<PAGE> 1
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 1997
Registration No. 333-_____________
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
--------------------------
ENERGEN CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
ALABAMA 63-0757759
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
2101 SIXTH AVENUE NORTH
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35203
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
ENERGEN CORPORATION
1997 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
(Full title of the plan)
--------------------------
J. DAVID WOODRUFF, JR.
ENERGEN CORPORATION
2101 SIXTH AVENUE NORTH
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35203
(Name and address of agent for service)
(205) 326-2700
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
with a copy to:
JOHN K. MOLEN
BRADLEY ARANT ROSE & WHITE LLP
2001 PARK PLACE, SUITE 1400
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35203
(205) 521-8000
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=========================================================================================================================
Title of Proposed Proposed maximum
securities to Amount to be maximum offering aggregate offering Amount of
be registered registered price per unit price* registration fee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Deferred Compensation Units;
Common Stock, par value $ 5,000,000.00 Not Applicable $5,000,000.00 $1,515.15
$.01 per share
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
*Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(o) solely for the purpose of calculating
the registration fee.
<PAGE> 2
REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND
EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION
The documents incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of the
Registration Statement (not including exhibits to the information that is
incorporated by reference unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by
reference into the information that the Registration Statement incorporates)
are incorporated by reference into the Section 10(a) Prospectus and are
available, without charge, to the participants upon written or oral request to
Secretary, Energen Corporation, 2101 Sixth Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama
35203 (telephone number (205)326-2700). The documents containing the
information requested by Part I of Form S-8, Energen Corporation's latest
Annual Report on Form 10-K, and all reports, proxy statements, and other
communications distributed generally to the security holders of Energen
Corporation are available, without charge, to participants upon written or oral
request to Secretary, Energen Corporation, 2101 Sixth Avenue North, Birmingham,
Alabama 35203 (telephone number (205)326-2700).
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<PAGE> 3
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
The following documents filed by the Registrant with the
Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated herein by
reference as of their respective dates:
(a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended September 30, 1996 (Commission File No. 1-7810);
(b) The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1996 (Commission File No. 1-7810);
and
(c) The description of the common stock, par value $.01 per
share (and the associated Rights to Purchase Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock) of the Registrant ("Energen Common
Stock"), appearing in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
S-2 (Registration No. 33-25435) filed pursuant to the Securities Act
of 1933 (the "Securities Act").
All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference and to be a
part of the Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date
of the filing of such documents.
ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
The Energen Corporation 1997 Deferred Compensation Plan (the
"Plan") provides directors, officers and designated employees
("Participant(s)") of the Registrant and participating subsidiaries
with an opportunity to defer a portion of their compensation and
accumulate tax-deferred earnings thereon. A brief description of
certain aspects of the Plan follows (the official provisions of the
Plan are contained in the Plan itself, which controls in the event of
a discrepancy.):
(a) The Plan was approved by the Board of Directors of
the Registrant to be effective on and after April 25, 1997. $5,000,000
of Deferred Compensation Units ("Units") and shares of common stock
par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"), of the Registrant, are
being registered pursuant to this Registration Statement, which Units
and Common Stock are to be offered to certain eligible employees of
the Registrant and participating subsidiaries of the Registrant (a
"Subsidiary") pursuant to the Plan.
(b) The Plan allows the Participant to defer a portion of
such Participant's pre-tax base salary, Annual Incentive Compensation
Plan award, director's fees and awards under the Registrant's 1992
Directors Stock Plan, and awards under the Registrant's Restricted
Stock Incentive Plan and 1992 Long-Range Performance Share Plan. The
amount of compensation deferred by each Participant is determined in
accordance with each Participant's deferral election form under the
Plan. The Registrant may also credit a Participant's accounts under
the Plan with such additional amounts as the Registrant in its sole
discretion determines.
(c) Each Participant is an unsecured general creditor of
the Registrant and the subsidiary employing the Participant with
respect to such Participant's own Plan benefits. Benefits are payable
solely from the Registrant's or the Subsidiary's general assets, and
are subject to the risk of corporate insolvency. Each Participant's
deferred compensation may be mingled with the general funds of the
Registrant or the
2
<PAGE> 4
employing Subsidiary and may, therefore, be subject to a lien or
security interest of other creditors of the Registrant or such
Subsidiary.
(d) A Participant's benefits under the Plan will be
payable on the Participant's 70th birthday (or such earlier birthday
as the Participant may elect in the Participant's deferral election
form), or earlier if so elected by the Participant, upon the
Participant's disability (as defined in the Plan), death, termination
of Participant's service as an employee and director of any
participating employer or such other event as the Participant may
specify which is approved by the Registrant, or upon the termination
of the Plan pursuant to Article XIV or upon the Participant's
termination for cause (as defined in the Plan); provided that certain
of the foregoing events constitute distributable events only if they
do not result in payments subject to the provisions of Section 280G of
the Internal Revenue Code (the "Golden Parachute Rules").
Distributions may be made in a lump sum or in monthly installments
extending over a period of not more than 10 years, or in such other
manner as may be agreed by the Participant and the Registrant in the
Participant's deferral election form. Payment options may be changed
by the Participant, with the approval of the Registrant, at any time
prior to the calendar year in which a distributable event occurs.
(e) Participants, with the approval of the Officers
Review Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee"), may
withdraw amounts deferred under the Plan prior to the occurrence of a
distributable event in increments of 25% of the amount then held under
the plan for the Participant. Such withdrawals are subject to a 10%
penalty on the amount withdrawn and ineligibility to defer
compensation under the Plan for six months for each 25% increment
withdrawn from the Participant's account. Participants may also,
with the approval of the Committee, withdraw amounts deferred under
the Plan without penalty in the event of certain hardships as defined
in the Plan up to the amount necessary to deal with the hardship.
(f) Under the Plan, amounts of compensation deferred
which are payable under the Registrant's Restricted Stock Incentive
Plan, 1992 Long-Range Performance Share Plan or Directors Stock Plan,
or discretionary contributions by the Registrant are, prior to a
"Change in Control" of the Registrant (as defined in the Plan),
indexed to the Registrant's Common Stock, including reinvestment of
cash dividends declared thereon. Upon a Change in Control, such
amounts are thereafter indexed to the investment indices selected by
the Participant with respect to the remainder of the Participant's
Plan accounts. Amounts of the Participant's salary, Annual Incentive
Compensation Plan award and director fees may be indexed, at the
election of the Participant, to such investment indices as may be
offered under the Plan by the Registrant from time to time, and, when
permitted under the Plan by the Registrant, at the election of the
Participant, all or any portion of such amounts may instead be
indexed at the time of deferral to the Registrant's Common Stock
(including reinvestment of cash dividends declared thereon). Once
amounts have been indexed to the Registrant's Common Stock, however,
they may not thereafter, except as provided in the last sentence of
this paragraph, be indexed to the other investment indices offered
under the Plan. Each Participant's deferral account with respect to
such amount will be adjusted to reflect the investment experience of
the underlying index, including any appreciation or depreciation.
Participants who are at least 58 years old may reallocate amounts
indexed to the Registrant's Common Stock to the other investment
indices offered under the Plan.
(g) A Participant's Plan benefits cannot be alienated,
sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, or encumbered and pass only to a
survivor beneficiary designated under the Plan, or by written will
under the laws descent and distribution.
(h) The Units are not subject to redemption, in whole or
in part, prior to the occurrence of a distributable event with
respect to the Participant. The Registrant, however, reserves the
right amend or terminate the Plan at any time, except that no such
amendment or termination shall adversely affect a Participant's right
to Units in the Participant's account as of the date of such amendment
or termination.
(i) The Board of Directors of the Registrant shall act on
behalf of the Registrant with respect to administration of the Plan.
The Board of Directors may delegate to the Officers Review Committee
or another committee the authority to assist the Board of Directors in
administering the Plan. The Board of Directors has the right to
interpret the Plan and determine all other matters that might arise
under the terms and conditions of the Plan. The decisions of the
Board of Directors or its delegee are final and binding on all
Participants.
(j) The Registrant plans to establish a "rabbi" trust
with a third party as trustee and to fund the trust in a manner that
generally tracks the Common Stock and investment account
3
<PAGE> 5
allocations made by Participants in the Plan. There is, however, no
requirement that the trust be so funded or invested. While intended
for payment of Participant benefits under the Plan, the trust assets
are subject to the claims of creditors of the Registrant and, for
accounting and tax purposes, remain assets of the Registrant. The
Plan provides that upon a Change of Control of the Registrant, the
trust will be funded equal to the aggregate value of the Participant
accounts as of the time of the Change of Control.
ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
The legality of the securities offered hereby has been passed
upon by the firm of Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP, counsel for the
Registrant. As of the date hereof, the partners and associates of the
firm of Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP beneficially owned
approximately 5,000 shares of Energen Common Stock.
4
<PAGE> 6
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
(a) Article XI of the Registrant's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation provides as follows:
XI. Limitation of Liability:
11.01 A director of the Corporation shall not be liable to
the Corporation or its shareholders for money damages for any action
taken, or failure to take action, as a director, except for (i) the
amount of a financial benefit received by such director to which such
director is not entitled; (ii) an intentional infliction of harm by
such director on the Corporation or its shareholders; (iii) a
violation of Section 10-2B-8.33 of the Code of Alabama of 1975 or any
successor provision to such section; (iv) an intentional violation by
such director of criminal law; or (v) a breach of such director's duty
of loyalty to the Corporation or its shareholders. If the Alabama
Business Corporation Act, or any successor statute thereto, is
hereafter amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation
of the liability of a director of a corporation, then the liability of
a director of the Corporation, in addition to the limitations on
liability provided herein, shall be limited to the fullest extent
permitted by the Alabama Business Corporation Act, as amended, or any
successor statute thereto. The limitation on liability of directors
of the Corporation contained herein shall apply to liabilities arising
out of acts or omissions occurring subsequent to the adoption of this
Article XI and, except to the extent prohibited by law, to liabilities
arising out of acts or omissions occurring prior to the adoption of
this Article XI. Any repeal or modification of this Article XI by the
shareholders of the Corporation shall be prospective only and shall
not adversely affect any limitation on the liability of a director of
the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.
(b) Section 2.06 of the Registrant's Bylaws provides as follows:
2.06 Indemnification of Directors and Officers; Liability
Insurance -
(a) The Corporation does hereby indemnify any officer or
director of the Corporation who was, or is, a party, or is threatened
to be made a party, to any threatened, pending, or completed claim,
action, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or
investigative, including appeals, other than an action by or in the
right of the Corporation, by reason of the fact that he is or was a
director, an officer, an employee, or an agent of the Corporation or
is, or was serving, at the request of the Corporation as a director,
officer partner, employee, or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against
expenses, including attorneys' fee, judgments, fines, and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
with such action or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal action
or proceeding, had no reasonably cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful. The termination of any action or proceeding by judgment,
order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere, or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner
which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal action
or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was
unlawful.
(b) The Corporation does hereby indemnify any officer or
director of the Corporation who was, or is, a party, or is threatened
to be made a party, to any threatened, pending, or completed claim or
action by, or in the right of, the Corporation to procure a judgment
in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, an
officer, an employee, or an agent of the Corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer,
partner, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, or other enterprise against expenses, including
attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
with the defense or settlement of such action if he acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed
to, the best interests of the Corporation, except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue, or
matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable
for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the
Corporation unless, and only to the extent that the court in which
such action was brought shall determine upon
5
<PAGE> 7
application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of
all circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem
proper.
(c) To the extent that a director or an officer of the
Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense
of any action or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of
this section or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein, he
shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorneys' fees,
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith,
notwithstanding that he has not been successful on any other claim,
issue, or matter in any such action or proceeding.
(d) Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of
this section, unless ordered by a court, shall be made by the
Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a
determination that indemnification of the director or officer is
proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard
of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such
determination shall be made:
(i) By the Board of Directors by a majority vote
of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to,
or who have been wholly successful on the merits or otherwise
with respect to, such claim, action, or proceeding;
(ii) If such a quorum is not obtainable, or even
if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs,
by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or
(iii) By the stockholders.
(e) Expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred in
defending a civil or criminal claim, action, or proceeding may be paid
by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such claim,
action, or proceeding as authorized in the manner provided in
subsection (d) of this section upon receipt of an undertaking by or on
behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if, and to the
extent that, it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled
to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this section.
(f) The indemnification authorized by this section shall
not be deemed exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, any other
rights, whether created prior or subsequent to the enactment of this
section, to which those indemnified may be entitled under any statute,
rule of law, provision of articles of incorporation, by-law,
agreement, or vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or
otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action
in another capacity while holding such office and shall continue as to
a person who has ceased to be a director or an officer, and shall
inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of
such a person.
(g) The Corporation shall have power to purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or
an officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of
the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, employee, or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other
enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by
him in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether
or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against
such liability under the provisions of this section."
(c) In addition to the foregoing provisions of the Bylaws of the
Registrant, directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant may
be indemnified by the Registrant pursuant to the provisions of Sections 10-2B-
8.50 to 10-2B-8.58 of the Code of Alabama of 1975, as amended, which indemnity
may be broader than that provided by the Registrant's Bylaws.
(d) In addition, the Registrant maintains officers' and directors'
liability insurance.
6
<PAGE> 8
ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO.
- -----------
DESCRIPTION
-----------
<S> <C>
*4(a) Restated Conformed Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended through February 3, 1995,
which was filed as Exhibit 3(f) to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
September 30, 1995 (File No. 1-7810).
*4(b) Certificate of Adoption of Resolutions Designating Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock,
adopted June 27, 1988, which was filed as Exhibit 4(e) to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
Form S-2 (Registration No. 33-25435).
*4(c) Bylaws of the Registrant, which were filed as Exhibit 4(e) to the Registrant's Registration Statement
on Form S-8 (Registration No. 33-14855).
*4(d) Rights Agreement, dated as of July 27, 1988, between Energen Corporation and AmSouth Bank N.A., Rights
Agent, which was filed as Exhibit I to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 1-
7810).
*4(e) Amendment of Rights Agreement, dated as of February 28, 1990, between Energen Corporation and AmSouth
Bank N.A., Rights Agent, which was filed as Exhibit 2 to Registrant's Form 8 Amendment No. 2 to its
Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 1-7810).
*4(f) Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1992, between the Registrant and Boatmen's Trust Company, Trustee,
which was filed as Exhibit 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No.
33-44936).
*4(g) Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1993, between the Registrant and Boatman's Trust Company, Trustee,
which was filed as Exhibit 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No.
33-25435).
*4(h) Indenture dated as of November 1, 1993, between Alabama Gas Corporation and NationsBank of Georgia,
National Association, Trustee, which was filed as Exhibit 4(k) to Alabama Gas's Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-70466).
*4(i) Form of Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities, which was filed as Exhibit 4(i) to Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-11239).
4(j) Energen Corporation 1997 Deferred Compensation Plan.
5 Opinion of Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP.
23(a) Consent of Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP (contained in their opinion filed as Exhibit 5 to this
Registration Statement).
23(b) Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
24 Power of attorney authorizing execution of Registration Statement on Form S-8 on behalf of
certain directors of the Registrant.
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------
*Incorporated by reference.
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales
are being made of the securities registered hereby, a post-effective
amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
events arising after the effective date of this Registration
Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
fundamental change in the information set forth in this
Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that
which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high
end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected
in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) (17 CFR Section 230.424(b)) if, in the
aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more
than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set
forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in this
Registration Statement;
(iii) To include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed
in the Registration Statement or any material change to such
information in the Registration Statement;
Provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs
(a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement.
(2) That for the purpose of determining any liability
under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that
time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which
remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for
purposes for determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, each filing of the Registrant's Annual Report pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and,
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual
report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that
time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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<PAGE> 10
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities
arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to
directors, officers, and controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in
the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the
Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in
the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
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<PAGE> 11
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Birmingham, State of Alabama, on the 29th day
of April, 1997.
ENERGEN CORPORATION
By /s/ GEOFFREY C. KETCHAM
-------------------------------------
Geoffrey C. Ketcham
Its Executive Vice President,
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
* Director April 29, 1997
- -------------------------------------------
J. Mason Davis, Jr.
* Director April 29, 1997
- -------------------------------------------
Stephen D. Ban
* Director April 29, 1997
- -------------------------------------------
R. D. Cash
* Director April 29, 1997
- -------------------------------------------
Wallace L. Luthy
* Director April 29, 1997
- -------------------------------------------
James S. M. French
/s/ Geoffrey C. Ketcham Executive Vice President, April 29, 1997
- ------------------------------------------- Treasurer and Chief
Geoffrey C. Ketcham Financial Officer
* Chairman of the Board April 29, 1997
- ------------------------------------------- and Director
Rex J. Lysinger
* Director April 29, 1997
- -------------------------------------------
Judy M. Merritt
* Director April 29, 1997
- -------------------------------------------
Drayton Nabers, Jr.
* Director April 29, 1997
- -------------------------------------------
George S. Shirley.
* President, Chief Executive April 29, 1997
- ------------------------------------------- Officer and Director
Wm. Michael Warren, Jr.
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 12
*By /s/ GEOFFREY C. KETCHAM
----------------------------------------
Geoffrey C. Ketcham
Attorney-in-fact
11
<PAGE> 13
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEQUENTIALLY
EXHIBIT NUMBERED
NUMBER DESCRIPTION PAGE
------ ----------- ------------
<S> <C>
*4(a) Restated Conformed Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended through February 3,
1995, which was filed as Exhibit 3(f) to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 1995 (File No. 1-7810).
*4(b) Certificate of Adoption of Resolutions Designating Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock,
adopted June 27, 1988, which was filed as Exhibit 4(e) to the Registrant's Registration Statement
on Form S-2 (Registration No. 33-25435).
*4(c) Bylaws of the Registrant, which were filed as Exhibit 4(e) to the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 33-14855).
*4(d) Rights Agreement, dated as of July 27, 1988, between Energen Corporation and AmSouth Bank N.A.,
Rights Agent, which was filed as Exhibit I to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A
(File No. 1-7810).
*4(e) Amendment of Rights Agreement, dated as of February 28, 1990, between Energen Corporation and
AmSouth Bank N.A., Rights Agent, which was filed as Exhibit 2 to Registrant's Form 8 Amendment No.
2 to its Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 1-7810).
*4(f) Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1992, between the Registrant and Boatmen's Trust Company,
Trustee, which was filed as Exhibit 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3
(Registration No. 33-44936).
*4(g) Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1993, between the Registrant and Boatman's Trust Company, Trustee,
which was filed as Exhibit 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration
No. 33-25435).
*4(h) Indenture dated as of November 1, 1993, between Alabama Gas Corporation and NationsBank of Georgia,
National Association, Trustee, which was filed as Exhibit 4(k) to Alabama Gas's Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-70466).
*4(i) Form of Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities, which was filed as Exhibit 4(i) to
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-11239).
4(j) Energen Corporation 1997 Deferred Compensation Plan.
5 Opinion of Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP.
23(a) Consent of Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP (contained in their opinion filed as Exhibit 5 to this
Registration Statement).
23(b) Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
24 Power of attorney authorizing execution of Registration Statement on Form S-8 on behalf of certain
directors of the Registrant.
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Incorporated by reference.
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<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4(j)
ENERGEN CORPORATION
1997 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
Energen Corporation, an Alabama corporation, hereby establishes the
Energen Corporation 1997 Deferred Compensation Plan, effective as of April 25,
1997, in order to provide deferred compensation to directors and certain key
employees of Energen Corporation and its affiliated companies. The purpose of
the Energen Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan is to assist Energen
Corporation and its affiliated companies in retaining directors and key
employees, encouraging their long term commitment to the company's success, and
attracting new directors and key employees by offering them an opportunity to
defer compensation and participate in the success of Energen Corporation and
its affiliated companies, and allowing them to share in increases in the value
of Energen Corporation.
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. When used in this document with initial
capital letters, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless a
different meaning is plainly required by the context:
(a) "Account" or "Accounts" means the account or accounts
established and maintained for a Participant pursuant to Article IV of the
Plan. A Participant's Account shall consist of the Participant's Investment
Account and the Participant's Company Stock Account.
(b) "Alagasco" means Alabama Gas Corporation, a
subsidiary of Energen Corporation.
(c) "Allocation Request Form" means such form or forms as
may be approved by Energen from time to time for use by a Participant to
request (i) an allocation of certain deferred compensation and/or an allocation
or reallocation of the Participant's Investment Account among available
investment options pursuant to Section 7.2(c), (ii) that certain deferred
compensation be allocated to the Participant's Company Stock Account pursuant
to Section 7.1(g); and/or (iii) diversification of part or all of the Company
Stock Account pursuant to Section 7.1(h).
(d) "Annual Incentive Compensation Plan" means the
Energen Corporation Annual Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended, or the
Energen Corporation Salaried Employee Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended,
as applicable to each Participant.
(e) "Basin" means Basin Pipeline Corporation, a
subsidiary of Energen Corporation.
(f) "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of
Energen Corporation.
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(g) "Change in Control" means:
(1) The acquisition by any person, entity or
"group", within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (excluding for this purpose, any employee benefit plan of
Energen or any of its "subsidiaries" which acquires beneficial ownership of
voting securities of Energen), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of 50% or more of either
the then outstanding shares of Common Stock or the combined voting power of
Energen's then outstanding voting securities, in one transaction or a series of
transactions; or
(2) Individuals who, as of April 25, 1997,
constituted the Board of Directors (the "Continuing Directors") cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors, provided
that any person becoming a director of Energen subsequent to April 25, 1997,
whose election, or nomination for election by Energen's stockholders, was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Continuing Directors (other
than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of
office is in connection with an actual or threatened solicitation with respect
to the election or removal of directors of Energen, as such terms are used in
Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) shall
be, for purposes of the Plan, considered as though such person were a
Continuing Director; or
(3) (i) The occurrence of a merger, consolidation
or reorganization of Energen in which, as a consequence of the transaction,
either the Continuing Directors do not constitute a majority of the directors
of the continuing or surviving corporation or any person, entity or "group",
within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, controls 50% or more of the combined voting power of the
continuing or surviving corporation; (ii) the occurrence of any sale, lease or
other transfer, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of all or
substantially all of the assets of Energen; or (iii) the adoption by Energen of
a plan for its liquidation or dissolution.
For purposes of this definition of "Change in Control," the term
"subsidiary" means any corporation, the majority of the outstanding voting
stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by Energen.
(h) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
(i) "Common Stock" means the Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of Energen Corporation as such stock may be reclassified,
converted or exchanged by reorganization, merger or otherwise.
(j) "Company Stock Account" means an account established
and maintained for a Participant as a record of the Participant's hypothetical
investments in shares of Common Stock.
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<PAGE> 3
(k) "Deferral Election Form" means such the form or
forms as may be approved by Energen from time to time for use by a Participant
to elect to defer compensation under the Plan.
(l) "Director" means a member of the board of directors
of a Participating Employer.
(m) "Director Fees" means retainer, meeting, committee
and other fees payable to a Director for service in such capacity.
(n) "Directors Stock Plan" means the Energen Corporation
1992 Directors Stock Plan, as amended.
(o) "Disability" means the total and permanent disability
of a Participant which entitles the Participant to a disability benefit under a
disability program sponsored or maintained by the Participant's Participating
Employer; provided, that if no such program is applicable to the Participant,
then "Disability" with respect to such Participant means that, based on medical
evidence reasonably satisfactory to Energen, the Participant is totally and
permanently unable to engage in any occupation or gainful employment for which
the Participant is reasonably suited by background, training, education or
experience.
(p) "Discretionary Amount" means amounts credited to a
Participant's Account pursuant to Section 4.4.
(q) "Distributable Event" means an event identified as
such in Section 6.1.
(r) "EGN" means EGN Services, Inc., a subsidiary of
Energen Corporation.
(s) "Energen" means Energen Corporation, an Alabama
corporation.
(t) "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended.
(u) (i) "Fair Market Value Average", (ii) "Fair Market
Value Close", and (iii) "Fair Market Value Twenty" mean respectively:
(i) the average of the high and low sales prices on
the Composite Tape for the New York Stock Exchange -
Listed Stocks ("NYSE composite") for the Common Stock
on a specified date,
(ii) the closing sales price of the Common Stock on
the NYSE composite for a specified date, and
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(iii) the twenty day average high and low sales
prices for the Common Stock on the NYSE composite for
the twenty business days ending on a specified date.
In the event that the Common Stock is not traded on the NYSE, the Officers
Review Committee, in its reasonable discretion, shall specify appropriate
alternative measures of Common Stock value.
(v) "Heat Tech, Inc." means American Heat Tech, Inc., a
subsidiary of Energen Corporation.
(w) "Investment Account" means an account established and
maintained for a Participant as a record of the Participant's hypothetical
investments in available investment options.
(x) "Long-Range Performance Share Plan" means the Energen
Corporation 1992 Long-Range Performance Share Plan, as amended.
(y) "Midtown NGV" means Midtown NGV, Inc., a subsidiary
of Energen Corporation.
(z) "Officer" means an officer of a Participating
Employer elected to such position by the board of directors of such
Participating Employer.
(aa) "Officers Review Committee" means the Officers Review
Committee of the Board of Directors or such other person or persons as may be
designated by the Board of Directors to act on behalf of the Board of Directors
in the administration of the Plan.
(bb) "Participant" means an individual identified as such
under Article III of the Plan.
(cc) "Participating Employer" means any employer
participating in the Plan pursuant to Article II of the Plan.
(dd) "Plan" means the Energen Corporation 1997 Deferred
Compensation Plan, as of its original effective date, including any amendments
thereto, which is maintained by Energen and its affiliated companies primarily
for the purpose of providing financial incentives for directors and certain key
employees of Energen and its affiliated companies.
(ee) "Qualifying Compensation" means items of compensation
which either:
(i) first become payable in a calendar year
subsequent to the calendar year of the applicable
election for services rendered during periods of
service subsequent to the date of such election; or
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<PAGE> 5
(ii) first become payable and determinable in amount
during a calendar year subsequent to the calendar
year of the applicable election and at least 180 days
subsequent to the date of such election.
The foregoing notwithstanding, with respect to an election made within thirty
days of the effective date of the Plan, "Qualifying Compensation" means items
of Compensation which either
(i) first become payable subsequent to the date of
the applicable election for services rendered during
periods of service subsequent to the date of such
election; or
(ii) first become payable and determinable in amount
subsequent to the date of the applicable election.
(ff) "Restricted Stock Incentive Plan" means the
Restricted Stock Incentive Plan of Energen Corporation, as amended.
(gg) "Taurus" means Taurus Exploration, Inc., a subsidiary
of Energen Corporation.
(hh) "Taurus USA" means Taurus Exploration USA, Inc., a
subsidiary of Taurus.
(ii) "Trust" means the trust described in Section 12.4.
The Trust shall constitute an unfunded arrangement and shall not affect the
status of the Plan as an unfunded plan. Participants and their beneficiaries
shall have no beneficial ownership interest in any assets of any such Trust.
(jj) "Trustee" means the corporation or person or persons
selected by Energen to serve as Trustee for the Trust.
(kk) "Vested" means an interest in the benefit described
under the Plan which may be payable to or on behalf of the Participant in
accordance with the terms of the Plan.
ARTICLE II.
PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS
Section 2.1 Eligibility. To be eligible to adopt and participate
in the Plan, an employer must be a member of the "controlled group" of
corporations, within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code, that includes
Energen and must be determined to be eligible to participate in the Plan by
Energen. The corporations which are eligible to participate in this Plan as of
April 25, 1997, are Energen, Alagasco, Taurus, Taurus USA, Basin, EGN, Heat
Tech, and Midtown NGV.
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<PAGE> 6
Section 2.2 Participation Reimbursements. Energen, the sponsor of
the Plan, Alagasco, Taurus, Taurus USA, Basin, EGN, Heat Tech and Midtown NGV
are Participating Employers in the Plan effective as of April 25, 1997. Any
other affiliated company that is or becomes eligible to adopt the Plan and
become a Participating Employer pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Plan may, with
the approval of the Board of Directors by resolution of the Board of Directors,
adopt this Plan and become a Participating Employer in the Plan. The date on
which such eligible company may become a Participating Employer in the Plan
shall be stated in the resolutions of the Board of Directors. Each of the
Participating Employers agree to make payments of their allocable portion of
the benefits provided under the Plan to their respective employee and Director
Participants. Energen hereby guarantees the performance by each of the other
Participating Employers of their respective obligations under the Plan.
Neither the respective benefit payment obligations of the Participating
Employers nor Energen's guarantee of performance is secured in any way. Such
obligations and guarantee constitute no more than unfunded and unsecured
promises of payment and performance. Each Participating Employer, other than
Energen, shall reimburse Energen for its allocable share of costs and expenses
paid by Energen in connection with the operation and administration of the
Plan, and shall reimburse Energen for any benefits paid by Energen under the
Plan to Participants to the extent allocable to such Participating Employer and
its Participants. Payments made to Participants by the Trust shall constitute
payments by Energen and Energen shall be reimbursed for such payments by the
appropriate Participating Employers.
Section 2.3 Recordkeeping and Reporting. Each Participating
Employer, other than Energen, shall furnish to Energen the information with
respect to each of its Participants necessary to enable Energen to maintain
records sufficient to determine the benefits (and the compensation sources of
such benefits) which may become payable to or with respect to such Participants
and to give those Participants any reports which may be required under the
terms of the Plan or by law.
Section 2.4 Termination of Participation. A Participating Employer,
other than Energen, may withdraw from participation in the Plan at any time by
providing Energen with 30 days advance written notice of such withdrawal from
participation and the effective date of such Participating Employer's
withdrawal, which 30-day notice period may be waived by Energen. In addition,
Energen may terminate a Participating Employer's participation in the Plan by
providing such Participating Employer with 30 days advance written notice,
which 30-day notice period may be waived by the Participating Employer. A
Participating Employer which terminates its participation in the Plan shall
remain obligated under the Plan with respect to deferrals made prior to such
termination by its Participants (including subsequent investment performance
adjustments), unless otherwise expressly agreed by Energen with Energen fully
assuming such obligations.
Section 2.5 Separate Accounting. Energen shall establish and
maintain separate Accounts for each of the Participating Employers and their
respective Participants. Such separate accounting is intended to comply with
Section 404(a)(5) of the Code and Section 1.404(a) - 12 of the Treasury
Regulations (which provide that an employer can deduct the amounts contributed
to a nonqualified
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<PAGE> 7
plan in the taxable year in which an amount attributable to the contribution is
includable in the gross income of employees participating in the plan, but, in
the case of a plan in which more than one employee participates only if
separate accounts are maintained for each employee).
ARTICLE III.
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
Section 3.1 Eligibility. Each Director and each Officer of a
Participating Employer shall be eligible to participate in the Plan effective
as of the later of the effective date of the Plan or the date on which such
individual first becomes a Director or Officer. In addition, the Officers
Review Committee may by express action designate other management level or
highly compensated employees of the Participating Employers as eligible to
participate in the Plan. If the Officers Review Committee designates a
management level or highly compensated employee as eligible to become a
Participant in the Plan, Energen shall inform the employee in writing of such
designation and the date on which the employee shall become a Participant in
the Plan.
Section 3.2 Participation. An individual eligible to participate
in the Plan shall become a Participant upon the filing with Energen of a
completed Deferral Election Form and acceptance of such form by Energen. The
name of each individual eligible to participate in the Plan and the date on
which such individual becomes a Participant in the Plan, shall be recorded on
Exhibit A, which exhibit is attached hereto and incorporated herein by
reference and which shall be revised by Energen from time to time to reflect
the operation of the Plan. Once an individual becomes a Participant in the
Plan, the individual shall remain a Participant until the benefits which may be
payable to the individual under the Plan have been distributed to or on behalf
of the individual.
Section 3.3 Suspension of Eligibility. The Officers Review
Committee (or the Board of Directors if the affected Participant is a Director)
may in its discretion determine that a Participant will no longer be eligible
to participate in the Plan and in such event, the Participant's Section 4.1
compensation deferral election will immediately terminate and no additional
amounts shall be credited to his or her Accounts under Sections 7.1(a), (b),
(c) and 7.2(a) until such time as the individual is again determined to be
eligible to participate in the Plan by the Officers Review Committee (or Board
of Directors as appropriate) and makes a new Section 4.1 election. However,
the Account of such Participant shall continue to be adjusted by the other
provisions of Sections 7.1 and 7.2 until fully distributed.
ARTICLE IV.
BENEFITS
Section 4.1 Deferred Compensation. A Participant may elect to
defer receipt of part or all of any one or more of the following items of
compensation:
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(a) Base salary;
(b) Annual Incentive Compensation Plan awards;
(c) Restricted Stock Incentive Plan awards;
(d) Long-Range Performance Share Plan awards;
(e) Director Fees; and
(f) Annual and/or elective grants under the Directors Stock
Plan.
A Participant may defer an item of compensation only to the extent that the
Participant is entitled to receive such item of compensation. Upon such
deferral, the Participant will have no further right to such deferred
compensation other than as provided under the Plan. Such deferred compensation
shall be the record of the value of such deferred compensation credited to a
Participant's Account and shall be used solely for accounting purposes.
Section 4.2 Form and Effectiveness of Deferral Election. Elections
to defer compensation under the Plan shall be made in writing on the Deferral
Election Form. Such elections may be revised or terminated by the making of a
new deferral election on the Deferral Election Form. Deferral elections
(including revisions or terminations of prior elections) shall be effective for
Qualifying Compensation (subject to the last sentence of this section).
Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Plan, a Participant's Deferral
Election Form and the various elections and selections made thereon (excepting
elections to terminate deferral of one or more items of compensation), shall
not become effective unless acceptance thereof by Energen in its sole
discretion is acknowledged in writing. A Participant's election to terminate a
prior compensation deferral election shall be effective upon delivery to
Energen and shall be accepted and honored by the Participating Employers with
respect to Qualifying Compensation (subject to the following sentence). An
election to reduce or terminate a prior election to defer an item of
compensation shall in no event be effective with respect to compensation for
services rendered during a period of service commencing prior to the date of
such election.
Section 4.3 Participant Accounts. A Company Stock Account and an
Investment Account shall be established and maintained for each Participant.
The Company Stock Account shall be measured in shares of Common Stock and the
Investment Account shall be measured in dollars. The Company Stock Account
shall be credited as described in Section 7.1 for deferred amounts attributable
to (i) awards and grants under the Long-Range Performance Share Plan, the
Restricted Stock Incentive Plan, or the Directors Stock Plan (ii) Discretionary
Amounts, and (iii) such amounts of base salary, Annual Incentive Compensation
Plan awards and Director Fees as may be allocated to the Company Stock Account
pursuant to Section 7.1(g). The Investment Account shall be
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<PAGE> 9
credited as described in Section 7.2 for any deferred amounts attributable to
base salary, Annual Incentive Compensation Plan awards, and Director Fees which
are not allocated to the Company Stock Account pursuant to Section 7.1(g).
Section 4.4 Discretionary Amounts. In addition to amounts deferred
by a Participant, the Board of Directors may from time to time, in its sole
discretion, authorize a Participant's Participating Employer to credit the
Participant's Company Stock Account with additional amounts (denominated in
dollars). Such additional amounts may be authorized for such purpose or
purposes as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate, including, without
limitation, as mirror employer matching contributions or ESOP contributions
made by such Participating Employer with respect to The Energen Corporation
Employee Savings Plan.
ARTICLE V.
VESTING
Section 5.1 Vested Benefit. A Participant shall be considered to
be 100% Vested in his or her Account.
Section 5.2 Limitation on Benefits. The benefits that may be
payable to or on behalf of a Participant under the Plan shall be equal to a
cash payment equal to the value of the amounts credited to the Participant' s
Investment Account and a distribution of that number of Common Shares equal to
the number of shares credited to the Participant's Company Stock Account (with
any fractional share being rounded to a whole share).
ARTICLE VI.
DISTRIBUTIONS.
Section 6.1 Distributable Events. A Participant's Distributable
Event shall be the first to occur of the following events; provided, that
events (b) - (e) shall be Distributable Events only if so elected by the
Participant in the Deferral Election Form and further provided that events (d)
- - (f) are subject to Section 6.6:
(a) the Participant's 70th birthday (i.e., the 70th
anniversary of the Participant's birth) or such earlier birthday as the
Participant may specify in the Deferral Election Form;
(b) Disability (as defined in Section 1.1);
(c) the Participant's death;
(d) the first date on which the Participant is NEITHER an
employee nor a Director of any Participating Employer;
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<PAGE> 10
(e) such other event as the Participant may specify in the
Deferral Election Form (subject to approval of Energen);
(f) the taking of action by the Board of Directors to
terminate the Plan pursuant to Section 14.1, or
(g) termination for Cause subject to and in accordance with
Section 6.7.
A Participant's Distributable Event elections must be made on the
Participant's initial Deferral Election Form and are irrevocable; provided,
that Energen may in its sole discretion allow a Participant to make different
Distributable Event elections applicable only with respect to Qualifying
Compensation for services rendered during periods of service commencing after
the date of such election.
Section 6.2 Distribution of Benefits.
(a) Distribution Commencement Date. Excepting withdrawals
under Sections 6.3 and 6.4 which shall be distributed in accordance with those
Sections, distribution of a Participant's Plan benefit shall commence as of the
first day of the second calendar month immediately following the calendar month
in which the Participant's applicable Distributable Event occurs.
(b) Form of Distribution. Benefits attributable to the
value of the Investment Account shall be delivered to the Participant in
dollars. Benefits attributable to the Company Stock Account shall be delivered
to the Participant in the form of dollars and/or shares of Common Stock, as
Energen may determine in its sole discretion. To the extent that the
distribution is in the form of shares of Common Stock, such delivery shall be
subject to all applicable securities laws and regulations and Energen shall
have taken all steps, if any, including registration and listing, as may be
necessary to make the shares immediately saleable by the Participant without
further regulatory action or compliance on the part of the Participant (other
than with paragraphs (f) and (h) of Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933).
The Participant shall reasonably cooperate with Energen, at Energen's
expense, to facilitate such compliance and related actions by Energen. To the
extent that a distribution from the Company Stock Account is in the form of
dollars, it shall be in an amount equal to number of shares in lieu of which
such amount is distributed multiplied by the Fair Market Value Twenty for the
period ended on the fifth business day prior to the applicable payment date.
(c) Payment Options. In the event a Participant becomes
eligible to receive a payment of benefits under the Plan, the benefits payable
to the Participant or, in the event of the Participant's death, to the
Participant's designated beneficiary under the Plan shall be paid in accordance
with one of the payment options available under the Plan as elected by the
Participant on the Participant's Deferral Election Form. The Participant may
elect separate payment options with respect to the Investment Account and the
Company Stock Account. A Participant may change payment options by electing
another payment option available under the Plan on a subsequent Deferral
Election Form, but such change in payment option will not be effective until
the calendar
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<PAGE> 11
year following the calendar year in which the change was elected. Further, in
no event will any such change in payment option be effective if such change is
elected during the calendar year in which the Distributable Event occurs and no
further elections may be made once a Distributable Event occurs. The payment
options include installment payments over a period certain, a lump sum payment,
and such other payment method as may be specified by the Participant and
accepted by Energen. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, reduce
the payment period over which payments would have been made pursuant to the
payment option elected by a Participant (including consolidation into a lump
sum); provided, that in the event of a Change in Control, no reduction of a
payment period may be made prior to the fifth anniversary of such Change in
Control. Absent a payment option election, the Board of Directors shall direct
the payment of any benefits payable under the Plan to or on behalf of the
Participant in a lump sum payment to the Participant, or in the event of the
Participant's death, to the Participant's designated beneficiary under the
Plan.
Section 6.3 Early Withdrawals. Notwithstanding any provision in
this Plan to the contrary, a Participant may request, by providing a written
request to the Officers Review Committee, a withdrawal prior to the
distribution date under the Plan of all or any portion of his or her benefits
from any of his or her Accounts under the Plan in increments of 25% (of
aggregate Account value). If such a request is approved by the Officers Review
Committee, which decision by the Officers Review Committee shall be made in its
sole discretion on a case by case basis, a distribution of such benefits may be
made to the Participant subject to a penalty for such an early withdrawal at
any point equal to a six-month period of nonparticipation (during which no
additional amounts will be credited to the Participant's Accounts under
Sections 7.1(a), (b), (c) and 7.2(a) of the Plan) for each 25% increment
withdrawn. The nonparticipation period would begin as of the date on which the
request made by the Participant is approved by the Officers Review Committee.
As a result, a Participant withdrawing his or her entire benefit from all of
his or her Accounts would be excluded from eligibility to participate in the
Plan for a 24-month period beginning as of the date of such approval by the
Officers Review Committee. In addition, a penalty of 10% of the amount
withdrawn will be imposed on any withdrawal made pursuant to this Section 6.3.
Section 6.4 Hardship Withdrawals. In addition to the other
distribution and withdrawal provisions of this Article VI and notwithstanding
any provision herein to the contrary, in the event a Participant incurs an
unforeseeable emergency, the Participant may request, by providing a written
request to the Officers Review Committee, a hardship withdrawal of all or any
portion of his or her benefits from his or her Accounts under the Plan. An
unforeseeable emergency is a severe financial hardship to the Participant
resulting from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant
or of a dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Code) of the
Participant, loss of the Participant's property due to casualty, or other
similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of
events beyond the control of the Participant. If such a request is approved by
the Officers Review Committee, which decision by the Officers Review Committee
shall be made in its sole discretion on a case by case basis, a hardship
withdrawal may be permitted under this Section 6.4. Withdrawals of amounts
because of an unforeseeable emergency are only
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permitted to the extent reasonably needed to satisfy the emergency need. This
provision shall be interpreted in a manner not inconsistent with Sections
1.457-2(h)(4) and 1.457-2(h)(5) of the Treasury Regulations.
Section 6.5 Distributions as Result of Tax Determination.
Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, if, at any time, a
court or the Internal Revenue Service determines that any amounts or shares
credited to a Participant's Accounts under the Plan or Trust are includable in
the gross income of the Participant and subject to tax, the Officers Review
Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit a lump sum distribution of an
amount equal to the amounts or shares determined to be includable in the
Participant's gross income.
Section 6.6 No Parachute Payment. An event described in Sections
6.1(d), (e) and (f) shall not constitute a Distributable Event if the Officers
Review Committee in its reasonable discretion following consultation with
appropriate tax and/or legal advisors reasonably determines that such
distribution will likely constitute a parachute payment for purposes of Section
280G of the Code. Furthermore, if such event occurs subsequent to a Change in
Control, the Officers Review Committee shall, at Energen's expense, promptly
request a written opinion of the Independent Auditor with respect to the
applicability of such Section 280G and such event shall not constitute a
Distributable Event unless and until the Independent Auditor delivers its
written unqualified opinion, a copy of which shall be provided to the
Participant, to the effect that a distribution of benefits as a result of such
event will not constitute a parachute payment under Section 280G of the Code.
As used in this Section 6.6, the term independent auditor means the firm of
certified public accountants which at the time of the Change in Control had
been most recently engaged by Energen or such other comparable and nationally
recognized firm of certified public accountants as may be selected by the
Officers Review Committee in its reasonable discretion.
Section 6.7 Distribution Upon Termination for Cause. In the event
that a Participant is terminated for Cause (as defined below), the Company may,
at its discretion, treat such termination or any date subsequent thereto as a
Distributable Event. For purposes of this Plan, termination for Cause means
termination based on any of the following:
(i) The willful and continued failure by the
Participant to substantially perform Participant's duties with a Participating
Employer (other than any such failure resulting from Participant's incapacity
due to physical or mental illness) after a written demand for substantial
performance is delivered to Participant specifically identifying the manner in
which Participant has not substantially performed Participant's duties;
(ii) the engaging by Participant in willful
misconduct which is demonstrably injurious to any one or more of the
Participating Employers monetarily or otherwise; or
(iii) the conviction of Participant of a felony.
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ARTICLE VII.
VALUATION OF BENEFITS.
Section 7.1 Company Stock Account.
(a) Stock Award Deferral. When a Participant's Company
Stock Account is to be credited for deferred amounts attributable to awards
which would otherwise have been distributed to the Participant in the form of
Common Stock, then the number of shares of Common Stock which would have
otherwise been distributed to the Participant shall be credited to the
Participant's Company Stock Account as of the date that such distribution to
the Participant would have otherwise occurred.
(b) Cash Deferral. When a Participant's Company Stock
Account is to be credited for deferred amounts which would have otherwise been
distributed to the Participant in the form of cash, then the Participant's
Company Stock Account shall be credited with that number of shares of Common
Stock equal to the number of such shares that could have been purchased with
such cash amounts at the Fair Market Value Average for the last business day of
the month during which such cash amounts would have otherwise been distributed
to the Participant.
(c) Discretionary Amount. When a participant's Company
Stock Account is to be credited for a Discretionary Amount, it shall be
credited with that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of such
shares (including fractional shares) that could have been purchased with the
dollar amount of the Discretionary Amount at the Fair Market Value Average for
the last business day of the month during which such Discretionary Amount is
authorized or such other date as may be specified in the Discretionary Amount
authorization.
(d) Dividends. A Participant's Company Stock Account
shall be credited on each Common Stock dividend payment date with that number
of shares which could have been acquired through the Energen Corporation
Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase Plan or similar successor plan
(the "DRIP") by the reinvestment of the dividends payable on the number of
shares of Common Stock credited to such Company Stock Account as of the record
date for such dividend. In the event that the DRIP is no longer operative, or
at such time as the Officers Review Committee in its discretion shall specify,
the number of dividend reinvestment shares shall be calculated based on the
Fair Market Value Average for the dividend payment date.
(e) Stock Dividend, etc. The number of shares of Common
Stock shall be adjusted to reflect any change in the outstanding Common Stock
by reason of any stock dividend or split, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate
change.
(f) Transfer upon Change in Control. In the event of a
Change in Control, effective as of the close of business on the date of the
Change in Control, each Participant's Investment Account shall be credited with
an amount measured in dollars equal to the value of such
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<PAGE> 14
Participant's Company Stock Account based on the Fair Market Value Close on
such date (or such other valuation method selected by the Section 1.1(g)
Continuing Directors in their reasonable discretion), and the Participant's
Company Stock Account shall be closed and the Participant shall have no further
interest in the Company Stock Account.
(g) Allocation of Cash Compensation. A Participant may
request that part or all of deferred compensation attributable to base salary,
Annual Incentive Compensation Plan awards or Director Fees be allocated to the
Participant's Company Stock Account. A Participant's request to make such an
allocation or change a previous allocation must be in writing on an Allocation
Request Form. All such requests are subject to acceptance by Energen in its
discretion. If accepted by Energen, the allocation request will be effective
as of the date specified by the request.
(h) Diversification. A Participant who is at least 58
years old may from time to time request that part or all of the Participant's
Company Stock Account be allocated to the Participant's Investment Account.
Such request must be in writing on an Allocation Request Form. All such
requests are subject to acceptance by Energen in its discretion. If accepted,
as of the close of business on the allocation date (as defined in Section 7.4)
of the request, the Participant's Company Stock Account shall be reduced by the
number of shares of Common Stock representing the portion of the Company Stock
Account to be reallocated (the "Reallocated Shares") and the Participant's
Investment Account shall be increased by an amount measured in dollars equal to
the number of Reallocated Shares measured by the Fair Market Value Twenty for
the period ending on the allocation date (as defined in Section 7.4).
Section 7.2 Investment Account.
(a) Deferred Amounts. When a Participant's Investment
Account is to be credited with a deferred amount, that amount measured in
dollars equal to such deferred amount shall be credited to the Investment
Account as of the close of business on the date that such amount would have
otherwise been paid to the Participant.
(b) Interest. Subject to 7.2(c), as of the close of the
last day of each calendar quarter, an additional amount shall be credited to
each Participant's Investment Account equal to the product of (i) the average
daily balance in such Investment Account for the quarter, times (ii) one-fourth
of the annual prime rate for corporate borrowers quoted at the beginning of the
quarter by AmSouth Bank of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama (or such other
comparable interest rate as the Officers Review Committee may designate from
time to time).
(c) Investment Options. Energen may permit a Participant
to allocate the Participant's Investment Account among one or more investment
options for purposes of measuring the value of the benefit. To the extent that
the Investment Account is allocated to an investment option, it shall not be
credited with interest under Section 7.2(b). That portion of the Investment
Account allocated to an investment option shall be deemed to be invested in
such investment option and shall be valued as if so invested, reflecting all
earnings, losses and other distributions or charges
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<PAGE> 15
and changes in value which would have been incurred through such an investment.
The determination of which investment options, if any to make available, and
the continued availability of selected investment options rests in Energen's
sole discretion; provided, that subsequent to a Change in Control, Energen
shall maintain the availability of those investment options in place at the
time of the Change in Control (or substantially equivalent investment options).
(d) Participant Allocation Request. A Participant's
request to allocate or reallocate among investment options must be in writing
on an Allocation Request Form in such increments as Energen may require. All
such requests are subject to acceptance by Energen at its discretion. If
accepted by Energen, an allocation request will be effective as of the close of
business on the allocation date (as defined in Section 7.4).
Section 7.3 Hypothetical Accounts. The Accounts established under
this Plan shall be hypothetical in nature and shall be maintained for
bookkeeping purposes only. Neither the Plan nor any of the Accounts (or
subaccounts) shall hold or be required to hold any actual funds or assets.
Section 7.4 Allocation Date. Upon acceptance of an allocation
request pursuant to Section 7.1(g) or 7.2(d), Energen will process the request
as soon as reasonably administratively practicable and the request shall be
implemented and reflected in the Participant's account as of the close of
business on such date as may be determined by Energen in its reasonable
discretion (the "allocation date").
ARTICLE VIII.
NONTRANSFERABILITY
Section 8.1 Anti-Alienation of Benefits. Any benefits which may be
credited to a Participant's Accounts under the Plan, and any rights or
privileges pertaining thereto, may not be anticipated, alienated, sold,
transferred, assigned, pledged, encumbered, or subjected to any charge or legal
process; and no interest or right to receive a benefit may be taken, either
voluntarily or involuntarily, for the satisfaction of the debts of, or other
obligations or claims against, such person or entity, including claims for
alimony, support, separate maintenance and claims in bankruptcy proceedings.
Section 8.2 Incompetent Participants. If any person who may be
eligible to receive a payment under the Plan has been legally declared
incompetent and a conservator or other person legally charged with the care of
such person or of his or her estate has been appointed, any payment under the
Plan to which the person is eligible to receive shall be paid to such
conservator or other person legally charged with the care of the person or his
or her estate. Any such payment shall be a payment for the account of such
person and a complete discharge of any liability of the Participating Employers
and the Plan therefor.
15
<PAGE> 16
Section 8.3 Designated Beneficiary. In the event of a
Participant's death prior to the payment of all or a portion of any benefits
which may be payable with respect to the Participant under the Plan, the
payment of any benefits payable on behalf of the Participant under the Plan
shall be made to the Participant's beneficiary designated on a Deferral
Election Form. If no such beneficiary has been designated, payment shall be
made as required under the Participant's will; or, in the event that there
shall be no functioning will under applicable state law, then to such persons
as, at the date of the Participant's death, would be entitled to share in the
distribution of such deceased Participant's personal estate under the
provisions of the applicable statute then in force governing the decedent's
intestate property, in the proportions specified in such statute.
ARTICLE IX.
WITHHOLDING
Section 9.1 Withholding. The amounts payable pursuant to the Plan
may be reduced by the amount of any federal, state or local taxes required by
law to be withheld with respect to such payments.
ARTICLE X.
VOTING OF STOCK
Section 10.1 Voting of Company Stock. No Participant shall be
entitled to any voting rights with respect to any shares credited to his or her
Company Stock Account.
ARTICLE XI.
ADMINISTRATION OF A PLAN
Section 11.1 Administrator. The administrator of the Plan shall
be Energen. However, the Board of Directors shall act on behalf of Energen
with respect to the administration of the Plan and may delegate authority with
respect to the administration of the Plan to the Officers Review Committee or
such other committee, person or persons as it deems necessary or appropriate
for the administration and operation of the Plan.
Section 11.2 Authority of Administrator. Energen shall have the
authority, duty and power to interpret and construe the provisions of the Plan
as it deems appropriate, to adopt, establish and revise rules, procedures and
regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the conditions subject to which
any benefits may be payable, to resolve all questions concerning the status and
rights of Participants and others under the Plan, including, but not limited
to, eligibility for benefits and to make any other determinations which it
believes necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. Energen
shall have the duty and responsibility of maintaining records, making the
requisite calculations and disbursing payments hereunder. The determinations,
interpretations, regulations
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<PAGE> 17
and calculations of Energen shall be final and binding on all persons and
parties concerned. The Secretary of Energen shall be the agent of the Plan for
the service of legal process in accordance with Section 502 of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
Section 11.3 Operation of Plan and Claims Procedures. Energen
shall be responsible for the general operation and administration of the Plan
and for carrying out the provisions thereof. Energen shall be responsible for
the expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan. Energen shall also be
responsible for determining eligibility for payments and the amounts payable
pursuant to the Plan. Energen shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon all
tables, valuations, certificates, opinions and reports furnished by any
actuary, accountant, controller, counsel or other person employed or engaged by
Energen with respect to the Plan. The procedures for filing claims for
payments under the Plan are described below. For claims procedures purposes,
the "Claims Manager" shall be Energen.
(a) Claim Forms. It is the intent of Energen to make
payments under the Plan without the Participant having to complete or submit
any claims forms. However, a Participant who believes he or she is entitled to
a payment under the Plan may submit a claim for payments in writing to Energen.
Any claim for payments under the Plan must be made by the Participant or his or
her beneficiary in writing and state the claimant's name and the nature of
benefits payable under the Plan on a form acceptable to Energen. If for any
reason a claim for payments under the Plan is denied by Energen, the Claims
Manager shall deliver to the claimant a written explanation setting forth the
specific reasons for the denial, specific references to the pertinent
provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based, a description of any
additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the
claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and
information on the procedures to be followed by the claimant in obtaining a
review of his or her claim, all written in a manner calculated to be understood
by the claimant. For this purpose:
(i) The claimant's claim shall be deemed to be
filed when presented orally or in writing to the Claims Manager.
(ii) The Claims Manager's explanation shall be in
writing delivered to the claimant within 90 days of the date the claim is
filed.
(b) Review. The claimant shall have 60 days following his
or her receipt of the denial of the claim to file with the Claims Manager a
written request for review of the denial. For such review, the claimant or the
claimant's representative may review pertinent documents and submit written
issues and comments.
(c) Decision on Review. The Claims Manager shall decide
the issue on review and furnish the claimant with a copy within 60 days of
receipt of the claimant's request for review of the claimant's claim. The
decision on review shall be in writing and shall include specific reasons for
the decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant,
as well as specific references to the pertinent provisions in the Plan on which
the decision is based. If a copy of the
17
<PAGE> 18
decision is not so furnished to the claimant within such 60 days, the claim
shall be deemed denied on review. In no event may a claimant commence legal
action for benefits the claimant believes are due the claimant until the
claimant has exhausted all of the remedies and procedures afforded the claimant
by this Section 11.3.
Section 11.4 Participant's Address. Each Participant shall keep
Energen informed of his or her current address and the current address of his
or her beneficiary. Energen shall not be obligated to search for any person.
If the location of a Participant is not made known to Energen within three (3)
years after the date on which payment of the Participant's benefits payable
under the Plan may be made, payment may be made as though the Participant had
died at the end of the three-year period. If, within one (1) additional year
after such three-year period has elapsed, or, within three (3) years after the
actual death of a Participant, Energen is unable to locate any designated
beneficiary of the Participant, then Energen shall have no further obligation
to pay any benefit hereunder to or on behalf of such Participant or designated
beneficiary and such benefits shall be irrevocably forfeited.
ARTICLE XII.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 12.1 No Employment Rights. Neither the Plan nor any
action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant any right
to be retained in the service or employ of any Participating Employer.
Section 12.2 Participants Should Consult Advisors. Neither any
Participating Employer, nor their respective directors, officers, employees or
agents makes any representation or warranty with respect to the state, federal
or other tax, financial, estate planning, or the securities or other legal
implications of participation in the Plan. Participants should consult with
their own tax, financial and legal advisors with respect to their participation
in the Plan.
Section 12.3 Unfunded and Unsecured. The Plan shall at all times
be considered entirely unfunded both for tax purposes and for purposes of Title
I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and no
provision shall at any time be made with respect to segregating assets of any
Participating Employer for payment of any amounts hereunder. Any funds
invested hereunder allocable to a Participating Employer shall continue for all
purposes to be part of the respective general assets of such Participating
Employer and available to the general creditors of such Participating Employer
in the event of a bankruptcy (involvement in a pending proceeding under the
Federal Bankruptcy Code) or insolvency (inability to pay debts as they mature)
of such Participating Employer. Energen shall promptly notify the Trustee and
the applicable Participants of such bankruptcy or insolvency of a Participating
Employer. No Participant or any other person shall have any interests in any
particular assets of any Participating Employer by reason of the right to
receive a benefit under the Plan and to the extent the Participant or any other
person acquires a right to receive benefits under the Plan, such right shall be
no greater than the right of any general
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<PAGE> 19
unsecured creditor of any Participating Employer. The Plan constitutes a mere
promise by the Participating Employers to make payments to the Participants in
the future. With respect to the guarantee of Energen under Section 2.2,
Participants have rights only as general unsecured creditors of Energen.
Nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guaranty by any Participating
Employer or any other person or entity that any funds in any trust or the
assets of any Participating Employer will be sufficient to pay any benefit
hereunder. Furthermore, no Participant shall have any right to a benefit under
the Plan except in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
Section 12.4 The Trust.
(a) Establishment of Trust. In order to provide assets
from which to fulfill its obligations to the Participants and their
beneficiaries under the Plan, Energen shall establish a Trust by a trust
agreement with a third party, the Trustee, to which Energen may, in its
discretion, contribute cash or other property, including securities issued by
Energen, to provide for the benefit payments under the Plan. The Trustee will
have the duty to invest the Trust assets and funds in accordance with the terms
of the Trust. Energen shall be entitled at any time, and from time to time, in
its sole discretion, to substitute assets of at least equal fair market value
for any assets held in the Trust. All rights associated with the assets of the
Trust will be exercised by the Trustee or the person designated by the Trustee,
and will in no event be exercisable by or rest with Participants or their
beneficiaries. The Trust shall provide that in the event of the insolvency of
Energen, the Trustee shall hold the assets for the benefit of the general
creditors of Energen and its affiliated companies. The Trust shall be based on
the model trust contained in Internal Revenue Service Revenue Procedure 92-64
with such changes and modifications as may be approved by Energen.
(b) Contribution Upon Change in Control. If as of the
close of business on the date of a Change in Control, the aggregate value of
the Participant Accounts exceeds the value of the Trust assets, then within
thirty days of such Change in Control, Energen shall contribute to the Trust
assets having a value at least equal to the amount of such excess.
Section 12.5 Plan Provisions. Except when otherwise required by
the context, any singular terminology shall include the plural.
Section 12.6 Severability. If a provision of the Plan shall be
held to be illegal or invalid, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect
the remaining parts of the Plan and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as
if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
Section 12.7 Applicable Law. To the extent not preempted by the
laws of the United States, the laws of the State of Alabama shall apply with
respect to the Plan.
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<PAGE> 20
ARTICLE XIII.
AMENDMENTS
Section 13.1 Amendment of the Plan. Energen reserves the power
to alter, amend or wholly revise the Plan at any time and from time to time by
the action of the Board of Directors and the interest of each Participant is
subject to the powers so reserved; provided, however, that no amendment made
subsequent to a Change in Control shall be effective to the extent that it
would have a materially adverse impact on a Participant's reasonably expected
economic benefit attributable to compensation deferred by the Participant prior
to the Change in Control. An amendment shall be authorized by the Board of
Directors and shall be stated in an instrument in writing signed in the name of
Energen by a person or persons authorized by the Board of Directors. After the
instrument has been so executed, the Plan shall be deemed to have been amended
in the manner therein set forth, and all parties interested herein shall be
bound thereby. No amendment to the Plan may alter, impair, or reduce the
benefits credited to any Accounts prior to the effective date of such amendment
without the written consent of any affected Participant.
ARTICLE XIV.
TERM OF PLAN
Section 14.1 Term of the Plan. Energen may at any time terminate
the Plan by action of the Board of Directors with such termination being
effective as of the date that all Participant Accounts have been distributed to
Participants in accordance with and subject to the provisions of Article VI of
the Plan including, without limitation, Section 6.6 of the Plan. Effective as
of the date of such Board of Directors action (or such later date as may be
specified therein) all Section 4.1 compensation deferral elections will
terminate and no further amounts shall be credited to any Accounts of any
Participant under Sections 7.1(a), (b), (c) and 7.2(a) after such date.
However, the Participants' Accounts shall continue to be adjusted by the other
provisions of Sections 7.1 and 7.2 until all benefits are distributed to the
Participants or to the Participants' beneficiaries.
20
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 5
April 29, 1997
Energen Corporation
2101 Sixth Avenue North
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In our capacity as counsel for Energen Corporation, an Alabama
corporation (the "Company"), we have examined the Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") in form as proposed to be filed by the
Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to up to $5,000,000 of (i) the
Common Stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), and
(ii) Deferred Compensation Units ("Units"), pursuant to the Energen Corporation
1997 Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan"). In this connection, we have
examined such records, documents and proceedings as we have deemed relevant and
necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed herein.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Alabama;
2. The Plan has been duly and validly authorized and
adopted, and the Units being registered hereunder that may be issued to its
participants, when issued or sold in accordance with the Plan, will be valid
and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with
their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, or other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
enforcement of creditors' rights or by general principles of equity;
3. The shares of the Common Stock of the Company
referred to above to be offered under the Registration Statement have been duly
authorized and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the Plan, will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; and
4. Under the laws of the state of Alabama, no personal
liability will attach to the holder of the shares of the Common Stock issued
and delivered in accordance with the Plan.
<PAGE> 2
Energen Corporation
April 29, 1997
Page 2
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to the above-referenced
Registration Statement.
Yours very truly,
/s/ Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 23(b)
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement of
Energen Corporation on Form S-8 (File No. ) of our report, dated
October 23, 1996, on our audits of the consolidated financial statements of
Energen Corporation and Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1996 and 1995, and for
the years ended September 30, 1996, 1995, and 1994, which is incorporated by
reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
/s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
Birmingham, Alabama
April 28, 1997
<PAGE> 1
STATE OF ALABAMA ) EXHIBIT 24
COUNTY OF JEFFERSON )
POWER OF ATTORNEY
(1997 Deferred Compensation Plan)
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned
Officers and or Directors of Energen Corporation, whose signatures appear
below, hereby constitutes and appoints Rex J. Lysinger, Wm. Michael Warren,
Jr., and Geoffrey C. Ketcham, and each of them, his or her true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign a registration statement of Energen Corporation on
Form S-8 relating to the Energen Corporation 1997 Deferred Compensation Plan,
including all amendments and post-effective amendments to such registration
statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with
any state securities commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purpose as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or
their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
Dated as of the 25th day of April, 1997.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
/s/ STEPHEN D. BAN /s/ JUDY M. MERRITT
- --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
STEPHEN D. BAN - Director JUDY M. MERRITT - Director
/s/ R. D. CASH /s/ DRAYTON NABERS, JR.
- --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
R. D. CASH - Director DRAYTON NABERS, JR. - Director
/s/ J. MASON DAVIS, JR. /s/ GEORGE S. SHIRLEY
- --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
J. MASON DAVIS, JR. - Director GEORGE S. SHIRLEY - Director
/s/ JAMES S.M. FRENCH /s/ WM. MICHAEL WARREN, JR.
- --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
JAMES S.M. FRENCH - Director WM. MICHAEL WARREN, JR. -
Director, President and Chief
Executive Officer
/s/ WALLACE L. LUTHY
- ---------------------------------------------------
WALLACE L. LUTHY - Director
/s/ REX J. LYSINGER /s/ G.C. KETCHAM
- --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
REX J. LYSINGER - Director and G.C. KETCHAM - Executive Vice
Chairman of the Board President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
</TABLE>
