26 April 2016
Rockhopper Exploration plc
("Rockhopper" or the "Company")
Grant of options under Long Term Incentive Plan
Rockhopper Exploration plc announces that, on 22 April 2016, awards of options were made to certain Directors under the Company's Long Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP") which has been operated annually since its approval by shareholders at the 2013 Annual General Meeting.
The awards are structured as nil-cost options and, subject to the achievement of performance conditions, will normally vest on 31 March 2019 subject to each director's continued employment.
The percentage of awards which will vest will be dependent on:
1. Total shareholder return ('TSR') measured against a peer group of 18 companies over a three year period; and
2. TSR measured against a peer group of 18 companies over a three year period and conditional on the Company having taken a Final Investment Decision on the Sea Lion Development by 31 December 2017
Awards will vest on a sliding scale from 35% for median performance to 100% for top performance. No awards will vest for performance below median.
TSR performance measurement for these awards will be based on the Company's average share price over the 90 day dealing period to 31 March 2016 measured against the 90 day dealing period to 31 March 2019. Once vested the awards will normally remain exercisable for a period of seven years subject to the rules of the LTIP regarding leavers.
Details of the award are as follows:
Name |
Number of options subject to TSR performance condition (see 1 above) |
Number of options subject to TSR and additional performance condition (see 2 above) |
Number of shares that would vest for TSR performance at median |
Maximum number of shares that could vest subject to achievement of performance conditions |
Sam Moody (CEO) |
1,738,080 |
579,360 |
608,328 |
2,317,440 |
Fiona MacAulay (COO) |
1,525,200 |
508,400 |
533,820 |
2,033,600 |
Stewart MacDonald (CFO) |
1,425,600 |
475,200 |
498,960 |
1,900,800 |
The LTIP is operated in respect of each financial year at the discretion of the Company's Remuneration Committee. A summary of the LTIP is included in the 2013 AGM notice and the 2015 Annual Report which can be found on the Company's website.
For further information, please contact:
Rockhopper Exploration plc
Tel: (via Vigo Communications) - 020 7830 9700
Sam Moody - Chief Executive
Fiona MacAulay - Chief Operating Officer
Stewart MacDonald - Chief Financial Officer
Canaccord Genuity Limited (NOMAD and Joint Broker)
Tel: 020 7523 8000
Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor
Liberum Capital (Joint Broker)
Tel: 020 3100 2227
Clayton Bush
Neil Elliot
Vigo Communications
Tel: 020 7830 9700
Patrick d'Ancona
Ben Simons