GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORP
S-8, 1996-02-20
Previous: TAX EXEMPT SECURITIES TRUST NEW YORK TRUST 152, 497, 1996-02-20
Next: WORLD TRUST, N-1A/A, 1996-02-20



<PAGE>   1



  AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 20, 1996
                                                      Registration No. 33-_____
===============================================================================


                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 20549

                            --------------------

                                  FORM S-8

                           REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    UNDER
                         THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            --------------------

                       GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            DELAWARE                                            76-0466913
  (State or other jurisdiction                               (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                           Identification No.)


                         5847 SAN FELIPE, SUITE 700
                            HOUSTON, TEXAS 77057
        (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

                            --------------------

            GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION 1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
               GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION 1995 NONEMPLOYEE
                           DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN
              PATRICK PETROLEUM COMPANY 1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN
            PATRICK PETROLEUM COMPANY DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN*
                          (Full title of the plans)

                             WALTER G. GOODRICH
                                  PRESIDENT
                         5847 SAN FELIPE, SUITE 700
                            HOUSTON, TEXAS 77057
                   (Name and address of agent for service)
                               (713) 780-9494
        (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Titles of                               Proposed Maximum      Proposed Maximum
   Securities to be        Amount to be         Offering Price           Aggregate             Amount of
      Registered            Registered            Per Unit**         Offering Price**      Registration Fee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    <S>                      <C>                     <C>               <C>                     <C>
     Common Stock,
    $.20 par value           7,970,602               $1.12             $8,927,074.24           $3,078.30
       per share
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

*   Also includes 395,000 shares issued pursuant to written stock option
    agreements to certain former employees and consultants of Patrick Petroleum
    Company.
**  Estimated, solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee, in
    accordance with Rule 457 based on 1,370,602 shares with an exercise price
    of $2.25 per share, 720,000 shares with an exercise price of $.96875 per
    share, 250,000 shares with an exercise price of $1.065625 per share, 97,500
    shares with an exercise price of $3.00 per share, 70,000 shares with an
    exercise price of $1.25 per share, 60,000 shares with an exercise price of
    $1.00 per share, 60,000 shares with an exercise price of $2.75 per share,
    37,500 shares with an exercise price of $2.50 per share, 10,000 shares with
    an exercise price of $2.00 per share and 5,295,000 shares with an exercise
    price of $.78125 per share, which was the average of the high and low
    prices of such shares on February 16, 1996.

                              --------------------

                                  Page 1 of 12
            Exhibit Index begins on page 7 of manually signed copy.

================================================================================


<PAGE>   2
                                   PART II
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.      INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENT BY REFERENCE.

    The following, which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") by Goodrich Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), are incorporated herein by reference and made a
part hereof:

    (a)  Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 33-58631), filed with the
         Commission on June 13, 1995, including the description of capital
         stock of the Company included therein.

    (b)  The Company's current report on Form 8-K filed on August 28, 1995.

    (c)  The Company's current report on Form 8-K filed on October 27, 1995.

    (d)  The Company's current report on Form 8-K/A filed on October 27, 1995.

    (e)  The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended
         September 30, 1995.

    All documents filed subsequent to the effective date of this Registration
Statement by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, prior to the filing of a post-
effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all
securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.  Any
statement contained herein or in any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or
is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to
constitute a part of this Registration Statement, except as so modified or
superseded.

ITEM 4.      DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

    Not applicable.

ITEM 5.      INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

    Not applicable.

ITEM 6.      INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

    The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, limits the
liability of directors of the Company to the Company and its stockholders (in
their capacity as directors but not in their capacity as officers) for monetary
damages for breach of their fiduciary duty to the fullest extent permitted by
Delaware law.  Specifically, Delaware law provides that directors of the
Company will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their
fiduciary duty as directors, except for liability resulting from (i) any breach
of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii)
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or
a knowing violation of law, (iii) unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful
stock repurchases or redemptions under Section 174 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law or (iv) any transaction from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit.

    The Company has authority under Section 145 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware to indemnify its officers, directors, employees and
agents to the extent provided in such statute.  Article VI of the Company's
Bylaws provides for indemnification of the Company's officers, directors,
employees and agents.  Article VI of the Company's Bylaws also provides that
the Company may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any
of its directors, officers, employees or agents or any person serving at the
request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent 


                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3
of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have 
the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss 
under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers or persons
controlling the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Company has
been informed that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.

ITEM 7.      EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

    Not applicable.

ITEM 8.      EXHIBITS.

    Unless otherwise indicated below as being incorporated by reference to
another filing of the Company with the Commission, each of the following
exhibits is filed herewith:

         4.1   -  Goodrich Petroleum Corporation 1995 Stock Option Plan
                  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the
                  Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No.
                  33-58631)).

         4.2   -  Goodrich Petroleum Corporation 1995 Nonemployee Director
                  Stock Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                  10.22 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4
                  (File No. 33-58631)).

         4.3   -  Patrick Petroleum Company 1993 Stock Option Plan
                  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the
                  Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No.
                  33-58631)).

         4.4   -  Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
                  Company dated August 15, 1995, and filed with the Secretary
                  of State of the State of Delaware on August 15, 1995
                  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's
                  Quarterly Report filed on Form 10-Q for the three months
                  ended September 30, 1995).

         4.5   -  Bylaws of the Company, as amended and restated
                  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company's
                  Quarterly Report filed on Form 10-Q for the three months
                  ended September 30, 1995).

         4.6   -  Specimen Common Stock Certificate.

         5.1   -  Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

        23.1   -  Consent of Independent Accountants (KPMG Peat Marwick LLP).

        23.2   -  Consent of Independent Accountants (Deloitte & Touche LLP).

        23.3   -  Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (Contained in Exhibit 5.1).

        24     -  Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this
                  Registration Statement).





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4
ITEM 9.      UNDERTAKINGS.

    The undersigned Company hereby undertakes:

    (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
    post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

         (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
               Securities Act of 1933;

         (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
         the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
         post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
         aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
         in the Registration Statement;

         (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
         of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement
         or any material change to such information in the Registration
         Statement;

    provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
    information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
    paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Company pursuant
    to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
    reference in the Registration Statement.

    (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
    Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
    to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered
    therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
    to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

    (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
    of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination
    of the offering.

    (4)  That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the
    Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Company's annual report pursuant
    to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
    (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual
    report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)
    that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be
    deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities
    offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
    deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

    (5)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
    Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
    controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
    otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the
    Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
    policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore,
    unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
    liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or
    paid by a director, officer or controlling persons of the Company in the
    successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
    director, officer or controlling persons in connection with the securities
    being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
    the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
    appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
    against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will
    be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
                                   SIGNATURES

PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE
REGISTRANT CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS
ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-8 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO
DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, STATE OF TEXAS, ON FEBRUARY 1, 1996.

                                        GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION

                                               /s/ WALTER G. GOODRICH
                                        By:____________________________________
                                               Walter G. Goodrich, President
                                                and Chief Executive Officer

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Each person whose signature appears below appoints Walter G. Goodrich
and Roland Frautschi, and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder
of the others, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and
stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto and all other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and anything appropriate or necessary to be done, as fully and
for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or their
substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE
CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     Signature                                Title                             Date
                     ---------                                -----                             ----


              <S>                                <C>                                      <C>


                   /s/ WALTER G. GOODRICH         President and Chief Executive            February 1, 1996
             -----------------------------             Officer and Director
                   Walter G. Goodrich              (Principal Executive Officer)
                                                
                                                
                /s/ ROLAND L. FRAUTSCHI             Vice President and Chief               February 1, 1996
             ----------------------------               Financial Officer
                Roland L. Frautschi               (Principal Financial Officer)
                                                  
                                                  
               /s/ GLYNN E. WILLIAMS, JR.               Vice President                     February 1, 1996
             ----------------------------          (Principal Accounting Officer)
               Glynn E. Williams, Jr.            
                                                 

                    /s/ U.E. PATRICK                    Chairman of the Board              February 1, 1996
             ----------------------------                    (Director)
                    U.E. Patrick


                   /s/ HENRY GOODRICH                         Director                     February 1, 1996
             ----------------------------
                   Henry Goodrich

                                                              Director                     February 1, 1996
             ----------------------------
              Arthur A. Seeligson, III            
</TABLE>


                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6

<TABLE>
              <S>                                            <C>                          <C>


                                                             Director                     February 1, 1996
              ----------------------------
                  Jeff H. Benhard

                                                             Director                     February 1, 1996
              ----------------------------
                   Sheldon Appel

                                                             Director                     February 1, 1996
              ----------------------------
                  J. Michael Watts

                                                             Director                     February 1, 1996
              ----------------------------
                  Basil M. Briggs

                                                             Director                     February 1, 1996
              ----------------------------
                  James R. Jenkins

                                                             Director                     February 1, 1996
              ----------------------------
                   Wayne G. Kees

                                                             Director                     February 1, 1996
              ----------------------------
                   John C. Napley

                                                             Director                     February 1, 1996
              ----------------------------
                Benjamin F.  Edwards, II                     
</TABLE>


                                     -6-
<PAGE>   7
                                EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                        <C>
                                                                                           Sequential
                                                                                            Page No.
                                                                                           ----------

4.1    -   Goodrich Petroleum Corporation 1995 Stock Option Plan
           (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Company
           Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 33-58631)).

4.2    -   Goodrich Petroleum Corporation 1995 Nonemployee Director Stock
           Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the
           Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 33-58631)).

4.3    -   Patrick Petroleum Company 1993 Stock Option Plan (Incorporated
           by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company's Registration
           Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 33-58631)).

4.4    -   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
           Company dated August 15, 1995, and filed with the Secretary of
           State of the State of Delaware on August 15, 1995 (Incorporated by 
           reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Quarterly Report filed on
           Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 1995).

4.5    -   Bylaws of the Company, as amended and restated (Incorporated
           by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company's Quarterly Report
           filed on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30,
           1995.

4.6    -   Specimen Common Stock Certificate.

5.1    -   Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

23.1   -   Consent of Independent Accountants (KPMG Peat Marwick LLP).

23.2   -   Consent of Independent Accountants (Deloitte & Touche LLP).

23.3   -   Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (Contained in Exhibit 5.1).

24     -   Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this
           Registration Statement).
</TABLE>


                                      -7-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     


<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>                                                                  <C>
                                                                                                              EXHIBIT 4.6
                                                                                                              -----------

NUMBER                                                                                                             SHARES
TC 

SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN                     GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION                                   COMMON STOCK 
DEFINITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS       INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE                 CUSIP 382410 10 8
</TABLE>

This Certifies that

is the record holder of

            FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, 
                       PAR VALUE $4.20 PER SHARE, OF 
                      GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION
transferable on the books of the Corporation, by the holder hereof in person or
by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate properly
endorsed.  This certificate and the shares represented hereby are issued and
shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Corporation as now or hereafter amended (copies
of which Certificate and Bylaws are on file with the Transfer Agent), to all of
which the holder by acceptance hereof expressly assents.  This Certificate is
not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the
Registrar.  Witness the facsimile seal of the Corporation and the facsimile
signatures of its duly authorized officers.  
Dated: 
Roland Frautschi                     SEAL             Walter G. Goodrich
   Treasurer                               President and Chief Executive Officer


                                     -8-
<PAGE>   2
                         GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION
         The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face
of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:
<TABLE>        
     <S>                                         <C>
     TEN COM - as tenants in common              UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - _________   Custodian ___________ 
     TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties                          (Cust)                  (Minor) 
     JT TEN  - as joint tenants with right of                        under Uniform Gifts to Minors
               survivorship and not as tenants                       Act _______________ 
               in common                                                    (State)
                Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
</TABLE> 

In the event the Corporation is authorized to issue shares of more than one 
class or series, the Corporation will furnish without charge to each    
shareholder who so requests a full or summary statement of the designations,
voting rights, preferences, limitations and special rights of the shares of each
class or series authorized to be issued so far as they have been fixed and
determined and the authority of the Board of Directors to fix and determine the
designations, voting rights, preferences, limitations and special rights of the
classes and series of shares of the Corporation.

For value received, ____________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE


________________________________________________________________________________
 (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE)

________________________________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________________ shares of the 
common stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably 
constitute and appoint

__________________________________________________________ Attorney to transfer 
the said shares on the books of the within named Corporation with full power 
of substitution in the premises.

Dated    ______________________

                                        ________________________________________
                                        NOTICE:  THE SIGNATURE TO THIS 
                                        ASSIGNMENT, MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE
                                        NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE
                                        CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT
                                        ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE
                                        WHATEVER.


                                      -9-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                      Exhibit 5

                     [Letterhead of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.]


                                January 31, 1996


Goodrich Petroleum Corporation
5847 San Felipe, Suite 700
Houston, Texas 77057

         Re:     Registration Statement on Form S-8

Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for Goodrich Petroleum Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with a registration
statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") relating to a proposed
periodic offering and sale of up to an aggregate of 7,970,602 shares of common
stock, par value $0.20 per share of the Company (the "Common Stock") pursuant
to the provisions of the Goodrich Petroleum Corporation 1995 Stock Option Plan,
the Goodrich Petroleum Corporation 1995 Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan,
written stock option agreements to certain former employees of consultants
of Patrick Petroleum Company, the Patrick Petroleum Company 1993 Stock Option 
Plan and the Patrick Petroleum Company Directors Stock Option Plan 
(collectively, the "Plans").  In this connection, we have examined the 
corporate records of the Company, including its Amended and Restated 
Certificate of Incorporation, its bylaws and certain resolutions of the Board
of Directors of the Company.  We have also examined the Registration Statement,
together with the exhibits thereto, and such other certificates of officers of
the Company and of public officials, documents and records as we have deemed
necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the 7,970,602
shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Plans have been validly
authorized for issuance and, when (a) the Registration Statement has become
effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (b) the pertinent
provisions of any state securities laws, as may be applicable, have been
complied with and (c) the shares of Common Stock are issued and paid for in
accordance with the terms and option agrements, the shares of Common Stock so
issued will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement with respect to the Plans.  In giving this consent, we
do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

                               Very truly yours,

                               /s/ Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
                               ----------------------------
                               Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.


                                      -10-

<PAGE>   1






                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                         Independent Auditors' Consent


The Board of Directors
Goodrich Petroleum Corporation


We consent to the use of our reports dated March 31, 1995, related to the
financial statements of La/Cal Energy Partners as of December 31, 1994 and for
the year then ended and for the period from July 15, 1993 through December 31,
1993, and to the statement of revenues and direct operating expenses of the
Properties Contributed to La/Cal Energy Partners for the period from January 1,
1993, through July 14, 1993, which reports are incorporated by reference on
Form S-8 of Goodrich Petroleum Corporation filed on or about February 20, 1996.


/s/      KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP



Shreveport, Louisiana
February 20, 1996






<PAGE>   1
                                                               EXHIBIT 23.2


                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


         We consent to the incorporation by reference in Amendment No. 2 to
Form S-4 Registration Statement (Registration No. 33-58631) of Goodrich
Petroleum Corporation of our report on Patrick Petroleum Company dated March
20, 1995 incorporated by reference in Form S-8 of Goodrich Petroleum
Corporation to be filed on or about February 13, 1996.


                             DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Dated:   February 13, 1996




© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission