CONTINENTAL RESOURCES, INC. 2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

EX-10.9 10 dex109.htm AMENDED AND RESTATED CONTINENTAL RESOURCES, INC. 2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN Amended and Restated Continental Resources, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan

EXHIBIT 10.9

CONTINENTAL RESOURCES, INC.

2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

As Amended and Restated as of April 3, 2006

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE

SECTION 1.1 Purpose. This Continental Resources, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is established by Continental Resources, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation (the “Company”) to create incentives which are designed to motivate Participants to put forth maximum effort toward the success and growth of the Company and to enable the Company to attract and retain experienced individuals who by their position, ability and diligence are able to make important contributions to the Company’s success. Toward these objectives, the Plan provides for the grant of Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Bonus Stock Awards, SARs, Performance Units and Performance Bonuses to Eligible Employees and the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Bonus Stock Awards, SARs and Performance Units to Consultants and Eligible Directors, subject to the conditions set forth in the Plan and as such capitalized terms are defined below.

SECTION 1.2 Establishment. The Plan was originally effective as of October 3, 2005. This amendment and restatement of the Plan is effective April 3, 2006 (the “Restatement Effective Date”). The Plan is effective until October 2, 2015, unless earlier terminated pursuant to the provisions Section 11.1. Notwithstanding any termination of the Plan, the Plan shall continue in effect until all matters relating to the payment and administration of outstanding Awards have been settled.

This amendment and restatement of the Plan is subject to the approval by the holders of shares of the Company’s outstanding voting common stock representing a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of voting common stock, which approval must occur within the period ending twelve months after the Restatement Effective Date. Pending such approval by the shareholders, Awards under the Plan, as amended and restated, may be granted, but no such Awards may be exercised prior to receipt of shareholder approval. In the event shareholder approval is not obtained within a twelve-month period, all Awards granted under the Plan, on or after the Restatement Effective Date shall be void. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Awards granted under the Plan prior to the Restatement Effective Date shall be governed by the terms of the Plan as in effect on the Awards’ respective Dates of Grant.

SECTION 1.3 Shares Subject to the Plan. Subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan, Awards may be made under this Plan for a total of 500,000 shares of the Company’s non-voting common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”). A maximum of 500,000 shares of Common Stock of the total authorized under this Section 1.3 may be granted as Incentive Stock Options. The limitations of this Section 1.3 shall be subject to the adjustment provisions of Article X.


ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 2.1 “Account” means the recordkeeping account established by the Company to which will be credited an Award of Performance Units to a Participant.

SECTION 2.2 “Affiliated Entity” means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other form of legal entity in which a majority of the partnership or other similar interest thereof is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries or Affiliated Entities or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Entity shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership or limited liability company if the Company, such Subsidiary or Affiliated Entity shall be allocated a majority of partnership or limited liability company gains or losses or shall be or control a managing director or a general partner of such partnership or limited liability company.

SECTION 2.3 “Award” means, individually or collectively, any Option, Restricted Stock Award, SAR, Performance Unit or Performance Bonus granted under the Plan to an Eligible Employee by the Committee or any Nonqualified Stock Option, Performance Unit, SAR or Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan to a Consultant or an Eligible Director by the Board pursuant to such terms, conditions, restrictions, and/or limitations, if any, as the Committee may establish by the Award Agreement or otherwise.

SECTION 2.4 “Award Agreement” means any written instrument that establishes the terms, conditions, restrictions, and/or limitations applicable to an Award in addition to those established by this Plan and by the Committee’s exercise of its administrative powers.

SECTION 2.5 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

SECTION 2.6 “Bonus Stock Award” means an Award granted under Section 6.3.

SECTION 2.7 “Change of Control Event” means each of the following:

(i) Any transaction in which shares of voting securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the Company are issued by the Company, or sold or transferred by the shareholders of the Company as a result of which those persons and entities who beneficially owned voting securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction cease to beneficially own voting securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately after such transaction;

(ii) The merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result of which those persons and entities who beneficially owned voting securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation cease to

 

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beneficially own voting securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the surviving corporation or resulting entity immediately after such merger of consolidation; or

(iii) The sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity of which those persons and entities who beneficially owned voting securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such asset sale do not beneficially own voting securities of the purchasing entity representing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the purchasing entity immediately after such asset sale.

SECTION 2.8 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. References in the Plan to any Section of the Code shall be deemed to include any amendments or successor provisions to such Section and any regulations under such Section.

SECTION 2.9 “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, provided, however, that with respect to powers to grant and establish the terms of Awards to Eligible Directors’ and all other powers that are reserved to the Board under Section 2.3, references to “Committee” shall be deemed to be references to Board.

SECTION 2.10 “Common Stock” means the non-voting common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company, and after substitution, such other stock as shall be substituted therefore as provided in Article X.

SECTION 2.11 “Consultant” means any person who is engaged by the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Entity to render consulting or advisory services.

SECTION 2.12 “Date of Grant” means the date on which the grant of an Award is authorized by the Committee or such later date as may be specified by the Committee in such authorization.

SECTION 2.13 “Disability” means the Participant is unable to continue employment by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. For purposes of this Plan, the determination of Disability shall be made in the sole and absolute discretion of the Committee.

SECTION 2.14 “Eligible Employee” means any employee of the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Affiliated Entity as approved by the Committee.

SECTION 2.15 “Eligible Director” means any member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Entity.

SECTION 2.16 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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SECTION 2.17 “Fair Market Value” means (A) during such time as the Common Stock is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the closing price of the Common Stock as reported by an established stock exchange or automated quotation system on the day for which such value is to be determined, or, if no sale of the Common Stock shall have been made on any such stock exchange or automated quotation system that day, on the next preceding day on which there was a sale of such Common Stock, or (B) during any such time as the Common Stock is not listed upon an established stock exchange or automated quotation system, the mean between dealer “bid” and “ask” prices of the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on the day for which such value is to be determined, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or (C) during any such time as the Common Stock cannot be valued pursuant to (A) or (B) above, the fair market value shall be as determined by the Committee in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, considering all relevant information including, by example and not by limitation, the services of an independent appraiser.

SECTION 2.18 “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

SECTION 2.19 “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option which is not an Incentive Stock Option.

SECTION 2.20 “Option” means an Award granted under Article V of the Plan and includes both Nonqualified Stock Options and Incentive Stock Options to purchase shares of Common Stock.

SECTION 2.21 “Participant” means an Eligible Employee, a Consultant or an Eligible Director to whom an Award has been granted under the Plan.

SECTION 2.22 “Performance Bonus” means the cash bonus which may be granted to Eligible Employees under Article IX of the Plan.

SECTION 2.23 “Performance Units” means those monetary units that may be granted to Eligible Employees, Consultants or Eligible Directors pursuant to Article VIII hereof.

SECTION 2.24 “Plan” means this Continental Resources, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

SECTION 2.25 “Restricted Stock Award” means an Award granted to an Eligible Employee, Consultant or Eligible Director under Article VI of the Plan.

SECTION 2.26 “Retirement” means the termination of an Eligible Employee’s employment with the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Entity on or after attaining age 62.

SECTION 2.27 “SAR” means a stock appreciation right granted to an Eligible Employee, Consultant or Eligible Director under Article VII of the Plan.

SECTION 2.28 “Subsidiary” shall have the same meaning set forth in Section 424 of the Code.

 

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ARTICLE III

ADMINISTRATION

SECTION 3.1 Administration of the Plan. The Board shall have the power and authority to administer the Plan and may delegate such authority to a Committee comprised of members of the Board. The Board has, by resolution, appointed the Committee to administer the Plan and has delegated its powers described under this Section 3.1 for purposes of Awards granted to Eligible Employees and Consultants. Pursuant to Section 3.2, the Committee shall also be authorized to administer Awards granted by the Board to Eligible Directors.

Subject to the provisions of the Plan and except as provided otherwise in Section 3.3, the Committee shall have exclusive power to:

(a) Select Eligible Employees and Consultants to participate in the Plan;

(b) Determine the time or times when Awards will be made to Eligible Employees and Consultants;

(c) Determine the form of an Award, whether an Incentive Stock Option, Nonqualified Stock Option, Restricted Stock Award, SAR, Performance Unit, or Performance Bonus, the number of shares of Common Stock or Performance Units subject to the Award, the amount and all the terms, conditions (including performance requirements), restrictions and/or limitations, if any, of an Award, including the time and conditions of exercise or vesting, and the terms of any Award Agreement, which may include the waiver or amendment of prior terms and conditions or acceleration or early vesting or payment of an Award under certain circumstances determined by the Committee;

(d) Determine whether Awards will be granted singly or in combination;

(e) Accelerate the vesting, exercise or payment of an Award or the performance period of an Award;

(f) Determine whether and to what extent a Performance Bonus may be deferred, either automatically or at the election of the Participant or the Committee;

(g) Take any and all other action it deems necessary or advisable for the proper operation or administration of the Plan.

SECTION 3.2 Grants to Eligible Directors. The Board shall have the exclusive power to select Eligible Directors to participate in the Plan and to determine the number of Nonqualified Stock Options, Performance Units, SARs, shares of Restricted Stock or shares of Bonus Stock awarded to Eligible Directors selected for participation and the terms of such Awards. Committee shall administer all other aspects of the Awards made to Eligible Directors. For purposes of the Plan, references to the “Committee” shall be deemed to be references to the Board with respect to the powers reserved exclusively to the Board pursuant to this Section.

 

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SECTION 3.3 Committee to Make Rules and Interpret Plan. The Committee in its sole discretion shall have the authority, subject to the provisions of the Plan, to establish, adopt, or revise such rules and regulations and to make all such determinations relating to the Plan, as it may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee’s interpretation of the Plan or any Awards and all decisions and determinations by the Board with respect to the Plan shall be final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.

SECTION 3.4 Section 162(m) Provisions. The Company intends for the Plan and the Awards made hereunder to qualify for the exception from Section 162(m) of the Code for “qualified performance based compensation” if it is determined by the Committee that such qualification is necessary for an Award. Accordingly, the Committee shall make determinations as to performance targets and all other applicable provisions of the Plan as necessary in order for the Plan and Awards made thereunder to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code. Further, as to any Award for which it is determined that such qualification is necessary, the grant of such Award shall be determined and such Award shall be administered by a committee of, and appointed by, the Board that shall be comprised solely of two or more outside Directors (within the meaning of the term “outside directors” as used in Section 162(m) of the Code and applicable interpretive authority thereunder and within the meaning of the term “Non-Employee Director” as defined in Rule 16b-3).

ARTICLE IV

GRANT OF AWARDS

SECTION 4.1 Grant of Awards. Awards granted under this Plan shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a) Subject to Article X, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock made subject to the grant of Options and/or SARs to any Eligible Employee in any calendar year may not exceed 20,000 shares, subject to the adjustment provisions of Article X.

(b) Subject to Article X, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock made subject to the grant of Restricted Stock Awards and Performance Unit Awards to any Eligible Employee in any calendar year may not exceed 20,000, subject to the adjustment provisions of Article X.

(c) The maximum amount made subject to the grant of Performance Bonuses to any Eligible Employee in any calendar year may not exceed $1,000,000.

(d) Shares of Common Stock shall be deemed to have been issued under the Plan only to the extent actually issued and delivered pursuant to an Award. Any shares of Common Stock related to Awards that terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation or otherwise without the issuance of shares of Common Stock or are exchanged in the Board’s discretion for Awards not involving shares of Common Stock, shall be available again for grant under the Plan and shall not be counted against the shares of Common Stock authorized under Section 1.3. In addition, shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan and forfeited back to the Plan, shares of Common Stock surrendered in payment of the exercise price or purchase price of an Award, and shares of Common Stock withheld for payment of applicable employment taxes and/or withholding obligations associated with an Award shall again be available for the grant of an Award under the Plan.

 

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(e) Common Stock delivered by the Company in payment of an Award authorized under Articles V and VI of the Plan may be authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company.

(f) The Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine the manner in which fractional shares arising under this Plan shall be treated.

(g) Separate certificates or a book-entry registration representing shares of Common Stock shall be delivered to a Participant upon the exercise of any Option.

(h) The Committee and Board, as applicable, shall be prohibited from canceling, reissuing or modifying Awards if such action will have the effect of repricing the Participant’s Award.

(i) The maximum term of any Award shall be ten years.

ARTICLE V

STOCK OPTIONS

SECTION 5.1 Grant of Options. The Committee may, from time to time, subject to the provisions of the Plan and such other terms and conditions as it may determine, grant Options to Eligible Employees. These Options may be Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options, or a combination of both. The Committee may, subject to the provisions of the Plan and such other terms and conditions as it may determine, grant Nonqualified Stock Options to Eligible Directors and Consultants. Each grant of an Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement executed by the Company and the Participant, and shall contain such terms and conditions and be in such form as the Committee may from time to time approve, subject to the requirements of Section 5.2.

SECTION 5.2 Conditions of Options. Each Option so granted shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a) Exercise Price. As limited by Section 5.2(e) below, each Option shall state the exercise price which shall be set by the Committee at the Date of Grant; provided, however, no Option shall be granted at an exercise price which is less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant.

(b) Form of Payment. The exercise price of an Option may be paid (i) in cash or by check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company; (ii) by delivering shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of payment equal to the amount of the exercise price, but only to the extent such exercise of an Option would not result in an adverse accounting charge to the Company for financial accounting purposes with respect to the shares used to pay the exercise price unless otherwise determined by the Board; or (iii) a combination of the foregoing. In addition to the foregoing, the Committee may permit an Option granted under the Plan to be exercised by a broker-dealer acting on behalf of a Participant through procedures approved by the Committee.

 

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(c) Exercise of Options. Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable, in whole or in such installments and at such times, and shall expire at such time, as shall be provided by the Committee in the Award Agreement. Exercise of an Option shall be by written notice to the Secretary of the Company at least two business days in advance of such exercise stating the election to exercise in the form and manner determined by the Committee. Every share of Common Stock acquired through the exercise of an Option shall be deemed to be fully paid at the time of exercise and payment of the exercise price.

(d) Other Terms and Conditions. Among other conditions that may be imposed by the Committee, if deemed appropriate, are those relating to (i) the period or periods and the conditions of exercisability of any Option; (ii) the minimum periods during which Participants must be employed by the Company, its Subsidiaries, or an Affiliated Entity, or must hold Options before they may be exercised; (iii) the minimum periods during which shares acquired upon exercise must be held before sale or transfer shall be permitted; (iv) conditions under which such Options or shares may be subject to forfeiture; (v) the frequency of exercise or the minimum or maximum number of shares that may be acquired at any one time; (vi) the achievement by the Company of specified performance criteria; and (vii) non-compete and protection of business matters.

(e) Special Restrictions Relating to Incentive Stock Options. Options issued in the form of Incentive Stock Options shall only be granted to Eligible Employees of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation (as defined in Section 424 of the Code). To the extent that the aggregate fair market value (determined at the time the respective Incentive Stock Option is granted) of stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year under all incentive stock option plans of the Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations exceeds $100,000, such Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options. The Committee shall determine, in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code, Treasury Regulations and other administrative pronouncements, which of a Participant’s Incentive Stock Options will not constitute Incentive Stock Options because of such limitation and shall notify the Participant of such determination as soon as practicable after such determination. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to an individual if, at the time the Option is granted, such individual owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its parent or subsidiary corporation, within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code, unless (i) at the time such Option is granted the option price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option and (ii) such Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of grant. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 421 or 422 of the Code, an Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative.

(f) Application of Funds. The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Options will be used for general corporate purposes.

 

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(g) Shareholder Rights. No Participant shall have a right as a shareholder with respect to any share of Common Stock subject to an Option prior to purchase of such shares of Common Stock by exercise of the Option.

(h) Options and Rights in Substitution for Options Granted by Other Employers. Options and SARs may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution for options and such rights held by individuals providing services to corporations or other entities who become Eligible Employees, Consultants, or Eligible Directors as a result of a merger or consolidation or other business transaction with the Company or any Affiliated Entity.

ARTICLE VI

RESTRICTED STOCK AND BONUS STOCK AWARDS

SECTION 6.1 Grant of Restricted Stock and Bonus Stock Awards. The Committee may, from time to time, subject to the provisions of the Plan and such other terms and conditions as it may determine, grant a Restricted Stock Award and/or Bonus Stock Awards to Eligible Employees, Consultants or Eligible Directors. Restricted Stock Awards and Bonus Stock Awards shall be awarded in such number and at such times during the term of the Plan as the Committee shall determine. Each Restricted Stock Award and Bonus Stock Award shall be subject to an Award Agreement setting forth the terms of such Award and may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee deems appropriate, including, without limitation, a book-entry registration or issuance of a stock certificate or certificates.

SECTION 6.2 Conditions of Restricted Stock Awards. The grant of a Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to the following:

(a) Restriction Period. Restricted Stock Awards granted to an Eligible Employee shall require the holder to remain in the employment of the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Affiliated Entity for a prescribed period. The purchase price, if any, for shares of Common Stock issued in connection with a Restricted Stock Award shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. Restricted Stock Awards granted to Consultants or Eligible Directors shall require the holder to provide continued services to the Company a Subsidiary or Affiliated Entity for a period of time. These employment and service requirements are collectively referred to as a “Restriction Period”. The Committee shall determine the Restriction Period or Periods which shall apply to the shares of Common Stock covered by each Restricted Stock Award or portion thereof. In addition to any time vesting conditions determined by the Committee, Restricted Stock Awards may be subject to the achievement by the Company of specified performance criteria based upon the Company’s achievement of all or a portion of the operational, financial or stock performance criteria set forth on Exhibit A annexed hereto, as may from time to time be specified by the Committee. At the end of the Restriction Period, assuming the fulfillment of any other specified vesting conditions, such restrictions as have been imposed by the Committee shall lapse with respect to the shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Award or portion thereof. In addition to acceleration of vesting upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Event as provided in Section 11.5, the Committee may, in its discretion, accelerate the vesting of a Restricted Stock Award in the case of the death, Disability or Retirement of the Participant who is an Eligible Employee or resignation of a Participant who is a Consultant or an Eligible Director. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Section 6.2(a), the

 

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Committee may not take any action described in this Section 6.2(a) with respect to a Restricted Stock Award that has been granted to a “covered employee” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(c)(2)) if such Award has been designed to meet the exception for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

(b) Restrictions. The holder of a Restricted Stock Award may not sell, transfer, pledge, exchange, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of the shares of Common Stock represented by the Restricted Stock Award during the applicable Restriction Period. The Committee shall impose such other restrictions and conditions on any shares of Common Stock covered by a Restricted Stock Award as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, restrictions under applicable Federal or state securities laws, and may legend the certificates representing Restricted Stock to give appropriate notice of such restrictions.

(c) Rights as Shareholders. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant to the holder of a Restricted Stock Award all or any of the rights of a shareholder with respect to the shares, including, but not by way of limitation, the right to receive dividends. If any dividends or other distributions are paid in shares of Common Stock, all such shares shall be subject to the same restrictions on transferability as the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.

SECTION 6.3 Conditions of Bonus Stock Awards. Each Bonus Stock Award granted to a Participant shall constitute a transfer of unrestricted shares of Common Stock on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Bonus Stock Awards shall be made in shares of Common Stock and need not be subject to performance criteria or objectives or to forfeiture. The purchase price, if any, for shares of Common Stock issued in connection with a Bonus Stock Award shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

ARTICLE VII

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

SECTION 7.1 Grant of SARs. The Committee may from time to time, in its sole discretion, subject to the provisions of the Plan and subject to other terms and conditions as the Committee may determine, grant a SAR to any Eligible Employee, Consultant or Eligible Director. SARs may be granted in tandem with an Option, in which event, the Participant has the right to elect to exercise either the SAR or the Option. Upon the Participant’s election to exercise one of these Awards, the other tandem Award is automatically terminated. SARs may also be granted as an independent Award separate from an Option. Each grant of a SAR shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement executed by the Company and the Participant and shall contain such terms and conditions and be in such form as the Committee may from time to time approve, subject to the requirements of the Plan. The exercise price of the SAR shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant of the SAR.

SECTION 7.2 Exercise and Payment. SARs granted under the Plan shall be exercisable in whole or in installments and at such times as shall be provided by the Committee in the Award Agreement. Exercise of a SAR shall be by written notice to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company at least two business days in advance of such exercise. The amount payable with respect to each SAR shall be equal in value to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market

 

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Value of a share of Common Stock on the exercise date over the exercise price of the SAR. Payment of amounts attributable to a SAR shall be made in shares of Common Stock and the timing of such payment shall be specified in the Award Agreement with respect to each SAR.

SECTION 7.3 Restrictions. In the event a SAR is granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option, the Committee shall subject the SAR to restrictions necessary to ensure satisfaction of the requirements under Section 422 of the Code. In the case of a SAR granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option to an Eligible Employee who owns more than 10% of the combined voting power of the Company or its Subsidiaries on the date of such grant, the amount payable with respect to each SAR shall be equal in value to the applicable percentage of the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the exercise date over the exercise price of the SAR, which exercise price shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the SAR is granted.

ARTICLE VIII

PERFORMANCE UNITS

SECTION 8.1 Grant of Awards. The Committee may, from time to time, subject to the provisions of the Plan and such other terms and conditions as it may determine, grant Performance Units to Eligible Employees, Consultants and Eligible Directors. Each Award of Performance Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement executed by the Company and the Participant, and shall contain such terms and conditions and be in such form as the Committee may from time to time approve, subject to the requirements of Section 8.2.

SECTION 8.2 Conditions of Awards. Each Award of Performance Units shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a) Establishment of Award Terms. Each Award shall state the target, maximum and minimum value of each Performance Unit payable upon the achievement of performance goals.

(b) Achievement of Performance Goals. The Committee shall establish performance targets for each Award for a period of no less than a year based upon some or all of the operational, financial or performance criteria listed in Exhibit A attached. The performance target may be based upon future performance of the Company or any Affiliated Entity, division, or department thereof during the performance period. The Committee shall establish the performance targets applicable to performance either (i) prior to the beginning of the performance period or (ii) within 90 days after the beginning of the performance period if the outcome of the performance targets is substantially uncertain at the time such targets are established, but not later than the date that 25% of the performance period has elapsed; provided such measures may be made subject to adjustment for specified significant extraordinary items or events. The performance measures may be absolute, relative to one or more other companies, or relative to one or more indexes. The Committee shall also establish such other terms and conditions as it deems appropriate to such Award. The Award may be paid out in cash or Common Stock as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

 

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ARTICLE IX

PERFORMANCE BONUS

SECTION 9.1 Grant of Performance Bonus. The Committee may from time to time, subject to the provisions of the Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may determine, grant a Performance Bonus to certain Eligible Employees selected for participation. The Committee will determine the amount that may be earned as a Performance Bonus in any period of one year or more upon the achievement of a performance target established by the Committee. The Committee shall select the applicable performance target(s) for each period in which a Performance Bonus is awarded. The performance target shall be based upon all or some of the operational, financial or performance criteria more specifically listed in Exhibit A attached.

SECTION 9.2 Payment of Performance Bonus. In order for any Participant to be entitled to payment of a Performance Bonus, the applicable performance target(s) established by the Committee must first be obtained or exceeded. Payment of a Performance Bonus shall be made within 60 days of the Committee’s certification that the performance target(s) has been achieved unless the Participant has previously elected to defer payment pursuant to a nonqualified deferred compensation plan adopted by the Company. Payment of a Performance Bonus may be made in either cash or Common Stock as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

ARTICLE X

RECAPITALIZATION OR REORGANIZATION

SECTION 10.1 No Effect on Right or Power. The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s or any Affiliated Entity’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company or any Affiliated Entity, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Common Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any Affiliated Entity or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.

SECTION 10.2 Subdivision or Consolidation of Shares; Stock Dividends. The shares with respect to which Awards may be granted are shares of Common Stock as presently constituted, but if, and whenever, prior to the expiration of an Award theretofore granted, the Company shall effect a subdivision or consolidation of shares of Common Stock or the payment of a stock dividend on Common Stock without receipt of consideration by the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which such Award may thereafter be exercised or satisfied, as applicable (i) in the event of an increase in the number of outstanding shares shall be proportionately increased, and the purchase price per share shall be proportionately reduced, and (ii) in the event of a reduction in the number of outstanding shares shall be proportionately reduced, and the purchase price per share shall be proportionately increased. Any fractional share resulting from such adjustment shall be rounded up to the next whole share.

 

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SECTION 10.3 Recapitalizations and Corporate Changes. If the Company recapitalizes, reclassifies its capital stock, or otherwise changes its capital structure (a “recapitalization”), the number and class of shares of Common Stock covered by an Award theretofore granted shall be adjusted so that such Award shall thereafter cover the number and class of shares of stock and securities to which the Participant would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the recapitalization if, immediately prior to the recapitalization, the Participant had been the holder of record of the number of shares of Common Stock then covered by such Award. If (i) the Company shall not be the surviving entity in any merger or consolidation (or survives only as a subsidiary of an entity), (ii) the Company sells, leases or exchanges or agrees to sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of its assets to any other person or entity, (iii) the Company is to be dissolved and liquidated, or (iv) any other Change of Control Event occurs, no later than (x) 10 days after the approval by the stockholders of the Company of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, sale, lease or exchange of assets or dissolution or (y) 30 days after a Change of Control Event of the type described in clause (i) of the definition of “Change of Control Event,” the Committee, acting in its sole discretion without the consent or approval of any Participant, shall effect one or more of the following alternatives, which alternatives may vary among individual Participants and which may vary among Options held by any individual Participant: (1) accelerate the time at which Options then outstanding may be exercised so that such Options may be exercised in full for a limited period of time on or before a specified date (before or after such Change of Control Event) fixed by the Committee, after which specified date all unexercised Options and all rights of Participants thereunder shall terminate, (2) require the mandatory surrender to the Company by all or selected Participants of some or all of the outstanding Options held by such Participants (irrespective of whether such Options are then exercisable under the provisions of the Plan) as of a date, before or after such Change of Control Event, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Options and the Company shall pay (or cause to be paid) to each Participant an amount of cash per share equal to the excess, if any, of the “Change of Control Value” (as calculated pursuant to Section 10.4 below) of the shares subject to such Option over the exercise price(s) under such Options for such shares, or (3) make such adjustments to Options then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change of Control Event (provided, however, that the Committee may determine in its sole discretion that no adjustment is necessary to Options then outstanding), including, without limitation, adjusting an Option to provide that the number and class of shares of Common Stock covered by such Option shall be adjusted so that such Option shall thereafter cover securities of the surviving or acquiring corporation or other property (including, without limitation, cash), as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

SECTION 10.4 Change of Control Value. For purposes of Section 10.3 above, the “Change of Control Value” shall equal the amount determined in clause (i), (ii) or (iii), whichever is applicable, as follows: (i) the per share price offered to stockholders of the Company in any merger, consolidation, sale of assets or dissolution transaction referred to in Section 10.3, (ii) the price per share offered to stockholders of the Company in any tender offer or exchange offer whereby a Change of Control Event takes place, or (iii) if such Change of Control Event occurs other than pursuant to a tender or exchange offer, the fair market value per share of the shares into which such Options being surrendered are exercisable, as determined by the Committee as of the date determined by the Committee to be the date of cancellation and surrender of such Options. In the event that the consideration offered to stockholders of the Company in any transaction described in this Section 10.4 or Section 10.3 consists of anything other than cash, the Committee shall determine the fair cash equivalent of the portion of the consideration offered that is other than cash.

 

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SECTION 10.5 Other Changes in the Common Stock. In the event of changes in the outstanding Common Stock by reason of recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations, split-ups, split-offs, spin-offs, exchanges or other relevant changes in capitalization or distributions to the holders of Common Stock occurring after the date of the grant of any Award and not otherwise provided for by this Article X, such Award and any agreement evidencing such Award shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee at its sole discretion as to the number and price of shares of Common Stock or other consideration subject to such Award. In the event of any such change in the outstanding Common Stock or distribution to the holders of Common Stock, or upon the occurrence of any other event described in this Article X, the aggregate maximum number of shares available under the Plan, the aggregate maximum number of shares that may be issued under the Plan through Incentive Stock Options, Options generally, SARs, Restricted Stock Awards and Performance Unit Awards, and the maximum number of shares that may be subject to Awards granted to any one individual may be appropriately adjusted to the extent, if any, determined by the Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Event, the Committee, acting in its sole discretion without the consent or approval of any Participant, may require the mandatory surrender to the Company by all or selected Participants of some or all of the outstanding Performance Bonus Awards and Performance Unit Awards as of a date, before or after such Change of Control Event, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Performance Bonus Awards and Performance Unit Awards and the Company shall pay (or cause to be paid) to each Participant an amount of cash equal to the maximum value (which maximum value may be determined, if applicable and in the discretion of the Committee, based on the then Fair Market Value of the Common Stock) of such Performance Bonus Award or Performance Unit Award which, in the event the applicable performance or vesting period set forth in such Performance Bonus Award or Performance Unit Award has not been completed, shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during the period beginning on the first day of the applicable performance or vesting period and ending on the date of the surrender, and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of days in the applicable performance or vesting period.

SECTION 10.6 Stockholder Action. Any adjustment provided for in the above Subparagraphs shall be subject to any required stockholder action.

SECTION 10.7 No Adjustments Unless Otherwise Provided. Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per share, if applicable. No fractional shares of Common Stock or units of other securities shall be issued pursuant to any such adjustment, and any fractions resulting from any such adjustment shall be eliminated in each case by rounding downward to the nearest whole share.

 

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ARTICLE XI

GENERAL

SECTION 11.1 Amendment or Termination of Plan. The Board may alter, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. In addition, the Board may, from time to time, amend the Plan in any manner, but may not without shareholder approval adopt any amendment which would (i) increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under the Plan (except by operation of Article X), (ii) materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan, or (iii) materially increase the benefits to Participants provided by the Plan.

SECTION 11.2 Termination of Employment; Termination of Service.

(a) If an Eligible Employee’s employment with the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Entity terminates as a result of death, Disability or Retirement, the Eligible Employee (or personal representative in the case of death) shall be entitled to purchase all or any part of the shares subject to any vested Option for a period of up to three months from such date of termination (one year in the case of death or Disability in lieu of the three-month period). If an Eligible Employee’s employment terminates for any other reason, the Eligible Employee shall be entitled to purchase all or any part of the shares subject to any vested Option for a period of up to three months from such date of termination. In no event shall any Option be exercisable past the term of the Option. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of unvested Options in the event of termination of employment of any Participant.

(b) In the event a Consultant ceases to provide services to the Company or an Eligible Director terminates service as a director of the Company, the unvested portion of any Award shall be forfeited unless otherwise accelerated pursuant to the terms of the Eligible Director’s Award Agreement or by the Committee. The Consultant or Eligible Director shall have a period of one year following the date he ceases to provide consulting services or ceases to be a director, as applicable, to exercise any Nonqualified Stock Options which are otherwise exercisable on his date of termination of service.

SECTION 11.3 Limited Transferability - Options. The Committee may, in its discretion, authorize all or a portion of the Nonqualified Stock Options granted under this Plan to be on terms which permit transfer by the Participant to (i) the ex-spouse of the Participant pursuant to the terms of a domestic relations order, (ii) the spouse, children or grandchildren of the Participant (“Immediate Family Members”), (iii) a trust or trusts for the exclusive benefit of such Immediate Family Members, or (iv) a partnership or limited liability company in which such Immediate Family Members are the only partners or members. In addition there may be no consideration for any such transfer. The Award Agreement pursuant to which such Nonqualified Stock Options are granted expressly provide for transferability in a manner consistent with this paragraph. Subsequent transfers of transferred Nonqualified Stock Options shall be prohibited except as set forth below in this Section 11.3. Following transfer, any such Nonqualified Stock Options shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer, provided that for purposes of Section 11.2 hereof the term

 

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“Participant” shall be deemed to refer to the transferee. The events of termination of employment of Section 11.2 hereof shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Participant, following which the Nonqualified Stock Options shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent, and for the periods specified in Section 11.2 hereof. No transfer pursuant to this Section 11.3 shall be effective to bind the Company unless the Company shall have been furnished with written notice of such transfer together with such other documents regarding the transfer as the Committee shall request. With the exception of a transfer in compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.3, all other types of Awards authorized under this Plan shall be transferable only by will or the laws of descent and distribution; however, no such transfer shall be effective to bind the Company unless the Committee has been furnished with written notice of such transfer and an authenticated copy of the will and/or such other evidence as the Committee may deem necessary to establish the validity of the transfer and the acceptance by the transferee of the terms and conditions of such Award.

SECTION 11.4 Withholding Taxes. Unless otherwise paid by the Participant, the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliated Entities shall be entitled to deduct from any payment under the Plan, regardless of the form of such payment, the amount of all applicable income and employment taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payment or may require the Participant to pay to it such tax prior to and as a condition of the making of such payment. In accordance with any applicable administrative guidelines it establishes, the Committee may allow a Participant to pay the amount of taxes required by law to be withheld from an Award by (i) directing the Company to withhold from any payment of the Award a number of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of payment equal to the amount of the required withholding taxes or (ii) delivering to the Company previously owned shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of payment equal to the amount of the required withholding taxes. However, any payment made by the Participant pursuant to either of the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii) shall not be permitted if it would result in an adverse accounting charge with respect to such shares used to pay such taxes unless otherwise approved by the Committee.

SECTION 11.5 Change of Control. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary, Awards granted under the Plan to any Eligible Employee, Consultant or Eligible Director shall be immediately vested, fully earned and exercisable upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Event.

SECTION 11.6 Amendments to Awards. Subject to the limitations of Article IV, such as the prohibition on repricing of Options, the Committee may at any time unilaterally amend the terms of any Award Agreement, whether or not presently exercisable or vested, to the extent it deems appropriate. However, amendments that would impair the rights of a Participant with respect to an Award theretofore granted shall require the Participant’s consent.

SECTION 11.7 Regulatory Approval and Listings. At such time following approval by the shareholders of the Company of the restatement of the Plan as provided in Section 1.2 of the Plan as the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 12 of the Exchange Act, or earlier, in the sole discretion of the Committee, the Company shall use its best efforts to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and keep continuously effective, a Registration Statement on Form S-8 with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to Awards

 

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hereunder. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Plan to the contrary, the Company shall have no obligation to issue shares of Common Stock under this Plan prior to the obtaining of any approval from, or satisfaction of any waiting period or other condition imposed by, any governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable. In addition, and notwithstanding anything contained in this Plan to the contrary, at such time as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Company shall have no obligation to issue shares of Common Stock under this Plan prior to:

(a) the admission of such shares to listing on the stock exchange on which the Common Stock may be listed; and

(b) the completion of any registration or other qualification of such shares under any state or Federal law or ruling of any governmental body which the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable.

SECTION 11.8 Right to Continued Employment. Participation in the Plan shall not give any Eligible Employee any right to remain in the employ of the Company, any Subsidiary, or any Affiliated Entity. The Company or, in the case of employment with a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Entity, the Subsidiary or Affiliated Entity reserves the right to terminate any Eligible Employee at any time. Further, the adoption of this Plan shall not be deemed to give any Eligible Employee or any other individual any right to be selected as a Participant or to be granted an Award.

SECTION 11.9 Reliance on Reports. Each member of the Board and each member of the Committee shall be fully justified in relying or acting in good faith upon any report made by the independent public accountants of the Company and its Subsidiaries and upon any other information furnished in connection with the Plan by any person or persons other than himself or herself. In no event shall any person who is or shall have been a member of the Board or the Committee be liable for any determination made or other action taken or any omission to act in reliance upon any such report or information or for any action taken, including the furnishing of information, or failure to act, if in good faith.

SECTION 11.10 Construction. Masculine pronouns and other words of masculine gender shall refer to both men and women. The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for the convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.

SECTION 11.11 Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Oklahoma except as superseded by applicable Federal law.

SECTION 11.12 Other Laws. The Board may refuse to issue or transfer any shares of Common Stock or other consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such shares or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation or entitle the Company to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.

SECTION 11.13 No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor an Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and a Participant or any other person. To the extent that a Participant acquires the right to receive payments from the Company pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Company.

 

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EXHIBIT A

Continental Resources, Inc.

2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan

Performance Criteria

Operational Criteria may include:

 

  Reserve additions/replacements

 

  Finding & development costs

 

  Production volume

 

  Production Costs

Financial Criteria may include:

 

  Earnings

 

    Net income,

 

    Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), or

 

    Earnings per share

 

  Cash flow

 

  Operating income

 

  General and Administrative Expenses

 

  Debt to equity ratio

 

  Debt to cash flow

 

  Debt to EBITDA

 

  EBITDA to Interest

 

  Return on Assets

 

  Return on Equity

 

  Return on Invested Capital

 

  Profit returns/margins

Stock Performance Criteria may include:

 

  Stock price appreciation

 

  Total stockholder return

 

  Relative stock price performance