UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 5, 2016

ALTA MESA HOLDINGS, LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

15021 Katy Freeway, Suite 400

Houston, Texas, 77094

(Address of principal executive offices)

(281) 530-0991

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

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

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

SECTION 5 – Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Elective Employer Contribution under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. On December 5, 2016, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Alta Mesa Holdings GP, LLC, the general partner of Alta Mesa Holdings, LP, a Texas limited partnership (the “Company”), authorized an Elective Employer Contribution (as defined in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan) for the Company’s named executive officers. The Elective Employer Contribution for Harlan H. Chappelle, President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael E. Ellis, Vice President of Engineering and Chief Operating Officer and Michael A. McCabe, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, was made effective January 1, 2017 (the “Contribution Date”) with contribution amounts of $1,375,000, $875,000, and $750,000, respectively, and will vest as follows: 

The Elective Employer Contribution for Homer “Gene” Cole, Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, and Frank David Murrell, Vice President of Land and Business Development, was made effective as of the Contribution Date with contribution amounts of $500,000 and $300,000, respectively, and will vest as follows:

Except as otherwise set forth herein, the contribution amount will be paid to each of the recipients in a single lump sum distribution within 60 days following the fifth anniversary of the Contribution Date, provided that the recipient has been continuously employed by the Company. In the event of a termination in employment other than as a result of death or disability, the recipient will receive the vested portion of the contribution amount within 60 days of such termination. A recipient shall receive 100% of the contribution amount within 60 days of an event of death or disability regardless of vesting. In the event that a recipient is terminated other than for cause within 18 months of a change in control, the entire contribution amount will become fully vested and payable to the recipient.

Discretionary Cash Bonuses. On December 5, 2016, the Board approved discretionary cash bonuses for Mr. Ellis, Mr. McCabe, Mr. Cole, and Mr. Murrell for the year ended December 31, 2015. All other compensation for the named executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2015 was previously reported by the Company in the Summary Compensation Table beginning on page 60 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2016 (the “Annual Report”). As of the filing of the Annual Report, bonuses for the named executive officers had not been determined and, therefore, were omitted from the Summary Compensation Table included in the Annual Report. Pursuant to Item 5.02(f) of Form 8-K, the bonus awards for the named executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2015 are set forth below together with the other compensation previously reported, and the new total compensation amounts.

SIGNATURE

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