Coverage (the “Subsidized COBRA Coverage”). However, if such Subsidized COBRA Coverage for the Covered Executive would result in his coverage, or the benefits received under the health benefit plan, being taxable to the Covered Executive, the Employer shall take all actions necessary to make the Covered Executive “whole” on an after-tax basis for any such adverse tax consequences. If at any time on or after the Covered Executive’s Involuntary Termination any health benefit plan in which he is continuing his coverage pursuant to this Section 2.1(b) either is terminated or ceases to provide coverage to him or his covered beneficiaries for any reason, other than as provided below, prior to the end of the period of Subsidized COBRA Coverage, then the Employer shall pay the Covered Executive timely an amount of cash necessary for the Covered Executive to obtain for the period of Subsidized COBRA Coverage then remaining substitute coverage that is substantially equivalent to the coverage that was provided to the Covered Executive before such termination, plus, if applicable, a gross-up payment to reflect the loss of any tax benefits associated with his “loss” of employer-provided health plan coverage benefit(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the period of Subsidized COBRA Coverage shall immediately terminate upon the Covered Executive’s obtainment of new employment and his eligibility for group health plan coverage from his new employer (with the Covered Executive being obligated hereunder to promptly report such eligibility to the Employer); and

(c)    a lump sum cash payment equal to the sum of (i) his earned, but unpaid, annual base salary up to the date of his Involuntary Termination and (ii) any accrued, but untaken, vacation time or paid-time off.

2.2     Pre-Change of Control Severance Payments . Subject to the further provisions of (i) this Article II, including Section 2.3, and (ii) Sections 4.10 and 4.12, if a Covered Executive incurs an Involuntary Termination prior to a Change of Control, then, as soon as practical following his Release becoming irrevocable, but not later than 10 days after such date, such Covered Executive shall be entitled to the following severance benefits:

(a)    a lump sum cash payment equal to (i) if the Covered Executive is an Executive Officer or a senior vice president of an Employer, two times the sum of his Annual Base Salary and Bonus Amount, or (ii) if the Covered Executive is a vice president of an Employer but is not an Executive Officer, 50% of the sum of his Annual Base Salary and Target Bonus Amount;

(b)    if, following his Involuntary Termination, the Covered Executive timely elects COBRA continuation coverage for the Covered Executive and, where applicable, his eligible dependents, his monthly premium for such COBRA coverage, for up to six months (or, in the case of a Covered Executive who is an Executive Officer, 24 months), shall be equal to the

 

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Subsidized COBRA Coverage. However, if such Subsidized COBRA Coverage for the Covered Executive would result in his coverage, or the benefits received under the health benefit plan, being taxable to the Covered Executive, the Employer shall take all actions necessary to make the Covered Executive “whole” on an after-tax basis for any such adverse tax consequences. If at any time on or after the Covered Executive’s Involuntary Termination any health benefit plan in which he is continuing his coverage pursuant to this Section 2.2(b) either is terminated or ceases to provide coverage to him or his covered beneficiaries for any reason, other than as provided below, prior to the end of the period of Subsidized COBRA Coverage, then the Employer shall pay the Covered Executive timely an amount of cash necessary for the Covered Executive to obtain for the period of Subsidized COBRA Coverage then remaining substitute coverage that is substantially equivalent to the coverage that was provided to the Covered Executive before such termination, plus, if applicable, a gross-up payment to reflect the loss of any tax benefits associated with his “loss” of employer-provided health plan coverage benefit(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the period of Subsidized COBRA Coverage shall immediately terminate upon the Covered Executive’s obtainment of new employment and his eligibility for group health plan coverage from his new employer (with the Covered Executive being obligated hereunder to promptly report such eligibility to the Employer); and

(c)    a lump sum cash payment equal to the sum of (i) his earned, but unpaid, annual base salary up to the date of his Involuntary Termination and (ii) any accrued, but untaken, vacation time or paid-time off.

2.3     Treatment of Equity Awards .

(a)    Subject to (i) the further provisions of this Article II, including Section 2.3, and (ii) compliance with the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants attached hereto as Exhibit A , if a Covered Executive who is an Executive Officer incurs an Involuntary Termination prior to a Change of Control, (A) the portion of any unvested and unearned restricted stock (or restricted stock unit) awards held by the Covered Executive vesting solely pursuant to the passage of time and continued services and granted pursuant to the Company’s Management Incentive Plan (or other equity compensation plan) (the “ Restricted Stock ”) that would, but for the Covered Executive’s termination, vest during the Vesting Continuation Period will immediately vest on the date of the Involuntary Termination, and (B) any unearned performance awards held by the Covered Executive to be settled in common stock of the Company, conditioned upon the achievement of performance targets and granted pursuant to the Company’s Management Incentive Plan (or other equity compensation plan) (the “ Performance Shares ”) will (1) be prorated by multiplying the number of Performance Shares by a fraction (no greater than one) the numerator of which is the number of months in the period beginning on the date of grant of the Performance Shares and ending on last day of the Vesting Continuation Period and the denominator of which is the number of months in the performance period under the Performance Shares (with the remainder of the Performance Shares being immediately forfeited to the Company for no consideration upon the Covered Executive’s termination of employment) and (2) such reduced award will vest, if at all, based on the achievement of the performance goals set forth in each outstanding Performance Share award utilizing a shortened performance period under the award ending on the date of the Involuntary Termination; provided, however, that the preceding sentence is not intended to modify the vesting provisions applicable to either the “Grant of Restricted Stock (Secondary Exit Award; UCC Warrant Exercise)” or the “Grant of Restricted Stock (Secondary Exit Award: 2L Note Conversion)” (together the “ Emergence Awards ”).

 

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(b)    Notwithstanding Section 2.3(a), subject to (i) the further provisions of this Article II, including Section 2.3, and (ii) compliance with the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants attached hereto as Exhibit A , if a Covered Executive who is an Executive Officer incurs an Involuntary Termination on or within 18 months following a Change of Control, any unvested and unearned Restricted Stock held by the Covered Executive will immediately vest in full. Nothing contained in this Section 2.3(b) is intended to modify the vesting provisions applicable to the Emergence Awards.

(c)    Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, upon a Change of Control, any unearned Performance Shares held by a Covered Executive who is an Executive Officer will immediately vest, if at all, based on the achievement of the performance goals set forth in each outstanding Performance Share award utilizing a shortened performance period under the award ending on the date of the Change of Control. Nothing contained in this Section 2.3(c) is intended to modify the vesting provisions applicable to the Emergence Awards.

(d)    If the employment of a Covered Executive who is an Executive Officer is terminated for any reason or no reason prior to the vesting of the Emergence Awards they will be automatically forfeited to the Company for no consideration upon such termination. In the event a Covered Executive violates any of the terms of the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants set forth on Exhibit A, the Covered Executive will automatically forfeit to the Company for no consideration all outstanding unvested equity and equity-based compensation awards related to the common stock of the Company. After giving effect to any accelerated or continued vesting pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.3, any outstanding unvested equity and equity-based compensation awards related to the common stock of the Company (which awards did not vest pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.3) will immediately be forfeited to the Company for no consideration.

(e)    Notwithstanding the terms of any outstanding agreements evidencing Restricted Stock or Performance Shares, (1) if the employment of a Covered Executive who is an Executive Officer is terminated for any reason other than pursuant to a Involuntary Termination prior to the vesting of the Restricted Stock or Performance Shares, the Restricted Stock and Performance Shares will be forfeited to the Company for no consideration upon such termination, and (2) Section 3(c) of all outstanding agreements evidencing Restricted Stock or Performance Shares is hereby deleted such that the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the Company’s Management Incentive Plan) will not automatically result in accelerated vesting of the Covered Executive’s Restricted Stock or Performance Shares or the shortening of the performance period under the Covered Executive’s Performance Shares. This Section 2.3 is intended to amend the outstanding Restricted Stock and Performance Share agreements for each Covered Executive who is an Executive Officer to modify, in the manner described in the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.3, the provision of accelerated vesting with respect to the Covered Executive’s outstanding Restricted Stock and Performance Shares and such additional agreements are hereby deemed amended without the need to execute any further documents.

 

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2.4     Release and Full Settlement . Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, as a pre-condition to the receipt of any severance payments or benefits under Sections 2.1(a) and (b), Sections 2.2(a) and (b), Section 2.3(a) or Section 2.3(b) above, whichever is applicable, a Covered Executive whose employment has been subject to an Involuntary Termination must execute a Release, in substantially the form attached hereto as Attachment A, releasing the Board, the Committee, the Plan’s fiduciaries and administrators, the Employers, the Company and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, shareholders, partners, officers, directors, executives and agents (the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims and causes of action of any kind or character, including, but not limited to, all claims or causes of action arising out of such Covered Executive’s employment with any of the Released Parties or the termination of such employment and deemed amendment of the outstanding Restricted Stock and Performance Share agreements as described in Section 2.3, but excluding (i) all vested benefits the Covered Executive may have under any employee benefit plan, program or arrangement of the Employer or an affiliate that is subject to ERISA and (ii) any payments and benefits to which he is entitled to receive under this Plan as a result of the Release becoming irrevocable. The Employer’s performance of its obligations hereunder and the receipt of the benefits provided hereunder by such Covered Executive shall constitute full settlement of all such released claims and causes of action. To be entitled to receive benefits pursuant to Sections 2.1(a) and (b), Sections 2.2(a) and (b), Section 2.3(a) or Section 2.3(b), as applicable, such Release (i) must be executed by the Covered Executive not later than 45 days following the date the Release is provided to the Covered Executive, which must be within five days following his Involuntary Termination, and (ii) must have become irrevocable.

2.5     No Mitigation . A Covered Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Article II by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Article II be reduced by any compensation or benefit earned by the Covered Executive as the result of employment by another employer, except as provided in Section 2.1(b) or Section 2.2(b) with respect to his eligibility for coverage under a new employer’s group health plan. Subject to the foregoing, the benefits under the Plan are in addition to any other benefits to which a Covered Executive is otherwise entitled.

2.6     Severance Pay Plan Limitation . This Plan is intended to be an employee welfare benefit plan within the meaning of section 3(1) of ERISA and the Department of Labor regulations promulgated thereunder. Therefore, anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall any Covered Executive receive total severance payments hereunder that exceed the equivalent of twice such Covered Executive’s “annual compensation” (as such term is defined in 29 CFR § 2510.3-2(b)(2)) during the year immediately preceding his Involuntary Termination. If total severance payments made hereunder to a Covered Executive would otherwise exceed the limitation in the preceding sentence, the amount payable to such Covered Executive shall be reduced as necessary to satisfy such limitation.

 

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III.

ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN

3.1     Committee’s Powers and Duties . The Company shall be the named fiduciary and shall have full power to administer the Plan in all of its details, subject to applicable requirements of law. The duties of the Company shall be performed by the Committee. It shall be a principal duty of the Committee to see that the Plan is carried out, in accordance with its terms, for the exclusive benefit of persons entitled to participate in the Plan. For this purpose, the Committee’s powers shall include, but not be limited to, the following authority, in addition to all other powers provided by this Plan:

(a)    to make and enforce such rules and regulations as it deems necessary or proper for the efficient administration of the Plan;

(b)    to interpret the Plan and all facts with respect to a claim for payment or benefits, its interpretation thereof to be final and conclusive on all persons claiming payment or benefits under the Plan;

(c)    to decide all questions concerning the Plan and the eligibility of any person to participate in the Plan;

(d)    to make a determination as to the right of any person to a payment or benefit under the Plan (including, without limitation, to determine whether and when there has been a termination of a Covered Executive’s employment and the cause of such termination and the amount of such payment or benefit);

(e)    to appoint such agents, counsel, accountants, consultants, claims administrator and other persons as may be required to assist in administering the Plan;

(f)    to allocate and delegate its responsibilities under the Plan and to designate other persons to carry out any of its responsibilities under the Plan, any such allocation, delegation or designation to be in writing;

(g)    to sue or cause suit to be brought in the name of the Plan; and

(h)    to obtain from the Employer and from Covered Executives such information as is necessary for the proper administration of the Plan.

3.2     Member’s Own Participation . No member of the Committee may act or vote in a decision of the Committee specifically relating to himself as a participant in the Plan.

3.3     Indemnification . The Employer shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee against any and all expenses and liabilities arising out of his administrative functions or fiduciary responsibilities, including any expenses and liabilities that are caused by or result from an act or omission constituting the negligence of such member in the performance of such functions or responsibilities, but excluding expenses and liabilities that are caused by or result from such member’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Expenses against which

 

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such member shall be indemnified hereunder shall include, without limitation, the amounts of any settlement or judgment, costs, counsel fees, and related charges reasonably incurred in connection with a claim asserted or a proceeding brought or settlement thereof.

3.4     Compensation, Bond and Expenses . The members of the Committee shall not receive compensation with respect to their services for the Committee. To the extent required by applicable law, but not otherwise, Committee members shall furnish bond or security for the performance of their duties hereunder. Any expenses properly incurred by the Committee incident to the administration, termination or protection of the Plan, including the cost of furnishing bond, shall be paid by the Company.

3.5     Claims Procedure . Any Covered Executive that the Committee determines is entitled to a benefit under the Plan is not required to file a claim for benefits. Any Covered Executive who is not paid a benefit and who believes that he is entitled to a benefit or who has been paid a benefit and who believes that he is entitled to a greater benefit may file a claim for benefits under the Plan in writing with the Committee. In any case in which a claim for Plan benefits by a Covered Executive is denied or modified, the Committee shall furnish written notice to the claimant within 90 days after receipt of such claim for Plan benefits (or within 180 days if additional information requested by the Committee necessitates an extension of the 90-day period and the claimant is informed of such extension in writing within the original 90-day period), which notice shall:

(a)    state the specific reason or reasons for the denial or modification;

(b)    provide specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial or modification is based;

(c)    provide a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Covered Executive or his representative to perfect the claim, and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and

(d)    explain the Plan’s claim review procedure as contained herein.

In the event a claim for Plan benefits is denied or modified, if the Covered Executive or his representative desires to have such denial or modification reviewed, he must, within 60 days following receipt of the notice of such denial or modification, submit a written request for review by the Committee of its initial decision. In connection with such request, the Covered Executive or his representative may review any pertinent documents upon which such denial or modification was based and may submit issues and comments in writing. Within 60 days following such request for review the Committee shall, after providing a full and fair review, render its final decision in writing to the Covered Executive and his representative, if any, stating specific reasons for such decision and making specific references to pertinent Plan provisions upon which the decision is based. If special circumstances require an extension of such 60-day period, the Committee’s decision shall be rendered as soon as possible, but not later than 120 days after receipt of the request for review. If an extension of time for review is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Covered Executive and his representative, if any, prior to the commencement of the extension period. Any legal action with respect to a claim for

 

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Plan benefits must be filed no later than one year after the later of (1) the date the claim is denied by the Committee or (2) if a review of such denial is requested pursuant to the provisions above, the date of the final decision by the Committee with respect to such request.

IV.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

4.1     Funding . The benefits provided herein shall be unfunded and shall be provided from the Employer’s general assets.

4.2     Cost of Plan . Except as provided in Section 2.1(b) and Section 2.2(b) with respect to the active employee monthly premium charged for Health Benefit Coverages, the entire cost of the Plan shall be borne by the Employer and no contributions shall be required of the Covered Executives.

4.3     Plan Year . The Plan shall operate on a calendar year basis.

4.4     Participating Employers . GPC LLC shall be an Employer. The Committee may designate any other affiliate of GPC LLC eligible by law to participate in this Plan as also being an Employer by written instrument delivered to the Secretary of the Company and the other designated Employer. Such written instrument shall specify the effective date of such designated participation, may incorporate specific provisions relating to the operation of the Plan which apply to the designated Employer only and shall become, as to such designated Employer and its executives, a part of the Plan. Each designated Employer shall be conclusively presumed to have consented to its designation and to have agreed to be bound by the terms of the Plan and any and all amendments thereto upon its submission of information to the Committee required by the terms of or with respect to the Plan; provided, however, that the terms of the Plan may be modified so as to increase the obligations of an Employer only with the written consent of such Employer. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if a Covered Executive’s employment is transferred to an affiliate of the Employer that has not been designated an “Employer” under the Plan, for purposes of this Plan, during the six-month period following such transfer such affiliate shall be deemed to be an Employer for all purposes with respect to such transferred Covered Executive.

4.5     Amendment and Termination . The term of the Plan, as amended and restated hereby, shall continue through the third anniversary of the Effective Date, and automatically shall then terminate unless the Board takes action prior to such third anniversary of the Effective Date to provide that the term of the Plan shall be extended. Subject to the following paragraph, the Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that no such amendment or termination may adversely affect the rights of a Covered Executive who has incurred an Involuntary Termination prior to such amendment or termination of the Plan.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change of Control occurs during the term of the Plan, the Plan may not be terminated or amended on or within 18 months following the Change of Control to adversely affect the participation and rights (contingent or otherwise) under the Plan of any individual who is a Covered Executive immediately prior to such Change of Control. For

 

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purposes of this Section 4.5, on and following a Change of Control a revocation of the designation of an affiliate, GPC LLC or the Company as an Employer, or a transfer of a Covered Executive’s employment to an entity that is not designated an Employer, shall be deemed to be an adverse amendment to the Plan with respect to each affected Covered Executive. The Employer’s obligation to make all payments and provide all benefits that become (or have become) payable as a result of an Involuntary Termination that occurs during such 18-month period following the Change of Control (or which occurred prior to the Change of Control) shall survive any termination of the Plan.

4.6     Not Contract of Employment . The adoption and maintenance of the Plan shall not be deemed to be a contract of employment between the Employer and any person or to be consideration for the employment of any person. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to give any person the right to be retained in the employ of the Employer or to restrict the right of the Employer to discharge any person at any time nor shall the Plan be deemed to give the Employer the right to require any person to remain in the employ of the Employer or to restrict any person’s right to terminate his employment at any time.

4.7     Severability . Any provision in the Plan that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction by reason of applicable law shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating or affecting the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

4.8     Nonalienation . Covered Executives shall not have any right to pledge, hypothecate, anticipate or assign benefits or rights under the Plan, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

4.9     Effect of Plan . Except with respect to any individual written employment or severance agreements between a Covered Executive and an Employer, the Company or an affiliate, this Plan supersedes all prior oral or written policies, plans or arrangements of the Employer or the Company covering or applying to, and all prior oral or written communications to, Covered Executives with respect to the subject matter hereof, and all such prior policies, plans or arrangements and communications are hereby null and void and of no further force and effect other than any outstanding agreements evidencing Restricted Stock or Performance Shares (which are hereby deemed amended as described herein). Further, this Plan shall be binding upon the Employer and any successor of the Employer, by merger or otherwise, and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Covered Executives.

4.10     Taxes . The Employer or its successor may withhold from any amounts payable to a Covered Executive under the Plan all taxes it is required to withhold pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

4.11     Governing Law . The Plan shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without regard to conflict of laws principles, except to the extent preempted by federal law.

 

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4.12     Section 409A Compliance .

(a)    Notwithstanding anything in Sections 2.1 or 2.2 to the contrary concerning the time of payment of any severance benefit, if the Covered Executive is a “specified employee,” as defined in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(i), as of his Involuntary Termination, then to the extent any amount payable under the Plan to such Covered Executive upon or as a result of his “separation from service” under Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 would be subject to the additional tax provided by Section 409A of the Code, such amount shall not be paid to the Covered Executive until the date that is six months after the date of his Involuntary Termination (or, if earlier than the end of the six-month period, his date of death). Such payment shall be made in a lump sum on such delayed payment date and shall bear interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date payment was otherwise to be made under Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 and the date the delayed amount is actually paid.

(b)    To the extent permitted under Section 409A and the applicable Treasury Regulations thereunder, each payment to a Covered Executive under the Plan shall be treated as a “separate payment.”

(c)    The Plan shall be construed to comply with Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable, and, in this regard, a “termination of employment” shall mean, and must be, a “separation from service” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank;

Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Company and GPC LLC each have executed this Agreement on August 22, 2018, effective as of the Effective Date.

 

GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Walter G. Goodrich

  Walter G. Goodrich
  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
GOODRICH PETROLEUM COMPANY, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ Walter G. Goodrich

  Walter G. Goodrich
  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

 

S IGNATURE P AGE TO

G OODRICH P ETROLEUM

A MENDED AND R ESTATED

O FFICER S EVERANCE P LAN


EXHIBIT A

NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION COVENANTS

1. Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation . As a condition of the Executive Officer’s employment by the Employer, and in order to protect the Employer’s trade secret and other confidential information and the Employer’s other legitimate business interests, including the Employer’s goodwill and customer and client relationships and for good and valuable consideration, including the benefits set forth in the Goodrich Petroleum Amended and Restated Officer Severance Plan to which this Exhibit A is attached, the Executive Officer covenants and agrees that, without prior written consent from the Employer, during the Prohibited Period, the Executive Officer shall not, directly or indirectly, for the Executive Officer or on behalf of or in conjunction with any person or entity of any nature:

(a)    engage or participate in competition with the Employer within the Market Area in any aspect of the Business, which prohibition shall prevent the Executive Officer from directly or indirectly owning, managing, operating, joining, becoming an officer, director, employee or consultant of, or loaning money to, or selling or leasing equipment or real estate to, or otherwise being affiliated with any person or entity engaged in, or planning to engage in, the Business in the Market Area in competition, or anticipated competition, with the Employer;

(b)    appropriate any Business Opportunity of the Employer located in the Market Area;

(c)    solicit, canvass, approach, encourage, entice or induce any customer or supplier of the Employer to cease or lessen such customer’s or supplier’s business with the Employer; or

(d)    solicit, canvass, approach, encourage, entice or induce any employee or contractor of the Employer to terminate his, her or its employment or engagement with the Employer.

Nothing herein shall prohibit the Executive Officer from being a passive owner of not more than 1% of the outstanding stock of any class of securities of any person listed on a national securities exchange which is engaged in the Business, so long as the Executive Officer has no active participation in the Business of such person and does not serve on the board of directors or similar body of such person.

2. Definitions . For purposes of these Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Covenants, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a)    “Business” shall mean the business and operations that are the same or similar to those performed by the Employer for which the Executive Officer provides services or about which the Executive Officer obtains trade secrets or other confidential information of the Employer during the period that the Executive Officer is employed by the Employer, which business and operations include the exploration, development and production of natural gas and crude oil.

 

E XHIBIT A


(b)    “Business Opportunity” shall mean any commercial, investment or other business opportunity in the Business.

(c)    “Market Area” shall mean (i) the Haynesville Shale, the Haynesville/Bossier Shale Angelina River Trend, and the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale; (ii) the following parishes in Louisiana: Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Catahoula, Concordia, East Feliciana, East Baton Rouge, Evangeline, Grant, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vernon, Washington, and West Feliciana; (iii) a one (1) mile area surrounding the outermost boundary of each lease or property owned by the Employer immediately prior to the point in time the Executive Officer is no longer employed by the Employer and (iv) the lands covered by any lease or property under substantial consideration or evaluation by the Employer but not yet acquired prior to the Executive Officer’s Separation from Service for which the Executive Officer provided services or about which the Executive Officer received any confidential information.

(d)    “Prohibited Period” shall mean the period during which the Executive Officer is employed by the Employer and continuing for a period of twelve (12) months following the date that the Executive Officer is no longer employed by the Employer, regardless of the reason for such separation.

3. Executive Officer Representations . The Executive Officer agrees and acknowledges that the limitations and restrictions set forth herein, including geographical and temporal restrictions on certain activities, are reasonable in all respects, will not cause the Executive Officer undue hardship, and are intended and necessary to prevent unfair competition and to protect the Employer’s legitimate business interests.

4. Modification . In the event any court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction shall determine that the scope, time or territorial restrictions set forth in this Exhibit A are unreasonable, then such restrictions shall be enforced to the fullest extent which such court or arbitrator deems reasonable, and the terms of this Exhibit A shall thereby be reformed.

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

 

E XHIBIT A

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