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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No: 333-175435

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of Securities To Be Registered		Amount To Be Registered(1)		Proposed Maximum Aggregate Price Per Share		Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)		Amount of Registration Fee(2)
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share		5,750,000		$29.00		$166,750,000		$19,109.55

 

(1)	Assumes exercise in full of the underwriters’ option to purchase up to an aggregate of 750,000 additional shares of common stock from the registrant and the selling stockholder to cover over-allotments, if any.

 

(2)

Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Payment of the registration fee at the time of filing of the registrant’s registration statement on Form S-3 ASR with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 11, 2011 (File No. 333-175435) was deferred pursuant to Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act, and is paid herewith. This “Calculation of Registration Fee” table shall be deemed to update the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in such registration statement.

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED JULY 11, 2011

5,000,000 Shares

Common Stock

 

 

We are offering 4,000,000 shares of our common stock. In addition, 1,000,000 shares of our common stock are being sold in this offering by the selling stockholder identified in this prospectus supplement. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock by the selling stockholder.

Our common stock is quoted on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “GPOR.” On November 29, 2011, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The NASDAQ Global Select Market was $29.53 per share.

The underwriters have an option to purchase a maximum of 600,000 additional shares from us and a maximum of 150,000 additional shares from the selling stockholder to cover over-allotments of shares.

Investing in our common stock involves risks. Please read “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-12 of this prospectus supplement for a description of various risks you should consider in evaluating an investment in the shares.

 

		Public Offering Price				Underwriting Discounts and Commissions				Proceeds to Us (Before Expenses)				Proceeds to Selling Stockholder
Per Share		$	29.00			$	1.16			$	27.84			$	27.84
Total		$	145,000,000			$	5,800,000			$	111,360,000			$	27,840,000

Delivery of the shares of common stock will be made on or about December 5, 2011.

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

 

 

 

Credit Suisse

 

Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C.		Capital One Southcoast

C.K. Cooper & Company

Pritchard Capital Partners, LLC

Simmons & Company International

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey

 

Sterne Agee		Rodman & Renshaw, LLC

The date of this prospectus supplement is November 29, 2011.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT			S-ii
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			S-iii
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY			S-1
RISK FACTORS			S-12
USE OF PROCEEDS			S-29
CAPITALIZATION			S-30
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK			S-31
SELLING STOCKHOLDER			S-32
MATERIAL U.S FEDERAL INCOME AND ESTATE TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR NON-UNITED STATES HOLDERS			S-33
UNDERWRITING (INCLUDING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST )			S-37
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE			S-39
LEGAL MATTERS			S-40
EXPERTS			S-40
PROSPECTUS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			ii
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			iii
OUR COMPANY			1
RISK FACTORS			1
USE OF PROCEEDS			1
RATIO OF EARNINGS (DEFICIT) TO FIXED CHARGES			1
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES			2
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK			9
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			11
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			13
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE			13
LEGAL MATTERS			14
EXPERTS			14

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. You should read the entire prospectus supplement, as well as the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference that are described under “Where You Can Find More Information” in the accompanying prospectus and “Information Incorporated by Reference” in this prospectus supplement. In the event that the description of this offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in this prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We, the selling stockholder and the underwriters have not authorized any other person to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We, the selling stockholder and the underwriters are not making any offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer to sell is not permitted. You should not assume that the information we have included in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date hereof or thereof respectively, or that information we have incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

When used in this prospectus supplement, the terms “Gulfport,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Gulfport Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, may include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “potential” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such things as estimated future net revenues from oil and gas reserves, future capital expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof), drilling activity, production, expenses, business strategy and measures to implement strategy, competitive strength, goals, expansion and growth of our business and operations, plans, references to future success, references to intentions as to future matters and other such matters are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” herein and those discussed in the documents we have incorporated by reference including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any other reports filed subsequent to the filing of such reports. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference are qualified by these cautionary statements and we cannot assure you that the actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if realized, that they will have the expected consequences to or effects on us, our business or operations. We have no intention, and disclaim any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves risks. You should carefully consider the following risks and all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement before deciding to invest in our securities. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our common stock could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to our Business and Industry

The volatility of oil and natural gas prices due to factors beyond our control greatly affects our profitability.

Our revenues, operating results, profitability, future rate of growth and the carrying value of our oil and natural gas properties depend primarily upon the prevailing prices for oil and natural gas. Historically, oil and natural gas prices have been volatile and are subject to fluctuations in response to changes in supply and demand, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond our control, including:

 

•

worldwide and domestic supplies of oil and natural gas;

 

•

the level of prices, and expectations about future prices, of oil and natural gas;

 

•

the cost of exploring for, developing, producing and delivering oil and natural gas;

 

•

the expected rates of declining current production;

 

•

weather conditions, including hurricanes, and other natural disasters that can affect oil and natural gas operations over a wide area;

 

•

the level of consumer demand;

 

•

the price and availability of alternative fuels;

 

•

technical advances affecting energy consumption;

 

•

risks associated with operating drilling rigs;

 

•

the availability of pipeline capacity;

 

•

the price and level of foreign imports;

 

•

domestic and foreign governmental regulations and taxes;

 

•

the ability of the members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to agree to and maintain oil price and production controls;

 

•

speculative trading in crude oil and natural gas derivative contracts;

 

•

political instability or armed conflict in oil and natural gas producing regions; and

 

•

the overall economic environment.

These factors and the volatility of the energy markets make it extremely difficult to predict future oil and natural gas price movements with any certainty. For example, during the past five years, the West Texas Intermediate posted price for crude oil has ranged from a low of $30.28 per barrel, or bbl, in December 2008 to a high of $145.31 per bbl in July 2008. The Henry Hub spot market price of natural gas has ranged from a low of $1.83 per million British thermal units, or MMBtu, in September 2009 to a high of $15.52 per MMBtu in January 2006. On November 21, 2011, the West Texas Intermediate posted price for crude oil was $96.92 per bbl and the Henry Hub spot market price of natural gas was $3.40 per MMBtu. Any substantial decline in the price of oil and natural gas will likely have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial condition and level of expenditures for the development of our oil and natural gas reserves, and may result in write downs of oil and natural gas properties due to ceiling test limitations.

 

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Declining general economic, business or industry conditions may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition.

Concerns over global economic conditions, energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit, the United States mortgage market and a declining real estate market in the United States have contributed to increased economic uncertainty and diminished expectations for the global economy. These factors, combined with volatile prices of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, declining business and consumer confidence and increased unemployment, have precipitated an economic slowdown and a recession. Concerns about global economic growth have had a significant adverse impact on global financial markets and commodity prices. If the economic climate in the United States or abroad continues to deteriorate, demand for petroleum products could continue to diminish, which could impact the price at which we can sell our oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, affect our vendors, suppliers and customers ability to continue operations, and ultimately adversely impact our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition.

Our success depends on finding, developing or acquiring additional reserves.

Our future success depends upon our ability to find, develop or acquire additional oil and natural gas reserves that are economically recoverable. Our proved reserves will generally decline as reserves are depleted, except to the extent that we conduct successful exploration or development activities or acquire properties containing proved reserves, or both. To increase reserves and production, we undertake development, exploration and other replacement activities or use third parties to accomplish these activities. We have made and expect to make in the future substantial capital expenditures in our business and operations for the development, production, exploration and acquisition of oil and natural gas reserves. Historically, we have financed capital expenditures primarily with cash flow from operations, the issuance of equity securities and borrowings under our bank and other credit facilities. Our cash flow from operations and access to capital are subject to a number of variables, including:

 

•

our proved reserves;

 

•

the level of oil and natural gas we are able to produce from existing wells;

 

•

the prices at which oil and natural gas are sold; and

 

•

our ability to acquire, locate and produce new reserves.

We may not have sufficient resources to undertake our exploration, development and production activities or the acquisition of oil and natural gas reserves, our exploratory projects or other replacement activities may not result in significant additional reserves and we may not have success drilling productive wells at low finding and development costs. Furthermore, although our revenues may increase if prevailing oil and natural gas prices increase significantly, our finding costs for additional reserves could also increase.

Our failure to successfully identify, complete and integrate future acquisitions of properties or businesses could reduce our earnings and slow our growth.

There is intense competition for acquisition opportunities in our industry. Competition for acquisitions may increase the cost of, or cause us to refrain from, completing acquisitions. Our ability to complete acquisitions is dependent upon, among other things, our ability to obtain debt and equity financing and, in some cases, regulatory approvals. Further, these acquisitions may be in geographic regions in which we do not currently operate, which could result in unforeseen operating difficulties and difficulties in coordinating geographically dispersed operations, personnel and facilities. In addition, if we enter into new geographic markets, we may be subject to additional and unfamiliar legal and regulatory requirements. Compliance with regulatory requirements may impose substantial additional obligations on us and our management, cause us to expend additional time and resources in compliance activities and increase our exposure to penalties or fines for non-compliance with such additional legal requirements. Completed acquisitions could require us to invest further in operational, financial

 

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and management information systems and to attract, retain, motivate and effectively manage additional employees. The inability to effectively manage the integration of acquisitions could reduce our focus on subsequent acquisitions and current operations, which, in turn, could negatively impact our earnings and growth. Our financial position and results of operations may fluctuate significantly from period to period, based on whether or not significant acquisitions are completed in particular periods.

Our Canadian oil sands project is a complex undertaking and may not be completed at our estimated cost or at all.

During the third quarter of 2006, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary Grizzly Holdings Inc., purchased a 24.9999% interest in Grizzly. The remaining interests in Grizzly are owned by entities controlled by Wexford. During 2006 and 2007, Grizzly acquired leases in the Athabasca region located in the Alberta Province near Fort McMurray within a few miles of other existing oil sands projects. Grizzly had approximately 712,000 acres under lease and our net investment in Grizzly was $41.2 million at September 30, 2011. In addition, we had loaned Grizzly $22.2 million including interest and net of foreign currency adjustments, as of September 30, 2011. As of September 30, 2011, Grizzly had drilled an aggregate of 203 core holes and three water supply test wells, tested nine separate lease blocks and conducted a seismic program. In March 2010, Grizzly filed an application for the development of an 11,300 barrel per day oil sands project at Algar Lake. In October 2011, the Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) and Ministry of Environment completed their review of Grizzly’s Algar Lake Project and have prepared their approval documents. A request has been made to the Government of Alberta to provide an Order-in Council authorizing the ERCB to issue the formal approval to Grizzly. Construction on the first phase of the facility is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2011. The engineering and procurement contract for Grizzly’s proposed steam assisted gravity drainage facility at Algar Lake has been awarded to SNC-Lavin. The gross cost of this initial facility is currently estimated to be approximately $220.0 million for Phase 1, which is anticipated to have first production in early 2013. This is a complex project and financing has not been secured. This project may not be completed at our estimated cost or at all.

Shortage of rigs, equipment, raw materials, supplies or personnel may restrict our operations.

The oil and natural gas industry is cyclical, which can result in shortages of drilling rigs, equipment, raw materials (particularly sand and other proppants), supplies and personnel. When shortages occur, the costs and delivery times of rigs, equipment and supplies increase and demand for, and wage rates of, qualified drilling rig crews also rise with increases in the number of active rigs in service. In accordance with customary industry practice, we rely on independent third party service providers to provide most of the services necessary to drill new wells. Shortages of drilling rigs, equipment, raw materials (particularly sand and other proppants), supplies, personnel, trucking services, tubulars, fracking and completion services and production equipment could delay or restrict our exploration and development operations, which in turn could impair our financial condition and results of operations.

We rely on a few key employees whose absence or loss could disrupt our operations resulting in a loss of revenues.

Many key responsibilities within our business have been assigned to a small number of employees. The loss of their services, particularly the loss of Mike Liddell, our Chairman of the Board, James D. Palm, our Chief Executive Officer, Michael G. Moore, our Chief Financial Officer, or our two geophysicists could disrupt our operations resulting in a loss of revenues. We do not have an employment contract with any of our executives, with the exception of Mr. Liddell’s written employment agreement and Mr. Palm’s oral employment agreement, and our executives are not restricted from competing with us if they cease to be employed by us. Additionally, as a practical matter, any employment agreement we may enter into will not assure the retention of our employees. In addition, we do not maintain “key person” life insurance policies on any of our employees. As a result, we are not insured against any losses resulting from the death of our key employees.

 

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Our proved reserves and related PV-10 as of December 31, 2010 have been reported under SEC rules that went into effect on January 1, 2010. The estimates provided in accordance with these SEC rules may change materially as a result of interpretive guidance that may be released by the SEC.

We have included in this report certain estimates of our proved reserves and related PV-10 at December 31, 2010 as prepared consistent with our and our independent reserve engineers’ interpretations of the SEC rules relating to disclosures of estimated natural gas and oil reserves. These rules require SEC reporting companies to prepare their reserve estimates using revised reserve definitions and revised pricing based on 12-month unweighted first-day-of-the-month average pricing. The SEC has released only limited interpretive guidance regarding reporting of reserve estimates under these rules. Accordingly, while the estimates of our proved reserves and related PV-10 at December 31, 2010 included in this report have been prepared based on what we and our independent reserve engineers believe to be reasonable interpretations of the SEC rules, those estimates could differ materially from any estimates we might prepare applying more specific SEC interpretive guidance.

We may be limited in our ability to book additional proved undeveloped reserves under the recent SEC rules.

One of the impacts of the recent SEC reserve rules is a general requirement that, subject to limited exceptions, proved undeveloped reserves may only be booked if they relate to wells scheduled to be drilled within five years of the date of booking. This rule may limit our potential to book additional proved undeveloped reserves as we pursue our drilling program.

Estimates of oil and natural gas reserves are uncertain and may vary substantially from actual production.

There are numerous uncertainties associated with estimating quantities of proved reserves and in projecting future rates of production and timing of expenditures. The reserve information included and incorporated by reference herein represents only estimates based on reports as of December 31, 2010 prepared by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., or NSAI, with respect to our WCBB and Niobrara fields, by Pinnacle Energy Services, LLC, or Pinnacle, with respect to our assets in the Permian Basin in West Texas and by our personnel with respect to our Hackberry fields and our overriding royalty and non-operated interests. Petroleum engineering is not an exact science. Information relating to our proved oil and natural gas reserves is based upon engineering estimates. Estimates of economically recoverable oil and natural gas reserves and of future net cash flows necessarily depend upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, such as historical production from the area compared with production from other producing areas, future site restoration and abandonment costs, the assumed effects of regulations by governmental agencies and assumptions concerning future oil and natural gas prices, future operating costs, severance and excise taxes, capital expenditures and workover and remedial costs, all of which may in fact vary considerably from actual results. For these reasons, estimates of the economically recoverable quantities of oil and natural gas attributable to any particular group of properties, classifications of such reserves based on risk of recovery and estimates of the future net cash flows expected therefrom prepared by different engineers or by the same engineers at different times may vary substantially. Actual production, revenues and expenditures with respect to our reserves will likely vary from estimates, and such variances may be material.

Estimates of reserves as of year-end 2010 and 2009 were prepared using an average price equal to the unweighted arithmetic average of hydrocarbon prices received on a field-by-field basis on the first day of each month within the 12-month period ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, in accordance with the revised guidelines of the SEC applicable to reserves estimates for such years. Estimates of reserves as of year-end 2008 were prepared using constant prices and costs in accordance with previous guidelines of the SEC based on hydrocarbon prices received on a field-by-field basis as of December 31st of such year. Reserve estimates do not include any value for probable or possible reserves that may exist, nor do they include any value for undeveloped acreage. The reserve estimates represent our net revenue interest in our properties.

 

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The present value of future net revenues from our proved reserves is not necessarily the same as the current market value of our estimated oil and natural gas reserves. We base the estimated discounted future net revenue from our proved reserves for 2010 and 2009 on average price equal to the unweighted average of prices received on a field-by-field basis on the first day of each month within the 12-month period ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, in accordance with the revised guidelines of the SEC applicable to reserves estimates for such years. Estimated discounted future net revenue from reserves as of year-end 2008 were prepared using constant prices and costs in accordance with previous guidelines of the SEC as of December 31st of such year. However, actual future net revenues from our oil and natural gas properties also will be affected by factors such as:

 

•

actual prices we receive for oil and natural gas;

 

•

the amount and timing of actual production;

 

•

supply of and demand for oil and natural gas; and

 

•

changes in governmental regulations or taxation.

The timing of both our production and our incurrence of costs in connection with the development and production of oil and natural gas properties will affect the timing of actual future net revenues from proved reserves, and thus their actual present value. In addition, the 10% discount factor we use when calculating discounted future net cash flows may not be the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with us or the oil and natural gas industry in general.

As of December 31, 2010, approximately 63% of our estimated proved reserves were undeveloped. Recovery of undeveloped reserves requires significant capital expenditures and may require successful drilling operations. The reserve data assumes that we can and will make these expenditures and conduct these operations successfully, but these assumptions may not be accurate, and this may not occur.

There are numerous uncertainties in estimating quantities of bitumen reserves and resources in connection with our equity investment in Grizzly and the indicated level of reserves or recovery of bitumen may not be realized.

There are numerous uncertainties in estimating quantities of bitumen reserves and resources, and the indicated level of reserves or recovery of bitumen may not be realized. In general, estimates of economically recoverable bitumen reserves and the future net cash flow from such reserves are based upon a number of factors and assumptions made as of the date on which the reserve and resource estimates were determined, such as geological and engineering estimates which have uncertainties, the assumed effects of regulation by governmental agencies and estimates of future commodity prices and operating costs, all of which may vary considerably from actual results. All such estimates are, to some degree, uncertain and classifications of reserves are only attempts to define the degree of uncertainty involved. For these reasons, estimates of the economically recoverable bitumen, the classification of such reserves based on risk of recovery and estimates of future net revenues expected therefrom, prepared by different engineers or by the same engineers at different times, may vary substantially.

Estimates with respect to reserves and resources that may be developed and produced in the future are often based upon volumetric calculations and upon analogy to similar types of reserves, rather than upon actual production history. Estimates based on these methods generally are less reliable than those based on actual production history. Subsequent evaluation of the same reserves based upon production history may result in variations in the estimated reserves. Reserve and resource estimates may require revision based on actual production experience. Reserve and resources estimates are determined with reference to assumed oil prices and operating costs. Market price fluctuations of oil prices may render uneconomic the recovery of certain grades of bitumen. The actual gravity or quality of bitumen to be produced from Grizzly’s lands cannot be determined at this time.

 

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The marketability of our production is dependent upon compressors, gathering lines, transportation barges and other facilities, certain of which we do not control. When these facilities are unavailable, our operations can be interrupted and our revenues reduced.

The marketability of our oil and natural gas production depends in part upon the availability, proximity and capacity of natural gas lines and transportation barges owned by third parties. In general, we do not control these transportation facilities and our access to them may be limited or denied. A significant disruption in the availability of these transportation facilities or our compression and other production facilities could adversely impact our ability to deliver to market or produce our oil and natural gas and thereby cause a significant interruption in our operations. We are at particular risk with respect to oil and natural gas produced at our WCBB field, which is our largest producing field. In October 2006, for example, a natural gas line in this field operated by our natural gas purchaser was ruptured by a third party contractor, requiring the field to be shut in for approximately seven weeks until the line could be repaired. Further, we are dependent on our oil purchaser to provide the barges necessary to transport our oil production from the WCBB field. If, in the future, we are unable, for any sustained period, to implement acceptable delivery or transportation arrangements or encounter compression or other production related difficulties, we will be required to again shut in or curtail production from the field. Any such shut in or curtailment, or an inability to obtain favorable terms for delivery of the oil and natural gas produced from the field, would adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

A substantial portion of our producing properties is located in Louisiana, making us vulnerable to risks associated with operating in this region.

Our largest field by production, WCBB, is located approximately five miles off the coast of Louisiana in a shallow bay with water depths averaging eight to ten feet. As a result, we may be disproportionately exposed to the impact of delays or interruptions of production from this region caused by weather conditions such as fog or rain, hurricanes or other natural disasters or lack of field infrastructure. Losses could occur for uninsured risks or in amounts in excess of any existing insurance coverage. We may not be able to obtain and maintain adequate insurance at rates we consider reasonable or that any particular types of coverage will be available.

Our identified drilling locations, which are part of our anticipated future drilling plans, are susceptible to uncertainties that could materially alter the occurrence or timing of their drilling.

We have identified over 600 drilling locations on our Louisiana, West Texas and Western Colorado properties. These drilling locations represent a significant part of our growth strategy. Our ability to drill and develop these locations depends on a number of uncertainties, including the availability of capital, oil and natural gas prices, inclement weather, costs, drilling results and regulatory changes. Because of these uncertainties, we do not know if the numerous potential drilling locations we have identified will ever be drilled or if we will be able to produce oil or natural gas from these or any other potential drilling locations. As such, our actual drilling activities may materially differ from those presently identified, which could adversely affect our business.

Operating hazards and uninsured risks may result in substantial losses and could prevent us from realizing profits.

Our operations are subject to all of the hazards and operating risks associated with drilling for and production of oil and natural gas, including the risk of fire, explosions, blowouts, surface cratering, uncontrollable flows of natural gas, oil and formation water, pipe or pipeline failures, abnormally pressured formations, casing collapses, and environmental hazards such as oil spills, gas leaks, ruptures or discharges of toxic gases. The occurrence of any of these events could result in substantial losses to us due to injury or loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property, natural resources and equipment, pollution or other environmental damage, clean-up responsibilities, regulatory investigation and penalties, suspension of operations and repairs to resume operations. For example, in October 2006, an accident occurred north of our production facilities in the WCBB field in southern Louisiana involving two contracted vessels that were performing work

 

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on our behalf in the field. A tugboat and two barges laden with construction materials ruptured an underwater natural gas pipeline and a subsequent fire damaged the vessels. Four confirmed fatalities resulted from the accident. Several lawsuits relating to this incident were filed against us, among other parties. These lawsuits against us have all been settled.

In accordance with what we believe to be customary industry practice, we historically have maintained insurance against some, but not all, of our business risks. Our insurance may not be adequate to cover any losses or liabilities we may suffer. Also, insurance may no longer be available to us or, if it is, its availability may be at premium levels that do not justify its purchase. In addition, we understand that insurance carriers are modifying or otherwise restricting insurance coverage or ceasing to provide certain types of insurance coverage in the Gulf Coast region. We may not be able to secure additional insurance of bonding that might be required by new governmental regulations. This may cause us to restrict our operations, which might severely impact our financial position. We may also be liable for environmental damage caused by previous owners of properties purchased by us, which liabilities may not be covered by insurance.

Our development and exploratory drilling efforts and our well operations may not be profitable or achieve our targeted returns.

We acquire significant amounts of unproved property in order to further our development efforts. Development and exploratory drilling and production activities are subject to many risks, including the risk that no commercially productive reservoirs will be discovered. We acquire unproved properties and lease undeveloped acreage that we believe will enhance our growth potential and increase our earnings over time. However, we cannot assure you that all prospects will be economically viable or that we will not abandon our investments. Additionally, there can be no assurance that unproved property acquired by us or undeveloped acreage leased by us will be profitably developed, that new wells drilled by us in prospects that we pursue will be productive or that we will recover all or any portion of our investment in such unproved property or wells.

Drilling for oil and natural gas may involve unprofitable efforts, not only from dry wells but also from wells that are productive but do not produce sufficient commercial quantities to cover the drilling, operating and other costs. The cost of drilling, completing and operating a well is often uncertain, and many factors can adversely affect the economics of a well or property. Drilling operations may be curtailed, delayed or canceled as a result of unexpected drilling conditions, equipment failures or accidents, shortages of equipment or personnel, environmental issues and for other reasons. In addition, wells that are profitable may not meet our internal return targets, which are dependent upon the current and expected future market prices for oil and natural gas, expected costs associated with producing oil and natural gas and our ability to add reserves at an acceptable cost. Drilling results in our newer oil and liquids-rich shale plays may be more uncertain than in shale plays that are more developed and have longer established production histories, and we can provide no assurance that drilling and completion techniques that have proven to be successful in other shale formations to maximize recoveries will be ultimately successful when used in newly developed shale formations.

We are not the operator of all of our oil and natural gas properties and therefore are not in a position to control the timing of development efforts, the associated costs or the rate of production of the reserves on such properties.

Approximately 65% of our proved reserves at December 31, 2010 are attributable to our acreage position in the Permian Basin. We are not the operator of these properties and may have limited ability to exercise influence over the operations of these and our other non-operated properties or their associated costs. Dependence on the operator and other working interest owners for these projects, and limited ability to influence operations and associated costs, could prevent the realization of targeted returns on capital in drilling or acquisition activities. The success and timing of development and exploitation activities on properties operated by others depend upon a number of factors that will be largely outside of our control, including:

 

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the timing and amount of capital expenditures;

 

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the availability of suitable drilling equipment, production and transportation infrastructure and qualified operating personnel;

 

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the operator’s expertise and financial resources;

 

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approval of other participants in drilling wells;

 

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selection of technology; and

 

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the rate of production of the reserves.

In addition, when we are not the majority owner or operator of a particular oil or natural gas project, if we are not willing or able to fund our capital expenditures relating to such projects when required by the majority owner or operator, our interests in these projects may be reduced or forfeited.

Our undeveloped acreage in our Niobara Formation must be drilled before lease expiration this year and within the next three years in order to hold the acreage by production. In highly competitive markets for acreage, failure to drill sufficient wells to hold acreage could result in a substantial lease renewal cost, or if renewal is not feasible, loss of our lease and prospective drilling opportunities.

Unless production is established within the spacing units covering the undeveloped acres on which some of the locations are identified, the leases for such acreage will expire. As of September 30, 2011, we had leases in our Niobara Formation representing approximately 17,600 net acres, 33%, 18%, 23%, 6% and 20% of which were scheduled to expire in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and thereafter, respectively. The cost to renew such leases may increase significantly, and we may not be able to renew such leases on commercially reasonable terms or at all. As such, our actual drilling activities may differ materially from our current expectations, which could adversely affect our business.

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

Acquiring oil and gas properties requires us to assess reservoir and infrastructure characteristics, including recoverable reserves, development and operating costs and potential environmental and other liabilities. Such assessments are inexact and inherently uncertain. In connection with the assessments, we perform a review of the subject properties, but such a review will not reveal all existing or potential problems. In the course of our due diligence, we may not inspect every well or pipeline. We cannot necessarily observe structural and environmental problems, such as pipeline corrosion, when an inspection is made. We may not be able to obtain contractual indemnities from the seller for liabilities created prior to our purchase of the property. We may be required to assume the risk of the physical condition of the properties in addition to the risk that the properties may not perform in accordance with our expectations.

Our operations are subject to various governmental regulations which require compliance that can be burdensome and expensive.

Our oil and natural gas operations are subject to various federal, state and local governmental regulations that may be changed from time to time in response to economic and political conditions. Matters subject to regulation include discharge permits for drilling operations, drilling bonds, reports concerning operations, the spacing of wells, unitization and pooling of properties and taxation. From time to time, regulatory agencies have imposed price controls and limitations on production by restricting the rate of flow of oil and natural gas wells below actual production capacity to conserve supplies of oil and gas. In addition, the production, handling, storage, transportation, remediation, emission and disposal of oil and gas, by-products thereof and other substances and materials produced or used in connection with oil and natural gas operations are subject to regulation under federal, state and local laws and regulations primarily relating to protection of human health and the environment. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of sanctions,

 

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including administrative, civil or criminal penalties, permit revocations and injunctions limiting or prohibiting some or all of our operations. Moreover, these laws and regulations have continually imposed increasingly strict requirements for water and air pollution control and solid waste management. Significant expenditures may be required to comply with governmental laws and regulations applicable to us. We believe the trend of more expansive and stricter environmental legislation and regulations will continue.

Federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing could result in increased costs and additional operating restrictions or delays.

Hydraulic fracturing is an important common practice that is used to stimulate production of hydrocarbons particularly natural gas, from tight formations, including shales. The process involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals under pressure into formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production. The federal Safe Drinking Water Act, or SDWA, regulates the underground injection of substances through the Underground Injection Control, or UIC, program. Hydraulic fracturing generally is exempt from regulation under the UIC program, and the hydraulic fracturing process is typically regulated by state oil and gas commissions. The EPA, however, has recently taken the position that hydraulic fracturing with fluids containing diesel fuel is subject to regulation under the UIC program, specifically as “Class II” UIC wells. At the same time, the EPA has commenced a study of the potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing activities, and a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives is also conducting an investigation of hydraulic fracturing practices. Moreover, the EPA announced on October 20, 2011 that it is also launching a study regarding wastewater resulting from hydraulic fracturing activities and currently plans to propose standards by 2014 that such wastewater must meet before being transported to a treatment plant. As part of these studies, both the EPA and the House committee have requested that certain companies provide them with information concerning the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process. These studies, depending on their results, could spur initiatives to regulate hydraulic fracturing under the SDWA or otherwise.

In March 2011, companion bills entitled the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act of 2009 were reintroduced in the United States Senate and House of Representatives. These bills, which are currently under consideration by Congress, would repeal the exemption for hydraulic fracturing from the SWDA, which would have the effect of allowing the EPA to promulgate regulations requiring permits and implementing potential new requirements on hydraulic fracturing under the SWDA. This could, in turn, require state regulatory agencies in states with programs delegated under the SWDA to impose additional requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations. In addition, the bills would require persons using hydraulic fracturing, such as us, to disclose the chemical constituents, but not the proprietary formulas, of their fracturing fluids to a regulatory agency, which would make the information public via the internet. Additionally, fracturing companies would be required to disclose specific chemical contents of fluids, including proprietary chemical formulas, to state authorities or to a requesting physician or nurse if deemed necessary by the physician or nurse in connection with a medical emergency.

In addition, there are certain governmental reviews either underway or being proposed that focus on environmental aspects of hydraulic fracturing practices. The White House Council on Environmental Quality is coordinating an administration-wide review of hydraulic fracturing practices, and a committee of the United States House of Representatives has conducted an investigation of hydraulic fracturing practices. Furthermore, a number of federal agencies are analyzing, or have been requested to review, a variety of environmental issues associated with hydraulic fracturing. In addition, the U.S. Department of Energy is conducting an investigation of practices the EPA could recommend to better protect the environment from drilling using hydraulic fracturing completion methods. Also, the U.S. Department of the Interior has announced that it will consider regulations relating to the use of hydraulic fracturing techniques on public lands and disclosure of fracturing fluid constituents. Also, certain members of the Congress have called upon the U.S. Government Accountability Office to investigate how hydraulic fracturing might adversely affect water resources, the SEC to investigate the natural gas industry and any possible misleading of investors or the public regarding the economic feasibility of pursuing natural gas deposits in shales by means of hydraulic fracturing, and the U.S. Energy Information

 

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Administration to provide a better understanding of that agency’s estimates regarding natural gas reserves, including reserves from shale formations, as well as uncertainties associated with those estimates. On August 11, 2011, the Shale Gas Subcommittee of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board released a report proposing recommendations to reduce the potential environmental impacts from shale gas production.

These ongoing or proposed studies, depending on their degree of pursuit and any meaningful results obtained, could spur initiatives to further regulate hydraulic fracturing under the SDWA or other regulatory authorities.

Some states, including Ohio, where our Utica Shale leases are located, have adopted or are considering adopting regulations that could restrict or prohibit hydraulic fracturing in certain circumstances and/or require the disclosure of the composition of hydraulic fracturing fluids. For example, in September 2011, the Ohio legislature began consideration of legislation that would impose a temporary moratorium on drilling involving hydraulic fracturing pending the delivery of the EPA study regarding the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources. In June 2010, the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission passed a rule requiring disclosure of hydraulic fracturing fluid content. In November 2010, the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board proposed regulations that would require reporting of the chemicals used in fracturing fluids. Effective January 15, 2011, Arkansas began requiring disclosure of the components, but not the precise chemical composition, of hydraulic fracturing fluids. On May 31, 2011, the Texas Legislature adopted new legislation requiring oil and gas operators to publicly disclose the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process. It was signed into law on June 17, 2011, effective as of September 1, 2011. The Texas Railroad Commission will adopt rules and regulations implementing this legislation in two phases by July 1, 2012 and 2013, respectively. The new law requires that the well operator disclose the list of chemical ingredients subject to the requirements of federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) for disclosure on an internet website and also file the list of chemicals with the Texas Railroad Commission with the well completion report. The total volume of water used to hydraulically fracture a well must also be disclosed to the public and filed with the Texas Railroad Commission. Effective August 26, 2011, Montana adopted hydraulic fracturing disclosure regulations under which well operators must provide information in drilling permit applications on the estimated volume and types of materials to be used in the proposed hydraulic fracturing activities. Upon completion of the well, well operators must provide the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation with the volume and type of chemicals used, including the additive type, chemical ingredient names, and Chemical Abstracts Number, subject to certain trade secret protections. In September 2011, the North Dakota Industrial Commission proposed new regulations for hydraulic fracturing activities that could require well operators, under certain circumstances, to disclose the hydraulic fluid composition, including the trade name, supplier, ingredients, Chemical Abstracts Number, and the maximum ingredient concentrations of all additives in the hydraulic fracturing fluid. We plan to use hydraulic fracturing extensively in connection with the development and production of certain of our oil and natural gas properties and any increased federal, state, local, foreign or international regulation of hydraulic fracturing or offshore drilling, including legislation and regulation in the states in which we operate, could reduce the volumes of oil and gas that we can economically recover, which could materially and adversely affect our revenues and results of operations.

There has been increasing public controversy regarding hydraulic fracturing with regard to use of fracturing fluids, impacts on drinking water supplies, use of waters and the potential for impacts to surface water, groundwater and the environment generally. A number of lawsuits and enforcement actions have been initiated across the country implicating hydraulic fracturing practices. If new laws or regulations that significantly restrict hydraulic fracturing, such as the FRAC Act, are adopted, such laws could make it more difficult or costly for us to perform fracturing to stimulate production from tight formations as well as make it easier for third parties opposing the hydraulic fracturing process to initiate legal proceedings based on allegations that specific chemicals used in the fracturing process could adversely affect groundwater. In addition, if hydraulic fracturing is further regulated at the federal or state level, our fracturing activities could become subject to additional permitting and financial assurance requirements, more stringent construction specifications, increased monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping obligations, plugging and abandonment requirements and also to

 

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attendant permitting delays and potential increases in costs. Such legislative changes could cause us to incur substantial compliance costs, and compliance or the consequences of any failure to comply by us could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. At this time, it is not possible to estimate the impact on our business of newly enacted or potential federal or state legislation governing hydraulic fracturing.

The recent adoption of derivatives legislation by the U.S. Congress could have an adverse effect on our ability to use derivative instruments to reduce the effect of commodity price, interest rate and other risks associated with our business.

The recent adoption of derivatives legislation by the U.S. Congress could have an adverse effect on our ability to use derivative instruments to reduce the effect of commodity price, interest rate and other risks associated with our business. The U.S. Congress recently adopted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (HR 4173), which, among other provisions, establishes federal oversight and regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market and entities that participate in that market. The new legislation was signed into law by the President on July 21, 2010, and requires the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC, and the SEC to promulgate rules and regulations implementing the new legislation within 360 days from the date of enactment. In its rulemaking under the new legislation, the CFTC has proposed regulations to set position limits for certain futures and option contracts in the major energy markets and for swaps that are their economic equivalents. Certain bona fide hedging transactions or positions would be exempt from these position limits. It is not possible at this time to predict when the CFTC will finalize these regulations. The financial reform legislation may also require us to comply with margin requirements and with certain clearing and trade-execution requirements in connection with our existing or future derivative activities, although the application of those provisions to us is uncertain at this time. The financial reform legislation may also require the counterparties to our derivative instruments to spin off some of their derivatives activities to separate entities, which may not be as creditworthy as the current counterparties. The new legislation and any new regulations could significantly increase the cost of derivative contracts (including through requirements to post collateral which could adversely affect our available liquidity), materially alter the terms of derivative contracts, reduce the availability of derivatives to protect against risks we encounter, reduce our ability to monetize or restructure our derivative contracts in existence at that time, and increase our exposure to less creditworthy counterparties. If we reduce or change the way we use derivative instruments as a result of the legislation and regulations, our results of operations may become more volatile and its cash flows may be less predictable, which could adversely affect our ability to plan for and fund capital expenditures. Finally, the legislation was intended, in part, to reduce the volatility of oil and natural gas prices, which some legislators attributed to speculative trading in derivatives and commodity instruments related to oil and natural gas. Our revenues could therefore be adversely affected if a consequence of the legislation and regulations is to lower commodity prices. Any of these consequences could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Proposed changes to U.S. tax laws, if adopted, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The U.S. President’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Proposal includes provisions that would, if enacted, make significant changes to U.S. tax laws. These changes include, but are not limited to, (i) eliminating the immediate deduction for intangible drilling and development costs, (ii) eliminating the deduction from income for domestic production activities relating to oil and natural gas exploration and development and (iii) implementing certain international tax reforms. These proposed changes in the U.S. tax laws, if adopted, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

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The adoption of climate change legislation by Congress could result in increased operating costs and reduced demand for the oil and natural gas we produce.

Many nations have agreed to limit emissions of “greenhouse gases” pursuant to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, also known as the “Kyoto Protocol.” Methane, a primary component of natural gas, and carbon dioxide, a byproduct of the burning of oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products, are “greenhouse gases,” or GHGs, regulated by the Kyoto Protocol. Although the United States is not participating in the Kyoto Protocol at this time, several states or geographic regions have adopted legislation and regulations to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Additionally, on April 2, 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, in Massachusetts, et al. v. EPA, that the EPA has the authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles as “air pollutant” under the federal Clean Air Act. Thereafter, in December 2009, the EPA determined that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other GHGs present an endangerment to public health and the environment because, according to the EPA, emissions of such gases contribute to warming of the earth’s atmosphere and other climatic changes. These findings by the EPA allowed the agency to proceed with the adoption and implementation of regulations that would restrict emissions of GHGs under existing provisions of the federal Clean Air Act. Subsequently, the EPA adopted two sets of related rules, one of which purports to regulate emissions of GHGs from motor vehicles and the other of which regulates emissions of GHGs from certain large stationary sources of emissions such as power plants or industrial facilities. The EPA finalized the motor vehicle rule in April 2010 and it became effective January 2011, although it does not require immediate reductions in GHG emissions. The EPA adopted the stationary source rule in May 2010, and it also became effective January 2011, although it remains subject of several pending lawsuits filed by industry groups. Additionally, in September 2009, the EPA issued a final rule requiring the reporting of GHG emissions from specified large GHG emission sources in the U.S., including natural gas liquids fractionators and local natural gas/distribution companies, beginning in 2011 for emissions occurring in 2010. More recently, in November 2010, the EPA expanded its existing GHG reporting rule to include onshore and offshore oil and natural gas production and onshore processing, transmission, storage, and distribution facilities, which may include certain of our facilities, beginning in 2012 for emissions occurring in 2011.

Furthermore, in July 2011, the EPA proposed several new emissions standards to reduce volatile organic compound, or VOC, emissions from several types of processes and equipment used in the oil and natural gas industry, including a 95 percent reduction in VOCs emitted during the construction or modification of hydraulically-fractured wells. Additionally, on August 23, 2011, the EPA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that would establish new air emission controls for oil and natural gas production and natural gas processing operations. The EPA is currently receiving public comment and recently conducted public hearings regarding the proposed rules and must take final action on them by February 28, 2012. In addition, on October 20, 2011, the EPA announced a schedule to develop pre-treatment standards for wastewater discharges produced by natural gas extraction from underground coalbed and shale formations. The EPA stated that it will gather data, consult with stakeholders, including ongoing consultation with industry, and solicit public comment on a proposed rule for coalbed methane in 2013 and a proposed rule for shale gas in 2014.

In June 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act that, among other things, would have established a cap-and-trade system to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and would have required an 80% reduction in GHG emissions from sources within the United States between 2012 and 2050. The ACES Act did not pass the Senate, however, and so was not enacted by the 111th Congress. The United States Congress is likely to again consider a climate change bill in the future. Moreover, almost half of the states have already taken legal measures to reduce emissions of GHGs, primarily through the planned development of GHG emission inventories and/or regional GHG cap-and-trade programs. Most of these cap and trade programs work by requiring major sources of emissions, such as electric power plants, or major producers of fuels, such as refineries and gas processing plants, to acquire and surrender emission allowances corresponding with their annual emissions of GHGs. The number of allowances available for purchase is reduced each year until the overall GHG emission reduction goal is achieved. As the number of GHG emission allowances declines each year, the cost or value of allowances is expected to escalate significantly.

 

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Restrictions on emissions of methane or carbon dioxide that may be imposed in various states could adversely affect the oil and natural gas industry. Currently, while we are subject to certain federal GHG monitoring and reporting requirements, our operations are not adversely impacted by existing federal, state and local climate change initiatives and, at this time, it is not possible to accurately estimate how potential future laws or regulations addressing greenhouse gas emissions would impact our business.

Any failure by us to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations may result in governmental authorities taking actions that could adversely impact our operations and financial condition, including the:

 

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issuance of administrative, civil and criminal penalties;

 

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denial, suspension or revocation of necessary permits, licenses or other authorizations;

 

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imposition of injunctive obligations or limitations on our operations;

 

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requirement for additional pollution controls; and

 

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required performance of site investigatory, remedial or other corrective actions.

In addition, there has been public discussion that climate change may be associated with extreme weather conditions such as more intense hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornados and snow or ice storms, as well as rising sea levels. Another possible consequence of climate change is increased volatility in seasonal temperatures. Some studies indicate that climate change could cause some areas to experience temperatures substantially colder than their historical averages. Extreme weather conditions can interfere with our production and increase our costs and damage resulting from extreme weather may not be fully insured. However, at this time, we are unable to determine the extent to which climate change may lead to increased storm or weather hazards affecting our operations.

We face extensive competition in our industry.

The oil and natural gas industry is intensely competitive, and we compete with other companies that have greater resources. Many of these companies not only explore for and produce oil and natural gas, but also carry on midstream and refining operations and market petroleum and other products on a regional, national or worldwide basis. These competitors may be better positioned to take advantage of industry opportunities and to withstand changes affecting the industry, such as fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices and production, the availability of alternative energy sources and the application of government regulation.

We depend upon two customers for the sale of most of our oil and natural gas production.

The availability of a ready market for any oil and/or natural gas we produce depends on numerous factors beyond the control of our management, including but not limited to the extent of domestic production and imports of oil, the proximity and capacity of gas pipelines, the availability of skilled labor, materials and equipment, the effect of state and federal regulation of oil and natural gas production and federal regulation of gas sold in interstate commerce. The oil and natural gas we produce in Louisiana is sold to purchasers who service the areas where our wells are located. We sell the majority of our oil to Shell Trading Company, or Shell. Shell takes custody of the oil at the outlet from our oil storage barge. Our production from WCBB, other than the production sold under forward sales contracts, is being sold in accordance with the Shell posted price for West Texas/New Mexico Intermediate crude plus or minus Platt’s trade month average P+ value, plus or minus the Platt’s HLS/WTI differential less $2.70 per barrel for transportation. During 2010, we sold 75% and 19% of our oil production to Shell and Windsor Energy Group, LLC, or Windsor, respectively and 50%, 32%, and 10% of our natural gas production to Windsor, Chevron and Hilcorp Energy Company, respectively. During 2009, we sold 92% and 7% of our oil production to Shell and Windsor, respectively, and 45%, 38%, and 16% of our natural gas production to Windsor, Chevron and Hilcorp Energy Company, respectively. During 2008, we sold 87% of our oil production to Shell and 11% to Windsor, 100% of our natural gas liquids production to Windsor,

 

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and 60%, 22%, and 16% of our natural gas production to Chevron, Windsor, and Hilcorp Energy Company, respectively. We may not continue to have ready access to suitable markets for our future oil and natural gas production.

Our method of accounting for oil and natural gas properties may result in impairment of asset value.

We use the full cost method of accounting for oil and natural gas operations. Accordingly, all costs, including nonproductive costs and certain general and administrative costs associated with acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties, are capitalized. Net capitalized costs are limited to the estimated future net revenues, after income taxes, discounted at 10% per year, from proven oil and natural gas reserves and the cost of the properties not subject to amortization. Such capitalized costs, including the estimated future development costs and site remediation costs, if any, are depleted by an equivalent units-of-production method, converting gas to barrels at the ratio of six Mcf of gas to one barrel of oil.

Companies that use the full cost method of accounting for oil and gas properties are required to perform a ceiling test each quarter. The test determines a limit, or ceiling, on the book value of the oil and gas properties. Net capitalized costs are limited to the lower of unamortized cost net of deferred income taxes or the cost center ceiling. The cost center ceiling is defined as the sum of (a) estimated future net revenues, discounted at 10% per annum, from proved reserves, based on the 12-month unweighted average of the first-day-of-the-month prices for 2010 and 2009 and prior to 2009, unescalated year-end prices, adjusted for any contract provisions or financial derivatives, if any, that hedge oil and natural gas revenue, and excluding the estimated abandonment costs for properties with asset retirement obligations recorded on the balance sheet, (b) the cost of properties not being amortized, if any, and (c) the lower of cost or market value of unproved properties included in the cost being amortized, less income tax effects related to differences between the book and tax basis of the oil and natural gas properties. If the net book value reduced by the related net deferred income tax liability exceeds the ceiling, an impairment or noncash writedown is required. A ceiling test impairment can give us a significant loss for a particular period. Once incurred, a write down of oil and natural gas properties is not reversible at a later date, even if oil or gas prices increase. If prices of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids decrease, we may be required to further write down the value of our oil and gas properties. Future non-cash asset impairments could negatively affect our results of operations.

Our use of 2-D and 3-D seismic data is subject to interpretation and may not accurately identify the presence of oil and natural gas, which could adversely affect the results of our drilling operations.

Even when properly used and interpreted, 2-D and 3-D seismic data and visualization techniques are only tools used to assist geoscientists in identifying subsurface structures and hydrocarbon indicators and do not enable the interpreter to know whether hydrocarbons are, in fact, present in those structures. In addition, the use of 3-D seismic and other advanced technologies requires greater predrilling expenditures than traditional drilling strategies, and we could incur losses as a result of such expenditures. As a result, our drilling activities may not be successful or economical.

We have entered into forward sales contracts and fixed price swaps and may in the future enter into additional contracts for a portion of our production, which may result in our making cash payments or prevent us from receiving the full benefit of increases in prices for oil and gas.

To mitigate the effects of commodity price fluctuations, we were party to forward sales contracts for the sale of 3,000 barrels of WCBB production per day at a weighted average daily price of $54.81 per barrel, before transportation costs and differentials, for the period January 2010 through February 2010. For the period March 2010 through December 2010, we were party to forward sales contracts for the sale of 2,300 barrels of WCBB production per day at a weighted average daily price of $58.24 per barrel before transportation costs and differentials. In November 2010, we entered into fixed price swaps for 2,000 barrels of oil per day at a weighted average price of $86.96 per barrel, before transportation costs and differentials, for the period January 2011

 

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through December 2011. In September 2011, we entered into fixed price swaps for 2,000 barrels of oil per day at a weighted average price of $108.00 per barrel, before transportation costs and differentials, for the period from January 2012 through December 2012. Under the 2010 contracts, we delivered approximately 45% of our 2010 production. Under the 2011 contracts, we have committed to deliver approximately 30% to 33% of our estimated 2011 production. Under the 2012 contracts, we have committed to deliver approximately 23% to 24% of our estimated 2012 production. Such arrangements may expose us to risk of financial loss in certain circumstances, including instances where production is less than expected or oil prices increase. In addition, these arrangements may limit the benefit to us of increases in the price of oil. These forward sales contracts and fixed price swaps are accounted for as cash flow hedges and recorded at fair value pursuant to FASB ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” and related pronouncements.

A terrorist attack or armed conflict could harm our business.

Terrorist activities, anti-terrorist efforts and other armed conflicts involving the United States or other countries may adversely affect the United States and global economies and could prevent us from meeting our financial and other obligations. If any of these events occur, the resulting political instability and societal disruption could reduce overall demand for oil and natural gas, potentially putting downward pressure on demand for our services and causing a reduction in our revenues. Oil and natural gas related facilities could be direct targets of terrorist attacks, and our operations could be adversely impacted if infrastructure integral to our customers’ operations is destroyed or damaged. Costs for insurance and other security may increase as a result of these threats, and some insurance coverage may become more difficult to obtain, if available at all.

Conservation measures and technological advances could reduce demand for oil and natural gas.

Fuel conservation measures, alternative fuel requirements, increasing consumer demand for alternatives to oil and natural gas, technological advances in fuel economy and energy generation devices could reduce demand for oil and natural gas. The impact of the changing demand for oil and gas services and products may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock and this Offering

If our quarterly revenues and operating results fluctuate significantly, the price of our common stock may be volatile.

Our revenues and operating results may in the future vary significantly from quarter to quarter. If our quarterly results fluctuate, it may cause our stock price to be volatile. We believe that a number of factors could cause these fluctuations, including:

 

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changes in oil and natural gas prices;

 

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changes in production levels;

 

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changes in governmental regulations and taxes;

 

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geopolitical developments;

 

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the level of foreign imports of oil and natural gas; and

 

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conditions in the oil and natural gas industry and the overall economic environment.

Because of the factors listed above, among others, we believe that our quarterly revenues, expenses and operating results may vary significantly in the future and that period-to-period comparisons of our operating results are not necessarily meaningful. You should not rely on the results of one quarter as an indication of our future performance. It is also possible that in some future quarters, our operating results will fall below our expectations or the expectations of market analysts and investors. If we do not meet these expectations, the price of our common stock may decline significantly.

 

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Our largest stockholder controls a significant percentage of our common stock, and its interests may conflict with those of our other stockholders.

As of November 20, 2011, Charles E. Davidson, our largest stockholder and the selling stockholder in this offering, beneficially owned approximately 16.8% of our outstanding common stock. Upon completion of this offering, Mr. Davidson will beneficially own approximately 13.8% of our outstanding common stock (approximately 13.3% assuming full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option). As a result, this stockholder acting alone is able to exercise significant influence over most matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors and the approval of significant corporate transactions. Such a concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of us, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over then current market prices.

We do not currently pay dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate doing so in the future.

We have paid no cash dividends on our common stock, and we may not pay cash dividends on our common stock in the future. We intend to retain any earnings to fund our operations. Therefore, we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. In addition, the terms of our credit agreement prohibit the payment of any dividends to the holders of our common stock.

A change of control could limit our use of net operating losses.

As of December 31, 2010, we had a net operating loss, or NOL, carry forward of approximately $52.4 million for federal income tax purposes. Transfers of our stock in the future could result in an ownership change. In such a case, our ability to use the NOLs generated through the ownership change date could be limited. In general, the amount of NOLs we could use for any tax year after the date of the ownership change would be limited to the value of our stock (as of the ownership change date) multiplied by the long-term tax-exempt rate.

This offering and future sales of our common stock may depress our stock price.

We and certain of our stockholders have registered a substantial number of shares of our common stock under a registration statement filed with the SEC. Sales of these shares of our common stock in the public market, including the shares sold in this offering, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. In addition, sales by certain of our stockholders of their shares could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of common or preferred stock. As of November 20, 2011, there were 51,005,254 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, excluding 218,899 shares of unvested restricted stock awarded under our Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, 30,420 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants and 356,241 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options to purchase our common stock granted under our Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan.

We could issue preferred stock which could be entitled to dividend, liquidation and other special rights and preferences not shared by holders of our common stock or which could have anti-takeover effects.

We are authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. Shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series as our board of directors, by resolution or resolutions, may from time to time determine each such series to be distinctively designated. The voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, if any, of each such series of preferred stock may differ from those of any and all other series of preferred stock at any time outstanding, and, subject to certain limitations of our certificate of incorporation and the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, our board of directors may fix or alter, by resolution or resolutions, the designation, number, voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of each such series preferred stock. The issuance of any such preferred stock could materially adversely affect the rights of holders of our common stock and, therefore, could reduce the value of our common stock.

 

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In addition, specific rights granted to future holders of preferred stock could be used to restrict our ability to merge with, or sell our assets to, a third party. The ability of our board of directors to issue preferred stock could discourage, delay or prevent a takeover of us, thereby preserving control of the company by the current stockholders.

The existence of some provisions in our organizational documents could delay or prevent a change in control of our company, even if that change would be beneficial to our stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that may make acquiring control of our company difficult. See “Description of Our Capital Stock—Anti-takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Our Bylaws” contained in the accompanying prospectus.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds from our sale of 4,000,000 shares in this offering will be approximately $110.9 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, or approximately $127.6 million if the underwriters exercise the over-allotment option granted by us in full. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock by the selling stockholder. We intend to use our net proceeds from this offering (i) to repay the current outstanding balance under our secured revolving credit facility, (ii) to fund capital expenditures associated with drilling, development and infrastructure, principally in the Utica Shale in Ohio and (iii) for general corporate purposes.

All borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility, together with all accrued and unpaid interest and fees, will be due and payable on May 3, 2015. On July 21, 2011, we repaid all outstanding borrowings with a portion of the net proceeds of our equity offering completed on July 15, 2011 pending the application of such proceeds to fund our additional Utica Shale lease acquisitions and for general corporate purposes. Subsequent to September 30, 2011, we again made borrowings under our revolving credit facility and, as of November 20, 2011, $13.0 million was outstanding under this facility and bore interest at the rate of 2.25%.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our unaudited cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of September 30, 2011, on:

 

•

an actual basis; and

 

•

as adjusted to give effect to the sale by us of 4,000,000 shares of common stock in this offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The as adjusted column gives effect to this offering and assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase 600,000 shares of our common stock from us.

You should read this table in conjunction with the information contained in “Use of Proceeds,” and the information contained in our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, our unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, which are incorporated by reference herein.

		As of September 30, 2011
		Actual				As Adjusted
		(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents		$	22,711			$	133,571	(1)
Long-term debt (including current maturities):
Revolving credit agreement		$	—	(1)			—
Building loans			2,317				2,317
Total			2,317				2,317
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 5,000,000 authorized, 30,000 authorized as redeemable 12% cumulative preferred stock, Series A; 0 issued and outstanding			—				—
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock—$.01 par value, 100,000,000 authorized, 50,944,254 issued and outstanding; 54,944,254 as adjusted			509				549
Paid-in-capital			475,703				586,523
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			7,900				7,900
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)			(6,427	)			(6,427	)
Total stockholders’ equity			477,685				588,545
Total capitalization		$	480,002			$	590,862

 

 

(1)

On July 21, 2011, we repaid all outstanding borrowings with a portion of the net proceeds of our equity offering completed on July 15, 2011 pending the application of such proceeds to fund our additional Utica Shale lease acquisitions and for general corporate purposes. As a result, no amounts were outstanding under our revolving credit facility as of September 30, 2011. Subsequent to September 30, 2011, we again made borrowings under our revolving credit facility and, as of November 20, 2011, $13.0 million was outstanding under this facility. We will use a portion of the net proceeds we receive in this offering to repay all borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility.

 

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PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

Our common stock is listed and traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “GPOR.” The following table includes the high and low sales prices for our common stock as reported on The NASDAQ Global Select Market for the periods presented.

 

		Price Range of Common Stock
		High				Low
2009
First Quarter		$	5.20			$	1.50
Second Quarter			7.65				2.23
Third Quarter			8.99				5.23
Fourth Quarter			11.89				7.25
2010
First Quarter		$	12.68			$	8.89
Second Quarter			15.25				10.60
Third Quarter			14.71				10.37
Fourth Quarter			22.92				13.59
2011
First Quarter			$36.38			$	20.00
Second Quarter			38.09				23.84
Third Quarter			37.49				22.00
Fourth Quarter (through November 29, 2011)			37.80				18.72

The closing price of our common stock on The NASDAQ Global Select Market on November 29, 2011 was $29.53 per share.

 

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SELLING STOCKHOLDER

The following table presents information regarding the selling stockholder in this offering, the shares that the underwriters have agreed to purchase from such selling stockholder and the selling stockholder’s shares subject to the underwriters’ over-allotment option. In addition, the nature of any position, office or other material relationship the selling stockholder has had with us within the past three years is indicated in a footnote to the table. Information contained in the table below is based upon information provided to us by the selling stockholder as of November 20, 2011. We have not independently verified this information. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of our common stock by the selling stockholder.

 

Name of Selling Stockholder		Beneficial Ownership Prior to the Offering(1)								Number of Shares Offered				Beneficial Ownership After the Offering(1)(2)								Number of Shares to be Sold if Underwriters’ Over-allotment Option is Exercised in Full				Beneficial Ownership After the Offering if Underwriters’ Over-allotment Option is Exercised in Full(1)(2)
		Number				Percentage								Number				Percentage								Number				Percentage
CD Holding Company, LLC(3)			8,565,786				16.8	%			1,000,000				7,565,786				13.8	%			1,150,000				7,415,786				13.3	%

 

(1)

The percentage of shares beneficially owned is based on 51,005,254 shares of common stock outstanding prior to the offering as of November 20, 2011, excluding 218,899 shares of restricted common stock awarded under our Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan but not yet vested.

(2)

We have assumed all shares of common stock offered by us and the selling stockholder under this prospectus supplement have been sold and that no additional shares have been acquired by the selling stockholder.

(3)

Based on the schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on April 7, 2011 by CD Holding Company, LLC and Charles E. Davidson. Prior to this offering, Mr. Davidson beneficially owned 8,565,786 shares of common stock held by CD Holding Company, LLC. Mr. Davidson is the manager and a member of CD Holding Company, LLC and the Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Wexford. The shares beneficially owned by Mr. Davidson included in this offering have been registered under an effective registration statement under the terms of a registration rights agreement, dated as of March 29, 2002, as amended on February 14, 2006, between us and certain of our stockholders. Under the registration rights agreement, the selling stockholder has been granted certain piggyback registration rights. We are obligated to pay all expenses incurred by such stockholder in connection with each registration of its shares, provided that such stockholder is obligated to pay all underwriting discounts and commissions with respect to the shares it sells for its own account. Under the registration rights agreement, we also agreed to indemnify the selling stockholder and its affiliated and controlling parties for violations of federal and state securities laws and regulations. The registration rights are subject to customary conditions and limitations, all of which are described in more detail in the registration rights agreement, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. See also our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in our most recent proxy statement, each of which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND ESTATE TAX CONSIDERATIONS

FOR NON-UNITED STATES HOLDERS

The following is a general discussion of material U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our common stock by a non-U.S. holder. This discussion deals only with common stock purchased in this offering that is held as a capital asset by a non-U.S. holder. Except as modified for estate tax purposes, the term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of our common stock that is not, for U.S. federal income and estate tax purposes:

 

•

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

•

a corporation (including any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

•

an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

•

a trust, if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons (as defined under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code) have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or if it has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person.

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

This discussion is based upon provisions of the Code, and Treasury regulations, administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all as of the date hereof. Those authorities may be changed, perhaps retroactively, so as to result in U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences different from those discussed below. This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income and estate taxation and does not deal with other U.S. federal tax laws (such as gift tax laws) or foreign, state, local or other tax considerations that may be relevant to non-U.S. holders in light of their personal circumstances. In addition, this discussion does not address tax considerations applicable to investors that may be subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as (without limitation):

 

•

certain former U.S. citizens or residents;

 

•

shareholders that hold our common stock as part of a straddle, constructive sale transaction, synthetic security, hedge, conversion transaction or other integrated investment or risk reduction transaction;

 

•

shareholders that acquired our common stock through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation or through a tax-qualified retirement plan;

 

•

shareholders that are partnerships or entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes or other pass-through entities or owners thereof;

 

•

financial institutions;

 

•

insurance companies;

 

•

tax-exempt entities;

 

•

dealers in securities or foreign currencies; and

 

•

traders in securities that use a mark-to-market method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

If a partnership (including an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the

 

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activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership (including an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holding our common stock, you should consult your tax advisor.

Investors considering the purchase of our common stock should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. federal income and estate and gift tax laws to their particular situation as well as the applicability and effect of any state, local or foreign tax laws or tax treaties.

Distributions on Common Stock

We do not expect to pay any cash distributions on our common stock in the foreseeable future. However, in the event we do make such cash distributions, these distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. If any such distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of the non-U.S. holder’s tax basis in our common stock and thereafter as capital gain from the sale or exchange of such common stock. See “Gain on Disposition of Common Stock.” Dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder of our common stock that are not effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate, or if an income tax treaty applies, a lower rate specified by the treaty. In order to receive a reduced treaty rate, a non-U.S. holder must provide to the withholding agent Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-8BEN (or applicable substitute or successor form) properly certifying eligibility for the reduced rate.

Dividends that are effectively connected with a non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States and, if an income tax treaty so requires, are attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States, are taxed on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates and in the manner applicable to United States persons (as defined under the Code). In that case, we will not have to withhold U.S. federal withholding tax if the non-U.S. holder complies with applicable certification and disclosure requirements (which may generally be met by providing an IRS Form W-8ECI). In addition, a “branch profits tax” may be imposed at a 30% rate (or a lower rate specified under an applicable income tax treaty) on dividends received by a foreign corporation that are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States.

Gain on Disposition of Common Stock

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

 

•

the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States and, if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States, in which case, the gain will be taxed on a net income basis at the rates and in the manner applicable to United States persons (as defined under the Code), and if the non-U.S. holder is a foreign corporation, the branch profits tax described above may also apply;

 

•

the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and meets other requirements, in which case, the non-U.S. holder will be subject to a flat 30% tax on the gain derived from the disposition, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses; or

 

•

we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation”, or USRPHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the non-U.S. holder held our common stock.

 

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Generally, a corporation is a USRPHC if the fair market value of its United States real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests and its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. We have not determined whether we are currently a USRPHC for United States federal income tax purposes, but we believe we currently may be a USRPHC. If we are or become a USRPHC, a non-U.S holder nonetheless will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding in respect of any gain realized on a sale or other disposition of our common stock so long as (i) our common stock continues to be “regularly traded on an established securities market” for U.S. federal income tax purposes (as it currently is) and (ii) such non-U.S. holder does not actually or constructively own, at any time during the applicable period described in the third bullet point, above, more than 5% of our outstanding common stock. Accordingly, a non-U.S holder who actually or constructively owns more than 5% of our common stock would be subject to U.S. federal income tax and withholding in respect of any gain realized on any sale or other disposition of common stock (taxed in the same manner as gain that is effectively connected income, except that the branch profits tax would not apply). Non-U.S. holders should consult their own advisor about the consequences that could result if we are, or become, a USRPHC.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax

Dividends paid to you will generally be subject to information reporting and may be subject to U.S. backup withholding. You will be exempt from backup withholding if you properly provide a Form W-8BEN certifying under penalties of perjury that you are a non-U.S. holder or otherwise meet documentary evidence requirements for establishing that you are a non-U.S. holder, or you otherwise establish an exemption. Copies of the information returns reporting such dividends and the tax withheld with respect to such dividends also may be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which you reside.

The gross proceeds from the disposition of our common stock may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding. If you receive payments of the proceeds of a disposition of our common stock to or through a U.S. office of a broker, the payment will be subject to both U.S. backup withholding and information reporting unless you properly provide an IRS Form W-8BEN certifying under penalties of perjury that you are a non-U.S. person (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person, as defined under the Code) or you otherwise establish an exemption. If you sell your common stock outside the United States through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker and the sales proceeds are paid to you outside the United States, then the U.S. backup withholding and information reporting requirements generally will not apply to that payment. However, U.S. information reporting, but not backup withholding, will generally apply to a payment of sales proceeds, even if that payment is made outside the United States, if you sell your common stock through a non-U.S. office of a broker that has certain relationships with the United States unless the broker has documentary evidence in its files that you are a non-U.S. person and certain other conditions are met, or you otherwise establish an exemption.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. You may obtain a refund or credit of any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules that exceed your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Additional Withholding Requirements

Under recently-enacted legislation, the relevant withholding agent may be required to withhold 30% of any dividends and the proceeds of a sale or other disposition of our common stock to (i) a foreign financial institution unless such foreign financial institution agrees to verify, report and disclose its U.S. account holders and meets certain other requirements or (ii) a non-financial foreign entity that is the beneficial owner of the payment unless such entity certifies that it does not have any substantial United States owners or provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each substantial United States owner and such entity meets certain other requirements. IRS Guidance issued in July 2011 indicates that regulations will be enacted that will provide that withholding will only be made on payments of dividends made on or after January 1, 2014, and on other withholdable payments (including payments of gross proceeds) made on or after January 1, 2015.

 

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Federal Estate Tax

Our common stock that is owned (or treated as owned) by an individual who is not a citizen or resident of the United States (as specially defined for United States federal estate tax purposes) at the time of death will be included in such individual’s gross estate for United States federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise, and, therefore, may be subject to United States federal estate tax.

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

 

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UNDERWRITING

Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting agreement dated November 29, 2011, we and the selling stockholder have agreed to sell to the underwriters named below, for whom Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC is acting as representative, the following respective numbers of shares of common stock:

 

Underwriter		Number of Shares from us				Number of Shares from the Selling Stockholder				Total Number of Shares
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC			2,525,600				631,400				3,157,000
Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C.			345,200				86,300				431,500
Capital One Southcoast, Inc.			210,400				52,600				263,000
C. K. Cooper & Company, Inc.			172,800				43,200				216,000
Pritchard Capital Partners, LLC			172,800				43,200				216,000
Simmons & Company International			172,800				43,200				216,000
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.			172,800				43,200				216,000
Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc.			126,400				31,600				158,000
Rodman & Renshaw, LLC			101,200				25,300				126,500
Total			4,000,000				1,000,000				5,000,000

The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters are obligated to purchase all the shares of common stock in the offering if any are purchased, other than those shares covered by the over-allotment option described below.

We and the selling stockholder have granted to the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase on a pro rata basis up to an aggregate of 750,000 additional shares at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. The option may be exercised only to cover any over-allotments of common stock.

The underwriters propose to offer the shares of common stock initially at the public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to selling group members at that price less a selling concession of $0.696 per share. After the initial public offering, the underwriters may change the public offering price and concession and discount to broker/dealers.

The following table summarizes the compensation and estimated expenses we and the selling stockholder will pay:

 

		Per Share								Total
		Without Over-allotment				With Over-allotment				Without Over-allotment				With Over-allotment
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions paid by us		$	1.16			$	1.16			$	4,640,000			$	5,336,000
Underwriting discounts and commissions paid by the selling stockholder		$	1.16			$	1.16			$	1,160,000			$	1,334,000

We estimate that our out of pocket expenses for this offering will be approximately $500,000. We have agreed to pay expenses incurred by the selling stockholder in connection with this offering other than the underwriting discounts and commissions.

We have agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, we will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of our common stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any

 

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offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus. However, in the event that either (1) during the last 17 days of the “lock-up” period, we release earnings results or material news or a material event relating to us occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the “lock-up” period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the “lock-up” period, then in either case the expiration of the “lock-up” will be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the release of the earnings results or the occurrence of the material news or event, as applicable, unless Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC waives, in writing, such an extension. The foregoing sentence will not apply if, as of the expiration of the “lock-up” period, shares of our common stock are “actively-traded securities,” as defined in Regulation M.

The selling stockholder and our officers and directors have agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, they will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of our common stock, enter into a transaction that would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of our common stock, whether any of these transactions are to be settled by delivery of our common stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, without, in each case, the prior written consent of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus. However, in the event that either (1) during the last 17 days of the “lock-up” period, we release earnings results or material news or a material event relating to us occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the “lock-up” period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the “lock-up” period, then in either case the expiration of the “lock-up” will be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the release of the earnings results or the occurrence of the material news or event, as applicable, unless Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC waives, in writing, such an extension. The foregoing sentence will not apply if, as of the expiration of the “lock-up” period, shares of our common stock are “actively-traded securities,” as defined in Regulation M.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, in its sole discretion, may release the common stock and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time. When determining whether or not to release the common stock and other securities from lock-up agreements, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC will consider, among other factors, the holder’s reasons for requesting the release and the number of shares of common stock or other securities for which the release is being requested.

We and the selling stockholder have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in that respect.

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “GPOR.”

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act.

 

•

Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.

 

•

Over-allotment involves sales by the underwriters of shares in excess of the number of shares the underwriters are obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of shares over-allotted by the underwriters is not greater than the number of shares that they may purchase in the over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of shares involved is greater than the number of shares in the over-allotment option. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their over-allotment option and/or purchasing shares in the open market.

 

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•

Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of shares to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the over-allotment option. If the underwriters sell more shares than could be covered by the over-allotment option, a naked short position, the position can only be closed out by buying shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

 

•

Penalty bids permit the representatives to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the common stock originally sold by the syndicate member is purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.

These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on The NASDAQ Global Select Market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the web sites maintained by the underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and the underwriters may distribute prospectuses electronically. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of shares to selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated to selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.

Conflicts of Interest

Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have performed investment and commercial banking and advisory services for us and our affiliates from time to time for which they have received customary fees and expenses. The underwriters and their affiliates may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers and such investment and securities activities may involve our securities and/or instruments. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we provide in other documents filed by us with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement. Any statement contained in a document that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement is automatically updated and superseded if information contained in this prospectus supplement, or information that we later file with the SEC, modifies and replaces this information. We incorporate by reference the following documents that we have filed with the SEC:

 

•

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, filed on March 14, 2011;

 

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The information specifically incorporated by reference into the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 from our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed on May 2, 2011;

 

•

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011, filed on May 9, 2011;

 

•

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011, filed on August 5, 2011; and

 

•

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011, filed on November 4, 2011.

 

•

The following Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by us with the SEC since December 31, 2010:

(1) Amendment No. 1, filed on Form 8-K/A on March 18, 2011, to Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 7, 2010;

(2) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2011;

(3) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 22, 2011;

(4) Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 15, 2011; and

(5) Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on November 14, 2011.

In addition, all documents filed by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than those furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K, unless otherwise stated therein) after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or that deregisters all securities remaining unsold, will be considered to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and to be a part of this prospectus supplement from the dates of the filing of such documents. Pursuant to General Instruction B of Form 8-K, any information submitted under Item 2.02, Results of Operations and Financial Condition, or Item 7.01, Regulation FD Disclosure, of Form 8-K is not deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and we are not subject to the liabilities of Section 18 with respect to information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K. We are not incorporating by reference any information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or into this prospectus supplement, unless otherwise indicated on such Form 8-K.

You may get copies of this prospectus supplement or any of the incorporated documents (excluding exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated) at no charge to you by writing to Gulfport Energy Corporation, Attention: Investor Relations, at 14313 North May Avenue, Suite 100, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134, or calling (405) 242-4888.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Company by Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. The underwriters have been represented in connection with this offering by Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.

EXPERTS

The audited consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said reports.

 

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Information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement regarding estimates of our proved oil and natural gas reserves and the discounted present value of estimated future net revenue before income tax of our estimated proved reserves is based on reports included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference, prepared by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., with respect to our WCBB and Niobrara fields, and by Pinnacle Energy Services, LLC, with respect to our assets in the Permian Basin in West Texas. All of such information has been so included herein in reliance upon the authority of such firms as experts in such matters.

 

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Prospectus

Common Stock

Debt Securities

 

 

By this prospectus, we or selling security holders may offer and sell, from time to time in one or more offerings, our common stock and debt securities. We refer to our common stock and debt securities collectively as the “securities.”

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities and the general manner in which we or selling security holders will offer the securities. Each time we or selling security holders sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, all prospectus supplements and all other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus before you invest in our securities.

Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 1.

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “GPOR.”

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

The date of this prospectus is July 11, 2011.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
About This Prospectus			ii
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements			iii
Our Company			1
Risk Factors			1
Use of Proceeds			1
Ratio of Earnings (Deficit) to Fixed Charges			1
Description of Debt Securities			2
Description of Capital Stock			9
Plan of Distribution			11
Where You Can Find More Information			13
Information Incorporated By Reference			13
Legal Matters			14
Experts			14

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a “shelf” registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. Under this registration statement, we or selling security holders may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we or selling security holders may offer. This prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the registration statement as permitted by the rules of the SEC. Each time we or selling security holders sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. That prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described in this prospectus under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.”

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement, including any information incorporated by reference. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference is accurate at any date other than as of the date of each such document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since the date indicated on the cover page of such documents.

The distribution of this prospectus may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. You should inform yourself about and observe any of these restrictions. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make the offer or solicitation.

When used in this prospectus or in any supplement to this prospectus, the terms “Gulfport,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Gulfport Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” would,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “potential” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such things as estimated future net revenues from oil and gas reserves and the present value thereof, future capital expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof), business strategy and measures to implement strategy, competitive strength, goals, expansion and growth of our business and operations, plans, references to future success, reference to intentions as to future matters and other such matters are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those in any prospectus supplement and those discussed in the documents we have incorporated by reference. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, are qualified by these cautionary statements and we cannot assure you that the actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if realized, that they will have the expected consequences to or effects on us, our business or operations. We have no intention, and disclaim any obligation, to update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.

 

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OUR COMPANY

We are an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company with our principal producing properties located along the Louisiana Gulf Coast in the West Cote Blanche Bay and Hackberry fields, and in West Texas in the Permian Basin. In 2010, we acquired an acreage position in the Niobrara Formation of Western Colorado. In May 2011, we also acquired certain leases in the Utica Shale in Ohio. We also hold a significant acreage position in the Alberta oil sands in Canada through our interest in Grizzly Oil Sands ULC and have interests in entities that operate in Southeast Asia, including the Phu Horm gas field in Thailand. We seek to achieve reserve growth and increase our cash flow through our annual drilling programs.

Our principal executive offices are located at 14313 North May Avenue, Suite 100, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134, and our telephone number is (405) 848-8807. Our website address is www.gulfportenergy.com. Information contained on our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the factors contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Estimates” and in any other filings we made with the SEC prior to the filing of this prospectus under the heading “Risk Factors” before investing in our securities. You should also consider similar information contained in any annual report on Form 10-K or other document filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus before deciding to invest in our securities. We will also include in any prospectus supplement a description of any other risk factors applicable to an offering contemplated by such prospectus supplement.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes, including without limitation repaying or refinancing all or a portion of our existing short-term and long-term debt, making acquisitions of assets, businesses or securities, capital expenditures and for working capital. The precise amount and timing of the application of such proceeds will depend upon our funding requirements and the availability and cost of other capital. Pending any specific application of the net proceeds, we intend to invest our net proceeds in short-term, investment-grade securities, interest-bearing securities or guaranteed obligations of the United States or its agencies.

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of securities by selling security holders.

RATIO OF EARNINGS (DEFICIT) TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our ratios of earnings (deficit) to fixed charges for the periods indicated. We have calculated the ratio of earnings (deficit) to fixed charges by dividing the sum of income from continuing operations plus fixed charges by fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense.

 

		Three  Months Ended March 31,         2011				Year Ended December 31,
						2010				2009				2008				2007				2006
Ratio of earnings (deficit) to fixed charges			33.4				18.2				11.2				NM	*			13.2				15.2

 

*	Not meaningful

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The debt securities will be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities will be issued under one or more separate indentures between us and a trustee that is qualified to act under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. The trustee for each series of debt securities will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any senior debt securities will be issued under a “senior indenture” and any subordinated debt securities will be issued under a “subordinated indenture.” Together, the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are called “indentures.”

The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the indentures. It does not describe those agreements in their entirety. The forms of indentures are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Any supplemental indentures will be filed by us from time to time by means of an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and will be available for inspection at the corporate trust office of the trustee, or as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated By Reference.” The indentures will be subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. We will execute a supplemental indenture if and when we issue any debt securities. We urge you to read the indentures and any supplemental indenture because they, and not this description, define your rights as a holder of the debt securities.

Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following is a description of the general terms of the debt securities that we may offer. If the terms of any series of debt securities differ from the terms described below, those terms will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of debt securities.

General

The senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our other senior and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will have a junior position to all of our senior debt. The debt securities may be our secured or unsecured obligations.

A prospectus supplement and a supplemental indenture relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

•

the title and type of the debt securities;

 

•

the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities will be payable;

 

•

the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

•

the percentage of the principal amount at which the debt securities will be issued and any payments due if the maturity of the debt securities is accelerated;

 

•

the dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable;

 

•

the interest rate that the debt securities will bear (or, if they are floating rate securities, the basis for the interest rate) and the interest payment dates for the debt securities;

 

•

any conversion or exchange provisions;

 

•

any optional redemption provisions;

 

•

any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem some or all of the debt securities;

 

•

any provisions granting special rights to holders when a specified event occurs;

 

•

any changes to or additional events of default or covenants;

 

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•

any special tax implications of the debt securities, including provisions for original issue discount securities, if offered;

 

•

any restriction on the declaration of dividends or restrictions requiring the maintenance of any asset ratio or the creation or maintenance of reserves;

 

•

the names and duties of any co-trustees, calculation agents, paying agents or registrars for the debt securities; and

 

•

any other terms of the debt securities.

None of the indentures will limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued by us. Each indenture will allow debt securities to be issued up to the principal amount that may be authorized by us and may be in any currency or currency unit designated by us.

Debt securities of a series may be issued in registered, bearer, coupon or global form.

Denominations

Unless the prospectus supplement for each issuance of debt securities states otherwise, the securities will be issued in denominations of $1,000 each or multiples thereof.

Subordination

Under the subordinated indenture, payment of the principal, interest and any premium on the subordinated debt securities will generally be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior debt, whether existing at the date of the subordinated indenture or subsequently incurred. The subordinated indenture will provide that no payment of principal, interest or any premium on the subordinated debt securities may be made in the event:

 

•

of any insolvency, bankruptcy or similar proceeding involving us or our property, or

 

•

we fail to pay the principal, interest, any premium or any other amounts on any senior debt when due.

The subordinated indenture will not limit the amount of senior debt that we may incur.

Unless we state otherwise in a prospectus supplement, “Senior Debt” will be defined in the subordinated indenture to include all notes or other unsecured evidences of indebtedness, including guarantees given by us, for money borrowed by us, including principal of and any interest or premium on such amounts, whether incurred on, before or after the date of the subordinated indenture, that is not expressed to be subordinate or junior in right of payment to any of our other indebtedness.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

Each indenture generally will permit a consolidation or merger between us and another corporation. They also will permit the sale by us of all or substantially all of our property and assets. If this happens, the remaining or acquiring corporation will assume all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the indentures, including the payment of all amounts due on the debt securities and performance of the covenants in the indentures. However, we will consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation or sell all or substantially all of our assets only according to the terms and conditions of the indentures. The remaining or acquiring corporation will be substituted for us in the indentures with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indentures. Thereafter, the successor corporation may exercise our rights and powers under any indenture, in our name or in its own name. Any act or proceeding required or permitted to be done by our board of directors or any of our officers may be done by the board or officers of the successor corporation. If we sell all or substantially all of our assets, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under any indenture and under the debt securities.

 

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Modification of Indentures

Under each indenture our rights and obligations and the rights of the holders may be modified with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modification. No modification of the principal or interest payment terms, and no modification reducing the percentage required for modifications, will be effective against any holder without its consent.

Events of Default

“Event of Default” when used in an indenture, could mean any of the following:

 

•

failure to pay the principal of or any premium on prescribed debt securities when due;

 

•

failure to deposit any sinking fund payment when due;

 

•

failure to pay interest when due on prescribed debt securities for 30 days;

 

•

failure to perform any other covenant in the indenture that continues for 90 days after being given written notice;

 

•

certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; or

 

•

any other event of default included in any indenture or supplemental indenture.

An event of default for a particular series of debt securities will not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under an indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except a default in the payment of principal or interest, if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders.

If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series may declare the entire principal of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If this happens, subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series can void the declaration.

Other than its duties in case of a default, a trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under any indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable indemnity. If they provide this reasonable indemnification, the holders of a majority in principal amount of any series of debt securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the trustee, for any series of debt securities.

Covenants

Under the indentures, we will:

 

•

pay the principal of, and interest and any premium on, the debt securities when due;

 

•

maintain a place of payment;

 

•

deliver a report to the trustee at the end of each fiscal year reviewing our obligations under the indentures; and

 

•

deposit sufficient funds with any paying agent on or before the due date for any payment of principal, interest or premium.

If there are any restrictive covenants applicable to a series of debt securities, we will describe them in the prospectus supplement for that series.

 

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Payment and Transfer

We will pay principal, interest and any premium on fully registered debt securities at designated places. We will make payment by check mailed to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered on days specified in the indentures or any prospectus supplement. If we make debt securities payments in other forms, we will pay those payments at a place designated by us and specified in a prospectus supplement.

You may transfer or exchange fully registered debt securities at the corporate trust office of the trustee or at any other office or agency maintained by us for such purposes, without the payment of any service charge except for any tax or governmental charge.

Global Securities

We may issue one or more series of debt securities as permanent global debt securities deposited with a depository. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the following is a summary of the depository arrangements applicable to debt securities issued in permanent global form and for which the Depositary Trust Company, which we refer to as DTC, acts as depository.

Each global debt security will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC, as depository, or its nominee, and registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. Except under the limited circumstances described below, global debt securities are not exchangeable for definitive certificated debt securities.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global debt security is limited to institutions that have accounts with DTC or its nominee, or persons that may hold interests through those participants. In addition, ownership of beneficial interests by participants in a global debt security will be evidenced only by, and the transfer of that ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee for a global debt security. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global debt security by persons that hold those interests through participants will be evidenced only by, and the transfer of that ownership interest within that participant will be effected only through, records maintained by that participant. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the debt securities. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the participants through which the beneficial owners entered the transaction. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities they purchase in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global debt security.

We will make payment of principal of, and interest on, debt securities represented by a global debt security registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner and holder of the global debt security representing those debt securities. DTC has advised us that upon receipt of any payment of principal of, or interest on, a global debt security, DTC immediately will credit accounts of participants on its book-entry registration and transfer system with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective interests in the principal amount of that global debt security, as shown in the records of DTC. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global debt security held through those participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the sole responsibility of those participants, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements that may be in effect from time to time.

Neither we, any trustee nor any of our respective agents will be responsible for any aspect of the records of DTC, any nominee or any participant relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a permanent global debt security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the records of DTC, any nominee or any participant relating to such beneficial interests.

 

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A global debt security is exchangeable for definitive debt securities registered in the name of, and a transfer of a global debt security may be registered to, a person other than DTC or its nominee, only if:

 

•

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for that global debt security or at any time DTC ceases to be registered under the Exchange Act;

 

•

we determine in our discretion that the global debt security shall be exchangeable for definitive debt securities in registered form; or

 

•

there shall have occurred and be continuing an event of default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default under the debt securities.

Any global debt security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence will be exchangeable in whole for definitive debt securities in registered form, of like tenor and of an equal aggregate principal amount as the global debt security, in denominations specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if other than $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The definitive debt securities will be registered by the registrar in the name or names instructed by DTC. We expect that these instructions may be based upon directions received by DTC from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global debt security.

Except as provided above, owners of the beneficial interests in a global debt security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered the holders of debt securities for any purpose under the indentures. No global debt security shall be exchangeable except for another global debt security of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global debt security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the global debt security or the indentures.

We understand that, under existing industry practices, in the event that we request any action of holders, or an owner of a beneficial interest in a global debt security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the debt securities or the indentures, DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action and those participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through those participants to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

DTC has advised us as follows:

 

•

DTC is:

 

•

a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law,

 

•

a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law,

 

•

a member of the Federal Reserve System,

 

•

a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and

 

•

a “clearing agency” registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

 

•

DTC was created to hold securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in those securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates.

 

•

DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations.

 

•

DTC is owned by a number of its participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA.

 

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•

Access to DTC’s book-entry system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers, trust companies and clearing corporations, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly.

The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Discharging our Obligations

We will be discharged from our obligations on the debt securities of any series at any time if we deposit with the trustee an amount sufficient to pay the principal, interest, any premium and any other sums due to the stated maturity date or a redemption date of the debt securities of the series. If this happens, the holders of the debt securities of the series will not be entitled to the benefits of the indenture except for registration of transfer and exchange of debt securities and replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities.

Under U.S. Federal income tax law as of the date of this prospectus, such a discharge should be treated as an exchange of the related debt securities. Each holder generally will be required to recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the holder’s cost or other tax basis for the debt securities and the value of the holder’s interest in the trust. Holders might be required to include as income a different amount than would be includable without the discharge. Prospective investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers as to the consequences of such a discharge, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than the U.S. Federal income tax laws.

Meetings

Each indenture, as supplemented by any supplemental indenture, will contain provisions describing how meetings of the holders of debt securities of a series may be convened. A meeting may be called at any time by the trustee, and also, upon request, by us or the holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series. A notice of the meeting must always be given in the manner described under “—Notices” below. Generally speaking, except for any consent that must be given by all holders of a series as described under “—Modification of Indentures” above, any resolution presented at a meeting of the holders of a series of debt securities may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, unless the indenture allows the action to be voted upon to be taken with the approval of the holders of a different specific percentage of principal amount of outstanding debt securities of a series. In that case, the holders of outstanding debt securities of at least the specified percentage must vote in favor of the action. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of debt securities of any series in accordance with the applicable indenture will be binding on all holders of debt securities of that series, unless, as discussed under “—Modification of Indentures” above, the action is only effective against holders that have approved it. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution, and at any reconvened meeting, will be holders holding or representing a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series.

Governing Law

Each indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent the Trust Indenture Act applies.

Notices

Notices to holders of debt securities will be given by mail to the addresses of such holders as they appear in the security register.

The Trustee

Resignation or Removal of Trustee

If the trustee serves as trustee under both the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture, the provisions of the indentures and the Trust Indenture Act governing trustee conflicts of interest will require the trustee to

 

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resign as trustee under either the subordinated indenture or the senior indenture upon the occurrence of any uncured event of default with respect to any series of senior debt securities. Also, any uncured event of default with respect to any series of subordinated debt securities will force the trustee to resign as trustee under either the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture. Any resignation will require the appointment of a successor trustee under the applicable indenture in accordance with the terms and conditions of such indenture.

The trustee may resign or be removed by us with respect to one or more series of debt securities and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to any such series. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series also may remove the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

Limitations on Trustee if it is One of our Creditors

Each indenture will contain certain limitations on the right of the trustee thereunder, in the event that it becomes one of our creditors, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise.

Annual Trustee Report to Holders of Debt Securities

The trustee will be required to submit an annual report to the holders of the debt securities regarding, among other things, the trustee’s eligibility to serve as such, the priority of the trustee’s claims regarding certain advances made by it, and any action taken by the trustee materially affecting the debt securities.

Certificates and Opinions to be Furnished to Trustee

Each indenture will provide that, in addition to other certificates or opinions that may be specifically required by other provisions of an indenture, every application by us for action by the trustee will be accompanied by a certificate of certain of our officers and an opinion of counsel (who may be our counsel) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent to that action have been complied with by us.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following summary description of our capital stock is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each of which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

Common Stock

We are currently authorized to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which there were 47,480,032 shares outstanding as of July 1, 2011, excluding 186,455 shares of unvested restricted stock awarded under our Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Incentive Plan. Holders of our common stock are entitled to cast one vote for each share held of record on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders. There is no cumulative voting for election of directors. Subject to the prior rights of any series of preferred stock which may from time to time be outstanding, if any, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available for such purpose and, upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company, are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and payment of accrued dividends and liquidation preferences on the preferred stock, if any. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions that are applicable to our common stock. Subject only to the requirements of the DGCL, the board of directors may issue shares of our common stock without stockholder approval, at any time and from time to time, to such persons and for such consideration as the board of directors deems appropriate. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights and have no rights to convert their common stock into any other securities. The outstanding common stock is validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Preferred Stock

We are authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. Shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series as the board of directors may from time to time determine, each of said series to be distinctively designated. The voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, of each such series of preferred stock may differ from those of any and all other series of preferred stock at any time outstanding, and, subject to certain limitations of our certificate of incorporation and the DGCL, the board of directors may fix or alter, by resolution or resolutions, the designation, number, voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of each such series of preferred stock.

The issuance of any such preferred stock could adversely affect the rights of the holders of our common stock and therefore, reduce the value of the common stock. The ability of the board of directors to issue preferred stock could discourage, delay, or prevent a takeover of us. See “Risk Factors.”

Warrants

As of July 1, 2011, we had warrants to purchase 30,420 shares of common stock issued in connection with a private placement completed by us in March 2002. Each warrant has a term of ten years and a current exercise price of $1.19 per share of common stock subject to adjustment. We granted to holders of the warrants certain demand and piggyback registration rights with respect to shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants.

Anti-takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Our Bylaws

Some provisions of our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws contain provisions that could make it more difficult to acquire us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, or to remove our incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive

 

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takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging such proposals because negotiation of such proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

Preferred stock. Our certificate of incorporation permits our board of directors to authorize and issue one or more series of preferred stock, which may render more difficult or discourage an attempt to change control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. For example, if in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, the board of directors were to determine that a takeover proposal is not in our best interest, the board of directors could cause shares of preferred stock to be issued without stockholder approval in one or more private offerings or other transactions that might dilute the voting or other rights of the proposed acquirer or insurgent stockholder or stockholder group.

Stockholder meetings. Our bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or by a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors the board of directors would have if there were no vacancies.

Requirements for advance notification of stockholder nominations and proposals. Our bylaws and certificate of incorporation establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors.

Stockholder Action By Written Consent. Our bylaws provide that, except as may otherwise be provided with respect to the rights of the holders of preferred stock, no action that is required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders at any annual or special meeting may be effected by written consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting of stockholders, unless the action to be effected by written consent of stockholders and the taking of such action by such written consent have expressly been approved in advance by our board of directors. This provision, which may not be amended by our stockholders except by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, makes it difficult for stockholders to initiate or effect an action by written consent that is opposed by our board of directors.

Amendment of the bylaws. Under Delaware law, the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal bylaws is conferred upon the stockholders. A corporation may, however, in its certificate of incorporation also confer upon the board of directors the power to adopt, amend or repeal its bylaws. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws grant our board of directors the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal our bylaws at any regular or special meeting of the board of director on the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors the board of directors would have if there were no vacancies. Our stockholders may adopt, amend, alter or repeal our bylaws but only at any regular or special meeting of stockholders by an affirmative vote of holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

The provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Initial Offering and Sale of Securities

We may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the securities offered by this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which such securities are traded or in private transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices.

We may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of the offered securities:

 

•

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

•

block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

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purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

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an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

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privately negotiated transactions;

 

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short sales effected after the date of this prospectus;

 

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through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

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broker-dealers may agree to sell a specified number of such common stock at a stipulated price per share;

 

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a combination of any such methods of sale; and

 

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any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

If underwriters are used to sell the securities, we will enter into an underwriting agreement or similar agreement with them at the time of the sale to them. In that event, underwriters may receive compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agent.

To the extent required by applicable law, a prospectus supplement relating to the securities will set forth:

 

•

the offering terms, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

•

the number or amount of the securities involved, the purchase price of such securities and the proceeds to us from such sale;

 

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any underwriting discounts, concessions, commissions and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

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any initial public offering price;

 

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any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers; and

 

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any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed.

The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of such firms. Unless otherwise set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of underwriters or dealers to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters or dealers will be obligated to purchase all the securities if any are purchased. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

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The securities may be sold directly by us or through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus and a prospectus supplement is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in any required prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers from certain specified institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. Such contracts will be subject to any conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement and the prospectus supplement will set forth the commissions payable for solicitation of such contracts. The underwriters and other persons soliciting such contracts will have no responsibility for the validity or performance of any such contracts.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with us to be indemnified by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments which they may be required to make. The terms and conditions of such indemnification will be described in an applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

Any underwriters to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any securities.

Certain persons participating in any offering of securities may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities offered. In connection with any such offering, the underwriters, dealers or agents, as the case may be, may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include overallotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities and syndicate short positions involve the sale by the underwriters, dealers or agents, as the case may be, of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase from us in the offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if such securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. These transactions may be effected on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. These activities will be described in more detail in the sections entitled “Plan of Distribution” or “Underwriting” in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Sales by Selling Security Holders

Selling security holders may use this prospectus in connection with resales of securities they hold as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will identify the selling security holders, the terms of the securities and any material relationships we have with the selling security holders. Selling security holders may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act in connection with the securities they resell and any profits on the sales may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, the selling security holders will receive all the proceeds from the sale of the securities.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act covering the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information that you can find in that registration statement and its exhibits. Certain items are omitted from this prospectus in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and the securities offered by this prospectus, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily complete and in each instance such statement is qualified by reference to each such contract or document filed with or incorporated by reference as part of the registration statement. We file reports, proxy and information statements and other information with the SEC. You may read any materials we have filed with the SEC free of charge at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of all or any part of these documents may be obtained from such office upon the payment of the fees prescribed by the SEC. The public may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the site is http://www.sec.gov. The registration statement, including all exhibits thereto and amendments thereof, has been filed electronically with the SEC.

You can also find our SEC filings on our website at www.gulfportenergy.com. The information contained on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we provide in other documents filed by us with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. Any statement contained in a document that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus is automatically updated and superseded if information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, or information that we later file with the SEC, modifies and replaces this information. We incorporate by reference the following documents that we have filed with the SEC:

 

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Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, filed on March 14, 2011;

 

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The information specifically incorporated by reference into the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 from our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed on May 2, 2011;

 

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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2011, filed on May 9, 2011; and

 

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The following Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by us with the SEC since December 31, 2010:

 

(1)

Amendment No. 1, filed on Form 8-K/A on March 18, 2011, to Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 7, 2010;

 

(2)

Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2011; and

 

(3)

Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 22, 2011.

In addition, all documents filed by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than those furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K, unless otherwise stated therein) after the date of this prospectus will be considered to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and to be a part of this prospectus from the dates of the filing of such documents. Pursuant to General Instruction B of Form 8-K, any information submitted under Item 2.02, Results of Operations and Financial Condition, or Item 7.01, Regulation FD Disclosure, of Form 8-K is not deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of

 

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the Exchange Act, and we are not subject to the liabilities of Section 18 with respect to information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K. We are not incorporating by reference any information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or into this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated on such Form 8-K.

You may request a copy of this prospectus or any of the incorporated documents (excluding exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated) at no charge to you by writing to Gulfport Energy Corporation, Attention: Investor Relations, at 14313 North May Avenue, Suite 100, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134, or calling (405) 242-4888.

LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities to be offered hereby offered by us and the selling stockholders will be passed upon by Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. If legal matters in connection with offerings made by this prospectus are passed on by counsel for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said reports.

Information incorporated by reference into this prospectus regarding estimates of our proved oil and natural gas reserves and the discounted present value of estimated future net revenue before income tax of our estimated proved reserves is based on reports included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference, prepared by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., with respect to our West Cote Blanche Bay and Niobrara fields, and by Pinnacle Energy Services, LLC, with respect to our assets in the Permian Basin in West Texas. All of such information has been so included herein in reliance upon the authority of such firms as experts in such matters.

 

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