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): April 24, 2019

 

 

Talos Energy Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-38497   82-3532642
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

333 Clay Street, Suite 3300

Houston, Texas

  77002
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(713) 328-3000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

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

Emerging growth company  ☐

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

 

 

 


Item 5.02.

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

On April 24, 2019, the board of directors (the “ Board ”) of Talos Energy Inc. (the “ Company ”) appointed Shannon E. Young III to serve as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer), effective as of May 16, 2019. The biographical information for Mr. Young is included below.

Mr. Young succeeds Michael L. Harding II, who was initially appointed to serve as the Company’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) and Treasurer on May 10, 2018 and was subsequently appointed to also serve as the Company’s Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) on September 10, 2018. Effective as of May 16, 2019, Mr. Harding will cease to serve as the Company’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer but will continue serving as the Company’s Chief Accounting Officer on an interim basis for a mutually agreed period.

Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Young, 48, served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Sheridan Production Company, LLC since 2016, where he oversaw Sheridan’s finance organization. Before joining Sheridan, Mr. Young served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cobalt International Energy, Inc. from September 2015 to July 2016. Prior to joining Cobalt, Mr. Young served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Talos Energy LLC from December 2014 to September 2015. Prior to joining Talos Energy LLC, Mr. Young served as a Managing Director at Goldman, Sachs & Co. from July 2010 to December 2014, and was previously an investment banker at Morgan Stanley from August 1998 to July 2010. Mr. Young earned a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA, with distinction, from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Mr. Young has significant expertise on a broad range of public and private capital raising and M&A execution and brings a wealth of experience as a senior finance executive.

In connection with his appointment, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board, approved the Company’s entry into an offer letter with Mr. Young (the “ Offer Letter ”). Pursuant to the terms of the Offer Letter, Mr. Young will be eligible to receive an initial annualized base salary of $460,000. Mr. Young will also be eligible to participate in the Company’s annual bonus program with a target bonus equal to 80% of his annualized base salary (which amount will be prorated for 2019 based upon his date of hire), subject to the achievement of any applicable performance criteria and the terms and conditions of the program. The Offer Letter also provides that Mr. Young will be eligible to receive awards under the Talos Energy Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan (the “ LTIP ”), subject to approval by the Board and the terms and conditions of the LTIP. Pursuant to the Offer Letter and in connection with his appointment, effective as of May 16, 2019, Mr. Young will be granted an award under the LTIP consisting of (i) 21,755 restricted stock units, which will vest in full on March 5, 2022, subject to Mr. Young’s employment through such date, and (ii) a target number of 21,755 performance share units, which will vest based on the Company’s relative total shareholder return performance over the three-year performance period ending December 31, 2021, subject to Mr. Young’s employment through the end of the performance period (the “ Awards ”). The Awards will be subject to all of the terms and provisions of the LTIP and the award agreements pursuant to which they are granted.

In addition, consistent with the terms of the Offer Letter, Mr. Young entered into a participation agreement under the Talos Energy Operating Company LLC Executive Severance Plan (the “ Severance Plan ”), pursuant to which Mr. Young will be eligible to participate in the Severance Plan as a Tier 2 Executive, subject to the terms and conditions of the Severance Plan and the participation agreement. A description of the Severance Plan and the benefits Mr. Young will be eligible to receive thereunder is included in our Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2019, under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination of Change in Control—Executive Severance Plan.”

In connection with his appointment, the Company also entered into an indemnification agreement (the “ Indemnification Agreement ”) with Mr. Young, effective as of May 16, 2019. The Indemnification Agreement requires the Company to indemnify Mr. Young to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liability that may arise by reason of his service to the Company and to advance certain expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against him as to which he could be indemnified.

The foregoing descriptions of the Offer Letter and the Indemnification Agreement are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Offer Letter and the Indemnification Agreement, which are attached as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

1


There are no related party transactions between the Company and Mr. Young reportable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Young and any other persons pursuant to which he was appointed as an officer of the Company and Mr. Young does not have any familial relationships with any director or executive officer of the Company.

 

Item 7.01.

Regulation FD Disclosure.

On April 24, 2019, the Company issued a press release in connection with Mr. Young’s appointment as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. A copy of the press release issued by the Company is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 7.01 by reference.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in this Current Report on Form 8-K under this heading, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth in such a filing.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number
  

Description of Exhibit

10.1    Offer Letter between Talos Energy Inc. and Shannon Young, dated as of April 13, 2019.
10.2    Indemnification Agreement (Shannon E. Young III), effective as of May 16, 2019.
99.1    Press Release of Talos Energy Inc., dated April 24, 2019.

 

2


SIGNATURE

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

Date: April 24, 2019

 

TALOS ENERGY INC.
By:   /s/ William S. Moss III        
Name:   William S. Moss III
Title:   Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

3

Exhibit 10.1

 

LOGO

April 13, 2019                

Shane Young

Dear Shane:

On behalf of Talos Energy Inc. (the “Company”), I am pleased to present this letter confirming our offer of employment, subject to the approval of the board of directors (the “Board”) of the Company, as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company reporting directly to me. We are confident that you will make a strong addition to the Talos Energy team and look forward to having you on board.

The key terms of your employment with Talos Energy Operating Company LLC are as follows:

 

   

Your starting annualized base salary will be $460,000, less applicable taxes and other withholdings. You will be classified as an exempt employee, ineligible for overtime, and be paid bi-weekly as earned.

 

   

Beginning with the 2019 calendar year, you will be eligible to participate in our annual bonus program with a target award equal to 80% of your annualized base salary. Your participation in the program for the 2019 calendar year will be pro-rated based upon your effective date of hire, and all achievements will be assessed and paid in the full the discretion of the Board or the compensation committee of the Board (the “Committee”). Your participation in the annual bonus program will be subject to all of the terms and conditions of the program, including the requirement that you continue to be employed through the bonus payment date.

 

   

You will be eligible to receive awards under the Talos Energy Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”), subject to approval by the Board, the terms and conditions of the LTIP, and the applicable grant notice and award agreement. The target value of your 2019 LTIP award will be determined by the Board but is expected to be approximately $1,122,000. The awards granted to you by the Board under the LTIP for 2019 are expected to be comprised of 50% time-based restricted stock units and 50% performance share units. The restricted stock units granted in 2019 will vest on March 5, 2022. The performance share units granted in 2019 will vest based on the Company’s relative total shareholder return over the period from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2021. Awards granted to you under the LTIP in future years will be consistent with the type and value of awards granted to similarly situated executives of the Company and the vesting provisions applicable thereto, determined in all respects in the full and absolute discretion of the Board or the Committee, as applicable. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the applicable grant notice or award agreement, you must remain employed with the Company through the relevant vesting dates for each of the restricted stock units and performance share units in order to be eligible for settlement of the LTIP awards.

 

LOGO

 

TALOS ENERGY INC.

  

 

333 Clay St., Suite 3300 , Houston, Texas 77002   


Shane Young    Page 2

 

   

You will be eligible to participate in the Talos Energy Operating Company LLC Executive Severance Plan (the “Severance Plan”) as a Tier 2 Executive following your execution of a participation agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of the Severance Plan and the participation agreement.

 

   

You will be eligible for coverage/participation in Talos Energy’s benefit programs on the first day of the month following your effective date of hire, including our 401(k) plan, comprehensive medical, dental and vision programs, Company-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, supplemental life and AD&D coverage, as well as short and long term disability, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and programs as in effect from time to time.

 

   

Subject to applicable paid time off policies as in effect from time to time, you will be granted 25 days of paid time off per calendar year, pro-rated for the 2019 calendar year based on your effective date of hire.

 

   

You will be eligible for Company-paid parking or a Metro bus pass, a health club membership subsidy, and 10 paid holidays, subject to the terms and conditions of these programs in effect from time to time.

Nothing contained in this letter or conveyed during the interview process is intended to create an employment contract between you and the Company or any of its subsidiaries. If you accept this offer and become employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, our employment relationship will be at-will, which means that your employment will not be for any specific time period and may be terminated with or without notice and with or without cause at the discretion of either you or the Company. The Company may amend, delete or add to its benefit plans or policies & procedures at any time.

Your employment is contingent upon you successfully passing a pre-employment drug screen and background check, providing the Company with documentation to demonstrate your legal authorization to work in the United States, and your prior execution of a Statement on Restrictive Covenants.

Please indicate your acceptance of this offer by signing below and returning a copy to my attention. I am very pleased to welcome you back to our team.

 

LOGO

 

TALOS ENERGY INC.

  

 

333 Clay St., Suite 3300 , Houston, Texas 77002   


Shane Young    Page 3

 

Sincerely,

Timothy S. Duncan

President and Chief Executive Officer

I accept this offer of employment and the conditions outlined above.

 

/s/ Shane Young                           

April 17, 2019

  
Shane Young    Date   

 

LOGO

 

TALOS ENERGY INC.

  

 

333 Clay St., Suite 3300 , Houston, Texas 77002   

Exhibit 10.2

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”) is effective as of May 16, 2019, by and between Talos Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Shannon E. Young III (“ Indemnitee ”). This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering the subject matter of this Agreement.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

WHEREAS, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions;

WHEREAS, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “ Bylaws ”) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”). The Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;


WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder;

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he be so indemnified; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

Section 1. Services to the Company . Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the Company. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law). This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s Bylaws, and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the Company, as provided in Section  16 hereof.

Section 2. Definitions . As used in this Agreement:

(a) References to “ agent ” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

(b) A “ Change in Control ” shall be deemed to have the meaning set forth, as of the date hereof, in the Talos Energy Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan.

For purposes of this Section  2(b) , the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(A) “ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

(B) “ Person ” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the

 

Page 2 of 17


Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

(C) “ Beneficial Owner ” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

(c) “ Corporate Status ” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

(d) “ Disinterested Director ” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

(e) “ Enterprise ” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

(f) “ Expenses ” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section  14(d) only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

(g) “ Indemnity Obligations ” shall mean all obligations of the Company to Indemnitee under this Agreement, including the Company’s obligations to provide indemnification to Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

(h) “ Independent Counsel ” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, in each case, that is a nationally or internationally recognized law firm that is experienced in matters of corporation law, has adequate personnel and other resources to diligently perform its duties described herein, and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect

 

Page 3 of 17


to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

(i) The term “ Proceeding ” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action on his part while acting pursuant to his Corporate Status, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other Enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement; including any Proceeding pending on or before the date of this Agreement. If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.

(j) “ Losses ” means any and all Expenses, damages, losses, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties (whether civil, criminal or other), amounts paid or payable in settlement, including any interest, assessments and all other charges paid or payable in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness or participate in, any Claim.

(k) “ Sponsor Entities ” means AP Talos Energy LLC, AP Talos Energy Debtco LLC, Apollo Management VII, L.P., AIF VII Management, LLC and its affiliates, Apollo Commodities Management, L.P. with respect to Series I, Apollo Commodities Management GP, LLC and its affiliates, Apollo Global Securities, LLC and its affiliates, Riverstone Talos Energy Equityco LLC, Riverstone Talos Energy Debtco LLC, REP Management Company V, LLC, Riverstone Equity Partners LP and Riverstone Holdings LLC and its affiliates.

(l) Reference to “ other enterprise ” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “ fines ” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

Page 4 of 17


Section 3. Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law from and against all Losses and Expenses suffered or reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, which is provided for in Section 4. Pursuant to this Section  3 , Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Losses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

Section 4. Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company . The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law from and against all Losses and Expenses suffered or incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, or any claim, issue or matter therein. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section  4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

Section 5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

Section 6. Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.

Section 7. Partial Indemnification . If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

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Section 8. Additional Indemnification .

(a) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections  3 , 4 , or 5 , the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Losses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding.

(b) For purposes of Section  8(a) , the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

Section 9. Exclusions . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

(a) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

(b) for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section  2(b) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act);

(c) to the extent that a final decision by a court of competent jurisdiction determines that such indemnification is prohibited by applicable law; or

(d) except as provided in Section  14(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

 

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Section 10. Advances of Expenses . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section  14(d) ), the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee, and such advancement shall be made within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.

Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by a written undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Advances and undertaking to repay shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. In accordance with Section  14(d) , advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. This Section  10 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Sections  9(a) , (b) and (d) .

Section 11. Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim .

(a) Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof. The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding. The omission by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, except to the extent, and only to the extent, that the Company was materially and adversely prejudiced by such failure or delay. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense and, except as otherwise provided below, to the extent the Company so wishes, it may assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee. After notice from the Company to Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense of any such matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification, the Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise for any Expenses subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection with Indemnitee’s defense of such matter other than reasonable costs of investigation or as otherwise provided below. Indemnitee shall have the right to employ its own

 

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legal counsel in such matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification, but all Expenses related to such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense shall be at Indemnitee’s own expense; provided, however, that if (i) Indemnitee’s employment of its own legal counsel has been authorized by the Company, (ii) Indemnitee’s legal counsel has reasonably determined that there may be a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company in the defense of such matter, (iii) after a Change in Control, Indemnitee’s employment of its own counsel has been approved by the Independent Counsel or (iv) the Company shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such matter, then Indemnitee shall be entitled to retain its own separate counsel (but not more than one law firm plus, if applicable, local counsel in respect of any such matter) and all Expenses related to such separate counsel shall be borne by the Company subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

Section 12. Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification .

(a) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section  11(a) , a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

(b) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section  12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section  12(b) . The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. Indemnitee may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section  2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as

 

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Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section  11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Indemnitee to the selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Court or by such other person as the Court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section  12(a) hereof. The determination made by the Independent Counsel shall be valid, binding and enforceable against both parties subject to the rights to challenge such determination as set forth in Section  14 hereof.

Section 13. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings .

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section  11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(b) Subject to Section  14(e) , if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section  12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section  13(b) shall not apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held

 

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within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement.

(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

(d) Reliance as Safe Harbor. For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with the reasonable care by the Enterprise. The provisions of this Section  13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

(e) Actions of Others. The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

Section 14. Remedies of Indemnitee .

(a) Subject to Section  14(e) , in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section  10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made by the Board pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section  5 , 6 or 7 or the last sentence of Section  12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Sections  3 , 4 or 8 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the

 

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Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section  14(a) ; provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section  5 of this Agreement. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  14 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section  12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  14 , absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

(d) The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section  14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advance of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company if, in the case of indemnification, Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims or otherwise as permitted by law, whichever is greater.

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

Section 15. Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation .

 

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(a) The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation, and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

(b) The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entity) (collectively, the “Alternative Indemnitors”). The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, Loss or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations, (ii) the Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification and/or advanced expenses afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, Loss or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any Alternative Indemnitors to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or Losses to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv) the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or Losses to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any Alternative Indemnitors or insurer of any such Person and (v) the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any Alternative Indemnitors from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any Alternative Indemnitors or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of contribution and/or subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any Alternative Indemnitor or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder.

(c) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms

 

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hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

(d) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, subject to Section 15(b) above. The Indemnitee shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

(e) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

(f) The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.

Section 16. Duration of Agreement . This Agreement shall continue during the period Indemnitee serves as a director or officer of the Company or as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which Indemnitee serves at the request of the Company and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding, Expense, Loss or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant this Agreement) by reason of such Indemnitee’s position, whether or not Indemnitee is acting in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement can be provided under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and his heirs, executors and administrators. The Company shall require and cause any successor, and any direct or indirect parent of any successor, whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), if any, is at will, and Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board, or, with respect to service as a director of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or the DGCL.

 

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Section 17. Severability . If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

Section 18. Enforcement ; Third Party Beneficiaries.

(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director or officer of the Company.

(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder

(c) The Sponsor Entities are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement and shall have all of the rights afforded to Indemnitee under this Agreement .

Section 19. Mutual Acknowledgment . Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that in certain instances, federal law or public policy may override applicable state law and prohibit the Company from indemnifying its directors and officers under this Agreement or otherwise. For example, the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) has taken the position that indemnification is not permissible for liabilities arising under certain federal securities laws, and federal legislation prohibits indemnification for certain ERISA violations. Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Company has undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the SEC to submit the question of indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a determination of the Company’s right under public policy to indemnify Indemnitee.

Section 20. Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver;

 

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Section 21. Notice by Indemnitee . Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

Section 22. Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

(b) If to the Company to

Talos Energy Inc.

500 Dallas Street, Suite 2000

Houston, TX 77002

Attn: General Counsel

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

Section 23. Contribution . To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable in whole or part to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

Section 24. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction . This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section  14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware Court ”), and not in any other state or

 

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federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, irrevocably RL&F Service Corp., One Rodney Square, 10th Floor, 10th and King Streets, Wilmington, Delaware 19801 as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

Section 25. Identical Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

Section 26. Miscellaneous . Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of April 23, 2019.

 

TALOS ENERGY INC.    

INDEMNITEE

By:

 

/s/ William S. Moss III

   

By:

 

/s/ Shannon E. Young III

Name:

 

William S. Moss III

   

Name:

 

Shannon E. Young III

Title:

 

Executive Vice President,

General Counsel and Secretary

     

 

 

[Signature Page to Talos Energy Inc. Indemnification Agreement]

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

TALOS ENERGY APPOINTS SHANE YOUNG AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Houston, Texas , April 24, 2019 – Talos Energy Inc. (“Talos” or the “Company”) (NYSE: TALO) today announced the appointment of Shannon E. Young, III as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Talos, effective May 16, 2019. Michael L. Harding, II, currently Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer, will continue to serve as the Chief Accounting Officer of the Company on an interim basis for a mutually agreed period.

Prior to joining Talos, Mr. Young, 48, served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Sheridan Production Company, LLC since 2016, where he oversaw Sheridan’s finance organization. Before joining Sheridan, Mr. Young served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cobalt International Energy, Inc. from September 2015 to July 2016. Prior to joining Cobalt, Mr. Young served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Talos Energy LLC from December 2014 to September 2015. Prior to joining Talos Energy LLC, Mr. Young served as a Managing Director at Goldman, Sachs & Co. from July 2010 to December 2014, and was previously an investment banker at Morgan Stanley from August 1998 to July 2010. Mr. Young earned a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA, with distinction, from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Mr. Young has significant expertise on a broad range of public and private capital raising, and M&A execution and brings a wealth of experience as a senior finance executive.

Timothy S. Duncan, Talos’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are excited to have Shane back as EVP and CFO. I have known Shane for over 20 years and have always appreciated and admired his extensive background and knowledge of capital markets and his experience leading strategic transactions, both of which will be extremely valuable as we continue to grow Talos.” Mr. Duncan added, “I’m also deeply appreciative of Mike for his many contributions to Talos. He has been with us since the Company’s inception, always answered when called upon and consistently performed admirably and professionally. Talos would not be where it is without Mike’s efforts and we are grateful that he is assisting the Company with this transition.”

Talos today also announced the promotion of Sergio L. Maiworm Jr. to Vice President of Finance, Investor Relations and Treasurer of the Company. Prior to joining Talos in 2018 as Director of Finance and Investor Relations, Sergio was an investment banker with Deutsche Bank, where he advised clients in the exploration and production sector on public and private capital raisings and strategic transactions. Before Deutsche Bank, Mr. Maiworm was a lead in the global M&A group of Royal Dutch Shell. Previously, Mr. Maiworm served as a Director of Finance at ION Geophysical Corporation and spent over eight years at Transocean, where he held positions of increasing responsibility. Mr. Maiworm started his career in the Audit practice of Deloitte & Touche.

Mr. Duncan added, “Sergio has done a fantastic job since his arrival shortly before the closing of the Stone transaction. He has been instrumental in advancing our IR efforts over the last twelve months and has shown tremendous leadership on corporate finance. He has earned the opportunity for further visibility.”

ABOUT TALOS ENERGY

Talos Energy (NYSE: TALO) is a technically driven independent exploration and production company focused on safely and efficiently maximizing cash flows and long-term value through its operations, currently in the United States Gulf of Mexico and offshore Mexico. As one of the US Gulf’s largest public independent producers, we leverage decades of geology, geophysics and offshore operations expertise towards the acquisition, exploration, exploitation and development of assets in key geological trends that are present in many offshore basins around the world. Our activities in offshore Mexico provide high impact exploration opportunities in an oil rich emerging basin. For more information, visit www.talosenergy.com .

 

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TALOS ENERGY INC.

  

 

333 Clay St., Suite 3300 , Houston, Texas 77002   


INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT

Sergio Maiworm

+1.713.328.3008

investor@talosenergy.com

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This communication may contain “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. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this communication, regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this communication, the words “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “may,” “objective,” “plan” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events.

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Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified hereby, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this communication.

 

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TALOS ENERGY INC.

  

 

333 Clay St., Suite 3300 , Houston, Texas 77002