Cobalt International Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CIE) Files An 8-K Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing
Item 3.01. Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

On November14, 2017, Cobalt International Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) received an additional written notice (the “NYSE Notice”) from the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) that the Company is not in compliance with the NYSE continued listing standard set forth in Section802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, which requires the average closing price of the Company’s common stock to be at least$1.00per share over any 30 consecutive trading day period.

In accordance with the applicable NYSE procedures, the Company has notified the NYSE on November15, 2017, of its intent to cure the deficiency and restore its compliance with the NYSE continued listing standard. The Company has a period of six months following the receipt of the NYSE Notice to regain compliance. The Company can regain compliance at any time during the six-month cure period if its common stock has a closing share price of at least$1.00on the last trading day of any calendar month during the period and also has an average closing share price of at least$1.00over the 30 trading day period ending on the last trading day of that month or on the last day of the cure period.

The Company’s common stock will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE during this six-month cure period, subject to the Company’s compliance with other continued listing requirements set forth in the NYSE Listed Company Manual. The Company’s common stock symbol “CIE” will be assigned a “.BC” indicator by the NYSE to signify that the Company is not currently in compliance with the NYSE’s continued listing requirements. If the Company fails to regain compliance with Section802.01C of the NYSE Listed Company Manual during the cure period, the Company’s common stock will be subject to the NYSE’s suspension and delisting procedures.

Adoption of Key Employee Incentive Plan

On November13, 2017, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company approved the adoption of a key employee incentive plan (the “Plan”) for the benefit of certain employees identified by the Board, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Company, whose continued employment and performance is critical to the success of the Company.

to the terms of the Plan, participants will be eligible to receive cash payments upon a change of control of the Company, which would include the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, as long as the enterprise value of the Company at the time of such change of control exceeds the threshold specified in the Plan. Based on such enterprise value, a cash pool will be created for the payment of incentive bonuses to the participants in the Plan. Payments will be made to each participant upon a change of control, with each participant receiving a specified percentage of the cash pool. The target cash pool is $10 million.

Participants must be employed by the Company at the time of the change of control in order to receive a payment under the Plan. If a participant voluntarily terminates his employment or is terminated for cause prior to the consummation of a change of control, the participant will not be eligible to participate in the Plan.

On November15, 2017, the Company issued a press release announcing receipt of the NYSE Notice. The press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information furnished under this Item 3.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1 hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

The Company has elected not to make the interest payment of approximately $12.3 million due on November15, 2017 with respect to its outstanding 3.125% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes”). The indenture governing the 2024 Notes permits the Company a 30-daygrace periodto make the interest payment. If the Company fails to make the interest payment within thegrace period an event of default will result, and the trustee or noteholders holding at least 25% in the aggregate outstanding principal amount of 2024 Notes may elect to accelerate the 2024 Notes causing them to be immediately due and payable. In addition, an event of default under the indenture governing the 2024 Notes would trigger an event of default under all of the Company’s other outstanding indebtedness.

Cobalt International Energy, Inc. Exhibit
EX-99.1 2 d488803dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1 Exhibit 99.1   NEWS RELEASE Cobalt International Energy,…
To view the full exhibit click here

About Cobalt International Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CIE)

Cobalt International Energy, Inc. is an independent exploration and production company. The Company has its operations focused in the deepwater United States Gulf of Mexico. The Company also has a non-operated interest in the Diaba Block offshore Gabon in West Africa. The Company’s exploration efforts in the United States Gulf of Mexico has resulted in four oil and natural gas discoveries including the North Platte, Shenandoah, Anchor and Heidelberg fields. The Heidelberg field commenced its production and the North Platte, Shenandoah and Anchor field are in various stages of appraisal and development. The Company has drilled nine exploratory wells, three appraisal wells and four development wells (one of, which was drilled to be used as a pressure-maintenance well in the Cameia development) in the northern pre-salt Kwanza Basin offshore Angola, and one exploratory well in the pre-salt deepwater region offshore Gabon. The Company’s fifteen wells has been finding pre-salt hydrocarbons.