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CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION 2003 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

Equity Incentive Plan Agreement

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CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

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Title: CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION 2003 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Governing Law: Oklahoma     Date: 11/7/2006
Industry: Oil and Gas Operations     Sector: Energy

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION 2003 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, Parties: chesapeake energy corporation
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Exhibit 10.1.1

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

2003 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

(as amended through February 13, 2006)

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

2003 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

         

ARTICLE I PURPOSE

  

1

  • Section 1.1

  

Purpose

  

1

  • Section 1.2

  

Establishment

  

1

  • Section 1.3

  

Shares Subject to the Plan

  

1

  • Section 1.4

  

Shareholder Approval

  

1

ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS

  

1

ARTICLE III ADMINISTRATION

  

5

  • Section 3.1

  

Administration of the Plan; the Committee

  

5

  • Section 3.2

  

Committee to Make Rules and Interpret Plan

  

5

ARTICLE IV GRANT OF AWARDS

  

6

ARTICLE V STOCK OPTIONS

  

6

  • Section 5.1

  

Grant of Options

  

6

  • Section 5.2

  

Conditions of Options

  

6

  • Section 5.3

  

Options Not Qualifying as Incentive Stock Options

  

8

  • Section 5.4

  

Nonassignability

  

8

ARTICLE VI RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

  

9

  • Section 6.1

  

Grant of Restricted Stock Awards

  

9

  • Section 6.2

  

Conditions of Restricted Stock Awards

  

9

ARTICLE VII STOCK ADJUSTMENTS

  

10

ARTICLE VIII GENERAL

  

10

  • Section 8.1

  

Amendment or Termination of Plan

  

10

  • Section 8.2

  

Acceleration of Awards on Death, Disability or Other Special Circumstances

  

11

  • Section 8.3

  

Withholding Taxes

  

11

  • Section 8.4

  

Certain Additional Payments by the Company

  

11

  • Section 8.5

  

Regulatory Approval and Listings

  

11

  • Section 8.6

  

Right to Continued Employment

  

12

  • Section 8.7

  

Reliance on Reports

  

12

  • Section 8.8

  

Construction

  

12

  • Section 8.9

  

Governing Law

  

12

ARTICLE IX ACCELERATION OF AWARDS UPON CORPORATE EVENT

  

12



CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION

2003 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE

Section 1.1 Purpose . This 2003 Stock Incentive Plan is established by Chesapeake Energy Corporation (the "Company") to create incentives which are designed to motivate Employees and Consultants 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 granting of Options and Restricted Stock Awards to Employees and Consultants on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Plan. The Plan is designed to align the interests of participants with those of shareholders through the use of stock-based incentives.

Section 1.2 Establishment . The Plan is effective as of April 15, 2003 and for a period of 10 years from such date. The Plan will terminate on April 14, 2013; however, it will continue in effect until all matters relating to the exercise of Options, distribution of Awards and administration of the Plan have been settled.

Section 1.3 Shares Subject to the Plan . Subject to the limitations and adjustments set forth in this Plan, Awards may be made under this Plan for a total of 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock.

Section 1.4 Shareholder Approval. The Plan shall be subject to Shareholder Approval, which must occur within the period ending twelve months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Pending such Shareholder Approval, Awards under the Plan may be granted, but Options may not be exercised nor may Restricted Stock Awards vest prior to receipt of such Shareholder Approval. In the event such Shareholder Approval is not obtained within such twelve-month period, all such Awards shall be void.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

Section 2.1 "Affiliated Entity" means any partnership or limited liability company in which a majority of voting power 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.

Section 2.2 "Award" means, individually or collectively, any Option or Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan to an Eligible Person by the applicable Committee pursuant to such terms, conditions, restrictions, and/or limitations, if any, as the applicable Committee may establish by the Award Agreement or otherwise.

Section 2.3 "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 2.4 "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Section 2.5 "Change of Control" means, for Participants other than Executive Officers, the occurrence of any of the following:

(i) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of either (A) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"). For purposes of this paragraph 2.5 the following acquisitions by a Person will not constitute a Change of Control: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of paragraph (iii) below;

(ii) the individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the board of directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the board of directors. Any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, is approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board will be considered a member of the Incumbent Board as of the date hereof, but any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Incumbent Board will not be deemed a member of the Incumbent Board as of the date hereof;

(iii) the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a "Business Combination"), unless following such Business Combination: (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding

 

2

voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

(iv) the approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

For Executive Officers, a Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the foregoing events or a change of control as defined in such Executive Officer’s employment agreement in force at the time of determination.

Section 2.6 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference 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 2.7 "Committee" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

Section 2.8 "Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company and, after substitution, such other stock as shall be substituted therefor as provided in Article VII or Article IX of the Plan.

Section 2.9 "Compensation Committee" means a committee designated by the Board which will consist of not less than two members of the Board who meet the definition of "non-employee directors" pursuant to Rule 16b-3, or any successor rule, promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act unless another committee is designated by the Board of Directors.

Section 2.10 "Consultant" means any person who is engaged by the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Entity to render consulting or advisory services.

Section 2.11 "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 2.12 "Disability" has the meaning set forth in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

Section 2.13 "Eligible Person" means any Employee or Consultant.

Section 2.14 "Employee" means any employee of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliated Entity.

Section 2.15 "Employee Compensation Committee" means the Employee Compensation and Benefits Committee designated by the Board which shall consist of not less than one member of the Board.

Section 2.16 "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

3

Section 2.17 "Executive Officer Participants" means Participants who are subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to the Common Stock.

Section 2.18 "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, (i) if the principal market for the Common Stock is a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq stock market, the closing price of the Common Stock on that date on the principal exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or admitted to trading; or (ii) if sale prices are not available or if the principal market for the Common Stock is not a national securities exchange and the Common Stock is not quoted on the Nasdaq stock market, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Common Stock on such day as reported on the Nasdaq OTC Bulletin Board Service or by the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or a comparable service. If the day is not a business day, and as a result, clauses (i) and (ii) are inapplicable, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be determined as of the last preceding business day. If clauses (i) and (ii) are otherwise inapplicable, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be determined in good faith by the Committee.

Section 2.19 "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

Section 2.20 "Non-Executive Officer Participants" means Participants who are not subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

Section 2.21 "Nonqualified Stock Option" means an Option to purchase shares of Common Stock which is not an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

Section 2.22 "Option" means an Incentive Stock Option or Nonqualified Stock Option granted under Article V of the Plan.

Section 2.23 "Participant" means an Eligible Person to whom an Award has been granted by the Committee under the Plan.

Section 2.24 "Plan"" means the Chesapeake Energy Corporation 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.

Section 2.25 "Restricted Stock Award" means an Award granted to an Eligible Person under Article VI of the Plan.

Section 2.26 "Shareholder Approval" means approval by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, present or represented and entitled to vote at a meeting called for such purposes.

Section 2.27 "Subsidiary" shall have the same meaning set forth in Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

4

ARTICLE III

ADMINISTRATION

Section 3.1 Administration of the Plan; the Committee . The Employee Compensation Committee shall administer the Plan with respect to Non-Executive Officer Participants, including the grant of Awards, and the Compensation Committee shall administer the Plan with respect to Executive Officer Participants, including the grant of Awards. Accordingly, as used in the Plan, the term "Committee" shall mean the Employee Compensation Committee if it refers to Plan administration affecting Non-Executive Officer Participants or the Compensation Committee if it refers to Plan administration affecting Executive Officer Participants. Although the Committee is generally responsible for the administration of the Plan, the Board in its sole discretion may take any action under the Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Committee.

Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws of the Company or resolutions adopted from time to time by the Board establishing the Committee, the Board may from time to time remove members from, or add members to, the Committee. Vacancies on the Committee, however caused, shall be filled by the Board. The Committee shall hold meetings at such times and places as it may determine. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the valid acts of the Committee. Any action which may be taken at a meeting of the Committee may be taken without a meeting if all the members of the Committee consent to the action in writing.

Subject to the provisions of the Plan and review by the Board, the Committee shall have exclusive power to:

  • (a) Select the Eligible Persons to participate in the Plan.

    (b) Determine the time or times when Awards will be granted.

    (c) Determine the form of Award, whether an Incentive Stock Option, a Nonqualified Stock Option or a Restricted Stock Award, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award, 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 of the vesting or exercise of an Award under certain circumstances determined by the Committee. However, the Committee will not reprice outstanding Awards.

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

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

Section 3.2 Committee to Make Rules and Interpret Plan . The Committee in it


 
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