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<TITLE>S-8</TITLE>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 5, 2016 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B>Registration No. 333-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:4pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>FORM S-8
</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><I>UNDER </I></B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><I>THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 </I></B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Cobalt International Energy, Inc. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>27-0821169</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(State or Other Jurisdiction of</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Incorporation or Organization)</B></P></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(I.R.S. Employer</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Identification No.)</B></P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>920 Memorial City Way, Suite 100</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Houston, TX 77024</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(713)
579-9100</B></P></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="5" ALIGN="center"><B>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Inducement Restricted Stock Award</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Full Title of the Plan)</B></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Jeffrey A. Starzec</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Executive Vice President and General Counsel</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>920 Memorial City Way, Suite 100</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Houston, TX 77024</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(713)
579-9100</B></P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agents for Service)</B></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B><I>With a copy to:</I></B></TD></TR>


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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Jean M. McLoughlin</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Davis Polk &amp; Wardwell LLP</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>450 Lexington Avenue</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>New
York, NY 10017</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(212) 450-4000</B></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
the definitions of &#147;large accelerated filer,&#148; &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="60%"></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom">Large&nbsp;accelerated&nbsp;filer</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#120;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Accelerated&nbsp;filer</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
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<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom">Non-accelerated filer</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Smaller&nbsp;reporting&nbsp;company</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:4pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="44%"></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="13%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="13%"></TD>
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<TD WIDTH="13%"></TD>
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<TR STYLE="font-size:1px; ">
<TD COLSPAN="9" VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"><B>Title of Each Class of Securities<BR>to be Registered</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Amount</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>to Be</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Registered(1)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Proposed</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Maximum</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Offering
Price</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Per Share(2)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Proposed</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Maximum<BR>Aggregate</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Offering&nbsp;Price(2)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"><B>Amount of<BR>Registration Fee(3)</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Common Stock, par value $0.01, issuable under the Inducement
Restricted Stock Award</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">2,985,074</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">$1.34</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">$3,999,999.16</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">$402.80</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Total</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">2,985,074</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">$3,999,999.16</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE="BORDER-LEFT:1px solid #000000; BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="BORDER-TOP:1px solid #000000">$402.80</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1px; ">
<TD COLSPAN="9" VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1px; ">
<TD COLSPAN="9" VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-top:1.00px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(1)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this &#147;Registration Statement&#148;) covers shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (&#147;Common Stock&#148;) of Cobalt International Energy, Inc. (the
&#147;Company&#148; or the &#147;Registrant&#148;)&nbsp;issuable (i) pursuant to an Inducement Restricted Stock Award, which restricted stock was granted as an inducement grant in reliance on New York Stock Exchange Listing Rule 303A.08 and (ii)
pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;), any additional shares of Common Stock that become issuable by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, or other similar transaction.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(2)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act, solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee. </TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(3)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Rounded up to the nearest penny. </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>PART I </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The information specified in Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this filing in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428
under the Securities Act and the introductory note to Part I of the Form S-8 instructions. The document containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants as required by Rule 428(b)(1). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>PART II </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The following documents are incorporated herein by reference: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) The Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (File No. 001-34579) (the &#147;<B>Annual
Report</B>&#148;), as filed by the Registrant on February 22, 2016; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual Report; and </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) The description of the
Company&#146;s capital stock which is contained in the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-34579), dated December 11, 2009, including any amendments or supplements thereto. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the &#147;<B>Exchange Act</B>&#148;), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein, (or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein), modifies or supersedes
such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item 4. Description of Securities. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Not
applicable. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Not applicable. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item 6. Indemnification of
Directors and Officers. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company&#146;s certificate of incorporation and director indemnification agreements provide that each
person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including, without limitation, as a witness) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of
the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Company or, in the case of a director, is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, or trustee of another corporation, or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or
trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by us to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys&#146; fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties
and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">2 </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to indemnify any
director or officer of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys&#146; fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought by reason of the
fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, if he or she had no reason to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, (<I>i.e.</I>, one brought by or on behalf of the corporation), indemnification may be provided only for expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by any director or officer in connection with the defense or settlement of such an action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the
best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be provided if such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought shall
determine that the defendant is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, Article Seven of our certificate of incorporation eliminates the
liability of a director to us for monetary damages for such a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liabilities arising: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">from any breach of the director&#146;s duty of loyalty to the Company; </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">from acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; and </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#149;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="1%" VALIGN="top">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">from any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The
Company carries insurance policies insuring its directors and officers against certain liabilities that they may incur in their capacity as directors and officers. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company has entered into a Director Indemnification Agreement with each of its directors. Under the terms of that agreement, the Company
agrees to indemnify the director to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The Company specifically agrees to pay expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the director in any claims in which the director is successful, which is deemed
to include termination of proceedings by dismissal. If successful with regards to only some, but not all, claims in a proceeding, the director shall be indemnified with regards to expenses for those successful claims. The director is also
indemnified with regards to any proceeding in which the director is asked to participate or act as witness by reason of his or her corporate status. Where the director is entitled to only a portion of expenses under the agreement, the Company shall
indemnify as to that portion. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company is not obligated to indemnify the director under the Director Indemnification Agreement in
respect of a proceeding by the Company against the director for an accounting of profits from the purchase or sale of Company securities pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Nor is the Company obligated to indemnify the director in respect
of a proceeding initiated by the director against the Company, unless such proceeding is (i) authorized by the board of directors, (ii) provided by the Company pursuant to applicable law, or (iii) required under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
The Company is also not obligated to indemnify the director for claims or proceedings by the Company in which the director is adjudged to be liable to the Company, unless the relevant court determines otherwise. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Under the Director Indemnification Agreement, the Company agrees to advance any expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the director,
without regard to the director&#146;s ability to repay such expenses or the director&#146;s ultimate entitlement to indemnification for such expenses. The situations outlined in the preceding paragraph in which the Company is not obligated to
indemnify the director are also situations in which the Company is not obligated to advance the expenses of the director. In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction, in a final judgment not subject to appeal, finds that the director is not
entitled to indemnification, the director is required to reimburse the Company. The Form of Director Indemnification Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.19 to the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on November 27, 2009, as amended
(File No. 333-161734). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Not applicable. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">3 </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item 8. Exhibits. </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="5%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Exhibit</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:26.20pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Number</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>4.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company &#146; s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 30, 2010 (File No. 001-34579))</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>4.2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">By-laws of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company &#146; s Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated December 11, 2009 (File No. 001-34579))</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>5</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Opinion of Davis Polk &amp; Wardwell LLP</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>23.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Consent of Ernst &amp; Young LLP</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>23.2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Consent of Davis Polk &amp; Wardwell LLP (included in Exhibit 5)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>99.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Inducement Restricted Stock Award, dated July 5, 2016 between the Registrant and Timothy J. Cutt</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item 9. Undertakings. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration
Statement: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:8%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:8%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the
most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:8%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or
any material change to such information in this Registration Statement; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>provided</I>, <I>however</I>, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and
(a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated
by reference in this Registration Statement. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial <I>bona fide</I> offering
thereof. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered
which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#146;s annual report
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at
that time shall be deemed to be the initial <I>bona fide</I> offering thereof. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising
under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">4 </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant
will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">5 </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SIGNATURES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant, Cobalt International Energy, Inc., certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Houston, Texas, on the 5th
day of July, 2016. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


<TR>
<TD WIDTH="6%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">Cobalt International Energy, Inc.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Timothy J. Cutt</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Name: Timothy J. Cutt</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Title:&nbsp;Chief
Executive Officer</P></TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">6 </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Timothy&nbsp;J. Cutt and Shannon E. Young III, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and
all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any and all additional registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them or their or his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed this 5th day of July, 2016
by the following persons in the following capacities. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


<TR>
<TD WIDTH="37%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="44%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="15%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:30.60pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Signature</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:15.05pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Title</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:15.10pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Date</P></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Timothy J. Cutt</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">July 5, 2016</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Timothy J. Cutt</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Chief Executive Officer and Director</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(Principal Executive Officer)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Shannon E. Young III</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">July 5, 2016</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Shannon E. Young III</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ William P. Utt</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">July 5, 2016</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">William P. Utt</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Chairman of the Board of Directors</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Jack E. Golden</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">July 5, 2016</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Jack E. Golden</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Director</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ John E. Hagale</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">July 5, 2016</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">John E. Hagale</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Director</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Kay Bailey Hutchison</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">July 5, 2016</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Kay Bailey Hutchison</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Director</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Jon A. Marshall</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">July 5, 2016</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Jon A. Marshall</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Director</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Kenneth W. Moore</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">July 5, 2016</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Kenneth W. Moore</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Director</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Myles W. Scoggins</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">July 5, 2016</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Myles W. Scoggins</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Director</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Van P. Whitfield</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">July 5, 2016</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Van P. Whitfield</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Director</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Martin H. Young, Jr.</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">July 5, 2016</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Martin H. Young, Jr.</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Director</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">7 </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="5%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Exhibit</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:26.20pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Number</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>4.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 30, 2010 (File No. 001-34579))</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>4.2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">By-laws of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated December 11, 2009 (File No. 001-34579))</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>5</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Opinion of Davis Polk &amp; Wardwell LLP</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>23.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Consent of Ernst &amp; Young LLP</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>23.2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Consent of Davis Polk &amp; Wardwell LLP (included in Exhibit 5)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>99.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Inducement Restricted Stock Award, dated July 5, 2016 between the Registrant and Timothy J. Cutt</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">8 </P>

</BODY></HTML>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "Cobalt International Energy, Inc.", "cik": "0001471261", "assigned-sic": "1311", "irs-number": "270821169", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-212403", "film-number": "161751402"}, "business-address": {"street1": "COBALT CENTER", "street2": "920 MEMORIAL CITY WAY, SUITE 100", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77024", "phone": "(713) 579-9100"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "COBALT CENTER", "street2": "920 MEMORIAL CITY WAY, SUITE 100", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77024"}}
S-8
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 5, 2016
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Cobalt International Energy, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware
27-0821169
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
920 Memorial City Way, Suite 100
Houston, TX 77024
(713)
579-9100
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Inducement Restricted Stock Award
(Full Title of the Plan)
Jeffrey A. Starzec
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
920 Memorial City Way, Suite 100
Houston, TX 77024
(713)
579-9100
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agents for Service)
With a copy to:
Jean M. McLoughlin
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue
New
York, NY 10017
(212) 450-4000
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
x
Accelerated filer
¨
Non-accelerated filer
¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
¨
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of Securities
to be Registered
Amount
to Be
Registered(1)
Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price
Per Share(2)
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(2)
Amount of
Registration Fee(3)
Common Stock, par value $0.01, issuable under the Inducement
Restricted Stock Award
2,985,074
$1.34
$3,999,999.16
$402.80
Total
2,985,074
$3,999,999.16
$402.80
(1)
This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this "Registration Statement") covers shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock") of Cobalt International Energy, Inc. (the
"Company" or the "Registrant") issuable (i) pursuant to an Inducement Restricted Stock Award, which restricted stock was granted as an inducement grant in reliance on New York Stock Exchange Listing Rule 303A.08 and (ii)
pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), any additional shares of Common Stock that become issuable by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, or other similar transaction.
(2)
Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act, solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee.
(3)
Rounded up to the nearest penny.
PART I
The information specified in Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this filing in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428
under the Securities Act and the introductory note to Part I of the Form S-8 instructions. The document containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants as required by Rule 428(b)(1).
PART II
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents are incorporated herein by reference:
(a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (File No. 001-34579) (the "
Annual
Report
"), as filed by the Registrant on February 22, 2016;
(b) All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual Report; and
(c) The description of the
Company's capital stock which is contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-34579), dated December 11, 2009, including any amendments or supplements thereto.
In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "
Exchange Act
"), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein, (or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein), modifies or supersedes
such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not
applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of
Directors and Officers.
The Company's certificate of incorporation and director indemnification agreements provide that each
person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (including, without limitation, as a witness) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of
the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Company or, in the case of a director, is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, or trustee of another corporation, or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or
trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by us to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties
and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such.
2
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to indemnify any
director or officer of the corporation against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought by reason of the
fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, if he or she had no reason to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, (
i.e.
, one brought by or on behalf of the corporation), indemnification may be provided only for expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by any director or officer in connection with the defense or settlement of such an action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the
best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be provided if such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought shall
determine that the defendant is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.
Pursuant to Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, Article Seven of our certificate of incorporation eliminates the
liability of a director to us for monetary damages for such a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liabilities arising:
•
from any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company;
•
from acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
•
under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; and
•
from any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
The
Company carries insurance policies insuring its directors and officers against certain liabilities that they may incur in their capacity as directors and officers.
The Company has entered into a Director Indemnification Agreement with each of its directors. Under the terms of that agreement, the Company
agrees to indemnify the director to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The Company specifically agrees to pay expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the director in any claims in which the director is successful, which is deemed
to include termination of proceedings by dismissal. If successful with regards to only some, but not all, claims in a proceeding, the director shall be indemnified with regards to expenses for those successful claims. The director is also
indemnified with regards to any proceeding in which the director is asked to participate or act as witness by reason of his or her corporate status. Where the director is entitled to only a portion of expenses under the agreement, the Company shall
indemnify as to that portion.
The Company is not obligated to indemnify the director under the Director Indemnification Agreement in
respect of a proceeding by the Company against the director for an accounting of profits from the purchase or sale of Company securities pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Nor is the Company obligated to indemnify the director in respect
of a proceeding initiated by the director against the Company, unless such proceeding is (i) authorized by the board of directors, (ii) provided by the Company pursuant to applicable law, or (iii) required under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
The Company is also not obligated to indemnify the director for claims or proceedings by the Company in which the director is adjudged to be liable to the Company, unless the relevant court determines otherwise.
Under the Director Indemnification Agreement, the Company agrees to advance any expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the director,
without regard to the director's ability to repay such expenses or the director's ultimate entitlement to indemnification for such expenses. The situations outlined in the preceding paragraph in which the Company is not obligated to
indemnify the director are also situations in which the Company is not obligated to advance the expenses of the director. In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction, in a final judgment not subject to appeal, finds that the director is not
entitled to indemnification, the director is required to reimburse the Company. The Form of Director Indemnification Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.19 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on November 27, 2009, as amended
(File No. 333-161734).
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
3
Item 8. Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number
4.1
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company ' s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 30, 2010 (File No. 001-34579))
4.2
By-laws of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company ' s Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated December 11, 2009 (File No. 001-34579))
5
Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
23.1
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2
Consent of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (included in Exhibit 5)
99.1
Inducement Restricted Stock Award, dated July 5, 2016 between the Registrant and Timothy J. Cutt
Item 9. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration
Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the
most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or
any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;
provided
,
however
, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and
(a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated
by reference in this Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering
thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered
which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at
that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising
under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
4
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant
will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant, Cobalt International Energy, Inc., certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Houston, Texas, on the 5th
day of July, 2016.
Cobalt International Energy, Inc.
By:
/s/ Timothy J. Cutt
Name: Timothy J. Cutt
Title: Chief
Executive Officer
6
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Timothy J. Cutt and Shannon E. Young III, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and
all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any and all additional registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them or their or his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed this 5th day of July, 2016
by the following persons in the following capacities.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Timothy J. Cutt
July 5, 2016
Timothy J. Cutt
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Shannon E. Young III
July 5, 2016
Shannon E. Young III
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ William P. Utt
July 5, 2016
William P. Utt
Chairman of the Board of Directors
/s/ Jack E. Golden
July 5, 2016
Jack E. Golden
Director
/s/ John E. Hagale
July 5, 2016
John E. Hagale
Director
/s/ Kay Bailey Hutchison
July 5, 2016
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Director
/s/ Jon A. Marshall
July 5, 2016
Jon A. Marshall
Director
/s/ Kenneth W. Moore
July 5, 2016
Kenneth W. Moore
Director
/s/ Myles W. Scoggins
July 5, 2016
Myles W. Scoggins
Director
/s/ Van P. Whitfield
July 5, 2016
Van P. Whitfield
Director
/s/ Martin H. Young, Jr.
July 5, 2016
Martin H. Young, Jr.
Director
7
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
4.1
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 30, 2010 (File No. 001-34579))
4.2
By-laws of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated December 11, 2009 (File No. 001-34579))
5
Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
23.1
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2
Consent of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (included in Exhibit 5)
99.1
Inducement Restricted Stock Award, dated July 5, 2016 between the Registrant and Timothy J. Cutt
8