<PAGE> 1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Earliest Event Reported: August 8, 1997
APACHE CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-4300 41-0747868
(Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
One Post Oak Central, Suite 100
2000 Post Oak Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77056-4400
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 296-6000
<PAGE> 2
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
Exhibits are filed herewith in connection with the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-12669) filed by Apache Corporation (the
"Registrant") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and declared effective
by the Commission on October 18, 1996, covering the Registrant's senior debt
securities (the "Debt Securities") for delayed or continuous offering to the
public pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act for an aggregate initial offering
price not to exceed $300 million. Reference is made to the Registration
Statement for further information concerning the terms of the Debt Securities
registered pursuant to the Registration Statement and the offering thereof. Debt
Securities are issuable under an indenture, dated as of February 15, 1996 and
supplemented as of November 5, 1996 (the "Indenture"), between the Registrant
and The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly known as Chemical Bank), as trustee.
Pursuant to a Terms Agreement dated August 8, 1997 and an
Underwriting Agreement Basic Terms incorporated by reference therein
(collectively, the "Underwriting Agreement"), by and between the Registrant and
Goldman, Sachs & Co., Chase Securities Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc., and UBS
Securities LLC (the "Underwriters"), the Registrant will issue to the
Underwriters, for offering to the public, $150,000,000 principal amount of the
Registrant's 7.375% Debentures due 2047 (the "Debentures") under the Indenture.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND
EXHIBITS.
Exhibits
--------
1.1 Underwriting Agreement, dated August 8, 1997,
between the Underwriters and the Registrant.
4.1 Form of 7.375% Debentures due 2047.
8.1 Opinion, dated August 8, 1997, of Woodard, Hall &
Primm, P.C. as to certain United States federal income
tax matters.
10.1 Apache Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan, dated August 1,
1997, effective January 1, 1997.
12.1 Statement of Computation of Ratios of Earnings to
Fixed Charges
23.1 Consent of Woodard, Hall & Primm, P.C. (included in
Exhibit 8.1).
-2-
<PAGE> 3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: August 8, 1997
APACHE CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Z. S. KOBIASHVILI
------------------------------------------
Name: Z. S. Kobiashvili
Title: Vice President and General Counsel
-3-
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibits
--------
1.1 Underwriting Agreement, dated August 8, 1997,
between the Underwriters and the Registrant.
4.1 Form of 7.375% Debentures due 2047.
8.1 Opinion, dated August 8, 1997, of Woodard, Hall &
Primm, P.C. as to certain United States federal income
tax matters.
10.1 Apache Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan, dated
August 1, 1997, effective January 1, 1997.
12.1 Statement of Computation of Ratios of Earnings to
Fixed Charges
23.1 Consent of Woodard, Hall & Primm, P.C. (included in
Exhibit 8.1).
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 1.1
TERMS AGREEMENT
August 8, 1997
Apache Corporation
2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77056-4400
Dear Sirs:
The undersigned underwriters (the "Underwriters") understand that
Apache Corporation (the "Company") proposes to issue and sell $150,000,000
aggregate principal amount of its debt securities (the "Offered Securities").
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein or incorporated by
reference herein, the Underwriters offer to purchase, severally and not
jointly, the principal amount of Offered Securities set forth below opposite
their respective names at 97.656% of the principal amount thereof together with
accrued interest thereon from August 13, 1997 to the Closing Time:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal
Amount of
Underwriter Debt Securities
----------- ---------------
<S> <C>
Goldman, Sachs & Co. $ 37,500,000
Chase Securities Inc. $ 37,500,000
Lehman Brothers Inc. $ 37,500,000
UBS Securities LLC $ 37,500,000
------------
Total $150,000,000
============
</TABLE>
The Offered Securities shall have the following terms:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Principal amount: $150,000,000
Form: registered book-entry form
Denomination: $1,000
Date of maturity: August 15, 2047
Interest rate, rates or formula
(or method of calculation
of interest accrual): 7.375% per annum
Date from which interest accrues: August 13, 1997
Interest payment dates, if any: February 15 and August 15
(commencing February 15, 1998)
Initial price to public: $147,984,000 (98.656%)
Closing Time: August 13, 1997
Place of delivery: New York, New York
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 2
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Company account for wire
transfer of payment: Apache Corporation Master Account
First National Bank of Chicago
No. 55-77446
ABA No. 071-000-013
Redemption provisions, if any: none
Lock-up pursuant to Section 3(i)
of the Basic Terms, as defined
below: yes
Securities Exchanges, if any, on
which application will be made
to list the Offered Securities: none
Delayed Delivery Contracts: not authorized
Delivery date:
Expiration date:
Compensation to Underwriters:
Minimum contract:
Maximum aggregate principal amount:
Other terms, if any:
</TABLE>
Letters of Arthur Andersen LLP and Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. in form
and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters will be delivered at Closing
Time in satisfaction of Section 4(d) of the Basic Terms.
The Underwriters agree to pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to Section 5(e) of the Basic Terms.
Upon the occurrence of a Tax Event (as defined in the Prospectus
relating to the Offered Securities) the Company will have the right to advance
the maturity date of the Offered Securities to the extent required, in the
written opinion of a nationally recognized independent tax counsel experienced
in such matters, such that, after advancing the maturity date, interest paid on
the Offered Securities will be deductible for Federal income tax purposes.
All the provisions contained in "Apache Corporation-Debt
Securities--Underwriting Agreement Basic Terms" (the "Basic Terms"), to be
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement relating to the Offered
Securities and attached hereto as Annex A, are herein incorporated by reference
in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Terms Agreement to
the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Terms
defined in such document are used herein as therein defined.
Any notice by the Company to the Underwriters pursuant to this Terms
Agreement shall be sufficient if given in accordance with Section 11 of the
Basic Terms addressed to:
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004
Attention: Registration Department
Telecopy No.: (212) 902-3000
2
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Chase Securities Inc.
270 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Attention: John Judson
Telecopy No.: (212) 834-6170
Lehman Brothers Inc.
Three World Financial
200 Vesey Street
New York, NY 10285
Attention: Chris Winchenbaugh
Telecopy No.: (212) 528-8074
UBS Securities LLC
299 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10071
Attention: John Donohoe
Telecopy No.: (212) 821-6119
which shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, be the "Representatives".
Very Truly yours,
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
UBS SECURITIES LLC
By: GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
Acting for themselves and as
Representative of the
Underwriters
By: /s/ GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
-----------------------------
(Goldman, Sachs & Co.)
Accepted:
APACHE CORPORATION
By: /s/ MATTHEW W. DUNDREA
---------------------------
Name: Matthew W. Dundrea
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
3
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ANNEX A
[Apache Corporation--Debt Securities--
Underwriting Agreement Basic Terms]
<PAGE> 5
================================================================================
APACHE CORPORATION
DEBT SECURITIES
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT BASIC TERMS
================================================================================
<PAGE> 6
Apache Corporation
Debt Securities
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT BASIC TERMS
Apache Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), may issue
and sell from time to time its debt securities (the "Debt Securities"). The
Debt Securities are issuable under an indenture, dated as of February 15, 1996
(the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly
known as Chemical Bank), as trustee (the "Trustee"). Each issue of Debt
Securities may vary as to series, aggregate principal amount, maturity, interest
rate or rates and timing of payments thereof, redemption provisions, if any, and
any other variable terms as set forth in the Terms Agreement (as defined below)
relating thereto which the Indenture contemplates may be set forth in the Debt
Securities as issued from time to time.
Whenever the Company determines to make an offering of Debt
Securities, the Company will enter into an agreement (the "Terms Agreement")
providing for the sale of such securities (the "Offered Securities") to, and
the purchase and offering thereof by, one or more underwriters specified in the
Terms Agreement (the "Underwriters", which term shall include any Underwriters
substituted pursuant to Section 10 hereof). The Terms Agreement relating to
the Offered Securities shall specify the names of the Underwriters
participating in such offering, the amount of Offered Securities which each
such Underwriter severally agrees to purchase, the price at which the Offered
Securities are to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company, the
initial public offering price, the time and place of delivery and payment, such
other information as is indicated in Exhibit A hereto and such other terms as
are agreed by the Company and the Underwriters. In addition, each Terms
Agreement shall specify whether the Company has agreed to grant to the
Underwriters an option to purchase additional Offered Securities to cover
over-allotments, if any, and the amount of Offered Securities subject to such
option (the "Option Securities"). As used herein, the term "Offered
Securities" shall include the Option Securities, if any, and "Representatives"
shall mean the Underwriter or Underwriters so specified in the Terms Agreement
or, if no Underwriter is so specified, shall mean each Underwriter. The
<PAGE> 7
Terms Agreement may be in the form of an exchange of any standard form of
written telecommunication between the Underwriters and the Company. The
offering of the Offered Securities will be governed by the Terms Agreement, as
supplemented hereby (collectively, this "Agreement"), and this Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each Underwriter participating in
the offering of the Offered Securities.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (No.
333-12669) for the registration of Debt Securities, including the Offered
Securities, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and
the offering thereof from time to time in accordance with Rule 415 of the rules
and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act
Regulations"), and has prepared and filed such amendments thereto as may have
been required to the date hereof. Such registration statement, as amended, has
been declared effective by the Commission, and the Indenture has been qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "1939 Act"). As provided in Section
3(a), a prospectus supplement reflecting the terms of the Offered Securities,
the terms of the offering thereof and the other matters set forth therein has
been prepared and will be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act. Such
prospectus supplement, in the form first filed after the date of the Terms
Agreement pursuant to Rule 424, is herein referred to as the "Prospectus
Supplement". Such registration statement, as amended at the date of the Terms
Agreement, including the exhibits thereto and the documents incorporated by
reference therein, is herein called the "Registration Statement". Any
registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act
Regulations is herein referred to as the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,"
and after such filing the term "Registration Statement" shall include the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement. The basic prospectus included in the
Registration Statement relating to all offerings of Debt Securities under the
Registration Statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, is herein
called the "Prospectus", except that, if such basic prospectus is amended or
supplemented on or prior to the date on which the Prospectus Supplement is
first filed pursuant to Rule 424, the term "Prospectus" shall refer to the
basic prospectus as so amended or supplemented and as supplemented by the
Prospectus Supplement or, if any revised prospectus shall be provided to the
Underwriters by the Company for their use in connection with the offering of
the Offered Securities which differs from such basic prospectus and Prospectus
Supplement (whether or not required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule
424), the term "Prospectus" shall refer to such revised prospectus (including
any prospectus supplement) from and after the time it is first provided to the
Underwriters
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for such use, in either case including the documents filed by the Company with
the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"1934 Act"), that are incorporated by reference therein.
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents
and warrants to each Underwriter named in the Terms Agreement as of the date
thereof and as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and as
of each Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in Section 2(b) hereof (in each
case, a "Representation Date"), as follows:
(a) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware with corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation
to transact business and is in good standing in the State of Texas and
in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required,
whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify and be in
good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the
condition, financial or otherwise, or the results of operations,
business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.
(b) Each "significant subsidiary" of the Company as defined
in Rule 405 of Regulation C of the 1933 Act Regulations (collectively,
the "Significant Subsidiaries") has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has corporate power and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by
reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of
business, except where the failure to so qualify and be in good
standing would not have a material adverse effect on the condition,
financial or otherwise, or the results of operations, business affairs
or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered
as one enterprise; and, except as described in the Prospectus, all of
the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Significant
Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid
and non-assessable and, except for directors' qualifying shares (if
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<PAGE> 9
applicable), is owned by the Company, directly or through
subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage,
pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity.
(c) At the time the Registration Statement and the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became effective and as of each
Representation Date, the Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, if any, complied and will comply in all
material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933
Act Regulations and the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder; the Registration Statement and the
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, each at the time it became
effective, did not, and at each time thereafter at which any amendment
to the Registration Statement becomes effective or any Annual Report
on Form 10-K is filed by the Company with the Commission and as of
each Representation Date, will not, contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
and the Prospectus, as of each Representation Date, does not and will
not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties
in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from
the Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,
if any, or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Company in writing by the Underwriters
expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, if any, or the Prospectus.
(d) The documents incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the
Commission, complied or when so filed will comply, as the case may be,
in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (the
"1934 Act Regulations"), and, when read together and with the other
information in the Prospectus, did not and will not include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were or
are made, not misleading.
4
<PAGE> 10
(e) The accountants who certified the financial statements
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus are independent public accountants with respect to
the Company as required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.
(f) The financial statements and any supporting schedules of
the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the
consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as
of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of their operations
for the periods specified; except as stated therein, said financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis; and the
supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the
information required to be stated therein; and the pro forma financial
statements and the related notes thereto, if any, included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectuses present fairly the information shown therein, have been
prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines with
respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly
compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in
the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used
therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and
circumstances referred to therein.
(g) The petroleum engineers who have consented to being named
as having reviewed certain reserve data included or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus are independent engineers with respect to
the Company and its subsidiaries.
(h) This Agreement and the applicable Delayed Delivery
Contracts (as defined below), if any, have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company and, upon execution and delivery
by the Underwriters, will be valid and legally binding agreements of
the Company; on and after the Closing Time, the Indenture will have
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and,
assuming due execution and delivery by the Trustee, will be a valid
and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable in accordance
with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws
relating to or affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally or
by general equity principles, and except
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further as enforcement thereof may be limited by (1) requirements that
a claim with respect to any Debt Securities denominated other than in
U.S. dollars (or a foreign currency or composite currency judgment in
respect of such claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of
exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law or
(2) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of
payments outside the United States. The Offered Securities have been
duly and validly authorized for issuance, offer and sale pursuant to
this Agreement and each Delayed Delivery Contract, if any, and when
issued, authenticated and delivered pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement and the Indenture against payment of the consideration
therefor, the Offered Securities will constitute valid and legally
binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their
terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or
affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by general
equity principles, and except further as enforcement thereof may be
limited by (1) requirements that a claim with respect to any Offered
Securities denominated other than in U.S. dollars (or a foreign
currency or composite currency judgment in respect of such claim) be
converted into U.S. dollars at a rate or exchange prevailing on a
date determined pursuant to applicable law or (2) governmental
authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside
the United States. The Offered Securities and the Indenture will be
substantially in the form heretofore delivered to the Underwriters
and conform in all material respects to all statements relating
thereto contained in the Prospectus; and each Holder (as defined in
the Indenture) of Offered Securities will be entitled to the benefits
of the Indenture.
(i) Since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, except as may otherwise be stated therein
or contemplated thereby, (1) there has been no material adverse change
in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the results of
operations, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and
its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising
in the ordinary course of business and (2) there have been no material
transactions entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries
other than those in the ordinary course of business.
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(j) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
violation of its charter or in default in the performance or
observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or
condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan
agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which it is a party or
by which it or any of them or their properties may be bound, where the
consequences of such violation or default would have a material
adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or the
results of operations, business affairs or business prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, each Delayed Delivery
Contract, if any, and the Indenture and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated herein and therein have been duly authorized
by all necessary corporate action of the Company and will not conflict
with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the
creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any
property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant
to, any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or
other instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of
the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary thereof is
subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the
provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any law,
administrative regulation or administrative or court order or decree,
where the consequences of such conflict, breach, creation,
imposition, violation or default would have a material adverse effect
on the condition, financial or otherwise, or the results of
operations, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and
its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.
(k) No consent, approval, authorization, order or decree of
any court or governmental agency or body is required for the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or in connection with the sale of Offered Securities
hereunder, except such as have been obtained or rendered, as the case
may be, or as may be required under state securities laws ("Blue
Sky").
(l) Except as may be included or incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no action,
suit or proceeding before or by any court or governmental agency or
body, domestic or foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its
subsidiaries which might, in the opinion of the Company, result in any
material adverse change in the condition, financial or
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otherwise, or in the results of operations, business affairs or
business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
one enterprise, or could reasonably be expected to materially and
adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or could reasonably
be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of this
Agreement or the Indenture or any transaction contemplated hereby or
thereby.
(m) There are no contracts or documents of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries which are required to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement by the 1933 Act or by the 1933 Act Regulations
which have not been so filed.
(n) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
violation of any law, ordinance, governmental rule or regulation or
court decree to which it may be subject or has failed to obtain any
license, permit, franchise or other governmental authorization
necessary to the ownership of its property or to the conduct of its
business, which violation or failure would materially adversely affect
the condition, financial or otherwise, or the results of operations,
business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and the Company and its
subsidiaries own or possess or have obtained all governmental
licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other
authorizations and have properly filed with the appropriate
authorities all notices, applications and other documents necessary to
lease or own their respective properties and to carry on their
respective businesses as presently conducted, except where the failure
to possess such licenses or authorizations or make such filings would
not materially adversely affect the condition, financial or otherwise,
or the results of operations, business affairs or business prospects
of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.
(o) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can
acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, service marks and
trade names necessary to conduct the business now operated by them,
except as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement or except where the failure to own or possess the same would
not materially adversely affect the condition, financial or otherwise,
or the results of operations, business affairs or business prospects
of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any
notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others
with respect to any trademarks, service marks or trade names
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which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, would materially adversely affect the
condition, financial or otherwise, or the results of operations,
business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.
(p) The Company and its subsidiaries have legal, valid and
defensible title to all of their interests in oil and gas properties
and to all other real and personal property owned by them and any
other real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and
its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and
enforceable leases, in each case free and clear of all mortgages,
pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or
encumbrances and defects of any kind, except such as (1) are described
in the Prospectus, (2) liens and encumbrances under operating
agreements, unitization and pooling agreements, production sales
contracts, farm-out agreements and other oil and gas exploration and
production agreements, in each case that secure payment of amounts not
yet due and payable for the performance of other inchoate obligations
and are of a scope and nature customary in connection with similar
drilling and producing operations or (3) those that do not have a
material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or
the results of operations, business affairs or business prospects of
the Company.
(q) The information underlying the estimates of oil and gas
reserves as described in the Prospectus is complete and accurate in
all material respects (or, with regard to any information underlying
the estimates prepared by any petroleum engineers retained by the
seller of such oil and gas reserves, is, to the best knowledge of the
Company after reasonable investigation, complete and accurate in all
material respects); other than production of the reserves in the
ordinary course of business and intervening product price fluctuations
described in the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any facts or
circumstances that would result in a material adverse change in the
reserves or the present value of future net cash flows therefrom as
described in the Prospectus. Estimates of such reserves and present
values comply in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of Regulation S-X and Industry Guide 2 under the 1933
Act.
(r) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act").
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(s) The Company has complied and will comply with the
provisions of Florida H.B. 1771, codified as Section 517.075 of the
Florida Statutes, 1987, as amended, and all regulations promulgated
thereunder relating to issuers doing business in Cuba.
(t) Except as described in the Registration Statement,
(1) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of
any local or foreign laws or regulations relating to pollution or
protection of human health, the environment (including, without
limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or
subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws
and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of
chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances,
hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products (collectively,
"Hazardous Materials") or to the manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling
of Hazardous Materials (collectively, "Environmental Laws"), except
such violations as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or
the results of operations, business affairs or business prospects of
the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (2)
to the best of the Company's knowledge, there are no events or
circumstances that could reasonably be expected to be the basis of an
order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by
any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting
the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to any Hazardous
Materials or the violation of any Environmental Laws, which, singly or
in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or the
results of operations, business affairs or business prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.
Any certificate signed by any director or officer of the Company and
delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be
deemed a representation and warranty by the Company as to the matters covered
thereby.
SECTION 2. Purchase and Sale.
(a) The several commitments of the Underwriters to purchase the
Offered Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to have been made
on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and shall
be subject to the terms and conditions herein and therein set forth. Offered
Securities
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<PAGE> 16
which are subject to Delayed Delivery Contracts are herein sometimes
referred to as "Delayed Delivery Offered Securities" and Offered Securities
which are not subject to Delayed Delivery Contracts are herein sometimes
referred to as "Immediate Delivery Offered Securities".
(b) In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties
herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Company may grant, if so provided in the Terms Agreement, an option to the
Underwriters named in the Terms Agreement, severally and not jointly, to
purchase up to the principal amount of Option Securities set forth therein at
the same price per security (plus, except as otherwise provided in the Terms
Agreement, interest, if any, accrued and unpaid from the Closing Time until the
applicable Date of Delivery), as is applicable to the Offered Securities. Such
option, if granted, will expire 30 days after the date of the Terms Agreement,
and may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time only for the purpose
of covering over-allotments which may be made in connection with the offering
and distribution of the Offered Securities upon notice by the Representatives
to the Company setting forth the principal amount of Option Securities as to
which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and
date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and
date of delivery (a "Date of Delivery") shall be determined by the
Representatives, but shall not be later than seven full business days and not
earlier than two full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in
any event prior to the Closing Time, as hereinafter defined, unless otherwise
agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company. If the option is exercised
as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each of the Underwriters,
acting severally and not jointly, will purchase the proportion of the total
principal amount of Option Securities then being purchased that the principal
amount of Immediate Delivery Offered Securities each such Underwriter has
agreed to purchase, as set forth in the Terms Agreement, bears to the total
principal amount of Immediate Delivery Offered Securities, subject to such
adjustments as the Representatives in their discretion shall make to eliminate
any sales or purchases in less than authorized denominations.
(c) Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of, the
Immediate Delivery Offered Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters shall
be made at the place set forth in the Terms Agreement, or at such other place
as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, on the third
business day (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10)
following the date of the Terms Agreement or such other time as shall be agreed
upon by the Underwriters and the Company (such
11
<PAGE> 17
time and date being referred to as the "Closing Time"). Except as specified in
the Terms Agreement, payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer in
same day funds to the account of the Company specified in the Terms Agreement
against delivery to the Underwriters for the respective accounts of the
Underwriters of the Immediate Delivery Offered Securities to be purchased by
them (unless the Offered Securities are issuable only in the form of one or more
global instruments registered in the name of a depository or a nominee of a
depository, in which event the Underwriters' interest in such global instrument
shall be noted in a manner satisfactory to the Underwriters and their counsel).
In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased
by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates representing, such Option Securities shall be made at such place as
shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, on each Date of
Delivery as agreed by the Representatives and the Company. The Immediate
Delivery Offered Securities shall be in such denominations and registered in
such names as the Underwriters may request in writing at least two business days
prior to the Closing Time or relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be. The
Immediate Delivery Offered Securities, which if agreed by the Representatives
may be in temporary form, will be made available for examination and packaging
by the Representatives on or before the first business day prior to the Closing
Time or relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.
(d) If authorized by the Terms Agreement, the Underwriters named
therein may solicit offers to purchase Offered Securities from the Company
pursuant to delayed delivery contracts ("Delayed Delivery Contracts")
substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, with such changes therein as the
Company may approve. As compensation for arranging Delayed Delivery Contracts,
the Company will pay to the Representatives at the Closing Time, for the
account of the Underwriters, a fee equal to that percentage of the aggregate
principal amount of Delayed Delivery Offered Securities for which Delayed
Delivery Contracts are made at the Closing Time as is specified in the Terms
Agreement. Any Delayed Delivery Contracts are to be with institutional
investors of the types set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. At the Closing
Time the Company will enter into Delayed Delivery Contracts (for not less than
the minimum principal amount of Delayed Delivery Offered Securities per Delayed
Delivery Contract specified in the Terms Agreement) with all purchasers
proposed by the Underwriters and previously approved by the Company as provided
below, but not for an aggregate principal amount of Offered Securities in
excess of that specified in the Terms Agreement. The Underwriters will not
have any responsibility for the validity or performance of Delayed Delivery
Contracts.
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<PAGE> 18
(e) The Representatives are to submit to the Company, at least two
business days prior to the Closing Time, the names of any institutional
investors with which it is proposed that the Company will enter into Delayed
Delivery Contracts and the principal amount of Delayed Delivery Offered
Securities to be purchased by each of them, and the names of the institutions
with which the making of Delayed Delivery Contracts is approved by the Company
and the principal amount of Delayed Delivery Offered Securities to be covered
by each such Delayed Delivery Contract.
(f) The principal amount of Offered Securities agreed to be
purchased by the respective Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement shall be
reduced by the principal amount of Delayed Delivery Offered Securities covered
by Delayed Delivery Contracts, as to each Underwriter as set forth in a written
notice delivered by the Underwriters to the Company; provided, however, that
the total principal amount of Immediate Delivery Offered Securities to be
purchased by all Underwriters shall be the total amount of the Offered
Securities covered by this Agreement, less the total principal amount of
Delayed Delivery Offered Securities covered by Delayed Delivery Contracts.
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each
Underwriter as follows:
(a) Immediately following the execution of the Terms
Agreement, the Company will prepare a Prospectus Supplement in form
approved by the Representatives setting forth the principal amount of
Offered Securities and their terms not otherwise specified in the
Indenture, if applicable, the names of the Underwriters and the
principal amount of the Offered Securities which each severally has
agreed to purchase, the names of the Underwriters, the price at which
the Offered Securities are to be purchased by the Underwriters from
the Company, the initial public offering price, the selling concession
and reallowance, if any, any delayed delivery arrangements, and such
other information as the Representatives and the Company deem
appropriate in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities.
The Company will promptly transmit copies of the Prospectus Supplement
to the Commission for filing pursuant to Rule 424 of the 1933 Act
Regulations and will furnish to the Underwriters named therein as many
copies of the Prospectus (including the Prospectus Supplement) as the
Representatives shall reasonably request.
(b) If at any time when the Prospectus is required by the
1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Offered
Securities any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of
which it is necessary, in the opinion of
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<PAGE> 19
counsel for the Underwriters or counsel for the Company, to amend or
supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading
in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus
is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the
opinion of either such counsel, to amend or supplement the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of
the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly
amend the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, whether by filing
documents pursuant to the 1934 Act or the 1933 Act or otherwise, as may
be necessary to correct such untrue statement or omission or to make
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply with such
requirements.
(c) The Company will make generally available to its security
holders as soon as practicable, but not later than 90 days after the
close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form
complying with the provisions of Rule 158 of the 1933 Act Regulations)
covering each twelve month period beginning, in each case, not later
than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter next following the
"effective date" (as defined in such Rule 158) of the Registration
Statement with respect to each sale of Offered Securities.
(d) While the Prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be
delivered in connection with sales of the Offered Securities, the
Company will give the Representatives notice of its intention to file
any additional registration statement with respect to the registration
of additional Debt Securities, any amendment to the Registration
Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)) or any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus, whether pursuant to the 1934 Act, the
1933 Act or otherwise; will furnish the Underwriters with copies of any
such amendment or supplement or other documents proposed to be filed a
reasonable time in advance of such proposed filing or use, as the case
may be; and will not file any such amendment or supplement or other
documents in a form to which the Representatives or counsel to the
Underwriters reasonably object.
(e) While the Prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be
delivered in connection with sales of the Offered Securities, the
Company will notify the Representatives immediately, and promptly
confirm the notice in writing, of (i) the effectiveness of any
amendment to the Registration Statement, (ii) the transmittal to the
Commission for filing
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<PAGE> 20
of any supplement to the Prospectus or any document to be filed
pursuant to the 1934 Act which will be incorporated by reference into
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, (iii) the receipt of any
comments from the Commission with respect to the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement, (iv) any
request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration
Statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for
additional information, (v) the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose and (vi) any change in
the rating assigned by any nationally recognized statistical rating
organization to any debt securities of the Company or the public
announcement by any nationally recognized statistical rating
organization that it has under surveillance or review, with possible
negative implications, its rating of any debt securities of the
Company. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the
issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain
the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(f) The Company will deliver to each Underwriter one
conformed copy of the Registration Statement (as originally filed) and
of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or
incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus) and will also deliver to the
Representatives as many conformed copies of the Registration Statement
as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits)
as the Representatives may reasonably request. While the Prospectus
is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales
of the Offered Securities, the Company will furnish to the
Representatives as many copies of the Prospectus (including the
Prospectus Supplement) as the Representatives reasonably request.
(g) The Company will endeavor, in cooperation with the
Underwriters, to qualify the Offered Securities for offering and sale
under the applicable securities laws of such states and other
jurisdictions of the United States as the Underwriters may designate,
and will maintain such qualifications in effect for as long as may be
required for the distribution of the Offered Securities; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general
consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation
in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified. The Company will
file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of
each jurisdiction in which the Offered Securities have been qualified
as above
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<PAGE> 21
provided. The Company will promptly advise the Representatives of the
receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the
suspension of the qualification of the Offered Securities for sale in
any such state or jurisdiction or the initiating or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose.
(h) The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is
required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act in
connection with sales of the Offered Securities, will file all
documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to
Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act within the time periods
prescribed by the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.
(i) If specified in the Terms Agreement, between the date of
the Terms Agreement and the completion of the distribution of the
Offered Securities or the Closing Time, whichever is later, or such
other time as is specified in the Terms Agreement, the Company will
not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer
or sell, grant any option for the sale of, or enter into any agreement
to sell, any debt securities of the Company substantially similar to
the Offered Securities (other than the Offered Securities that are to
be sold pursuant to such agreement or commercial paper in the ordinary
course of business).
SECTION 4. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations
of the Underwriters to purchase Offered Securities pursuant to this Agreement
are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part
of the Company herein contained, to the accuracy of the statements which the
Company's officers made in any certificate furnished pursuant to the provisions
hereof, to the performance by the Company of all of its covenants and other
obligations hereunder and under the Terms Agreement, and to the following
further conditions:
(a) At the Closing Time, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or
proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission.
(b) At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have
received:
(1) The favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing
Time, of Woodard, Hall & Primm, P.C., counsel to the Company, to the
effect that:
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<PAGE> 22
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware.
(ii) This Agreement and the applicable Delayed
Delivery Contracts, if any, have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company.
(iii) The Indenture has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming the
Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Trustee) constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement
of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating
to or affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally or
by general equity principles, and further as enforcement
thereof may be limited by (1) requirements that a claim with
respect to any Debt Securities denominated other than in
U.S. dollars (or a foreign currency or composite currency
judgment in respect of such claim) be converted into U.S.
dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined
pursuant to applicable law or (2) governmental authority to
limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the
United States.
(iv) The Offered Securities, in the form(s) certified
by the Company as of the Closing Time, have been duly
authorized for issuance, offer and sale pursuant to this
Agreement and, when issued, authenticated and delivered
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, any Delayed
Delivery Contract and the Indenture against payment of the
consideration therefor, will constitute valid and legally
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance
with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited
by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
laws relating to or affecting enforcement of creditors' rights
generally or by general equity principles, and except further
as enforcement thereof may be limited by (1) requirements that
a claim with respect to any Debt Securities denominated other
than in U.S. dollars (or a foreign currency or composite
currency judgment in respect of such claim) be converted into
U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date
determined pursuant to applicable law or (2) governmental
authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments
outside the
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<PAGE> 23
United States; and each holder of Offered Securities will
be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
(v) The Offered Securities and the Indenture conform
in all material respects to the statements relating thereto in
the Prospectus; and the statements in the Prospectus under the
captions "Description of Notes" and "Description of Debt
Securities", insofar as they purport to summarize certain
provisions of documents specifically referred to therein, are
accurate summaries of such provisions.
(vi) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the
1939 Act.
(vii) The Registration Statement, including any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement, has been declared effective by
the Commission under the 1933 Act and, to the best of such
counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings
therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission.
(viii) The Registration Statement, including any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement, and the Prospectus (except for
financial statements and engineering reports and other
financial or engineering data, and except for those parts of
the Registration Statement that constitute the Form T-1, as to
which such counsel need not express any opinion), as of their
respective effective or issue dates, appeared on their face to
be appropriately responsive to the requirements of the 1933 Act
and the 1933 Act Regulations.
(ix) The information contained in the Prospectus
under the caption "Certain United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations", to the extent that such information
constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal matters or
legal conclusions, has been reviewed by such counsel and is
correct.
In rendering such opinion, counsel for the Company may rely (i)
as to matters of fact upon the representations of officers of the
Company contained in any certificate delivered to such counsel and
certificates of public officials, which certificates shall be attached
to or delivered with such opinion and (ii) as to the laws of the State
of New York applicable to the enforceability of the Notes and the
Indenture upon the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP.
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<PAGE> 24
Such opinion shall be limited to the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware, the laws of the State of Texas and the
laws of the United States of America.
(2) The favorable opinion of Zurab S.
Kobiashvili, General Counsel of the Company, to the effect
that:
(i) The Company has the corporate power and authority
to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and
perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Delayed
Delivery Contracts, if any.
(ii) To the best knowledge and information of such
counsel, the Company is duly qualified as a foreign
corporation to transact business and is in good standing in
the State of Texas and in each other jurisdiction in which
such qualification is required, except where the failure to so
qualify and be in good standing would not have a material
adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or
the results of operations, business affairs or business
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
one enterprise.
(iii) Each Significant Subsidiary has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has corporate power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus, and, to the best of such
counsel's knowledge and information, is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to transact business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is
required, except where the failure to so qualify and be in
good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the
condition, financial or otherwise, or the results of
operations, business affairs or business prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and
all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each
Significant Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly
issued, is fully paid and non-assessable, and is owned by the
Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any
mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity (except
as described in the Prospectus).
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<PAGE> 25
(iv) Each document filed pursuant to the 1934 Act and
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (except for
financial statements, supporting schedules and other financial
or statistical information as to which no opinion need be
rendered) appeared on their face to be appropriately
responsive when so filed to the requirements of the 1934 Act
and the 1934 Act Regulations.
(v) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
is required to be registered under the 1940 Act.
(vi) No consent, approval, authorization, order or
decree of any court or governmental authority or agency is
required that has not been obtained in connection with the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, any Delayed Delivery Contract or the Indenture,
except such as have been obtained or rendered, as the case may
be, or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act
Regulations, the 1934 Act, the 1934 Act Regulations or state
securities laws; and the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Delayed Delivery Contract, if applicable, and
the Indenture and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein and therein have been duly authorized by
all necessary corporate action of the Company and, to the best
knowledge and information of such counsel, will not conflict
with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in
the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance
upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries pursuant to, any contract, indenture, mortgage,
loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or
any of them may be bound or to which any of the property or
assets of the Company or any such subsidiary is subject, nor
will such action result in any violation of the provisions of
the charter or by-laws of the Company or any applicable law,
administrative regulation or, to the best knowledge and
information of such counsel, administrative or court order or
decree.
(vii) Neither the Company nor any of its Significant
Subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws.
(viii) To the best knowledge and information of such
counsel, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
violation of any law, ordinance,
20
<PAGE> 26
governmental rule or regulation or court decree to which it may
be subject or has failed to obtain any license, permit,
franchise or other governmental authorization necessary to the
ownership of its property or to the conduct of its business,
which violation or failure would materially adversely affect
the condition, financial or otherwise, or the results of
operations, business affairs or business prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and,
to the best knowledge and information of such counsel, the
Company and its subsidiaries own or possess or have obtained
all governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals
and other authorizations necessary to lease or own their
respective properties and to carry on their respective
businesses as presently conducted, except where the failure to
obtain such authorizations would not have a material adverse
effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or the results
of operations, business affairs or business prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.
(ix) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and
information, there is no action, suit or proceeding before or
by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or
foreign, now pending, or threatened against or affecting, the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, which would be reasonably
expected to result in any material adverse change in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the results of
operations, business affairs or business prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, or
would materially and adversely affect the properties or assets
thereof or would materially and adversely affect the
consummation of this Agreement, the Delayed Delivery
Contracts, if applicable, or the Indenture or any transaction
contemplated hereby or thereby.
(x) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and
information, there are no contracts or other documents
required to be described or referred to in the Registration
Statement or to be filed as exhibits thereto other than those
described or referred to therein or filed or incorporated by
reference as exhibits thereto, the descriptions thereof or
references thereto are correct in all material respects, and,
to the best of such counsel's knowledge and information, no
default exists in the due performance or observance of any
material obligation, agreement, covenant or conditions
contained in any
21
<PAGE> 27
contract, or other documents so described, referred to, filed
or incorporated by reference where the consequences of such
default would have a material adverse effect on the condition,
financial or otherwise, or the results of operations, business
affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.
In rendering such opinion, Zurab S. Kobiashvili may
rely as to matters of fact upon the representations of officers of the
Company contained in any certificate delivered to such counsel and
certificates of public officials, which certificates shall be attached
to or delivered with such opinion. Such opinion shall be limited to
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the laws of the
State of Texas and the laws of the United States of America.
(3) The favorable opinion, dated as of the
Closing Time, of Brown & Wood LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with
respect to the matters set forth in clauses (i) to (viii), inclusive,
of subsection (b)(1) of this Section.
(4) In giving their opinions required by
subsection (b)(1), (b)(2) and (b)(3), respectively, of this Section 4,
Woodard, Hall & Primm, P.C., Zurab S. Kobiashvili and Brown & Wood LLP
shall each additionally state that in the course of the preparation of
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus such counsel has
considered the information set forth therein in light of the matters
required to be set forth therein, and has participated in conferences
with officers and representatives of the Company including its
independent public accountants, during the course of which the contents
of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and related matters
were discussed. Such counsel need not independently check the accuracy
or completeness of, or otherwise verify, and accordingly need not pass
upon, and accordingly need not assume responsibility for, the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus and such counsel may, in good
faith, rely as materiality upon the judgment of officers and
representatives of the Company. Such counsel shall additionally state
that, however, as a result of such consideration and participation,
nothing has come to such counsel's attention which causes such counsel
to believe that the Registration Statement, at the time it became
effective (or, if an amendment to the Registration Statement or an
Annual Report on Form 10-K has been filed by the Company with the
Commission subsequent to the effectiveness of the Registra-
22
<PAGE> 28
tion Statement, then at the time such amendment became effective or at
the time of the most recent such filing, as the case may be), contained
an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto, at the time the Prospectus was issued
at the time any such amendment or supplement was issued or, at the
Closing Time included or includes an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading (it being understood that such
counsel need express no opinion with respect to the financial
statements and engineering reports and other financial or engineering
data contained in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus)
or those parts of the Registration Statement which constitute the Form
T-1).
(c) At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since
the date of the Terms Agreement or since the respective dates as of
which information is given in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the results of operations, business affairs or
business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
business, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate of
the Chief Executive Officer, President or Vice President and the
Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer, the principal financial officer or
principal accounting officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing
Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse
change with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, (ii) the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1
are true and correct as of the Closing Time, (iii) the Company has
performed or complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions
on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the date of
such certificate and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement
has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been initiated
or threatened by the Commission. As used in this Section 4(c), the
term "Prospectus" means the Prospectus in the form first provided to
the applicable Underwriter or Underwriters for use in confirming sales
of the Offered Securities.
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(d)(1) On the date of the Terms Agreement, the Underwriters
shall have received a letter from Arthur Andersen, LLP, dated as of
the date hereof and in form and substance satisfactory to the
Underwriters, to the effect that:
(i) They are independent accountants with respect to the
Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the 1933
Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act
Regulations.
(ii) It is their opinion that the consolidated financial
statements and supporting schedule(s) included or incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
and audited by them and covered by their opinions therein
comply in form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act
Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.
(iii) They have performed specified procedures, not
constituting an audit, including a reading of the latest
available interim financial statements of the Company and its
indicated subsidiaries, a reading of the minute books of the
Company and such subsidiaries since the end of the most recent
fiscal year with respect to which an audit report has been
issued, inquiries of and discussions with certain officials of
the Company and such subsidiaries responsible for financial
and accounting matters with respect to the unaudited
consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and
the latest available interim unaudited financial statements of
the Company and its subsidiaries, and such other inquiries and
procedures as may be specified in such letter, and on the basis
of such inquiries and procedures, nothing came to their
attention that caused them to believe that: (A) any material
modifications should be made to the unaudited consolidated
financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus for them to be in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States,
(B) the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the
Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus do
not comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934
Act Regulations or (C) at a
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<PAGE> 30
specified date not more than three days prior to the
date of such letter, there was any change in the consolidated
capital stock, any increase in consolidated long-term debt or
any decrease in the consolidated net current assets or
consolidated net assets of the Company and its subsidiaries,
in each case as compared with the amounts shown on the most
recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus or, during the
period from the date of such balance sheet to a specified date
not more than three days prior to the date of such letter,
there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding
period in the preceding year, in consolidated revenues or in
the total or per-share amounts of income before extraordinary
items or of net income of the Company and its subsidiaries,
except in all instances for changes, increases or decreases
that the Registration Statement and the Prospectus disclose
have occurred or may occur or except for such exceptions
enumerated in such letter as shall have been agreed to by the
Underwriters and the Company.
(iv) They have performed specified procedures, not
constituting an audit, set forth in their letter, based upon
which nothing came to their attention that caused them to
believe that the unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed
financial statements, if any, included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus do
not comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation
S-X and that the pro forma adjustments have not been properly
applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those
statements.
(v) In addition to the audit referred to in their
opinions and the limited procedures referred to in clauses
(iii) and (iv) above, they have carried out certain specified
procedures, not constituting an audit, with respect to certain
amounts, percentages and financial information which are
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and which are specified by the
Underwriters, and have found such amounts, percentages and
financial information to be in agreement with the relevant
accounting, financial and other records of the Company and its
subsidiaries identified in such letter.
25
<PAGE> 31
(2) At the Closing Time, the Underwriters shall have
received from Arthur Andersen, LLP, a letter, dated as of the
Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements
made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (d)(1) of
this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall
be a date not more than three days prior to the Closing Time.
(e) At the Closing Time, counsel for the Underwriters shall
have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may
reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the
issuance and sale of the Offered Securities as herein contemplated and
related proceedings or in order to evidence the accuracy and
completeness of any of the representations and warranties, or the
fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all
proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and
sale of the Offered Securities as herein and in the Terms Agreement
contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the
Representatives.
(f) In the event that the Terms Agreement provides for Option
Securities and the Underwriters exercise their option pursuant to
Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option
Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company contained
herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Company
hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery, and
the Underwriters shall have received:
(1) Unless the Date of Delivery is the Closing Time, a
certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of the Chief Executive
Officer, President or Vice President and the Treasurer, the Assistant
Treasurer, the principal financial officer or principal accounting
officer of the Company, in their capacities as such, confirming that
the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 4(c)
hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.
(2) The favorable opinion of Woodard, Hall & Primm,
P.C., counsel for the Company, and Zurab S. Kobiashvili, General
Counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel
for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the
Option Securities and otherwise substantially to the same effect as the
opinions required by subsections (1) and (2) of Section 4(b) hereof.
(3) The favorable opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, counsel
for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the
Option Securities and otherwise to the same effect as
26
<PAGE> 32
the opinion required by subsection (3) to Section 4(b) hereof.
(4) Unless the Date of Delivery is the Closing Time, a
letter from Arthur Andersen, LLP, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Underwriters and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially the
same in scope and substance as the letter furnished to the Underwriters
at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 4(d) hereof, except that the
"specified date" in the letter shall be a date not more than three days
prior to such Date of Delivery.
If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been
fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be
terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time at or
prior to the Closing Time, and such termination shall be without liability of
any party to any other party except as provided in Section 5.
SECTION 5. Payment of Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses
incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including:
(a) the preparation and filing of the Registration
Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, and all
amendments thereto and the Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto;
(b) the preparation, filing and reproduction of this
Agreement and the Delayed Delivery Contract(s), if applicable;
(c) the preparation, printing, issuance and delivery of
the Offered Securities, including any fees and expenses relating to
the eligibility and issuance of Offered Securities in book-entry form;
(d) the fees and disbursements of the Company's
accountants and counsel, of the Trustee and its counsel, and of any
calculation agent or exchange rate agent;
(e) except as otherwise provided in the Terms Agreement,
the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters;
(f) the qualification of the Offered Securities under
state securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section
3(k) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the
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<PAGE> 33
Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the
preparation of any Blue Sky or Legal Investment Survey;
(g) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters in
quantities as hereinabove stated of copies of the Registration
Statement and any amendments thereto, and of the Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto, and the delivery by the
Underwriters of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
thereto in connection with solicitations or confirmations of sales of
the Offered Securities;
(h) the preparation, reproducing and delivery to the
Underwriters of copies of the Indenture and all amendments,
supplements and modifications thereto;
(i) any fees charged by nationally recognized statistical
rating organizations for the rating of the Offered Securities;
(j) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with any
listing of Offered Securities on a securities exchange;
(k) the fees and expenses incurred with respect to any
filing with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.;
(l) any out-of-pocket expenses of the Underwriters
incurred with the approval of the Company; and
(m) the cost of providing any CUSIP or other
identification numbers for the Offered Securities.
If this Agreement is terminated by the Underwriters in accordance with
the provisions of Section 9, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for
all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.
SECTION 6. Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement, including information deemed to be part
of the Registration
28
<PAGE> 34
Statement pursuant to Rule 430A(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations, if
applicable, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto)
or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, unless such
untrue statement or omission or such alleged untrue statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by an Underwriter expressly for
use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto);
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in
settlement of any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any
such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that such
settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including
the fees and expenses of counsel chosen by such Underwriter),
reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against
any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental
agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based
upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue
statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid
under (i) or (ii) above.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed
the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act against any and all loss,
liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in
subsection (a) of this Section, but only with respect to untrue statements or
omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or
any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
29
<PAGE> 35
supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such Underwriter expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto).
(c) Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably
practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in
respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an
indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have
otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. If any such claim or
action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the
indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate therein and to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other
similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the
defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
the indemnified party under this Section for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that
each Underwriter shall have the right to employ counsel to represent jointly the
Underwriters and their respective controlling persons who may be subject to
liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought
by the Underwriters against the Company under this Section if, in the judgment
of any of the Underwriters, it is advisable for such Underwriter or Underwriters
and controlling persons to be jointly represented by separate counsel, and in
that event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the
Company. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for the fees and
expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate
from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one
action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction
arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying
party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which
shall not unreasonably be withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the
entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or
proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any
claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be
sought under this Section 8 or Section 9 hereof (whether or not the indemnified
parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement,
compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional
30
<PAGE> 36
release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such
litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a
statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or
on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) For purposes of this Section 6, all references to the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing, shall be deemed to include, without
limitation, any electronically transmitted copies thereof, including, without
limitation, any copies filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR.
SECTION 7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in
Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold
harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims,
damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages
and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering
of the Offered Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation
provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause
(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the
Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in
connection with the offering of the Offered Securities pursuant to this
Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total
net proceeds from the offering of the Offered Securities pursuant to this
Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total
commission or underwriting discount received by each Underwriter, in each case
as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus Supplement, bear to the aggregate
initial public offering price of the Offered Securities sold to or through such
Underwriter as set forth on such cover. The relative fault of the Company on
the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
31
<PAGE> 37
correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were
treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation
which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in
this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages
and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this
Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending
against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental
agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Offered Securities sold to or through such Underwriter were
offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter
has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who
controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such
Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who
signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the
1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The
Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7
are several in proportion to the principal amount of Offered Securities sold
to or through each Underwriter and not joint.
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive
Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this
Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant
hereto or thereto shall remain operative and in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or
controlling person of an Underwriter, or by or on behalf of the Company, and
shall survive each delivery of and payment for any Offered Securities.
32
<PAGE> 38
SECTION 9. Termination.
(a) The Representatives may terminate this Agreement immediately upon
notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time if (i) there
has been, since the date of the Terms Agreement or since the respective dates as
of which information is given in the Registration Statement, any material
adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the results of
operations, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business, or (ii) there shall have occurred any material
adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or any outbreak or
escalation of hostilities or other national or international calamity or crisis
the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the
Representatives, impracticable to market the Offered Securities or enforce
contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities, or (iii) trading in any
securities of the Company has been suspended by the Commission or a national
securities exchange, or if trading generally on either the American Stock
Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended, or minimum or
maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for
securities have been required, by either of said exchanges or by order of the
Commission or any other governmental authority, or if a banking moratorium shall
have been declared by either Federal, New York or Texas authorities or if a
banking moratorium shall have been declared by the relevant authorities in the
country or countries of origin of any foreign currency or currencies in which
the Offered Securities are denominated or payable, or (iv) the rating assigned
by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization to any debt
securities of the Company as of the date of the Terms Agreement shall have been
lowered since that date or if any such rating organization shall have publicly
announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative
implications, its rating of any debt securities of the Company, or (v) there
shall have come to the attention of the Representatives any facts that would
cause them to reasonably believe that the Prospectus, at the time it was
required to be delivered to a purchaser of the Offered Securities, included an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
existing at the time of such delivery, not misleading. As used in this Section
9, the term "Prospectus" means the Prospectus in the form first provided to the
applicable Underwriter or Underwriters for use in confirming sales of the
related Offered Securities.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such
termination shall be without liability of any party
33
<PAGE> 39
to any other party, except to the extent provided in Section 5.
Notwithstanding any such termination, (i) the covenants set forth in Section
3(b), (d), and (e) with respect to any offering of Offered Securities shall
remain in effect so long as any Underwriter owns any such Offered Securities
purchased from the Company pursuant to this Agreement and during the period
when the Prospectus is required to be delivered in connection with sales of the
Offered Securities and (ii) the covenants set forth in Section 3(c), (g), (h)
and, if applicable, (i), the provisions of Section 5, the indemnity agreement
set forth in Section 6, the contribution provisions set forth in Section 7 and
the provisions of Sections 8, 11, 12 and 13 shall remain in effect.
SECTION 10. Default. If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail
at the Closing Time or a Date of Delivery to purchase the Immediate Delivery
Offered Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this
Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), then the Representatives shall have the
right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the
non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but
not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed
upon and upon the terms herein set forth. If, however, during such 24 hours
the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements for the purchase
of all of the Defaulted Securities, then:
(a) if the amount of Defaulted Securities does not exceed
10% of the amount of Immediate Delivery Offered Securities to be
purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall
be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount
thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting
obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all
non-defaulting Underwriters, or
(b) if the amount of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of
the number of Immediate Delivery Offered Securities to be purchased on
such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Date of Delivery
which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters
to purchase and of the Company to sell the Option Securities to be
purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery shall terminate without
liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section 10 shall relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a
termination of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of
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<PAGE> 40
Delivery which is after the Closing Time, which does not result in a termination
of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the
relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, either the Representatives or
the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time or the relevant
Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in
order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term
"Underwriter" includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this
Section 10.
SECTION 11. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing, either delivered by hand, by mail or by telex, telecopier
or telegram, and any such notice shall be effective when received at the
address specified in this Section 11. Notices to the Underwriters shall be
directed as provided in the Terms Agreement. Notices to the Company shall be
directed to Apache Corporation, 2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 100, Houston,
Texas 77056-4400, Attention: Vice President and Treasurer, with a copy to:
Mr. Ralph K. Miller, Jr., Woodard, Hall & Primm, P.C., 7100 Texas Commerce
Tower, Houston, Texas 77002. Any party to this Agreement may from time to time
designate another address to receive notice pursuant to this Agreement by
notice duly given in accordance with the terms of this Section 11.
SECTION 12. Parties. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their respective
successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or
shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the
parties hereto and their respective successors and the controlling persons and
officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and
legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or
in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement
and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal
representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation.
No purchaser of Offered Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a
successor by reason merely of such purchase.
SECTION 13. Governing Law. This Agreement and all the rights and
obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made
and to be performed in such State.
35
<PAGE> 41
SECTION 14. Counterparts. Any Terms Agreement may be executed in one
or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the
executed counterparts thereof shall constitute a single instrument.
36
<PAGE> 42
EXHIBIT A
TERMS AGREEMENT
___________ __, 19__
Apache Corporation
2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77056-4400
Attention: [Title]
Dear Sirs:
The undersigned underwriters (the "Underwriters") understand that
Apache Corporation (the "Company") proposes to issue and sell $___________
aggregate principal amount of its debt securities (the "Offered Securities").
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein or incorporated by
reference herein, the Underwriters offer to purchase, severally and not
jointly, the principal amount of Offered Securities set forth below opposite
their respective names at ___% of the principal amount thereof together with
accrued interest thereon from __________, 19__ to the Closing Time:
Principal
Amount of
Underwriter Debt Securities
----------- ---------------
_______________
Total $
===============
The Offered Securities shall have the following terms:
Principal amount:
Form and denomination:
Date of maturity:
Interest rate, rates or formula
(or method of calculation
of interest accrual):
Date from which interest accrues:
Interest payment dates, if any:
Initial price to public:
Closing Time:
A-1
<PAGE> 43
Place of delivery and payment:
Company account for wire transfer of payment:
Redemption provisions, if any:
Lock-up pursuant to Section 3(i) of the
Underwriting Agreement Basic Terms: [yes] [no]
Securities Exchanges, if any, on which application will be made to
list the Offered Securities:
Delayed Delivery Contracts: [authorized] [not authorized]
Delivery date:
Expiration date:
Compensation to Underwriters:
Minimum contract:
Maximum aggregate principal amount:
Other terms, if any:
All the provisions contained in "Apache Corporation-Debt
Securities--Underwriting Agreement Basic Terms" (the "Basic Terms"), filed as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement relating to the Offered Securities and
attached hereto as Annex A, are herein incorporated by reference in their
entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Terms Agreement to the same
extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Terms defined
in such document are used herein as therein defined.
Any notice by the Company to the Underwriters pursuant to this Terms
Agreement shall be sufficient if given in accordance with Section 11 of the
Basic Terms addressed to: [insert name and address of the lead manager or
managers or, if only one underwriter is a party hereto, of such firm] which
shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, be the "Representatives".
Very truly yours,
REPRESENTATIVE[S]
By: ____________________________________________
[Acting for themselves and as
Representative[s] of the
Underwriters]
Accepted:
APACHE CORPORATION
By: _______________________________________________
Title:
A-2
<PAGE> 44
ANNEX A
[Apache Corporation--Debt Securities--
Underwriting Agreement Basic Terms]
A-3
<PAGE> 45
EXHIBIT B
APACHE CORPORATION
[Title of Offered Securities]
DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACT
Apache Corporation
2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77056-4400
Attention:
Dear Sirs:
The undersigned hereby agrees to purchase from Apache Corporation (the
"Company"), and the Company agrees to sell to the undersigned on ____________,
19__ (the "Delivery Date"), $_____________ principal amount of the Company's
__% Offered Securities due ___________ __, 19__ (the "Offered Securities"),
offered by the Company's Prospectus dated _________ __, 19__, as supplemented
by its Prospectus Supplement dated __________ __, 19__, receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, at a purchase price of _____% of the principal amount
thereof, plus accrued interest from __________, ______, to the Delivery Date,
and on the further terms and conditions set forth in this contract.
Payment for the securities which the undersigned has agreed to
purchase on the Delivery Date shall be made to the Company or its order by wire
transfer in immediately available funds on the Delivery Date, upon delivery to
the undersigned of the Offered Securities to be purchased by the undersigned in
definitive or global form and in such denominations and registered in such
names as the undersigned may designate by written or telegraphic communication
addressed to the Company not less than three full business days prior to the
Delivery Date.
The obligation of the undersigned to take delivery of and make payment
for Offered Securities on the Delivery Date shall be subject only to the
conditions that (1) the purchase of Offered Securities to be made by the
undersigned shall not on the Delivery Date be prohibited under the laws of the
jurisdiction to which the undersigned is subject and (2) the Company, on or
before ___________, ____, shall have sold to the Underwriters of the Offered
Securities (the "Underwriters") such principal amount of the Offered Securities
as is to be sold to them pursuant to the Terms Agreement dated ____________,
____ between the Company
B-1
<PAGE> 46
and the Underwriters. The obligation of the undersigned to take delivery of
and make payment for Offered Securities shall not be affected by the failure of
any purchaser to take delivery of and make payment for Offered Securities
pursuant to other contracts similar to this contract. The undersigned
represents and warrants to the Underwriters that its investment in the Offered
Securities is not, as of the date hereof, prohibited under the laws of any
jurisdiction to which the undersigned is subject and which govern such
investment.
Promptly after completion of the sale to the Underwriters, the Company
will mail or deliver to the undersigned at its address set forth below notice
to such effect, accompanied by a copy of the opinion of counsel for the Company
delivered to the Underwriters in connection therewith.
By the execution hereof, the undersigned represents and warrants to
the Company that all necessary corporate action for the due execution and
delivery of this contract and the payment for and purchase of the Offered
Securities has been taken by it and no further authorization or approval of any
governmental or other regulatory authority is required for such execution,
delivery, payment or purchase, and that, upon acceptance hereof by the Company
and mailing or delivery of a copy as provided below, this contract will
constitute a valid and binding agreement of the undersigned in accordance with
its terms.
This contract will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties hereto and their respective successors, but will not be assignable by
either party hereto without the written consent of the other.
It is understood that the Company will not accept Delayed Delivery
Contracts for an aggregate principal amount of Offered Securities in excess of
$__________ and that the acceptance of any Delayed Delivery Contract is in the
Company's sole discretion and, without limiting the foregoing, need not be on a
first come first-served basis. If this contract is acceptable to the Company,
it is requested that the Company sign the form of acceptance on a copy hereof
and mail or deliver a signed copy hereof to the undersigned at its address set
forth below. This will become a binding contract between the Company and the
undersigned when such copy is so mailed or delivered.
B-2
<PAGE> 47
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State New York
applicable to agreements made and performed in said State.
Yours very truly,
______________________________
(Name of Purchaser)
By____________________________
(Title)
______________________________
______________________________
(Address)
Accepted as of the date
first above written.
Apache Corporation
By:___________________________
PURCHASER -- PLEASE COMPLETE AT TIME OF SIGNING
The name and telephone number of the representative of the Purchaser
with whom details of delivery on the Delivery Date shall be discussed is as
follows: (Please print.)
Telephone No.
Name (Including Area Code)
- ---- ---------------------
B-3
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4.1
FORM OF DEBT SECURITIES
(DEBENTURE)
UNLESS THIS DEBENTURE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (THE "DEPOSITORY ") TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT
FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY DEBENTURE ISSUED IS
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE &
CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE DEPOSITORY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
REGISTERED PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
No: 1 $150,000,000.00
CUSIP: 037411AM7 Apache Corporation
7.375% DEBENTURE DUE 2047
APACHE CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company", which term includes any
successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value
received hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the
principal sum of One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars on August 15, 2047 ("Stated
Maturity") and to pay interest thereon from August 13, 1997 or from the most
recent date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for, on
February 15 and August 15 of each year (each, an "Interest Payment Date"),
commencing February 15, 1998, and at Stated Maturity or upon such other date on
which the principal of this Debenture becomes due and payable, whether by
declaration of acceleration or otherwise, and including any Change in Control
Purchase Date ("Maturity"), at the rate of 7.375% per annum, until the
principal hereof is paid or duly made available for payment. If, however, a
Tax Event (as defined below) occurs, the Company shall have the right to
advance the Stated Maturity as provided for below. The interest so payable,
and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in the Indenture referred to below, be paid to the Person in whose
name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered as of
the close of business on the January 31 or July 31, as the case may be
(whether or not a Business Day), next preceding such Interest Payment Date
(each such date, a "Regular Record Date"). Any such interest which is payable,
but is not punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date
shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date,
and shall be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special
Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the
Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holder of this Debenture not less
than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid in any other
lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange
on which the Debentures may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required
by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.
Payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be
made at the office or agency maintained for that purpose in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States
of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the
option of the Company by check mailed to the Person in whose name this
Debenture is registered at the close of business on the related Record Date;
provided further, that, notwithstanding anything else contained herein, if this
Debenture is a Global Security and is held in book-entry form through the
facilities of the Depository, payments on this Debenture will be made to the
Depository or its nominee in accordance with the arrangements then in effect
between the Trustee and the Depository.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Debenture
set forth on the succeeding pages hereof, which further provisions shall for
all purposes have the same effect as if set forth herein.
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein,
referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee
By:_____________________________________
Authorized Officer
<PAGE> 2
APACHE CORPORATION
7.375% DEBENTURE DUE 2047
This Debenture is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the
Company issued under an Indenture, dated as of February 15, 1996 and
supplemented as of November 5, 1996 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and
The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly known as Chemical Bank) (the "Trustee",
which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), designated as
the 7.375% Debentures due 2047 (the "Debentures"). Reference is made to the
Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights,
duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of
the Debentures and of the terms upon which the Debentures are, and are to be,
authenticated and delivered. All terms used in this Debentures which are not
defined herein and which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings
assigned to them in the Indenture.
The Indenture and this Debenture shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
The Indenture provides for the defeasance of the Debentures and
certain covenants in certain circumstances.
This Debenture is unsecured as to payment of principal and interest,
and ranks pari passu with all other unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness of
the Company.
Interest payments on this Debenture will include interest accrued to
but excluding the applicable Interest Payment Date or Maturity hereof, as the
case may be. Interest payments for this Debenture shall be computed and paid
on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
In the case where the applicable Interest Payment Date or Maturity
with respect hereto, as the case may be, does not fall on a Business Day,
payment of principal or interest otherwise payable on such day need not be made
on such day, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same
force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or at Maturity and no
interest shall accrue with respect to such payment for the period from and
after the Interest Payment Date or such Maturity, as the case may be, to the
date of payment.
The Debentures are not redeemable prior to Maturity and will not be
subject to any sinking fund and, except as provided in the Indenture, will not
be repayable prior to their Stated Maturity.
If any Event of Default with respect to the Debentures shall occur and
be continuing, the principal of the Debentures may be declared due and payable
in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
Upon the occurrence of a Tax Event, as defined below, the Company
shall have the right, without the consent of the Holders of the Debentures, to
advance the Stated Maturity of all, but not less than all, of the Debentures to
the extent required, in the written opinion of a nationally recognized
independent tax counsel experienced in such matters, such that, after advancing
the Stated Maturity, interest paid on the Debentures will be deductible for
Federal income tax purposes.
In the event that the Company elects to exercise its right to advance
the Stated Maturity of the Debentures on the occurrence of a Tax Event, the
Company shall mail a notice of the advanced Stated Maturity to each Holder
hereof in the manner provided in the Indenture by first-class mail not more
than 60 days after the occurrence of such Tax Event, stating the new Stated
Maturity of the Debentures, and shall cause this Debenture to be amended
accordingly in the manner provided in the Indenture. Such notice shall be
effective immediately upon mailing.
"Tax Event" means that the Company shall have received the written
opinion of a nationally recognized independent tax counsel experienced in such
matters, to the effect that, on or after the date of the Debentures' issuance,
as a result of (a) any amendment to, clarification of, or change (including any
announced prospective change) in laws, or any proposed, temporary or final
regulations thereunder, of the United States, (b) any judicial decision,
official administrative pronouncement, authorization, ruling, regulatory
procedure, notice or announcement, including any notice or announcement of
proposal to adopt such procedures or regulations (an "Administrative Action"),
or (c) any amendment to, clarification of, or change in the official position
or the interpretation of such Administrative Action or judicial decision that
differs from the theretofore generally accepted position, in each case, on or
after, the date of the issuance of the Debentures, such change in tax laws or
regulations creates a more than insubstantial risk that interest paid by the
Company on the Debentures is not, or will not be, deductible, in whole or in
part, by the Company for Federal income tax purposes.
2
<PAGE> 3
As set forth in, and subject to the provisions of, the Indenture, no
Holder of any Debenture will have any right to institute any proceeding with
respect to the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder, unless (i) such Holder
shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event
of Default with respect to the Debentures, (ii) the Holders of not less than
25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debentures shall have made written
request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such
proceeding as trustee, (iii) the Trustee shall have failed to institute such
proceeding within 60 days after receipt of such written request and (iv) the
Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Outstanding Debentures a direction inconsistent with such request
within such 60 day period; provided, however, that such limitations do not
apply to a suit instituted by the Holder hereof for the enforcement of payment
of the principal of and premium, if any, or any interest on this Debenture on
or after the respective due dates expressed herein or to require the purchase
of its Debentures by the Company upon the occurrence of a Change in Control in
accordance with the Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series
thereunder to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and
the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of such Securities then Outstanding of each series
to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders
of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series
thereunder at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities
of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain restrictive
provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and
their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Debenture
shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of
any Debenture issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange
for or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is
made upon this Debenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent of Holders
shall be required to advance the Stated Maturity of the Debentures as provided
herein.
No reference to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or of
the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any interest on this
Debenture at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein
prescribed.
The Debentures are issuable only in fully registered form in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples in excess thereof. As provided
in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, this
Debenture is exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Debentures
of this series and of like tenor of any authorized denomination, as requested
by the Holder surrendering the same. As provided in the Indenture and subject
to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Debenture is
registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Debenture for
registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place
where the principal of and any interest on this Debenture are payable or at
such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate, duly endorsed by,
or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to, the
Company and the Security Registrar or any transfer agent duly executed by the
registered owner hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and
thereupon one or more new Debentures of this series and of like tenor, of
authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount and Stated
Maturity will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, if any Change in
Control occurs prior to the Stated Maturity of this Debenture, the Company
shall, at the option of the Holders, purchase all Securities for which a Change
in Control Purchase Notice shall have been delivered as provided in the
Indenture and not withdrawn, by a date which shall be 35 Business Days after
the occurrence of such Change in Control, at a Change in Control Purchase Price
equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued interest to the Change in
Control Purchase Date, which Change in Control Purchase Price shall be paid in
cash.
Holders have the right to withdraw any Change in Control Purchase
Notice by delivering to the paying agent a written notice of withdrawal in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
If cash sufficient to pay the Change in Control Purchase Price of all
Securities or portions thereof to be purchased on the Change in Control
Purchase Date is deposited with the Trustee on the Change in Control Purchase
Date, interest shall cease to accrue on such Securities (or portions thereof)
and on and after the Change in Control Purchase Date the Holders thereof shall
have no other rights as such (other than the right to receive the Change in
Control Purchase Price upon surrender of such Securities).
Subject to the terms of the Indenture, prior to due presentment of
this Debenture for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any
agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this
Debenture is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not
this Debenture is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such
agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
3
<PAGE> 4
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of this Debenture, but, subject to certain limitations set forth in
the Indenture, the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
This Debenture shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose
until the Trustee's Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been
executed by the Trustee.
4
<PAGE> 5
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, APACHE CORPORATION has caused this instrument to be
duly executed under its corporate seal.
APACHE CORPORATION
[SEAL] BY
------------------------------
Name: Matthew W. Dundrea
Title: Treasurer
Attest:
BY
--------------------------------
Name: Cheri L. Peper
Title: Corporate Secretary
Date:
5
<PAGE> 6
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto
________________________________________________________________________________
Please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee
________________________________________________________________________________
(please print or type name and address of assignee)
the within Security and all rights thereunder and does hereby irrevocably
constitute and appoint the aforesaid assignee attorney to transfer the within
Security on the books kept for registration thereof, with full power of
substitution in the premises.
Dated: _____________________________ ________________________________
In the presence of:
________________________________________________________________________________
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as it
appears upon the face of the within Security in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. When assignment is made by a
guardian, trustee, executor or administrator, an officer of a corporation, or
anyone in a representative capacity, proof of his authority to act must
accompany the Security. The signature must be guaranteed by an Institution
which is a member of one of the following recognized signature Guarantee
Programs: (i) The Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii)
The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MNSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange
Medallion Program (SEMP); or (iv) in such other guarantee program acceptable to
the Trustee.
6
<PAGE> 1
[Letterhead of Woodard, Hall & Primm, P.C.]
Exhibit 8.1
August 8, 1997
Apache Corporation
2000 Post Oak Boulevard
Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77056-4400
Re: 7.375% Debentures Due 2047 (the "Debentures")
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Apache Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") relating to the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), of
up to an aggregate $300,000,000 principal amount of the Company's debt
securities (the "Debt Securities"), which includes the Debentures in the
aggregate principal amount of $150,000,000. The Debt Securities are to be
issued from time to time in one or more series pursuant to an Indenture between
the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly known as Chemical Bank). The
terms of the Debt Securities, which are set forth in the Prospectus included as
a part of the Registration Statement, are incorporated herein by reference. A
Prospectus Supplement reflecting the terms of the Debentures, the terms of the
offering thereof and the other matters set forth therein has been prepared and
will be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act.
Based upon the terms of the Debt Securities, as set forth in the
Prospectus, we hereby confirm that the discussion set forth in the Prospectus
under the caption "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,"
except as otherwise stated therein, constitutes our opinion as to the material
federal income tax considerations of the acquisition, holding and disposition of
the Debt Securities. We also confirm that the discussion set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement under the caption "Description of Debentures --
Conditional Right to Advance Maturity," except as otherwise stated therein,
constitutes our opinion as to the material federal income tax considerations of
the acquisition, holding and disposition of the Debentures.
Our opinion, which is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service, is
based upon existing statutory, regulatory and judicial authority, any of which
may be changed at any time with retroactive effect to the detriment of the
holders of the Debt Securities, including the Debentures. The opinions
expressed in the preceding paragraph are limited to the tax matters
specifically discussed under the caption "Certain United States Federal Income
Tax Considerations" in the Prospectus and under the caption "Description of
Debentures -- Conditional Right to Advance Maturity" in the Prospectus
Supplement, and we have not been asked to address nor have we addressed, any
other tax considerations relating to the Debt Securities or the Debentures.
Pursuant to the provisions of Rule 436(a) promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the 1933 Act, we hereby consent to the
filing of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the
reference to us under the caption "Certain United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations," "Description of Debentures -- Conditional Right to Advance
Maturity" and "Legal Matters" in the related Prospectus and Prospectus
Supplement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ WOODARD, HALL & PRIMM, P.C.
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 10.1
APACHE CORPORATION
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
January 1, 1997
<PAGE> 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
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<S> <C>
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Account Owner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.3 Affiliated Entity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.4 Alternate Payee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.5 Annual Addition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.6 Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.7 Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.8 Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.9 Company Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.10 Company Discretionary Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.11 Company Matching Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.12 Company Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.13 Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.14 Covered Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.15 Determination Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.16 Disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.17 Domestic Relations Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.18 Employee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.19 Employment Commencement Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.20 ERISA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.21 Five-Percent Owner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.22 Former Amoco Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.23 Highly Compensated Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.24 Hour of Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.25 Key Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.26 Lapse in Apache Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.27 Limitation Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.28 Non-Highly Compensated Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.29 Non-Key Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.30 Normal Retirement Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.31 Participant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.32 Participant Before-Tax Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.33 Period of Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.34 Plan Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.35 Qualified Domestic Relations Order ("QDRO"). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.36 Qualified Matching Contributions ("QMACs") . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.37 Qualified Non-Elective Contributions ("QNECs") . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.38 Reemployment Commencement Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.39 Required Beginning Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.40 Spouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.41 Termination from Service Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.42 Valuation Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.43 Year of Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
ARTICLE II PARTICIPATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.1 Participation - Required Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
</TABLE>
i
Prepared July 30, 1997
<PAGE> 3
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
2.2 Reemployment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.3 Enrollment Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
ARTICLE III CONTRIBUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.1 Company Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.2 Participant Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.3 Return of Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.4 Limitation on Annual Additions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.5 Contribution Limits for Highly Compensated Employees (ADP Test). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.6 Contribution Limits for Highly Compensated Employees (ACP Test). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.7 Contribution Limits for Highly Compensated Employees (Multiple Use). . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.8 QNECs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.9 QMACs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
ARTICLE IV INTERESTS IN THE TRUST FUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.1 Participants' Accounts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.2 Valuation of Trust Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4.3 Allocation of Increase or Decrease in Net Worth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
ARTICLE V AMOUNT OF BENEFITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.1 Vesting Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.2 Forfeitures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.3 Restoration of Forfeitures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
5.4 Method of Forfeiture Restoration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.5 Allocation of Forfeitures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.6 Credits for Pre-Lapse Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
5.7 Transfers - Portability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.8 Reemployment - Separate Account. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.1 Beneficiaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
6.2 Consent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.3 Distributable Amount. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.4 Manner of Distribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.5 Time of Distribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
6.6 Direct Rollover Election. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
ARTICLE VII WITHDRAWALS AND LOANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
7.1 In-Service Withdrawals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
7.2 Loans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
ARTICLE VIII ALLOCATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES - NAMED FIDUCIARIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
8.1 No Joint Fiduciary Responsibilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
8.2 The Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
8.3 The Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
8.4 The Committee - Plan Administrator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
</TABLE>
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8.5 Committee to Construe Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
8.6 Organization of Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
8.7 Interested Committee Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
8.8 Agent for Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
8.9 Indemnification of Committee Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
8.10 Conclusiveness of Action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
8.11 Payment of Expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
ARTICLE IX TRUST AGREEMENT - INVESTMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
9.1 Trust Agreement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
9.2 Expenses of Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
9.3 Investments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
ARTICLE X TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
10.1 Termination of Plan or Discontinuance of Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
10.2 Allocations upon Termination or Discontinuance of Company Contributions. . . . . . . . . 33
10.3 Procedure Upon Termination of Plan or Discontinuance of Contributions. . . . . . . . . . 34
10.4 Amendment by Apache. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
ARTICLE XI PLAN ADOPTION BY AFFILIATED ENTITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
11.1 Adoption of Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
11.2 Agent of Affiliated Entity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
11.3 Disaffiliation and Withdrawal from Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
11.4 Effect of Disaffiliation or Withdrawal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
11.5 Distribution Upon Disaffiliation or Withdrawal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
ARTICLE XII TOP-HEAVY PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
12.1 Application of Top-Heavy Provisions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
12.2 Determination of Top-Heavy Status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
12.3 Special Vesting Rule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
12.4 Special Minimum Contribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
12.5 Change in Top-Heavy Status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
13.1 RIGHT TO DISMISS EMPLOYEES - NO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
13.2 Claims Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
13.3 Source of Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
13.4 Exclusive Benefit of Employees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
13.5 Forms of Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
13.6 Failure of Any Other Entity to Qualify. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
13.7 Notice of Adoption of the Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
13.8 Plan Merger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
13.9 Inalienability of Benefits - Domestic Relations Orders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
13.10 Payments Due Minors or Incapacitated Individuals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
13.11 Uniformity of Application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
13.12 Disposition of Unclaimed Payments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
13.13 Applicable Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
</TABLE>
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ARTICLE XIV MATTERS AFFECTING COMPANY STOCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
14.1 Voting, Etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
14.2 Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
14.3 Retention/Sale of Company Stock and Other Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
14.4 Tender Offers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
14.5 Stock Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
14.6 Other Rights Appurtenant to the Company Stock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
14.7 Information to Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
14.8 Information to Account Owners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
14.9 Expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
14.10 Former Account Owners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
14.11 No Recommendations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
14.12 Trustee to Follow Instructions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
14.13 Confidentiality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
14.14 Investment of Proceeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
14.15 Independent Fiduciary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
14.16 Method of Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
ARTICLE XV UNIFORMED SERVICES EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT
RIGHTS ACT OF 1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
15.1 General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
15.2 While a Serviceman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
15.3 Failure to Return. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
15.4 Return From Uniformed Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
</TABLE>
Appendix A -- Participating Companies
Appendix B -- Hadson Energy Resources Company
Appendix C -- Crystal Oil Company
Appendix D -- Natural Gas Clearinghouse
Appendix E -- Texaco Exploration & Production, Inc.
Appendix F -- DEKALB Energy Company
Appendix G -- Citation Oil & Gas
Appendix H -- Producers Energy Marketing
Appendix I -- The Phoenix Resource Companies, Inc.
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<PAGE> 6
APACHE CORPORATION
401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
PREAMBLE
Apache Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Apache"), maintains this
profit sharing plan (the "Plan"), which is intended to be qualified under Code
section 401(a), and which contains a cash or deferred arrangement that is
intended to be qualified under Code section 401(k). The Plan is hereby amended
and restated as set forth below, effective January 1, 1997, except for those
provisions that have their own specific effective dates.
Any Participant (as defined herein) in the Plan who is credited with
at least one Hour of Service (as defined herein) after December 31, 1996 shall
be subject to the provisions of this Plan as so amended and restated. Service
shall be credited according to the terms of the Plan that are in effect at the
time the service is rendered. Any Participant in the Plan who is not credited
with an Hour of Service after January 1, 1997 shall continue to be governed by
the provisions of the Plan as in effect immediately prior to January 1, 1997.
However, any Account Owner (as defined herein) on or after January 1, 1997
shall be subject to the rules of this amended and restated Plan with regard to
his status as an Account Owner and with regard to the rules regarding Account
ownership (such as receiving investment earnings, giving investment directions,
and receiving distributions).
Each Appendix to this Plan is a part of the Plan document. It is
intended that an Appendix will be used to (1) describe which business entities
are actively participating in the Plan, (2) describe any special participation,
eligibility, vesting, or other provisions that apply to the employees of a
business entity, (3) describe any special provisions that apply to Participants
affected by a designated corporation transaction, and (4) describe any special
distribution rules that apply to directly transferred benefits from other
plans.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
The following words and phrases shall have the meaning set forth
below:
1.1 "Account Owner" means a Participant who has an Account balance, an
Alternate Payee who has an Account balance, or a beneficiary who has obtained
an interest in the Account(s) of the previous Account Owner because of the
previous Account Owner's death.
1.2 "Accounts" means the various Participant accounts established pursuant
to section 4.1.
1.3 "Affiliated Entity" means:
(a) For all purposes of the Plan except those listed in subsection
(b), the term "Affiliated Entity" means any legal entity that is treated as a
single employer with Apache pursuant to Code section 414(b), 414(c), 414(m), or
414(o).
(b) For purposes of determining Annual Additions under section
1.5, limiting Annual Additions to a Participant's Account(s) under section 3.4,
and construing the defined terms as they are used in sections 1.5 and 3.4 (such
as " Compensation" and "Employee"), the term "Affiliated Entity" means any
legal entity that is treated as a single employer with Apache pursuant to Code
section 414(m) or 414(o), and any legal entity that would be an Affiliated
Entity pursuant to Code section 414(b) or 414(c) if the phrase "more than 50%"
were substituted for the phrase "at least 80%" each place it occurs in Code
section 1563(a)(1).
1.4 "Alternate Payee" means a Participant's Spouse, former spouse, child,
or other dependent who is recognized by a QDRO as having a right to receive
all, or a portion of, the benefits payable under this Plan with respect to such
Participant.
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1.5 "Annual Addition" means the allocations to a Participant's Account(s)
for any Limitation Year, as described in detail below.
(a) Annual Additions shall include: (i) Company Contributions
(except as provided in paragraphs (b)(iii) and (b)(v)) to this Plan and Company
contributions to any other defined contribution plan maintained by the Company
or any Affiliated Entity, including Company Matching Contributions forfeited to
satisfy the ACP test of section 3.6, (ii) after-tax contributions to any other
defined contribution plan maintained by the Company or an Affiliated Entity;
(iii) Participant Before-Tax Contributions to this Plan and similar
contributions to any other defined contribution plan maintained by the Company
or an Affiliated Entity, including any such contributions distributed to
satisfy the ADP test of section 3.5; (iv) forfeitures allocated to a
Participant's Account(s) in this Plan and any other defined contribution plan
maintained by the Company or any Affiliated Entity (except as provided in
paragraphs (b)(iii) and (b)(v) below); (v) all amounts paid or accrued to a
welfare benefit fund as defined in Code section 419(e) and allocated to the
separate account (under the welfare benefit fund) of a Key Employee to provide
post-retirement medical benefits; and (vi) contributions allocated on the
Participant's behalf to any individual medical account as defined in Code
section 415(l)(2).
(b) Annual Additions shall not include: (i) rollover
contributions made pursuant to Code section 402(c), 403(a)(4), 403(b)(8),
405(d)(3), 408(d)(3), or 409(b)(3)(C) to any defined contribution plan
maintained by the Company or an Affiliated Entity; (ii) repayments of loans
made to a Participant from a qualified plan maintained by the Company or any
Affiliated Entity; (iii) repayments of forfeitures for rehired Participants, as
described in Code sections 411(a)(7)(B) and 411(a)(3)(D); (iv) direct transfers
of employee contributions from one qualified plan to any qualified defined
contribution plan maintained by the Company or any Affiliated Entity; or (v)
repayments of forfeitures of missing individuals pursuant to section 13.12.
1.6 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time, and the regulations and rulings in effect thereunder from time to
time.
1.7 "Committee" means the administrative committee provided for in section
8.4.
1.8 "Company" means Apache, any successor thereto, and any Affiliated
Entity that adopts the Plan pursuant to Article XI. Each Company is listed in
Appendix A.
1.9 "Company Contributions" means all contributions to the Plan made by
the Company pursuant to section 3.1 for the Plan Year.
1.10 "Company Discretionary Contributions" means all contributions to the
Plan made by the Company pursuant to subsection 3.1(a) for the Plan Year.
1.11 "Company Matching Contributions" means all contributions to the Plan
made by the Company pursuant to subsection 3.1(b) for the Plan Year.
1.12 "Company Stock" means shares of the $1.25 par value common stock of
Apache.
1.13 "Compensation" means:
(a) Code Section 415 Compensation.
(i) 1997. This paragraph applies for 1997 only. For
purposes of determining the limitation on Annual Additions under
section 3.4 and the minimum contribution under section 12.4 when the
Plan is top-heavy, Compensation shall mean those amounts reported as
"wages, tips, other compensation" on Form W-2 by the Company or an
Affiliated Entity. For purposes of
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<PAGE> 8
section 3.4, Compensation shall be measured over a Limitation Year.
For purposes of section 12.4, Compensation shall be measured over a
Plan Year.
(ii) 1998 and Thereafter. This paragraph applies after
1997. For purposes of determining the limitation on Annual Additions
under section 3.4 and the minimum contribution under section 12.4 when
the Plan is top-heavy, Compensation shall mean those amounts reported
as "wages, tips, other compensation" on Form W-2 by the Company or an
Affiliated Entity and elective contributions that are not includable
in the Employee's income pursuant to Code sections 125, 402(e)(3),
402(h), 403(b), 408(p), or 457. For purposes of section 3.4,
Compensation shall be measured over a Limitation Year. For purposes
of section 12.4, Compensation shall be measured over a Plan Year.
(b) Code Section 414(q) Compensation.
(i) 1997. This paragraph applies for 1997 only. For
purposes of identifying Highly Compensated Employees and Key
Employees, Compensation shall mean those amounts reported as "wages,
tips, other compensation" on Form W-2 by the Company or an Affiliated
Entity; Compensation shall also include elective contributions that
are not includable in the Employee's income pursuant to Code sections
125, 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B), or 403(b). Compensation shall be
measured over a Plan Year. Compensation shall include only amounts
paid to the Employee, and shall not include any additional amounts
accrued by the Employee.
(ii) 1998 and Thereafter. This paragraph applies after
1997. For purposes of identifying Highly Compensated Employees and
Key Employees, Compensation shall mean those amounts reported as
"wages, tips, other compensation" on Form W-2 by the Company or an
Affiliated Entity, and elective contributions that are not includable
in the Employee's income pursuant to Code sections 125, 402(e)(3),
402(h), 403(b), 408(p), or 457. Compensation shall be measured over a
Plan Year. Compensation shall include only amounts paid to the
Employee, and shall not include any additional amounts accrued by the
Employee.
(c) Code Section 414(s) Compensation. For purposes of the ADP,
ACP, and multiple use tests under sections 3.5, 3.6, and 3.7, and for purposes
of allocating QNECs under subsection 3.8(c), Compensation shall mean any
definition of compensation for a Plan Year, as selected by the Committee, that
satisfies the requirements of Code section 414(s) and the regulations
promulgated thereunder. The definition of Compensation used in one Plan Year
may differ from the definition used in another Plan Year.
(d) Benefit Compensation. For purposes of determining and
allocating Company Discretionary Contributions under subsection 3.1(a),
Compensation shall generally mean regular compensation paid by the Company.
(i) Specifically, Compensation shall include:
(A) Regular salary or wages,
(B) Overtime pay,
(C) Bonuses,
(D) Salary reductions pursuant to this Plan,
(E) Salary reductions that are excludable from an
Employee's gross income pursuant to Code
section 125, and
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(F) Amounts contributed as salary deferrals to
the Company's Nonqualified Retirement/Savings
Plan.
(ii) Compensation shall exclude:
(A) Commissions,
(B) Severance pay,
(C) Moving expenses,
(D) Any gross-up of moving expenses to account
for increased income or employment taxes,
(E) Foreign service premiums paid as an
inducement to work outside of the
United States,
(F) Credits or benefits under this Plan (except
as provided in subparagraph (i)(D)) and
credits or benefits under the Apache
Corporation Money Purchase Retirement Plan,
(G) Other contingent compensation,
(H) Any amount relating to the granting of a
stock option by the Company or an Affiliated
Entity, the exercise of such a stock option,
or the sale or deemed sale of any shares
thereby acquired,
(I) Contributions to any other fringe benefit
plan (including, but not limited to,
overriding royalty payments or any other
exploration-related payments),
(J) Bonuses paid as an inducement to enter the
employment of the Company, and
(K) Any amount paid in cash or Company Stock
pursuant to the Apache Corporation 1996 Share
Price Appreciation Plan.
Compensation shall be measured over that portion of a Plan Year while the
Employee is a Covered Employee. Compensation shall include only amounts paid
to the Employee during the Plan Year, and shall not include any amounts accrued
by but not paid to the Employee during the Plan Year.
(e) Deferral Compensation. For purposes of determining
Participant Before-Tax Contributions under section 3.2 and for purposes of
determining and allocating Company Matching Contributions under subsection
3.1(b), Compensation shall mean Compensation as defined in subsection (d), with
the following modifications. Compensation shall be measured over each pay
period after the Employee has satisfied the eligibility requirements of
subsection 2.1(a). Compensation shall include only amounts paid while the
Employee is a Covered Employee.
(f) Limit on Compensation. For purposes of calculating the
minimum contribution required in top-heavy years under subsection (a), for all
purposes of subsections (c) and (d), and for purposes of determining the
maximum allocation of Company Matching Contributions under subsection (e), the
Compensation taken into account for the Plan Year shall not exceed the dollar
limit specified in Code section 401(a)(17) in effect for the Plan Year.
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1.14 "Covered Employee" means any Employee of the Company, with the
following exceptions. A leased employee within the meaning of Code section
414(n)(2) shall not be a Covered Employee. A non-resident alien shall not be a
Covered Employee. An Employee included in a unit of Employees covered by a
collective bargaining agreement shall not be a Covered Employee unless the
collective bargaining agreement specifically provides for such Employee's
participation in the Plan. An Employee whose job is classified as "temporary"
shall be a Covered Employee only after he or she has worked for the Company and
Affiliated Entities for six consecutive months. An Employee shall not be a
Covered Employee while he or she is classified as an "intern," a "consultant,"
or an "independent contractor."
1.15 "Determination Date" means, with respect to each Plan Year, the last
day of the preceding Plan Year; provided however, that in the case of the first
Plan Year of the Plan, the Determination Date shall be the last day of the
first Plan Year.
1.16 "Disability" means a disability due to sickness or injury which
renders an Employee incapable of performing any services for the Company or an
Affiliated Entity for which the Employee is qualified by education, training,
or experience. Evidence of disability satisfactory to Apache shall be
required.
1.17 "Domestic Relations Order" means any judgment, decree, or order
(including approval of a property settlement agreement) issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction that relates to the provisions of child support, alimony
or maintenance payments, or marital property rights to a Spouse, former spouse,
child, or other dependent of the Participant and is made pursuant to a state
domestic relations law (including a community property law).
1.18 "Employee" means each individual who performs services for the Company
or an Affiliated Entity and whose wages are subject to withholding by the
Company or an Affiliated Entity. The term "Employee" shall include only
individuals currently performing services for the Company or an Affiliated
Entity, and shall exclude former Employees who are still being paid by the
Company or an Affiliated Entity (whether through the payroll system, through
overriding royalty payments, through exploration-related payments, or
otherwise). The term "Employee" shall also include leased employees within the
meaning of Code section 414(n)(2); however, if leased employees constitute 20%
or less of the Non-Highly Compensated Employees of the Company and any
Affiliated Entities, the term "Employee" shall not include any leased employee
covered by a qualified plan described in Code section 414(n)(5)(B) that is
maintained by the leased employee's employer.
1.19 "Employment Commencement Date" means the date on which an Employee
first performs an Hour of Service.
1.20 "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and the regulations and rulings in effect thereunder from time to
time.
1.21 "Five-Percent Owner" means:
(a) With respect to a corporation, any individual who owns (either
directly or indirectly according to the rules of Code section 318) more than 5%
of the value of the outstanding stock of the corporation or stock processing
more than 5% of the total combined voting power of all stock of the
corporation.
(b) With respect to a non-corporate entity, any individual who
owns (either directly or indirectly according to rules similar to those of Code
section 318) more than 5% of the capital or profits interest in the entity.
An individual shall be a Five-Percent Owner for a particular year if such
individual is a Five-Percent Owner at any time during such year.
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1.22 "Former Amoco Employee" means an Employee who was formerly employed by
Amoco Production Company or its subsidiaries and who became an Employee of the
Company pursuant to the provisions of that certain Stock Purchase Agreement
effective June 30, 1991, between Amoco Production Company, Apache, and others.
1.23 "Highly Compensated Employee" means, for each Plan Year:
(a) An Employee with Compensation of $80,000 (as adjusted by the
Secretary of the Treasury) or more during the immediately preceding Plan Year,
and
(b) An Employee who is a Five-Percent Owner during the current
Plan Year or who was a Five-Percent Owner during the immediately preceding Plan
Year.
1.24 "Hour of Service" means each hour for which an Employee is paid or
entitled to payment by the Company or an Affiliated Entity for the performance
of duties for the Company or an Affiliated Entity during the applicable
computation period. Hours of Service shall be credited to the Employee for the
computation period or periods in which the duties are performed, regardless of
when the Employee is paid for those duties.
1.25 "Key Employee" means an individual described in Code section 416(i)(1)
and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
1.26 "Lapse in Apache Employment" means the period commencing on the
Termination from Service Date and ending on the Reemployment Commencement Date.
A Participant shall incur a one-year Lapse in Apache Employment if the
Participant does not perform an Hour of Service in the 12-month period
beginning on any anniversary of his or her Termination from Service Date.
1.27 "Limitation Year" means the calendar year.
1.28 "Non-Highly Compensated Employee" means an Employee who is not a
Highly Compensated Employee.
1.29 "Non-Key Employee" means an Employee who is not a Key Employee.
1.30 "Normal Retirement Age" means age 65.
1.31 "Participant" means any individual with an Account balance under the
Plan except beneficiaries and Alternate Payees. The term "Participant" shall
also include any Covered Employee who has satisfied the eligibility
requirements of section 2.1, but who does not yet have an account balance.
1.32 "Participant Before-Tax Contributions" means contributions made to the
Plan by the Company, at the election of the Participant, in lieu of cash,
pursuant to subsection 3.2(a), that are excludable from the Participant's
income under Code sections 401(k) and 402(e)(3).
1.33 "Period of Service" means a period commencing on an Employee's
Employment Commencement Date or Reemployment Commencement Date, whichever is
applicable, and ending on his or her Termination from Service Date. A Period
of Service shall also include the period between an Employee's Termination from
Service Date and his or her Reemployment Commencement Date if the Employee does
not incur a one-year Lapse in Apache Employment between such dates; however,
the period between the first and second anniversaries of an Employee's absence
from work because of parental leave (as explained in paragraph 1.41(b)(i))
shall not be included in the Employee's Period of Service. A Period of Service
for a Former Amoco Employee shall also include any periods of employment with
Amoco Production Company or its subsidiaries. Periods of Service shall not
include any period following a Participant's Termination from Service Date
solely because of a severance payment of payments made to an individual with
respect to his or her termination of employment.
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1.34 "Plan Year" means the 12-month period on which the records of the Plan
are kept, which shall be the calendar year.
1.35 "Qualified Domestic Relations Order ('QDRO')" means a Domestic
Relations Order that creates or recognizes the existence of an Alternate
Payee's right to, or assigns to an Alternate Payee the right to, receive all or
a portion of the benefits payable with respect to a Participant under the Plan
and with respect to which the requirements of Code section 414(p) and ERISA
section 206(d)(3) are met.
1.36 "Qualified Matching Contributions ('QMACs')" means that portion of
Company Matching Contributions so designated by the Company, or any portion of
the forfeitures designated as QMACs under section 5.5, that satisfy the
requirements of section 3.9.
1.37 "Qualified Non-Elective Contributions ('QNECs')" means any
contribution to the Plan made by the Company, or any portion of the forfeitures
designated as QNECs under section 5.5, that satisfies the requirements of
section 3.8.
1.38 "Reemployment Commencement Date" means the first date following a
Lapse in Apache Employment on which the Employee performs an Hour of Service.
1.39 "Required Beginning Date" means:
(a) Excepted as provided in subsections (b), (c), and (d),
Required Beginning Date means April 1 of the calendar year following the later
of (i) the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70-1/2, or (ii)
the calendar year in which the Participant terminates employment with Apache
and all Affiliated Entities.
(b) For a Participant who is both an Employee and a Five-Percent
Owner of Apache or an Affiliated Entity, the term "Required Beginning Date"
means April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the
Five- Percent Owner attains age 70-1/2. If an Employee older than 70-1/2
becomes a Five-Percent Owner, his or her Required Beginning Date shall be April
1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which he or she becomes a
Five- Percent Owner.
(c) Before January 1, 1997, an Employee who was not a Five-Percent
Owner may have had a Required Beginning Date. Beginning January 1, 1997, such
an Employee shall be treated as if he or she has not yet had a Required
Beginning Date, with the result that his or her minimum required distributions
under subsection 6.5(c) will be zero until his or her new Required Beginning
Date. His or her new Required Beginning Date shall be determined pursuant to
subsections (a) and (b).
(d) If a Participant is rehired after his or her Required
Beginning Date, and he or she is not a Five- Percent Owner, he or she shall be
treated upon rehire as if he or she has not yet had a Required Beginning Date,
with the result that his or her minimum required distributions under subsection
6.5(c) will be zero until his or her new Required Beginning Date. His or her
new Required Beginning Date shall be determined pursuant to subsections (a) and
(b).
1.40 "Spouse" means the individual of the opposite sex to whom a
Participant is lawfully married according to the laws of the state of the
Participant's domicile.
1.41 "Termination from Service Date" means the earlier of the following
dates:
(a) The last day an Employee performs services for the Company or
an Affiliated Entity if the Employee quits (except as provided in paragraph
(b)(iii)), is discharged, retires, or dies; or
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(b) The first anniversary of the day a former Employee is absent
from the Company or Affiliated Entity for any reason other than resignation,
discharge, retirement, or death (such as vacation, holiday, sickness,
disability, leave of absence, or temporary lay-off), with the following
exceptions:
(i) If the former Employee is absent from the Company or
Affiliated Entity because of parental leave (which includes only the
pregnancy of the former Employee, the birth of the former Employee's
child, the placement of a child with the former Employee in connection
with adoption of such child by the former Employee, or the caring for
such child immediately following birth or placement) on the first
anniversary of the day the former Employee was first absent, the
Termination from Service Date shall be the second anniversary of the
day he or she was first absent.
(ii) If the former Employee is absent from the Company or
Affiliated Entity for more than one year because of an approved leave
of absence (either with or without pay) for any reason (including, but
not limited to, jury duty) and the former Employee returns to work at
or prior to the expiration of his or her leave of absence, no
Termination from Service Date shall occur.
(iii) If a former Employee is absent from the Company or an
Affiliated Entity because of a Disability incurred while employed by
the Company or an Affiliated Entity, a Termination from Service Date
shall not occur until the later of the first anniversary of his or her
absence or the date he or she recovers from the Disability, regardless
of whether the former Employee quits during the Disability.
1.42 "Valuation Date" means the last day of each Plan Year and any other
dates as specified in section 4.2 as of which the assets of the Trust Fund are
valued at fair market value and as of which the increase or decrease in the net
worth of the Trust Fund is allocated among the Participants' Accounts.
1.43 "Year of Service" means all of a Participant's Periods of Service,
expressed in years, and rounded down to the next whole number.
ARTICLE II
PARTICIPATION
2.1 Participation - Required Service.
(a) Participant Before-Tax Contributions.
(i) Until August 1, 1997. This paragraph applies until
August 1, 1997. A Covered Employee (which includes only Employees of
the Company) shall be eligible to begin to make Participant Before-Tax
Contributions as of the first day of the first pay period following
the later of: (A) 90 days of employment with the Company or an
Affiliated Entity; or (B) the date the Employee becomes a Covered
Employee.
(ii) August 1, 1997 and Thereafter. This paragraph
applies after July 31, 1997. A Covered Employee shall be eligible to
begin to make Participant Before-Tax Contributions as of the first day
of the first pay period of the month coincident with or following the
day the Employee becomes a Covered Employee.
(b) Company Discretionary Contributions. Each Covered Employee
shall be eligible to participate in the Plan with respect to the Company
Discretionary Contribution provided by subsection 3.1(a) on the day the
Employee first becomes a Covered Employee.
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2.2 Reemployment.
(a) Termination without Vesting. If a Participant terminates
employment before having any vested interest in his or her Company
Contributions Account under section 5.1 and is thereafter reemployed by the
Company or an Affiliated Entity, (i) the Employee shall be treated as a new
Employee for participation purposes if the Employee incurred a one-year Lapse
in Apache Employment before rehire, and (ii) if the Employee did not incur a
one-year Lapse in Apache Employment before rehire, the Employee shall be
eligible to again participate in the Plan under section 2.1 as if he or she has
been employed by the Company, but not as a Covered Employee, during the break
in employment.
(b) Termination with Vesting. If the case of any Participant who
terminates employment with a vested interest in his or her Company
Contributions Account under section 5.1, (i) he or she shall become eligible to
receive Company Discretionary Contributions as of the later of his or her
Reemployment Commencement Date or the date he or she again becomes a Covered
Employee, and (ii) he or she shall be eligible to make Participant Before-Tax
Contributions as of the first day of the first pay period following the later
of his or her Reemployment Commencement Date or the date he or she again became
a Covered Employee.
2.3 Enrollment Procedure.
Notwithstanding sections 2.1 and 2.2, a Covered Employee shall not be
eligible to participate in the Plan until after completing the enrollment
procedures specified by the Committee. Such enrollment procedures may, for
example, require the Covered Employee to complete and sign an enrollment form
or to complete a voice-response telephone enrollment. The Covered Employee
shall provide the initial investment direction, the address and date of birth
of the Employee, and the name, address, and date of birth of each beneficiary
of the Employee, the initial rate of the Participant Before-Tax Contributions,
and any other information requested by the Committee. An election to make
Participant Before-Tax Contributions shall not be effective until after the
Covered Employee has properly completed the enrollment procedures. The
Committee may require that the enrollment procedure be completed a certain
number of days prior to the date that a Covered Employee actually begins to
participate.
ARTICLE III
CONTRIBUTIONS
The only contributions that can be made to the Plan are Company
Contributions pursuant to section 3.1, Participant Before-Tax Contributions and
rollovers pursuant to section 3.2, contributions pursuant to subsection 5.3(b),
and loan repayments.
3.1 Company Contributions.
(a) Company Discretionary Contributions. For each Plan Year, the
Company shall contribute to the Trust Fund such amount of Company Discretionary
Contributions that the Company, in its sole discretion, determines to
contribute. The Company may elect to treat any portion of forfeitures
occurring during the Plan Year as Company Discretionary Contributions, pursuant
to section 5.5. Company Discretionary Contributions shall be allocated to each
"eligible Participant" in proportion to the eligible Participant's
Compensation. For purposes of this subsection, an "eligible Participant" is a
Participant who received credit for one Hour of Service as a Covered Employee
during the Plan Year and who was employed by the Company or an Affiliated
Entity on the last day of the Plan Year. Company Discretionary Contributions
shall be allocated to Company Contributions Accounts, except for those Company
Discretionary Contributions that are designated as QNECs pursuant to subsection
3.8(b), which shall be allocated to Participant Before-Tax Contributions
Accounts.
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(b) Company Matching Contributions.
(i) Standard Match.
(A) Until November 1, 1997. This subparagraph
applies through October 31, 1997. As of the last day of each
pay period, the Committee shall allocate Company Matching
Contributions (including such forfeitures occurring during the
pay period that are treated as Company Matching Contributions
pursuant to section 5.5) to each Participant who made
Participant Before-Tax Contributions during the pay period as
follows. The Company Matching Contribution allocated to a
Participant shall equal a "matching percentage" multiplied by
that portion of the Participant Before-Tax Contributions for
the pay period that do not exceed 6% of the Participant's
Compensation for the pay period. The matching percentage
equals 100% unless one or more of the following conditions
applies, in which case the matching percentage equals 50%.
(1) The Participant is younger than age
59-1/2 on the first day of the pay period and the
Participant has, in the six months preceding the pay
period, sold Company Stock from any of his or her
Accounts (ignoring sales of Company Stock necessary
to fund the Participant's loan, to pay any fees
charged to his or her Accounts, or to fund any
corrective distribution pursuant to this Article).
(2) The Participant has elected to
invest any portion of the pay period's Company
Matching Contribution in an investment option other
than Company Stock. The matching percentage is 50%
only to the extent that this condition applies.
(3) The Participant has elected to
invest any portion of the pay period's Participant
Before-Tax Contribution in an investment other than
Company Stock. The matching percentage is 50% only
to the extent that this conditions applies. The
matching percentage shall be applied first to the
Participant Before-Tax Contributions that are
invested in Company Stock. For example, if clauses
(1) and (2) do not apply, and if a Participant
contributes 10% of Compensation as a Participant
Before-Tax Contribution in the pay period and he or
she elects to invest half the contribution in Company
Stock and half in another investment option, then the
Participant's allocation of Company Matching
Contributions for the pay period will equal 100% of
5% of the pay period's Compensation plus 50% of 1% of
the pay period's Compensation, for a total match of
5-1/2% of the pay period's Compensation; the
remaining Participant Before-Tax Contribution (of 4%
of the Participant's Compensation for the pay period)
will not be matched.
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(B) November 1, 1997 and Thereafter. This
subparagraph applies after October 31, 1997. As of the last
day of each pay period, the Committee shall allocate Company
Matching Contributions (including such forfeitures occurring
during the pay period that are treated as Company Matching
Contributions pursuant to section 5.5) to each Participant who
made Participant Before-Tax Contributions during the pay
period as follows. Each Participant's allocation shall be
equal to his Participant Before- Tax Contributions for the pay
period, up to a maximum allocation each pay period of 6% of
the Participant's Compensation for the pay period.
(ii) Additional Match. If the nondiscrimination tests
described in sections 3.5, 3.6, and 3.7 are not satisfied for a Plan
Year, the Company may elect to contribute an additional amount, or it
may elect to use any forfeitures occurring during the Plan Year, as an
extra Company Matching Contribution for the Plan Year. The extra
Company Matching Contribution may be designated as a QMAC pursuant to
section 3.9. The extra Company Matching Contribution shall be
allocated to all "eligible Participants" in proportion to the Company
Matching Contribution allocated to such eligible Participants during
the Plan Year under paragraph (i). For purposes of this paragraph
only, an "eligible Participant" is any Non-Highly Compensated Employee
who is a Covered Employee on the last day of the Plan Year.
(iii) Coordination With Code Section 401(a)(17). Company
Matching Contributions in a Plan Year shall accrue only on Participant
Before-Tax Contributions up to 6% of the Code section 401(a)(17) limit
for that Plan Year. Any Company Matching Contributions allocated
during the Plan Year in which they were accrued shall be allocated on
a temporary basis only; the allocation shall become final after the
Committee verifies that the allocation complies with the terms of the
Plan, including the limits of Code section 401(a)(17). Any reduction
in the allocation to comply with Code section 401(a)(17), adjusted to
reflect investment experience, shall be used to pay those expenses of
the Plan that are properly payable from the Trust Fund or to reduce
future Company Contributions to the Plan.
(iv) Accounts. Company Matching Contributions shall be
allocated to Company Contributions Accounts, except for those Company
Matching Contributions that are designated as QMACs under section 3.9,
which shall be allocated to Participant Before-Tax Contributions
Accounts.
(c) Miscellaneous Contributions.
(i) The Company may make additional contributions to the
Plan to restore amounts forfeited from the Company Contributions
Accounts of certain rehired Participants, pursuant to section 5.4.
This additional contribution shall be required only when the
forfeitures occurring during the Plan Year are insufficient to restore
such forfeited amounts, as described in section 5.5. This
contribution shall be allocated to the Participant's Company
Contributions Account.
(ii) The Company may make additional contributions to the
Plan to satisfy the minimum contribution required by section 12.4.
The Company may elect to use any portion of forfeitures occurring
during the Plan Year for this purpose, pursuant to section 5.5. For
Non-Highly Compensated Employees, this contribution shall be allocated
to Participant Before-Tax Contributions Accounts; for Highly
Compensated Employees, this contribution shall be allocated to Company
Contributions Accounts.
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(iii) The Company may make additional contributions to the
Plan to restore the forfeited benefit of any missing individual,
pursuant to section 13.12. This additional contribution shall be
required only when the forfeitures occurring during the Plan Year are
insufficient to restore such forfeited amounts, as described in
section 5.5.
(iv) The Company may make QNECs to the Plan to enable the
Plan to satisfy the ADP, ACP, and multiple use tests of sections 3.5,
3.6, and 3.7. The Company may elect to treat any portion of
forfeitures occurring during the Plan Year as QNECs, pursuant to
section 5.5. QNECs shall be allocated to Participant Before-Tax
Contribution Accounts.
(v) The Company may make additional contributions to the
Plan to provide make-up contributions for returning servicemen,
pursuant to section 15.4.
(d) Contributions Contingent on Deductibility. The Company
Contributions for a Plan Year (excluding forfeitures and contributions pursuant
to paragraph 3.1(c)(v)), when combined with Participant Before-Tax
Contributions for the Plan Year, shall not exceed the amount allowable as a
deduction for Apache's taxable year ending with or within the Plan Year
pursuant to Code section 404. The amount allowable as a deduction under Code
section 404 shall include carry forwards of unused deductions for prior years.
If the Code section 404 deduction limit would be exceeded for any Plan Year,
the Plan contributions shall be reduced, in the following order, until the Plan
contributions equal the Code section 404 deduction limit: first, the Company
Matching Contributions for those Highly Compensated Employees who are eligible
to participate in the Company's Nonqualified Retirement/Savings Plan; second,
the Participant Before-Tax Contributions for those Highly Compensated Employees
who are eligible to participate in the Company's Nonqualified
Retirement/Savings Plan; third, all but $1 of the Company Discretionary
Contributions for those Highly Compensated Employees who are eligible to
participate in the Company's Nonqualified Retirement/Savings Plan; fourth, any
remaining unmatched Participant Before-Tax Contributions; fifth, any remaining
matched Participant Before-Tax Contributions, and the corresponding Company
Matching Contribution; sixth, any remaining Company Discretionary
Contributions. Company Contributions other than QNECs shall be paid to the
Trustee no later than the due date (including any extensions) for filing the
Company's federal income tax return for such year; QNECs shall be paid to the
Trustee no later than 12 months after the close of the Plan Year. Company
Contributions may be made without regard to current or accumulated earnings and
profits; nevertheless, this Plan is intended to qualify as a "profit sharing
plan" as defined in Code section 401(a). The appropriate contribution of the
Company to the Trust Fund may be paid by the Company in the form of Company
Stock, cash, other assets of any character, or in any combination of the
foregoing, as determined by the Company.
3.2 Participant Contributions.
(a) Participant Before-Tax Contributions.
(i) General Rules. A Participant may elect to defer the
receipt of a portion of his or her Compensation during the Plan Year
and contribute such amounts to the Plan as Participant Before-Tax
Contributions. Effective through December 31, 1997, Participant
Before-Tax Contributions may be made in whole percentages (up to a
maximum of 10%) of Compensation received in a pay period. Effective
January 1, 1998 and thereafter, Participant Before-Tax Contributions
may be made in whole percentage (up to a maximum of 12%) of
Compensation received in a pay period. The Company shall pay the
amount deducted from the Participant's Compensation to the Trustee
promptly after the deduction is made. Participant Before-Tax
Contributions shall be allocated to Participant Before-Tax
Contributions Accounts.
(ii) Limitations on Participant Before-Tax Contributions.
The sum of Participant Before- Tax Contributions to this Plan and
similar contributions to any other plan containing a qualified cash or
deferred arrangement that is maintained by the Company or an
Affiliated Entity
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shall not exceed the dollar limit in effect under Code section
402(g)(1) in any calendar year. The Company shall inform the
Committee if such limit has been exceeded; the excess amount (less any
amount already returned pursuant to section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 or 3.7)
shall be returned to the Participant as soon as administratively
possible, and in no event later than April 15 of the succeeding
calendar year. If the sum of the Participant Before-Tax
Contributions, similar contributions to any qualified plan maintained
by an Affiliated Entity, and any similar contributions to a qualified
plan maintained by a non-Affiliated Entity exceed the dollar limit in
effect under Code section 402(g)(1) in a calendar year, and the
Participant is an Employee on the last day of the Plan Year and
informs the Committee of the amount of the excess allocated to this
Plan, then the excess (less any amount already returned pursuant to
section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, or 3.7) shall be returned to the Participant as
soon as administratively practicable, and in no event later than April
15 of the succeeding calendar year. The amount returned shall be
adjusted to reflect the net increase or decrease in the net worth of
the Participant's Before-Tax Contributions Account attributable to
such amount for the Plan Year. The Committee may use any reasonable
method to allocate this adjustment. Company Matching Contributions
attributable to amounts returned under this paragraph shall be
forfeited. Unmatched Participant Before-Tax Contributions shall be
returned first.
(iii) Procedures. Participant Before-Tax Contributions
shall be made according to rules prescribed by the Committee, and may
only be made after the Company has received authorization from a
Participant to deduct such contributions from his or her Compensation.
Such authorization shall remain in effect until revoked or changed by
the Participant. The Participant may change his or her authorization
as of the first day of any pay period by filing an election no later
than the last day of the pay period. To be effective, any
authorization, change of authorization, or notice of revocation must
be filed with the Committee according to such restrictions and
requirements as the Committee prescribes. The Committee shall
establish procedures from time to time for Participants to change
their contribution elections, which procedures shall be in writing and
communicated to Participants.
(b) Direct Rollovers. Effective November 1, 1997, the Committee
may authorize the Trustee to accept "direct rollovers" from Covered Employees.
A direct rollover is a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer, as described in Code
section 401(a)(31)(A)(ii), of a distribution to a former employee of all or any
portion of the balance to the credit of the former employee in a retirement
plan that meets the requirements of Code section 401(a). A direct rollover
shall include only those amounts that are "eligible rollover distributions."
An "eligible rollover distribution" is any distribution or in-service
withdrawal other than (i) distributions required under Code section 401(a)(9),
(ii) distributions of amounts that have already been subject to federal income
tax (such as defaulted loans or after-tax voluntary contributions), (iii)
installment payments in a series of substantially equal payments made at least
annually and (A) made over a specified period of ten or more years, (B) made
for the life or life expectancy of the distributee, or (C) made for the joint
life or joint life expectancy of the distributee and his or her designated
beneficiary, (iv) a distribution to satisfy the limits of Code section 415 or
402(g), (v) a distribution to satisfy ADP, ACP, or multiple use tests, or (vi)
any other actual or deemed distribution specified in the regulations issued
under Code section 402(c). A direct rollover must be in cash. The Committee
may require a Covered Employee to submit appropriate documentation to
substantiate that the proposed direct rollover satisfies the requirements of
this subsection. The Committee shall establish procedures to verify that a
proposed direct rollover satisfies the requirements of this section. The
Committee's decision to accept or reject a proposed direct rollover shall be
final. If the Plan accepts a direct rollover and subsequently determines that
it was an "invalid rollover," the Plan shall distribute the invalid rollover
(and any net increase or decrease in the net value of the Trust Fund
attributable to the rollover) to the Covered Employee, as soon as
administratively practicable, without the Covered Employee's consent. For
purposes of this subsection, an "invalid rollover" is an amount that is not an
eligible rollover distribution or that does not satisfy the other requirements
of Code sections 401(a)(31) or 402(c) for treatment as a rollover. Direct
rollovers may be made by any Covered Employee; however, such Covered Employee
shall not be entitled to receive an allocation of any Company Contributions or
to make Participant
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Before-Tax Contributions until he or she has satisfied the applicable
eligibility and participation requirements of section 2.1. Direct rollovers
shall be allocated to Rollover Accounts.
3.3 Return of Contributions.
(a) Upon the request of the Company, the Trustee shall return to
the Company, any Company Contribution made under a mistake of fact. The amount
that shall be returned shall not exceed the excess of the amount contributed
(reduced to reflect any decrease in the net worth of the appropriate Accounts
attributable thereto) over the amount that would have been contributed without
the mistake of fact. Appropriate reductions shall be made in the Accounts of
Participants to reflect the return of any contributions previously credited to
such Accounts. If the Company so requests, any contribution made under a
mistake of fact shall be returned to the Company within one year after the date
of payment.
(b) Upon the request of the Company, the Trustee shall return to
the Company, any Company Contribution or Participant Before-Tax Contribution
that is not deductible under Code section 404. The Company shall pay any
returned Participant Before-Tax Contribution to the appropriate Participant or
the Company's Nonqualified Retirement/Savings Plan, as appropriate, as soon as
administratively practicable, subject to any withholding. All contributions
under the Plan are expressly conditioned upon their deductibility for federal
income tax purposes. The amount that shall be returned shall be the excess of
the amount contributed (reduced to reflect any decrease in the net worth of the
appropriate Accounts attributable thereto) over the amount that would have been
contributed if there had not been a mistake in determining the deduction.
Appropriate reductions shall be made in the Accounts of Participants to reflect
the return of any contributions previously credited to such Accounts. Any
contribution conditioned on its deductibility shall be returned within one year
after it is disallowed as a deduction.
(c) A contribution shall be returned under this section only to
the extent that its return will not reduce the Account(s) of a Participant to
an amount less than the balance that would have been credited to the
Participant's Account(s) had the contribution not been made.
3.4 Limitation on Annual Additions.
(a) Limit. The Annual Additions to a Participant's Account(s) in
this Plan and to his or her accounts in any other qualified defined
contribution plan maintained by the Company or an Affiliated Entity for any
Limitation Year shall not exceed in the aggregate the lesser of (i) 25% of such
Employee's Compensation or (ii) $30,000 (as adjusted by the Secretary of the
Treasury).
(b) Corrective Mechanism.
(i) Reduction in Annual Additions. A Participant's
Annual Additions shall be reduced, to the extent necessary to satisfy
the foregoing limits, if the Annual Additions arose as a result of a
reasonable error in estimating Compensation, as a result of the
allocation of forfeitures, or as a result of other facts and
circumstances as provided in the regulations under Code section 415.
(ii) Order of Reduction, Multiple Plans. Apache also
maintains the Apache Corporation Money Purchase Retirement Plan, a
money purchase pension plan. On January 1, 1997, Apache owned more
than 50% of Producers Energy Marketing LLC ("ProEnergy"). As long as
Apache's ownership of ProEnergy remains above 50%, the annual
additions to any qualified defined contribution plan maintained by
ProEnergy will be considered Annual Additions subject to the
limitation in subsection (a). The Participant's Annual Additions
shall be reduced, to the extent necessary, in the following order.
First, to the extent that the Annual Additions in a single plan exceed
the limits of subsection (a), the Annual Additions in that plan shall
be reduced, in the order specified in
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that plan, to the extent necessary to satisfy the limits of subsection
(a). Then, if the Participant has Annual Additions in more than one
plan and in the aggregate they exceed the limits of subsection (a),
the Annual Additions will be reduced in the following order: the
Annual Additions to this Plan, in the order specified in paragraph
(iii); then the Annual Additions to ProEnergy's plans, in the order
specified in those plans; then the Annual Additions to the Apache
Corporation Money Purchase Retirement Plan.
(iii) Order of Reduction, This Plan. The Annual Additions
to this Plan shall be reduced in the following order: unmatched
Participant Before-Tax Contributions; then matched Participant Before-
Tax Contributions and the corresponding Company Matching
Contributions; then Company Discretionary Contributions.
(iv) Disposition of Excess Annual Additions. The Plan
shall pay any reduction in Participant Before-Tax Contributions
(adjusted to reflect any investment earnings, but not any investment
losses, thereon) to the Participant as soon as administratively
practicable, subject to any withholding. Any reduction of Company
Contributions shall be placed in a suspense account in the Trust Fund
and used to reduce future Company Contributions to the Plan. The
following rules shall apply to such suspense account: (A) no further
Company Contributions may be made if the allocation thereof would be
precluded by Code section 415; (B) any increase or decrease in the net
value of the Trust Fund attributable to the suspense account shall not
be allocated to the suspense account, but shall be allocated to the
Accounts; and (C) all amounts held in the suspense account shall be
allocated as of each succeeding allocation date on which forfeitures
may be allocated pursuant to section 5.5 (and may be allocated more
frequently if the Committee so directs), until the suspense account is
exhausted.
3.5 Contribution Limits for Highly Compensated Employees (ADP Test).
(a) Limits on Contributions. Notwithstanding any provision in
this Plan to the contrary, the actual deferral percentage ("ADP") test of Code
section 401(k)(3) shall be satisfied. Code section 401(k) and the regulations
issued thereunder are hereby incorporated by reference to the extent permitted
by such regulations. In performing the ADP test for a Plan Year, the Plan will
use that Plan Year's data for the Non-Highly Compensated Employees.
(b) Permissible Variations of the ADP Test. To the extent
permitted by the regulations under Code sections 401(m) and 401(k), Participant
Before-Tax Contributions, QMACs, and QNECs may be used to satisfy the ACP test
of section 3.6 if they are not used to satisfy the ADP test. For Plan Years
beginning on or after January 1, 1999, the Committee may elect to exclude from
the ADP test those Employees with an Employment Commencement Date during the
Plan Year for which the ADP test is being performed.
(c) Advanced Limitation on Participant Before-Tax Contributions or
Company Matching Contributions. The Committee may limit the Participant
Before-Tax Contributions of any Highly Compensated Employee (or any Employee
expected to be a Highly Compensated Employee) at any time during the Plan Year
(with the result that his or her share of Company Matching Contributions may be
limited). This limitation may be made, if practicable, whenever the Committee
believes that the limits of this section or sections 3.4, 3.6, or 3.7 will not
be satisfied for the Plan Year.
(d) Corrections to Satisfy Test. If the ADP test is not satisfied
for the Plan Year, the Committee shall decide which one or more of the
following methods shall be employed to satisfy the ADP test. All corrections
shall be accomplished if possible before March 15 of the following Plan Year,
and in no event later than 12 months after the close of the Plan Year.
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(i) The Committee may recommend to the Company and the
Company may make QNECs to the Plan, pursuant to subsection 3.8(c).
(ii) The Committee may recommend to the Company and the
Company may designate some or all of the Company Discretionary
Contributions allocated to Non-Highly Compensated Employees as QNECs,
pursuant to subsection 3.8(b).
(iii) The Committee may recommend to the Company and the
Company may designate any Company Matching Contributions to the Plan
as QMACs, pursuant to section 3.9.
(iv) Participant Before-Tax Contributions of Highly
Compensated Employees may be returned to the Highly Compensated
Employee, without the consent of either the Highly Compensated
Employee or his or her Spouse, subject to the rules of subsection (e).
Unmatched Participant Before-Tax Contributions shall be returned
first. If a matched Participant Before-Tax Contribution is returned,
the associated Company Matching Contribution shall be forfeited.
(e) Determining Amounts Returned. If the ADP test is not
satisfied and the Committee elects to return Participant Before-Tax
Contributions pursuant to paragraph (d)(iv) above, the Committee shall
determine the amount to be returned, and shall then divide that amount among
the Highly Compensated Employees in a manner consistent with the Code. The
amount returned shall be adjusted to reflect any increase or decrease in the
net worth of the Accounts attributable to such contributions. The Committee
may use any reasonable method to calculate this adjustment.
3.6 Contribution Limits for Highly Compensated Employees (ACP Test).
(a) Limits on Contributions. Notwithstanding any provision in
this Plan to the contrary, the actual contribution percentage ("ACP") test of
Code section 401(m)(2) shall be satisfied. Code section 401(m) and the
regulations issued thereunder are hereby incorporated by reference to the
extent permitted by such regulations. In performing the ACP test for a Plan
Year, the Plan will use that Plan Year's data for the Non-Highly Compensated
Employees.
(b) Permissible Variations of the ACP Test. To the extent
permitted by the regulations under Code sections 401(m) and 401(k), Participant
Before-Tax Contributions, QMACs, and QNECs may be used to satisfy this test if
not used to satisfy the ADP test of section 3.5. For Plan Years beginning on
or after January 1, 1999, the Committee may elect to exclude from the ACP test
those Employees with an Employment Commencement Date during the Plan Year for
which the ACP test is being performed.
(c) Corrections to Satisfy Test. If the ACP test is not
satisfied, the Committee shall decide which one or more of the following
methods shall be employed to satisfy the ACP test. All corrections shall be
accomplished if possible before March 15 of the following Plan Year, and in no
event later than 12 months after the close of the Plan Year.
(i) The Committee may recommend to the Company and the
Company may make QNECs to the Plan, pursuant to subsection 3.8(c).
(ii) The Committee may recommend to the Company and the
Company may designate any portion of its Company Discretionary
Contribution as a QNEC, pursuant to subsection 3.8(b).
(iii) The Committee may recommend to the Company and the
Company may make extra Company Matching Contributions to the Plan,
pursuant to paragraph 3.1(b)(ii).
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(iv) The non-vested Company Matching Contributions
allocated to Highly Compensated Employees as of any date during the
Plan Year may be forfeited as of the last day of the Plan Year,
subject to the rules of subsection (d). For this purpose, the vested
percentage is determined as of the last day of the Plan Year.
(v) In a top-heavy Plan Year, the Company Matching
Contributions of any Non-Key Employee who is a Highly Compensated
Employee may be treated as Company Discretionary Contributions to the
extent necessary to satisfy the minimum contribution requirement of
section 12.4. Any such Company Matching Contributions shall not be a
part of this ACP test.
(vi) The vested Company Matching Contributions allocated
to any Highly Compensated Employee for the Plan Year may be paid to
such Highly Compensated Employee, without the consent of either the
Highly Compensated Employee or his or her Spouse, subject to the rules
of subsection (d).
(vii) Those Participant Before-Tax Contributions that are
taken into account for this ACP test for any Highly Compensated
Employee may be returned to such Highly Compensated Employee, without
the consent of either the Highly Compensated Employee or his or her
Spouse, subject to the rules of subsection (d). Unmatched Participant
Before-Tax Contributions shall be returned first. If any matched
Participant Before-Tax Contribution is returned, then the associated
Company Matching Contribution shall be forfeited (unless it has
already been paid to the Highly Compensated Employee pursuant to
paragraph (vi)).
(d) Determining Amount of Correction. If the ACP test is not
satisfied and the Committee elects to forfeit certain nonvested Company
Matching Contributions pursuant to paragraph (c)(iv) above, or to pay to the
Highly Compensated Employee(s) some or all of their vested Company Matching
Contributions pursuant to paragraph (c)(vi) above, or to return to the Highly
Compensated Employee(s) some or all of their Participant Before-Tax
Contributions pursuant to paragraph (c)(vii) above, the Committee shall
determine the amount to be forfeited, paid, and/or returned, and shall then
divide that amount among the Highly Compensated Employees in a manner
consistent with the Code. The amounts forfeited shall be adjusted to reflect
any increase or decrease in the net worth of the Accounts attributable to such
amounts. The Committee may use any reasonable method to calculate this
adjustment.
3.7 Contribution Limits for Highly Compensated Employees (Multiple Use).
(a) Limits on Contributions. Notwithstanding any provision in
this Plan to the contrary, the multiple use test described in the regulations
under Code section 401(m) shall be satisfied. Code section 401(m) and the
regulations issued thereunder are hereby incorporated by reference to the
extent permitted by such regulations. In performing the multiple-use test for
a Plan Year, the Plan will use that Plan Year's data for the Non-Highly
Compensated Employees. For Plan Years beginning on or after January 1, 1999,
the Committee may elect to exclude from the multiple-use test those Employees
with an Employment Commencement Date during the Plan Year for which the
multiple-use test is being performed.
(b) Corrections to Satisfy Multiple Use Test. If the multiple use
test is not satisfied, the Company shall cause the contributions to the
Accounts of the Highly Compensated Employees to be adjusted using one or more
of the methods described in subsections 3.5(d) and 3.6(c). The Company shall
apply such methods to all Highly Compensated Employees. The Company may also
use any other correction method permitted in the regulations under Code section
401(m). Any Company Matching Contributions used to satisfy the minimum
contribution requirement for Non-Key Employees under section 12.4 shall not be
a part of this multiple use test.
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3.8 QNECs.
(a) QNECs shall be paid to the Plan no later than 12 months after
the close of the Plan Year to which they relate.
(b) The Company may designate as a QNEC all or any portion of the
Company Discretionary Contribution that is allocated to Non-Highly Compensated
Employees.
(c) The Company may make a contribution to the Plan, in addition
to the Company Discretionary Contribution, that the Company designates as a
QNEC. This subsection applies to such contributions. As of the last day of
each Plan Year, the Committee shall allocate such QNECs for such Plan Year
(including such forfeitures occurring during such Plan Year that are treated as
QNECs pursuant to section 5.5). These amounts shall be allocated to the
Participant Before-Tax Contributions Accounts of those Non-Highly Compensated
Employees who were Covered Employees on the last day of the Plan Year, as
follows:
(i) QNECs shall be allocated to the Participant
Before-Tax Contributions Account of the Non-Highly Compensated
Employee(s) with the least Compensation, until either the QNECs are
exhausted or the limit of section 3.4 is reached for such Non-Highly
Compensated Employee(s).
(ii) Any remaining QNECs shall be allocated to the
Participant Before-Tax Contributions Account of the Non-Highly
Compensated Employee(s) with the next lowest Compensation, until
either the QNECs are exhausted or the limit of section 3.4 is reached
for such Non-Highly Compensated Employee(s).
(iii) The procedure in paragraph (ii) shall be repeated
until all QNECs have been allocated.
(d) All QNECs shall be treated in the same manner as a Company
Discretionary Contribution for purposes of section 12.4.
3.9 QMACs.
The Company may designate all or any portion of any Non-Highly
Compensated Employee's allocation of Company Matching Contributions as a QMAC.
Such designation shall be made before such contributions are made to the Trust
Fund. If the Company inadvertently designates any Highly Compensated
Employee's allocation as a QMAC, the designation shall be ineffective. QMACs
shall be paid to the Plan no later than 12 months after the close of the Plan
Year to which they relate.
ARTICLE IV
INTERESTS IN THE TRUST FUND
4.1 Participants' Accounts.
The Committee shall establish and maintain separate Accounts in the
name of each Participant, but the maintenance of such Accounts shall not
require any segregation of assets of the Trust Fund. Each Account shall
contain the contributions specified below and the increase or decrease in the
net worth of the Trust Fund attributable to such contributions.
(a) Participant Before-Tax Contributions Account. A Participant
Before-Tax Contributions Account shall be established for each Participant who
makes Participant Before-Tax Contributions, or who receives an
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allocation of QNECs or QMACs. The Committee may elect to establish subaccounts
for the different types of contributions allocated to this Account.
(b) Company Contributions Account. A Company Contributions
Account shall be established for each Participant who receives an allocation of
Company Discretionary Contributions that are not designated as QNECs or an
allocation of Company Matching Contributions that are not designated as QMACs.
The Committee may elect to establish subaccounts for the different types of
contributions allocated to this Account.
(c) Rollover Account. A Rollover Account shall be established for
each Participant who makes a direct rollover to the Plan pursuant to subsection
3.2(b).
4.2 Valuation of Trust Fund.
(a) General. The Trustee shall value the assets of the Trust Fund
at least annually as of the last day of the Plan Year, and as of any other
dates determined by the Committee, at their current fair market value and
determine the net worth of the Trust Fund. In addition, the Committee may
direct the Trustee to have a special valuation of the assets of the Trust Fund
when the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that such valuation is
necessary or appropriate or in the event of unusual market fluctuations of such
assets. Such special valuation shall not include any contributions made by
Participants since the preceding Valuation Date, any Company Contributions for
the current Plan Year, or any unallocated forfeitures. The Trustee shall
allocate the expenses of the Trust Fund occurring since the preceding Valuation
Date, pursuant to section 9.2, and then determine the increase or decrease in
the net worth of the Trust Fund that has occurred since the preceding Valuation
Date. The Trustee shall determine the share of the increase of decrease that
is attributable to the non-separately accounted for portion of the Trust Fund
and to any amount separately accounted for, as described in subsections (b) and
(c).
(b) Mandatory Separate Accounting. The Trustee shall separately
account for (i) any individually directed investments permitted under section
9.3, and (ii) amounts subject to a Domestic Relations Order, to provide a more
equitable allocation of any increase or decrease in the net worth of the
Accounts.
(c) Permissible Separate Accounting. The Trustee may separately
account for the following amounts to provide a more equitable allocation of any
increase or decrease in the net worth of the Trust Fund:
(i) the distributable amount of a Participant, pursuant
to section 6.6, including any amount distributable to an Alternate
Payee or to a beneficiary of a deceased Participant; and
(ii) Company Matching Contributions made since the
preceding Valuation Date;
(iii) Participant Before-Tax Contributions that were
received by the Trustee since the preceding Valuation Date;
(iv) Company Matching Contributions and Participant
Before-Tax Contributions of Highly Compensated Employees that may need
to be distributed or forfeited to satisfy the ADP, ACP, and multiple
use tests of sections 3.5, 3.6, and 3.7;
(vi) Rollovers that were received by the Trustee since the
preceding Valuation Date;
(v) Any other amounts for which separate accounting will
provide a more equitable allocation of the increase or decrease in the
net worth of the Trust Fund.
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4.3 Allocation of Increase or Decrease in Net Worth.
(a) The Committee shall, as of each Valuation Date, allocate the
increase or decrease in the net worth of the Trust Fund that has occurred since
the preceding Valuation Date between the non-separately accounted for portion
of the Trust Fund and the amounts separately accounted for that are identified
in subsections 4.2(b) and 4.2(c).
(b) The increase or decrease attributable to the non-separately
accounted for portion of the Trust Fund shall be allocated among the
appropriate Accounts in the ratio that the dollar value of each such Account
bore to the aggregate dollar value of all such Accounts on the preceding
Valuation Date after all allocations and credits made as of such date had been
completed.
(c) After the allocation in subsection (b) is completed, the
Committee shall allocate any amounts separately accounted for (including the
increase or decrease in the net worth of the Trust Fund attributable to such
amounts) to the appropriate Account(s) if such separate accounting is no longer
necessary.
ARTICLE V
AMOUNT OF BENEFITS
5.1 Vesting Schedule.
A Participant shall have a fully vested and nonforfeitable interest in
all his or her Account(s) upon his or her Normal Retirement Age if he or she is
an Employee on such date, upon his or her death while an Employee or while on
an approved leave of absence from the Company or an Affiliated Entity, or upon
his or her termination of employment with the Company or an Affiliated Entity
because of a Disability. In all other instances a Participant's vested
interest shall be calculated according to the following rules.
(a) Participant Before-Tax Contributions Account and Rollover
Account. A Participant shall be fully vested at all times in his or her
Participant Before-Tax Contributions Account and his or her Rollover Account.
(b) Company Contributions Account. A Participant shall become
fully vested in his or her Company Contributions Account in accordance with the
following schedule:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Completed Years of Service Vesting Percentage
-------------------------- ------------------
<S> <C>
Less than 1 0%
1 20%
2 40%
3 60%
4 80%
5 or more 100%
</TABLE>
(c) Special Vesting Rule. All Participants in the Plan who were
Employees of the Company on July 1, 1992 became 100% vested with respect to all
Company Matching Contributions and Company Discretionary Contributions,
together with any earnings attributable thereto, made as of any date prior to
July 2, 1992. If a Participant was not previously 100% vested, then the amount
that became 100% vested pursuant to this subsection was allocated to a special
Company Contributions Account; a new Company Contributions Account was
established for all Company Matching Contributions not designated as QMACs and
Company Discretionary Contributions made on behalf of the Participant as of any
date subsequent to July 1, 1992. Whenever any Participant becomes 100% vested
in the two separate Company Contributions Accounts, those Accounts shall be
merged into one Company Contributions Account.
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(d) Partial Termination. A partial termination of the Plan
occurred as a result of the relocation of Apache's headquarters from Denver,
Colorado to Houston, Texas. As a result, notwithstanding subsection (b), the
Company Contributions Accounts off all Denver-based Participants who were laid
off or who voluntarily severed their employment with the Company after August
5, 1991, in connection with the corporate relocation, are 100% vested.
(e) Change of Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions
of this section 5.1, the Company Contributions Accounts of all Participants
shall be fully vested as of the effective date of a "change in control." For
purposes of this subsection, a "change of control" shall mean the event
occurring when a person, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity,
together with all persons, partnerships, corporations, and other legal entities
acting in concert with such person, partnership, corporation, or other legal
entity, or any or all of them, acquires more than 20% of Apache's outstanding
voting securities; provided that a change of control shall not occur if, prior
to the acquisition of more than 20% of Apache's voting securities, Apache's
Board of Directors by majority vote designates the person, partnership,
corporation, or other legal entity as an approved acquiror and resolves that a
change of control will not occur for purposes of this Plan.
5.2 Forfeitures.
(a) Notwithstanding the vesting rules of section 5.1, Annual
Additions to a Participant's Accounts and any increase or decrease in the net
worth of the Participant's Accounts attributable to such Annual Additions may
be reduced to satisfy the limits described in section 3.4. Any reduction shall
be allocated as specified in section 3.4.
(b) Notwithstanding the vesting rules of section 5.1, Company
Matching Contributions and any increase or decrease in the net worth of the
Account(s) attributable to such contributions may be forfeited as of the last
day of the Plan Year if the Participant Before-Tax Contribution that they
matched was returned under paragraph 3.2(a)(ii) or subsection 3.5(d), 3.6(c),
or 3.7(b). Any such forfeiture shall be allocated as specified in section 5.5.
(c) Notwithstanding the vesting rules of section 5.1, a missing
individual's vested Accounts may be forfeited as of the last day of any Plan
Year, as provided in section 13.12. Any such forfeiture shall be allocated as
specified in section 5.5.
(d) A Participant's non-vested interest in his or her Company
Contributions Account shall be forfeited at the end of the Plan Year in which
the Participant terminates employment. Any such forfeiture shall be allocated
as specified in section 5.5.
(e) Notwithstanding the vesting rules of section 5.1, Company
Matching Contributions that would violate Code section 401(a)(17), and any
increase or decrease in the net worth of the Account(s) attributable to such
contributions, may be forfeited as specified in subsection 3.1(b). Any such
reduction shall be allocated as specified in subsection 3.1(b).
5.3 Restoration of Forfeitures.
(a) The forfeiture of a missing individual's Account(s), as
described in section 13.12, shall be restored to such individual if the
individual makes a claim for such amount.
(b) If a Participant is rehired before incurring five-consecutive
one-year Lapses in Apache Employment, and the Participant has received a
distribution of his or her entire vested interest in his or her Company
Contributions Account (with the result that the Participant forfeited his or
her non-vested interest in such Account), then the exact amount of the
forfeiture shall be restored to the Participant's Account. All the rights,
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<PAGE> 27
benefits, and features available to the Participant when the forfeiture
occurred shall be available with respect to the restored forfeiture.
(c) If a Participant who is rehired before incurring five
consecutive one-year Lapses in Apache Employment has his or her Accounts
restored as above provided, and again terminates employment prior to becoming
fully vested in his or her Company Contributions Account, the vested portion of
his or her Company Contributions Account shall be determined by applying the
vested percentage determined under section 5.1 to the sum of (A) and (B), then
subtracting (B) from such sum, where: (A) is the value of the Participant's
Company Contributions Account as of the Valuation Date immediately following
his or her most recent termination of employment; and (B) is the amount
previously distributed to the Participant on account of the prior termination
of employment.
(d) If a Participant is rehired after having incurred five
consecutive one-year Lapses in Apache Employment, then no amount forfeited from
his or her Company Contributions Account shall be restored to that Account.
5.4 Method of Forfeiture Restoration.
Forfeitures that are restored pursuant to section 5.3 shall be
accomplished by an allocation of the forfeitures occurring during the Plan
Year, pursuant to section 5.5, or if such forfeitures are insufficient, by a
special Company Contribution, pursuant to paragraph 3.1(c)(i).
5.5 Allocation of Forfeitures.
(a) During the Plan Year. The forfeitures that occur during a
Plan Year shall be used during the Plan Year for the following: to restore the
forfeited portions of the Company Contributions Accounts of reemployed
Participants described in section 5.3; to pay those expenses of the Plan that
are properly payable from the Trust Fund and that are not paid by the Company
or charged to Accounts; to reduce the Company Matching Contributions under
paragraph 3.1(b)(i) for the Plan Year, to the extent that the Company has not
already made such contributions; to reduce any other Company Contributions for
the Plan Year, but only to the extent that the Company decides to make such
contributions.
(b) Forfeitures Remaining After the Plan Year End. If any
forfeitures remain after the end of a Plan Year, they shall be used during the
following Plan Year for the following: to restore the forfeited portions of the
Company Contributions Accounts of reemployed Participants described in section
5.3; to pay those expenses of the Plan that are properly payable from the Trust
Fund and that are not paid by the Company or charged to Accounts; to reduce the
Company Matching Contributions under paragraph 3.1(b)(i) for the Plan Year, to
the extent that the Company has not already made such contributions; to reduce
the Company Matching Contributions under paragraph 3.1(b)(i) for such following
Plan Year, to the extent the Company has not already made such contributions;
to reduce any other Company Contributions for the Plan Year, but only to the
extent that the Company decides to make such contributions; and to reduce any
other Company Contributions for such following Plan Year, but only to the
extent that the Company decides to make such contributions. Apache shall
decide, on behalf of each employer, the amount and type(s) of Company
Contributions the forfeitures shall reduce. Any forfeitures that remain at the
end of such following Plan Year shall be allocated as a Company Discretionary
Contribution for such following Plan Year.
5.6 Credits for Pre-Lapse Service.
(a) Company Contributions Made After Reemployment.
(i) A Participant who is vested in any portion of his or
her Company Contributions Account, who incurs a one-year Lapse in
Apache Employment, and who is thereafter
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Prepared July 30, 1997
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reemployed, shall receive credit for vesting purposes for Years of
Service prior to a one-year Lapse in Apache Employment upon completing
a Year of Service after such one-year Lapse in Apache Employment.
(ii) A Participant who is not vested in any portion of his
or her Company Contributions Account, who incurs a one-year Lapse in
Apache Employment, and who is thereafter reemployed, shall receive
credit for vesting purposes for Years of Service prior to a one-year
Lapse in Apache Employment only if (A) the Participant completes a
Year of Service after such Lapse in Apache Employment, and (B) the
number of consecutive one-year Lapses in Apache Employment is less
than the greater of five or the aggregate number of Years of Service
before such lapse.
(b) Company Contributions Made Prior to Termination. Years of
Service after a Participant has incurred five consecutive one-year Lapses in
Apache Employment shall be disregarded in determining the vested percentage in
a Participant's Company Contributions Account at the time of the lapse.
5.7 Transfers - Portability.
If any other employer adopts this or a similar profit sharing plan and
enters into a reciprocal agreement with the Company that provides that (a) the
transfer of a Participant from such employer to the Company (or vice versa)
shall not be deemed a termination of employment for purposes of the plans, and
(b) service with either or both employers shall be credited for purposes of
vesting under both plans, then the transferred Participant's Account shall be
unaffected by the transfer, except, if deemed advisable by the Committee, it
may be transferred to the trustee of the other plan.
5.8 Reemployment - Separate Account.
If a Participant who is not fully vested terminates employment and
then returns to employment with the Company or an Affiliated Entity before
receiving the entire vested portion of his or her Company Contributions
Account, the vested portion that has not been distributed shall be held in a
separate Company Contributions Account for such Participant. The Participant
shall be fully vested in such Account and no further Company Contributions
shall be allocated to that Account. In all other respects, such Account shall
be treated as a Company Contributions Account. A new Company Contributions
Account shall be established to which all appropriate Company Contributions
made after the date of reemployment shall be allocated. If a Participant
becomes fully vested in two or more Company Contributions Accounts, all such
amounts shall be merged into one Account.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS
6.1 Beneficiaries.
(a) Each Account Owner shall file with the Committee a designation
of the beneficiaries and contingent beneficiaries to whom the distributable
amount (determined pursuant to section 6.3) shall be paid in the event of his
or her death. In the absence of an effective beneficiary designation as to any
portion of the distributable amount after a Participant dies, such amount shall
be paid to the Participant's surviving Spouse, or, if none, to his or her
estate. In the absence of an effective beneficiary designation as to any
portion of the distributable amount after any non- Participant Account Owner
dies, such amount shall be paid to the Account Owner's estate.
(b) A beneficiary designation may be changed by the Account Owner
at any time and without the consent of any previously designated beneficiary.
However, if the Account Owner is a married Participant, his or her Spouse shall
be his or her beneficiary unless his or her Spouse has consented to the
designation of a different
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beneficiary. To be effective, the Spouse's consent must be in writing,
witnessed by a notary public, and filed with the Committee. Any such election
shall be effective only as to the Spouse who signed the election. If a
Participant has designated his or her Spouse as his or her beneficiary, and the
Participant and that Spouse subsequently divorce, then the beneficiary
designation shall be void and of no effect on the day such divorce is final.
6.2 Consent.
(a) Except for distributions identified in subsection (b),
distributions may be made only after the appropriate consent has been obtained
under this subsection. Distributions to a Participant shall be made only with
the Participant's consent to the manner of distribution and the time of
distribution. Distributions to a beneficiary of a deceased Participant shall
be made only with the beneficiary's consent to the manner of distribution and
the time of distribution. Distributions to an Alternate Payee or his or her
beneficiary shall be made as specified in the QDRO. To be effective, the
consent must be in writing, signed by the distributee, and filed with the
Committee within 90 days before the distribution is to commence. A consent
once given shall be irrevocable after distribution has begun. Nevertheless, if
a distributee has elected to receive his or her distribution in the form of
installments, he or she may elect to accelerate any or all remaining
installments.
(b) Consent is not required for the following distributions:
(i) Corrective distributions under Article III that are
returned to the Participant because the contribution is not deductible
by the Company or because the contribution would exceed the limits of
Code sections 401(a)(17), 415(c)(1), 415(e), 402(g), 401(k)(3),
401(m)(2), or 401(m)(9);
(ii) Distributions that are required to comply with Code
section 401(a)(9);
(iii) Immediate cashouts of less than $3,500, as described
in subsection 6.5(d);
(iv) Distributions pursuant to Code section 401(a)(14); and
(v) Distributions of invalid rollovers pursuant to
subsection 3.2(b).
6.3 Distributable Amount.
The distributable amount of a Participant's Account(s) is the vested
portion of the Account(s) (as determined by Article V) as of the Valuation Date
coincident with or next preceding the date distribution is made to the
Participant or beneficiary, reduced by (a) any amount that is payable to an
Alternate Payee pursuant to section 13.9, (b) any amount withdrawn pursuant to
section 7.1 since such Valuation Date, and (c) the outstanding balance of any
loan under section 7.2. Furthermore, the Committee shall temporarily suspend
or limit distributions (by reducing the distributable amount), as explained in
section 13.9, when the Committee is informed that a QDRO affecting the
Participant's Accounts is in process or may be in process.
6.4 Manner of Distribution.
(a) The distributable amount shall be paid in accordance with
either one or a combination of both of the following methods as the distributee
may elect subject to the limitations of subsection (b): (i) by a lump sum
distribution (other than an annuity), or (ii) by monthly, quarterly, or annual
installments (which must be as nearly equal as possible) over a specified
period not exceeding the joint life expectancy of the Participant and his or
her beneficiary, calculated according to the regulations issued under Code
section 401(a)(9). Once installment payments have begun, the distributee may
elect to accelerate any or all remaining payments pursuant to such requirements
as may be adopted by the Committee.
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(b) Alternate Payees shall be entitled to only lump sum
distributions. Only lump sum distributions are available for distributions of
small amounts under subsection 6.5(d).
(c) If all or a portion of a Participant's Accounts are invested
in shares of Company Stock at the time amounts become distributable pursuant to
Article VI, the Participant may elect to receive a lump sum distribution of the
whole shares of Company Stock allocated to his or her Accounts together with a
cash lump sum payment for any fractional share and for any portion of the
Accounts not invested in shares of Company Stock. The Committee shall
establish appropriate election procedures from time to time with respect to
distribution elections. If a Participant fails to make an election with
respect to the form of distribution, the distribution of that portion of the
Participant's Accounts that is invested in shares of Company Stock shall be
made in the form of shares of Company Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any fractional share of Company Stock shall be converted to and paid in the
form of cash.
6.5 Time of Distribution.
(a) Earliest Date of Distribution. Unless an earlier distribution
is permitted by subsection (b) or required by subsection (c), the earliest date
that a Participant may elect to receive a distribution is as follows.
(i) Termination of Employment or Disability. A
Participant may elect to receive a distribution as soon as practicable
after he terminates employment or incurs a Disability. However,
distribution from a Participant Before-Tax Contribution Account shall
not occur pursuant to this paragraph unless (A) the Participant has
separated from service within the meaning of Code section
401(k)(2)(B)(i)(I), (B) the Participant has incurred a Disability, (C)
the Participant has attained age 59-1/2, or (D) the Participant has
been affected by a corporate transaction described in Code section
401(k)(10)(A)(ii) or Code section 401(k)(10)(A)(iii).
(ii) During Employment. A Participant may not obtain a
distribution while employed by the Company or an Affiliated Entity,
except as provided in section 7.1 (relating to in-service withdrawals)
and except for the minimum distributions required on and after a
Five-Percent Owner's Required Beginning Date.
(b) Alternate Earliest Date of Distribution. Notwithstanding
subsection (a), unless a Participant elects otherwise, his or her distribution
shall commence no later than 60 days after the close of the latest of: (i) the
Plan Year in which the Participant attains Normal Retirement Age; (ii) the Plan
Year in which occurs the tenth anniversary of the year in which the Participant
commenced participation in the Plan; and (iii) the Plan Year in which the
Participant terminates employment with the Company and Affiliated Entities. If
a Participant does not affirmatively elect a distribution, he or she shall be
deemed to have elected to defer the distribution to a date later than that
specified in the preceding sentence.
(c) Latest Date of Distribution. Distribution must be made (i) in
a lump sum not later than the Required Beginning Date, or (ii) in installments
commencing not later than the Required Beginning Date. A Participant shall
receive annual distributions of at least the minimum amount required to be
distributed pursuant to regulations issued under Code section 401(a)(9). In
calculating the minimum required distribution, (i) the life expectancies of the
Participant and his or her beneficiary shall be used, (ii) the life expectancy
of the Participant shall be recalculated annually only if the Participant
affirmatively elects such recalculation, (iii) if the beneficiary is the
Participant's Spouse, the life expectancy of the Spouse shall be recalculated
annually only if the Participant affirmatively elects such recalculation, and
(iv) if the Participant does not inform the Committee of the birthdate of his
or her beneficiary a reasonable time before the Required Beginning Date, the
Participant's minimum required distributions shall be calculated using only the
Participant's life expectancy.
(d) Small Amounts. If the aggregate value of the nonforfeitable
portion of a Participant's Accounts is $3,500 or less (calculated in accordance
with the applicable Treasury regulations) on the earliest date the
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Participant may elect to receive a distribution under this section, then the
Participant shall receive a lump sum distribution as soon as practicable after
terminating employment.
(e) Distribution Upon Participant's Death.
(i) This paragraph shall apply if the distribution did
not begin before the Participant died. If the aggregate cash value of
the nonforfeitable portion of the Participant's Accounts is $3,500 or
less (calculated in accordance with applicable Treasury regulations),
the beneficiary shall receive a lump sum distribution as soon as
practicable after the Participant dies. Otherwise, the beneficiary
may elect to have the distributable amount distributed (A) by the end
of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the
Participant's death, or (B) in installments over a period not
exceeding the life expectancy of the beneficiary, with the first
installment distributed by the end of the calendar year containing the
first anniversary of the Participant's death. However, if the
beneficiary is the Participant's surviving Spouse, the beneficiary may
elect to defer distribution until the end of the calendar year in
which the Participant would have attained age 70-1/2, or, if later,
the end of the calendar year containing the first anniversary of the
Participant's death. If the surviving Spouse makes such an election
but dies before receiving the entire distributable amount, then the
rules of this paragraph shall be applied as if the Spouse were the
Participant and as if the Spouse's beneficiary were the Participant's
beneficiary.
(ii) If distribution began before the Participant died,
then the remaining distributable amount shall be distributed at least
as rapidly as under the method in use on the date of the Participant's
death.
(f) Alternate Payee. Distributions to Alternate Payees and their
beneficiaries shall be made as specified in section 13.9.
(g) 242(b) Elections. Notwithstanding the foregoing, distribution
of a Participant's Account(s), including the Account(s) of a Participant who is
a Key Employee in a top-heavy plan, may be made in accordance with all of the
following rules (regardless of when such distribution commences);
(i) The distribution must be one that would not have
disqualified the Plan under Code section 401(a)(9) prior to its
amendment by the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982.
(ii) The distribution must be in accordance with a method
of distribution designated by the Participant whose interest in the
Plan is being distributed, or if the Participant is deceased, by the
designated beneficiary of such Participant.
(iii) The designation must have been in writing, signed by
the Participant or designated beneficiary, and made before January 1,
1984.
(iv) The Participant must have accrued a benefit under the
Plan as of December 31, 1983.
6.6 Direct Rollover Election.
(a) General Rule. A Participant, an Alternate Payee who is the
Spouse or former Spouse of the Participant, or a surviving Spouse of a deceased
Participant (collectively, the "distributee") may direct the Trustee to pay all
or any portion of his or her "eligible rollover distribution" to an "eligible
retirement plan" in a "direct rollover." Within a reasonable period of time
before an eligible rollover distribution, the Committee shall inform
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the distributee of this direct rollover option, the appropriate withholding
rules, other rollover options, the options regarding income taxation, and any
other information required by Code section 402(f).
(b) Definition of Eligible Rollover Distribution. For purposes of
this section only, an "eligible rollover distribution" is any distribution or
in-service withdrawal other than (i) distributions required under Code section
401(a)(9), (ii) distributions of amounts that have already been subject to
federal income tax (such as defaulted loans or after-tax voluntary
contributions), (iii) installment payments in a series of substantially equal
payments made at least annually and (A) made over a specified period of ten or
more years, (B) made for the life or life expectancy of the distributee, or (C)
made for the joint life or joint life expectancy of the distributee and his or
her designated beneficiary, (iv) a distribution to satisfy the limits of Code
section 415 or 402(g), (v) a distribution to satisfy ADP, ACP, or multiple use
tests, or (vi) any other actual or deemed distribution specified in the
regulations issued under Code section 402(c).
(c) Definition of Eligible Retirement Plan. For purposes of this
section only, (i) for a Participant or an Alternate Payee who is the Spouse or
former Spouse of the Participant, an "eligible retirement plan" is an
individual retirement account or annuity described in Code section 408(a) or
408(b), an annuity plan described in Code section 403(a), or the qualified
trust of a defined contribution plan that accepts eligible rollover
distributions, and (ii) for a surviving Spouse of a deceased Participant, an
"eligible retirement plan" is an individual retirement account or annuity.
(d) Definition of Direct Rollover. For purposes of this section
only, a "direct rollover" is a payment by the Trustee to the eligible
retirement plan specified by the distributee.
ARTICLE VII
WITHDRAWALS AND LOANS
7.1 In-Service Withdrawals.
An Employee may withdraw amounts from his or her Account(s) only as
provided in this section. An Employee may make withdrawals as follows.
(a) Withdrawals for Employees Age 59-1/2 or Older. An Employee
who has attained age 59-1/2 may at any time thereafter withdraw any portion of
his or her Participant Before-Tax Contributions Account and any vested portion
of his or her Company Contributions Account. The minimum withdrawal is $1,000
or the vested Account balance, whichever is less. Only two withdrawals are
permitted during each Plan Year under this subsection. If the Employee is not
fully vested in his or her Company Contributions Account at the time of a
withdrawal under this subsection, the rules of subsection 5.3(c) shall be
applied when determining the vested portion of the Company Contributions
Account at any time thereafter.
(b) Rollover Account. An Employee may withdraw all or any portion
of his Rollover Account at any time. The minimum withdrawal is $1,000 or the
Rollover Account balance, whichever is less. Only two withdrawals from the
Rollover Account are permitted during each Plan Year.
(c) Participant Before-Tax Contributions Account. An Employee may
withdraw all or any portion of his or her Participant Before-Tax Contributions,
provided that the Employee has an immediate and heavy financial need, as
defined in paragraph (i), the withdrawal is needed to satisfy the financial
need, as explained in paragraph (ii), and the amount of the withdrawal does not
exceed the limits in paragraph (iii).
(i) Financial Need. The following expenses constitute an
immediate and heavy financial need: medical care of the Employee, the
Employee's Spouse, or the Employee's dependents; costs associated with
the purchase of a principal residence of the Employee; tuition,
related educational fees, and room and board for the next 12 months of
post-secondary education
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of the Employee, the Employee's Spouse, or the Employee's dependents;
payments to prevent the Employee from being evicted from his or her
principal residence; payments to prevent the mortgage on the
Employee's principle residence from being foreclosed; and any other
expenses specifically identified in Treasury Regulation section
1.401(k)-1(d)(2)(iv)(A), as amended. In addition, the Committee may
determine, based on a review of all relevant facts and circumstances,
that a particular expense or series of expenses of the Employee
constitutes an immediate and heavy financial need.
(ii) Satisfaction of Need. The withdrawal is deemed to be
needed to satisfy the Employee's financial need if (A) the Employee
has obtained all withdrawals and all non-taxable loans available from
the Company's and any Affiliated Entities' qualified plans, (B) for a
period of at least 12 months from the date the Employee receives the
withdrawal, he or she ceases to make Participant Before-Tax
Contributions and elective contributions to all qualified and
non-qualified plans maintained by the Company or any Affiliated
Entity, and (C) the Participant Before-Tax Contributions that the
Employee makes in the calendar year after the withdrawal is limited to
the dollar limit in effect under Code section 402(g)(1) ($9,500 in
1997) for the calendar year after the withdrawal, less the Employee's
Participant Before-Tax Contributions made during the calendar year of
the withdrawal.
(iii) Maximum Withdrawal. An Employee may not withdraw
more than the sum of the amount needed to satisfy his or her financial
need and any taxes and penalties resulting from the withdrawal. An
Employee may not withdraw any amount in excess of his or her
Participant Before-Tax Contributions unless the Employee has attained
age 59-1/2.
(d) Form of Payment of Withdrawal. Withdrawals under subsection
(c) shall be in cash. Withdrawals under subsections (a) and (b) shall be in
cash, except that any portion of a Participant's Accounts that is invested in
Company Stock may, at the election of the Participant made at the time that
notice of withdrawal is made to the Committee, be withdrawn in the form of
whole shares of Company Stock.
(e) Withdrawal Rules. An Employee may not withdraw any amount
under this section that has been borrowed or that is subject to a QDRO. The
Committee shall temporarily suspend or limit withdrawals under this section, as
explained in section 13.9, when the Committee is informed that a QDRO affecting
the Employee's Accounts is in process or may be in process. The Committee
shall issue such rules as to the frequency of withdrawals, and withdrawal
procedures, as it deems appropriate. The Committee may postpone the withdrawal
until after the next Valuation Date. The Committee may have a special
valuation of the Trust Fund performed before a withdrawal is permitted. The
Plan may charge a fee for the withdrawal as well as a fee for having a special
valuation performed, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
7.2 Loans.
The Committee is authorized, as one of the Plan fiduciaries
responsible for investing Plan assets, to establish a loan program. The loan
program shall become effective on the date determined by the Committee. The
Committee shall administer the Plan's loan program in accordance with the
following rules:
(a) Availability. Loans are available only to Participants who
are Employees, Participants who are parties-in-interest (within the meaning of
ERISA section 3(14)), and beneficiaries who are parties-in-interest
(collectively referred to in this section as "Borrowers"). No loan shall be
made to any individual while the individual falls into any of the following
categories, nor shall any loan be made of amounts accrued while such individual
fell into any of the following categories:
(i) Owner-employee within the meaning of Code section
401(c)(3); or
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(ii) Employee or officer who owns (or is considered as
owning within the meaning of Code section 318(a)(1) on any day during
the taxable year of the Company or Affiliated Entity) 5% or more of
the stock of the Company or any Affiliated Entity, but only if the
Company or Affiliated Entity is an S corporation; or
(iii) Sibling (of the whole- or half-blood), spouse,
ancestor or lineal descendant of any individual described in
paragraphs (i) or (ii),
unless such individual has furnished to the Committee a written exemption,
granted by the Department of Labor, exempting the loan from the prohibited
transaction provisions of ERISA and the Code. The Committee shall temporarily
reduce the amount a Participant may borrow or temporarily prevent the
Participant from borrowing when, as described in section 13.9, the Committee is
informed that a QDRO affecting the Participant's Accounts is in process or may
be in process.
(b) Number of Loans. A Borrower may have no more than one loan
outstanding. The Committee may change the maximum number of outstanding loans
allowed at any time.
(c) Loan Amount. The Committee may establish a minimum loan
amount of no more than $500. The Committee may require loans to be made in
increments of no more than $100. The amount that a Borrower may borrow is
subject to the following limits.
(i) A Borrower may not borrow more than (A) the aggregate
Participant Before-Tax Contributions made by the relevant Participant,
less any of such amounts previously withdrawn, plus (B) the balance in
the Participant's Rollover Account.
(ii) At the time the loan from this Plan is made, the
aggregate outstanding balance of all the Borrower's loans from all
qualified plans maintained by the Company and Affiliated Entities,
including the new loan from this Plan, shall not exceed 50% of the
Borrower's vested interest in all qualified plans maintained by the
Company and Affiliated Entities.
(iii) For purposes of this paragraph, the term "one-year
maximum" means the largest aggregate outstanding balance, on any day
in the one-year period ending on the day before the new loan from this
Plan is obtained, of all loans to the Borrower from all qualified
plans maintained by the Company and Affiliated Entities. For purposes
of this paragraph, the term "existing loans" means the aggregate
outstanding balance, on the day the new loan is made to the Borrower,
of all loans to the Borrower from all qualified plans maintained by
the Company and Affiliated Entities, excluding the new loan from this
Plan. If the existing loans are greater than or equal to the one-year
maximum, then the new loan from this Plan shall not exceed $50,000
minus the existing loans. If the existing loans are less than the
one-year maximum, then the new loan from this Plan shall not exceed
$50,000 minus the one-year maximum.
For purposes of applying the above limits, the vested portion of the Borrower's
accounts under this Plan and all other plans maintained by the Company and
Affiliated Entities shall be determined without regard to any accumulated
deductible employee contributions (as defined in Code section 72(o)(5)(B)), and
without regard to any amounts accrued while the Borrower was ineligible to
obtain a loan (as described in subsection (a)). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish lesser limits on the
amounts that may be borrowed, which limits shall be applied in a
non-discriminatory manner. The Committee shall temporarily reduce the amount a
Participant may borrow or temporarily prevent the Participant from borrowing,
as described in section 13.9, when the Committee is informed that a QDRO
affecting the Participant's Accounts is in process or may be in process. No
loan shall be made of amounts that are required to be distributed prior to the
end of the term of the loan.
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(d) Interest. Each loan shall bear a reasonable rate of interest,
which shall remain fixed for the duration of the loan. The Committee or its
agent shall determine the reasonable rate of interest on the date the loan
documents are prepared. The Committee shall have the authority to establish
procedures from time to time for determining the rate of interest. In the
absence of Committee action, the interest rate shall be equal to the prime
lending rate, plus 1%, as published in the Wall Street Journal on the first day
that such newspaper is published during the calendar quarter in which the loan
documents are prepared.
(e) Repayment. All loans shall be repaid, with interest, in
substantially level amortized payments made not less frequently than quarterly.
The maximum term for a loan is four years; the minimum term for a loan is one
year. The Committee has the authority to decrease the minimum term for future
loans and the authority to increase the maximum term for future loans to no
more than five years. Loan repayments shall be accelerated, and all loans
shall be payable in full on the date the Borrower separates from service (if
the Borrower is an Employee), the date the Borrower becomes ineligible to
borrow from the Plan under to subsection (a), and on any other date or any
other contingency as determined by the Committee. If the Borrower is an
Employee, loans shall be repaid through payroll withholding unless (i) the
Employee is pre-paying his or her loan, in which case the pre-payment need not
be through payroll withholding, or (ii) the Employee is on an unpaid leave of
absence, in which case he or she may pay any installment by personal check.
Partial pre-payments are not accepted; however, the Committee may decide to
accept partial pre-payments in the future.
(f) Default. A loan shall be in default if any installment is
not paid by the end of the calendar quarter following the calendar quarter in
which the installment was due. Upon default, the Committee may, in addition to
all other remedies, apply the Borrower's Plan accounts toward payment of the
loan; however, the Trustee may not exercise such right of set-off with respect
to the Borrower's Participant Before-Tax Contributions Account until such
account has become payable, pursuant to section 6.5 or 7.1.
(g) Administration. A Borrower shall apply for a loan by
completing the application procedures specified by the Committee. Until
changed by the Committee, a Borrower shall apply for a loan by calling the
Trustee and completing a voice application. The loan shall be processed in
accordance with reasonable procedures adopted from time to time by the
Committee. The Committee may impose a loan application fee, a loan origination
fee, a loan pre-payment fee, and loan maintenance fees. All loans shall be
evidenced by a promissory note and shall be fully secured. No Borrower whose
Plan accounts are so pledged may obtain distribution of any portion of the
accounts that have been pledged. The rights of the Trustee under such pledge
shall have priority over all claims of the Borrower, his or her beneficiaries,
and creditors. Each loan shall be treated as a directed investment. Any
increase or decrease in the net worth of the Trust Fund attributable to such
loan shall be allocated solely to the Plan accounts of the Borrower.
ARTICLE VIII
ALLOCATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES - NAMED FIDUCIARIES
8.1 No Joint Fiduciary Responsibilities.
The Trustee(s) and the Committee shall be the named fiduciaries under
the Plan and Trust agreement and shall be the only named fiduciaries
thereunder. The fiduciaries shall have only the responsibilities specifically
allocated to them herein or in the Trust agreement. Such allocations are
intended to be mutually exclusive and there shall be no sharing of fiduciary
responsibilities. Whenever one named fiduciary is required by the Plan or
Trust agreement to follow the directions of another named fiduciary, the two
named fiduciaries shall not be deemed to have been assigned a shared
responsibility, but the responsibility of the named fiduciary giving the
directions shall be deemed his or her sole responsibility, and the
responsibility of the named fiduciary receiving those directions shall be to
follow them insofar as the instructions are on their face proper under
applicable law.
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8.2 The Company.
The Company shall be responsible for: (a) making Company
Contributions; (b) certifying to the Trustee the names and specimen signatures
of the members of the Committee acting from time to time; (c) keeping accurate
books and records with respect to its Employees and the appropriate components
of each Employee's Compensation and furnishing such data to the Committee; (d)
selecting agents and fiduciaries to operate and administer the Plan and Trust;
(e) appointing an investment manager if it determines that one should be
appointed; and (f) reviewing periodically the performance of such agents,
managers, and fiduciaries.
8.3 The Trustee.
The Trustee shall be responsible for: (a) the investment of the Trust
Fund to the extent and in the manner provided in the Trust agreement; (b) the
custody and preservation of Trust assets delivered to it; and (c) the payment
of such amounts from the Trust Fund as the Committee shall direct.
8.4 The Committee - Plan Administrator.
The Board of Directors of Apache (the "Board") shall appoint an
administrative Committee consisting of no fewer than three individuals who may
be, but need not be, Participants, officers, directors, or Employees of the
Company. If the Board does not appoint a Committee, Apache shall act as the
Committee under the Plan. The members of the Committee shall hold office at
the pleasure of the Board and shall service without compensation. The
Committee shall be the "Plan administrator" as defined in section 3(16)(A) of
ERISA. It shall be responsible for establishing and implementing a funding
policy consistent with the objectives of the Plan and with the requirements of
ERISA. This responsibility shall include establishing (and revising as
necessary) short-term and long-term goals and requirements pertaining to the
financial condition of the Plan, communicating such goals and requirements to
the persons responsible for the various aspects of the Plan operations, and
monitoring periodically the implementation of such goals and requirements.
8.5 Committee to Construe Plan.
(a) The Committee shall administer the Plan and shall have all
discretion, power, and authority necessary for that purpose, including, but not
by way of limitation, the full and absolute discretion and power to interpret
the Plan, to determine the eligibility, status, and rights of all individuals
under the Plan, and in general to decide any dispute and all questions arising
in connection with the Plan. The Committee shall direct the Trustee concerning
all distributions from the Trust Fund, in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan, and shall have such other powers in the administration of the Trust Fund
as may be conferred upon it by the Trust agreement. The Committee shall
maintain all Plan records except records of the Trust Fund.
(b) The Committee may adjust the Account(s) of any Participant, in
order to correct errors and rectify omissions, in such manner as the Committee
believes will best result in the equitable and nondiscriminatory administration
of the Plan.
8.6 Organization of Committee.
The Committee shall adopt such rules as it deems desirable for the
conduct of its affairs and for the administration of the Plan. It may appoint
agents (who need not be members of the Committee) to whom it may delegate such
powers as it deems appropriate, except that any dispute shall be determined by
the Committee. The Committee may make its determinations with or without
meetings. It may authorize one or more of its members or agents to sign
instructions, notices and determinations on its behalf. The action of a
majority of the Committee shall constitute the action of the Committee.
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8.7 Interested Committee Members.
If a Committee decision or action affects a small number of
Participants including a Committee member, then such Committee member shall not
participate in the Committee decision or action. The action of a majority of
the disinterested Committee members shall constitute the action of the
Committee.
8.8 Agent for Process.
Apache's Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary shall be the
agents of the Plan for service of all process.
8.9 Indemnification of Committee Members.
The Company shall indemnify and hold the members of the Committee, and
each of them, harmless from the effects and consequences of their acts,
omissions, and conduct in their official capacities, except to the extent that
the effects and consequences thereof shall result from their own willful
misconduct, breach of good faith, or gross negligence in the performance of
their duties. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of
the rights to which each such member may be entitled as a matter of law.
8.10 Conclusiveness of Action.
Any action taken by the Committee on matters within the discretion of
the Committee shall be conclusive, final and binding upon all participants in
the Plan and upon all persons claiming any rights hereunder, including
alternate payees and beneficiaries.
8.11 Payment of Expenses.
The members of the Committee shall serve without compensation but
their reasonable expenses shall be paid by the Company. The compensation or
fees of accountants, counsel, and other specialists and any other costs of
administering the Plan or Trust Fund may be charged to the Trust Fund, to the
extent permissible under the provisions of ERISA.
ARTICLE IX
TRUST AGREEMENT - INVESTMENTS
9.1 Trust Agreement.
Apache has entered into a Trust agreement to provide for the holding,
investment, and administration of the funds of the Plan. The Trust agreement
shall be part of the Plan, and the rights and duties of any individual under
the Plan shall be subject to all terms and provisions of the Trust agreement.
9.2 Expenses of Trust.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) below, all taxes upon or
in respect of the Trust shall be paid by the Trustee out of the Trust assets,
and all expenses of administering the Trust shall be paid by the Trustee out of
the Trust assets, to the extent such taxes and expenses are not paid by the
Company or the Account Owner. No fiduciary shall receive any compensation for
services rendered to the Plan if the fiduciary is being compensated on a full
time basis by the Company.
(b) To the extent not paid by the Company, all expenses of
individually directed transactions in Trust assets, including without
limitation the Trustee's transaction fee, brokerage commissions, transfer
taxes, interest
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on insurance policy loans, and any taxes and penalties that may be imposed as a
result of an individual's investment direction, shall be assessed against the
Account(s) of the Account Owner directing such transactions.
9.3 Investments.
(a) Section 404(c) Plan. The Plan is intended to be a plan
described in ERISA section 404(c). To the extent that an Account Owner
exercises control over the investment of his or her Accounts, no person who is
a fiduciary shall be liable for any loss, or by reason of any breach, that is
the direct and necessary result of the Account Owner's exercise of control.
(b) Directed Investments. Accounts shall be invested, upon the
written or telephone voice-response direction of each Account Owner, in any one
or more of a series of investment funds designated by the Committee from time
to time. One or more such funds may, at the sole discretion of the Committee,
consist of shares of Company Stock. If so directed by Account Owners, up to
100% of the Accounts under the Plan may be invested in Company Stock. The
funds available for investment and the principal features thereof, including a
general description of the investment objectives, the risk and return
characteristics, and the type and diversification of the investment portfolio
of each fund, shall be communicated to the Account Owners in the Plan from time
to time. Any changes in such funds shall be immediately communicated to all
Account Owners.
(c) Absence of Directions. To the extent that an Account Owner
fails to affirmatively direct the investment of his or her Accounts, the
Committee shall direct the Trustee in writing concerning the investment of such
Accounts. The Committee shall act by majority vote. Any dissenting member of
the Committee shall, having registered his or her dissent in writing,
thereafter cooperate to the extent necessary to implement the decision of the
Committee.
(d) Change in Investment Directions. Account Owners may change
their investment directions, with respect to the investment of new
contributions and with respect to the investment of existing amounts allocated
to Accounts, on any business day. The Committee shall establish procedures for
giving investment directions, which shall be in writing and communicated to
Account Owners.
ARTICLE X
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
10.1 Termination of Plan or Discontinuance of Contributions.
Apache expects to continue the Plan indefinitely, but the continuance
of the Plan and the payment of contributions are not assumed as contractual
obligations. Apache may terminate the Plan or discontinue contributions at any
time. Upon the termination (or partial termination) of the Plan or the
complete discontinuance of contributions, the Accounts of all affected
Participants shall become fully vested, notwithstanding any other provision
hereof, the only Participants who are affected by a partial termination are
those whose employment with the Company or Affiliated Entity is terminated as a
result of the corporate event causing the partial termination; Employees
terminated for cause are not affected by a partial termination.
10.2 Allocations upon Termination or Discontinuance of Company
Contributions.
Upon the termination or partial termination of the Plan or upon the
complete discontinuance of contributions, the Committee shall promptly notify
the Trustee of such termination or discontinuance. The Trustee shall then
determine, in the manner prescribed in section 4.2, the net worth of the Trust
Fund as of the close of the last business day of the calendar month in which
such notice was received by the Trustee. The Trustee shall advise the
Committee of any increase or decrease in such net worth that has occurred since
the preceding Valuation Date. After crediting to the Participant Before-Tax
Contributions Account of each Participant any amount contributed since the
preceding Valuation Date, the Committee shall thereupon allocate, in the manner
described in section
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4.3, among the remaining Plan Accounts, in the manner described in Articles
III, IV and V, any Company Contributions or forfeitures occurring since the
preceding Valuation Date.
10.3 Procedure Upon Termination of Plan or Discontinuance of Contributions.
If the Plan has been terminated or partially terminated, or if a
complete discontinuance of contributions to the Plan has occurred, then after
the allocations required under section 10.2 have been completed, the Trustee
shall distribute or transfer the Account(s) of affected Employees as follows.
(a) Participant Before-Tax Contributions Accounts. If the Company
or Affiliated Entity maintains or establishes another defined contribution plan
(other than an employee stock ownership plan defined in Code section
4975(e)(7)), then no amount in a Participant Before-Tax Contributions Account
may be distributed to any Employee who has not yet attained age 59-1/2.
(b) Other Rules.
(i) If the affected Employee's Account(s) have an
aggregate value of $3,500 or less (calculated in accordance with
applicable Treasury regulations), then the Trustee shall distribute
the Employee's Account(s) (except, if subsection (a) applies, the
Participant Before-Tax Contributions Account) to the Employee in a
lump sum (other than an annuity).
(ii) If the affected Employee's Account(s) have an
aggregate value of more than $3,500 (calculated in accordance with
applicable Treasury regulations), and if the Company or an Affiliated
Entity does not maintain another defined contribution plan (other than
an employee stock ownership plan within the meaning of Code section
4975(e)(7)), then the Trustee shall distribute the Employee's
Account(s) to the Employee in a lump sum (other than an annuity).
(iii) If the affected Employee's Account(s) have an
aggregate value of more than $3,500 (calculated in accordance with
applicable Treasury regulations), and if the Company or an Affiliated
Entity maintains another defined contribution plan (other than an
employee stock ownership plan within the meaning of Code section
4975(e)(7)), then the Trustee shall transfer the Employee's Account(s)
to the other plan unless the Employee consents to an immediate
distribution of such Account(s) (except, if subsection (a) applies,
for the Participant Before-Tax Contributions Account) in a lump sum
(other than an annuity).
Any distribution or transfer made pursuant to this section may be in cash, in
shares of Company Stock to the extent a Participant's Accounts are invested in
Company Stock, or partly in cash and partly in shares of Company Stock. After
all such distributions or transfers have been made, the Trustee shall be
discharged from all obligation under the Trust; no Participant or beneficiary
who has received any such distribution, or for whom any such transfer has been
made, shall have any further right or claim under the Plan or Trust.
10.4 Amendment by Apache.
Apache may at any time amend the Plan in any respect, without prior
notice, subject to the following limitations. No amendment shall be made that
would have the effect of vesting in the Company any part of the Trust Fund or
of diverting any part of the Trust Fund to purposes other than for the
exclusive benefit of Account Owners. The rights of any Account Owner with
respect to contributions previously made shall not be adversely affected by any
amendment. No amendment shall reduce or restrict, either directly or
indirectly, the accrued benefit (within the meaning of Code section 411(d)(6))
provided that any Account Owner before the amendment, except as permitted by
the Internal Revenue Service.
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If the vesting schedule is amended, each Participant with at least
three Years of Service may elect, within the period specified in the following
sentence after the adoption of the amendment, to have his or her nonforfeitable
percentage computed under the Plan without regard to such amendment. The
period during which the election may be made shall commence with the date the
amendment is adopted and shall end on the latest of: (a) 60 days after the
amendment is adopted; (b) 60 days after the amendment becomes effective; or (c)
60 days after the Participant is issued written notice of the amendment by the
Company or Committee. Furthermore, no amendment shall decrease the
nonforfeitable percentage, measured as of the later of the date the amendment
is adopted or effective, of any Account Owner's Accounts.
Each amendment shall be in writing. Each amendment shall be approved
by Apache's Board of Directors (the "Board") or by an officer of Apache who is
authorized by the Board to amend the Plan. Each amendment shall be executed by
an officer of Apache to whom the Board has delegated the authority to execute
the amendment.
ARTICLE XI
PLAN ADOPTION BY AFFILIATED ENTITIES
11.1 Adoption of Plan.
Apache may permit any Affiliated Entity to adopt the Plan and Trust
for its Employees. Thereafter, such Affiliated Entity shall deliver to the
Trustee a certified copy of the resolutions or other documents evidencing its
adoption of the Plan and Trust. The Employees of the Affiliated Entity
adopting the Plan shall not be eligible to invest their Accounts in Company
Stock until compliance with the applicable registration and reporting
requirements of the securities laws.
11.2 Agent of Affiliated Entity.
By becoming a party to the Plan, each Affiliated Entity appoints
Apache as its agent with authority to act for the Affiliated Entity in all
transactions in which Apache believes such agency will facilitate the
administration of the Plan. Apache shall have the sole authority to amend and
terminate the Plan.
11.3 Disaffiliation and Withdrawal from Plan.
(a) Disaffiliation. Any Affiliated Entity that has adopted the
Plan and thereafter ceases for any reason to be an Affiliated Entity shall
forthwith cease to be a party to the Plan.
(b) Withdrawal. Any Affiliated Entity may, by appropriate action
and written notice thereof to Apache, provide for the discontinuance of its
participation in the Plan. Such withdrawal from the Plan shall not be
effective until the end of the Plan Year.
11.4 Effect of Disaffiliation or Withdrawal.
If at the time of disaffiliation or withdrawal, the disaffiliating or
withdrawing entity, by appropriate action, adopts a substantially identical
plan that provides for direct transfers from this Plan, then, as to employees
of such entity, no plan termination shall have occurred; the new plan shall be
deemed a continuation of this Plan for such employees. In such case, the
Trustee shall transfer to the trustee of the new plan all of the assets held
for the benefit of employees of the disaffiliating or withdrawing entity, and
no forfeitures or acceleration of vesting shall occur solely by reason of such
action. Such payment shall operate as a complete discharge of the Trustee, and
of all organizations except the disaffiliating or withdrawing entity, of all
obligations under this Plan to employees of the disaffiliating or withdrawing
entity and to their beneficiaries. A new plan shall not be deemed
substantially identical to this Plan if it provides slower vesting than this
Plan. Nothing in this section shall authorize the divesting of any vested
portion of a Participant's Account(s).
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11.5 Distribution Upon Disaffiliation or Withdrawal.
(a) Disaffiliation. If an entity disaffiliates from Apache and
the provisions of section 11.4 are not followed, then the following rules apply
to the Account(s) of employees of the disaffiliating entity.
(i) If the disaffiliating entity maintains a defined
contribution plan (other than an employee stock ownership plan within
the meaning of Code section 4975(e)(7)), then the Trustee shall
transfer the Employee's Account(s) to the other plan, if the other
plan so allows, unless the employee consents to an immediate
distribution in a lump sum (other than an annuity) of the vested
portion of his or her Account(s). If the other plan does not permit a
transfer of Accounts, then the employee may retain his or her Accounts
in this Plan until the employee consents to a distribution pursuant to
Article VI. Notwithstanding the preceding sentences, an employee may
not consent to an immediate distribution from his or her Participant
Before-Tax Contributions Account unless he or she has attained age
59-1/2.
(ii) If the disaffiliating entity does not maintain a
defined contribution plan (other than an employee stock ownership plan
within the meaning of Code section 4975(e)(7)), then the Trustee shall
distribute the vested portion of the employee's Account(s) to the
employee in a lump sum (other than an annuity), upon the consent of
the employee. If the employee does not consent to an immediate
distribution, then distribution may only be made according to Article
VI.
(b) Withdrawal. If an Affiliated Entity withdraws from the Plan
and the provisions of section 11.4 are not followed, then the following rules
apply to the Account(s) of Employees of the withdrawing entity.
(i) If the withdrawing entity maintains a defined
contribution plan that accepts transfers from this Plan, then the
Employee may transfer his or her Account(s) from this Plan to such
plan. No forfeitures or acceleration of vesting shall occur solely by
reason of such transfer.
(ii) If the withdrawing entity does not maintain a defined
contribution plan that accepts transfers from this Plan, then the
Employee's Account(s) shall remain in this Plan.
(c) Any distribution or transfer made pursuant to this section may
be in cash, in shares of Company Stock, or partly in cash and partly in shares
of Company Stock. After such distribution or transfer has been made, no
Participant or beneficiary who has received any such distribution, or for whom
any such transfer has been made, shall have any further right or claim under
the Plan or Trust.
ARTICLE XII
TOP-HEAVY PROVISIONS
12.1 Application of Top-Heavy Provisions.
The provisions of this Article XII shall be applicable only if the
Plan becomes "top-heavy" as defined below for any Plan Year beginning after
December 31, 1983. If the Plan becomes "top-heavy" as of the Determination
Date for a Plan Year, the provisions of this Article XII shall apply to the
Plan effective as of the first day of such Plan Year and shall continue to
apply to the Plan until the Plan ceases to be "top-heavy" or until the Plan is
terminated or otherwise amended.
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12.2 Determination of Top-Heavy Status.
The Plan shall be considered "top-heavy" for a Plan Year if, as of the
Determination Date for that Plan Year, the aggregate of the Account balances
(as calculated according to the regulations under Code section 416) of Key
Employees under this Plan (and under all other plans required or permitted to
be aggregated with this Plan) exceeds 60% of the aggregate of the Account
balances (as calculated according to the regulations under Code section 416) in
this Plan (and under all other plans required or permitted to be aggregated
with this Plan) of all current Employees and all former Employees who
terminated employment within five years of the Determination Date. This ratio
shall be referred to as the "top-heavy ratio". For purposes of determining the
Account balance of any Participant, distributions made with respect to such
individual within a five-year period ending on the Determination Date shall be
included. This shall also apply to distributions under a terminated plan that,
if it had not been terminated, would have been required to be included in an
aggregation group. The Account balances of a Participant who had once been a
Key Employee, but who is not a Key Employee during the Plan Year, shall not be
taken into account. The following plans must be aggregated with this Plan for
the top-heavy test: (a) a qualified plan maintained by the Company or an
Affiliated Entity in which a Key Employee participated during this Plan Year or
during the previous four Plan Years and (b) any other qualified plan maintained
by the Company or an Affiliated Entity that enables this Plan or any plan
described in clause (a) to meet the requirements of Code sections 401(a)(4) or
410. The following plans may be aggregated with this Plan for the top-heavy
test: any qualified plan maintained by the Company or an Affiliated Entity
that, in combination with the Plan or any plan required to be aggregated with
this Plan when testing this Plan for top-heaviness, would satisfy the
requirements of Code sections 401(a)(4) and 410. If one or more of the plans
required or permitted to be aggregated with this Plan is a defined benefit
plan, a Participant's "account balance" shall equal the present value of his or
her accrued benefit, including any distributions within five years of the
Determination Date. If the aggregation group includes more than one defined
benefit plan, the same actuarial assumptions shall be used with respect to each
such defined benefit plan. The foregoing top-heavy ratio shall be computed in
accordance with the provisions of Code section 416(g), together with the
regulations and rulings thereunder.
12.3 Special Vesting Rule.
Unless section 5.1 provides for faster vesting, the amount credited to
the Participant's Company Contributions Account shall vest in accordance with
the following schedule during any top-heavy Plan Year:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Completed Years of Service Vested Percentage
-------------------------- -----------------
<S> <C>
fewer than 2 0%
2 20%
3 40%
4 60%
5 80%
6 or more 100%
</TABLE>
12.4 Special Minimum Contribution.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3.1 and Article IV to the
contrary, in every top-heavy Plan Year, a minimum allocation is required for
each Non-Key Employee who both (a) performed one or more Hours of Service
during the Plan Year as a Covered Employee after satisfying any eligibility
requirement of section 2.1, and (b) was an Employee on the last day of the Plan
Year. The minimum allocation shall be a percentage of each Non-Key Employee's
Compensation. The percentage shall be the lesser of 3% or the largest
percentage obtained for any Key Employee by dividing his or her Annual
Additions (to this Plan and any other plan aggregated with this Plan) for the
Plan Year by his or her Compensation for the Plan Year. If the Participant
participates in both this Plan and the Apache Corporation Money Purchase
Retirement Plan, then the Participant's minimum allocation shall be provided in
the Apache Corporation Money Purchase Retirement Plan. If this minimum
allocation is not satisfied for any Non-Key Employee, the Company shall
contribute the additional amount needed to satisfy this
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requirement to such Non-Key Employee's Participant Before-Tax Contributions
Account, if the Non-Key Employee is a Non- Highly Compensated Employee, or if
the Non-Key Employee is a Highly Compensated Employee, to his or her Company
Contributions Account.
12.5 Change in Top-Heavy Status.
If the Plan ceases to be a "top-heavy" plan as defined in this Article
XII, and if any change in the benefit structure, vesting schedule, or other
component of a Participant's accrued benefit occurs as a result of such change
in top-heavy status, the nonforfeitable portion of each Participant's benefit
attributable to Company Contributions shall not be decreased as a result of
such change. In addition, each Participant with at least three Years of
Service with the Company and Affiliated Entities on the date of such change,
may elect to have the nonforfeitable percentage computed under the Plan without
regard to such change in status. The period during which the election may be
made shall commence on the date the Plan ceases to be a top-heavy plan and
shall end on the later of (a) 60 days after the change in status occurs, (b) 60
days after the change in status becomes effective, or (c) 60 days after the
Participant is issued written notice of the change by the Company or the
Committee.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 RIGHT TO DISMISS EMPLOYEES - NO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT.
THE COMPANY AND AFFILIATED ENTITIES MAY TERMINATE THE EMPLOYMENT OF
ANY EMPLOYEE AS FREELY AND WITH THE SAME EFFECT AS IF THIS PLAN WERE NOT IN
EXISTENCE. PARTICIPATION IN THIS PLAN BY AN EMPLOYEE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY OR AN AFFILIATED
ENTITY AND THE EMPLOYEE.
13.2 Claims Procedure.
(a) All claims shall be filed by the Participant, the
Participant's beneficiary, or the authorized representative of the claimant, by
completing any procedures that the Committee requires. These procedures shall
be reasonable and may include the completion of forms and the submission of
documents and additional information.
(b) The Committee shall review all materials and shall decide
whether to approve or deny the claim. If a claim is denied in whole or in
part, written notice of denial shall be furnished by the Committee to the
claimant within 90 days after the receipt of the claim by the Committee, unless
special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim, in
which event notification of the extension shall be provided to the claimant and
the extension shall not exceed 90 days. The written notice shall set forth the
specific reasons for such denial, specific reference to pertinent Plan
provisions, 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, all written in a manner calculated to be
understood by the claimant. The notice shall include appropriate information
as to the steps taken if the claimant wishes to submit the denied claim for
review. The claimant may request a review upon written application, may review
pertinent documents, and may submit issues or comments in writing. The
claimant must request a review within the reasonable period of time prescribed
by the Committee. In no event shall such a period of time be less than 60
days. The Committee shall decide all reviews of denied claims. A decision on
review shall be rendered within 60 days of the receipt of request for review by
the Committee. If special circumstances require a further extension of time
for processing, a decision shall be rendered not later than 120 days following
the Committee's receipt of the request for review. If such an extension of
time for review is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished
to the claimant prior to the commencement of the extension. The Committee's
decision on review shall be furnished to the claimant. Such decision shall be
in
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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 Plan provisions on which the decision is based.
(c) The Committee shall have total discretionary authority to
determine eligibility, status, and the rights of all individuals under the Plan
and to construe any and all terms of the Plan.
13.3 Source of Benefits.
All benefits payable under the Plan shall be paid solely from the
Trust Fund, and the Company and Affiliated Entities assume no liability or
responsibility therefor.
13.4 Exclusive Benefit of Employees.
It is the intention of the Company that no part of the Trust, other
than as provided in sections 3.3, 9.2, and 13.9 hereof and the Trust Agreement,
ever to be used for or diverted for purposes other than for the exclusive
benefit of Participants, Alternate Payees, and their beneficiaries, and that
this Plan shall be construed to follow the spirit and intent of the Code and
ERISA.
13.5 Forms of Notices.
Wherever provision is made in the Plan for the filing of any notice,
election, or designation by a Participant, Spouse, Alternate Payee, or
beneficiary, the action of such individual may be evidenced by the execution of
such form as the Committee may prescribe for the purpose. The Committee may
also prescribe alternate methods for filing any notice, election, or
designation (such as telephone voice-response or e-mail).
13.6 Failure of Any Other Entity to Qualify.
If any entity adopts this Plan but fails to obtain or retain the
qualification of the Plan under the applicable provisions of the Code, such
entity shall withdraw from this Plan upon a determination by the Internal
Revenue Service that it has failed to obtain or retain such qualification.
Within 30 days after the date of such determination, the assets of the Trust
Fund held for the benefit of the Employees of such entity shall be separately
accounted for and disposed of in accordance with the Plan and Trust.
13.7 Notice of Adoption of the Plan.
The Company shall provide each of its Employees with notice of the
adoption of this Plan, notice of any amendments to the Plan, and notice of the
salient provisions of the Plan prior to the end of the first Plan Year. A
complete copy of the Plan shall also be made available for inspection by
Employees or any other individual with an Account balance under the Plan.
13.8 Plan Merger.
If this Plan is merged or consolidated with, or its assets or
liabilities are transferred to, any other qualified plan of deferred
compensation, each Participant shall be entitled to receive a benefit
immediately after the merger, consolidation, or transfer that is equal to or
greater than the benefit the Participant would have been entitled to receive
immediately before the merger, consolidation, or transfer if this Plan had then
been terminated.
13.9 Inalienability of Benefits - Domestic Relations Orders.
(a) Except as provided in section 7.2, relating to Plan loans, and
subsection (b) below, no Participant or beneficiary shall have any right to
assign, alienate, transfer, or encumber his or her interest in any benefits
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under this Plan, nor shall such benefits be subject to any legal process to
levy upon or attach the same for payment of any claim against any such
Participant or beneficiary.
(b) Subsection (a) shall apply to the creation, assignment, or
recognition of a right to any benefit payable with respect to a Participant
pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order unless such Domestic Relations Order is
a QDRO, in which case the Plan shall make payment of benefits in accordance
with the applicable requirements of any such QDRO.
(c) In order to be a QDRO, the Domestic Relations Order must
satisfy the requirements of Code section 414(p) and ERISA section 206(d)(3).
In particular, the Domestic Relations Order: (i) must specify the name and the
last known mailing address of the Participant; (ii) must specify the name and
mailing address of each Alternate Payee covered by the order; (iii) must
specify either the amount or percentage of the Participant's benefits to be
paid by the Plan to each such Alternate Payee, or the manner in which such
amount or percentage is to be determined; (iv) must specify the number of
payments or period to which such order applies; (v) must specify each plan to
which such order applies; (vi) may not require the Plan to provide any type or
form of benefit, or any option, not otherwise provided under the Plan, subject
to the provisions of subsection (f); (vii) may not require the Plan to provide
increased benefits (determined on the basis of actuarial value); and (viii) may
not require the payment of benefits to an Alternate Payee if such benefits have
already been designated to be paid to another Alternate Payee under another
order previously determined to be a QDRO.
(d) In the case of any payment before an Employee has separated
from service, a Domestic Relations Order shall not be treated as failing to
meet the requirements of subsection (c) solely because such order requires that
payment of benefits be made to an Alternate Payee (i) on or after the dates
specified in subsection (f), (ii) as if the Employee had retired on the date on
which such payment is to begin under such order (but taking into account only
the Account balance on such date), and (iii) in any form in which such benefits
may be paid under the Plan to the Employee. For purposes of this subsection,
the Account balance as of the date specified in the QDRO shall be the vested
portion of the Employee's Account(s) on such date.
(e) The Committee shall establish reasonable procedures to
determine the qualified status of Domestic Relations Orders and to administer
distributions under QDROs. Such procedures shall be in writing and shall
permit an Alternate Payee to designate a representative to receive copies of
notices. The Committee shall temporarily prevent the Participant from
borrowing from his or her Accounts and shall temporarily suspend distributions
and withdrawals from the Participant's Accounts, except to the extent necessary
to make the required minimum distributions under Code section 401(a)(9), when
the Committee receives a Domestic Relations Order or a draft of such an order
that affects the Participant's Accounts or when one or the following
individuals informs the Committee, orally or in writing, that a QDRO is in
process or may be in process: the Participant, a prospective Alternate Payee,
or counsel for the Participant or a prospective Alternate Payee. The Committee
shall promulgate reasonable and non-discriminatory rules regarding such
suspensions, including but not limited to how long such suspensions remain in
effect. However, the Participant may borrow such amounts from the Plan,
subject to the limits of section 7.2, and the Participant may receive such
distributions and withdrawals from the Plan, subject to the rules of Articles
VI and VII, as are consented to in writing by all prospective Alternate Payees
identified in the Domestic Relations Order or, in the absence of a Domestic
Relations Order, as are consented to in writing by the prospective Alternate
Payee(s) who informed the Committee that a QDRO was in process or may be in
process. When the Committee receives a Domestic Relations Order it shall
promptly notify the Participant and each Alternate Payee of such receipt and
provide them with copies of the Plan's procedures for determining the qualified
status of the order. Within a reasonable period after receipt of a Domestic
Relations Order, the Committee shall determine whether such order is a QDRO and
notify the Participant and each Alternate Payee of such determination. During
any period in which the issue of whether a Domestic Relations Order is a QDRO
is being determined (by the Committee, by a court of competent jurisdiction, or
otherwise), the Committee shall separately account for the amounts payable to
the Alternate Payee if the order is determined to be a QDRO. If the order (or
modification thereof) is determined to be a QDRO within 18 months after the
date the first payment would have been required by such order, the Committee
shall pay the amounts separately accounted for (plus any interest
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thereon) to the individual(s) entitled thereto. However, if the Committee
determines that the order is not a QDRO, or if the issue as to whether such
order is a QDRO has not been resolved within 18 months after the date of the
first payment would have been required by such order, then the Committee shall
pay the amounts separately accounted for (plus any interest thereon) to the
individual(s) who would have been entitled to such amounts if there had been no
order. Any determination that an order is a QDRO that is made after the close
of the 18-month period shall be applied prospectively only. If the Plan's
fiduciaries act in accordance with fiduciary provision of ERISA in treating a
Domestic Relations Order as being (or not being) a QDRO or in taking action in
accordance with this subsection, then the Plan's obligation to the Participant
and each Alternate Payee shall be discharged to the extent of any payment made
pursuant to the acts of such fiduciaries.
(f) The Alternate Payee shall have the following rights under the
Plan:
(i) An Alternate Payee shall receive a lump sum
distribution of his or her Plan assets as soon as administratively
practicable after the Committee determines that the Domestic Relations
Order is a QDRO. If the Alternate Payee dies before the distribution
is made, the distribution shall be paid to the Alternate Payee's
beneficiary, as determined in subsection 6.1(a).
(ii) If the Alternate Payee cannot receive an immediate
distribution of his or her entire interest in the Plan (which would
occur if the Alternate Payee is awarded more than the distributable
amount in section 6.3), then the Alternate Payee's remaining interest
in the Plan shall be distributed as soon as administratively
practicable, in annual lump sums of the distributable amount. Upon
the Alternate Payee's death, his or her interest in the Plan shall be
distributed in a lump sum as soon as practicable to the Alternate
Payee's beneficiary, as determined in subsection 6.1(a).
(iii) Distribution to an Alternate Payee must occur on or
before the Participant's Required Beginning Date, unless the Committee
determines the Domestic Relations Order is a QDRO after the
Participant's Required Beginning Date, in which case distribution to
the Alternate Payee shall occur as quickly as administratively
practicable.
(iv) The Alternate Payee may bring claims against the Plan
in the same manner as a Participant pursuant to section 13.2.
13.10 Payments Due Minors or Incapacitated Individuals.
If any individual entitled to payment under the Plan is a minor, the
Committee shall cause the payment to be made to the custodian or representative
who, under the state law of the minor's domicile, is authorized to receive
funds on behalf of the minor. If any individual entitled to payment under this
Plan has been legally adjudicated to be mentally incompetent or incapacitated,
the Committee shall cause the payment to be made to the custodian or
representative who, under the state law of the incapacitated individual's
domicile, is authorized to receive funds on behalf of the incapacitated
individual. Payments made pursuant to such power shall operate as a complete
discharge of the Trust Fund, the Trustee, and the Committee.
13.11 Uniformity of Application.
The provisions of this Plan shall be applied in a uniform and
non-discriminatory manner in accordance with rules adopted by the Committee,
which rules shall be systematically followed and consistently applied so that
all individuals similarly situated shall be treated alike.
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13.12 Disposition of Unclaimed Payments.
Each Participant, Alternate Payee, or beneficiary with an Account
balance in this Plan must file with the Committee from time to time in writing
his or her address, the address of each beneficiary (if applicable), and each
change of address. Any communication, statement, or notice addressed to such
individual at the last address filed with the Committee (or if no address is
filed with the Committee then at the last address as shown on the Company's
records) will be binding on such individual for all purposes of the Plan.
Neither the Committee nor the Trustee shall be required to search for or locate
any missing individual. If the Committee notifies an individual that he or she
is entitled to a distribution and also notifies him or her that a failure to
respond may result in a forfeiture of benefits, and the individual fails to
claim his or her benefits under the Plan or make his or her address known to
the Committee within a reasonable period of time after the notification, then
the benefits under the Plan of such individual shall be forfeited. Any amount
forfeited pursuant to this section shall be allocated pursuant to section 5.5.
If the individual should later make a claim for this forfeited amount, the
Company shall, if the Plan is still in existence, make a special contribution
to the Plan equal to the forfeiture, and such amount shall be distributed to
the individual; if the Plan is not then in existence, the Company shall pay the
amount of the forfeiture to the individual.
13.13 Applicable Law.
This Plan shall be construed and regulated by ERISA, the Code, and,
unless otherwise specified herein and to the extent applicable, the laws of the
State of Texas, excluding any conflicts-of-law provisions.
ARTICLE XIV
MATTERS AFFECTING COMPANY STOCK
14.1 Voting, Etc.
The shares of Company Stock in Accounts, whether or not vested, may be
voted by the Account Owner to the same extent as if duly registered in the
Account Owner's name. The Trustee or its nominee in which the shares are
registered shall vote the shares solely as agent of the Account Owner and in
accordance with the instructions of the Account Owner. If no instructions are
received, the Trustee shall vote the shares of company Stock for which it has
received no voting instructions in the same proportions as the Account Owners
affirmatively directed their shares of Company Stock to be voted unless the
Trustee determines that a pro rata vote would be inconsistent with its
fiduciary duties under ERISA. If the Trustee makes such a determination, the
Trustee shall vote the Company Stock as it determines to be consistent with its
fiduciary duties under ERISA. Each Account Owner who has Company Stock
allocated to his or her Accounts shall direct the Trustee concerning the tender
(as provided below) and the exercise of any other rights appurtenant to the
Company Stock. The Trustee shall follow the directions of the Account Owner
with respect to the tender.
14.2 Notices.
Apache shall cause to be mailed or delivered to each Account Owner
copies of all notices and other communications sent to the Apache shareholders
at the same times so mailed or delivered by Apache to its other shareholders.
14.3 Retention/Sale of Company Stock and Other Securities.
The Trustee is authorized and directed to retain the Company Stock and
any other Apache securities acquired by the Trust except as follows:
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(a) In the normal course of Plan administration, the Trustee shall
sell Company Stock to satisfy Plan administration and distribution requirements
as directed by the Committee or in accordance with provisions of the Plan
specifically authorizing such sales.
(b) In the event of a transaction involving the Company Stock
evidenced by the filing of Schedule 14D-1 with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") or any other similar transaction by which any person or
entity seeks to acquire beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the shares of
Company Stock outstanding and authorized to be issued from time to time under
Apache's articles of incorporation ("tender offer"), the Trustee shall sell,
convey, or transfer Company Stock pursuant to written instructions of Account
Owners delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the following sections 14.4
through 14.15. For purposes of such provisions, the term "filing date" means
the date relevant documents concerning a tender offer are filed with the SEC
or, if such filing is not required, the date the Trustee receives actual notice
that a tender offer has commenced.
(c) If Apache makes any distribution of Apache securities with
respect to the shares of Company Stock held in the Plan, other than additional
shares of Company Stock (any such securities are hereafter referred to as
"stock rights"), the Trustee shall sell, convey, transfer, or exercise such
stock rights pursuant to written instructions of Account Owners delivered to
the Trustee in accordance with the following sections of this Article.
14.4 Tender Offers.
(a) Allocated Stock. In the event of any tender offer, each
Account Owner shall have the right to instruct the Trustee to tender any or all
shares of Company Stock, whether or not vested, that are allocated to his or
her Accounts under the Plan on or before the filing date. The Trustee shall
follow the instructions of the Account Owner. The Trustee shall not tender any
Company Stock for which no instructions are received.
(b) Unallocated Stock. The Trustee shall tender all shares of
Company Stock that are not allocated to Accounts in the same proportion as the
Account Owners directed the tender of Company Stock allocated to their Accounts
unless the Trustee determines that a pro rata tender would be inconsistent with
its fiduciary duties under ERISA. If the Trustee makes such a determination,
the Trustee shall tender or not tender the unallocated Company Stock as it
determines to be consistent with its fiduciary duties under ERISA.
(c) Suspension of Share Purchases. In the event of a tender
offer, the Trustee shall suspend all purchases of Company Stock pursuant to the
Plan unless the Committee otherwise directs. Until the termination of such
tender offer and pending such Committee direction, the Trustee shall invest
available cash pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Plan and the Trust
Agreement.
(d) Temporary Suspension of Certain Cash Distributions.
Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, no option to receive cash
in lieu of Company Stock shall be honored during the pendency of a tender offer
unless the Committee otherwise directs.
14.5 Stock Rights.
(a) General. If Apache makes a distribution of stock rights with
respect to the Company Stock held in the Plan and if the stock rights become
exercisable or transferable (the date on which the stock rights become
exercisable or transferable shall be referred to as the "exercise date"), each
Account Owner shall determine whether to exercise the stock rights, sell the
stock rights, or hold the stock rights allocated to his or her Accounts. The
provisions of this section shall apply to all stock rights received with
respect to Company Stock held in Accounts, whether or not the Company Stock
with respect to which the stock rights were issued are vested.
(b) Independent Fiduciary. The Independent Fiduciary provided for
in this section 14.15 below shall act with respect to the stock rights. All
Account Owner directions concerning the exercise or disposition of the
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stock rights shall be given to the Independent Fiduciary, who shall have the
sole responsibility of assuring that the Account Owners' directions are
followed.
(c) Exercise of Stock Rights. If, on or after the exercise date,
an Account Owner wishes to exercise all or a portion of the stock rights
allocated to his or her Accounts, the Independent Fiduciary shall follow the
Account Owner's direction to the extent that there is cash or other liquid
assets available in his or her Accounts to exercise the stock rights.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, each Account Owner who has
stock rights allocated to his or her Accounts shall have a period of five
business days following the exercise date in which he or she may give
instructions to the Committee to liquidate any of the assets held in his or her
Accounts (except shares of Company Stock or assets such as guaranteed
investment contracts or similar investments), but only if he or she does not
have sufficient cash or other liquid assets in his or her Accounts to exercise
the stock rights. The liquidation of any necessary investments pursuant to an
Account Owner's direction shall be accomplished as soon as reasonably
practicable, taking into account any timing restrictions with respect to the
investment funds involved. The cash obtained shall be used to exercise the
stock rights, as the Account Owner directs. Any cash that is not so used shall
be invested in a cash equivalent until the next date on which the Account Owner
may change his or her investment directions under the Plan.
(d) Sale of Stock Rights. On and after the exercise date, the
Independent Fiduciary shall sell all or a portion of the stock rights allocated
to Accounts, as the Account Owner shall direct.
14.6 Other Rights Appurtenant to the Company Stock.
If there are any rights appurtenant to the Company Stock, other than
voting, tender, or stock rights, each Account Owner shall exercise or take
other appropriate action concerning such rights with respect to the Company
Stock, whether or not vested, that is allocated to their Accounts in the same
manner as the other holders of the Company Stock, by giving written
instructions to the Trustee. The Trustee shall follow all such instructions,
but shall take no action with respect to allocated Company Stock for which no
instructions are received. The Trustee shall exercise or take other
appropriate action concerning any such rights appurtenant to unallocated
Company Stock.
14.7 Information to Trustee.
Promptly after the filing date, the exercise date, or any other event
that requires action with respect to the Company Stock, the Committee shall
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee or the Independent Fiduciary,
as appropriate, a list of the names and addresses of Account Owners showing (i)
the number of shares of Company Stock allocated to each Account Owner's
Accounts under the Plan, (ii) each Account Owner's pro rata portion of any
unallocated Company Stock, and (iii) each Account Owner's share of any stock
rights distributed by Apache. The Committee shall date and certify the
accuracy of such information, and such information shall be updated
periodically by the Committee to reflect changes in the shares of Company Stock
and other assets allocated to Accounts.
14.8 Information to Account Owners.
The Trustee or the Independent Fiduciary, as appropriate, shall
distribute and/or make available to each affected Account Owner the following
materials:
(a) A copy of the description of the terms and conditions of any
tender offer filed with the SEC on Schedule 14D-1, or any similar materials if
such filing is not required, any material distributed to shareholders generally
with respect to the stock rights, and any proxy statements and any other
material distributed to shareholders generally with respect to any action to be
taken with respect to the Company Stock.
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(b) If requested by Apache, a statement from Apache's management
setting forth its position with respect to a tender offer that is filed with
the SEC on Schedule 14D-9 and/or a communication from Apache given pursuant to
17 C.F.R. 240.14d-9(e), as amended.
(c) An instruction form prepared by Apache and approved by the
Trustee or the Independent Fiduciary, to be used by an Account Owner who wishes
to instruct the Trustee to tender Company Stock in response to the tender
offer, to instruct the Independent Fiduciary to sell or exercise stock rights,
or to instruct the Trustee or Independent Fiduciary with respect to any other
action to be taken with respect to the Company Stock. The instruction form
shall state that (i) if the Account Owner fails to return an instruction form
to the Trustee by the indicated deadline, the Trustee will not tender any
shares of Company Stock the Account Owner is otherwise entitled to tender, (ii)
the Independent Fiduciary will not sell or exercise any right allocated to the
Account except upon the written direction of the Account Owner, (iii) the
Trustee or Independent Fiduciary will not take any other action that the
Account Owner could have directed, and (iv) Apache acknowledges and agrees to
honor the confidentiality of the Account Owner's directions to the Trustee.
(d) Such additional material or information as the Trustee or the
Independent Fiduciary may consider necessary to assist the Account Owner in
making an informed decision and in completing or delivering the instruction
form (and any amendments thereto) to the Trustee or the Fiduciary on a timely
basis.
14.9 Expenses.
The Trustee and the Independent Fiduciary shall have the right to
require payment in advance by Apache and the party making the tender offer of
all reasonably anticipated expenses of the Trustee and the Independent
Fiduciary, respectively, in connection with the distribution of information to
and the processing of instructions received from Account Owners.
14.10 Former Account Owners.
Apache shall furnish former Account Owners who have received
distributions of Company Stock so recently as to not be shareholders of record
with the information furnished pursuant to section 14.8. The Trustee and the
Independent Fiduciary are hereby authorized to take action with respect to the
Company Stock distributed to such former Account Owners in accordance with
appropriate instructions from them. If the Trustee does not receive
appropriate instructions, it shall take no action with respect to the
distributed Company Stock.
14.11 No Recommendations.
Neither the Committee, the Committee Fiduciary, the Trustee, nor the
Independent Fiduciary shall express any opinion or give any advice or
recommendation to any Account Owner concerning voting the Company Stock, any
tender offer, stock rights, or the exercise of any other rights appurtenant to
the Company Stock, nor shall they have any authority or responsibility to do
so. Neither the Trustee nor the Independent Fiduciary has any duty to monitor
or police the party making a tender offer or Apache in promoting or resisting a
tender offer; provided, however, that if the Trustee or the Independent
Fiduciary becomes aware of activity that on its face reasonably appears to the
Trustee or Independent Fiduciary to be materially false, misleading, or
coercive, the Trustee or the Independent Fiduciary, as the case may be, shall
promptly demand that the offending party take appropriate corrective action.
If the offending party fails or refuses to take appropriate corrective action,
the Trustee or the Independent Fiduciary, as the case may be, shall communicate
with affected Account Owners in such manner as it deems advisable.
14.12 Trustee to Follow Instructions.
(a) So long as the Trustee and the Independent Fiduciary, as the
case may be, have determined that the Plan is in compliance with ERISA section
404(c), the Trustee or the Independent Fiduciary shall tender, deal
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with stock rights, and act with respect to any other rights appurtenant to the
Company Stock, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the particular
transaction or event, and in accordance with instructions received from Account
Owners. Except for voting, the Trustee or the Independent Fiduciary shall take
no action with respect to Company Stock, stock rights, or other appurtenant
rights for which no instructions are received, and such Company Stock, stock
rights, or other appurtenant rights shall be treated like all other Company
Stock, stock rights, or other appurtenant rights for which no instructions are
received. The Trustee, or if an Independent Fiduciary has been appointed, the
Independent Fiduciary, shall vote the allocated Company Stock that an Account
Owner does not vote as specified in section 14.1.
(b) If the Trustee or Independent Fiduciary determines that the
Plan does not satisfy the requirements of ERISA section 404(c), the Trustee or
Independent Fiduciary shall follow the instructions of the Account Owner with
respect to voting, tender, stock rights, or other rights appurtenant to the
Company Stock unless the Trustee or Independent Fiduciary determines that to do
so would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under ERISA. In such case,
the Trustee or the Independent Fiduciary shall take such action as it
determines to be consistent with its fiduciary duties under ERISA.
14.13 Confidentiality.
(a) The Committee shall designate one of its members (the
"Committee Fiduciary") to receive investment directions and to transmit such
directions to the Trustee or Independent Fiduciary, as the case may be. The
Committee Fiduciary shall also receive all Account Owner instructions
concerning voting, tender, stock rights, and other rights appurtenant to the
Company Stock. The Committee Fiduciary shall communicate the instructions to
the Trustee or the Fiduciary, as appropriate.
(b) Neither the Committee Fiduciary, the Trustee, nor the
Independent Fiduciary shall reveal or release any instructions received from
Account Owners concerning the Company Stock to Apache, an Affiliated Entity, or
the officers, directors, employees, agents, or representatives of Apache and
Affiliated Entities, except to the extent necessary to comply with Federal or
state law not preempted by ERISA. If disclosure is required by Federal or
state law, the information shall be disclosed to the extent possible in the
aggregate rather than on an individual basis.
(c) The Committee Fiduciary shall be responsible for reviewing the
confidentiality procedures from time to time to determine their adequacy. The
Committee Fiduciary shall ensure that the confidentiality procedures are
followed. The Committee Fiduciary shall also ensure that the Independent
Fiduciary provided for in section 14.15 is appointed.
(d) Apache, with the Trustee's cooperation, shall take such action
as is necessary to maintain the confidentiality of Account records including,
without limitation, establishment of security systems and procedures which
restrict access to Account records and retention of an independent agent to
maintain such records. If an independent recordkeeping agent is retained, such
agent must agree, as a condition of its retention by Apache, not to disclose
the composition of any Accounts to Apache, an Affiliated Entity or an officer,
director, employee, or representative of Apache or an Affiliated Entity.
(e) Apache acknowledges and agrees to honor the confidentiality of
the Account Owners' instructions to the Committee Fiduciary, the Trustee, and
the Independent Fiduciary. If Apache, by it own act or omission, breaches the
confidentiality of Account Owner instructions, Apache agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Committee Fiduciary, the Trustee, or the Independent
Fiduciary, as the case may be, against and from all liabilities, claims and
demands, damages, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees,
that the Committee Fiduciary, the Trustee, or the Independent Fiduciary may
incur as a result thereof.
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14.14 Investment of Proceeds.
If Company Stock or the rights are sold pursuant to the tender offer
or the provisions of the rights, the proceeds of such sale shall be invested in
accordance with the provisions of the Plan and the Trust Agreement.
14.15 Independent Fiduciary.
Apache shall appoint a fiduciary (the "Independent Fiduciary") to act
solely with respect to the Company Stock in situations which the Committee
Fiduciary determines involve a potential for undue influence by Apache in
connection with the Company Stock and the exercise of any rights appurtenant to
the Company Stock. If the Committee Fiduciary so determines, it shall give
written notice to the Independent Fiduciary, which shall have sole
responsibility for assuring that Account Owners receive the information
necessary to make informed decisions concerning the Company Stock, are free
from undue influence or coercion, and that their instructions are followed to
the extent proper under ERISA. The Independent Fiduciary shall act until it
receives written notice to the contrary from the Committee Fiduciary.
14.16 Method of Communications.
Several provisions in this Article specify that various communications
to or from an Account Owner must be in writing. The Committee, the Committee
Fiduciary, the Independent Fiduciary, the Company, and the Trustee, as
appropriate, shall each have full authority to treat other forms of
communication, such as electronic mail or telephone voice-response, as
satisfying any "written" requirement specified in this Article, but only to the
extent permitted by the IRS, the Department of Labor, and the Securities
Exchange Commission, as appropriate.
ARTICLE XV
UNIFORMED SERVICES EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS ACT OF 1994
15.1 General.
(a) The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
of 1994 (the "USERRA"), which is codified at 38 USCA Sections 4301-4318,
confers certain rights on individuals who leave civilian employment to perform
certain services in the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the commissioned
corps of the Public Health Service, or in any other category designated by the
President of the United States in time of war or emergency (collectively, the
"Uniformed Services"). An Employee who joins the Uniformed Services shall be
referred to as a "Serviceman" in this Article. This Article shall be
interpreted to provide such individuals with all the benefits required by the
USERRA but no greater benefits than those required by the USERRA. This Article
shall supersede any contrary provisions in the remainder of the Plan.
(b) When a Serviceman leaves the Uniformed Services, he or she may
have reemployment rights with the Company or Affiliated Entities, depending on
many factors, including the length of his or her stay in the Uniformed Services
and the type of discharge he or she received. When this Article speaks of the
date a Serviceman's potential USERRA reemployment rights expire, it means the
date on which the Serviceman fails to qualify for reemployment rights (if, for
example, he or she is dishonorably discharged, or remains in the Uniformed
Services for more than 5 years) or, if the Serviceman obtains reemployment
rights, the date his or her reemployment rights lapse because the Serviceman
failed to timely exercise those rights.
(c) This Article shall apply to anyone who was a Serviceman on
December 12, 1994, and to anyone who became a Serviceman on or after December
12, 1994.
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15.2 While a Serviceman.
In general, a Serviceman shall be treated as an Employee while he or
she continues to receive wages from the Company or an Affiliated Entity, and
once the Serviceman's wages from the Company or Affiliated Entity cease, the
Serviceman shall be treated as if he or she were on an approved, unpaid leave
of absence.
(a) Participant Before-Tax Contributions. For purposes of making
Participant Before-Tax Contributions under section 3.2, if the Serviceman was a
Covered Employee when he or she became a Serviceman, he or she shall continue
to be treated as a Covered Employee while he or she continues to receive wages
from the Company. As a consequence, (i) if he or she was a Covered Employee
who had satisfied the requirements of Article II when he or she became a
Serviceman, he or she may continue to make Participant Before-Tax Contributions
from his or her wages from the Company, and (ii) if he or she had not satisfied
the requirements of section 2.1 when he or she became a Serviceman, his or her
service in the Uniformed Services shall be treated as service with the Company
in determining when he or she will be able to begin making Participant
Before-Tax Contributions under section 2.1, and if his or her wages from the
Company continue beyond that eligibility date, the Serviceman may begin to make
Participant Before-Tax Contributions on such date. A Serviceman may change his
or her rate of contributions in the same manner as an Employee. A Serviceman's
Participant Before-Tax Contributions shall cease when his or her wages from the
Company cease.
(b) Company Contributions. Wages paid by the Company to a
Serviceman shall be included in his or her Compensation as if the Serviceman
were an Employee. A Serviceman's Participant Before-Tax Contributions shall be
matched according to the formula in paragraph 3.1(b)(i). If the Employee was a
Covered Employee when he or she became a Serviceman and his or her wages
continue through the last business day of a Plan Year, then (i) the Serviceman
shall be treated as an "eligible Participant" under subsection 3.1(a) for that
Plan Year (and shall therefore receive an allocation of any Company
Discretionary Contribution); (ii) the Serviceman shall be treated as an
"eligible Participant" under paragraph 3.1(b)(ii) for that Plan Year (and shall
therefore receive an allocation of any additional match provided under such
paragraph); (iii) if he or she was a Non-Highly Compensated Employee when he or
she became a Serviceman, he or she shall be eligible to receive an allocation
of any QNECs provided under subsection 3.8(c); and (iv) he or she shall be
treated as an Employee under subsection 12.4(a) (and, if he or she is a Non-Key
Employee, he or she shall therefore receive any minimum required allocation if
the Plan is top-heavy).
(c) Investments. If the Serviceman has an account balance in the
Plan, he or she is an Account Owner and may therefore direct the investment of
his or her Accounts pursuant to section 9.3 and Article XIV.
(d) Loans. For purposes of borrowing from the Plan under section
7.2, a Serviceman shall be treated as an Employee until the day on which his or
her potential USERRA reemployment rights expire. If a Serviceman with an
outstanding loan continues to receive wages from the Company or an Affiliated
Entity after joining the Uniformed Services, his or her loan payments shall
continue to be deducted from those wages. Once the Serviceman's wages cease,
his or her loan payments shall be suspended until the earlier of (i) his or her
reemployment with the Company or an Affiliated Entity or (ii) the day on which
his or her potential USERRA reemployment rights expire. The Serviceman may
repay all or part of his or her loan at any time during the suspension. During
the payment suspension, interest shall accrue on the unpaid balance of the
loan. See subsections 15.3(b) and 15.4(c) for the resumption of loan payments
for a reemployed Serviceman, and subsection 15.3(a) for the timing of the
loan's default if the Serviceman is not reemployed.
(e) Distributions and Withdrawals. For purposes of Article VI and
section 7.1 (relating to distributions and in-service withdrawals), the
Serviceman shall be treated as an Employee until the day on which his or her
potential USERRA reemployment rights expire. See section 15.3 once his or her
potential USERRA rights expire.
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(f) QDROs. QDROs shall be processed while the Participant is a
Serviceman. The Committee has the discretion to establish special procedures
under subsection 13.9(e) for Servicemen, by, for example, extending the usual
deadlines to accommodate any practical difficulties encountered by the
Serviceman that are attributable to his or her service in the Uniformed
Services.
(g) Rollovers. If the Serviceman was a Covered Employee when he
or she became a Serviceman, the Serviceman may make rollovers pursuant to
subsection 3.2(b) until the day on which his or her potential USERRA
reemployment rights expire.
15.3 Failure to Return.
(a) If a Serviceman is not reemployed before his or her potential
USERRA reemployment rights expire, the Committee shall determine his or her
Termination from Service Date by treating his or her service in the Uniformed
Services as an approved leave of absence but treating the expiration of his or
her potential USERRA reemployment rights as the failure to timely return from
his or her leave of absence, with the consequence that his or her Termination
from Service Date will generally be the earlier of the date his or her
potential USERRA rights expired or one year after the date he or she joined the
Uniformed Services. Once his or her Termination from Service Date has been
determined, the Committee shall determine his or her vested percentage. For
purposes of Article VI and section 7.1 (relating to distributions), the day the
Serviceman's potential USERRA reemployment rights expired shall be treated as
the day he or she terminated employment with the Company and Affiliated
Entities, as well as the day he or she separated from service (within the
meaning of Code section 401(k)(2)(B)(i)(I)) with the Company and Affiliated
Entities. For purposes of subsection 5.2(d) (relating to the timing of
forfeitures), the Serviceman's last day of employment shall be the day his or
her potential USERRA reemployment rights expired. If the Serviceman has an
outstanding loan from this Plan when his or her potential USERRA reemployment
rights expire, his or her loan shall go into default on the last day of the
calendar quarter after the calendar quarter in which his or her potential
USERRA reemployment rights expired, unless, before the loan goes into default,
he or she repays the loan or is rehired pursuant to subsection (b).
(b) If the Company or an Affiliated Company hires a former
Serviceman after his or her potential USERRA reemployment rights have expired,
he or she shall be treated like any other former employee who is rehired. If
he or she had an outstanding loan and is reemployed before the loan goes into
default pursuant to subsection (a), his or her loan payments shall be
recalculated and the Company or Affiliated Entity shall immediately resume
withholding the revised loan payments from his or her pay. The term of the
loan when payments resume shall be equal to the remaining term of the loan when
payments were suspended.
15.4 Return From Uniformed Service.
This section applies solely to a Serviceman who returns to employment
with the Company or an Affiliated Entity because he or she exercised his or her
reemployment rights under the USERRA.
(a) Credit for Service. A Serviceman's length of time in the
Uniformed Services shall be treated as service with the Company for purposes of
vesting and determining his or her eligibility to participate in the Plan upon
reemployment.
(b) Participation. If the Serviceman satisfies the eligibility
requirements of section 2.1 before his or her reemployment, and he or she is a
Covered Employee upon his or her reemployment, he or she may participate in the
Plan immediately upon his or her return.
(c) Loans. If the Serviceman's loan payments were suspended under
subsection 15.2(d) during his or her time in the Uniformed Services, his or her
loan payments shall be recalculated and the Company or Affiliated Entity shall
immediately resume withholding the revised loan payments from his or her pay.
The term
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of the loan when payments resume shall be equal to the remaining term of the
loan when payments were suspended.
(d) Make-Up Before-Tax Contributions. In addition to his or her
regular Participant Before-Tax Contributions, a returning Serviceman shall be
permitted to make additional contributions up to the amount of Participant
Before-Tax Contributions he or she could have made if, instead of becoming a
Serviceman, he or she had remained employed by the Company or Affiliated Entity
and been paid his or her Deemed Compensation during that time. See subsection
(h) for guidance on applying the various limits contained in the Code to the
calculation of the maximum additional contribution the returning Serviceman may
make. Such additional contributions may only be made within a period that
begins on his or her reemployment date and whose duration is the lesser of five
years or three times his or her length of time in the Uniformed Services. The
additional contributions shall be withheld from his or her Compensation
pursuant to the Serviceman's election. The Committee shall establish
administrative procedures for such elections. The additional contributions
shall be allocated to Participant Before-Tax Contributions Accounts.
(e) Make-Up Match. For each additional contribution that the
Serviceman contributes pursuant to subsection (d), the Company shall promptly
contribute to his or her Accounts an additional matching contribution. The
additional matching contribution shall be equal to the Company Matching
Contribution (including forfeitures treated as Company Matching Contributions)
that he or she would have received if (i) his or her additional contributions
were Participant Before-Tax Contributions made during his or her time in the
Uniformed Services, and (ii) he or she was paid his or her Deemed Compensation
during his or her time in the Uniformed Services. The Serviceman's additional
contributions shall be spread over the pay periods in which they could have
occurred in such a way as to maximize the additional matching contribution.
See subsection (h) for guidance on applying the various limits contained in the
Code to the calculation of the additional matching contribution. The
additional matching contribution shall be allocated to the Participant's
Company Contributions Account unless the additional matching contribution would
have been designated a QMAC, in which case it shall be allocated to his or her
Participant Before-Tax Contributions Account.
(f) Make-Up Company Discretionary Contribution. The Company shall
contribute an additional contribution to a Serviceman's Accounts equal to the
Company Discretionary Contribution (including any forfeitures treated as
Company Discretionary Contributions) that would have been allocated to such
Accounts if the Serviceman had remained employed during his or her time in the
Uniformed Services, and had earned his or her Deemed Compensation during that
time. See subsection (h) for guidance on applying the various limits contained
in the Code to the calculation of the additional discretionary contribution.
The additional discretionary contribution shall be allocated to the
Participant's Company Contributions Account unless the additional discretionary
contribution would have been designated a QNEC, in which case it shall be
allocated to his or her Participant Before-Tax Contributions Account.
(g) Make-Up Miscellaneous Contributions. The Company shall
contribute to the Serviceman's Accounts any QNECs that the Serviceman would
have received pursuant to subsection 3.8(c), and any top-heavy minimum
contribution he or she would have received pursuant to section 12.4, (including
any forfeitures treated as QNECs or top-heavy minimum contributions) if he or
she had remained employed during his or her time in the Uniformed Services, and
had earned Deemed Compensation during that time. See subsection (h) for
guidance on applying the various limits contained in the Code to the
calculation of the QNECs and top-heavy minimum contribution. These additional
top-heavy minimum contributions shall be allocated to Company Contributions
Accounts. The additional QNECs shall be allocated to Participant Before-Tax
Contributions Accounts.
(h) Application of Limitations.
(i) The make-up contributions under subsections (d), (e),
(f), and (g) (the "Make-Up Contributions") shall be ignored for
purposes of determining the Company's maximum contribution under
subsection 3.1(d), the limits on Participant Before-Tax Contributions
under
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paragraph 3.2(a)(ii), the limits on Annual Additions under section
3.4, the ADP test of section 3.5, the ACP test of section 3.6, the
multiple-use test of section 3.7, the non-discrimination requirements
of Code section 401(a)(4), and (if the Serviceman is a Key Employee)
calculating the minimum required top-heavy contribution under section
12.4.
(ii) In order to determine the maximum Make-Up
Contributions, the following limitations shall apply.
(A) The Serviceman's "Aggregate Compensation" for
each year shall be calculated. His or her Aggregate
Compensation shall be equal to his or her actual Compensation,
plus his or her Deemed Compensation that would have been paid
during that year. Each type of Aggregate Compensation (for
benefit purposes, deferral purposes, etc.) shall be determined
separately.
(B) The Serviceman's Aggregate Compensation each
Plan Year shall be limited to the dollar limit in effect for
that Plan Year under Code section 401(a)(17), for the
purposes and in the manner specified in subsection 1.13(f).
(C) The limits of subsection 3.1(d) (relating to
the maximum contribution by the Company to the Plan) for each
Plan Year shall be calculated by using the Serviceman's
Aggregate Compensation for that Plan Year, and by treating the
Make-Up Contributions that are attributable to that Plan
Year's Deemed Compensation as having been made during that
Plan Year.
(D) The limit of paragraph 3.2(a)(ii) (relating
to the dollar limit in effect under Code section 402(g) on
Participant Before-Tax Contributions) for each calendar year
shall be calculated by treating as Participant Before-Tax
Contributions his or her additional contributions pursuant to
subsection (d) that are attributable to that calendar year's
Deemed Compensation.
(E) The limits of section 3.4 (relating to the
maximum Annual Additions to a Participant's Accounts) shall be
calculated for each Limitation Year by using the Serviceman's
Aggregate Compensation for that Limitation Year, and by
treating as Annual Additions all the Make-Up Contributions
that are attributable to that Limitation Year's Deemed
Compensation.
(F) The Serviceman's maximum Make-Up
Contributions shall not be limited by the results of the
Plan's ADP test, ACP test, or multiple use test for any Plan
Year in which the Serviceman has Deemed Compensation, even if
the Serviceman is treated as a Highly Compensated Employee
(using his or her Aggregate Compensation) for that Plan Year.
(i) Deemed Compensation. A Serviceman's Deemed Compensation is
the Compensation that he or she would have received (including raises) had he
or she remained employed by the Company or Affiliated Entity during his or her
time in the Uniformed Services, unless it is not reasonably certain what his or
her Compensation would have been, in which case his or her Deemed Compensation
shall be based on his or her average rate of compensation during the 12 months
(or, if shorter, his or her period of employment with the Company and
Affiliated Entities) immediately before he or she entered the Uniformed
Services. A Serviceman's Deemed Compensation shall be reduced by any
Compensation actually paid to him or her during his or her time in the
Uniformed Services (such as vacation pay). Deemed Compensation shall cease
when the Serviceman's potential
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USERRA reemployment rights expire. Each type of Deemed Compensation (for
benefit purposes, deferral purposes, etc.) shall be determined separately.
APACHE CORPORATION
Date: August 1, 1997 By: /s/ Daniel L. Schaeffer
--------------------- --------------------------------------
Title: Vice President, Human Resources
--------------------------------
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APPENDIX A
PARTICIPATING COMPANIES
The following Affiliated Entities were actively participating in the Plan as of
the following dates:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Participation Participation
Business Began As Of Ended As Of
-------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Apache International, Inc. September 22, 1987 N/A
Apache Energy Resources Corporation January 1, 1994 December 31, 1995
(known as Hadson Energy Resources
Corporation before January 1, 1995)
Apache Energy Limited (known as January 1, 1994 N/A
Hadson Energy Limited before
January 1, 1995)
Apache Canada Ltd. May 17, 1995 N/A
</TABLE>
-- END OF APPENDIX A --
A-1
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<PAGE> 59
APPENDIX B
HADSON ENERGY RESOURCES CORPORATION
INTRODUCTION
Through a merger effective November 12, 1993, Apache then held 100% of
the capital stock of Hadson Energy Resources Corporation ("HERC"). HERC and
its wholly owned subsidiary, Hadson Energy Limited ("HEL"), maintained the
Hadson Energy Resources Corporation Employee 401(k) Plan (the "HERC Plan"), a
profit sharing plan containing a cash or deferred arrangement. The HERC Plan
was terminated as of December 31, 1993. Amounts will be transferred from the
HERC Plan to this Plan as soon as administratively feasible after the Internal
Revenue Service issues a favorable ruling with respect to the termination of
the HERC Plan. The transferred amounts will be accounted for separately, and
different distributional options will apply to them, as described below. In
addition, HERC and HEL have adopted this Plan, and Apache has approved their
adoption, as of January 1, 1994 for HERC's and HEL's eligible employees. The
employees will be given credit in this Plan, for vesting and eligibility
purposes, for their prior service with HERC and HEL.
This Appendix is intended to encompass all the protected benefits and
optional forms of benefit, as required by Code section 411(d)(6), with respect
to amounts transferred from the HERC Plan and shall be interpreted consistently
with that intent.
Capitalized terms in this Appendix have the same meanings as those
given to them in the Plan.
Service
This Appendix applies to all individuals who are common-law employees
of HERC or HEL ("Current HERC Employees") as of January 1, 1994. A Period of
Service for a Current HERC Employee shall include any periods of employment
before January 1, 1994 with HERC, HEL, and any of HERC's subsidiaries.
Participation
Notwithstanding sections 2.1 and 3.1, a Current HERC Employee who is a
Covered Employee shall be eligible to begin to make Participant Before-Tax
Contributions, and shall be eligible to participate in the Plan with respect to
the Company Discretionary Contribution, on January 1, 1994.
Transfer of Accounts
The Trustee is authorized to accept the direct transfer of all assets
from the trustee of the HERC Plan. The assets may be transferred in kind or in
cash, as determined by the Committee. The Trustee shall accept a direct
transfer of any participant loan from the HERC Plan; such loan shall continue
to be administered according to the terms of its promissory note. The
Committee shall establish such procedures, rules, and regulations as it deems
necessary or appropriate to accommodate the transfer of assets. The Trustee
shall separately account for all assets directly transferred to this Plan. The
Trustee shall establish the following accounts for each individual whose
account(s) are transferred to this Plan: a Voluntary Contribution Account
(containing participant after-tax contributions and the investment earnings
thereon); a Salary Deferral Account (containing participant before-tax
contributions and the investment earnings thereon); a Salary Deferral Account
(containing qualified non-elective contributions, qualified matching
contributions, and the investment earnings thereon); and a HERC Contributions
Account (containing the employer's matching contributions, the employer's
discretionary contributions, and the investment earnings thereon)
(collectively, the "HERC Accounts").
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Amounts transferred to this Plan from the HERC Plan cannot be
borrowed, and cannot be used as security for any loan from this Plan.
Distributions
Unless waived in writing by the Participant or their beneficiary after
such person becomes entitled to a distribution from the Plan by reason of a
Participant's death, Disability, retirement, or other termination of employment
with the Company, or a termination or partial termination of the Plan, then in
addition to and notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, the
Participant or other beneficiary shall have the right to receive his or her
vested interest in the balance of his or her HERC Accounts in the following
optional forms and the at the following times.
To the extent that this Appendix does not provide for an alternative
or contrary requirement or procedure for distribution of a Participant's HERC
Account, the provisions of the Plan shall control. For example, all of the
consent and beneficiary designation provisions of the Plan govern the
distribution of HERC Accounts to the extent not inconsistent with the annuity
requirements below, and all distributions are subject to the direct rollover
rules of section 6.6.
Whether or not specifically stated hereinafter, the following
provisions apply only to the HERC Account balances.
1. Death or Disability.
Distributions pursuant to the Plan provisions control in the case of
distributions as a result of death or Disability, except to the extent that the
annuity requirements below are applicable, and except that installment payments
are not available.
2. Other than Death or Disability.
Distributions for reasons other than the Participant's death or
Disability shall be made in accordance with the following:
A Participant who has attained age 59-1/2 may withdraw any vested
amount from his or her HERC Accounts at any time, regardless of whether the
Participant has terminated employment with HERC.
A Participant may elect to withdraw any vested amount from his or her
HERC Accounts at any time after separating from service (within the meaning of
Code section 401(k)(2)(B)(i)(I)) with Apache, HERC, and all Affiliated
Entities.
A Participant may elect to withdraw any amount from his or her
Voluntary Contributions Account at any time, regardless of whether the
Participant has terminated employment with HERC.
A Participant younger than 59-1/2 who has not separated from service
with Apache, HERC, and Affiliated Entities, may make a hardship withdrawal from
his or her Salary Deferral Account under the same terms and conditions
described in section 7.1(b) of the Plan.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing early distribution options, a
Participant whose vested interest in his or her HERC Account balances are
distributed pursuant to one of the options contained in this paragraph 2 shall
forfeit his or her nonvested interest in his or her HERC Account balances only
as of the last day of the Plan Year in which the Participant incurs a one-year
Lapse in Apache Employment.
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All distributions made pursuant to this paragraph 2 shall be made in a
manner consistent with, and satisfies the provisions of, paragraphs 3 and 4
below, including, but not limited to, all notice and consent requirements of
Code sections 417 and 411(a)(11) and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
3. Qualified Single Life or Joint and Survivor Annuity.
Paragraph 3 shall apply only to a Participant who elects to receive
an annuity.
(a) Eligibility and Conditions. Unless the Participant elects, as
provided in 3(c), not to receive benefits in the form of a qualified joint and
survivor annuity, benefits attributable to HERC Account balances will be paid
in a form having the effect of a qualified joint and survivor annuity (as
defined in 3(b)(2)) with respect to any Participant who (1) is entitled to a
distribution, and (2) satisfies the marriage requirements provided in 3(d)(2).
In a similar fashion, if a Participant does not meet the marriage requirements,
such benefits will be paid in a form having the effect of a single life annuity
unless the Participant elects, similar to the election pursuant to 3(c) but
without the spousal consent requirement, to waive the life annuity.
(b) Definitions. As used in this paragraph
(1) Life Annuity. The term "life annuity" means an
annuity that provides retirement payments and requires the survival of the
Participant or the Participant's spouse as one of the conditions for any
payment or possible payment under the annuity.
(2) Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity. The term
"qualified joint and survivor annuity" means an annuity for the life of the
Participant with a survivor annuity for the life of the Participant's spouse
which is one- half of the amount of the annuity payable during the joint lives
of the Participant and his or her spouse. A qualified joint and survivor
annuity shall be the actuarial equivalent of a life annuity for the life of the
Participant. The Committee shall direct the Trustee to apply the entire vested
amount in all of the Participant's HERC Accounts (whether vested before or upon
death, including the proceeds of insurance contract) to the purchase of an
annuity contract that satisfies all of the requirements of this paragraph 3 and
to distribute the contract to the Participant. Payments to the spouse of a
deceased Participant shall not be terminated or reduced because of such
spouse's remarriage.
(3) Normal Retirement Age. The term "normal retirement
age" means the Participant's 65th birthday.
(4) Annuity Starting Date. The term "annuity starting
date" means (i) the first day of the first period for which an amount is
payable as an annuity, whether by reason of retirement or by reason of
Disability, or (ii) in the case of a benefit not payable in the form of an
annuity, the first day on which all events have occurred which entitled the
Participant to such benefit.
(5) Day. The term "day" means a calendar day.
(c) Election Not to Take Joint and Survivor Annuity.
(1) In General. Each Participant may elect, at any time
during the election period described in 3(c)(3), not to receive a qualified
joint and survivor annuity. The election shall be in writing and clearly
indicate that the Participant is electing to receive all of his or her benefits
under the Plan in a form other than that of a qualified joint and survivor
annuity.
(2) Consent of Spouse. An election under 3(c)(1) above
shall not be effective unless (i) the Participant's spouse consents in writing
to the election, (ii) the election designates a beneficiary (or a form of
benefits) which may not be changed without spousal consent (or the consent of
the spouse expressly permits
B-3
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<PAGE> 62
designation by the Participant without any requirement of further consent by
the spouse) and (iii) the spouse's consent acknowledges the effect of the
election and the consent is witnessed by a Committee member or a notary public.
The spouse's consent shall be filed with the Committee at the same time that
the Participant's election under 3(c)(1) is filed with the Committee. If a
spousal consent shall be filed together with the Participant's election, the
election shall take effect nevertheless it is established to the satisfaction
of the Committee that the Participant is not married, the Participant's spouse
cannot be located, or that other circumstances prescribed in the Treasury
Regulations exist. Any spousal consent or establishment that spousal consent
cannot be obtained shall be effective only with respect to such spouse.
(3) Election Period. The Participant shall have an
election period which shall be a 90-day period ending on the annuity starting
date. If a Participant makes a request for additional information as provided
in 3(c)(4) below on or before the last day of the election period, the election
period shall be extended to the extent necessary to include the 90 calendar
days immediately following the day the requested additional information is
personally delivered or mailed to the Participant.
(4) Information to be Provided by Plan Administrator.
(i) The Plan Administrator shall provide
to the Participants, at the time and in the manner specified
in 3(c)(4)(ii), the following information, as applicable to
the HERC Account balances under the Plan, written in
nontechnical language;
(A) A general explanation of the terms
and conditions of the qualified joint and survivor annuity;
the Participant's right to make, and the effect of, an
election to waive the joint and survivor annuity form of
benefit; the right of the Participant's spouse to consent to
any election to waive the joint and survivor annuity; the
right to revoke an election to waive; and the effect of such a
revocation; and
(B) A general explanation of the
relative financial effect on a Participant's annuity of the
election. Various methods may be used to explain such
relative financial effect, including information as to the
benefits the Participant would receive under the qualified
joint and survivor annuity stated as an arithmetic or
percentage reduction for a single life annuity; a table
showing the difference between a straight life annuity and a
qualified joint and survivor annuity in terms of a reduction
in dollar amounts or a table showing a percentage reduction
from the straight life annuity. The notice and explanation
required by this 3(c)(4)(i) must also inform the Participant
of the availability of the additional information specified in
3(c)(4)(iii) and how such information may be obtained.
(ii) The method or methods used to provide the
information may vary. If mail or personal delivery is used,
then, whether or not the information has been previously
provided, there must be a mailing or personal delivery of the
information by such time as to reasonably assure that it will
be received on a date that is no less than 30 days and no more
than 90 days before the annuity starting date. If a method
other than mail or personal delivery is used to provide
Participants with some or all of such information, it must be
a method that is reasonably calculated to reach the attention
of a Participant on or about the date prescribed in the
immediately preceding sentence and to continue to reach the
attention of such Participant during the election period
applicable to the Participant for which the information is
being provided (as, for example, by permanent posting,
repeated publication, etc.).
(iii) The Plan Administrator must furnish to a
particular Participant, upon a timely written request, a
written explanation in nontechnical language of the terms and
conditions of the qualified joint and survivor annuity and the
financial effect upon the particular Participant's annuity of
making any election under this paragraph. Such financial
effect shall be given in
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terms of dollars per annuity payment. The Plan Administrator
need not comply with more than one such request made by a
particular Participant. This explanation must be personally
delivered or mailed (first class mail, postage prepaid) to the
Participant within 30 days from the date of the Participant's
written request.
(5) Election is Revocable. Any election made under this
3(c) may be revoked in writing at any time during the specified election
period, and after such election has been revoked, another election under this
paragraph may be made at any time during the specified election period.
(6) Election by Surviving Spouse. The spouse of a
deceased Participant may elect to have the benefits attributable to HERC
Account balances paid in a form other than a survivor annuity. The Plan
Administrator must furnish to the spouse, within a reasonable amount of time
after a written request has been made by the spouse, a written explanation in
nontechnical language of the survivor annuity and any other form of payment
which may be selected. This explanation must state the financial effect (in
terms of dollars) of each form of payment. The Plan Administrator need not
respond to more than one such request.
(7) Additional Rule Regarding Election Period. The
explanation referred to in paragraph (4) may be provided after the annuity
starting date, in which case the election period shall not end until the 30th
day after the day on which the explanation is provided. The Participant may
elect (with the consent of his or her spouse) to waive the 30-day requirement
in the preceding sentence, as well as the 30-day requirements in paragraph (4),
in which case distribution will commence as soon as practicable, according to
the Participant's election, but no earlier than 7 days after the day the
written explanation was provided.
(d) Additional Plan Provisions.
(1) Claim for Benefits. As a condition precedent to the
payment of benefits, a Participant must express in writing to the Plan
Administrator the form in which he or she prefers benefits to be paid and
provide all the information reasonably necessary for the payment of such
benefits. However, if a Participant files a claim for benefits with the Plan
Administrator and provides the Plan Administrator with all the information
necessary for the payment of benefits but does not indicate a preference as to
the form for the payment of benefits, benefits attributable to HERC Account
balances must be paid in the form of a qualified joint and survivor annuity if
the Participant has attained normal retirement age unless such Participant has
made an effective election not to receive benefits in such form.
(2) Marriage Requirements.
(i) In General. A joint an survivor annuity will
be paid only if
(A) the Participant and his or her
spouse have been married to each other throughout a period of
one year ending on the annuity starting date; and
(B) the Participant shall notify the
Plan Administrator of his or her martial status within 30 days
after request is made for such information.
(ii) Special Rule. If a Participant marries
within one year before his or her annuity starting date and if
the Participant and such spouse have been married for at least
a one year period that ends on or before the Participant's
date of death, the Participant and such spouse shall be
treated as having been married throughout the one-year period
ending on the Participant's annuity starting date.
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<PAGE> 64
(3) Effect of Participant's Death on an Election or
Revocation of Election. The effect of an election or a revocation of an
election timely made under 3(c) shall not be altered by the death of the
Participant within any particular time period after such election or revocation
shall be made effective.
(e) Amount of Benefits. The amount of benefits shall be as
provided in 3(b).
(f) Commencement and Duration. The monthly surviving spouse's
benefit shall be payable to the spouse for life, beginning as of the first day
of the calendar month coincident with or next following the Participant's
death.
4. Qualified Preretirement Survivor Annuity.
Paragraph 4 shall apply only to a Participant who elects to receive an annuity.
(a) Eligibility and Conditions. Unless the Participant elects, as
provided in 4(c), to waive death benefits in the form of a qualified
preretirement survivor annuity, death benefits attributable to HERC Account
balances will be paid in a form having the effect of a qualified preretirement
survivor annuity (as defined in paragraph 4(b)(2)) with respect to any
Participant who (1) dies prior to the annuity starting date, and (2) satisfies
the marriage requirement of 4(d).
(b) Definitions. As used in this paragraph
(1) Life Annuity. The term "life annuity" means an
annuity that provides retirement payments and requires the survival of the
Participant or the Participant's spouse as one of the conditions for any
payment or possible payment under the annuity.
(2) Qualified Preretirement Survivor Annuity. The term
"qualified preretirement survivor annuity" means an annuity for the life of the
surviving spouse of the Participant, which is the actuarial equivalent of 100%
of the Participant's HERC Account balance as of his or her date of death. The
Committee shall direct the Trustee to purchase an annuity contract that
satisfies all of the requirements of this paragraph 4 (provided that the
present value of the annuity contract is not less than 50% of the Participant's
vested amount in all of his or her HERC Accounts at his or her date of death,
whether vested before or upon death, including the proceeds of insurance
contracts) and to distribute the annuity contract to the surviving spouse.
(3) Normal Retirement Age. The term "normal retirement
age" means the Participant's 65th birthday.
(4) Annuity Starting Date. The term "annuity starting
date" means (i) the first day of the first period for which an amount is
payable as an annuity, whether by reason of retirement or by reason of
Disability or (ii) in the case of a benefit not payable in the form of an
annuity, the first day on which all events have occurred which entitled the
Participant to such benefit.
(5) Day. The term "day" means a calendar day.
(c) Election to Waive Qualified Preretirement Survivor Annuity.
(1) In General.
(i) Each Participant may elect, during the
election period described in 4(c)(3), to waive the payment of
death benefits in the form of a qualified preretirement
survivor annuity.
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(ii) The election shall be in writing and clearly
indicate that the Participant is electing to waive the payment
of death benefits in the form of a qualified preretirement
survivor annuity.
(2) Consent of Spouse. An election under 4(c)(1) shall
not be effective unless (i) the Participant's spouse consents in writing to the
election, (ii) the election designates a beneficiary (or a form of benefits)
which may not be changed without spousal consent (or the consent of the spouse
expressly permits the designations by the Participant without any requirement
of further consent by the spouse) and (iii) the spouse's consent acknowledges
the effect of the election and the consent is witnessed by a Committee member
or a notary public. The spouse's consent shall be filed with the Committee at
the same time that the Participant's election under 4(c)(1) is filed with the
Committee. If a spousal consent is not filed together with the Participant's
election, the election shall take effect nevertheless if it is established to
the satisfaction of the Committee that the Participant is not married, the
Participant's spouse cannot be located, or that other circumstances prescribed
in the Treasury Regulations exist. Any spousal consent or establishment that
spousal consent cannot be obtained shall be effective only with respect to such
spouse.
(3) Election Period. The Participant shall have an
election period which shall be a period that ends the later of (i) the period
beginning with the first day of the Plan Year in which the Participant attains
age 32 and ending with the close of the Plan Year preceding the Plan Year in
which the Participant attains age 35, (ii) a reasonable time after the
individual becomes a Participant, (iii) a reasonable time after the joint and
survivor rules become effective to the Participant or (v) a reasonable time
after the Participant separates from service before attaining age 35.
(4) Information to be Provided by Plan Administrator.
(i) The Plan Administrator shall provide to the
Participants, at the time and in the manner specified in
4(c)(4), the following information, as applicable to the Plan,
written in nontechnical language:
(A) A general explanation of the
qualified preretirement survivor annuity; the Participant's
right to make, and the effect of, an election to waive the
preretirement survivor annuity form of death benefit; the
right of the Participant's spouse to consent to the election
to waive the preretirement survivor annuity; the right to
revoke an election to waive; and the effect of such a
revocation.
(B) A general explanation of the
relative financial effect on a Participant's death benefits of
the election. Various methods may be used to explain such
relative financial effect.
(ii) The method or methods used to provide the
information may vary. If mail or personal delivery is used,
then, whether or not the information has been previously
provided, there must be a mailing personal delivery of the
information by such time as to reasonably assure that it will
be received within the period commencing with the first day of
the Plan Year in which the Participant attains age 32 and
ending with the last day of the Plan Year preceding the Plan
Year in which the Participant attains age 35. If a method
other than mail or personal delivery is used to provide
Participants with some or all of such information, it must be
a method that is reasonably calculated to reach the attention
of a Participant on or about the date prescribed in the
immediately preceding sentence and to continue to reach the
attention of such Participant during the election period
applicable to the Participant for which the information is
being provided (as, for example, be permanent posting,
repeated publication, etc.).
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(5) Election is Revocable. Any election made under this
paragraph 4 may be revoked in writing at any time during the specified election
period, and after such election has been revoked, another election under this
paragraph may be made at any time during the specified election period.
(6) Election by Surviving Spouse. The surviving spouse
may elect to have benefits paid in a form other than a preretirement survivor
annuity. The Plan Administrator must furnish to the spouse, within a
reasonable amount of time after a written request has been made by the spouse,
a written explanation in nontechnical language of the preretirement survivor
annuity and any other form of payment that may be selected. The explanation
must state the financial effect (in terms of dollars) of each form of payment.
The Plan Administrator need not respond to more than one such request.
(d) Marriage Requirement. A preretirement survivor annuity will
be paid only if the Participant and his or her spouse have been married to each
other throughout a period of one year ending on the date of the Participant's
death.
(e) Amount of Benefits. The amount shall be as provided in 4(b).
(f) Commencement and Duration. The surviving spouse's benefit
shall be payable to the spouse for life, beginning as of the first day of the
calendar month coincident with or next following the Participant's death.
-- END OF APPENDIX B --
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APPENDIX C
CRYSTAL OIL COMPANY
Apache may enter into an asset purchase agreement with Crystal Oil
Company on or about December 31, 1994 (the "Closing Date"). Apache may hire
some employees of Crystal Oil Company on the Closing Date or within one week
after the Closing Date ("Ex-Crystal Employees"). This Appendix shall be
effective as of the Closing Date.
A Period of Service for an Ex-Crystal Employee shall include any
periods of employment with Crystal Oil Company and any business treated as a
single employer with Crystal Oil Company pursuant to Code section 414(b),
414(c), 414(m), or 414(o).
Notwithstanding section 2.1 of the Plan, an Ex-Crystal Employee shall
be eligible to begin to make Participant Before-Tax Contributions, and shall be
eligible to participate in the Plan with respect to the Company Discretionary
Contribution, on the date he or she becomes a Covered Employee.
--END OF APPENDIX C--
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APPENDIX D
NATURAL GAS CLEARINGHOUSE
INTRODUCTION
A number of Employees ("NGC Participants") transferred to Natural Gas
Clearinghouse ("NGC"), a Colorado general partnership, pursuant to the terms of
the Employee Benefits Agreement, effective April 1, 1990, between Apache and
NGC.
This Appendix contains special provisions that apply to the NGC
Participants. Capitalized terms in this Appendix have the same meanings as
those given them in the Plan.
Service
A Period of Service for an NGC Participant shall include his or her
period(s) of employment after April 1, 1990, with NGC or any business that is
then treated as a single employer with NGC pursuant to Code section 414(b),
414(c), 414(m), or 414(o).
Participation
Notwithstanding section 2.1, if an NGC Participant is rehired by
Apache or any Affiliated Entity, the NGC Participant shall be eligible to begin
to make Participant Before-Tax Contributions, and shall be eligible to
participate in the Plan with respect to the Company Discretionary Contribution,
on the date he or she again becomes a Covered Employee. Notwithstanding
paragraph 3.1(b)(i), a sale of Company Stock from an NGC Participant's Accounts
before the NGC Participant is rehired shall not, by itself, cause the NGC
Participant's matching percentage to be less than 100%.
Distributions
While an NGC Participant is employed by NGC or by any business then
treated as a single employer with NGC pursuant to Code section 414(b), 414(c),
414(m), or 414(o) (a "Current NGC Employee"), the Current NGC Employee shall be
treated as an Employee for purposes of Article VI and section 7.1. In
addition, notwithstanding section 7.1, a Current NGC Employee may withdraw the
entire vested portion of his or her Company Contributions Account in a single
sum at any time.
Loans
An NGC Participant may borrow from the Plan pursuant to section 7.2
only if he or she is an Employee or is otherwise a party in interest (within
the meaning of ERISA section 3(14)) with respect to the Plan.
Investments
An NGC Participant may elect to invest his or her Accounts in the same
manner as other Account Owners, pursuant to Article IX. An NGC Participant may
sell any shares of Company Stock in his or her Accounts, in spite of any
election the NGC Participant had previously made to irrevocably invest a
portion of his or her Accounts in Company Stock.
-- END OF APPENDIX D --
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APPENDIX E
Texaco Exploration & Production, Inc.
Apache acquired certain assets from Texaco Exploration & Production,
Inc. ("TEPI"), as of January 1, 1995. In connection with that acquisition,
Apache hired a number of individuals employed by TEPI or related companies
("Ex-Texaco Employees"), in late February and early March of 1995 (the "Apache
Hire Date").
A Period of Service for an Ex-Texaco Employee shall include any
periods of employment, before his or her Apache Hire Date, with TEPI or any
business then treated as a single employer with TEPI pursuant to Code section
414(b), 414(c), 414(m), or 414(o).
Notwithstanding section 2.1 of the Plan, an Ex-Texaco Employee shall
be eligible to begin to make Participant Before-Tax Contributions as of the
first day of the first pay period following his or her Apache Hire Date,
provided he or she is then a Covered Employee. An Ex-Texaco Employee shall be
eligible to participate in the Plan with respect to the Company Discretionary
Contribution on the date he or she becomes a Covered Employee.
-- END OF APPENDIX E --
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APPENDIX F
DEKALB ENERGY COMPANY / APACHE CANADA LTD.
Introduction
Through a merger effective as of May 17, 1995, Apache then held 100%
of the stock of DEKALB Energy Company (which has been renamed Apache Canada
Ltd.). Apache Canada Ltd. has adopted this Plan, and Apache has approved its
adoption, as of May 17, 1995, for the eligible employees of Apache Canada Ltd.
Capitalized terms in this Appendix have the same meanings as those
given to them in the Plan. The regular terms of the Plan shall apply to the
employees of Apache Canada Ltd., except as provided below.
Eligibility to Participate
Notwithstanding section 1.14, an employee of Apache Canada Ltd. shall
be a Covered Employee only if (1) he or she is either a U.S. citizen or a U.S.
resident, and (2) he or she was employed by Apache or another Company
immediately before becoming an employee of Apache Canada Ltd.
Vesting and Eligibility Service
For any individual who becomes an employee of Apache on or after May
17, 1995, his or her Period of Service shall include any periods of employment
before May 17, 1995, with DEKALB Energy Company or any business then treated as
a single employer with DEKALB Energy Company pursuant to Code section 414(b),
414(c), 414(m), or 414(o).
Compensation
If the payroll of the Apache Canada Ltd. employee is handled in the
United States, then the definitions of Compensation in section 1.13 shall
apply. To the extent that the payroll of the Apache Canada Ltd. employee is
handled outside of the United States, the following definitions of Compensation
shall apply in lieu of the definitions found in subsections 1.13(a) and
1.13(b):
(a) Code Section 415 Compensation.
(i) 1997. This paragraph applies for 1997 only. For
purposes of determining the limitation on Annual Additions under
section 3.4 and the minimum contribution under section 12.4 when the
Plan is top-heavy, Compensation shall mean foreign earned income
(within the meaning of Code section 911(b)) paid by the Company or an
Affiliated Entity, but shall not include any Participant Before-Tax
Contributions or any other elective contributions that are not
includable in the Employee's income pursuant to Code sections 125,
402(e)(3), 402(h), or 403(b). For purposes of section 3.4,
Compensation shall be measured over a Limitation Year. For purposes
of section 12.4, Compensation shall be measured over a Plan Year.
(ii) 1998 and Thereafter. This paragraph applies after
1997. For purposes of determining the limitation on Annual Additions
under section 3.4 and the minimum contribution under section 12.4 when
the Plan is top-heavy, Compensation shall mean foreign earned income
(within the meaning of Code section 911(b)) paid by the Company or an
Affiliated Entity, and shall also include elective contributions that
are not includable in the Employee's income pursuant to Code sections
125, 402(e)(3), 402(h), 403(b), 408(p), or 457. For purposes of
section 3.4, Compensation shall be measured over a Limitation Year.
For purposes of section 12.4, Compensation shall be measured over a
Plan Year.
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(b) Code Section 414(q) Compensation.
(i) 1997. This paragraph applies for 1997 only. For
purposes of identifying Highly Compensated Employees and Key
Employees, Compensation shall foreign earned income (within the
meaning of Code section 911(b)) paid by the Company or an Affiliated
Entity; Compensation shall also include elective contributions that
are not includable in the Employee's income pursuant to Code sections
125, 402(e)(3), 402(h), or 403(b). Compensation shall be measured
over a Plan Year. Compensation shall include only amounts paid to the
Employee, and shall not include any additional amounts accrued by the
Employee.
(ii) 1998 and Thereafter. This paragraph shall apply
after 1997. For purposes of identifying Highly Compensated Employees
and Key Employees, Compensation shall have the same meaning as in
paragraph (a)(ii), except that Compensation shall be measured over a
Plan Year and shall not include any amounts accrued by, but not paid
to, the Employee during the Plan Year.
-- END OF APPENDIX F --
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APPENDIX G
CITATION OIL & GAS
Introduction
Apache Corporation, MW Petroleum Corporation, and Apache Energy
Resources Corporation (collectively, "Apache Companies") and Citation 1994
Investment Limited Partnership ("Citation 1994 Limited") entered into a certain
purchase and sale agreement entitled "Purchase and Sale Agreement by and
between Apache Corporation, MW Petroleum Corporation, and Apache Energy
Resources Corporation (Sellers) and Citation 1994 Investment Limited
Partnership (Buyer)" whereby Apache Companies sold certain properties to
Citation 1994 Limited. In connection with this transaction, Citation 1994
Limited, through its general partner, Citation Oil & Gas Corporation
("Citation"), hired certain employees of Apache effective September 1, 1995
("Transferred Employees"). In connection with this transaction, certain Apache
employees were terminated by Apache, but were not hired by Citation
("Terminated Employees").
This Appendix contains special provisions that apply to the
Transferred Employees and the Terminated Employees. Capitalized terms in this
Appendix have the same meanings as those given them in the Plan.
Vesting
The Accounts of the Transferred Employees and the Terminated Employees
shall be fully vested as of September 1, 1995.
Participation
Notwithstanding section 2.1, if a Transferred Employee is rehired by
Apache or any Affiliated Entity, the Transferred Employee shall be eligible to
begin to make Participant Before-Tax Contributions, and shall be eligible to
participate in the Plan with respect to the Company Discretionary Contribution,
on the date he or she again becomes a Covered Employee. Notwithstanding
paragraph 3.1(b)(i), a sale of Company Stock from a Transferred Employee's
Accounts before he or she is rehired shall not, by itself, cause the
Transferred Employee's matching percentage to be less than 100%.
Distributions
While a Transferred Employee is employed by Citation or by any
business then treated as a single employer with Citation pursuant to Code
section 414(b), 414(c), 414(m), or 414(o) (a "Current Citation Employee"), the
Current Citation Employee shall be treated as a Participant who has terminated
employment with Apache and Affiliated Entities for purposes of determining his
or her withdrawal options from his or her Company Contributions Account. A
Current Citation Employee shall be treated as an Employee for purposes of
determining his or her withdrawal options from his or her Participant
Before-Tax Contributions Account.
Loans
A Current Citation Employee may borrow from the Plan pursuant to
section 7.2 only if he or she is a party in interest (within the meaning of
ERISA section 3(14)) with respect to the Plan.
-- END OF APPENDIX G --
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APPENDIX H
PRODUCERS ENERGY MARKETING
Introduction
Producers Energy Marketing LLC ("ProEnergy") was formed in 1995 to
market the production of Apache and other independent oil companies.
Initially, Apache owned approximately 57% of ProEnergy. Several employees of
Apache were transferred to ProEnergy between January 1, 1996 and June 30, 1996
("Transferred Employees").
This Appendix contains special provisions that apply only to the
Transferred Employees. Capitalized terms in this Appendix have the same
meanings as those given them in the Plan.
Vesting
The Accounts of each Transferred Employee shall be fully vested as of
the date he or she was transferred to ProEnergy. If a Transferred Employee is
rehired by Apache or an Affiliated Entity, a new Company Contributions Account
shall be established for all Company Matching Contributions (other than QMACs)
and all Company Discretionary Contributions (other than QNECs) that are made on
behalf of the Participant as of any date after his or her rehire by Apache or
an Affiliated Entity. Whenever any Participant becomes fully vested in two
separate Company Contributions Accounts, those Accounts shall be merged into
one Company Contributions Account.
Participation
Notwithstanding section 2.1, if a Transferred Employee is rehired by
Apache or any Affiliated Entity, the Transferred Employee shall be eligible to
begin to make Participant Before-Tax Contributions, and shall be eligible to
participate in the Plan with respect to the Company Discretionary Contribution,
on the date he or she again becomes a Covered Employee. Notwithstanding
paragraph 3.1(b)(i), a sale of Company Stock from a Transferred Employee's
Accounts before he or she is rehired shall not, by itself, cause the
Transferred Employee's matching percentage to be less than 100%.
Transfer of Accounts
The Committee is authorized to transfer the Accounts of any or all
Transferred Employees, without the consent of any Transferred Employee,
directly to a plan sponsored by ProEnergy that is designed to satisfy the
requirements of Code section 401(a). The Committee is also authorized to
transfer the Accounts of any Participant who becomes employed by ProEnergy or
by any business then treated as a single employer with ProEnergy pursuant to
Code section 414(b), 414(c), 414(m), or 414(o). The following provisions
regarding loans and distributions from this Plan apply only until a
Participant's Accounts are transferred to ProEnergy's plan.
Distributions
While a Transferred Employee is employed by ProEnergy or by any
business then treated as a single employer with ProEnergy pursuant to Code
section 414(b), 414(c), 414(m), or 414(o) (a "Current ProEnergy Employee"), the
Current ProEnergy Employee shall be treated as a Participant who has terminated
employment with Apache and Affiliated Entities for purposes of determining his
or her withdrawal options from his or her Company Contributions Account. A
Current ProEnergy Employee shall be treated as an Employee for purposes of
determining his or her withdrawal options from his or her Participant
Before-Tax Contributions Account.
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Loans
A Current ProEnergy Employee may borrow from the Plan pursuant to
section 7.2 only if he or she is a party in interest (within the meaning of
ERISA section 3(14)) with respect to the Plan. (Note: a Current ProEnergy
Employee is a party-in-interest with respect to the Plan while Apache and
Affiliated Entities own, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of ProEnergy.)
Notwithstanding subsection 7.2(e), the loan repayments shall be not
accelerated, and the loan shall not be payable in full on the date the Borrower
ceases to be a party-in-interest, if the reason that the Borrower ceases to be
a party-in-interest is because Apache and Affiliated Entities decrease their
ownership of ProEnergy and its affiliated entities.
-- END OF APPENDIX H --
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APPENDIX I
THE PHOENIX RESOURCE COMPANIES, INC.
Apache acquired The Phoenix Resource Companies, Inc. as of May 20,
1996. Apache hired at least one individual then working for The Phoenix
Resource Companies, Inc. and related companies ("Ex-Phoenix Employees").
A Period of Service for an Ex-Phoenix Employee shall include any
periods of employment before May 21, 1996, with The Phoenix Resource Companies,
Inc. or any business then treated as a single employer with The Phoenix
Resource Companies, Inc. pursuant to Code section 414(b), 414(c), 414(m), or
414(o).
--END OF APPENDIX I--
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Exhibit 12.1
APACHE CORPORATION
STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Six Months Ended
June 30,
-----------------------
(IN THOUSANDS) 1997 1996 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
- ----------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
EARNINGS
- --------
Pretax income (loss) from continuing
operations (1) $131,711 $65,288 $200,195 $33,143 $66,234 $62,067 $(5,759)
Add: Fixed charges excluding
capitalized interest 34,646 33,709 68,091 77,220 39,008 34,355 43,603
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Adjusted earnings $166,357 $98,997 $268,286 $110,363 $105,242 $96,422 $37,844
========= ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
FIXED CHARGES
- -------------
Interest expense including capitalized
interest (2) $48,463 $41,990 $89,829 $88,057 $37,838 $34,205 $45,731
Amortization of debt expense 2,578 2,329 5,118 4,665 3,987 3,896 3,888
Interest component of lease rental
expenditures (3) 1,403 1,929 3,856 3,539 3,217 2,533 2,980
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
$52,444 $46,248 $98,803 $96,261 $45,042 $40,634 $52,599
========= ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== =========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 3.17 2.14 2.72 1.15 2.34 2.37 .72 (4)
========= ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
</TABLE>
(1) Undistributed income of less-than-50% owned affiliates is excluded.
(2) Apache guaranteed and was contingently liable for certain debt. This debt,
primarily associated with partnership operations, totaled $1.7 million at
December 31, 1996. The outstanding balance was repaid in January 1997 and
the facility was terminated. Fixed charges, relating to debt for which
Apache was contingently liable, have not been included in the fixed charges
for any of the periods shown above.
(3) Represents the portion of rental expense assumed to be attributable to
interest factors of related rental obligations determined at interest
rates appropriate for the period during which the rental obligations
were incurred. Approximately 32% to 34% applies for all periods presented.
(4) Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $14.8 million for 1992
due to write downs of the carrying value of the U.S. and Canadian oil and
gas properties of DEK Energy Company ("DEKALB"), formerly known as DEKALB
Energy Company, and losses incurred on the divestiture of DEKALB's U.S. oil
and gas properties.
