UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 20, 2019

CHAPARRAL ENERGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (405) 478-8770

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Participation and Restrictive Covenant Agreements with Certain Named Executive Officers. The description in Item 5.02 of the Participation and Restrictive Covenant Agreement proposed to be entered into between the Company and each of Mark Ver Hoeve and Josh Walker is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

Executive Severance Plan

On December 20, 2019, after receiving the unanimous recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Chaparral Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) unanimously adopted the Chaparral Energy, L.L.C. Executive Severance Plan (the “Severance Plan”).

The Severance Plan provides severance benefits to certain key management employees of the Company and its subsidiaries who are selected by the Severance Plan’s administrator and have entered into a Participation and Restrictive Covenant Agreement with the Company (each, a “Participant”), and whose employment is terminated in a “Qualifying Termination,” meaning a termination without “Cause” or resignation with “Good Reason,” in each case as defined in the Severance Plan. On December 20, 2019, four of the Company’s officers, including two of the Company’s currently serving named executive officers—Mark Ver Hoeve (VP Geosciences) and Josh Walker (VP Completions & Operations)—were designated as Participants under the Severance Plan.

In order to be entitled to the benefits of the Severance Plan, Mr. Ver Hoeve and Mr. Walker must enter into the Participation and Restrictive Covenant Agreement presented to them by the Company. Pursuant to the Company’s form of Participation and Restrictive Covenant Agreement, each Participant must agree that, for a period of 12 months following his or her termination date, he or she will not solicit, direct or attempt to solicit or divert any customer of the Company or an affiliate of the Company or solicit or hire any employee or consultant of the Company. Furthermore, during that 12-month period, each such Participant must agree not to engage in certain activities in any county or parish in which the Company operates on his termination date. Each Participant must also agree not to disparage the Company or any of its officers, director other affiliates. This non-disparagement provision is not subject to a time limit.

If a Participant’s employment terminates in a Qualifying Termination, he or she will receive the following severance benefits:

In the event a Participant holds any equity awards granted under the Chaparral Energy, Inc. 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan or any predecessor or successor incentive plan (each an “Equity Plan”), the treatment of those equity awards upon a Qualifying Termination will continue to be governed by the terms of the applicable Equity Plan and the applicable award agreements. As used in the Severance Plan, the term “Change in Control” has the meaning specified in the Chaparral Energy, Inc. 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

If any payments and benefits to be paid or provided to a Participant, whether pursuant to the terms of the Severance Plan or otherwise, would be subject to “golden parachute” excise taxes under the Internal Revenue Code, the payments and benefits will be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid those excise taxes, but only if such a reduction of pay or benefits would result in a greater after-tax benefit to the eligible employee.

Upon at least 12 months’ (or, in connection with or following a Change in Control, upon at least 24 months’) prior written notice to all Participants, the Severance Plan may be terminated or amended by the Compensation Committee of the Board. However, any termination or amendment of the Severance Plan may not materially impair the rights of a Participant whose Qualifying Termination occurs prior to such termination or amendment.

The foregoing descriptions of the Severance Plan and the Participation and Restrictive Covenant Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Severance Plan and the form of Participation and Restrictive Covenant Agreement attached as Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

The exhibits listed in the following Exhibit Index are filed as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.