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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): April 24, 2007
NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
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001-07964
Commission
File Number
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73-0785597
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
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100 Glenborough, Suite 100
Houston, Texas
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77067 |
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (281) 872-3100
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy
the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of
Certain Officers; Compensatory
Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(e) Adoption of Material Compensatory Plan.
On April 24, 2007, the stockholders of Noble Energy, Inc. (the Company) approved an
amendment to the Companys 1992 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan (the 1992 Plan) that
increased the number of shares of the Companys common stock authorized for issuance under the 1992
Plan from 18,500,000 to 22,000,000 shares. The following is a brief description of the principal
features of the 1992 Plan as amended. The summary does not purport to be a complete description of
all provisions of the 1992 Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the
1992 Plan, a copy of which is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1.
Under the 1992 Plan, shares of common stock may be subject to grants of nonqualified options,
stock appreciation rights (SARs), or awards of restricted stock to officers and other employees
of the Company or its affiliates. The 1992 Plan must be administered by a committee of the
Companys Board of Directors (the Board), which must consist of two or more directors who are (1)
Non-Employee Directors as defined in Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and (2) Outside Directors as defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended. The Companys Compensation, Benefits and Stock Option Committee meets these requirements
and currently administers the 1992 Plan.
Nonqualified option grants represent the right to purchase shares of the Companys common
stock over a period of up to ten years at the option price on the date of grant and upon such terms
and conditions, consistent with the provisions of the 1992 Plan, as are specified by the committee
at the time of grant. The option price for each share of common stock covered by a nonqualified
option will not be less than the greater of (1) the par value of the share (currently $3.33 1/3 per
share) or (2) 100 percent of the fair market value of the share at the time the nonqualified option
is granted. The 1992 Plan defines fair market value for grant purposes as the average of the
reported high and low trading price of the Companys common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on
the date of grant.
SARs may be granted to eligible employees in conjunction with all or any portion of a
nonqualified option either at the time of the initial nonqualified option grant or at any time
after the initial grant while the nonqualified option is outstanding. SARs entitle the holder to
receive, without payment to the Company (except for applicable withholding taxes), the excess of
the aggregate fair market value per share with respect to which the SAR is then being exercised
(determined as of the date of the exercise) over the aggregate purchase price of the shares as
provided in the related nonqualified option. Payment may be made in shares of already-owned common
stock or in cash, or a combination thereof, as determined by the committee. SARs generally will be
subject to the same terms and conditions and exercisable to the same extent as nonqualified
options.
The 1992 Plan provides that shares of restricted stock may be awarded by the committee to
eligible employees. Restricted stock is common stock of the Company that may not be sold, assigned,
transferred, discounted, exchanged, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of
until the terms and conditions set by the committee, which terms and conditions may include, among
other things, the achievement of specific goals, have been satisfied (Restricted Period). During
the Restricted Period, unless specifically provided otherwise in accordance with the terms of the
1992 Plan, the recipient of restricted stock would be the record owner of the shares and have all
the rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares, including the right to vote and the right
to receive dividends or other distributions made or paid with respect to the shares. The committee
has the authority to cancel all or any portion of any outstanding restrictions prior to the
expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any and all of the shares of restricted stock.
The 1992 Plan contains antidilution provisions applicable in the event of certain
increases or decreases in the number of outstanding shares of the Companys common stock, in which
event appropriate adjustments will be made in the maximum number of shares of common stock subject
to the 1992 Plan and the number of shares and option prices under then-outstanding nonqualified
options.
The Board may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the 1992 Plan; provided, however, the
Board may not, without approval of the stockholders of the Company, amend the 1992 Plan so as to
(1) increase the maximum number of shares subject thereto, or (2) reduce the option price per share
covered by options granted under the 1992 Plan below the price specified in the 1992 Plan.
Additionally, the Board may not modify, impair or cancel any outstanding nonqualified option or
SARs related thereto, or the restrictions, terms or conditions applicable to shares of restricted
stock, without the consent of the holder thereof.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits. The following exhibit is furnished as part of this current Report on
Form 8-K:
10.1 Noble Energy, Inc. 1992 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan
(as amended through April 24, 2007).
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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NOBLE ENERGY, INC.
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Date: April 30, 2007 |
By: |
/s/ Arnold J. Johnson
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Arnold J. Johnson |
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Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary |
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
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Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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10.1
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Noble Energy, Inc. 1992 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan
(as amended through April 24, 2007). |