KOS Kosmos Energy Ltd

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

         The following description of certain provisions of our memorandum of association and bye-laws does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified by reference to, all of the provisions of our memorandum of association and bye-laws. The memorandum of association and bye-laws are incorporated by reference in this registration statement for these securities and have been filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and our Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated May 6, 2011, respectively. You should read the memorandum of association and bye-laws for the provisions that are important to you.

General

        We are an exempted company organized under the Bermuda Companies Act. The Bermuda Companies Act differs in some material respects from laws generally applicable to Delaware corporations, which differences have been highlighted in the discussion below.

Share Capital

        Our authorized share capital consists of 2,000,000,000 common shares, par value $0.01 per share, and 200,000,000 preference shares, par value $0.01 per share. As of June 30, 2018, we had 395,706,528 common shares issued and outstanding and no preference shares issued and outstanding.

        Pursuant to our bye-laws, subject to the requirements of the NYSE and the LSE, our board of directors is authorized to issue any of our authorized but unissued shares. The rights of our shareholders are governed by Bermuda law and our memorandum of association and bye-laws.

Common Shares

        Holders of common shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of common shares. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any issued and outstanding preference shares, holders of common shares are entitled to receive such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividend payments. Holders of common shares have no redemption, sinking fund, conversion, exchange, pre-emption or other subscription rights. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common shares are entitled to share equally and ratably in our assets, if any, remaining after the payment of all of our debts and liabilities, subject to any liquidation preference on any outstanding preference shares.

Preference Shares

        Pursuant to Bermuda law and our bye-laws, our board of directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of one or more series of preference shares having such number of shares, designations, dividend rates, voting rights, conversion or exchange rights, redemption rights, liquidation rights and other powers, preferences and rights as may be determined by the board without any further shareholder approval. Preference shares, if issued, would have priority over common shares with respect to dividends and other distributions, including the distribution of our assets upon liquidation. Although we have no present plans to issue any preference shares, the issuance of preference shares could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to the holders of common shares, could adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of common shares and could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of us or an unsolicited acquisition proposal.

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Board Composition

        Our bye-laws provide that our board of directors shall consist of not less than five and not more than 15 directors, as determined by the board of directors, and our directors are divided into three classes.

        Pursuant to a shareholders agreement entered into by us and affiliates of Warburg Pincus and The Blackstone Group (together with their respective affiliates, our "Investors"), while the size of the board is at nine directors, each Investor has the right to designate (i) up to three directors (or 25% of the board of directors, rounded to the nearest whole number) if it owns 20% or more of the issued and outstanding common shares eligible to vote at an annual general meeting of shareholders; and (ii) one director (or 12.5% of the board of directors, rounded to the nearest whole number) if it owns 7.5% or more of the issued and outstanding common shares eligible to vote at an annual general meeting of shareholders.

Election and Removal of Directors

        Our bye-laws provide that our board of directors is divided into three classes, with directors elected by shareholders for staggered terms of three years each. Our shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights and, accordingly, the holders of a plurality of the shares voted can elect all of the directors then standing for election. Shareholders are not entitled to cumulate votes in the election of directors and may not vote for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named. Our bye-laws require advance notice for shareholders to nominate a director or present proposals for shareholder action at an annual general meeting of shareholders. See "—Meetings of Shareholders."

        Under our bye-laws, a director may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote. Any vacancy created by the removal of a director at a special general meeting may be filled at that meeting by the election of another director in his or her place or, in the absence of any such election, by the board of directors. Any other vacancy, including newly created directorships, may be filled by our board of directors.

Proceedings of Board of Directors

        Our bye-laws provide that our business shall be managed by or under the direction of our board of directors. Our board of directors may act by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall constitute a quorum; provided that, in the case of special meetings, for as long as the Investors collectively beneficially own more than 25% of the issued and outstanding common shares, if at least one director designated by each Investor then entitled to designate a director is not present at a special meeting, such meeting will be postponed for at least 24 hours, after which it may be held as long as a quorum consisting of a majority of the total number of directors is present. The board may also act by unanimous written consent.

Duties of Directors

        Under Bermuda common law, members of a board of directors owe a fiduciary duty to the company to act in good faith in their dealings with or on behalf of the company, and to exercise their powers and fulfill the duties of their office honestly. This duty has the following essential elements: (1) a duty to act in good faith in the best interests of the company; (2) a duty not to make a personal profit from opportunities that arise from the office of director; (3) a duty to avoid conflicts of interest; and (4) a duty to exercise powers for the purpose for which such powers were intended. The Bermuda Companies Act also imposes a duty on directors of a Bermuda company, to act honestly and in good faith, with a view to the best interests of the company, and to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. In addition, the Bermuda

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Companies Act imposes various duties on directors with respect to certain matters of management and administration of the company.

        The Bermuda Companies Act provides that in any proceedings for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against any director, if it appears to a court that such officer is or may be liable in respect of the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, but that he has acted honestly and reasonably, and that, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including those connected with his appointment, he ought fairly to be excused for the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, that court may relieve him, either wholly or partly, from any liability on such terms as the court may think fit. This provision has been interpreted to apply only to actions brought by or on behalf of the company against the directors.

        Under Delaware law, the business and affairs of a corporation are managed by or under the direction of its board of directors. In exercising their powers, directors are charged with a duty of care and a duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that directors act in an informed and deliberate manner and to inform themselves, prior to making a business decision, of all relevant material information reasonably available to them. The duty of care also requires that directors exercise care in overseeing the conduct of corporate employees. The duty of loyalty is the duty to act in good faith, not out of self-interest, and in a manner which the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the shareholders. A party challenging the propriety of a decision of a board of directors bears the burden of rebutting the presumptions afforded to directors by the "business judgment rule." If the presumption is not rebutted, the business judgment rule attaches to protect the directors and their decisions. Where, however, the presumption is rebutted, the directors bear the burden of demonstrating the fairness of the relevant transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Delaware courts subject directors' conduct to enhanced scrutiny in respect of defensive actions taken in response to a threat to corporate control and approval of a transaction resulting in a sale of control of the corporation.

Interested Directors

        Under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, as long as a director discloses a direct or indirect interest in any contract or arrangement with us as required by law, such director is entitled to vote in respect of any such contract or arrangement in which he or she is interested, unless disqualified from doing so by the chairman of the meeting, and such a contract or arrangement will not be voidable solely as a result of the interested director's participation in its approval. In addition, the director will not be liable to us for any profit realized from the transaction. In contrast, under Delaware law, such a contract or arrangement is voidable unless it is approved by a majority of disinterested directors or by a vote of shareholders, in each case if the material facts as to the interested director's relationship or interests are disclosed or are known to the disinterested directors or shareholders, or such contract or arrangement is fair to the corporation as of the time it is approved or ratified. Additionally, such interested director could be held liable for a transaction in which such director derived an improper personal benefit.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

        Bermuda law provides generally that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors and officers against any loss arising from or liability which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise be imposed on them in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust except in cases where such liability arises from fraud or dishonesty of which such director or officer may be guilty in relation to the company.

        Our bye-laws provide that we shall indemnify our officers and directors in respect of their actions and omissions, except in respect of their fraud or dishonesty, and that we shall advance funds to our officers and directors for expenses incurred in their defense upon receipt of an undertaking to repay

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the funds if any allegation of fraud or dishonesty is proved. Our bye-laws provide that the company and the shareholders waive all claims or rights of action that they might have, individually or in right of the company, against any of the company's directors or officers for any act or failure to act in the performance of such director's or officer's duties, except in respect of any fraud or dishonesty.

Meetings of Shareholders

        Under Bermuda law, a company is required to convene at least one general meeting of shareholders each calendar year. Under Bermuda law and our bye-laws, a special general meeting of shareholders may be called by the board of directors or the chairman and must be called upon the request of shareholders holding not less than 10% of the paid-up capital of the company carrying the right to vote at general meetings of shareholders.

        Unless otherwise provided in our bye-laws, at any general meeting of shareholders the presence in person or by proxy of shareholders representing a majority of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Unless otherwise required by law or our bye-laws, shareholder action requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares voting at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

Shareholder Proposals

        Under Bermuda law, shareholders holding at least 5% of the total voting rights of all the shareholders having at the date of the requisition a right to vote at the meeting to which the requisition relates or any group comprised of at least 100 or more shareholders may require a proposal to be submitted to an annual general meeting of shareholders. Under our bye-laws, any shareholders wishing to nominate a person for election as a director or propose business to be transacted at a meeting of shareholders must provide advance notice.

Shareholder Action by Written Consent

        Our bye-laws provide that, until the first date on which the Investors no longer beneficially own more than 50% of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote, shareholders can act by written consent. Thereafter, shareholders can only act at a meeting of shareholders.

Amendment of Memorandum of Association and Bye-laws

        Our memorandum of association and bye-laws provide that our memorandum of association and bye-laws may not be rescinded, altered or amended except with the approval of our board of directors and shareholders owning a majority of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote.

Business Combinations

        A Bermuda company may engage in a business combination pursuant to a tender offer, amalgamation or sale of assets.

        The amalgamation or merger of a Bermuda company with another company requires the amalgamation or merger agreement to be approved by the company's board of directors and by its shareholders. Pursuant to the Bermuda Companies Act, unless the company's bye-laws provide otherwise, the approval of 75% of the shareholders voting at a meeting is required to approve the amalgamation or merger agreement, and the quorum for such meeting must be two persons holding or representing more than one-third of the issued shares of the company. Our bye-laws provide that an amalgamation must be approved by our board of directors and by shareholders owning a majority of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote. As our bye-laws do not refer to mergers, approval for a merger will be as set out in the Bermuda Companies Act. Shareholders who did not vote in favor

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of the amalgamation or merger may apply to court for an appraisal within one month of notice of the shareholders meeting.

        Under the Bermuda Companies Act, we are not required to seek the approval of our shareholders for the sale of all or substantially all of our assets. However, our bye-laws provide that for so long as any of the Investors or their respective affiliates continue to retain the right to designate at least one director of our board of directors any sale, lease or exchange by us of all or substantially all of our assets will require the approval of either (1) our board of directors, acting by a majority (including at least one director designated by each Investor then entitled to designate a director) or (2) our board of directors and shareholders owning a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote.

        Under Bermuda law, where an offer is made for shares of a company and, within four months of the offer, the holders of not less than 90% of the shares not owned by the offeror, its subsidiaries or their nominees accept such offer, the offeror may by notice require the non-tendering shareholders to transfer their shares on the terms of the offer. Dissenting shareholders do not have express appraisal rights but are entitled to seek relief (within one month of the compulsory acquisition notice) from the court, which has power to make such orders as it thinks fit. Additionally, where one or more parties hold not less than 95% of the shares of a company, such parties may, pursuant to a notice given to the remaining shareholders, acquire the shares of such remaining shareholders. Dissenting shareholders have a right to apply to the court for appraisal of the value of their shares within one month of the compulsory acquisition notice. If a dissenting shareholder is successful in obtaining a higher valuation, that valuation must be paid to all shareholders being squeezed out.

Dividends and Repurchase of Shares

        Pursuant to our bye-laws, our board of directors has the authority to declare dividends and authorize the repurchase of shares subject to applicable law.

        Under Bermuda law, a company may not declare or pay a dividend if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due or the realizable value of its assets would thereby be less than its liabilities. Under Bermuda law, a company cannot purchase its own shares if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the company is, or after the repurchase would be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due.

Transactions with Significant Shareholders

        The Bermuda Companies Act does not have, and our bye-laws do not provide for, the equivalent of the "business combination" provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporate Law.

Corporate Opportunities

        Our bye-laws provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we renounce any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that may be from time to time be presented to the Investors or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, shareholders, members, partners, affiliates and subsidiaries (other than us and our subsidiaries) or business opportunities that such parties participate in or desire to participate in, even if the opportunity is one that we might reasonably have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and no such person shall be liable to us for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or controlling shareholder or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person pursues or acquires any such business opportunity, directs any such business opportunity to another person or fails to present any such business opportunity to us unless, in the case of any such person who is one of our directors, such person fails to present any business opportunity that is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as our director.

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Shareholder Suits

        Class actions and derivative actions are generally not available to shareholders under Bermuda law. The Bermuda courts, however, would ordinarily be expected to permit a shareholder to commence an action in the name of a company to remedy a wrong to the company where the act complained of is alleged to be beyond the corporate power of the company or illegal, or would result in the violation of the company's memorandum of association or bye-laws. Furthermore, consideration would be given by a Bermuda court to acts that are alleged to constitute a fraud against the minority shareholders or where an act requires the approval of a greater percentage of the company's shareholders than that which actually approved it.

        When the affairs of a company are being conducted in a manner which is oppressive or prejudicial to the interests of some part of the shareholders, one or more shareholders may apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda, which may make such order as it sees fit, including an order regulating the conduct of the company's affairs in the future or ordering the purchase of the shares of any shareholders by other shareholders or by the company.

        Our bye-laws contain a provision by virtue of which we and our shareholders waive any claim or right of action that they have, both individually and on our behalf, against any director or officer in relation to any action or failure to take action by such director or officer, except in respect of any fraud or dishonesty of such director or officer. We have been advised by the SEC that in the opinion of the SEC, the operation of this provision as a waiver of the right to sue for violations of federal securities laws would likely be unenforceable in U.S. courts.

Access to Books and Records and Dissemination of Information

        Members of the general public have a right to inspect the public documents of a company available at the office of the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda. These documents include the company's memorandum of association and any amendments thereto. The shareholders have the additional right to inspect the bye-laws of the company, minutes of general meetings of shareholders and the company's audited financial statements. The company's audited financial statements must be presented at the annual general meeting of shareholders. The company's share register is open to inspection by shareholders and by members of the general public without charge. A company is required to maintain its share register in Bermuda but may, subject to the provisions of the Bermuda Companies Act, establish a branch register outside of Bermuda. Bermuda law does not, however, provide a general right for shareholders to inspect or obtain copies of any other corporate records.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

        The debt securities will constitute either senior or subordinated debt of Kosmos. The debt securities that are sold may be exchangeable for and/or convertible into common shares or any of the other securities that may be sold under this prospectus. The debt securities will be issued under one or more separate indentures between us and a designated trustee. We will include in a prospectus supplement the specific terms of each series of senior or subordinated debt securities being offered, including the terms, if any, on which a series of senior or subordinated debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities. In addition, the material terms of any indenture, which will govern the rights of the holders of our senior or subordinated debt securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

        We may issue warrants to purchase our debt or equity securities or securities of third parties or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to, or separate from, such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The terms of any warrants to be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

        We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of:

•

debt or equity securities issued by us or securities of third parties, a basket of such securities, an index or indices or such securities or any combination of the above as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement;



•

currencies; or



•

commodities.

        Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities, currencies or commodities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the property otherwise deliverable or, in the case of purchase contracts on underlying currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, currencies or commodities and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract.

        The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require the holders thereof to secure their obligations in a specified manner to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Alternatively, purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the purchase contracts are issued. Our obligation to settle such pre-paid purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness. Accordingly, pre-paid purchase contracts will be issued under an indenture.

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

        As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or more purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, preference shares, common shares or any combination of such securities.

FORMS OF SECURITIES

        Each debt security, warrant, and unit will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Certificated securities will be issued in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, warrants, or units represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor's beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.

Global Securities

Registered Global Securities

        We may issue the registered debt securities, warrants and units in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.

        If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

        Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants' accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

        So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the

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securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement, guaranteed trust preferred security or unit agreement. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement, guaranteed trust preferred security or unit agreement. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement, guaranteed trust preferred security or unit agreement. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement, guaranteed trust preferred security or unit agreement, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

        Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities, and any payments to holders with respect to warrants, guaranteed trust preferred securities or units, represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of Kosmos, the trustees, the warrant agents, the unit agents or any other agent of Kosmos, agent of the trustees or agent of the warrant agents or unit agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

        We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants' accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name," and will be the responsibility of those participants.

        If the depositary for any of these securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent, unit agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary's instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.

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