Form S-3ASR
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 7, 2011

Registration No. 333-                    

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware  

103 Northpark Boulevard, Suite 300

Covington, Louisiana 70433

(985) 727-2000

  72-1375844

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

Todd M. Hornbeck

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

103 Northpark Boulevard, Suite 300

Covington, Louisiana 70433

(985) 727-2000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

With a Copy to:

R. Clyde Parker, Jr., Esq.

Winstead PC

1100 JPMorgan Chase Tower

600 Travis Street

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 650-8400

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective as determined by market conditions and other factors.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:  x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  x

   Accelerated filer  ¨

Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)  ¨

   Smaller reporting company  ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate Offering

Price

 

Amount of

Registration Fee

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (including associated preferred share purchase rights)

       

Total

              (1)               (1)

 

 

(1) An indeterminate number of shares common stock may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fees.

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO    Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.

 

Common Stock

 

By this prospectus, from time to time, Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. may offer and sell shares of its common stock in amounts, at prices and on terms that we will determine at the time of the offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of our common stock.

 

Shares of common stock may be sold from time to time in one or more offerings by selling stockholders to be identified in a supplement to this prospectus. Hornbeck Offshore will not receive any proceeds from sales of shares of Hornbeck Offshore common stock by the selling stockholders, if any.

 

Hornbeck Offshore will provide you with a prospectus supplement before we or any selling stockholders sell any common stock under this prospectus. Any prospectus supplement will inform you about the specific terms of an offering by Hornbeck Offshore or any selling stockholder, will list the names of any underwriters or agents, and may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities. This prospectus may not be used to sell any security unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

Our common stock is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HOS.” On November 4, 2011, the last reported sales price of our shares of common stock was $35.61.

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Prospectus dated November 7, 2011.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     1   

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     2   

RISK FACTORS

     3   

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     3   

ABOUT HORNBECK OFFSHORE

     5   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     6   

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     7   

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     15   

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     16   

LEGAL MATTERS

     19   

EXPERTS

     19   

 

 

 

You should rely only on the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. Neither we nor the selling stockholders, if any, have authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to provide you with additional or different information. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to which they relate and are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation in that jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document containing the information.


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

In this prospectus, including documents incorporated by reference (except to the extent otherwise specified in such documents), “Hornbeck Offshore,” “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” or like terms refer to Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries, except as otherwise indicated.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or Commission, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, over time, sell the shares of our common stock described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. In addition, the selling stockholders, if any, may sell shares of common stock in one or more offerings, the terms of which will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, if applicable. This prospectus provides you with a general description of our common stock that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus. Each time shares of common stock are offered for sale, we will provide one or more prospectus supplements that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. A prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the following heading.

 

The registration statement that contains this prospectus (including the exhibits) contains additional important information about us and our common stock offered under this prospectus. Specifically, we have filed certain legal documents that control the terms of our common stock offered by this prospectus as exhibits to the registration statement. We will file certain other legal documents that control the terms of certain of our common stock offered by this prospectus as exhibits to reports we file with the Commission. The registration statement and those other reports can be read at the Commission website or at the Commission offices mentioned below under the following heading.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We are subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or Exchange Act, under which we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. You may read and copy this information at the following location of the Commission at prescribed rates at Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the Commission at (800) 732-0330 for further information about the Public Reference Room. In addition, our reports and other information concerning us can be inspected at The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, where our common stock is listed.

 

The Commission also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers that file electronically with the Commission. The address of that website is www.sec.gov. Commission filings may also be accessed free of charge through our Internet website at www.hornbeckoffshore.com (click on “Investors” and then “SEC Filings”). Information contained on our website, other than documents specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus is not intended to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider that information as part of this prospectus.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

We are “incorporating by reference” into this prospectus certain information that we file with the Commission, which means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except for any information superseded by information contained directly in this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the Commission (excluding such documents or portions thereof that are not deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act in accordance with the Exchange Act and applicable Commission rules and regulations). These documents contain important information about us and our finances.

 

Commission Filings (No. 001-32108)

  

Period

Annual Report on Form 10-K

   Year Ended December 31, 2010

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q

   Quarters Ended March 31, 2011, June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2011

Current Reports on Form 8-K

   Filed on February 22, 2011, June 28, 2011 and November 7, 2011

Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A

   Filed on November 18, 2008, and any future amendment or report updating that description

 

All documents that we file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding such documents or portions thereof that are not deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act in accordance with the Exchange Act and applicable Commission rules and regulations) from the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities under this prospectus shall also be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference. Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

We will provide without charge to each person to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Requests for such copies should be directed to James O. Harp, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., 103 Northpark Boulevard, Suite 300, Covington, Louisiana 70433, by mail, or if by telephone at (985) 727-2000. Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

Information contained on our website, other than documents filed with the Commission that are specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus, is not intended to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and you should not consider that information a part of this prospectus.

 

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You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. No one else is authorized to provide you with any other information or any different information. We are not making an offer of securities in any state where an offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investors should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties and all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risks and uncertainties discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Any of these risks and uncertainties could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. The trading price of our common stock could decline due to the occurrence of any of these risks and uncertainties, and investors could lose all or part of their investment. In assessing these risks and uncertainties, investors should also refer to the information contained or incorporated by reference in our other filings with the Commission.

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than historical facts, such as statements regarding assumptions, expectations, beliefs and projections about future events or conditions. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by the appearance in such a statement of words like “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “remain,” “should” or “will” or other comparable words or the negative of such words. The accuracy of the Company’s assumptions, expectations, beliefs and projections depends on events or conditions that change over time and are thus susceptible to change based on actual experience, new developments and known and unknown risks. The Company gives no assurance that the forward-looking statements will prove to be correct and does not undertake any duty to update them. The Company’s actual future results might differ from the forward-looking statements made in this offering memorandum for a variety of reasons, which include:

 

   

the Company’s inability to successfully or timely contract for and complete its fifth OSV Newbuild Program discussed in its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 7, 2011 incorporated herein by reference, which involves the construction and integration of highly complex vessels and systems;

 

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an oil spill or other significant event in the United States or another offshore drilling region could have a broad impact on deepwater and other offshore energy exploration and production activities, such as the suspension of activities or significant regulatory responses.

 

   

the effect of legislation or regulations in the GoM implemented in response to the Deepwater Horizon incident, as well as the outcome of pending litigation brought by environmental groups challenging recent exploration plans approved by the DOI;

 

   

the Company’s inability to refinance long-term debt obligations that mature or otherwise may require repayment;

 

   

less than anticipated success in marketing and operating the Company’s MPSVs;

 

   

bureaucratic, administrative or operating barriers that delay vessels chartered in foreign markets from going on-hire or result in contractual penalties imposed by foreign customers;

 

   

renewed weakening of demand for the Company’s services;

 

   

unplanned customer suspensions, cancellations, rate reductions or non-renewals of vessel charters or failures to finalize commitments to charter vessels;

 

   

industry risks;

 

   

further reductions in capital spending budgets by customers;

 

   

a material reduction of Petrobras’ announced plans for exploration and production activities in Brazil;

 

   

declines in oil and natural gas prices;

 

   

increases in operating costs;

 

   

the inability to accurately predict vessel utilization levels and dayrates;

 

   

unanticipated difficulty in effectively competing in or operating in international markets;

 

   

less than anticipated subsea infrastructure demand activity in the GoM and other markets;

 

   

the level of fleet additions by competitors that could result in over-capacity;

 

   

economic and political risks;

 

   

weather related risks;

 

   

the inability to attract and retain qualified personnel;

 

   

regulatory risks;

 

   

the repeal or administrative weakening of the Jones Act, including any changes in the interpretation of the Jones Act related to the U.S. citizenship qualification;

 

   

drydocking delays and cost overruns and related risks;

 

   

the imposition of laws or regulations that result in reduced exploration and production activities or that increase the Company’s operating costs or operating requirements, including any such laws or regulations that may arise as a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident in the GoM or the resulting drilling moratoria and regulatory reforms;

 

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vessel accidents or pollution incidents resulting in lost revenue or expenses that are unrecoverable from insurance policies or other third parties;

 

   

unexpected litigation and insurance expenses; and

 

   

fluctuations in foreign currency valuations compared to the U.S. dollar and risks associated with expanded foreign operations, such as non-compliance with or the unanticipated effect of tax laws, customs laws, immigration laws, or other legislation that result in higher than anticipated tax rates or other costs or the inability to repatriate foreign-sourced earnings and profits.

 

In addition, the Company’s future results may be impacted by adverse economic conditions, such as inflation, deflation, or lack of liquidity in the capital markets, that may negatively affect it or parties with whom it does business. Should one or more of the foregoing risks or uncertainties materialize in a way that negatively impacts the Company, or should the Company’s underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company’s actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in its forward-looking statements, and its business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. Additional factors that you should consider are set forth in detail in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and the reports incorporated herein by reference, which can be found on the Company’s website http://www.hornbeckoffshore.com, as well as filings the Company will make with the Commission in the future.

 

ABOUT HORNBECK OFFSHORE

 

We are a leading provider of marine transportation services to exploration and production, oilfield service, offshore construction and U.S. military customers. Since our establishment, we have primarily focused on providing innovative, technologically advanced marine solutions to meet the evolving needs of the deepwater and ultra-deepwater energy industry in domestic and, more recently, foreign locations. Throughout our history, we have expanded our fleet of vessels primarily through a series of new vessel construction programs, as well as through acquisitions of existing vessels.

 

We were formed as a Delaware corporation in 1997. Our principal executive offices are located at 103 Northpark Boulevard, Suite 300, Covington, Louisiana 70433, and our telephone number is (985) 727-2000. Our website address is www.hornbeckoffshore.com. Information on our website, other than documents filed with the Commission that are specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus, does not constitute part of this prospectus.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement for general corporate purposes. These purposes may include financing of strategic acquisitions and capital expenditures (including newbuild and conversion programs), additions to working capital and repayment of all or a portion of our indebtedness outstanding at the time. Until the net proceeds are used for these purposes, we may deposit them in interest-bearing accounts or invest them in short-term marketable securities. Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of the offering and will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock by any selling stockholders under this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

For purposes of this section entitled “Description of Capital Stock,” the terms “we,” “our,” “us” and “Company” refer only to Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. and not its subsidiaries.

 

General

 

The following description of our capital stock is only a summary. For more complete information, you should refer to our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and stockholder rights plan and any amendments thereto, which we have filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. In addition, you should refer to the Delaware General Corporation Law, which also governs our structure, management and activities.

 

As of October 31, 2011, our authorized capital stock consisted of:

 

   

100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of which 26,926,899 were outstanding and held by approximately 30 holders of record, representing approximately 7,920 beneficial owners; and

 

   

5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, of which 1,000,000 have been designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock in connection with the stockholder rights plan discussed below, but none are currently outstanding.

 

Our common stock is listed and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “HOS.”

 

Common Stock

 

General. The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. Stockholders are not permitted to cumulate their votes. With certain exceptions, which are described below, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast and represented in person or by proxy at a meeting of stockholders is required to approve any matter on which stockholders vote. The affirmative vote of holders of at least 80% of the shares entitled to vote is required to approve certain amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. See “Anti-Takeover Effects of Certificate, Bylaws and Stockholder Rights Plan.” The affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3 % of the shares entitled to vote is required to approve or authorize:

 

   

a merger or consolidation with any other corporation;

 

   

the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets;

 

   

a liquidation of our Company; or

 

   

any amendments to our certificate of incorporation.

 

The holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock. The indenture governing our 6.125% senior notes due 2014, the indenture

 

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governing our 8.000% senior notes due 2017 and our revolving credit facility limit our ability to declare or pay dividends and, in some circumstances, prohibit the declaration or payment of dividends and other restricted payments. If we liquidate, dissolve or otherwise wind up our business, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and satisfaction of prior distribution rights of preferred stock, if any is then outstanding. The holders of common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. All of the outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Jones Act Restrictions on Ownership by Non-U.S. Citizens. Under Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act, the privilege of transporting merchandise or passengers for hire in the coastwise trade in U.S. domestic waters is restricted to only those vessels that are owned and managed by U.S. citizens and are built in and registered under the laws of the United States. A corporation is not considered a U.S. citizen unless, among other things, at least 75% of the ownership of voting interests with respect to its equity stock is held by U.S. citizens.

 

If we should fail to comply with such requirements, our vessels would lose their eligibility to engage in coastwise trade within U.S. domestic waters. To facilitate compliance, our certificate of incorporation:

 

   

limits ownership by Non-U.S. citizens of any class of our capital stock (including our common stock) to 20%, so that foreign ownership will not exceed the 25% permitted by the Jones Act;

 

   

permits withholding of dividends and suspension of voting rights with respect to any shares held by non-U.S. citizens that exceed 20%;

 

   

permits a stock certification system with two types of certificates to aid tracking of ownership;

 

   

permits our board of directors to authorize the Company to redeem any shares held by non-U.S. citizens that exceed 20%; and

 

   

permits our board of directors to make such determinations to ascertain ownership and implement such measures as reasonably may be necessary.

 

Preferred Stock

 

General. Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, in one or more series and to fix the designations, powers, preferences, privileges and relative participation, optional or special rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of our common stock. The following briefly summarizes the material terms of the preferred stock that we may offer, other than pricing and related terms disclosed in a prospectus supplement. You should read the particular terms of any series of preferred stock that we offer which we will describe in more detail in any prospectus supplement relating to such series. You should also read the more detailed provisions of our certificate of incorporation and the statement with respect to shares

 

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relating to each particular series of preferred stock for provisions that may be important to you. The statement with respect to shares relating to each particular series of preferred stock offered by the accompanying prospectus supplement and this prospectus will be filed as an exhibit to a document incorporated by reference in the registration statement. The prospectus supplement will also state whether any of the terms summarized below do not apply to the series of preferred stock being offered.

 

A total of 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock have been designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, which we refer to as “the Series A Preferred Stock,” in connection with our stockholder rights plan discussed below. No other series of preferred stock has been designated and no shares of preferred stock are outstanding.

 

Rank. The shares of preferred stock of any series will have the rank set forth in the relevant certificate of designation and described in the prospectus supplement relating to the relevant series.

 

Dividends. The certificate of designation setting forth the terms of a series of preferred stock may provide that holders of that series are entitled to receive dividends, when, as and if authorized by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends, before any declaration or payment of any dividends on securities ranking junior to such series relating to dividends. The rates and dates of payment of dividends and any other terms applicable to the dividends will be set forth in the relevant certificate of designation and described in the prospectus supplement relating to the relevant series.

 

To the extent provided in the certificate of designation, dividends will be payable to holders of record of preferred stock as they appear on our books on the record dates fixed by the board of directors. Dividends on any series of preferred stock may be cumulative or noncumulative and payable in cash or in kind.

 

Voting Rights. The holders of shares of preferred stock will have the voting rights provided by the applicable certificate of designation and as required by applicable law. These voting rights will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Conversion and Exchange. The certificate of designation setting forth the terms of a series of preferred stock may provide for and the prospectus supplement for the relevant series of preferred stock may describe the terms, if any, on which shares of that series are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock or securities of a third party.

 

Redemption. If so specified in the certificate of designation setting forth the terms of a series of preferred stock, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, a series of preferred stock may be redeemable at our or the holder’s option and/or may be mandatorily redeemed partially or in whole.

 

Liquidation Preference. Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our Company, holders of each series of preferred stock may be entitled to receive distributions upon liquidation. Those distributions will be made before any distribution is made on any securities ranking junior to such series relating to liquidation. The terms and conditions of those distributions will be set forth in the applicable certificate of designation and described in the relevant prospectus supplement.

 

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Our board of directors may cause shares of preferred stock to be issued in public or private transactions for any proper corporate purposes, including possible acquisitions, and such issuance could adversely affect the voting rights of holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock could also affect the likelihood that holders of common stock will receive dividends or payments upon liquidation. In addition, the rights of holders of the preferred stock offered may be adversely affected by the rights of holders of any shares of preferred stock that may be issued in the future. The preferred stock could have the effect of acting as an anti-takeover device to prevent a change in control of our Company.

 

Unless the particular prospectus supplement states otherwise, holders of each series of preferred stock will not have any preemptive or subscription rights to acquire more of our stock.

 

The transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent for shares of each series of preferred stock will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to such series.

 

Anti-Takeover Effects of Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and Stockholder Rights Plan

 

General. Our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and stockholder rights plan contain provisions that are designed in part to make it more difficult and time-consuming for a person to obtain control of our Company. The provisions of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and stockholder rights plan reduce the vulnerability of our Company to an unsolicited takeover proposal. These provisions may also have an adverse effect on the ability of stockholders to influence the governance of our Company. In addition, our certificate of incorporation contains provisions that enable our board to limit the amount of our common stock that may be owned by persons who are not U.S. citizens. See “Common Stock—Jones Act Restrictions on Ownership by Non-U.S. Citizens” above. This may adversely affect the liquidity of our common stock in certain situations. You should read our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and stockholder rights plan in their entirety for a complete description of the rights of holders of our common stock.

 

Although it is not the intention of the board of directors to discourage legitimate offers to enhance shareholder value, the existence of a significant amount of authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock and the ability of our board of directors to issue additional stock in our Company may make it more difficult or may discourage an attempt to obtain control of our Company.

 

Board of Directors. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws divide the members of our board of directors into three classes serving three-year staggered terms. The classification of directors makes it more difficult for our stockholders to change the composition of our board: at least two annual meetings of stockholders may be required for the stockholders to change a majority of the directors, whether or not a plurality of our stockholders favors such a change. The affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the shares entitled to vote is required to alter or repeal the provision related to the classification of our board.

 

Our stockholders may only remove directors from office for cause by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least 80% of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors. Our stockholders may not remove directors without cause. Vacancies in a directorship may

 

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be filled only by the vote of a majority of the remaining directors, although if a director was removed by the stockholders, the vacancy may be filled at the meeting at which the removal took place by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least 80% of the shares entitled to vote. The number of directors may be fixed by resolution of the board, but must be no less than four nor more than nine unless otherwise determined by holders of 80% of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors or by unanimous consent of the board.

 

Supermajority Voting. The affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of our outstanding voting stock is required to amend or repeal our certificate of incorporation, except with respect to the classification of the board, which requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of our outstanding voting stock. The affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of our outstanding voting stock is required to amend, alter, change or repeal the provisions in our bylaws governing the following matters:

 

   

the composition of the board of directors, including the classification of the board;

 

   

the removal of directors and the procedure for electing the successor to a removed director;

 

   

the date and time of the annual meeting;

 

   

advance notice of stockholder nominations and stockholder business; and

 

   

the procedure for calling a special meeting of stockholders.

 

No Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Under Delaware law, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifies otherwise, any action that could be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting and without notice to or a vote of other stockholders if a consent in writing is signed by holders of outstanding stock having voting power sufficient to take such action at a meeting at which all outstanding shares were present and voted. Our certificate of incorporation provides that stockholder action may be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders. As a result, our stockholders may not act upon any matter except at a duly called meeting.

 

Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominations and Stockholder Business. Our stockholders may nominate a person for election as a director or bring other business before a stockholder meeting only if the proposal is provided in a written notice to the Secretary of the Company at a specified time in advance of the meeting. The notice of stockholder proposal is also required to include certain other related information, as detailed in our bylaws.

 

Stockholder Rights Plan. Our board implemented a stockholder rights plan on June 18, 2003, a copy of which has been filed with the Commission, and declared a dividend of one right for each outstanding share of our common stock to stockholders of record on June 18, 2003. One right will also attach to each share issued after June 18, 2003. The rights will only become exercisable, and transferable apart from our common stock, ten business days following a public announcement that a person or group has acquired beneficial ownership of, or has commenced a tender or exchange offer for, 10% or more of our common stock. The rights plan was subsequently amended twice to, among other changes, conform its terms to the 1-for-2.5 reverse stock split of our common stock effected on March 5, 2004. The discussion that follows sets forth the operation of the rights.

 

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Each right will initially entitle the holder to purchase one one-hundredth of one share of our Series A Preferred Stock at a price of $187.50, subject to adjustment. If a person becomes an “acquiring person” as defined below, each holder of a right who is not an acquiring person will have the right to receive upon exercise of each right and payment of the purchase price, that number of shares of common stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property, or other Company securities) having a then current market price equal to twice the exercise price for one one-hundredth of one share of our Series A Preferred Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property, our common stock or other of our securities). Similarly, if after an event triggering the exercise of the rights we are acquired in a merger or other business combination, or 50% or more of our assets or earning power are sold or transferred, each holder of a right (other than holders whose rights have been voided) will have the right to receive, upon exercise of the right and payment of the purchase price, that number of shares of common stock of the company acquiring us having a then current market price equal to twice the exercise price for one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Under the rights plan, an acquiring person is a person or group that has acquired or has announced an offer to acquire 10% or more of our common stock. The following are excluded from the definition of acquiring person:

 

   

the Company;

 

   

any subsidiary of the Company;

 

   

any employee benefit plan or employee stock plan of the Company, any subsidiary of the Company or any person appointed or holding our common stock pursuant to the terms of any such plans; or

 

   

any person whose ownership of 10% or more of our common stock then outstanding results solely from being a beneficial owner of 10% or more of our common stock at the effective date of the rights plan or having participated in our 2003 private placement, results from any transaction approved by at least 80% of the members of our entire board of directors or results from a reduction in the number of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock pursuant to a transaction approved by our board of directors. A person excluded for these reasons will become an acquiring person if it acquires any additional shares of our common stock, unless such additional acquisition does not result in the person owning 10% or more of our common stock, does not increase its percentage ownership of our common stock, or is approved in the same manner.

 

We may redeem the rights in whole, but not in part, at a redemption price of $.001 per right at any time before the rights become exercisable. The rights expire on June 17, 2013. Pursuant to the stockholder rights plan, all shares of our Series A Preferred Stock are reserved for issuance upon exercise of the rights.

 

The rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group who attempts to acquire us without the approval of our board of directors. As a result, the overall effect of the rights may be to render more difficult or discourage any attempt to acquire us even if such acquisition may be favorable to the interests of our stockholders.

 

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Because our board of directors can redeem the rights or approve certain offers, the rights should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by our board of directors.

 

The description and terms of the rights are set forth in a rights plan between the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC, which serves as the rights agent.

 

Delaware Business Combination Statute. Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that, subject to specified exceptions, an “interested stockholder” of a Delaware corporation may not engage in any “business combination,” including general mergers or consolidations or acquisitions of additional shares of the corporation, with the corporation for a three-year period following the time that such stockholder becomes an interested stockholder unless:

 

   

before such time, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

   

upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an “interested stockholder,” the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding specified shares; or

 

   

on or after such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized not by written consent, but at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3 % of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

Under Section 203, the restrictions described above also do not apply to specified business combinations proposed by an interested stockholder following the announcement or notification of a transaction specified in Section 203 and involving the corporation and a person who:

 

   

had not been an interested stockholder during the previous three years; or

 

   

became an interested stockholder with the approval of a majority of the corporation’s directors, if such transaction is approved or not opposed by a majority of the directors who were directors prior to any person becoming an interested stockholder during the previous three years or were recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of such directors.

 

Except as otherwise specified in Section 203, an “interested stockholder” is defined to include:

 

   

any person that is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation, or is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at any time within three years immediately before the date of determination; and

 

   

the affiliates and associates of any such person.

 

Under some circumstances, Section 203 makes it more difficult for an interested stockholder to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period.

 

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Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Our certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except that it shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director to the extent provided by applicable law (1) for any breach of a director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or any successor statute, or (4) for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit. Moreover, the provisions do not apply to claims against a director for violations of certain laws, including federal securities laws. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of directors’ liability, then the liability of our directors will automatically be limited to the fullest extent provided by law. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws also contain provisions to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and officers. These provisions and agreements may have the practical effect in certain cases of eliminating the ability of stockholders to collect monetary damages from our directors and officers. We believe that these contractual agreements and the provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is BNY Mellon Shareowner Services.

 

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SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

 

If applicable, a table in substantially the following form will be included in a prospectus supplement setting forth information about the beneficial ownership of our common stock by the selling stockholders, if any, as of the date such prospectus supplement and after the sale of the common stock offered by such selling stockholders under this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, as provided by such selling stockholders. No selling stockholders have committed to sell any shares under this prospectus.

 

The selling stockholders, if any, may offer from time to time all, some or none of the shares of our common stock beneficially owned by them, and there are currently no agreements, arrangements or understandings with respect to the sale or distribution of any of our common stock by the selling stockholders. We will pay all expenses incurred with respect to the registration and sale of their respective common stock except that the selling stockholders, if any, will pay all underwriting fees, discounts and commissions related to any shares sold, as well as certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred directly by such selling stockholders.

 

Before a selling stockholder not named below may use this prospectus in connection with an offering of common stock, this prospectus will be amended. In that amendment, we will include the name of the selling stockholder, the amount of common stock beneficially owned by such selling stockholder and the amount of common stock to be offered. Alternatively, we can include that information in a report filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporate it by reference into this prospectus or we can include that information in a supplement to this prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. Any such amendment, report or prospectus supplement will also disclose whether any selling stockholder named in the amendment, report or prospectus supplement has held any position or office with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates, or had any other material relationship with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates, during the three years prior to the date of the amendment, report or prospectus supplement.

 

     Shares Beneficially Owned
Before Offering
    Shares
Offered
     Shares Beneficially Owned
After Offering
 

Name

   No.      Percentage of Our
Common Stock
Outstanding
       No.      Percentage of Our
Common Stock
Outstanding
 

Selling Stockholders To Be Identified

     —           —       —           —           —  

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We and the selling stockholders, if any, may sell the offered shares of common stock in and outside the United States (1) through underwriters or dealers, (2) directly to purchasers, including our affiliates and stockholders, or, in the case of the Company only, in a rights offering, (3) through agents or (4) through a combination of any of these methods. The prospectus supplement will include the following information:

 

   

the terms of the offering;

 

   

the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

   

the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;

 

   

the purchase price of the shares of common stock;

 

   

the net proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock;

 

   

any delay delivery arrangements;

 

   

any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

 

   

any initial public offering price or price range;

 

   

any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

   

any commissions paid by agents.

 

In addition, we and the selling stockholders, if any, may enter into derivative or other hedging transactions with third parties, or sell shares of common stock not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell share of common stock covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third parties may use share of common stock pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use shares of common stock received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third parties in such sale transactions will be underwriters and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). We or one of our affiliates may also sell shares of our common stock short using this prospectus and deliver the common stock covered by this prospectus to close out such short positions, or loan or pledge shares of common stock to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the common stock using this prospectus. We may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the common stock covered by this prospectus to support a derivative or hedging position or other obligation and, if we default on the performance of our obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus. Such financial institution or third party may transfer its short position to investors in our common stock or in connection with a simultaneous offering of other securities otherwise offered by us.

 

Sale Through Underwriters or Dealers

 

If shares of common stock are sold by us or the selling stockholders, if any, by means of an underwritten offering, we and the selling stockholders, as applicable, will execute an underwriting agreement with an underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for such

 

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sale is reached, and the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriters, the respective amounts underwritten and the terms of the transaction, including commissions, discounts and any other compensation of the underwriters and dealers, if any, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement which will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the shares of common stock in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered to the public. In such sales, the underwriters will acquire the shares of common stock for their own account for resale to the public. The underwriters may resell the shares of common stock from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer shares of common stock to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the common stock will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the offered shares of common stock if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

 

Representatives of the underwriters through whom the offered shares of common stock are sold for public offering and sale may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, syndicate short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Over-allotment involves syndicate sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a syndicate short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the offered common stock so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the offered common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Penalty bids permit the representative of the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the offered common stock originally sold by such syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Such stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the offered common stock to be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of such transactions. These transactions may be effected on a national securities exchange and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

 

Any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance. There can be no assurance that we will continue to be listed on such exchange and, therefore, we cannot assure you of the liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, the shares of common stock that we offer.

 

If we and the selling stockholders, if any, use dealers in the sale of common stock, the common stock will be sold to them as principals. They may then resell those shares of common stock to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. We will include in the prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.

 

Underwriters or sales agents may make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes sales made

 

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directly on the New York Stock Exchange, the existing trading market for our common stock, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange. At the market offerings may not exceed 10% of the aggregate market value of our outstanding voting securities held by non affiliates on a date within 60 days prior to the filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Direct Sales and Sales through Agents

 

We or the selling stockholders, if any, may sell the shares of common stock directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We or the selling stockholders, if any, may also sell the shares of common stock through agents designated from time to time. In the prospectus supplement, the name of any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered shares of common stock will be provided, and we will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless you are informed otherwise in the prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.

 

We and the selling stockholders, if any, may sell the shares of common stock directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those shares of common stock. The terms of any such sales will be described in the prospectus supplement.

 

We may also make direct sales through subscription rights distributed to our existing stockholders on a pro rata basis that may or may not be transferable. In any distribution of subscription rights to our stockholders, if all of the underlying shares of common stock are not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed shares of common stock directly to third parties or we may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell the unsubscribed shares of common stock to third parties.

 

Remarketing Arrangements

 

Offered shares of common stock may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us or the selling stockholders, if any. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, with us or the selling stockholders, if any, and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, in connection with the shares of common stock remarketed.

 

Delayed Delivery Arrangements

 

If we so indicate in the prospectus supplement, we or the selling stockholders, if any, may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase shares of common stock from us and the selling stockholders, as applicable, at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

 

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General Information

 

We and the selling stockholders, if any, may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make.

 

Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of our business.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the common stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Winstead PC, Houston, Texas. R. Clyde Parker, Jr., a shareholder in Winstead PC, is a nonvoting, advisory director appointed by our board of directors, owns 95,845 shares of our common stock and has options to acquire 16,125 shares of our common stock and restricted stock units covering 4,000 shares of common stock, subject to vesting. Legal counsel to any underwriters may pass upon legal matters for such underwriters.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. and subsidiaries appearing in Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2010, and the effectiveness of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the respective dates (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

 

Securities and Exchange Commission filing fee

   $              (1) 

Legal fees and expenses

     200,000   

Accounting fees and expenses

     100,000   

Printing expenses

     100,000   

Miscellaneous (including listing fees, if applicable)

     10,000   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

   $ 410,000   
  

 

 

 

 

(1) Deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

All of the above expenses other than the filing fee are estimates. All of the above fees and expenses will be borne by the Registrant.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

The Delaware General Corporation Law, under which we are incorporated, authorizes the indemnification of directors and officers under the circumstances described below. To the extent one of our present or former directors or officers is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described below, the Delaware General Corporation Law requires that such person be indemnified against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding. Article Eight of our Certificate of Incorporation requires indemnification of our directors and officers to the extent permitted by law. Section 6.10 of our Bylaws provides for, and sets forth the procedures for obtaining, such indemnification. These provisions may be sufficiently broad to indemnify such persons for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. In addition, we maintain insurance which insures our directors and officers against certain liabilities.

 

The Delaware General Corporation Law gives us the power to indemnify each of our officers and directors against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, and judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any action, suit or proceeding by reason of such person being or having been one of our directors, officers, employees or agents, or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at our request. To be entitled to such indemnification, such person must have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best interest and, if a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful. The Delaware General Corporation Law also gives us the power to indemnify each of our officers and directors against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of any action or suit by or in the right of us to procure a judgment in our favor by reason of such person being or having been one of our directors, officers, employees or agents, or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at our request, except that we may not indemnify such person with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person was adjudged to be liable to us in the absence of a

 

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determination by the court that, despite the adjudication of liability, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity. To be entitled to such indemnification, such person must have acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best interest.

 

We have also entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and officers. These agreements provide rights that are consistent with but more detailed than those provided under Delaware Law and our Bylaws. The indemnification agreements are not intended to deny or otherwise limit third-party derivative suits against us or our directors or officers, but if a director or officer is entitled to indemnity or contribution under the indemnification agreement, the financial burden of the third-party suit would be borne by us, and we would not benefit from derivative recoveries against the director or officer. Such recoveries would accrue to the benefit of us but would be offset by our obligations to the director of officer under the indemnification agreement.

 

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

The following are included in the registration statement pursuant to the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K:

 

Exhibit

Number

      

Description of Exhibit

 *1.1  

   Form of Underwriting Agreement for Common Stock.
  3.1  

   Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2005).
  3.2  

   Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 20, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 dated September 19, 2003, Registration No. 333-108943).
  3.3  

   Fourth Restated Bylaws of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. adopted June 30, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004).
  4.1  

   Specimen stock certificate for the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated March 25, 2004).
  4.2  

   Rights Agreement dated as of June 18, 2003 between the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC as Rights Agent, which indicates as Exhibit A the Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, as Exhibit B the form of Right Certificate and as Exhibit C the form of Summary of Rights to Purchase Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 2, 2003).
  4.3  

   Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of March 5, 2004 between the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2003).

 

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Exhibit

Number

      

Description of Exhibit

  4.4  

   Second Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of September 3, 2004 by and between the Company and Mellon Investor Services, LLC as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Form 8-A/A filed September 3, 2004, Registration No. 333-108943).
+5      

   Opinion of Winstead PC.
+23.1    

   Consent of Winstead PC (contained in Exhibit 5).
+23.2    

   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
+24       

   Powers of Attorney (set forth on page S-1).

 

* To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent to the effective date of this registration statement.
+ Filed herewith.

 

Item 17. Undertakings

 

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

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

 

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

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement;

 

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

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the Registration Statement.

 

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

 

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

 

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

(i) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the Registration Statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the Registration Statement; and

 

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the Registration Statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the Registration Statement relating to the securities in the Registration Statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the Registration Statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

(iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

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(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of a Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions set forth or described in Item 15 of this Registration Statement, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by a Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of a Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, each of the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Covington, the State of Louisiana, on November 7, 2011.

 

HORNBECK OFFSHORE SERVICES, INC.

By:

  /s/    TODD M. HORNBECK        
    Todd M. Hornbeck
    Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

KNOW ALL THESE MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Todd M. Hornbeck and James O. Harp, Jr., and each of them, either one of whom may act without joinder of the other, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all pre- and post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement (including any Registration Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, or the substitute or substitutes of any or all of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons, in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/    TODD M. HORNBECK        

(Todd M. Hornbeck)

  

Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

  November 7, 2011

/s/    JAMES O. HARP, JR.        

(James O. Harp, Jr.)

  

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  November 7, 2011

/s/    LARRY D. HORNBECK        

(Larry D. Hornbeck)

  

Director

  November 7, 2011

/s/    BRUCE W. HUNT        

(Bruce W. Hunt)

  

Director

  November 7, 2011

 

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Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/    STEVEN W. KRABLIN        

(Steven W. Krablin)

  

Director

  November 7, 2011

/s/    PATRICIA B. MELCHER        

(Patricia B. Melcher)

  

Director

  November 7, 2011

/s/    BERNIE W. STEWART        

(Bernie W. Stewart)

  

Director

  November 7, 2011

/s/    JOHN T. RYND        

(John T. Rynd)

  

Director

  November 7, 2011

/s/    KEVIN O. MEYERS        

(Kevin O. Meyers)

  

Director

  November 7, 2011

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

     

Description of Exhibit

    *1.1       

  Form of Underwriting Agreement for Common Stock.
    3.1     

  Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2005).
    3.2     

  Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 20, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 dated September 19, 2003, Registration No. 333-108943).
    3.3     

  Fourth Restated Bylaws of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. adopted June 30, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004).
    4.1     

  Specimen stock certificate for the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated March 25, 2004).
    4.2     

  Rights Agreement dated as of June 18, 2003 between the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC as Rights Agent, which indicates as Exhibit A the Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, as Exhibit B the form of Right Certificate and as Exhibit C the form of Summary of Rights to Purchase Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 2, 2003).
    4.3     

  Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of March 5, 2004 between the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2003).
    4.4     

  Second Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of September 3, 2004 by and between the Company and Mellon Investor Services, LLC as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Form 8-A/A filed September 3, 2004, Registration No. 333-108943).
    +5         

  Opinion of Winstead PC.
  +23.1       

  Consent of Winstead PC (contained in Exhibit 5).
  +23.2       

  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
  +24         

  Powers of Attorney (set forth on page S-1).

 

* To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent to the effective date of this registration statement.
+ Filed herewith.
Opinion of Winstead PC

Exhibit 5

 

November 7, 2011

 

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.

103 Northpark Blvd., Suite 300

Covington, LA 70447

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel for Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in conjunction with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), including the prospectus constituting a part thereof (the “Prospectus”), to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the issuance and sale by the Company from time to time of an indeterminate amount of shares of the Company’s common stock, $.01 par value (the “Common Stock”). Prospectus provides that it will be supplemented by one or more supplements to such Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”).

 

As counsel to the Company in connection with the proposed issuance and sale of the Common Stock, we have examined: (i) the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, and the exhibits (including those incorporated by reference), each constituting a part of the Registration Statement; (ii) the Company’s Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Fourth Restated By-laws, each as amended to date; and (iii) such other proceedings, documents and records as we have deemed necessary to enable us to render this opinion.

 

In our examination of the above-referenced documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents, certificates and instruments submitted to us as originals and the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed that (i) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have become effective and will comply with all applicable laws; (ii) a Prospectus Supplement, if required, will have been prepared and filed with the SEC describing the Common Stock offered thereby; (iii) the Common Stock will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and any applicable Prospectus Supplement; (iv) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Common Stock offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; and (v) there will be sufficient shares of Common Stock authorized under the Company’s Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation and not otherwise reserved for issuance.

 

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

 

1. The Company is validly existing as a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

2. All requisite action necessary to make any shares of Common Stock being issued, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable will have been taken when:

 

a. The Company’s Board of Directors, or a committee thereof duly authorized by the Board of Directors, shall have adopted appropriate resolutions to authorize the issuance and sale of the Common Stock; and


 

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.

November 7, 2011

Page 2

 

b. Such shares of Common Stock shall have been issued and sold for the consideration contemplated by, and otherwise in conformity with, the Registration Statement, as supplemented by a Prospectus Supplement with respect to such issuance and sale, and the acts, proceedings and documents referred to above.

 

Except as otherwise stated below, the opinions expressed herein are based upon, and limited to, the laws of the state of Texas and of the United States and the Delaware General Corporation Law. The reference and limitation to “Delaware General Corporation Law” includes the statutory provisions and all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws. We do not undertake to provide any opinion as to any matter or to advise any person with respect to any events or changes occurring subsequent to the date of this letter.

 

The opinions expressed in this letter are provided as legal opinions only and not as any guarantees or warranties of the matters discussed herein, and such opinions are strictly limited to the matters stated herein, and no other opinions may be implied therefrom.

 

We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus which is filed as part of the Registration Statement, and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are “experts” within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act or within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Winstead PC
WINSTEAD PC
<![CDATA[Consent of Ernst & Young LLP]]>

Exhibit 23.2

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in this Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. dated November 7, 2011 for the registration of shares of its common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated March 16, 2011, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., and subsidiaries and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

New Orleans, Louisiana

November 7, 2011