GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORP
DEFS14A, 1998-02-17
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14a-101)

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14 (a) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant [ ]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:
[ ]Preliminary Proxy Statement   [ ]Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
                                    (as permitted by Rule 14a-6 (e) (2))
[X]Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]Soliciting Material Pursuant to sec. 240.14a-11 (c) or sec.  240.14a-12

                           Goodrich Petroleum Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee  (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i) (1) and 0-11.

(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction  computed  pursuant
    to Exchange  Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
    calculated and state how it was determined):

(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

(5) Total fee paid:

[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act le
    0-11 (a) (2) and identify the filing for which the  offsetting fee was paid
    previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
    or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

(1) Amount Previously Paid:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Filing Party:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Date Filed:

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


<PAGE>


                         GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION

                                 Houston, Texas



                    NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                            TO BE HELD MARCH 12, 1998



To the Stockholders:

     A Special Meeting of the Stockholders of Goodrich Petroleum Corporation,  a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be held at the Company's offices, 333
Texas Street, Suite 1375,  Shreveport,  Louisiana,  71101, on March 12, 1998, at
8:00 a.m. local time, for the following purposes:

     1.   Consider  and vote upon a proposal to  authorize  an  amendment to the
          Company's  Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation to effect a reverse
          stock split that would  result in the  reclassification  of each eight
          (8)  shares of Common  Stock held into one (1) share and to reduce the
          number  of shares of  authorized  common  stock  from  100,000,000  to
          25,000,000.

     2.   Transact  such other  business as may be properly  brought  before the
          Special Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

     Only holders of record of the Company's  common  stock,  par value $.20 per
share,  at the close of business  on February 6, 1998 are  entitled to notice of
and to vote at the Special Meeting.


                                           By Order of the Board of Directors,




                                           Walter G. "Gil" Goodrich
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

Houston, Texas
February 16, 1998


     IT IS  IMPORTANT  THAT YOUR STOCK BE  REPRESENTED  AT THE  SPECIAL  MEETING
REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU HOLD. PLEASE COMPLETE,  SIGN AND MAIL THE
ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING  ENVELOPE EVEN IF YOU INTEND TO BE PRESENT AT
THE MEETING.  RETURNING THE PROXY WILL NOT LIMIT YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE IN PERSON OR
TO ATTEND THE MEETING BUT WILL ENSURE YOUR  REPRESENTATION IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND.
THE PROXY IS REVOCABLE AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ITS USE.






                                       2
<PAGE>



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

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

                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                -----------------

                               GENERAL INFORMATION


     This Proxy  Statement  is being  furnished  to the common  stockholders  of
Goodrich  Petroleum  Corporation,  a Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company")  in
connection  with the  solicitation  by the Board of  Directors of the Company of
proxies  for use at a Special  Meeting of  Stockholders  to be held on March 12,
1998,  and any  adjournment  thereof.  The  Special  Meeting  has been called to
consider and vote upon a proposal to  authorize  an  amendment to the  Company's
Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split that would
result in the  reclassification of each eight (8) shares of the Company's common
stock,  par value $.20 per share (the "Common Stock") held into one (1) share of
Common Stock and to reduce the authorized  number of shares of Common Stock from
100,000,000 to 25,000,000.

     Only holders of record of the Company's Common Stock as of February 6, 1998
(the  "Record  Date")  are  entitled  to  notice  of and to vote at the  Special
Meeting.  Approval  of the  proposal  will  require  the  affirmative  vote of a
majority of the outstanding  shares of Common Stock. At the close of business on
the Record  Date,  there were  41,859,222  shares of Common  Stock  outstanding.
Holders of shares of Common  Stock are  entitled to one vote per share.  Each of
the Company's executive officers and directors,  who collectively own 10,665,112
shares of Common Stock, has indicated their intention to vote FOR the proposal.

     The cost of the  solicitation  of proxies for the Special  Meeting  will be
borne by the Company,  including expenses in connection with the preparation and
mailing  of this  Proxy  Statement  and all papers  which now  accompany  or may
hereafter  supplement  it.  Solicitation  will be made by mail. The Company will
also supply  brokers or persons  holding  Common  Stock in their names or in the
names of their  nominees with such number of proxies and proxy  material as they
may require for mailing to beneficial  owners, and will reimburse them for their
reasonable   expenses   incurred  in  connection   therewith.   In  addition  to
solicitation by mail, certain directors,  officers, and regular employees of the
Company may solicit proxies by telegraph, telephone, and personal interview.

     The Company  will retain an  independent  agent to receive and tabulate the
proxies. Any stockholder giving the proxy enclosed with this Proxy Statement has
the power to revoke  such proxy at any time by filing with the Company a written
revocation  at or prior to the Special  Meeting,  by executing a proxy bearing a
later date, or by attending the Special  Meeting and voting in person the shares
of Common Stock such stockholder is entitled to vote.

     All properly executed proxies  delivered  pursuant to this solicitation and
not  revoked  will be  voted  at the  Special  Meeting  in  accordance  with the
directions  given.  Stockholders  may vote for approval of the  amendment to the
Company's  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  to  effect a one for  eight
reverse stock split and reduce the number of shares of authorized  Common Stock,
against such proposal or may abstain from voting.  Stockholders  should  specify
their choices on the enclosed  form of proxy.  If no specific  instructions  are
given with respect to the matters to be acted upon,  the shares  represented  by
each signed  proxy will be voted FOR  approval  of  amendment  to the  Company's
Restated Certificate of Incorporation and at the discretion of the proxy holders
on any other  matter that may  properly  come before the Special  Meeting or any
adjournment thereof.

     A majority of the shares of Common  Stock  outstanding  on the Record Date,
present in person or by proxy,  will  constitute a quorum for the transaction of

                                       3
<PAGE>

business  at the Special  Meeting,  but if a quorum  should not be present,  the
meeting  may be  adjourned  from  time  to  time  until a  quorum  is  obtained.
Abstentions  will be treated as shares that are present and entitled to vote for
purposes of  determining  the  presence of a quorum.  Since the  approval of the
proposal  requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding  shares
of Common Stock,  abstentions and brokers non-votes will have the same effect as
a vote against the proposal. If a broker indicates on the proxy that it does not
have discretionary authority as to certain shares to vote on a particular matter
(a "broker  non-vote"),  those  shares  will not be  considered  as present  and
entitled to vote with respect to that matter and  therefore  will not affect the
outcome of the vote.

     The Company  anticipates  that the proxy and Proxy  Statement will be first
sent to stockholders on or about February 16, 1998.


         PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO
        EFFECT THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT AND TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SHARES
                           OF AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK

     The  Board of  Directors  of the  Company  has  approved  a  proposal  (the
"Reverse-Split  Proposal")  authorizing,  subject to  shareholder  approval,  an
amendment  to  the  Company's   Restated   Certificate  of  Incorporation   (the
"Certificate of Incorporation") to effect a reverse stock split of the Company's
outstanding  shares of Common Stock by reclassifying  each eight (8) outstanding
shares of Common  Stock  held  ("Old  Common  Stock")  into one (1) share of new
common  stock  ("New  Common  Stock")  and to  reduce  the  number  of shares of
authorized  Common Stock from  100,000,000  to  25,000,000.  The  certificate of
amendment  ("Certificate of Amendment") to effect the Reverse-Split  Proposal is
in the form  attached to this Proxy  Statement  as  Appendix A.  Approval of the
Reverse-Split  Proposal by  shareholders  requires the  affirmative  vote of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock.

General
- -------

     The Company is presently  authorized to issue up to  110,000,000  shares of
stock, of which  100,000,000  shares are Common Stock, par value $.20 per share,
and 10,000,000 shares are Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Preferred
Stock").  Currently  outstanding  are  796,318  shares of  Series A  Convertible
Preferred  Stock  ("Series A Preferred  Stock")  and 750,000  shares of Series B
Convertible  Preferred  Stock ("Series B Preferred  Stock").  The  Reverse-Split
Proposal  would effect a reverse stock split of the Common Stock on the basis of
one (1) share of New Common Stock for each eight (8) shares of  outstanding  Old
Common  Stock and would reduce the number of shares of  authorized  Common Stock
from 100,000,000 to 25,000,000.  The Reverse-Split Proposal would not affect the
authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock.

Principal Effects of Reverse Stock Split
- ----------------------------------------

     The principal effects of the Reverse-Split Proposal will be:

      1. Based upon the 41,859,222  shares of Old Common Stock outstanding as of
         the Record  Date,  the  adoption of the  Reverse-Split  Proposal  would
         decrease the outstanding shares of Common Stock by approximately 87.5%,
         and thereafter approximately 5,232,400 shares of New Common Stock would
         be  outstanding.  The reverse  split will not affect any  shareholder's
         proportionate equity interest in the Company, subject to the provisions
         for the elimination of fractional shares as described below.

     2.  The Company is authorized   under its Certificate of  Incorporation  to
         issue up to 100,000,000   shares of Common Stock and 10,000,000  shares
         of  Preferred  Stock.  The   Reverse-Split  Proposal  would  reduce the
         authorized  Common Stock  to 25,000,000 shares but would not change the
         authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock.

     3.  As of December 31, 1997, there  were outstanding options to purchase an
         aggregate of 2,711,534 shares of  Old Common Stock under the  Company's
         1995 Stock Option Plan, the Company's  1995 Nonemployee  Director Stock
 


                                       4
<PAGE>

         Option  Plan and options  assumed by the  Company in its 1995  business
         combination with Patrick  Petroleum Company (the "Stock Option Plans").
         2,711,534  shares  of Old  Common  Stock  are  currently  reserved  for
         issuance upon exercise of the options with exercise prices ranging from
         $.6875 to $3.00. All of the outstanding  options include provisions for
         adjustments in the number of shares covered  thereby,  and the exercise
         price  thereof,  in  the  event  of  a  reverse  stock  split.  If  the
         Reverse-Split  Proposal  is  approved  and  effected,  there  would  be
         reserved for issuance upon exercise of all outstanding  options a total
         of  approximately  338,942  shares  of New  Common  Stock.  Each of the
         outstanding  options  would  thereafter  evidence the right to purchase
         12.5% of the shares of Common Stock previously covered thereby, and the
         exercise  price per share  would be eight  times the  current  exercise
         price.

      4. 2,651,739  shares  of Old  Common  Stock  are  currently  reserved  for
         issuance  upon  conversion  of  all  outstanding  shares  of  Series  A
         Preferred  Stock.  If  the  Reverse-Split   Proposal  is  approved  and
         effected,  the conversion  rate would be adjusted  proportionately  and
         there would be reserved for  issuance  for this  purpose  approximately
         331,468 shares of New Common Stock.

      5. 750,000 shares of Old Common Stock are currently  reserved for issuance
         upon  conversion of 750,000 shares of Series B Preferred  Stock. If the
         Reverse-Split  Proposal is approved and effected,  the conversion  rate
         would be  adjusted  proportionately  and there  would be  reserved  for
         issuance for this purpose 93,750 shares of New Common Stock.

      6. The  holders  of shares of the  Common  Stock are  entitled  to receive
         distributions  of cash or other property,  if any, that may be declared
         from  time to time by the Board of  Directors  in its  discretion  from
         funds legally available  therefor,  subject to the dividend priority of
         the holders of  Preferred  Stock of the Company,  if any.  Although the
         reverse  stock  split will have an  immediate  effect on the  Company's
         capital in excess of par value,  the reverse stock split and its impact
         on capital in excess of par value will not affect  distributions to the
         Company's  stockholders.  The Company has never paid cash  dividends on
         the  Common  Stock  and  has no  plans  to pay  cash  dividends  in the
         foreseeable  future. The current policy of the Board of Directors is to
         retain all available earnings for use in the operation and expansion of
         the  Company's  business.  Any future  dividends  will  depend upon the
         Company's earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other
         relevant factors.

     Assuming  the  Reverse-Split  Proposal is  approved  and  implemented,  the
Certificate of Amendment amending the Certificate of Incorporation will be filed
with the Secretary of State of Delaware as promptly as  practicable  thereafter.
The reverse  stock split would  become  effective as of the close of business on
the date of such filing (the "Effective Date").

Reasons for the Reverse-Split Proposal
- --------------------------------------

     The Board of Directors believes the Reverse-Split Proposal is desirable for
several reasons. The reverse stock split should enhance the acceptability of the
Common Stock by the financial community and investing public. Theoretically, the
number of shares outstanding should not, by itself,  affect the marketability of
the stock, the type of investor who acquires it, or the Company's  reputation in
the financial  community,  but in practice this is not  necessarily the case, as
many  investors  look upon a stock trading below $5.00 as unduly  speculative in
nature and, as a matter of policy, avoid investment in such stocks. In addition,
many leading brokerage firms are reluctant to recommend lower-priced  securities
to their  clients,  and a variety of  brokerage  house  policies  and  practices
currently  tend to discourage  individual  brokers  within firms from dealing in
lower-priced stocks. Some of those policies and practices pertain to the payment
of brokers'  commissions and to time-consuming  procedures that function to make
the handling of  lower-priced  stocks  unattractive  to brokers from an economic
standpoint.  In addition,  the  structure of trading  commissions  tends to have
adverse  impact  upon  holders of  lower-priced  stocks  because  the  brokerage
commission  on a sale of a  lower-priced  stock  generally  represents  a higher
percentage of the sales price than the commission on a relatively  higher-priced
issue.

     Although there can be no assurance  that the price of the Company's  Common
Stock  after  the  reverse  stock  split  will  actually  increase  in an amount
proportionate to the decrease in the number of outstanding  shares,  the reverse

                                       5
<PAGE>

stock split is  intended  to result in a price  level for the Common  Stock that
will reduce the effect of the above  described  policies and practices,  broaden
investor  interest  and  provide a market  that will more  closely  reflect  the
Company's underlying value.

     There can be no  assurance  that any or all of these  effects  will  occur,
including,  without  limitation,  that the market  price per share of New Common
Stock  after the reverse  stock  split will be eight times the market  price per
share of Old Common  Stock before the reverse  stock  split,  or that such price
will either  exceed or remain in excess of the current  market  price.  Further,
there is no  assurance  that the market for the Common  Stock will be  improved.
Stockholders  should note that the Board of Directors cannot predict what effect
the reverse stock split will have on the market price of the Common Stock.

Exchange of Stock Certificates and Elimination of Fractional Share Interests
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

     As soon as  practicable  after the  Effective  Date,  shareholders  will be
notified and requested to surrender their Old Common Stock  certificates for new
certificates representing the number of whole shares of New Common Stock held by
them after the reverse stock split. Until so surrendered, each certificate which
formerly represented shares of Old Common Stock will be deemed for all corporate
purposes after such Effective Date to evidence  ownership of New Common Stock in
the  appropriately  reduced  number.  Harris  Trust  and  Savings  Bank  will be
appointed  exchange  agent (the  "Exchange  Agent") to act for  shareholders  in
effecting the exchange of their certificates.

     The Company will not issue any  fractional  shares of New Common Stock.  In
cases in which the Reverse-Split  Proposal results in any shareholder  holding a
fraction of a share,  the Company will pay the  shareholder  for such fractional
interest on the basis of the  average  closing  market  price for the 10 trading
days immediately  preceding the Effective Date.  Because the price of the Common
Stock  fluctuates,  the  amount  to be paid  for  fractional  shares  cannot  be
determined  until such date and may be  greater or lesser  than the price on the
date that any shareholder executes his proxy.

     There were approximately  3,500 shareholders of record of the Company as of
February 6, 1998. The  Reverse-Split  Proposal,  if adopted,  is not expected to
cause a significant change in the number of shareholders.

     The  Common  Stock  is  currently  registered  under  Section  12(b) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act") and as a
result,  the Company is subject to periodic  reporting and other requirements of
the Exchange  Act. The reverse stock split will not affect the  registration  of
the Common Stock under the Exchange  Act.  After the Effective  Date,  trades of
shares of the New Common  Stock will be reported on the New York Stock  Exchange
under the symbol "GDP".

Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences
- ---------------------------------------

     The following is a summary of the material  federal income tax consequences
of the  proposed  reverse  stock  split.  This  summary  does not  purport to be
complete and does not address the tax  consequences  to holders that are subject
to special tax rules, such as banks,  insurance companies,  regulated investment
companies,  personal holding  companies,  foreign  entities,  nonresident  alien
individuals,  broker-dealers and tax-exempt  entities.  This summary is based on
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), Treasury regulations
and proposed regulations, court decisions and current administrative rulings and
pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), all of which are subject
to change,  possibly with  retroactive  effect,  and assumes that the New Common
Stock  will  be  held  as  a  "capital  asset"  (generally,  property  held  for
investment)  as defined in the Code.  Holders of Old Common Stock are advised to
consult their own tax advisers  regarding the federal income tax consequences of
the proposed  reverse stock split in light of their personal  circumstances  and
the consequences under state, local and foreign tax laws.

1.   The reverse split will qualify as a  recapitalization  described in Section
     368(a)(1)(E) of the Code.

2.   No gain or loss will be recognized  by the Company in  connection  with the
     reverse split.


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<PAGE>

3.   No gain or loss will be recognized  by a  shareholder  who exchanges all of
     his shares of Old Common Stock solely for shares of New Common Stock.

4.   The aggregate basis of the shares of New Common Stock to be received in the
     reverse split  (including any fractional share deemed received) will be the
     same as the aggregate  basis of the shares of Old Common Stock  surrendered
     in exchange therefor.

5.   The holding  period of the shares of New Common Stock to be received in the
     reverse split  (including a fractional  share deemed received) will include
     the  holding  period  of the  shares of Old  Common  Stock  surrendered  in
     exchange therefor.

6.   A holder of Common Stock receiving cash in lieu of a fractional  share will
     be treated as receiving  the payment in connection  with  redemption of the
     fractional  share,  with the tax consequences of the redemption  determined
     under  Section  302 of the Code.  As such,  a holder of Common  Stock  will
     generally recognize gain or loss upon such payment equal to the difference,
     if any,  between  such  shareholder's  basis in the  fractional  share  (as
     described in paragraph 4. above) and the amount of cash received. Such gain
     or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term  capital gain or
     loss if the  shareholder's  holding  period  exceeds one year.  A holder of
     Common Stock receiving cash in lieu of a fractional share may be subject to
     dividend  treatment on such  payment if the  redemption  of the  fractional
     share is  "essentially  equivalent to a dividend"  under Section 302 of the
     Code.  However,  based on a published  IRS ruling,  dividend  treatment  is
     unlikely if, taking into account the constructive ownership rules set forth
     in Section 318 of the Code, (a) the  shareholder's  relative stock interest
     in the Company is minimal,  (b) the  shareholder  exercises no control over
     the  Company's  affairs and (c) there is a reduction  in the  shareholder's
     proportionate interest in the Company.

     THE   FOREGOING   SUMMARY  IS  INCLUDED  FOR  GENERAL   INFORMATION   ONLY.
ACCORDINGLY,  EACH HOLDER OF COMMON STOCK IS URGED TO CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN TAX
ADVISER  WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX  CONSEQUENCES  OF THE  PROPOSED  REVERSE  STOCK
SPLIT, INCLUDING THE APPLICATION AND EFFECT OF THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, MUNICIPAL,
FOREIGN OR OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION.

Vote Required
- -------------

     Approval  by  shareholders  of the  proposed  amendment  to  the  Company's
Certificate  of  Incorporation,  in the form set  forth on  Appendix  A  hereto,
effecting  the reverse split of the Common Stock and the reduction of the number
of shares of  authorized  Common  Stock,  requires the  affirmative  vote of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.

     For the  reasons  set  forth  above,  the  Board of  Directors  unanimously
recommends a vote FOR the Reverse-Split Proposal.


                                       7
<PAGE>



         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     The following table shows, as of December 31, 1997, the number of shares of
Common Stock  beneficially  owned by (i) each person known by the Company to own
beneficially  five percent or more of the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock,
(ii) each director of the Company,  (iii) each of the executive  officers of the
Company,  and (iv) all  directors  and  executive  officers  of the Company as a
group. If the  Reverse-Split  Proposal is approved,  all share numbers set forth
below would be reduced by approximately 87.5%.


                                                     Beneficial Ownership
                                                     --------------------
                 Name of Beneficial Owner         Amount             Percent
                 ------------------------         ------             -------

Walter G. Goodrich (1)..........................  10,265,215           23.4%
      5847 San Felipe, Suite 700
      Houston, TX  77057
Henry Goodrich (2)..............................   6,173,487           14.4%
      333 Texas St., Suite 1350
      Shreveport, LA  71101
Rochelle Rand (3)...............................   2,501,320            5.9%
      2550 Fifth Avenue, Suite 126
      San Diego, CA  92103
Leo Bromberg (4)................................   2,294,421            5.5%
      280 S. Beverly Dr., Suite 401
      Beverly Hills, CA  90212
Sheldon Appel (5) (6)...........................   1,646,317            3.9%
Roland L. Frautschi (7).........................     921,002            2.2%
Basil M. Briggs (6).............................      40,652               *
Benjamin F. Edwards, II (6).....................      42,000               *
Arthur A. Seeligson (6) (8).....................     190,000               *
Robert C. Turnham, Jr. (9)......................     282,809               *
Directors and Executive Officers 
     as a Group(8 persons)(10)..................  14,134,654           30.6%
- ----------
  *   Less than 1%.

(1)   Includes 4,402,152 shares held by HGF Partnership,  and includes 1,024,676
      shares  issuable  to HGF  Partnership  II upon the  conversion  of 114,874
      shares  of Series B  Preferred  Stock.  Both  partnerships  are  Louisiana
      partnerships  owned  by Henry  Goodrich  and  Walter  G.  Goodrich.  Henry
      Goodrich  is the  managing  general  partner  of HGF  Partnership  and HGF
      Partnership  II,  and  Walter  G.  Goodrich  holds  an  indirect   general
      partnership  interest in both partnerships.  Henry Goodrich exercises sole
      voting  and  investment  power with  respect  to the  shares  held by both
      partnerships.  Includes  382,668  shares  issuable upon the  conversion of
      42,900 shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Also includes  2,201,076 shares
      currently  owned by Goodrich  Energy,  Inc. and 491,965 shares issuable to
      Goodrich  Energy,  Inc.  upon the  conversion of 55,153 shares of Series B
      Preferred  Stock.  Walter G. Goodrich is the sole  stockholder of Goodrich
      Energy,  Inc. Also includes 13,320 shares of Common Stock issuable upon to
      conversion of 4,000 shares of Series A Preferred  Stock and vested options
      to purchase 125,000 shares that are exercisable  pursuant to the Company's
      1995 Stock Option Plan. Henry Goodrich and Walter G. Goodrich beneficially
      own an aggregate of 11,011,874  shares, or 25.1% of the outstanding shares
      of Common Stock deemed to be outstanding.

(2)   Includes 4,402,152 shares held by HGF Partnership,  and includes 1,024,676
      shares  issuable  to HGF  Partnership  II upon the  conversion  of 114,874
      shares  of Series B  Preferred  Stock.  Both  partnerships  are  Louisiana
      partnerships  owned  by Henry  Goodrich  and  Walter  G.  Goodrich.  Henry
      Goodrich  is the  managing  general  partner  of HGF  Partnership  and HGF
      Partnership,   II  and  Walter  G.  Goodrich  holds  an  indirect  general
      partnership  interest in both partnerships.  Henry Goodrich exercises sole
      voting  and  investment  power with  respect  to the  shares  held by both
      partnerships. Also includes vested options to purchase 100,000 shares that

                                       8
<PAGE>

      are  currently  exercisable  pursuant to the  Company's  1995 Stock Option
      Plan. Henry Goodrich and Walter G. Goodrich  beneficially own an aggregate
      of 11,011,874  shares or 25.1% of the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock
      deemed to be outstanding.

(3)   Includes 266,146  shares  issuable upon the conversion of 29,837 shares of
      Series B Preferred Stock.

(4)   Includes  1,160,667  shares held by Mr. Bromberg as trustee.  Mr. Bromberg
      has advised the  Company  that he  exercises  sole  investment  and voting
      control over such shares.  Also includes  175,635 shares issuable upon the
      conversion  of  19,690  shares  of Series B  Preferred  Stock  held by Mr.
      Bromberg  personally.  Also  includes  5,455  shares  held  in  a  limited
      partnership,  the sole general  partner of which is a corporation in which
      Mr. Bromberg is the sole shareholder.

(5)   Includes  818,280 shares of Common Stock held and 670,980 shares  issuable
      upon the  conversion of 75,222 shares of Series B Preferred  Stock held by
      the Sheldon Appel Company,  a partnership  affiliated with Mr. Appel.  Mr.
      Appel has advised the Company that he exercises sole voting and investment
      power with respect to these shares.  Also includes 7,167 shares  allocated
      on a pro rata basis to Mr. Appel  related to shares owned by a partnership
      in which Mr. Appel is a limited  partner.  Also includes 109,890 shares of
      Common Stock  issuable  upon the  conversion  of 33,000 shares of Series A
      Preferred Stock.

(6)   Includes 40,000  shares  issuable upon the exercise of  outstanding  stock
      options under the Company's 1995 Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan.

(7)   Includes  80,000 shares  issuable upon the exercise of outstanding  vested
      stock options under the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan and 12,667 shares
      of Common Stock  issuable  upon the  conversion of 3,500 and 300 shares of
      Series A Preferred  Stock held  personally and by his wife,  respectively.
      Also includes 170,738 shares issuable upon the conversion of 19,141 shares
      of Series B Preferred Stock.

(8)   Includes 40,000  shares  issuable upon the exercise of  outstanding  stock
      options under the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan.

(9)   Includes  60,000 shares  issuable upon the exercise of outstanding  vested
      stock options under the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan and 10,989 shares
      of Common Stock  issuable upon the  conversion of 3,300 shares of Series A
      Preferred  Stock.  Also  includes  50,000 shares held and 16,650 shares of
      Common  Stock  issuable  upon the  conversion  of 5,000 shares of Series A
      Preferred Stock held by Mr. Turnham's wife.

(10)  The number of shares of Common Stock  beneficially  owned by all executive
      officers and  directors as a group  includes (i) 160,000  shares  issuable
      upon the exercise of  outstanding  stock options under the Company's  1995
      Nonemployee  Director Stock Option Plan, (ii) 405,000 shares issuable upon
      the exercise of outstanding  vested stock options under the Company's 1995
      Stock Option Plan (iii) 163,516  shares  issuable  upon the  conversion of
      49,100  shares of Series A  Preferred  Stock,  and (iv)  2,741,027  shares
      issuable  upon the  conversion  of  307,290  shares of Series B  Preferred
      Stock.


Proposals for 1998 Annual Meeting
- ---------------------------------

      Pursuant to various rules  promulgated by the SEC, any proposal of holders
of Common Stock intended to be presented to the annual  meeting of  stockholders
of the Company to be held in 1998 must be received by the Company,  addressed to
Glynn E. Williams,  Jr., Secretary,  5847 San Felipe, Suite 700, Houston,  Texas
77057,  no later than  February  19, 1998,  to be included in the Company  proxy
statement and form of proxy  relating to that meeting.  With respect to business
to be brought  before the Annual  Meeting,  the  Company  has not  received  any
notices from its stockholders.

      In addition to the SEC rules  described in the  preceding  paragraph,  the
Company's  bylaws  provide that for business to be properly  brought  before the
Company's  annual meetings of  stockholders,  it must be either (a) specified in
the notice of meeting (or any  supplement  thereto) given by or at the direction
of the Board of Directors, (b) otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the

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direction of the Board of Directors or (c) otherwise properly brought before the
meeting by a stockholder  of the Company who is a  stockholder  of record at the
time of giving of notice  thereinafter  provided  for,  who shall be entitled to
vote at such meeting and who complies with the following notice  procedures.  In
addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be brought before
an annual meeting by a stockholder  of the Company,  the  stockholder  must have
given timely  notice in writing of the  business to be brought  before an annual
meeting of  stockholders  of the Company to the Secretary of the Company.  To be
timely,  a  stockholder's  notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at
the Company's principal executive offices,  5847 San Felipe, Suite 700, Houston,
Texas 77057,  on or before  February 19,  1998.  A  stockholder's  notice to the
Secretary  shall set forth as to each matter the  stockholder  proposes to bring
before the annual meeting (i) a brief  description of the business desired to be
brought before the annual  meeting and the reasons for conducting  such business
at the  annual  meeting,  (ii) the  name  and  address,  as they  appear  on the
Company's  books,  of  the  stockholder  proposing  such  business,   (iii)  the
acquisition  date,  the class and the number of shares of Common  Stock that are
owned  beneficially  by the  stockholder,  (iv)  any  material  interest  of the
stockholder  in such  business  and (v) a  representation  that the  stockholder
intends  to appear in person or by proxy at the  meeting  to bring the  proposed
business before the meeting.  Notwithstanding the foregoing bylaw provisions,  a
stockholder  shall also comply with all applicable  requirements of the Exchange
Act and the rules and  regulations  thereunder  with  respect to the matters set
forth  in  the  foregoing  bylaw  provisions.  Notwithstanding  anything  in the
Company's  bylaws to the contrary,  no business shall be conducted at the annual
meeting except in accordance with the procedures outlined above.


                                  OTHER MATTERS



      The Board of Directors  does not know of any other  matters that are to be
presented  for action at the  Special  Meeting.  However,  if any other  matters
properly come before the Special Meeting or any  adjournment(s)  thereof,  it is
intended that the enclosed  proxy will be voted in accordance  with the judgment
of the persons voting the proxy.



                                      By Order of the Board of Directors




                                      /s/  Walter G. Goodrich
                                      -----------------------
                                      Walter G. "Gil" Goodrich
                                      President And Chief Executive Officer


Houston, Texas
February 16, 1998




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<PAGE>



                                                                      APPENDIX A

                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
                                       OF
                      RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                         GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION

         Goodrich Petroleum  Corporation,  a corporation  organized and existing

under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the

"Corporation"), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

               FIRST: That By Unanimous Vote Of The Board Of  Directors  Of 
          The Corporation Resolutions Were Duly  Adopted  Setting  Forth  A
          Proposed  Amendment Of The Restated  Certificate Of Incorporation
          Of The  Corporation  Declaring Such Amendment To Be Advisable And
          Calling A Special Meeting Of The  Stockholders Of The Corporation
          For  Consideration  Thereof.  The  Resolutions  Setting Forth The
          Proposed Amendment Are As Follows:

                        RESOLVED, that the  Board  of Directors deems it 
                    advisable  and   in   the  best  interest   of   the 
                    Corporation  to  reduce  the number  of  outstanding  
                    shares  of  common   stock  of  the  Corporation  by 
                    effecting a reverse stock split of the Corporation's  
                    outstanding shares of common stock by  reclassifying  
                    each eight (8) shares of common  stock held into one 
                    (1) share of common stock; and to  reduce the number  
                    of authorized  shares   of   common   stock  of  the
                    Corporation  from  100,000,000  shares to 25,000,000
                    shares, by  amending  the first paragraph of Article
                    IV of the  Restated  Certificate of Incorporation to
                    read in its entirety as follows:

                            "The  total   number  of  shares  of  all 
                       classes  of  stock   which   the   Corporation   
                       shall have authority  to  issue is thirty-five  
                       million (35,000,000),  consisting  of  twenty-
                       five million shares of Common Stock, par value
                       $.20 per share,  and ten million  (10,000,000)
                       shares of  Preferred   Stock,  par value $1.00
                       per share."

               SECOND: That thereafter, pursuant to  a  resolution  of  its 
          Board of Directors, a special meeting of the stockholders of said
          corporation  was duly called and held,  upon notice in accordance
          with Section 222 of the General  Corporation  Law of the State of
          Delaware,  at which  meeting  the  necessary  number of shares as
          required by statute were voted in favor of the amendment.




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               THIRD: That the amendment  was  duly  adopted in  accordance  
          with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law 
          of the State of Delaware.

               FOURTH: Immediately upon effectiveness of  this  Certificate 
          of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation  of the
          Corporation  pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State
          of Delaware (the "Effective Time"), each eight outstanding shares
          of the Corporation's Common Stock, par value $.20 per share ("Old
          Common Stock"),  shall  automatically,  without further action on
          the part of the  Corporation  or any  holder  of such Old  Common
          Stock,  be reclassified  into one new share of the  Corporation's
          Common Stock,  par value $.20 per share ("New Common Stock"),  as
          constituted following the Effective Time. The reclassification of
          the Old  Common  Stock  into New  Common  Stock will be deemed to
          occur at the Effective Time,  regardless of when the certificates
          representing  such  shares of Old  Common  Stock  are  physically
          surrendered  to the  Corporation  in  exchange  for  certificates
          representing  shares of New  Common  Stock.  After the  Effective
          Time, certificates  representing shares of Old Common Stock will,
          until such shares are  surrendered to the Corporation in exchange
          for  certificates   representing  shares  of  New  Common  Stock,
          represent the number and class of shares of New Common Stock into
          which such shares of Old Common  Stock shall have been  converted
          pursuant to the reverse stock split and this amendment.

               In cases in which the  conversion  of  shares  of Old Common 
          Stock  into  shares  of  New  Common  Stock  shall  result in any 
          stockholder holding a fractional share, the Corporation shall pay  
          the stockholder  for  such  fractional  share on the basis of the 
          average closing market price of the Old Common  Stock for the ten 
          (10) trading days immediately preceding the Effective Time.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Goodrich  Petroleum  Corporation  has  caused 

this certificate to be signed by Henry Goodrich, the Chairman of the  Board 

this 12th day of March, 1998.


                                      GOODRICH PETROLEUM CORPORATION


                                      By:_____________________________________
                                         Henry Goodrich, Chairman of the Board


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