Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-151352

Subject to completion, dated July 7, 2008

 

Prospectus supplement

 

(To prospectus dated June 2, 2008)

 

 

3,000,000 shares

 

Common stock

 

We are offering 3,000,000 shares of our common stock.

 

The common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GDP.” On July 3, 2008, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $73.30 per share.

 

 

The underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 450,000 shares from us to cover over-allotments at the public offering price per share, less the underwriting discounts and commissions. See “Use of proceeds” on page S-23 of this prospectus supplement.

 

Delivery of the shares will be made on or about July   , 2008.

 

Investing in our common stock involves risks. See “Risk factors” beginning on page S-11 of this prospectus supplement and on page 4 of the accompanying prospectus.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the prospectus to which it relates. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

JPMorgan

 

           , 2008.

 

Table of contents

 

Prospectus supplement

 

 

Prospectus

 

 

This document is in two parts. The first part is the prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering.

 

If the description of the offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.

 

We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted.

 

You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the dates of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. It is important that you read and consider all of the information in this prospectus supplement on the one hand, and the information contained in the accompanying prospectus and any other document incorporated by reference, on the other hand, in making your investment decision.

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-888-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. These filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. We also maintain an Internet site at www.goodrichpetroleum.com that contains information concerning us and our affiliates. The information at our Internet site is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and you should not consider it to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

We have included the accompanying prospectus in our registration statement that we filed with the SEC. The registration statement provides additional information that we are not required to include in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. You can receive a copy of the entire registration statement as described above. Although this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus describe the material terms of certain contracts, agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to the registration statement, you should read the exhibits for a more complete description of the document or matter involved.

 

The rules of the SEC allow us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to that information. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made by us with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until the offering of shares is completed:

 

 

We will provide, without charge, to each person to whom this prospectus supplement has been delivered a copy of any or all of these filings (other than exhibits to documents that are not specifically incorporated by reference in the documents). You may request copies of these filings by writing or telephoning us at: Goodrich Petroleum Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 808 Travis Street, Suite 1320, Houston, Texas 77002, telephone (713) 780-9494.

 

Some of the information, including all of the estimates and assumptions, contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents we have incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements. These statements use forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “may,” “project,” “will,” or other similar expressions and discuss “forward-looking” information, including the following:

 

Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, our expectations may not occur and we cannot guarantee that the anticipated future results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause our actual future results to differ materially from the anticipated future results expressed in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents we have incorporated by reference. These factors include, among other things:

 

 

Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated are discussed in our periodic filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and the risk factors beginning on page S-11 of this prospectus supplement and on page 4 of the accompanying prospectus.

 

When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents we have incorporated by reference. We will not update these forward-looking statements unless the securities laws require us to do so.

 

Prospectus supplement summary

•

Exploit and Develop Existing Property Base. We seek to maximize the value of our existing assets by developing and exploiting our properties with the lowest risk and the highest production and reserve growth potential. We intend to concentrate on developing our multi-year inventory of drilling locations in the Cotton Valley trend. Excluding the potential in the underlying Haynesville Shale, we currently estimate that our Cotton Valley trend inventory includes approximately 2,000 gross non-proved drilling locations, based on anticipated spacing for wells as follows:

	•	40 acres, vertical wells only at our South Henderson and Bethany-Longstreet fields;
	•	20 acres, vertical wells only at our Dirgin-Beckville field and southeastern portion of North Minden;
	•	60 acres, vertical wells only at our Cotton, Cotton South and Bethune prospects only in Angelina River Trend primarily targeting the Travis Peak sands; and

	•	160 acres, horizontal James Lime wells at our Cotton, Cotton South and Bethune prospects only in Angelina River Trend.

	We estimate that we may be able to drill an additional 950 gross horizontal Haynesville Shale wells on our acreage position, under current industry expectations of 80 acre spacing for horizontal wells.
•	Use of Advanced Technologies. We continually perform field studies of our existing properties and reevaluate exploration and development opportunities using advanced technologies. For example, we recently completed drilling our fifth horizontal Cotton Valley well and sixth James Lime horizontal well in the Cotton Valley trend and continue to monitor results. We intend to pursue additional horizontal drilling opportunities in the future, both in the Cotton Valley trend and the Haynesville Shale.
•	Expand Acreage Position in the Cotton Valley Trend. We have increased our acreage position from approximately 181,600 gross (114,800 net) acres at December 31, 2007 to approximately 185,000 gross (121,000 net) acres as of March 31, 2008. We concentrate our efforts in areas where we can apply our technical expertise and where we have significant operational control or experience. To leverage our extensive regional knowledge base, we seek to acquire leasehold acreage with significant drilling potential in the Cotton Valley trend that exhibits similar characteristics to our existing properties. We continually strive to rationalize our portfolio of properties by selling marginal properties in an effort to redeploy capital to exploitation, development and exploration projects that offer a potentially higher overall return.
•	Focus on Low Operating Costs. We continually seek ways to minimize lease operating expenses and overhead expenses. We will continue to seek to control costs to the greatest extent possible by controlling our operations. As we continue to develop our Cotton Valley trend properties, our overall operating costs per Mcfe are expected to decrease, due primarily to efficiencies gained as we reach critical mass in each of our primary areas.
•	Maintain an Active Hedging Program. We actively manage our exposure to commodity price fluctuations by hedging meaningful portions of our expected production through the use of derivatives, typically fixed price swaps and costless collars. The level of our hedging activity and the duration of the instruments employed depend upon our view of market conditions, available hedge prices and our operating strategy.

										Acreage as of							Proved reserves as of							Daily production (Mcfe/d)
						Producing				March 31, 2008							December 31, 2007							for the three months ended
		Average				wells as of
		working				March 31,											Total			Percentage				December 31,			March 31,
Area		interest(1)				2008				Gross(2)			Net				(Bcfe)			of total				2007			2008
Dirgin Beckville			99%				69				12,255			11,530				118.0			33%				13,329			13,485
North Minden			100%				95				32,455			27,333				104.4			30%				10,026			13,105
South Henderson			100%				26				13,399			10,869				29.8			8%				5,303			7,671
Bethany Longstreet			70%				37				28,378			18,904				37.0			11%				9,074			8,639
Longwood			75%				1				20,109			6,879				0.0			0%				0			630
Angelina River			66%				50				70,833			40,872				61.1			17%				8,904			11,510
Other			74%				14				7,561			4,489				5.1			1%				3,605			2,289
Total Cotton Valley trend							292				184,990			120,877				355.3			100%				50,241			57,329

(1)		Average working interests are calculated by field based on the average working interest of all wells drilled as of March 31, 2008. Future average working interests may differ somewhat as wells to be drilled in the future may have different working interest compositions than existing wells.
(2)		Acreage amounts represent total gross and net acreage accruing to us under leases and other agreements covering one or more specific stratigraphic intervals, and some net acreage amounts may be less for any one individual interval. Specifically, we estimate our net acreage position in the interval which includes the Haynesville Shale in Northwest Louisiana and East Texas, as of March 31, 2008, to be at least 59,000 net acres, prior to the closing of the Chesapeake transaction and excluding the South Henderson and Angelina River trend areas.

Shares of common stock offered		3,000,000 shares
Shares of common stock outstanding following this offering (1)(2)(3)		37,283,118 shares (37,733,118 shares if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full).
Over-allotment option		450,000 shares. We will receive all proceeds from any exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. See “Underwriting” for more information.
Use of proceeds		The net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $211 million, or approximately $242 million if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, in each case after deducting underwriting discounts and the estimated offering expenses.
		We expect to use the net proceeds of this offering:
		• to pay off approximately $96 million of outstanding borrowings under our senior credit facility; and
		• for general corporate purposes, including to fund a portion of our 2008 drilling program, other capital expenditures and working capital requirements.
		We may reborrow amounts from time to time under our senior credit facility as capital expenditures related to our drilling programs exceed our cash flow from operations in periods subsequent to this offering.
Trading symbol for our common stock		Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GDP.”
Risk factors		You should carefully consider the information set forth in the section of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus entitled “Risk factors” as well as the other information included in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement before deciding whether to invest in our common stock.

(1)		As of July 3 (a) 2,808,053 shares were reserved for issuance pursuant to our stock option and long-term incentive plans, including 1,089,333 outstanding options to purchase shares (having a weighted average exercise price of $21.40 per share) and 328,911 shares of unvested restricted stock; (b) 3,587,850 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance upon the conversion of our series B convertible preferred stock, and (c) 3,122,262 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance upon the conversion of our 3.25% convertible senior notes due 2026.
(2)		Includes 1,624,300 shares loaned to an affiliate of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. under a share lending agreement and required to be returned to us. See “Capitalization—Certain agreements affecting our capitalization—Share Lending Agreement.”
(3)		The number of shares of our common stock outstanding may be decreased by our receipt of shares of our common stock under capped call option transactions. See “Capitalization—Certain agreements affecting our capitalization—Capped Call Agreements.”

														Three months
		Year ended December 31,												ended March 31,
(in thousands, except
per share amounts)		2005				2006				2007				2007				2008
Revenues:
Oil and gas revenues		$	34,986			$	73,933			$	110,691			$	23,317			$	46,197
Other			325				838				614				225				156
			35,311				74,771				111,305				23,542				46,353
Operating expenses:
Lease operating expense			3,494				12,688				22,465				4,135				7,097
Production and other taxes			2,136				3,345				2,272				294				1,255
Transportation			558				3,791				5,964				1,075				1,870
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			12,214				37,225				79,766				17,708				25,085
Exploration			5,697				5,888				7,346				2,326				2,003
Impairment of oil and gas properties			340				9,886				7,696				—				—
General and administrative			8,622				17,223				20,888				5,338				5,440
Gain on sale of assets			(235	)			(23	)			(42	)			—				—
Other			—				—				109				—				—
			32,826				90,023				146,464				30,876				42,750
Operating income (loss)			2,485				(15,252	)			(35,159	)			(7,334	)			3,603
Other income (expense)
Interest expense			(2,359	)			(7,845	)			(11,870	)			(2,624	)			(3,783	)
Gain (loss) on derivatives not designated as hedges			(37,680	)			38,128				(6,439	)			(9,487	)			(24,487	)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			—				(612	)			—				—				—
			(40,039	)			29,671				(18,309	)			(12,111	)			(28,270	)

														Three months
		Year ended December 31,												ended March 31,
(in thousands, except
per share amounts)		2005				2006				2007				2007				2008
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes			(37,554	)			14,419				(53,468	)			(19,445	)			(24,667	)
Income tax (expense) benefit			13,144				(5,120	)			(3,034	)			6,743				—
Income (loss) from continuing operations			(24,410	)			9,299				(56,502	)			(12,702	)			(24,667	)
Discontinued operations
Gain on sale of assets, net of tax			—				—				9,662				10,913				400
Income (loss) on discontinued operations, net of tax			6,960				(7,660	)			1,807				2,825				385
			6,960				(7,660	)			11,469				13,738				785
Net income (loss)			(17,450	)			1,639				(45,033	)			1,036				(23,882	)
Preferred stock dividends			755				6,016				6,047				1,512				1,512
Preferred stock redemption premium			—				1,545				—				—				—
Net income (loss) applicable to common stock		$	(18,205	)		$	(5,922	)		$	(51,080	)		$	(476	)		$	(25,394	)
Net income (loss) per common share—Basic
Income (loss) from continuing operations		$	(1.05	)		$	0.37			$	(2.21	)		$	(0.51	)		$	(0.78	)
Discontinued operations		$	0.30			$	(0.30	)		$	0.45			$	0.55			$	0.03
Net income (loss)		$	(0.75	)		$	0.07			$	(1.76	)		$	0.04			$	(0.75	)
Net income (loss) applicable to common stock		$	(0.78	)		$	(0.24	)		$	(2.00	)		$	(0.02	)		$	(0.80	)
Net income (loss) per common share—Diluted
Income (loss) from continuing operations		$	(1.05	)		$	0.37			$	(2.21	)		$	(0.50	)		$	(0.78	)
Discontinued operations		$	0.30			$	(0.31	)		$	0.45			$	0.54			$	0.03
Net income (loss)		$	(0.75	)		$	0.06			$	(1.76	)			0.04			$	(0.75	)
Net income (loss) applicable to common stock		$	(0.78	)		$	(0.24	)		$	(2.00	)			(0.02	)		$	(0.80	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—Basic			23,333				24,948				25,578				25,141				31,705

														Three months
		Year ended December 31,												ended March 31,
(in thousands, except
per share amounts)		2005				2006				2007				2007				2008
Weighted average common shares outstanding—Diluted			23,333				25,412				25,578				25,386				31,705
Selected Balance Sheet Data (end of period):
Total assets		$	296,526			$	479,264			$	590,118			$	452,739			$	652,876
Total long term debt			30,000				201,500				215,500				175,000				284,000
Stockholders’ equity			181,589				205,133				283,615				206,905				259,522
Selected Cash Flow Data:
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	45,562			$	65,133			$	85,925			$	16,909			$	17,195
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(163,571	)			(258,737	)			(219,193	)			12,525				(84,761	)
Net cash provided (used in) by financing activities			134,402				179,946				131,532				(28,046	)			65,786

											Three months
		Year ended December 31,									ended March 31,
		2005			2006			2007			2007			2008
Production(1)
Natural gas (MMcf)			3,786			10,500			15,281			3,195			5,033
Oil (MBbls)			38			106			118			26			39
Total (MMcfe)(2)			4,012			11,135			15,991			3,351			5,266
Average daily production (Mcfe/d)(2)			10,990			30,507			43,811			37,233			57,866
Average realized sales price per unit(1):
Natural gas:
Average realized price (Mcf)		$	8.72		$	6.42		$	6.69		$	6.84		$	8.44
Oil and condensate:
Average realized price (Bbl)		$	52.47		$	62.03		$	71.83		$	56.68		$	96.15
Natural gas and oil:
Average realized price (Mcfe)		$	8.72		$	6.64		$	6.92		$	6.96		$	8.77
Operating expenses (per Mcfe):
Lease operating expenses		$	0.87		$	1.14		$	1.40		$	1.23		$	1.35
Production and other taxes		$	0.53		$	0.30		$	0.14		$	0.09		$	0.24
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		$	3.04		$	3.34		$	4.99		$	5.28		$	4.76
Exploration		$	1.42		$	0.53		$	0.46		$	0.69		$	0.38

(1)		Reflects reclassification of prior year amounts to report the results of operations of non-core properties sold in 2007 as discontinued operations related to the sale of substantially all of our South Louisiana properties. See Note 12 “Acquisitions and Divestitures” to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
(2)		Estimated by us using a conversion ratio of one Bbl per six Mcf.

										December 31,
		2005				2006				2007
Natural Gas (MMcf)			142,963				187,012				346,930
Oil (MBbls)			4,973				3,201				1,810
Total (MMcfe)(2)			172,799				206,217				357,792
Present value of future net revenues before income taxes (in thousands)(2)		$	587,676	(4)		$	214,187	(4)		$	312,684	(4)
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows (in thousands)(3)(4)		$	410,620			$	200,281			$	284,117

(1)		Estimated by us using a conversion ratio of one Bbl per six Mcf.
(2)		The present value of future net revenues attributable to our reserves was prepared using prices in effect at the end of the respective periods presented, discounted at 10% per annum (“PV10”) on a pre-tax basis. Year-end PV10 may be considered a non-GAAP financial measure as defined by the SEC. We believe that the presentation of PV10 is relevant and useful to our investors because it presents the discounted future net cash flows attributable to our proved reserves prior to taking into account corporate future income taxes and our current tax structure. We further believe investors and creditors utilize our PV10 as a basis for comparison of the relative size and value of our reserves to other companies. Our PV10 as of December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007 may be reconciled to our standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows as of such date by reducing our PV10 by the discounted future income taxes associated with such reserves. The discounted future income taxes as of December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007 were $177.1 million, $13.9 million and $28.6 million, respectively.
(3)		The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows represents the present value of future net revenues after income tax discounted at 10% per annum and has been calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 69, “Disclosures About Oil and Gas Producing Activities”.
(4)		Year-end prices per Mcf of natural gas used in making the present value determination as of December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007 were $10.54, $5.64 and $6.80, respectively. Year-end prices per Bbl of oil used in making the present value determination as of December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007 were $58.80, $57.75 and $92.50, respectively. The present value determinations do not include estimated future cash inflows from our hedging programs.

 

An investment in our common stock involves a number of risks. You should carefully consider each of the risks described below, together with all of the other information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before deciding to invest in our common stock. If any of the following risks develops into actual events, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be negatively affected, the market price of our common stock could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks related to our business

 

Our financial and operating results are subject to a number of factors, many of which are not within our control. These factors include the following:

 

Our actual production, revenues and expenditures related to our reserves are likely to differ from our estimates of proved reserves. We may experience production that is less than estimated and drilling costs that are greater than estimated in our reserve report. These differences may be material.

 

The proved oil and gas reserve information included in this report are estimates. These estimates are based on reports prepared by Netherland Sewell & Associates, Inc., or NSA, our independent reserve engineers, and were calculated using oil and gas prices as of December 31, 2007. These prices will change and may be lower at the time of production than those prices that prevailed at the end of 2007. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. Estimates of economically recoverable oil and gas reserves and of future net cash flows necessarily depend upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, including:

 

 

Because all reserve estimates are to some degree subjective, each of the following items may differ materially from those assumed in estimating proved reserves:

 

 

Furthermore, different reserve engineers may make different estimates of reserves and cash flows based on the same available data. Our actual production, revenues and expenditures with respect to reserves will likely be different from estimates and the differences may be material. The discounted future net cash flows included in this document should not be considered as the

current market value of the estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to our properties. As required by the SEC, the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows from proved reserves are generally based on prices and costs as of the date of the estimate, while actual future prices and costs may be materially higher or lower. Actual future net cash flows also will be affected by factors such as:

 

 

In addition, the 10% discount factor, which is required by the SEC to be used to calculate discounted future net cash flows for reporting purposes, and which we use in calculating our PV-10, is not necessarily the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with us or the oil and gas industry in general.

 

Our future revenues are dependent on the ability to successfully complete drilling activity.

 

Drilling and exploration are the main methods we utilize to replace our reserves. However, drilling and exploration operations may not result in any increases in reserves for various reasons. Exploration activities involve numerous risks, including the risk that no commercially productive oil or gas reservoirs will be discovered. In addition, the future cost and timing of drilling, completing and producing wells is often uncertain. Furthermore, drilling operations may be curtailed, delayed or canceled as a result of a variety of factors, including:

 

 

Our decisions to purchase, explore, develop and exploit prospects or properties depend in part on data obtained through geophysical and geological analyses, production data and engineering studies, the results of which are often uncertain.

In addition, we recently completed drilling our fifth horizontal well in the Cotton Valley trend. We have only limited experience drilling horizontal wells and there can be no assurance that this method of drilling will be as effective (or effective at all) as we currently expect it to be.

 

In addition, higher oil and gas prices generally increase the demand for drilling rigs, equipment and crews and can lead to shortages of, and increasing costs for, such drilling equipment, services and personnel. Such shortages could restrict our ability to drill the wells and conduct the operations which we currently have planned. Any delay in the drilling of new wells or significant increase in drilling costs could adversely affect our ability to increase our reserves and production and reduce our revenues.

 

Natural gas and oil prices are volatile; a decrease in the price of natural gas or oil would adversely impact our business.

 

Our success will depend on the market prices of oil and natural gas. These market prices tend to fluctuate significantly in response to factors beyond our control. The prices we receive for our crude oil production are based on global market conditions. The general pace of global economic growth, the continued instability in the Middle East and other oil and gas producing regions and actions of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, and its maintenance of production constraints, as well as other economic, political, and environmental factors will continue to affect world supply and prices. Domestic natural gas prices fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors including U.S. economic conditions, weather patterns, other factors affecting demand such as substitute fuels, the impact of drilling levels on crude oil and natural gas supply, and the environmental and access issues that limit future drilling activities for the industry.

 

Crude oil and natural gas prices are extremely volatile. Average oil and natural gas prices fluctuated substantially during the three year period ended December 31, 2007. Fluctuations during the past several years in the demand and supply of crude oil and natural gas have contributed to, and are likely to continue to contribute to, price volatility. Any actual or anticipated reduction in crude oil and natural gas prices would depress the level of exploration, drilling and production activity. We expect that commodity prices will continue to fluctuate significantly in the future. The following table includes high and low natural gas prices (price per one million British thermal units or Mmbtu) and crude oil prices (West Texas Intermediate or WTI) for 2007, as well as these prices at year-end and at July 3, 2008:

 

 

Changes in commodity prices significantly affect our capital resources, liquidity and expected operating results. Price changes directly affect revenues and can indirectly impact expected production by changing the amount of funds available to us to reinvest in exploration and development activities. Reductions in oil and natural gas prices could also reduce the quantities of reserves that are commercially recoverable. Significant declines in prices could result in non-cash charges to earnings due to impairment.

 

Our use of oil and gas price hedging contracts may limit future revenues from price increases and result in significant fluctuations in our net income.

 

We use hedging transactions with respect to a portion of our oil and natural gas production to achieve more predictable cash flow and to reduce our exposure to price fluctuations. While the use of hedging transactions limits the downside risk of price declines, their use may also limit future revenues from price increases.

 

Our results of operations may be negatively impacted by our financial derivative instruments and fixed price forward sales contracts in the future and these instruments may limit any benefit we would receive from increases in the prices for oil and natural gas. For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, we realized a gain on settled financial derivatives of $0.4 million. For the year ended December 31, 2007, we realized a gain on settled financial derivatives of $9.7 million. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we realized a loss on settled financial derivatives of $2.1 million and $18.0 million, respectively.

 

For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, we recognized in earnings as unrealized loss on derivative instruments not designated as hedges in the amount of $24.9 million. For the year ended December 31, 2007, we recognized in earnings an unrealized loss on derivative instruments not designated as hedges in the amount of $16.1 million. For financial reporting purposes, this unrealized loss was combined with a $9.7 million realized gain in 2007 resulting in a total unrealized and realized loss on derivative instruments not designated as hedges of $6.4 million for 2007.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2006, we recognized in earnings an unrealized gain on derivative instruments not designated as hedges in the amount of $40.2 million. For financial reporting purposes, this unrealized gain was combined with a $2.1 million realized loss in 2006 resulting in a total unrealized and realized gain on derivative instruments not designated as hedges in the amount of $38.1 million for 2006. This gain was recognized because the natural gas hedges were deemed ineffective for 2006, and all previously effective oil hedges were deemed ineffective for the fourth quarter of 2006.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2005, we recognized in earnings an unrealized loss on derivative instruments not designated as hedges in the amount of $27.0 million. For financial reporting purposes, this unrealized loss was combined with a $10.7 million realized loss in 2005 resulting in a total unrealized and realized loss on derivative instruments not designated as hedges in the amount of $37.7 million in 2005. This loss was recognized because the natural gas hedges were deemed to be ineffective for 2005, and accordingly, the changes in fair value of such hedges could no longer be reflected in other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders’ equity.

 

We account for our commodity derivative contracts in accordance with SFAS 133. SFAS 133 requires each derivative to be recorded on the balance sheet as an asset or liability at its fair value. Additionally, the statement requires that changes in a derivative’s fair value be

recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met at the time the derivative contract is executed. We have elected not to apply hedge accounting treatment to our swaps and collars and, as such, all changes in the fair value of these instruments are recognized in earnings. Our fixed price physical contracts qualify for the normal purchase and normal sale exception. Contracts that qualify for this treatment do not require mark-to-market accounting treatment. See Note 8 “Hedging Activities” to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 for further discussion.

 

The results of our planned exploratory drilling in the Haynesville Shale, a newly emerging play with limited drilling and production history, are subject to more uncertainties than our drilling program in the more established shallower Cotton Valley formations and may not meet our expectations for reserves or production.

 

We have only recently drilled our first three vertical wells to the Haynesville Shale, one of which is still drilling, from which we do not yet have sufficient data to recognize proved reserves in the formation. Part of the drilling strategy to maximize recoveries from the Haynesville Shale involves the drilling of horizontal wells using completion techniques that have proven successful in other shale formations. We have not participated in any horizontal drilling of the Haynesville Shale and to date the industry’s drilling and production history in the formation is limited. The ultimate success of these drilling strategies and techniques in this formation will be better evaluated over time as more wells are drilled and production profiles are better established. Accordingly, the results of our future drilling in the emerging Haynesville Shale play are more uncertain than drilling results in the shallower Cotton Valley horizons with established reserves and production.

 

Delays in development or production curtailment affecting our material properties may adversely affect our financial position and results of operations.

 

The size of our operations and our capital expenditure budget limits the number of wells that we can develop in any given year. Complications in the development of any single material well may result in a material adverse affect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, a relatively small number of wells contribute a substantial portion of our production. If we were to experience operational problems resulting in the curtailment of production in any of these wells, our total production levels would be adversely affected, which would have a material adverse affect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Because our operations require significant capital expenditures, we may not have the funds available to replace reserves, maintain production or maintain interests in our properties.

 

We must make a substantial amount of capital expenditures for the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas reserves. Historically, we have paid for these expenditures with cash from operating activities, proceeds from debt and equity financings and asset sales. Our revenues or cash flows could be reduced because of lower oil and natural gas prices or for other reasons. If our revenues or cash flows decrease, we may not have the funds available to replace reserves or maintain production at current levels. If this occurs, our production will decline over time. Other sources of financing may not be available to us if our cash flows from operations are not sufficient to fund our capital expenditure requirements. Where we are not the majority owner or operator of an oil and gas property, we may have no control over the

timing or amount of capital expenditures associated with the particular property. If we cannot fund such capital expenditures, our interests in some properties may be reduced or forfeited.

 

We may have difficulty financing our planned growth.

 

We have experienced and expect to continue to experience substantial capital expenditure and working capital needs, particularly as a result of our drilling program. In the future, we expect that we will require additional financing, in addition to cash generated from operations, to fund planned growth. We cannot be certain that additional financing will be available on acceptable terms or at all. Additionally, recent unfavorable disclosures by international financial institutions concerning the sub-prime mortgage market may lead to a contraction in credit availability, thereby impacting our ability to finance our operations. In the event additional capital resources are unavailable, we may curtail drilling, development and other activities or be forced to sell some of our assets on an untimely or unfavorable basis.

 

If we are unable to replace reserves, we may not be able to sustain production at present levels.

 

Our future success depends largely upon our ability to find, develop or acquire additional oil and gas reserves that are economically recoverable. Unless we replace the reserves we produce through successful development, exploration or acquisition activities, our proved reserves will decline over time. In addition, approximately 69% of our total estimated proved reserves by volume at December 31, 2007, were undeveloped. By their nature, estimates of undeveloped reserves are less certain. Recovery of such reserves will require significant capital expenditures and successful drilling operations. We may not be able to successfully find and produce reserves economically in the future. In addition, we may not be able to acquire proved reserves at acceptable costs.

 

We may incur substantial impairment writedowns.

 

If management’s estimates of the recoverable reserves on a property are revised downward or if oil and natural gas prices decline, we may be required to record additional non-cash impairment writedowns in the future, which would result in a negative impact to our financial position. We review our proved oil and gas properties for impairment on a depletable unit basis when circumstances suggest there is a need for such a review. To determine if a depletable unit is impaired, we compare the carrying value of the depletable unit to the undiscounted future net cash flows by applying management’s estimates of future oil and natural gas prices to the estimated future production of oil and gas reserves over the economic life of the property. Future net cash flows are based upon our independent reservoir engineers’ estimates of proved reserves.

 

In addition, other factors such as probable and possible reserves are taken into consideration when justified by economic conditions. For each property determined to be impaired, we recognize an impairment loss equal to the difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying value of the property on a depletable unit basis.

 

Fair value is estimated to be the present value of expected future net cash flows. Any impairment charge incurred is recorded in accumulated depreciation, depletion, impairment and amortization to reduce our recorded basis in the asset. Each part of this calculation is subject to a large degree of judgment, including the determination of the depletable units’ estimated

reserves, future cash flows and fair value. For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, we recorded impairments from continuing operations related to oil and gas properties of $7.7 million, $9.9 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

 

Management’s assumptions used in calculating oil and gas reserves or regarding the future cash flows or fair value of our properties are subject to change in the future. Any change could cause impairment expense to be recorded, impacting our net income or loss and our basis in the related asset. Any change in reserves directly impacts our estimate of future cash flows from the property, as well as the property’s fair value. Additionally, as management’s views related to future prices change, the change will affect the estimate of future net cash flows and the fair value estimates. Changes in either of these amounts will directly impact the calculation of impairment.

 

A majority of our production, revenue and cash flow from operating activities are derived from assets that are concentrated in a single geographic area, making us vulnerable to risks associated with operating in one geographic area.

 

Approximately 99% of our estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2007, and a similar percentage of our production during 2007 were associated with our Cotton Valley trend. We sold substantially all of our assets in South Louisiana to a private company in a sale that closed in March 2007. See Note 12 “Acquisitions and Divestitures” to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007. Accordingly, if the level of production from the remaining properties substantially declines or is otherwise subject to a disruption resulting from operational problems, government intervention or natural disasters, it could have a material adverse effect on our overall production level and our revenue.

 

The oil and gas business involves many uncertainties, economic risks and operating risks that can prevent us from realizing profits and can cause substantial losses.

 

Our oil and gas operations are subject to the economic risks typically associated with exploration, development and production activities, including the necessity of significant expenditures to locate and acquire properties and to drill exploratory wells. In conducting exploration and development activities, the presence of unanticipated pressure or irregularities in formations, miscalculations or accidents may cause our exploration, development and production activities to be unsuccessful. This could result in a total loss of our investment in a particular property. If exploration efforts are unsuccessful in establishing proved reserves and exploration activities cease, the amounts accumulated as unproved costs would be charged against earnings as impairments. In addition, the cost and timing of drilling, completing and operating wells is often uncertain.

 

The nature of the oil and gas business involves certain operating hazards such as well blowouts, cratering, explosions, uncontrollable flows of oil, gas or well fluids, fires, formations with abnormal pressures, pollution, releases of toxic gas and other environmental hazards and risks. Any of these operating hazards could result in substantial losses to us. As a result, substantial liabilities to third parties or governmental entities may be incurred. The payment of these amounts could reduce or eliminate the funds available for exploration, development or acquisitions. These reductions in funds could result in a loss of our properties. Additionally, some of our oil and gas operations are located in areas that are subject to weather disturbances such as hurricanes. Some of these disturbances can be severe enough to cause substantial damage to

facilities and possibly interrupt production. In accordance with customary industry practices, we maintain insurance against some, but not all, of such risks and losses. The occurrence of an event that is not fully covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

 

Our debt instruments impose restrictions on us that may affect our ability to successfully operate our business.

 

Our senior credit facility and second lien term loan contain customary restrictions, including covenants limiting our ability to incur additional debt, grant liens, make investments, consolidate, merge or acquire other businesses, sell assets, pay dividends and other distributions and enter into transactions with affiliates. We also are required to meet specified financial ratios under the terms of our senior credit facility and second lien term loan. As of December 31, 2007, we were in compliance with all the financial covenants of our senior credit facility and our second lien term loan was not in existence at that time. These restrictions may make it difficult for us to successfully execute our business strategy or to compete in our industry with companies not similarly restricted.

 

We may be unable to identify liabilities associated with the properties that we acquire or obtain protection from sellers against them.

 

The acquisition of properties requires us to assess a number of factors, including recoverable reserves, development and operating costs and potential environmental and other liabilities. Such assessments are inexact and inherently uncertain. In connection with the assessments, we perform a review of the subject properties, but such a review will not reveal all existing or potential problems. In the course of our due diligence, we may not inspect every well, platform or pipeline. We cannot necessarily observe structural and environmental problems, such as pipeline corrosion, when an inspection is made. We may not be able to obtain contractual indemnities from the seller for liabilities relating to the acquired assets and any indemnities are unlikely to cover liabilities relating to the time periods after closing. We may be required to assume any risk relating to the physical condition of the properties in addition to the risk that the properties may not perform in accordance with our expectations. The incurrence of an unexpected liability could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

 

We are subject to complex laws and regulations, including environmental regulations, that can adversely affect the cost, manner or feasibility of doing business.

 

Development, production and sale of natural gas and oil in the U.S. are subject to extensive laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations. We may be required to make large expenditures to comply with environmental and other governmental regulations. Matters subject to regulation include:

 

In addition, our operations are subject to stringent federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment and environmental protection. Governmental authorities enforce compliance with these laws and regulations and the permits issued under them, which can result in an obligation to undertake difficult and costly actions. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations and permits may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of remedial obligations, and the issuance of injunctions limiting or prohibiting some or all of our operations. There is inherent risk of incurring significant environmental costs and liabilities in our business. The imposition of joint and several and strict liability is common in environmental laws and may result in us incurring costs incurred in connection with discharges or releases of hydrocarbons and wastes due to our handling of hydrocarbons and wastes, the release of air emissions or water discharges in connection with our operations, and historical industry operations and waste disposal practices conducted by us or predecessor operators on, under or from our properties and from facilities where our wastes have been taken for disposal. Private parties affected by such discharges or releases may also have the right to pursue legal actions to enforce compliance as well as seek damages for personal injury or property damage. In addition, changes in environmental laws and regulations occur frequently, and any such changes that result in more stringent and costly requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Competition in the oil and gas industry is intense, and we are smaller and have a more limited operating history than some of our competitors.

 

We compete with major and independent oil and natural gas companies for property acquisitions. We also compete for the equipment and labor required to operate and to develop these properties. Some of our competitors have substantially greater financial and other resources than us. In addition, larger competitors may be able to absorb the burden of any changes in federal, state and local laws and regulations more easily than we can, which would adversely affect our competitive position. These competitors may be able to pay more for oil and natural gas properties and may be able to define, evaluate, bid for and acquire a greater number of properties than we can. Our ability to acquire additional properties and develop new and existing properties in the future will depend on our ability to conduct operations, to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in this highly competitive environment.

 

Our success depends on our management team and other key personnel, the loss of any of whom could disrupt our business operations.

 

Our success will depend on our ability to retain and attract experienced engineers, geoscientists and other professional staff. We depend to a large extent on the efforts, technical expertise and continued employment of these personnel and members of our management team. If a significant number of them resign or become unable to continue in their present role and if they are not adequately replaced, our business operations could be adversely affected.

We have previously identified a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting and cannot assure you that we will not again identify a material weakness in the future.

 

As previously reported in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, a material weakness was identified in our internal control over financial reporting with respect to recording the fair value of all outstanding derivatives. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s Auditing Standard No. 5 defines a material weakness as a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

 

To remediate the material weakness, we implemented changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2006. Specifically, we now automatically receive a mark to market valuation from our existing counterparties for all outstanding derivatives. For any new contracts entered into with a new counterparty, we will concurrently request this automatic distribution. We also added another layer of review for the fair value calculation before review by the Chief Financial Officer.

 

Our management believes that these additional policies and procedures have enhanced our internal control over financial reporting relating to the determination and review of fair value calculations on outstanding derivatives. Our management also believes that, as a result of these measures described above, the material weakness was remediated and that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of June 30, 2006, September 30, 2006, and December 31, 2006 and all of 2007.

 

Terrorist attacks or similar hostilities may adversely impact our results of operations.

 

The impact that future terrorist attacks or regional hostilities (particularly in the Middle East) may have on the energy industry in general, and on us in particular, is unknown. Uncertainty surrounding military strikes or a sustained military campaign may affect our operations in unpredictable ways, including disruptions of fuel supplies and markets, particularly oil, and the possibility that infrastructure facilities, including pipelines, production facilities, processing plants and refineries, could be direct targets of, or indirect casualties of, an act of terror or war. Moreover, we have incurred additional costs since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 to safeguard certain of our assets and we may be required to incur significant additional costs in the future.

 

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and the changes in the insurance markets attributable to such attacks have made certain types of insurance more difficult for us to obtain. There can be no assurance that insurance will be available to us without significant additional costs. Instability in the financial markets as a result of terrorism or war could also affect our ability to raise capital.

 

Risks related to our common stock

 

Because we have no plans to pay any dividends for the foreseeable future, investors must look solely to stock appreciation for a return on their investment in us.

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain future earnings and other cash resources, if any, for the operation and development of

our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors after taking into account many factors, including our financial condition, operating results, current and anticipated cash needs and plans for expansion. In addition, our current credit facility prohibits us from paying cash dividends on our common stock. Any future dividends may also be restricted by any loan agreements that we may enter into from time to time. Accordingly, investors must rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any future gains on their investment. Investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock.

 

Insiders own a significant amount of common stock, giving them influence or control in corporate transactions and other matters, and the interests of these individuals could differ from those of other stockholders.

 

Members of our board of directors and our management team beneficially own approximately 39.3% of our outstanding shares of common stock, including shares of our common stock issued pursuant to the share lending agreement and the number of vested stock options. As a result, these stockholders are in a position to significantly influence or control the outcome of matters requiring a stockholder vote, including the election of directors, the adoption of an amendment to our certificate of incorporation or bylaws and the approval of mergers and other significant corporate transactions. Their control of us may delay or prevent a change of control of us and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of other stockholders.

 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that could discourage an acquisition or change of control of us.

 

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to issue preferred stock without shareholder approval. If our board of directors elects to issue preferred stock, it could be more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us. In addition, provisions of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws, such as limitations on shareholder proposals at meetings of shareholders and restrictions on the ability of our shareholders to call special meetings, could also make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us. Our bylaws provide that our board of directors is divided into three classes, each elected for staggered three-year terms. Thus, control of the board of directors cannot be changed in one year; rather, at least two annual meetings must be held before a majority of the members of the board of directors could be changed.

 

These provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider in his or her best interest, including attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the common stock.

 

Future issuances of our common shares may adversely affect the price of our common shares.

 

The future issuance of a substantial number of common shares into the public market, or the perception that such issuance could occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common shares. A decline in the price of our common shares could make it more difficult to raise funds through future offerings of our common shares or securities convertible into common shares.

 

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GDP.”

 

At July 3, 2008, the number of holders of record of our common stock without determination of the number of individual participants in security positions was 1,410 with 34,283,118 shares outstanding. High and low sales prices for our common stock for each calendar quarter are as follows:

 

 

On July 3, 2008, the closing sale price of our common stock, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, was $73.30 per share. We encourage you to obtain current market price quotations for our common stock.

 

We have neither declared nor paid any cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future. We expect to retain our cash for the operation and expansion of our business, including exploration, development and production activities. In addition, our senior credit facility contains restrictions on the payment of dividends to the holders of common stock.

 

The net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $211 million, or approximately $242 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, in each case after deducting the underwriters’ discount and estimated offering expenses (assuming a public offering price of $73.30 per share, the closing price on July 3, 2008).

 

We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering:

 

 

Our senior credit facility matures on February 25, 2010 and accrues interest at a rate calculated, at our option, at either the bank base rate plus 0.00% to 0.50%, or LIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.25%, depending on borrowing base utilization. The average interest rate on outstanding borrowings under our senior credit facility was 4.69% as of July 7, 2008.

 

The following table sets forth our actual, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted consolidated cash and cash equivalents and consolidated capitalization as of March 31, 2008. The pro forma column gives effect to the issuance of 908,098 shares of common stock as consideration for the Caddo Resources Acquisition. The pro forma as adjusted column gives effect to the Caddo Resources Acquisition and also gives effect to the sale of 3,000,000 shares of common stock offered by this prospectus supplement, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

 

You should read this table in conjunction with the information contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our unaudited consolidated financial statements, including the related notes, contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2008, all of which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

 

Certain agreements affecting our capitalization

 

Share Lending Agreement. In connection with our December 2006 offering of convertible notes, we entered into a share lending agreement, dated November 30, 2006, with Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., as agent for its affiliate, Bear, Stearns International Limited, which we refer to as BSIL, as principal, under which we agreed to loan to BSIL up to 3.3 million shares of our common stock during a period beginning on the date we entered into the share lending agreement and ending on December 1, 2026 or, if earlier, the date as of which we have notified BSIL in writing of our intention to terminate the agreement at any time after the entire principal amount of the convertible notes ceases to be outstanding as the result of conversion, repurchase or redemption, which we refer to as the “loan availability period.” As of the date of this prospectus supplement, BSIL has returned 1.5 million of the 3.1 million borrowed shares and fully collateralized the remaining 1.6 million borrowed shares with a cash collateral deposit of approximately $125 million, the market value of the remaining borrowed shares. Under the share lending agreement, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JP Morgan, Inc., is required to maintain collateral value in an amount at least equal to the market value of the outstanding borrowed shares. The number of shares of our common stock outstanding may be reduced depending on the final conversion terms on the convertible notes offered in our concurrent note offering.

 

Capped Call Agreements. In connection with our December 2007 offering of common stock, we entered into capped call option transactions with BSIL and an affiliate of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. The capped call option transactions cover, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, approximately 5.8 million shares of our common stock, and each of them is divided into a number of tranches with differing expiration dates. One third of the options will expire over each of three separate multi-day settlement periods beginning approximately 18 months, 24 months and 30 months from December 10, 2007, respectively.

 

The capped call option transactions are expected to result in our receipt, on a net share, cashless basis of a certain number of shares of our common stock if the market value per share of the common stock, as measured under the terms of the capped call option agreements, on the option expiration date for the relevant tranche is greater than the lower call strike price of the capped call option transactions. We refer to the amount by which that market value per share exceeds the lower call strike price as an “in-the-money amount” for the relevant tranche of the capped call option transaction. The in-the-money amount will never exceed the difference between the upper call strike price and the lower call strike price (i.e., it will be “capped”). The lower call strike price is $23.50, which corresponds to the price to the public in the concurrent equity offering and the upper call strike price is $32.90, which corresponds to 140% of the price to the public in said offering. Both lower and upper call strike prices are subject to customary anti-dilution and certain other adjustments. The number of shares of our common stock that we will receive from the option counterparties upon expiration of each tranche of the capped call option transactions will be equal to the in-the-money amount of that tranche divided by the market value per share of the common stock, as measured under the terms of the capped call option agreements, on the option expiration date for that tranche.

 

The following is a general discussion of certain United States federal income and estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our common stock by a non-U.S. holder. As used in this discussion, the term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of our common stock that is not, for United States federal income tax purposes:

 

 

An individual may be treated as a resident of the United States in any calendar year for United States federal income tax purposes, instead of a nonresident, by, among other ways, being present in the United States for at least 31 days in that calendar year and for an aggregate of at least 183 days during a three-year period ending in the current calendar year. For purposes of the 183-day calculation, all of the days present in that calendar year, one-third of the days present in the immediately preceding year and one-sixth of the days present in the second preceding year are counted. Residents are taxed for United States federal income tax purposes as if they were United States citizens.

 

This discussion does not consider:

 

 

The following discussion is based on provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, existing and proposed U.S. Treasury Regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations, all as of the date of this prospectus supplement, and all of which are subject to change, retroactively or prospectively. The following summary assumes that a non-U.S. holder holds our common stock as a capital asset. Each non-U.S. holder is urged to consult a tax advisor regarding the United States federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of shares of our common stock.

 

Distributions on Common Stock

 

We do not expect to declare or pay dividends in the foreseeable future. In the event that we make cash distributions on our common stock, these distributions generally will constitute dividends for United States federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles. If any such distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of a holder’s tax basis in our common stock and thereafter as capital gain from the sale or exchange of such common stock. Dividends paid to non-U.S. holders of our common stock that are not effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a United States trade or business will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate, or if a tax treaty applies, a lower rate specified by the treaty.

 

Dividends that are effectively connected with a non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States and, if an income tax treaty applies, are attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States, are taxed on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates and in the manner applicable to United States persons. In that case, we will not have to withhold United States federal withholding tax if the non-U.S. holder complies with applicable certification and disclosure requirements. In addition, a “branch profits tax” may be imposed at a 30% rate, or a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty, on dividends received by a foreign corporation that are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States.

 

A non-U.S. holder that claims the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty generally will be required to satisfy applicable certification and other requirements. However,

 

 

A holder that is a foreign partnership or a foreign trust is urged to consult its own tax advisor regarding its status under these U.S. Treasury Regulations and the certification requirements applicable to it. A non-U.S. holder that is eligible for a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax under an income tax treaty may obtain a refund or credit of any excess

amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for refund with the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

Gain on Disposition of Common Stock

 

A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax on gain recognized on a disposition of our common stock unless:

 

 

Generally, a corporation is a United States real property holding corporation, or USRPHC, if the fair market value of its United States real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests and its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. We believe that we are a USRPHC for United States federal income tax purposes. However, the tax relating to the disposition of stock in a USRPHC generally will not apply to a non-U.S. holder that actually and by application of constructive ownership rules owned 5% or less of our common stock at all times during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the non-U.S. holder held our common stock, provided that our common stock was considered to be “regularly traded on an established securities market.” If a non-U.S. holder actually and constructively owned more than 5% of our common stock at any time during the applicable period or our stock were not considered to be “regularly traded on an established securities market,” any gain recognized by the non-U.S. holder on the sale or other disposition would be treated as effectively connected with a United States trade or business and would be subject to United States federal income tax at regular graduated United States federal income tax rates in much the same manner as applicable to United States persons.

 

U.S. Federal Estate Tax

 

Common stock owned or treated as owned by an individual who is a non-U.S. holder for United States federal estate tax purposes at the time of death will be included in the individual’s gross estate for United States federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax or other treaty provides otherwise, and therefore may be subject to United States federal estate tax.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax

 

We must report annually to the Internal Revenue Service and to you the amount of dividends paid to you and any tax withheld with respect to those dividends, regardless of whether withholding is required. Copies of the information returns may also be made available to the

tax authorities in the country in which you reside under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty. U.S. backup withholding tax is imposed at a current rate of 28% on certain payments to persons that fail to furnish the information required under the U.S. information reporting requirements. You will be exempt from this backup withholding tax if you properly provide a Form W-8BEN certifying that you are a non-U.S. holder or otherwise meet documentary evidence requirements for establishing that you are a non-U.S. holder, or you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

The gross proceeds from the disposition of our common stock may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding. If you sell your common stock outside the United States through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker and the sales proceeds are paid to you outside the United States, then the United States backup withholding and information reporting requirements generally will not apply to that payment. However, United States information reporting, but not backup withholding, will generally apply to a payment of sales proceeds, even if that payment is made outside the United States, if you sell your common stock through a non-U.S. office of a broker that:

 

 

 

unless the broker has documentary evidence in its files that you are a non-U.S. person and certain other conditions are met, or you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

If you receive payments of the proceeds of a sale of our common stock to or through a United States office of a broker, the payment is subject to both United States backup withholding and information reporting unless you properly provide a Form W-8BEN certifying that you are a non-U.S. person or you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. You generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules that exceed your United States federal income tax liability by timely filing a properly completed claim for refund with the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

THE FOREGOING DISCUSSION IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE VIEWED AS TAX ADVICE. INVESTORS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF OUR COMMON STOCK ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME AND ESTATE TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AND THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS AND TAX TREATIES.

 

We are offering the shares of common stock described in this prospectus supplement through a number of underwriters. J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. is acting as book running manager of the offering and as representative of the underwriters. We have entered into an underwriting agreement with the underwriters. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase, at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, the number of shares of common stock listed next to its name in the following table:

 

 

The underwriters are committed to purchase all the common shares offered by us if they purchase any shares. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may also be increased or the offering may be terminated.

 

The underwriters propose to offer the common shares directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to certain dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $      per share. Any such dealers may resell shares to certain other brokers or dealers at a discount of up to $      per share from the public offering price. After the public offering of the shares, the offering price and other selling terms may be changed by the underwriters.

 

The underwriters have an option to buy up to 450,000 additional shares of common stock from us to cover sales of shares by the underwriters which exceed the number of shares specified in the table above. The underwriters have 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement to exercise this over allotment option. If any shares are purchased with this over-allotment option, the underwriters will purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as shown in the

table above. If any additional shares of common stock are purchased, the underwriters will offer the additional shares on the same terms as those on which the shares are being offered.

 

The underwriting fee is equal to the public offering price per share of common stock less the amount paid by the underwriters to us per share of common stock. The underwriting fee is $      per share. The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

 

 

We estimate that the total expenses of this offering, including registration, filing and listing fees, printing fees and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding the underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $400,000.

 

We have agreed that we will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of our common stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus supplement.

 

Our directors and executive officers have entered into lock up agreements with the underwriters prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which we and each of these persons or entities, with limited exceptions, for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus supplement, may not, without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. (1) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock (including, without limitation, common stock which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by such directors, executive officers, managers and members in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) or (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the common stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, provided that, notwithstanding clauses (1) and (2) above, the underwriters are allowing the directors and executive officers who are parties to the lock up agreements to sell an aggregate of 500,000 shares during the 90 day period referenced above. In addition, they have agreed that, without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. on behalf of the underwriters, they will not, during the period ending 90 days after the date of this prospectus supplement, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock.

 

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, which involves making bids for, purchasing and selling shares of common stock in the open market for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock while this offering is in progress. These stabilizing transactions may include making short sales of the common stock, which involves the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares of common stock than they are required to purchase in this offering, and purchasing shares of common stock on the open market to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales may be “covered” shorts, which are short positions in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ over allotment option referred to above, or may be “naked” shorts, which are short positions in excess of that amount. The underwriters may close out any covered short position either by exercising their over allotment option, in whole or in part, or by purchasing shares in the open market. In making this determination, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market compared to the price at which the underwriters may purchase shares through the over allotment option. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the common stock in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. To the extent that the underwriters create a naked short position, they will purchase shares in the open market to cover the position.

 

The underwriters have advised us that, pursuant to Regulation M of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, they may also engage in other activities that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the common stock, including the imposition of penalty bids. This means that if the representative of the underwriters purchase common stock in the open market in stabilizing transactions or to cover short sales, the representative can require the underwriters that sold those shares as part of this offering to repay the underwriting discount received by them.

 

These activities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock, and, as a result, the price of the common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If the underwriters commence these activities, they may discontinue them at any time. The underwriters may carry out these transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over the counter market or otherwise.

 

Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided in the past to us and our affiliates and may provide from time to time in the future certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us and such affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. The underwriters and their affiliates may provide similar services in the future. In addition, from time to time, certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may effect transactions for their own account or the account of customers, and hold on behalf of themselves or their customers, long or short positions in our debt or equity securities or loans, and may do so in the future.

 

The validity of the issuance of the common stock offered by this prospectus supplement will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas, our outside counsel. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. represents the lenders under our credit facility. The underwriters are being represented by Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York, New York.

 

The consolidated financial statements of Goodrich Petroleum Corporation as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report covering the December 31, 2007, consolidated financial statements refers to a change in the method of accounting for share based payments as of January 1, 2006.

 

Estimates of the oil and gas reserves of Goodrich Petroleum Corporation and related future net cash flows and the present values thereof, included in this prospectus supplement and our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, were based upon reserve reports prepared by Netherland Sewell and Associates, Inc. as of December 31, 2007, December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005. We have incorporated these estimates in reliance on the authority of each such firm as experts in such matters.

 

The definitions set forth below apply to the indicated terms as used in this prospectus supplement. All volumes of natural gas referred to are stated at the legal pressure base of the state where the reserves exist and at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and in most instances are rounded to the nearest major multiple.

 

Bbl—One stock tank barrel, or 42 U.S. gallons liquid volume, used herein in reference to crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.

 

Bcf—One billion cubic feet.

 

Bcfe—One billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalents, based on a ratio of six Mcf for each barrel of oil, which reflects the relative energy content.

 

Gross acres or gross wells—The total acres or wells, as the case may be, in which a working interest is owned.

 

MBbl—One thousand barrels of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.

 

Mcf—One thousand cubic feet of gas.

 

Mcf per day—One thousand cubic feet of gas per day.

 

Mcfe—One thousand cubic feet of natural gas equivalents, based on a ratio of six Mcf for each barrel of oil or NGL, which reflects relative energy content.

 

Mmbbl—One million barrels of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.

 

Mmbtu—One million British thermal units.  A British thermal unit is the heat required to raise the temperature of one-pound of water from 58.5 to 59.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Mmcf—One million cubic feet of gas.

 

Mmcfe—One million cubic feet of gas equivalents.

 

Net acres or net wells—The sum of the fractional working interests owned in gross acres or gross wells.

 

Present value (PV)—The present value, discounted at 10%, of future net cash flows from estimated proved reserves, using constant prices and costs in effect on the date of the report (unless such prices or costs are subject to change pursuant to contractual provisions).

 

PV-10—The pre-tax present value, discounted 10% per year, of estimated future net revenues computed by applying current prices of oil and gas reserves (with consideration of price changes only to the extent provided by contractual arrangements) to estimated future production of proved oil and gas reserves as of the date of the latest balance sheet presented, less estimated future expenditures (based on current costs) to be incurred in developing, producing and abandoning the proved reserves computed assuming continuation of existing economic conditions.

 

Productive well—A well that is found to be capable producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities such that proceeds from the sale of the production exceed production expenses and taxes.

Proved developed non-producing reserves—Reserves that consist of (i) proved reserves from wells which have been completed and tested but are not producing due to lack of market or minor completion problems which are expected to be corrected and (ii) proved reserves currently behind the pipe in existing wells and which are expected to be productive due to both the well log characteristics and analogous production in the immediate vicinity of the wells.

 

Proved developed producing reserves—Proved reserves that can be expected to be recovered from currently producing zones under the continuation of present operating methods.

 

Proved developed reserves—Proved reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods.

 

Proved reserves—The estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. In addition, please refer to the definitions of proved oil and gas reserves as provided in Rule 4-10(a)(2)-(4). The rule is available at the website, http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=20c66c74f60c4bb8392bcf9ad6fccea3&rgn=div5&view=text&-node=
17:2.0.1.1.8&idno=17#17:2.0.1.1.8.0.21.43.

 

Proved undeveloped reserves—Proved reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells and undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion.

 

Reserve life—A measure of the productive life of an oil and gas property or a group of properties, expressed in years. Reserve life is calculated by dividing proved reserve volumes at year end by annualized production rates at the end of the period shown.

 

Reservoir—A porous and permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation of producible oil or gas that is confined by impermeable rock or water barriers and is individual and separate from other reservoirs.

 

Standardized measure—The present value, discounted at 10%, of future net cash flows from estimated proved reserves after income taxes, calculated holding prices and costs constant at amounts in effect on the date of the report (unless such prices or costs are subject to change pursuant to contractual provisions) and otherwise in accordance with the SEC’s rules for inclusion of oil and natural gas reserve information in financial statements filed with the SEC.

 

Undeveloped acreage—Acreage held under lease, permit, contract or option that is not in a spacing unit for a producing well.

 

Working interest—The operating interest that gives the owner the right to drill, produce and conduct operating activities on the property and a share of production, subject to all royalties, overriding royalties and other burdens, and to all costs of exploration, development and operations, and all risks in connection therewith.

PROSPECTUS

 

GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION

 

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Common Stock

Depositary Shares

Warrants

 

Guarantee of Debt Securities of Goodrich Petroleum Corporation by:

Goodrich Petroleum Company, LLC

 

 

We may offer and sell the securities listed above from time to time in one or more offerings in one or more classes or series. Any debt securities we issue under this prospectus may be guaranteed by our subsidiary, Goodrich Petroleum Company, LLC.

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time securities are offered, we will provide a prospectus supplement and attach it to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will contain more specific information about the offering and the terms of the securities being offered, including any guarantees by our subsidiaries. The supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities without a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering.

 

We may sell these securities directly or through agents, underwriters or dealers, or through a combination of these methods. See “Plan of Distribution.” The prospectus supplement will list any agents, underwriters or dealers that may be involved and the compensation they will receive. The prospectus supplement will also show you the total amount of money that we will receive from selling the securities being offered, after the expenses of the offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, before you invest in any of our securities.

 

Investing in any of our securities involves risk. Please read carefully the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 of this prospectus.

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GDP.”

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities
unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
This prospectus is dated June 2, 2008.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to which they relate and are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation in that jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus, or that the information contained in any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of a security.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering and the offered securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Unless the context requires otherwise or unless otherwise noted, all references in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement to “Goodrich,” “we” or “our” are to Goodrich Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries.

 

We are an independent oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, exploitation, development and production of oil and natural gas properties primarily in the Cotton Valley Trend of East Texas and Northwest Louisiana.

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 808 Travis Street, Suite 1320, Houston, Texas 77002. We also have an office in Shreveport, Louisiana. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GDP.”

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC (File No. 001-12719) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). You may read and copy any documents that are filed at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of these documents at prescribed rates from the public reference section of the SEC at its Washington address. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information.

 

Our filings are also available to the public through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to documents previously filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. The following documents we filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act are incorporated herein by reference:

 

 

All documents filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 on any current report on Form 8-K) after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement and after the date of

this prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated in this prospectus by reference and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein, or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modified or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

You may request a copy of these filings at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following address and telephone number:

 

Goodrich Petroleum Corporation

Attention: Corporate Secretary

808 Travis Street, Suite 1320

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 780-9494

 

We also maintain a website at http://www.goodrichpetroleum.com. However, the information on our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

Certain statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, our filings with the SEC and our public releases, including, but not limited to, information regarding the status and progress of our operating activities, the plans and objectives of our management, assumptions regarding our future performance and plans, and any financial guidance provided therein are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A(i) of the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E(i) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate.” “continues,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “foresee,” “expect” and similar expressions identify these forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements are made subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated. Risks and uncertainties that could cause or contribute to such differences include, without limitation, those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” included in this prospectus and elsewhere in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and our subsequent SEC filings and those factors summarized below:

 

 

 

Other factors besides those described in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or the documents we incorporate by reference herein could also affect our actual results. These forward-looking statements are largely based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events, which reflect estimates and assumptions made by our management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based on currently known market conditions and other factors relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control.

 

Although we believe our estimates and assumption to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. Our assumptions about future events may prove to be inaccurate. We caution you that the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure you that those statements will be realized or the forward-looking events and circumstances will occur. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. We do not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf.

 

Your investment in our securities involves risks.  You should carefully consider, in addition to the other information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, the risks described below before deciding whether an investment in our securities is appropriate for you.

 

The risks described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations.

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

Our financial and operating results are subject to a number of factors, many of which are not within our control. These factors include the following:

 

Our actual production, revenues and expenditures related to our reserves are likely to differ from our estimates of proved reserves. We may experience production that is less than estimated and drilling costs that are greater than estimated in our reserve report. These differences may be material.

 

The proved oil and gas reserve information included in this report are estimates. These estimates are based on reports prepared by Netherland Sewell & Associates, Inc. (“NSA”), our independent reserve engineers, and were calculated using oil and gas prices as of December 31, 2007. These prices will change and may be lower at the time of production than those prices that prevailed at the end of 2007. Reservoir engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner. Estimates of economically recoverable oil and gas reserves and of future net cash flows necessarily depend upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, including:

 

 

Because all reserve estimates are to some degree subjective, each of the following items may differ materially from those assumed in estimating proved reserves:

 

 

Furthermore, different reserve engineers may make different estimates of reserves and cash flows based on the same available data. Our actual production, revenues and expenditures with respect to reserves will likely be different from estimates and the differences may be material. The discounted future net cash flows included in this document should not be considered as the current market value of the estimated oil and gas reserves attributable to our properties. As required by the SEC, the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows from proved reserves are generally based on prices and costs as of the date of the estimate, while actual future prices and costs may be materially higher or lower. Actual future net cash flows also will be affected by factors such as:

 

 

 

In addition, the 10% discount factor, which is required by the SEC to be used to calculate discounted future net cash flows for reporting purposes, and which we use in calculating our PV-10, is not necessarily the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with us or the oil and gas industry in general.

 

Our future revenues are dependent on the ability to successfully complete drilling activity.

 

Drilling and exploration are the main methods we utilize to replace our reserves. However, drilling and exploration operations may not result in any increases in reserves for various reasons. Exploration activities involve numerous risks, including the risk that no commercially productive oil or gas reservoirs will be discovered. In addition, the future cost and timing of drilling, completing and producing wells is often uncertain. Furthermore, drilling operations may be curtailed, delayed or canceled as a result of a variety of factors, including:

 

 

Our decisions to purchase, explore, develop and exploit prospects or properties depend in part on data obtained through geophysical and geological analyses, production data and engineering studies, the results of which are often uncertain.

 

In addition, we recently completed drilling our fourth horizontal well in the Cotton Valley trend. We have only limited experience drilling horizontal wells and there can be no assurance that this method of drilling will be as effective (or effective at all) as we currently expect it to be.

 

In addition, higher oil and gas prices generally increase the demand for drilling rigs, equipment and crews and can lead to shortages of, and increasing costs for, such drilling equipment, services and personnel. Such shortages could restrict our ability to drill the wells and conduct the operations which we currently have planned. Any delay in the drilling of new wells or significant increase in drilling costs could adversely affect our ability to increase our reserves and production and reduce our revenues.

 

Natural gas and oil prices are volatile; a decrease in the price of natural gas or oil would adversely impact our business.

 

Our success will depend on the market prices of oil and natural gas. These market prices tend to fluctuate significantly in response to factors beyond our control. The prices we receive for our crude oil production are based on global market conditions. The general pace of global economic growth, the continued instability in the Middle East and other oil and gas producing regions and actions of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, and its maintenance of production constraints, as well as other economic,

political, and environmental factors will continue to affect world supply and prices. Domestic natural gas prices fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors including U.S. economic conditions, weather patterns, other factors affecting demand such as substitute fuels, the impact of drilling levels on crude oil and natural gas supply, and the environmental and access issues that limit future drilling activities for the industry.

 

Crude oil and natural gas prices are extremely volatile. Average oil and natural gas prices fluctuated substantially during the three year period ended December 31, 2007. Fluctuations during the past several years in the demand and supply of crude oil and natural gas have contributed to, and are likely to continue to contribute to, price volatility. Any actual or anticipated reduction in crude oil and natural gas prices would depress the level of exploration, drilling and production activity. We expect that commodity prices will continue to fluctuate significantly in the future. The following table includes high and low natural gas prices (price per one million British thermal units or Mmbtu) and crude oil prices (West Texas Intermediate or WTI) for 2007, as well as these prices at year-end and at May 30, 2008:

 

 

 

Changes in commodity prices significantly affect our capital resources, liquidity and expected operating results. Price changes directly affect revenues and can indirectly impact expected production by changing the amount of funds available to us to reinvest in exploration and development activities. Reductions in oil and natural gas prices could also reduce the quantities of reserves that are commercially recoverable. Significant declines in prices could result in non-cash charges to earnings due to impairment.

 

Our use of oil and gas price hedging contracts may limit future revenues from price increases and result in significant fluctuations in our net income.

 

We use hedging transactions with respect to a portion of our oil and natural gas production to achieve more predictable cash flow and to reduce our exposure to price fluctuations. While the use of hedging transactions limits the downside risk of price declines, their use may also limit future revenues from price increases.

 

Our results of operations may be negatively impacted by our financial derivative instruments and fixed price forward sales contracts in the future and these instruments may limit any benefit we would receive from increases in the prices for oil and natural gas. For the year ended December 31, 2007, we realized a gain on settled financial derivatives of $9.7 million. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we realized a loss on settled financial derivatives of $2.1 million and $18.0 million, respectively.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2007, we recognized in earnings an unrealized loss on derivative instruments not qualifying for hedge accounting in the amount of $16.1 million. For financial reporting purposes, this unrealized loss was combined with a $9.7 million realized gain in 2007 resulting in a total unrealized and realized loss on derivative instruments not qualifying for hedge accounting of $6.4 million for 2007.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2006, we recognized in earnings an unrealized gain on derivative instruments not qualifying for hedge accounting in the amount of $40.2 million. For financial reporting

purposes, this unrealized gain was combined with a $2.1 million realized loss in 2006 resulting in a total unrealized and realized gain on derivative instruments not qualifying for hedge accounting in the amount of $38.1 million for 2006. This gain was recognized because the natural gas hedges were deemed ineffective for 2006, and all previously effective oil hedges were deemed ineffective for the fourth quarter of 2006.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2005, we recognized in earnings an unrealized loss on derivative instruments not qualifying for hedge accounting in the amount of $27.0 million. For financial reporting purposes, this unrealized loss was combined with a $10.7 million realized loss in 2005 resulting in a total unrealized and realized loss on derivative instruments not qualifying for hedge accounting in the amount of $37.7 million in 2005. This loss was recognized because the natural gas hedges were deemed to be ineffective for 2005, and accordingly, the changes in fair value of such hedges could no longer be reflected in other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders’ equity.

 

To the extent that the hedges are not deemed to be effective in the future, we will likewise be exposed to volatility in earnings resulting from changes in the fair value of our hedges. See Note 8 “Hedging Activities” to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

 

Delays in development or production curtailment affecting our material properties may adversely affect our financial position and results of operations.

 

The size of our operations and our capital expenditure budget limits the number of wells that we can develop in any given year. Complications in the development of any single material well may result in a material adverse affect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, a relatively small number of wells contribute a substantial portion of our production. If we were to experience operational problems resulting in the curtailment of production in any of these wells, our total production levels would be adversely affected, which would have a material adverse affect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Because our operations require significant capital expenditures, we may not have the funds available to replace reserves, maintain production or maintain interests in our properties.

 

We must make a substantial amount of capital expenditures for the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas reserves. Historically, we have paid for these expenditures with cash from operating activities, proceeds from debt and equity financings and asset sales. Our revenues or cash flows could be reduced because of lower oil and natural gas prices or for other reasons. If our revenues or cash flows decrease, we may not have the funds available to replace reserves or maintain production at current levels. If this occurs, our production will decline over time. Other sources of financing may not be available to us if our cash flows from operations are not sufficient to fund our capital expenditure requirements. Where we are not the majority owner or operator of an oil and gas property, we may have no control over the timing or amount of capital expenditures associated with the particular property. If we cannot fund such capital expenditures, our interests in some properties may be reduced or forfeited.

 

We may have difficulty financing our planned growth.

 

We have experienced and expect to continue to experience substantial capital expenditure and working capital needs, particularly as a result of our drilling program. In the future, we expect that we will require additional financing, in addition to cash generated from operations, to fund planned growth. We cannot be certain that additional financing will be available on acceptable terms or at all. Additionally, recent unfavorable disclosures by international financial institutions concerning the sub-prime mortgage market may lead to a contraction in credit availability, thereby impacting our ability to finance our operations. In the event additional capital resources are unavailable, we may curtail drilling, development and other activities or be forced to sell some of our assets on an untimely or unfavorable basis.

If we are unable to replace reserves, we may not be able to sustain production at present levels.

 

Our future success depends largely upon our ability to find, develop or acquire additional oil and gas reserves that are economically recoverable. Unless we replace the reserves we produce through successful development, exploration or acquisition activities, our proved reserves will decline over time. In addition, approximately 69% of our total estimated proved reserves by volume at December 31, 2007, were undeveloped. By their nature, estimates of undeveloped reserves are less certain. Recovery of such reserves will require significant capital expenditures and successful drilling operations. We may not be able to successfully find and produce reserves economically in the future. In addition, we may not be able to acquire proved reserves at acceptable costs.

 

We may incur substantial impairment writedowns.

 

If management’s estimates of the recoverable reserves on a property are revised downward or if oil and natural gas prices decline, we may be required to record additional non-cash impairment writedowns in the future, which would result in a negative impact to our financial position. We review our proved oil and gas properties for impairment on a depletable unit basis when circumstances suggest there is a need for such a review. To determine if a depletable unit is impaired, we compare the carrying value of the depletable unit to the undiscounted future net cash flows by applying management’s estimates of future oil and natural gas prices to the estimated future production of oil and gas reserves over the economic life of the property. Future net cash flows are based upon our independent reservoir engineers’ estimates of proved reserves. In addition, other factors such as probable and possible reserves are taken into consideration when justified by economic conditions. For each property determined to be impaired, we recognize an impairment loss equal to the difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying value of the property on a depletable unit basis.

 

Fair value is estimated to be the present value of expected future net cash flows. Any impairment charge incurred is recorded in accumulated depreciation, depletion, impairment and amortization to reduce our recorded basis in the asset. Each part of this calculation is subject to a large degree of judgment, including the determination of the depletable units’ estimated reserves, future cash flows and fair value. For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, we recorded impairments from continuing operations related to oil and gas properties of $7.7 million, $9.9 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

 

Management’s assumptions used in calculating oil and gas reserves or regarding the future cash flows or fair value of our properties are subject to change in the future. Any change could cause impairment expense to be recorded, impacting our net income or loss and our basis in the related asset. Any change in reserves directly impacts our estimate of future cash flows from the property, as well as the property’s fair value. Additionally, as management’s views related to future prices change, the change will affect the estimate of future net cash flows and the fair value estimates. Changes in either of these amounts will directly impact the calculation of impairment.

 

A majority of our production, revenue and cash flow from operating activities are derived from assets that are concentrated in a single geographic area, making us vulnerable to risks associated with operating in one geographic area.

 

Approximately 99% of our estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2007, and a similar percentage of our production during 2007 were associated with our Cotton Valley trend. We sold substantially all of our assets in South Louisiana to a private company in a sale that closed in March 2007. See Note 12 “Acquisitions and Divestitures” to our consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, if the level of production from the remaining properties substantially declines or is otherwise subject to a disruption in our operations resulting from operational problems, government intervention or natural disasters, it could have a material adverse effect on our overall production level and our revenue.

The oil and gas business involves many uncertainties, economic risks and operating risks that can prevent us from realizing profits and can cause substantial losses.

 

Our oil and gas operations are subject to the economic risks typically associated with exploration, development and production activities, including the necessity of significant expenditures to locate and acquire properties and to drill exploratory wells. In conducting exploration and development activities, the presence of unanticipated pressure or irregularities in formations, miscalculations or accidents may cause our exploration, development and production activities to be unsuccessful. This could result in a total loss of our investment in a particular property. If exploration efforts are unsuccessful in establishing proved reserves and exploration activities cease, the amounts accumulated as unproved costs would be charged against earnings as impairments. In addition, the cost and timing of drilling, completing and operating wells is often uncertain.

 

The nature of the oil and gas business involves certain operating hazards such as well blowouts, cratering, explosions, uncontrollable flows of oil, gas or well fluids, fires, formations with abnormal pressures, pollution, releases of toxic gas and other environmental hazards and risks. Any of these operating hazards could result in substantial losses to us. As a result, substantial liabilities to third parties or governmental entities may be incurred. The payment of these amounts could reduce or eliminate the funds available for exploration, development or acquisitions. These reductions in funds could result in a loss of our properties. Additionally, some of our oil and gas operations are located in areas that are subject to weather disturbances such as hurricanes. Some of these disturbances can be severe enough to cause substantial damage to facilities and possibly interrupt production. In accordance with customary industry practices, we maintain insurance against some, but not all, of such risks and losses. The occurrence of an event that is not fully covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

 

Our debt instruments impose restrictions on us that may affect our ability to successfully operate our business.

 

Our senior credit facility and second lien term loan contain customary restrictions, including covenants limiting our ability to incur additional debt, grant liens, make investments, consolidate, merge or acquire other businesses, sell assets, pay dividends and other distributions and enter into transactions with affiliates. We also are required to meet specified financial ratios under the terms of our senior credit facility and second lien term loan. As of December 31, 2007, we were in compliance with all the financial covenants of our senior credit facility and our second lien term loan was not in existence at that time. These restrictions may make it difficult for us to successfully execute our business strategy or to compete in our industry with companies not similarly restricted.

 

We may be unable to identify liabilities associated with the properties that we acquire or obtain protection from sellers against them.

 

The acquisition of properties requires us to assess a number of factors, including recoverable reserves, development and operating costs and potential environmental and other liabilities. Such assessments are inexact and inherently uncertain. In connection with the assessments, we perform a review of the subject properties, but such a review will not reveal all existing or potential problems. In the course of our due diligence, we may not inspect every well, platform or pipeline. We cannot necessarily observe structural and environmental problems, such as pipeline corrosion, when an inspection is made. We may not be able to obtain contractual indemnities from the seller for liabilities that we created. We may be required to assume the risk of the physical condition of the properties in addition to the risk that the properties may not perform in accordance with our expectations. The incurrence of an unexpected liability could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

We are subject to complex laws and regulations, including environmental regulations that can adversely affect the cost, manner or feasibility of doing business.

 

Development, production and sale of natural gas and oil in the U.S. are subject to extensive laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations. We may be required to make large expenditures to comply with environmental and other governmental regulations. Matters subject to regulation include:

 

 

In addition, our operations are subject to stringent federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment and environmental protection. Governmental authorities enforce compliance with these laws and regulations and the permits issued under them, oftentimes requiring difficult and costly actions. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations and permits may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of remedial obligations, and the issuance of injunctions limiting or prohibiting some or all of our operations. There is inherent risk of incurring significant environmental costs and liabilities in our business. Joint and several strict liabilities may be incurred in connection with discharges or releases of hydrocarbons and wastes due to our handling of hydrocarbons and wastes, the release of air emissions or water discharges in connection with our operations, and historical industry operations and waste disposal practices conducted by us or predecessor operators on, under or from our properties and from facilities where our wastes have been taken for disposal. Private parties affected by such discharges or releases may also have the right to pursue legal actions to enforce compliance as well as seek damages for personal injury or property damage. In addition, changes in environmental laws and regulations occur frequently, and any such changes that result in more stringent and costly requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Competition in the oil and gas industry is intense, and we are smaller and have a more limited operating history than some of our competitors.

 

We compete with major and independent oil and natural gas companies for property acquisitions. We also compete for the equipment and labor required to operate and to develop these properties. Some of our competitors have substantially greater financial and other resources than us. In addition, larger competitors may be able to absorb the burden of any changes in federal, state and local laws and regulations more easily than we can, which would adversely affect our competitive position. These competitors may be able to pay more for oil and natural gas properties and may be able to define, evaluate, bid for and acquire a greater number of properties than we can. Our ability to acquire additional properties and develop new and existing properties in the future will depend on our ability to conduct operations, to evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in this highly competitive environment.

 

Our success depends on our management team and other key personnel, the loss of any of whom could disrupt our business operations.

 

Our success will depend on our ability to retain and attract experienced engineers, geoscientists and other professional staff. We depend to a large extent on the efforts, technical expertise and continued employment of these personnel and members of our management team. If a significant number of them resign or become unable to continue in their present role and if they are not adequately replaced, our business operations could be adversely affected.

We have previously identified a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting and cannot assure you that we will not again identify a material weakness in the future.

 

As previously reported in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, a material weakness was identified in our internal control over financial reporting with respect to recording the fair value of all outstanding derivatives. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s Auditing Standard No. 5 defines a material weakness as a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis

 

To remediate the material weakness, we implemented changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2006. Specifically, we now automatically receive a mark to market valuation from our existing counterparties for all outstanding derivatives. For any new contracts entered into with a new counterparty, we will concurrently request this automatic distribution. We also added another layer of review for the fair value calculation before review by the Chief Financial Officer.

 

Our management believes that these additional policies and procedures have enhanced our internal control over financial reporting relating to the determination and review of fair value calculations on outstanding derivatives. Our management also believes that, as a result of these measures described above, the material weakness was remediated and that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of June 30, 2006, September 30, 2006, and December 31, 2006 and all of 2007.

 

Terrorist attacks or similar hostilities may adversely impact our results of operations.

 

The impact that future terrorist attacks or regional hostilities (particularly in the Middle East) may have on the energy industry in general, and on us in particular, is unknown. Uncertainty surrounding military strikes or a sustained military campaign may affect our operations in unpredictable ways, including disruptions of fuel supplies and markets, particularly oil, and the possibility that infrastructure facilities, including pipelines, production facilities, processing plants and refineries, could be direct targets of, or indirect casualties of, an act of terror or war. Moreover, we have incurred additional costs since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 to safeguard certain of our assets and we may be required to incur significant additional costs in the future.

 

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and the changes in the insurance markets attributable to such attacks have made certain types of insurance more difficult for us to obtain. There can be no assurance that insurance will be available to us without significant additional costs. Instability in the financial markets as a result of terrorism or war could also affect our ability to raise capital.

 

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

 

Because we have no plans to pay any dividends for the foreseeable future, investors must look solely to stock appreciation for a return on their investment in us.

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain future earnings and other cash resources, if any, for the operation and development of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors after taking into account many factors, including our financial condition, operating results, current and anticipated cash needs and plans for expansion. In addition, our current credit facility prohibits us from paying cash dividends on our common stock. Any future dividends may also be restricted by any loan agreements that we may enter into from time to time. Accordingly, investors must rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any future gains on their investment. Investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock.

Insiders own a significant amount of common stock, giving them influence or control in corporate transactions and other matters, and the interests of these individuals could differ from those of other stockholders.

 

Members of our board of directors and our management team beneficially own approximately 40% of our outstanding shares of common stock after giving effect to the issuance of our common stock pursuant to the share lending agreement and the number of vested stock options. As a result, these stockholders are in a position to significantly influence or control the outcome of matters requiring a stockholder vote, including the election of directors, the adoption of an amendment to our certificate of incorporation or bylaws and the approval of mergers and other significant corporate transactions. Their control of us may delay or prevent a change of control of us and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of other stockholders.

 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that could discourage an acquisition or change of control of us.

 

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to issue preferred stock without shareholder approval. If our board of directors elects to issue preferred stock, it could be more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us. In addition, provisions of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws, such as limitations on shareholder proposals at meetings of shareholders and restrictions on the ability of our shareholders to call special meetings, could also make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us. Our bylaws provide that our board of directors is divided into three classes, each elected for staggered three-year terms. Thus, control of the board of directors cannot be changed in one year; rather, at least two annual meetings must be held before a majority of the members of the board of directors could be changed.

 

These provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider in his or her best interest, including attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the common stock. Please read “Description of Capital Stock” for additional details concerning the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws.

 

Future issuances of our common shares may adversely affect the price of our common shares.

 

The future issuance of a substantial number of common shares into the public market, or the perception that such issuance could occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common shares. A decline in the price of our common shares could make it more difficult to raise funds through future offerings of our common shares or securities convertible into common shares.

 

Risks Related to Debt Securities

 

If an active trading market does not develop for a series of Debt Securities sold pursuant to this prospectus, you may be unable to sell any such Debt Securities or to sell any such Debt Securities at a price that you deem sufficient.

 

Unless otherwise specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement, any Debt Securities sold pursuant to this prospectus will be new securities for which there currently is no established trading market. We may elect not to list any Debt Securities sold pursuant to this prospectus on a national securities exchange. While the underwriters of a particular offering of Debt Securities may advise us that they intend to make a market in those Debt Securities, the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may stop their market making at any time. No assurance can be given:

 

 

A guarantee of Debt Securities could be voided if the guarantors fraudulently transferred their guarantees at the time they incurred the indebtedness, which could result in the holders of Debt Securities being able to rely on only Goodrich Petroleum Corporation to satisfy claims.

 

Any series of Debt Securities issued pursuant to this prospectus may be fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantor. However, under United States bankruptcy law and comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer laws, such a guarantee can be voided, or claims under a guarantee may be subordinated to all other debts of that guarantor if, among other things, the guarantor, at the time it incurred the indebtedness evidenced by its guarantee:

 

 

In addition, any payment by that guarantor under a guarantee could be voided and required to be returned to the guarantor or to a fund for the benefit of the creditors of the guarantor.

 

The measures of insolvency for purposes of fraudulent transfer laws vary depending upon the governing law. Generally, a guarantor would be considered insolvent if:

 

 

Holders of any Debt Securities sold pursuant to this prospectus will be effectively subordinated to all of our and the Subsidiary Guarantor’s secured indebtedness and to all liabilities of any non-guarantor subsidiaries.

 

Holders of our secured indebtedness, including the indebtedness under our credit facility, have claims with respect to our assets constituting collateral for their indebtedness that are prior to the claims of any Debt Securities sold pursuant to this prospectus. In the event of a default on such Debt Securities or our bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization, those assets would be available to satisfy obligations with respect to the indebtedness secured thereby before any payment could be made on Debt Securities sold pursuant to this prospectus. Accordingly, the secured indebtedness would effectively be senior to such series of Debt Securities to the extent of the value of the collateral securing the indebtedness. To the extent the value of the collateral is not sufficient to satisfy the secured indebtedness, the holders of that indebtedness would be entitled to share with the holders of the Debt Securities issued pursuant to this prospectus and the holders of other claims against us with respect to our other assets.

 

In addition, the Subsidiary Guarantor may not constitute all of our subsidiaries and any series of Debt Securities issued and sold pursuant to this prospectus may not be guaranteed by all of our subsidiaries, and our non-guarantor subsidiaries will be permitted to incur additional indebtedness under the indenture. As a result, holders of such Debt Securities may be effectively subordinated to claims of third party creditors, including holders of indebtedness, and preferred shareholders of these non-guarantor subsidiaries. Claims of those other creditors, including trade creditors, secured creditors, governmental taxing authorities, holders of indebtedness or guarantees issued by the non-guarantor subsidiaries and preferred shareholders of the non-guarantor subsidiaries, will generally have priority as to the assets of the non-guarantor subsidiaries over our claims and

equity interests. As a result, holders of our indebtedness, including the holders of the Debt Securities sold pursuant to this prospectus, will be effectively subordinated to all those claims.

 

As a holding company, our only source of cash is distributions from our subsidiaries.

 

We are a holding company with no operations of our own and we conduct all of our business through our subsidiaries. We are wholly dependent on the cash flow of our subsidiaries and dividends and distributions to us from our subsidiaries in order to service our current indebtedness, including our 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026, and any of our future obligations. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due pursuant to the notes or to make any funds available therefore. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay such dividends and distributions will be subject to, among other things, statutory or contractual restrictions. We cannot assure you that our subsidiaries will generate cash flow sufficient to pay dividends or distributions to us in order to pay interest or other payments on our debt.

 

The fundamental change purchase feature of our 3.25% convertible senior notes may delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial takeover attempt of our company.

 

The terms of the notes require us to purchase the notes for cash in the event of a fundamental change. A takeover of our company would trigger the requirement that we purchase the notes. This may have the effect of delaying or preventing a takeover of our company that would otherwise be beneficial to investors. See also “— Risks Related to Our Common Stock — Provisions of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, stockholder rights plan and Delaware law could deter takeover attempts.” and “Description of Capital Stock — Anti-Takeover Effects of Certificate, Bylaws and Stockholder Rights Plan.”

 

Conversion of our 3.25% convertible senior notes may dilute the ownership interest of existing stockholders, including holders who have previously converted their notes.

 

The conversion of our 3.25% convertible senior notes may dilute the ownership interests of existing stockholders, including holders who have previously converted their notes. Any sales in the public market of our common stock issuable upon such conversion could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock.

 

Goodrich Petroleum Corporation is a holding company. We conduct all of our operations through our subsidiaries. Goodrich Petroleum Company, LLC, is our only material subsidiary as of the date of this prospectus and, if so indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, Goodrich Petroleum Company, LLC may fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee our payment obligations under any series of debt securities offered by this prospectus. We refer to Goodrich Petroleum Company, LLC in this prospectus as the “Subsidiary Guarantor.” Financial information concerning our Subsidiary Guarantor and non-guarantor subsidiaries will be included in our consolidated financial statements filed as a part of our periodic reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act to the extent required by the rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

Additional information concerning our subsidiaries and us is included in reports and other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Except as may be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds we receive from any sales of securities by us under this prospectus for general corporate purposes.

 

The following table contains our consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges and ratios of earnings to fixed charges plus preferred stock dividends for the periods indicated.

 

 

 

 

The ratios were computed by dividing earnings by fixed charges and by fixed charges plus preferred stock dividends, respectively. For this purpose, “earnings” represent the aggregate of (i) income from continuing operations before income taxes and (ii) fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest). “Fixed charges” consists of interest expense, amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs.

 

The Debt Securities will be either our senior debt securities (“Senior Debt Securities”) or our subordinated debt securities (“Subordinated Debt Securities”). The Senior Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued under separate Indentures among us, the Subsidiary Guarantor of such Debt Securities, if any, and a trustee to be determined (the “Trustee”). Senior Debt Securities will be issued under a “Senior Indenture” and Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued under a “Subordinated Indenture.” Together, the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture are called “Indentures.”

 

The Debt Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The particular terms of each series that are offered by a prospectus supplement will be described in the prospectus supplement.

 

Unless the Debt Securities are guaranteed by our subsidiaries as described below, the rights of Goodrich and our creditors, including holders of the Debt Securities, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the latter’s liquidation or reorganization, will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors, except to the extent that we may ourself be a creditor with recognized claims against such subsidiary.

 

We have summarized selected provisions of the Indentures below. The summary is not complete. The form of each Indenture has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you should read the Indentures for provisions that may be important to you. In the summary below we have included references to article or section numbers of the applicable Indenture so that you can easily locate these provisions. Whenever we refer in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement to particular article or sections or defined terms of the Indentures, those article or sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference herein or therein, as applicable. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meanings specified in the Indentures.

 

General

 

The Indentures provide that Debt Securities in separate series may be issued thereunder from time to time without limitation as to aggregate principal amount. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the Debt Securities of any series (Section 301). We will determine the terms and conditions of the Debt Securities, including the maturity, principal and interest, but those terms must be consistent with the Indenture. The Debt Securities may be our secured or unsecured obligations.

 

The Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our Senior Debt (as defined) as described under “— Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities” and in the prospectus supplement applicable to any Subordinated Debt Securities. If the prospectus supplement so indicates, the Debt Securities will be convertible into our common stock (Section 301).

 

If specified in the prospectus supplement, Goodrich Petroleum Company, LLC (the “Subsidiary Guarantor”) will fully and unconditionally guarantee (the “Subsidiary Guarantee”) the Debt Securities as described under “— Subsidiary Guarantee” and in the prospectus supplement. The Subsidiary Guarantee will be an unsecured obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantor. A Subsidiary Guarantee of Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated to the Senior Debt of the Subsidiary Guarantor on the same basis as the Subordinated Debt Securities are subordinated to our Senior Debt (Article Thirteen).

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the price or prices at which the Debt Securities to be offered will be issued and will describe the following terms of such Debt Securities:

 

(1) the title of the Debt Securities;

 

(2) whether the Debt Securities are Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Debt Securities and, if Subordinated Debt Securities, the related subordination terms;

 

(3) whether the Subsidiary Guarantor will provide a Subsidiary Guarantee of the Debt Securities;

 

(4) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities;

 

(5) the dates on which the principal of the Debt Securities will be payable;

(6) the interest rate that the Debt Securities will bear and the interest payment dates for the Debt Securities;

 

(7) the places where payments on the Debt Securities will be payable;

 

(8) any terms upon which the Debt Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option;

 

(9) any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem the Debt Securities;

 

(10) the portion of the principal amount, if less than all, of the Debt Securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity of the Debt Securities;

 

(11) whether the Debt Securities are defeasible;

 

(12) any addition to or change in the Events of Default;

 

(13) whether the Debt Securities are convertible into our common stock and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which conversion will be effected, including the initial conversion price or conversion rate and any adjustments thereto and the conversion period;

 

(14) any addition to or change in the covenants in the Indenture applicable to the Debt Securities; and

 

(15) any other terms of the Debt Securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture (Section 301).

 

Debt Securities, including any Debt Securities which provide for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof (“Original Issue Discount Securities”), may be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. Special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to Debt Securities sold at an original issue discount may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, special United States federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any Debt Securities that are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than United States dollars may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

 

The indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Debt Securities will, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Indenture with respect to each series of Subordinated Debt Securities, be subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our Senior Debt, including the Senior Debt Securities, and it may also be senior in right of payment to all of our Subordinated Debt (Article Twelve of the Subordinated Indenture). The prospectus supplement relating to any Subordinated Debt Securities will summarize the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture applicable to that series including:

 

 

The prospectus supplement will also describe as of a recent date the approximate amount of Senior Debt to which the Subordinated Debt Securities of that series will be subordinated.

 

The failure to make any payment on any of the Subordinated Debt Securities by reason of the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture described in the prospectus supplement will not be

construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities arising from any such failure to make payment.

 

The subordination provisions described above will not be applicable to payments in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities from a defeasance trust established in connection with any legal defeasance or covenant defeasance of the Subordinated Debt Securities as described under “— Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.”

 

Subsidiary Guarantee

 

If specified in the prospectus supplement, the Subsidiary Guarantor will guarantee the Debt Securities of a series. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the following provisions will apply to the Subsidiary Guarantee of the Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Subject to the limitations described below and in the prospectus supplement, the Subsidiary Guarantor will fully and unconditionally guarantee the punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all our payment obligations under the Indentures and the Debt Securities of a series, whether for principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities or otherwise (all such obligations guaranteed by a Subsidiary Guarantor being herein called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). The Subsidiary Guarantor will also pay all expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the applicable Trustee in enforcing any rights under a Subsidiary Guarantee with respect to a Subsidiary Guarantor (Section 1302).

 

In the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, a Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee will be subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Debt of such Subsidiary Guarantor on the same basis as the Subordinated Debt Securities are subordinated to our Senior Debt. No payment will be made by any Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee during any period in which payments by us on the Subordinated Debt Securities are suspended by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture (Article Fourteen of the Subordinated Indenture).

 

Each Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited in amount to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor without rendering such Subsidiary Guarantee voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally (Section 1306).

 

Each Subsidiary Guarantee will be a continuing guarantee and will:

 

(1) remain in full force and effect until either (a) payment in full of all the applicable Debt Securities (or such Debt Securities are otherwise satisfied and discharged in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture) or (b) released as described in the following paragraph;

 

(2) be binding upon each Subsidiary Guarantor; and

 

(3) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the applicable Trustee, the Holders and their successors, transferees and assigns.

 

In the event that a Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary, either legal defeasance or covenant defeasance occurs with respect to the series or all or substantially all of the assets or all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor is sold, including by way of sale, merger, consolidation or otherwise, such Subsidiary Guarantor will be released and discharged of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee without any further action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, and no other person acquiring or owning the assets or Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor will be required to enter into a Subsidiary Guarantee (Section 1304). In addition, the prospectus supplement may specify additional circumstances under which a Subsidiary Guarantor can be released from its Subsidiary Guarantee.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

 

The Debt Securities of each series will be issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof (Section 302).

 

At the option of the Holder, subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture and the limitations applicable to Global Securities, Debt Securities of each series will be exchangeable for other Debt Securities of the same series of any authorized denomination and of a like tenor and aggregate principal amount (Section 305).

 

Subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture and the limitations applicable to Global Securities, Debt Securities may be presented for exchange as provided above or for registration of transfer (duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed) at the office of the Security Registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for such purpose. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Debt Securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in that connection. Such transfer or exchange will be effected upon the Security Registrar or such transfer agent, as the case may be, being satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. The Security Registrar and any other transfer agent initially designated by us for any Debt Securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (Section 305). We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of each series (Section 1002).

 

If the Debt Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, we will not be required to (1) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Security of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Debt Security that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or (2) register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Security so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any such Debt Security being redeemed in part (Section 305).

 

Global Securities

 

Some or all of the Debt Securities of any series may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more Global Securities that will have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of the Debt Securities they represent. Each Global Security will be registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement, will be deposited with such Depositary or nominee or its custodian and will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer thereof referred to below and any such other matters as may be provided for pursuant to the applicable Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of the Indentures or any Debt Security described in this prospectus, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or any nominee of such Depositary unless:

 

(1) the Depositary has notified us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or has ceased to be qualified to act as such as required by the applicable Indenture, and in either case we fail to appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days;

 

(2) an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities represented by such Global Security has occurred and is continuing and the Trustee has received a written request from the Depositary to issue certificated Debt Securities; or

 

(3) other circumstances exist, in addition to or in lieu of those described above, as may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

All certificated Debt Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof will be registered in such names as the Depositary may direct (Sections 205 and 305).

 

As long as the Depositary, or its nominee, is the registered holder of a Global Security, the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and Holder of such Global Security and the Debt Securities that it represents for all purposes under the Debt Securities and the applicable Indenture (Section 308). Except in the limited circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have such Global Security or any Debt Securities that it represents registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Debt Securities in exchange for those interests and will not be considered to be the owners or Holders of such Global Security or any Debt Securities that is represents for any purpose under the Debt Securities or the applicable Indenture. All payments on a Global Security will be made to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the Holder of the security. The laws of some jurisdictions require that some purchasers of Debt Securities take physical delivery of such Debt Securities in certificated form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.

 

Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to institutions that have accounts with the Depositary or its nominee (“participants”) and to persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants. In connection with the issuance of any Global Security, the Depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of Debt Securities represented by the Global Security to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary (with respect to participants’ interests) or any such participant (with respect to interests of persons held by such participants on their behalf). Payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a Global Security may be subject to various policies and procedures adopted by the Depositary from time to time. None of us, the Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustees or the agents of ourself, the Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustees will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the Depositary’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a Global Security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a Debt Security on any Interest Payment Date will be made to the Person in whose name such Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Debt Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest (Section 307).

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal of and any premium and interest on the Debt Securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as we may designate for such purpose from time to time, except that at our option payment of any interest on Debt Securities in certificated form may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address appears in the Security Register. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the corporate trust office of the Trustee under the Senior Indenture in The City of New York will be designated as sole Paying Agent for payments with respect to Senior Debt Securities of each series, and the corporate trust office of the Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture in The City of New York will be designated as the sole Paying Agent for payment with respect to Subordinated Debt Securities of each series. Any other Paying Agents initially designated by us for the Debt Securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agent or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a Paying Agent in each Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of a particular series (Section 1002).

 

All money paid by us to a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Debt Security which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or

interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the Holder of such Debt Security thereafter may look only to us for payment (Section 1003).

 

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

 

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, we may not consolidate with or merge into, or transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to, any Person (a “successor Person”), and may not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into us, unless:

 

(1) the successor Person (if any) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction and assumes our obligations on the Debt Securities and under the Indentures;

 

(2) immediately before and after giving pro forma effect to the transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing; and

 

(3) several other conditions, including any additional conditions with respect to any particular Debt Securities specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, are met (Section 801).

 

Events of Default

 

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, each of the following will constitute an Event of Default under the applicable Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of any series:

 

(1) failure to pay principal of or any premium on any Debt Security of that series when due, whether or not, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;

 

(2) failure to pay any interest on any Debt Securities of that series when due, continued for 30 days, whether or not, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;

 

(3) failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any Debt Security of that series, whether or not, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, such deposit is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;

 

(4) failure to perform or comply with the provisions described under “— Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”;

 

(5) failure to perform any of our other covenants in such Indenture (other than a covenant included in such Indenture solely for the benefit of a series other than that series), continued for 60 days after written notice has been given by the applicable Trustee, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series, as provided in such Indenture;

 

(6) Indebtedness of ourself, any Significant Subsidiary or, if a Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed the series, such Subsidiary Guarantor, is not paid within any applicable grace period after final maturity or is accelerated by its holders because of a default and the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $20.0 million;

 

(7) any judgment or decree for the payment of money in excess of $20.0 million is entered against us, any Significant Subsidiary or, if a Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed the series, such Subsidiary Guarantor, remains outstanding for a period of 60 consecutive days following entry of such judgment and is not discharged, waived or stayed;

 

(8) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting us, any Significant Subsidiary or, if a Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed the series, such Subsidiary Guarantor; and

 

(9) if any Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed such series, the Subsidiary Guarantee of any such Subsidiary Guarantor is held by a final non-appealable order or judgment of a court of competent

jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture) or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Person acting on behalf of any Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee (other than by reason of a release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture) (Section 501).

 

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to Goodrich Petroleum Corporation described in clause (8) above) with respect to the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, either the applicable Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series by notice as provided in the Indenture may declare the principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series (or, in the case of any Debt Security that is an Original Issue Discount Debt Security, such portion of the principal amount of such Debt Security as may be specified in the terms of such Debt Security) to be due and payable immediately, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. If an Event of Default with respect to Goodrich Petroleum Corporation described in clause (8) above with respect to the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Debt Securities of that series (or, in the case of any such Original Issue Discount Security, such specified amount) will automatically, and without any action by the applicable Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. After any such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal (or other specified amount), have been cured or waived as provided in the applicable Indenture (Section 502). For information as to waiver of defaults, see “— Modification and Waiver” below.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Indentures relating to the duties of the Trustees in case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, each Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders have offered to such Trustee reasonable security or indemnity (Section 603). Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the Trustees, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of that series (Section 512).

 

No Holder of a Debt Security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the applicable Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless:

 

(1) such Holder has previously given to the Trustee under the applicable Indenture written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of that series;

 

(2) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series have made written request, and such Holder or Holders have offered reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee; and

 

(3) the Trustee has failed to institute such proceeding, and has not received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series a direction inconsistent with such request, within 60 days after such notice, request and offer (Section 507).

 

However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder of a Debt Security for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on such Debt Security on or after the applicable due date specified in such Debt Security or, if applicable, to convert such Debt Security (Section 508).

 

We will be required to furnish to each Trustee annually a statement by certain of our officers as to whether or not we, to their knowledge, are in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the applicable Indenture and, if so, specifying all such known defaults (Section 1004).

Modification and Waiver

 

Modifications and amendments of an Indenture may be made by us, the Subsidiary Guarantor, if applicable, and the applicable Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by such modification or amendment; provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security affected thereby:

 

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Debt Security;

 

(2) reduce the principal amount of, or any premium or interest on, any Debt Security;

 

(3) reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Debt Security payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof;

 

(4) change the place or currency of payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, any Debt Security;

 

(5) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment due on or any conversion right with respect to any Debt Security;

 

(6) modify the subordination provisions in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, or modify any conversion provisions, in either case in a manner adverse to the Holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities;

 

(7) except as provided in the applicable Indenture, release the Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(8) reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for modification or amendment of the Indenture;

 

(9) reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series necessary for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults;

 

(10) modify such provisions with respect to modification, amendment or waiver (Section 902); or

 

(11) following the making of an offer to purchase Debt Securities from any Holder that has been made pursuant to a covenant in such Indenture, modify such covenant in a manner adverse to such Holder.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may waive compliance by us with certain restrictive provisions of the applicable Indenture (Section 1009). The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may waive any past default under the applicable Indenture, except a default in the payment of principal, premium or interest and certain covenants and provisions of the Indenture which cannot be amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security of such series (Section 513).

 

Each of the Indentures provides that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities have given or taken any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under such Indenture as of any date:

 

(1) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that will be deemed to be Outstanding will be the amount of the principal that would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of maturity to such date;

 

(2) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Debt Security is not determinable (for example, because it is based on an index), the principal amount of such Debt Security deemed to be Outstanding as of such date will be an amount determined in the manner prescribed for such Debt Security;

(3) the principal amount of a Debt Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units that will be deemed to be Outstanding will be the United States-dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner prescribed for such Debt Security, of the principal amount of such Debt Security (or, in the case of a Debt Security described in clause (1) or (2) above, of the amount described in such clause); and

 

(4) certain Debt Securities, including those owned by us, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of our other Affiliates, will not be deemed to be Outstanding (Section 101).

 

Except in certain limited circumstances, we will be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series entitled to give or take any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the applicable Indenture, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture. In certain limited circumstances, the Trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by Holders. If a record date is set for any action to be taken by Holders of a particular series, only persons who are Holders of Outstanding Debt Securities of that series on the record date may take such action. To be effective, such action must be taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of such Debt Securities within a specified period following the record date. For any particular record date, this period will be 180 days or such other period as may be specified by us (or the Trustee, if it set the record date), and may be shortened or lengthened (but not beyond 180 days) from time to time (Section 104).

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

 

Each Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding Debt Securities of any series issued thereunder, when:

 

(1) either:

 

(a) all outstanding Debt Securities of that series that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed Debt Securities that have been replaced or paid and Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to us) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(b) all outstanding Debt Securities of that series that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee and in any case we have irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust funds money in an amount sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay the entire indebtedness of such Debt Securities not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the Stated Maturity or redemption date;

 

(2) we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by us under the Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of that series; and

 

(3) we have delivered an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of that series have been satisfied (Article Four).

 

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

If and to the extent indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect, at our option at any time, to have the provisions of Section 1502, relating to defeasance and discharge of indebtedness, which we call “legal defeasance” or Section 1503, relating to defeasance of certain restrictive covenants applied to the Debt Securities of any series, or to any specified part of a series, which we call “covenant defeasance” (Section 1501).

 

Legal Defeasance.  The Indentures provide that, upon our exercise of our option (if any) to have Section 1502 applied to any Debt Securities, we and, if applicable, each Subsidiary Guarantor will be discharged from all our obligations, and, if such Debt Securities are Subordinated Debt Securities, the

provisions of the Subordinated Indenture relating to subordination will cease to be effective, with respect to such Debt Securities (except for certain obligations to convert, exchange or register the transfer of Debt Securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated Debt Securities, to maintain paying agencies and to hold moneys for payment in trust) upon the deposit in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Debt Securities of money or U.S. Government Obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such Debt Securities on the respective Stated Maturities in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and such Debt Securities. Such defeasance or discharge may occur only if, among other things:

 

(1) we have delivered to the applicable Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or there has been a change in tax law, in either case to the effect that Holders of such Debt Securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and legal defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and legal defeasance were not to occur;

 

(2) no Event of Default or event that with the passing of time or the giving of notice, or both, shall constitute an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with respect to any Event of Default described in clause (8) under “— Events of Default,” at any time until 121 days after such deposit;

 

(3) such deposit and legal defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument (other than the applicable Indenture) to which we are a party or by which we are bound;

 

(4) in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, at the time of such deposit, no default in the payment of all or a portion of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any of our Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing, no event of default shall have resulted in the acceleration of any of our Senior Debt and no other event of default with respect to any of our Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing permitting after notice or the lapse of time, or both, the acceleration thereof; and

 

(5) we have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such deposit shall not cause the Trustee or the trust so created to be subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (Sections 1502 and 1504).

 

Covenant Defeasance.  The Indentures provide that, upon our exercise of our option (if any) to have Section 1503 applied to any Debt Securities, we may omit to comply with certain restrictive covenants (but not to conversion, if applicable), including those that may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the occurrence of certain Events of Default, which are described above in clause (5) (with respect to such restrictive covenants) and clauses (6), (7) and (9) under “Events of Default” and any that may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, will not be deemed to either be or result in an Event of Default and, if such Debt Securities are Subordinated Debt Securities, the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture relating to subordination will cease to be effective, in each case with respect to such Debt Securities. In order to exercise such option, we must deposit, in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Debt Securities, money or U.S. Government Obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such Debt Securities on the respective Stated Maturities in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and such Debt Securities. Such covenant defeasance may occur only if we have delivered to the applicable Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that in effect says that Holders of such Debt Securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance were not to occur, and the requirements set forth in clauses (2), (3), (4) and (5) above are satisfied. If we exercise this option with respect to any Debt Securities and such Debt Securities were declared due and payable

because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of money and U.S. Government Obligations so deposited in trust would be sufficient to pay amounts due on such Debt Securities at the time of their respective Stated Maturities but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on such Debt Securities upon any acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. In such case, we would remain liable for such payments (Sections 1503 and 1504).

 

If we exercise either our legal defeasance or covenant defeasance option, any Subsidiary Guarantee will terminate (Section 1304)

 

Notices

 

Notices to Holders of Debt Securities will be given by mail to the addresses of such Holders as they may appear in the Security Register (Sections 101 and 106).

 

Title

 

We, the Subsidiary Guarantor, the Trustees and any agent of us, the Subsidiary Guarantor or a Trustee may treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the absolute owner of the Debt Security (whether or not such Debt Security may be overdue) for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes (Section 308).

 

Governing Law

 

The Indentures and the Debt Securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York (Section 112).

 

As of June 2, 2008, our authorized capital stock was 110,000,000 shares. Those shares consisted of (a) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value, 2,250,000 of which were outstanding; and (b) 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.20 par value, of which 34,280,953 shares were issued and outstanding. In addition, as of June 2, 2008, (a) 3,587,850 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the conversion of our Series B convertible preferred stock, (b) 3,122,262 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the conversion of our 3.25% convertible senior notes, (c) 2,808,719 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to our stock option plans, of which options to purchase 1,089,333 shares at a weighted average exercise price of $21.40 per share had been issued, and (d) 327,077 shares of restricted stock awards had not yet vested.

 

The following summary of certain provisions of our capital stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, which are incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and by the provisions of applicable law.

 

Common Stock

 

Subject to any special voting rights of any series of preferred stock that we may issue in the future, each share held of record of common stock has one vote on all matters voted on by our shareholders, including the election of our directors. Because holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights, the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock can elect all of the members of the board of directors standing for election, subject to the rights, powers and preferences of any outstanding series of preferred stock.

 

No share of common stock affords any preemptive rights or is convertible, redeemable, assessable or entitled to the benefits of any sinking or repurchase fund. Holders of common stock will be entitled to dividends in the amounts and at the times declared by our board of directors in its discretion out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends.

 

Holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any dividend preferences of any outstanding shares of preferred stock. Holders of common stock will share equally in our assets on liquidation after payment or provision for all liabilities and any preferential liquidation rights of any preferred stock then outstanding. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GDP.”

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

 

Preferred Stock

 

As of the date of this prospectus, we have 7,750,000 shares of authorized but unissued preferred stock that are undesignated.

 

At the direction of our board of directors, we may issue shares of preferred stock from time to time. Our board of directors may, without any action by holders of our common stock:

 

 

The rights of any class or series of preferred stock may include, among others:

 

 

 

We may issue shares of, or rights to purchase, preferred stock the terms of which might:

 

 

Any of these actions could discourage a transaction that some or a majority of our shareholders might believe to be in their best interests or in which our shareholders might receive a premium for their stock over its then market price.

 

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

 

As of the date of this prospectus, we had 2,250,000 shares issued and outstanding of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The Liquidation Preference is $50 per share of Series B Preferred Stock, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends.

 

Conversion Rights.  Each share is convertible at the option of the holder into our common stock at any time at an initial conversion rate of 1.5946 shares of common stock per share, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $31.36 per share of common stock. Upon conversion of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (pursuant to a voluntary conversion or the Company Conversion Option (as defined in the Certificate of Designation of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”)), we may choose to deliver the conversion value to holders in cash, shares of common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of common stock.

 

On or after December 21, 2010, we may, at our option, cause the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock to be automatically converted into that number of shares of common stock that are issuable at the then-prevailing conversion rate. We may exercise our conversion right only if, for 20 trading days within any period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day prior to the announcement of our exercise of the option, the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds 130% of the then-prevailing conversion price of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

Redemption.  The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock is non-redeemable by us.

 

Fundamental Change.  If a Fundamental Change (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) occurs, holders may require us in specified circumstances to repurchase all or part of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. In addition, upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change or Specified Corporate Events (as defined in the Certificate of Designation), we will under certain circumstances increase the conversion rate by a number of additional shares of common stock.

 

Dividends.  Holders of our Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when and if declared by our board of directors, cumulative cash dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock at a rate of 5.375% of the $50 liquidation preference per year (equivalent to $2.6875 per year per share). Dividends on the Series B Preferred Stock will be payable quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each year or, if not a business day, the next succeeding business day. Dividends may be increased under certain circumstances as described below.

 

If we fail to pay dividends on the shares of our Series B Preferred Stock on six dividend payment dates (whether consecutive or not), then the dividend rate per annum will increase by an additional 1.0% on and after the day after such sixth dividend payment date, until we have paid all dividends on the shares of our Series B Preferred Stock for all dividend periods up to and including the dividend payment date on which the accumulated and unpaid dividends are paid in full. Any further failure to pay dividends would cause the

dividend rate to increase again by the additional 1.0% until we have again paid all dividends for all dividend periods up to and including the dividend payment date on which the accumulated and unpaid dividends are paid in full. Upon the occurrence of specified corporate events described in the Certificate of Designation, the dividend rate per annum will increase by an additional 3.0% for every quarter in which the closing price of our common stock is below $26.13 for 20 trading days within the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending 15 trading days prior to the quarterly record date for the quarter.

 

Ranking.  Our Series B Preferred Stock ranks, with respect to dividend rights or rights upon our liquidation, winding up or dissolution:

 

 

Voting Rights.  Except as required by Delaware law, our restated certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designation for our Series B Preferred Stock, holders of our Series B Preferred Stock will have no voting rights unless dividends payable on our Series B Preferred Stock are in arrears for six or more quarterly periods. In that event, the holders of our Series B Preferred Stock, voting as a single class with the shares of any other class or series of preferred stock or preference securities having similar voting rights, will be entitled at the next regular or special meeting of our stockholders to elect two directors, and the number of directors that comprise our board will be increased by the number of directors so elected. These voting rights and the terms of the directors so elected will continue until the dividend arrearage on our Series B Preferred Stock has been paid in full. The affirmative consent of holders of at least 66²/₃% of the outstanding shares of our Series B Preferred Stock will be required for the issuance of Senior Stock and for amendments to our restated certificate of incorporation that would materially adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of our Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

The provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws we summarize below may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider in his or her best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the common stock.

 

Written Consent of Stockholders and Stockholder Meetings.  Any action by our stockholders must be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board (if any), the Vice Chairman, the President or by a majority of the board of directors.

 

Advance Notice Procedure for Shareholder Proposals.  Our bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for the nomination of candidates for election as directors, as well as for stockholder proposals to be considered

at annual meetings of stockholders. In general, notice of intent to nominate a director must be delivered to or mailed and received at our principal executive offices as follows:

 

 

Notice of stockholders’ intent to raise business at an annual meeting must be delivered to or mailed and received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the preceding annual meeting of stockholders. These procedures may operate to limit the ability of stockholders to bring business before a stockholders’ meeting, including with respect to the nomination of directors or considering any transaction that could result in a change in control.

 

Classified Board; Removal of Director.  Our bylaws provide that the members of our board of directors are divided into three classes as nearly equal as possible. Each class is elected for a three-year term. At each annual meeting of shareholders, approximately one-third of the members of the board of directors are elected for a three-year term and the other directors remain in office until their three-year terms expire. Furthermore, our bylaws provide that neither any director nor the board of directors may be removed without cause, and that any removal for cause would require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote for the election of directors. Thus, control of the board of directors cannot be changed in one year without removing the directors for cause as described above; rather, at least two annual meetings must be held before a majority of the members of the board of directors could be changed.

 

Limitation of Liability of Directors

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides that no director shall be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability as follows:

 

 

General

 

We may offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we decide to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, we will issue receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. The prospectus supplement will indicate that fraction. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a depositary agreement between us and a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by us (the “Bank Depositary”). Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the depositary agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering.

 

We have summarized selected provisions of a depositary agreement and the related depositary receipts. The summary is not complete. The forms of the depositary agreement and the depositary receipts relating to any particular issue of depositary shares will be filed with the SEC via a Current Report on Form 8-K prior to our offering of the depositary shares, and you should read such documents for provisions that may be important to you.

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

If we pay a cash distribution or dividend on a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the Bank Depositary will distribute such dividends to the record holders of such depositary shares. If the distributions are in property other than cash, the Bank Depositary will distribute the property to the record holders of the depositary shares. However, if the Bank Depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution of property, the Bank Depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to the record holders of the depositary shares.

 

Redemption of Depositary Shares

 

If we redeem a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the Bank Depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds received by the Bank Depositary in connection with the redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will equal the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share of the preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as the Bank Depositary may determine.

 

Voting the Preferred Stock

 

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock represented by depositary shares are entitled to vote, the Bank Depositary will mail the notice to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to such preferred stock. Each record holder of these depositary shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock) may instruct the Bank Depositary as to how to vote the preferred stock represented by such holder’s depositary shares. The Bank Depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will take all action which the Bank Depositary deems necessary in order to enable the Bank Depositary to do so. The Bank Depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing such preferred stock.

 

Amendment and Termination of the Depositary Agreement

 

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the depositary agreement may be amended by agreement between the Bank Depositary and us. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then

outstanding. The depositary agreement may be terminated by the Bank Depositary or us only if (1) all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or (2) there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts.

 

Charges of Bank Depositary

 

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the Bank Depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the depositary agreement to be for their accounts.

 

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

 

Upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the Bank Depositary, subject to the terms of the depositary agreement, the owner of the depositary shares may demand delivery of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by those depositary shares. Partial shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the Bank Depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of preferred stock thus withdrawn may not thereafter deposit those shares under the depositary agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.

 

Miscellaneous

 

The Bank Depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the Bank Depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.

 

Neither the Bank Depositary nor we will be liable if we are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations under the depositary agreement. The obligations of the Bank Depositary and us under the depositary agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of our duties thereunder, and neither of us will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. Further, both of us may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

 

Resignation and Removal of Bank Depositary

 

The Bank Depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the Bank Depositary. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor Bank Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. Such successor Bank Depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.

 

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our common stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with Debt Securities, preferred stock or common stock offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants. The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all provisions of the warrant agreements.

 

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants for the terms of and information relating to the warrants, including, where applicable:

 

(1) the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants and the price at which such number of shares of common stock may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;

 

(2) the date on which the right to exercise the warrants commences and the date on which such right expires (the “Expiration Date”);

 

(3) United States federal income tax consequences applicable to the warrants;

 

(4) the amount of the warrants outstanding as of the most recent practicable date; and

 

(5) any other terms of the warrants.

 

Warrants will be offered and exercisable for United States dollars only. Warrants will be issued in registered form only. Each warrant will entitle its holder to purchase such number of shares of common stock at such exercise price as is in each case set forth in, or calculable from, the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. The exercise price may be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of events described in such prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the Expiration Date (or such later date to which we may extend such Expiration Date), unexercised warrants will become void. The place or places where, and the manner in which, warrants may be exercised will be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to such warrants.

 

Prior to the exercise of any warrants, holders of the warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of common stock, including the right to receive payments of any dividends on the common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants, or to exercise any applicable right to vote.

 

We may sell or distribute the securities included in this prospectus through underwriters, through agents, dealers, in private transactions, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices.

 

In addition, we may sell some or all of the securities included in this prospectus through:

 

 

In addition, we may enter into option or other types of transactions that require us to deliver common shares to a broker-dealer, who will then resell or transfer the common shares under this prospectus. We may enter into hedging transactions with respect to our securities. For example, we may:

 

 

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

 

There is currently no market for any of the securities, other than the shares of common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange. If the securities are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. While it is possible that an underwriter could inform us that it intends to make a market in the securities, such underwriter would not be obligated to do so, and any such market making could be discontinued at any time without notice. Therefore, we cannot assure you as to whether an active trading market will develop for these other securities. We have no current plans for listing the debt securities on any securities exchange; any such listing with respect to any particular debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Any broker-dealers or other persons acting on our behalf that participate with us in the distribution of the shares may be deemed to be underwriters and any commissions received or profit realized by them on the resale of the shares may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). As of the date of this prospectus, we are not a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding between any broker or dealer and us with respect to the offer or sale of the securities pursuant to this prospectus.

 

We may have agreements with agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Agents, underwriters, dealers and

remarketing firms, and their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business. This includes commercial banking and investment banking transactions.

 

At the time that any particular offering of securities is made, to the extent required by the Securities Act, a prospectus supplement will be distributed setting forth the terms of the offering, including the aggregate number of securities being offered, the purchase price of the securities, the initial offering price of the securities, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other items constituting compensation from us and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

 

Underwriters or agents could make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on or through the New York Stock Exchange, the existing trading market for our common shares, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.

 

Securities may also be sold directly by us.  In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved.

 

If a prospectus supplement so indicates, underwriters, brokers or dealers, in compliance with applicable law, may engage in transactions that stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market.

 

Pursuant to a requirement by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (the “FINRA”), the maximum commission or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker/dealer may not be greater than eight percent (8%) of the gross proceeds received by us for the sale of any securities being registered pursuant to SEC Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

If more than 10% of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by FINRA members participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA members, the offering will be conducted in accordance with NASD Conduct Rule 2710(h).

 

Our legal counsel, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas, will pass upon certain legal matters in connection with certain of the offered securities. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has in the past represented the lenders under our credit facilities. The validity of issuance of certain of the offered securities and other matters arising under Louisiana law are being passed upon by Sinclair Law Firm, L.L.C., Shreveport, Louisiana. Legal counsel to any underwriters may pass upon legal matters for such underwriters.

 

The consolidated financial statements of Goodrich Petroleum Corporation as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report covering the December 31, 2007 consolidated financial statements refers to a change in the method of accounting for share-based payments as of January 1, 2006.

 

Estimates of the oil and gas reserves of Goodrich Petroleum Corporation and related future net cash flows and the present values thereof, included in this prospectus and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2007, were based upon reserve reports prepared by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. as of December 31, 2007, December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005. We have included and incorporated these estimates in reliance on the authority of such firm as an expert in such matters.

3,000,000 shares

 

 

Common stock

 

Prospectus supplement