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Related Party Transactions
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions
Related Party Transactions

Former Chairman and CEO Severance. On June 28, 2013, the Company’s then current CEO, Tom Ward, separated employment from the Company. In accordance with the terms of Mr. Ward’s employment agreement, the Company incurred $58.2 million in salary and bonus expense and $36.8 million associated with the accelerated vesting of 6.3 million shares of restricted stock awards during the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013. As of June 30, 2014, the remaining amounts due under the terms of his employment agreement include $3.9 million to be paid in monthly installments through December 2016. These amounts are included in other current liabilities and other long-term obligations in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet. See Note 12 for discussion of the stockholder receivable due from Mr. Ward.

Other Employee Termination Benefits. Certain employees received termination benefits, including severance and accelerated stock vesting, upon separation of service from the Company during the six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and 2013. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2014 employee termination benefits were $8.9 million primarily as a result of the sale of the Gulf Properties. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, employee termination benefits, excluding amounts attributable to the Company’s former chairman and CEO, were $23.1 million primarily as a result of other executives’ separation from employment and the sale of the Permian Properties.

2014 Divestiture. See Note 2 for discussion of the sale of the Gulf Properties to Fieldwood and the Company’s guarantee on behalf of Fieldwood of certain associated plugging and abandonment obligations associated with the Gulf Properties. Fieldwood is a portfolio company of Riverstone Holdings LLC, affiliates of which own a significant number of shares of the Company’s common stock.

Acquisition of Ownership Interest. In March 2014, the Company purchased the additional ownership interest owned by its partner in GRLP and Genpar, which was deemed a related party at the time. See Note 3 for additional discussion.