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): October 23, 2012

LAREDO PETROLEUM HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (918) 513-4570

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

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

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 23, 2012, Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release regarding its Friday, November 9, 2012 conference call at 9:00 a.m. CT (10:00 a.m. ET) during which it will discuss its financial and operating results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2012. The results are expected to be released on Friday, November 9, 2012, before the market opens. The Company also provided information in the press release announcing third quarter 2012 preliminary results for its commodity derivatives.  A copy of the Company’s press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Item shall not be deemed “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing.

Item 7.01.  Regulation FD Disclosure.

On October 23, 2012, the Company issued the press release described above in Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Item shall not be deemed “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing.

All statements in the press release and teleconference, other than historical financial information, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The actual impact of derivative instruments described in the press release may be different, and could differ materially, from the estimates described in the press release due to the completion of the Company’s financial closing procedures, final adjustments and other developments that may arise between now and the time the financial results for the third quarter of 2012 are finalized.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibits.

1

SIGNATURES

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.

2

EXHIBIT INDEX

3

Exhibit 99.1

15 West 6th Street, Suite, 1800  Tulsa, Oklahoma  74119  (918) 513-4570  Fax: (918) 513-4571

www.laredopetro.com

LAREDO PETROLEUM SCHEDULES THIRD-QUARTER 2012 EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL FOR NOVEMBER 9 AND PROVIDES COMMODITY DERIVATIVES UPDATE

Third-Quarter 2012 Results

Friday, November 9, 2012

9:00 a.m. CT (10:00 a.m. ET)

Dial-in number: 866.543.6403

International dial-in number: 617.213.8896

Conference Code: 42296799

TULSA, OK — October 23, 2012 — Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LPI) (“Laredo” or the “Company”) will host a conference call on Friday, November 9, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. CT (10:00 a.m. ET) to discuss its third-quarter 2012 financial and operating results. Laredo plans to release earnings the same day before market open. The Company also announces third-quarter 2012 preliminary results for its commodity derivatives.

Conference Call

Laredo invites interested parties to listen to the call via the Company’s website at www.laredopetro.com, under the tab for “Investor Relations”. Individuals who would like to participate on the call should dial the applicable dial-in number approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled conference time, and enter the conference code listed above. A telephonic replay will be available approximately two hours after the call on November 9, 2012 through Friday, November 16, 2012. Participants may access this replay by dialing (888) 286-8010, using conference code 48502783.

Commodity Derivatives Update

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, Laredo expects to report an approximate $5.1 million gain on commodity derivative instruments, comprised of an approximate $20.9 million realized gain and an approximate $15.8 million unrealized loss. For the three months ended September 30, 2012, Laredo expects to report an approximate $24.1 million loss on commodity derivative instruments, comprised of an approximate $7.1 million realized gain and an approximate $31.1 million unrealized loss.

Laredo records all derivative instruments on the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities measured at their estimated fair value.  We have not designated any derivative instruments as hedges for accounting purposes and we do not enter into such instruments for speculative trading purposes.  Realized gains and realized losses from the settlement of commodity derivative instruments and unrealized gains and unrealized losses from valuation changes in the remaining unsettled commodity derivative instruments are reported under “Non-operating income (expense)” in our consolidated statements of operations.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined under Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities that Laredo assumes, plans, expects, believes, intends, projects, estimates or anticipates (and other similar expressions) will, should or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s current belief, based on currently

available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events. The actual impact of derivative instruments described above may be different, and could differ materially, from these estimates due to the completion of our financial closing procedures, final adjustments and other developments that may arise between now and the time the financial results for our third-quarter 2012 are finalized.

General risks relating to Laredo include, but are not limited to the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, and those set forth from time to time in other filings with the SEC. These documents are available through Laredo’s website at www.laredopetro.com under the tab “Investor Relations” or through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Analysis Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) at www.sec.gov. Any of these factors could cause Laredo’s actual results and plans to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, Laredo can give no assurance that its future results will be as estimated. We do not intend to, and disclaim any obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statement.

About Laredo

Laredo Petroleum Holdings, Inc. is an independent energy company with headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Laredo’s business strategy is focused on the exploration, development and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties primarily in the Permian and Mid-Continent regions of the United States.

Additional information about Laredo may be found on its website at www.laredopetro.com.

#  #  #

Contact:

Rick Buterbaugh

Investor Relations

(918) 858-5151

RButerbaugh@laredopetro.com

Branden Kennedy

Investor Relations

(918) 858-5015

BKennedy@laredopetro.com

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