Form 8-K
8-K — Talen Energy Corp
Accession: 0001622536-26-000074
Filed: 2026-09-29
Period: 2026-09-25
CIK: 0001622536
SIC: 4911 (ELECTRIC SERVICES)
Item: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
Item: Regulation FD Disclosure
Item: Other Events
Item: Financial Statements and Exhibits
Documents
8-K — tln-20260925.htm (Primary)
EX-10.1 (ex101secondamendedandresta.htm)
EX-10.2 (ex102transitionandretireme.htm)
EX-99.1 (a20260929pressreleasecapac.htm)
XML — IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT (R1.htm)
8-K
8-K (Primary)
Filename: tln-20260925.htm · Sequence: 1
tln-20260925
FALSE000162253600016225362026-09-252026-09-25
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 25, 2026
Talen Energy Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-37388
47-1197305
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
2929 Allen Pkwy, Suite 2200
Houston, TX 77019
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(888) 211-6011
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share
TLN
The Nasdaq Global Select Market
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Executive Officer Updates
On September 29, 2026, as part of its coordinated, on-going succession and retention planning, Talen Energy Corporation (the “Company”) announced that the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) has named Terry L. Nutt as the Company’s next Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and President, effective January 1, 2027 (the “Effective Date”), at which time Mr. Nutt will also join the Board. As further described below, Mr. Nutt has entered into a second amended and restated employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) reflecting his new responsibilities as CEO and continued responsibilities as President that will become effective on the Effective Date.
In addition, Mark “Mac” A. McFarland, the Company’s current CEO, has given the Company notice of his intent to step down as CEO and as a member of the Board, effective on the Effective Date. Following the Effective Date, Mr. McFarland will serve as a Senior Advisor to the Company beginning on January 1, 2027 until his retirement on March 1, 2027 (the “Separation Date”). As further described below, Mr. McFarland has entered into a transition and retirement agreement with the Company (the “Transition Agreement”).
Mr. Nutt was not appointed to his new positions under any arrangement or understanding between him and any other person. There are no transactions with Mr. Nutt that would be reportable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K and no family relationships exist between Mr. Nutt and any of the directors or other officers of the Company. Mr. McFarland’s retirement is not the result of any disagreement with the Company related to its operations, policies, or practices.
Biography of Mr. Nutt
Mr. Nutt, age 50, has served as the Company’s President since December 2025, prior to which he served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer from July 2023 through December 2025. He has over 25 years of experience in the energy industry, including time spent at independent power producers and energy trading firms. From 2018 until 2023, he served as Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director for EDF Trading North America (“EDF”), the energy commodity trading subsidiary of Électricité de France (EDF) S.A., a multinational energy utility headquartered in France. Prior to his service at EDF, Mr. Nutt served in multiple senior finance positions at Vistra Corporation (and its predecessor entities) (“Vistra”), including as Senior Vice President and Controller and Senior Vice President of Risk Management. Prior to his time at Vistra, Mr. Nutt worked in various finance roles at Dynegy Inc. Mr. Nutt earned his M.S. in Accounting and his B.B.A., summa cum laude, from Texas A&M University. Mr. Nutt has also completed the MIT Nuclear Reactor Technology Course for Utility Executives.
Employment and Transition and Retirement Arrangements – Named Executive Officers
Salary and Incentive Compensation Changes
In connection with Mr. Nutt’s appointment and the approval of his revised Employment Agreement, the Board set his base salary at $1,200,000; target short-term annual incentive bonus at 135% of base salary; and target grant date value of long-term incentive award amounts at 700% of base salary.
Employment Agreement
In connection with Mr. Nutt’s appointment, he entered into the Employment Agreement, effective January 1, 2027, with an initial term through February 28, 2028 (subject to automatic annual renewals thereafter unless Mr. Nutt or the Company provides 90 days’ written notice of their intent not to extend the term). The terms of Mr. Nutt’s existing employment agreement will continue to apply until January 1, 2027.
The Employment Agreement provides that, in the event that Mr. Nutt’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, the Company does not renew the term of the Employment Agreement, or Mr. Nutt resigns for Good Reason (each, as defined in the Employment Agreement and herein, a “Qualifying Termination”) and such termination is not on or within 18 months following a Change of Control (as defined in the Employment Agreement), Mr. Nutt will receive any earned but unpaid annual bonus for the year preceding the year in which the termination occurs (the “Prior Year Bonus”) and, subject to Mr. Nutt’s execution and nonrevocation of a release of claims in favor of the Company and continued compliance with his restrictive covenant obligations, (i) two times the sum of his annual base salary and target annual bonus, payable over 24 months following the Qualifying Termination, (ii) a pro-rated target bonus amount for the year of termination, and (iii) eligibility to continue on the Company’s health plan at a monthly rate equal to the Company’s full Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”) rates for up to 36
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months at Mr. Nutt’s sole expense (the “COBRA Continuation”). If Mr. Nutt experiences a Qualifying Termination within 18 months following a Change of Control, he will receive the Prior Year Bonus and, subject to his execution and nonrevocation of a release in favor of the Company and continued compliance with his restrictive covenant obligations, (i) a lump sum equal to 2.99 times the sum of his annual base salary and target annual bonus, (ii) a pro-rated target bonus amount for the year of termination, and (iii) eligibility for COBRA Continuation at a monthly rate that is no greater than the premiums he paid for coverage under the Company’s group health plan immediately prior to the termination date for up to 36 months. In the event Mr. Nutt’s employment is terminated due to Mr. Nutt’s death or disability, he shall receive (i) the Prior Year Bonus, (ii) a pro-rated portion of his target bonus for the year of termination, and (iii) eligibility for COBRA Continuation at a monthly rate equal to the Company’s full COBRA rates for up to 36 months. Additionally, where Mr. Nutt provides 90 days’ notice on a non-renewal of the term of the Employment Agreement, he shall be entitled to receive the Prior Year Bonus, subject to his execution and nonrevocation of a release of claims in favor of the Company and continued compliance with his restrictive covenant obligations.
Under the terms of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Nutt is subject to perpetual confidentiality, assignment of intellectual property and non-disparagement covenants as well as non-competition and non-solicitation covenants applicable during employment and for one year thereafter.
The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Employment Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Report”) and which is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.
Transition and Retirement Agreement
In connection with Mr. McFarland’s retirement, Mr. McFarland entered into the Transition Agreement with the Company, dated as of September 28, 2026, which provides for a transition from his current role as CEO and as a member of the Board to a role as Senior Advisor to the Company, reporting to the Chairman of the Board, beginning on January 1, 2027 and ending on the Separation Date. Mr. McFarland will be paid $100,000 for his services as a Senior Advisor and will continue to receive his current benefits through the Separation Date (other than any new grants of equity). Upon his separation, subject to his execution and non-revocation of a general release of claims in favor of the Company and his continued compliance with his restrictive covenant obligations to the Company, its subsidiaries, and affiliates, he will receive (x) the COBRA Continuation for up to 36 months and (y) his annual bonus for the 2026 fiscal year, based on actual performance.
The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Transition Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Report and which is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On September 29, 2026, the Company issued a press release regarding the executive matters described above, and additionally announcing its entry into the capacity monetization transaction, the upsize of the Company’s share repurchase program and its entry into accelerated share repurchase agreements, each as described below, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report and which is incorporated by reference into this Item 7.01.
The information provided under this Item 7.01 and in Exhibit 99.1 to this Report is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. Such information shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
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Item 8.01. Other Events.
Capacity Monetization Transaction
On September 25, 2026, Talen Energy Marketing, LLC (“TEM”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an arrangement with an unaffiliated third party to sell future capacity revenues awarded by PJM and cleared by TEM in PJM’s capacity auctions for the 2027/2028 and 2028/2029 delivery years (the “Capacity Monetization Transaction”) related to certain of the Company’s generation fleet. Under the terms of the Capacity Monetization Transaction, TEM transferred the rights of future cash flows for certain cleared capacity with volumes of approximately 6.5 GW and 6.0 GW for the 2027/2028 and 2028/2029 delivery years, respectively, and aggregate revenues of approximately $1.5 billion. In exchange, TEM was advanced proceeds equal to the aggregate capacity revenues less a rate of SOFR plus 200 basis points, with SOFR to be calculated on October 1, 2026. The Company remains responsible for operating its generation facilities, retains the obligation to perform as a PJM generation capacity resource with respect to the capacity sold in the transaction, has retained its rights for any earned capacity performance bonus payments, and has retained the risks associated with performance deficiency penalties. The Capacity Monetization Transaction is only for capacity and does not include the sale of energy.
Upsize of Share Repurchase Program
On September 23, 2026, the Board approved the upsizing of its existing share repurchase program (the “SRP”) to increase the amount of shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “common stock”), which the Company may repurchase by $1.5 billion (the “Additional Authorization”). As a result of the Additional Authorization, the aggregate authorization remaining under the Company’s SRP increased from $1.5 billion to $3.0 billion (subject to any utilization for the ASR Agreements described below).
The Company intends to fund the SRP with proceeds of the Capacity Monetization Transaction, cash on hand and cash generated by operations. The shares of common stock may be repurchased from time to time in open market transactions at prevailing market prices, negotiated transactions, accelerated share repurchase agreements, or other means in accordance with federal securities laws. The timing, number, and value of shares of common stock repurchased under the SRP (other than the ASR Agreements) will be at management’s discretion and will depend on several factors, including the market price of the Company’s common stock, alternate uses of capital, general market and economic conditions, and applicable legal requirements. The Company has no obligation to repurchase any amount of its common stock under the program. The program may be suspended, modified, or discontinued by the Board at any time without prior notice.
Accelerated Share Repurchases
On September 29, 2026, the Company entered into ASR Agreements with multiple dealers to repurchase an aggregate of $1.5 billion of shares of the Company’s common stock using the proceeds of the Capacity Monetization Transaction and cash on hand. The ASR Agreements were undertaken as part of the Additional Authorization of the Company’s SRP.
Under the terms of the ASR Agreements, the Company will initially receive approximately 4.0 million shares, representing approximately 80% of the total shares the Company expects to repurchase under the respective ASR Agreements assuming the share price at market close on September 28, 2026. The final number of shares repurchased will be based on the arithmetic average of the daily volume-weighted average prices of the Company’s common stock during the term of the ASR Agreements less an agreed discount and subject to customary adjustments related to the terms and conditions of the ASR Agreements. The final settlement of the ASR Agreements is expected to be completed no later than the first quarter of 2027. As of September 28, 2026, the Company had approximately 47.3 million shares of common stock outstanding.
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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. Description
10.1†^
Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective January 1, 2027, by and between Talen Energy Corporation and Terry L. Nutt.
10.2†^
Transition and Retirement Agreement and Release of Claims, dated as of September 28, 2026, by and between Talen Energy Corporation and Mark “Mac” A. McFarland.
99.1
Press Release dated September 29, 2026.
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (cover page XBRL tags embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
________________
† Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
^ Certain private and immaterial portions of the exhibit have been redacted pursuant to Item 601(a)(6) of Regulation S-K.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
TALEN ENERGY CORPORATION
Date:
September 29, 2026
By:
/s/ Cole Muller
Name:
Cole Muller
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
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EX-10.1
EX-10.1
Filename: ex101secondamendedandresta.htm · Sequence: 2
Document
Exhibit 10.1
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Talen Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Terry L. Nutt (“Employee”) as of the date set forth on the signature page hereto, to be effective as of January 1, 2027 (the “Effective Date”).
WHEREAS, Employee and the Company entered into an employment agreement, effective as of July 10, 2023, which was amended and restated on December 12, 2025 (as amended and restated, the “Prior Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, Employee and the Company mutually desire that Employee continue to provide services to the Company and its affiliates on the terms set forth in this Agreement, which replaces and supersedes in its entirety the Prior Agreement as of the Effective Date.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of such employment and the mutual covenants and promises herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and Employee agree as follows:
1.Employment.
(a)During the Employment Period (as defined below), the Company shall continue to employ Employee, and Employee shall serve, as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and in such other position or positions as may be assigned from time to time by the board of directors (the “Board”) of the Company. The Board shall take such action as may be necessary to appoint or elect Employee as a member of the Board as of the Effective Date, and during the Employment Period, to nominate Employee for re-election upon the expiration of his term as a director. In addition, if requested by the Company, Employee shall serve as an officer or member of the board of directors of any subsidiaries or affiliates of the Company without additional compensation.
(b)Employee expressly and irrevocably waives and releases any and all claims Employee may have to terminate Employee’s employment for Good Reason under the Employee’s Prior Agreement and receive payments and benefits or otherwise be entitled to any other rights under any plan, program, agreement or other arrangement sponsored by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, as the result of Employee’s role change from President under the Prior Agreement to Chief Executive Officer and President (as set forth in Section 1(a) above).
(c)For the avoidance of doubt, the terms and conditions of Employee’s employment with the Company will continue to be governed by the Prior Agreement until the Effective Date. This Agreement will be null and avoid ab initio and of no further force nor effect in the event that Employee’s employment with the Company terminates for any reason prior to the Effective Date.
2.Duties and Responsibilities of Employee.
(a)During the Employment Period, Employee shall actively engage in the business and affairs of the Company (together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries, the
“Company Group”) as may be requested by the Board from time to time, devote such amount of Employee’s business time and attention as is reasonably necessary to manage the business and affairs of the Company, which amount of time will constitute substantially all of Employee’s business time. Employee’s duties and responsibilities shall include those normally incidental to the position(s) identified in Section 1, as well as such additional duties as may be assigned to Employee by the Board from time to time, which duties and responsibilities may include providing services to other members of the Company Group in addition to the Company. Employee may, without violating this Section 2(a), (i) as a passive investment, own publicly traded securities in such form or manner as will not require any services by Employee in the operation of the entities in which such securities are owned; (ii) engage in charitable and civic activities; (iii) with the prior written consent of the Board, engage in other personal and passive investment activities; and (iv) with the prior written consent of the Board, serve on the board of directors of one other for-profit corporation, so long as such engagements, ownership, interests or activities do not interfere with Employee’s ability to fulfill Employee’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement and are not inconsistent with Employee’s obligations to any member of the Company Group or competitive with the business of any member of the Company Group.
(b)Employee hereby represents and warrants that Employee is not the subject of, or a party to, any non-competition or non-solicitation covenant, non-disclosure agreement, or any other agreement, obligation, restriction or understanding that would prohibit Employee from executing this Agreement or fully performing each of Employee’s duties and responsibilities hereunder, or would in any manner, directly or indirectly, limit or affect any of the duties and responsibilities that may now or in the future be assigned to Employee hereunder. Employee expressly acknowledges and agrees that Employee is strictly prohibited from using or disclosing any confidential information belonging to any prior employer in the course of performing services for any member of the Company Group, and Employee promises that Employee shall not do so. Employee shall not introduce documents or other materials containing confidential information of any prior employer to the premises or property (including computers and computer systems) of any member of the Company Group.
(c)Employee owes each member of the Company Group fiduciary duties, and the obligations described in this Agreement are in addition to, and not in lieu of, the obligations Employee owes each member of the Company Group under statutory and common law.
3.Compensation.
(a)Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to Employee an annualized base salary of $1,200,000 (the “Base Salary”) in consideration for Employee’s services under this Agreement, payable in substantially equal installments in conformity with the Company’s customary payroll practices for similarly situated employees as may exist from time to time, but no less frequently than twice per month. The Base Salary shall be subject to annual review by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) or the Board and may be increased, but not decreased, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee or the Board.
(b)Annual Bonus. Beginning on the Effective Date, Employee shall be eligible for bonus compensation for calendar year 2027 and each subsequent complete calendar year that Employee is employed by the Company hereunder (the “Annual Bonus”). The target Annual Bonus for each such calendar year (the “Bonus Year”) shall be
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135% of Employee’s Base Salary in effect as of the first day of the Bonus Year (the “Target Bonus”), with the actual Annual Bonus for a Bonus Year depending on the level of achievement of the performance targets as determined by the Compensation Committee or the Board for the Bonus Year. The performance targets that must be achieved in order to be eligible for certain bonus levels shall be established by the Compensation Committee or the Board annually, in its sole discretion, and communicated to Employee within the first one-hundred twenty (120) days of the applicable Bonus Year. Each Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid as soon as administratively feasible after the Compensation Committee or the Board, as applicable, certifies whether the applicable performance targets for the applicable Bonus Year have been achieved, but in no event later than March 15 following the end of such Bonus Year. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee’s Annual Bonus for calendar year 2026 shall continue to be governed by the provisions of the Prior Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3(b) to the contrary, but subject to Section 7, no Annual Bonus, if any, nor any portion thereof, shall be payable for any Bonus Year unless Employee remains continuously employed by the Company from the Effective Date through the date on which such Annual Bonus is paid.
(c)Long-Term Incentive Awards.
(i)Annual Grants. Provided that Employee is employed by the Company on the applicable date of grant, Employee shall be eligible to receive an annual grant under the Talen Energy Corporation 2023 Equity Incentive Plan or any applicable successor plan (the “LTIP”) with a grant date target value not less than 700% of Employee’s Base Salary as in effect on the applicable date of grant of such award on such terms and conditions as the Board and the Compensation Committee shall determine from time to time (collectively, the “LTIP Awards”). All LTIP Awards granted to Employee under the LTIP shall be subject to and governed by the terms and provisions of the LTIP as in effect from time to time and the award agreements evidencing such awards.
(ii)Cash-Settlement; Stock Ownership Guidelines. Notwithstanding anything in the applicable award agreement to the contrary, if, on the date of vesting of any performance stock units (“PSUs”), Employee holds Company Common Stock (as defined in the LTIP) in excess of two hundred percent (200%) of the stock ownership requirements applicable to Employee under the Company’s Stock Ownership Guidelines, adopted March 14, 2024 and as updated from time to time (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such calculation shall not take into account the PSUs that vest on the applicable date of vesting), fifty percent (50%) of the net after-tax value of such PSUs will be settled in cash (the “Cash-Settled Portion”) and the remaining portion will be settled in Company Common Stock, with such settlement otherwise subject to the terms of the applicable award agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Compensation Committee reasonably determines that the settlement of all or a portion of the Cash-Settled Portion of the PSUs in cash would materially and adversely affect the Company (a “Liquidity Constraint”), the Compensation Committee may elect to reduce the Cash-Settled Portion to the extent necessary to address the Liquidity Constraint.
4.Term of Employment. The term of Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall be for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on February 28, 2028 (the “Term”). Thereafter, the term of this Agreement will automatically extend, on the same terms, for successive one-year periods, unless either party provides written notice of non-extension at least ninety (90) days prior to the end of the Term or any
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extension thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Employee’s employment pursuant to this Agreement may be terminated at any time in accordance with Section 7. The period from the Effective Date through the expiration of this Agreement or, if sooner, the termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to this Agreement, regardless of the time or reason for such termination, shall be referred to herein as the “Employment Period.”
5.Business Expenses. Subject to Section 26, the Company shall reimburse Employee for Employee’s reasonable out-of-pocket business-related expenses actually incurred in the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder during the Employment Period so long as Employee timely submits all documentation for such expenses, as required by Company policy in effect from time to time. Any such reimbursement of expenses shall be made by the Company upon or as soon as practicable following receipt of such documentation (but in any event not later than the close of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense is incurred by Employee). In no event shall any reimbursement be made to Employee for any expenses incurred after the date of Employee’s termination of employment with the Company.
6.Benefits.
(a)During the Employment Period, Employee shall continue to be eligible to participate in the same benefit plans and programs (including vacation and paid time off programs) in which other similarly situated Company employees are eligible to participate, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and programs in effect from time to time. The Company shall not, however, by reason of this Section 6, be obligated to institute, maintain, or refrain from changing, amending, or discontinuing, any such plan or policy, so long as such changes are similarly applicable to similarly situated Company employees generally.
(b)The Company shall cover Employee under directors’ and officers’ liability insurance through the Employment Period, and, while potential liability exists, after the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company, on the most favorable terms as provided to any other director or executive officer of the Company.
(c)The Company shall reimburse Employee up to $5,000 for legal fees incurred in connection with the review of this Agreement.
7.Termination of Employment.
(a)Company’s Right to Terminate Employee’s Employment for Cause. The Company shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment hereunder at any time for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean Employee’s commission of an act or omission, or Employee causing the Company or any other member of the Company Group to commit an act or omission, that constitutes:
(i)Employee’s fraud or misconduct;
(ii)Employee’s violation of applicable law in connection with the management, operation or reputation of the Company or any other member of the Company Group that results in (or could reasonably be expected to result in) material injury to the Company or any other member of the Company Group;
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(iii)Employee’s material breach of this Agreement or any other written agreement between Employee and one or more members of the Company Group, including Employee’s material breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made under any such agreement;
(iv)Employee’s act of theft, embezzlement or misappropriation of the property of the Company or any other member of the Company Group, in each case, that results in (or could reasonably be expected to result in) material financial or reputational harm to the Company or any other member of the Company Group;
(v)Employee’s breach of his duty of loyalty to the Company or violation of the Company’s policies (to the extent such policies have been clearly communicated in writing to Employee), including the Company’s code of conduct and business ethics (or similar policies), anti-harassment policy, anti-retaliation, or policies related to age, sex or other prohibited discrimination in the workplace; or
(vi)Employee’s conviction or plea of nolo contendere to a felony or crime involving moral turpitude.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no determination of “Cause” may be made pursuant to Sections 7(a)(ii) or (iii) unless (1) Employee has been given written notice by the Board describing the specific alleged action(s) or omission(s) that constitute “Cause,” and (2) Employee has failed to cure such acts or omissions within thirty (30) days of such notice from the Board. Upon the termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to this Section 7(a), the Company shall pay to Employee (A) all earned and unpaid Base Salary as of the date of the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company, (B) reimbursement for all incurred but unreimbursed expenses for which Employee is entitled to reimbursement in accordance with Sections 5 and 6(c), and (C) benefits to which Employee is entitled under the terms of any applicable benefit plan or program described in Section 6(a) (collectively, the “Accrued Benefits”). In addition, subject to any limitation under applicable law, previously paid compensation pursuant to Sections 3(b) and 3(c) shall be subject to clawback or forfeiture and cancellation at the discretion of the Compensation Committee in the event of a termination of Employee’s employment for Cause.
(b)Company’s Right to Terminate for Convenience or for Non-Renewal of Term. The Company shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment for convenience at any time and for any reason, or no reason at all, upon written notice to Employee, in which event Employee shall receive the compensation and benefits described in Section 7(f). The Company shall also have the right to terminate Employee by non-renewal of the Term or any extension thereof upon ninety (90)-days written notice to Employee, in which event Employee shall receive the compensation and benefits described in Section 7(f).
(c)Employee’s Right to Terminate for Good Reason. Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment with the Company at any time for Good Reason, in which event Employee shall receive the compensation and benefits described in Section 7(f). For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following occurring without Employee’s consent:
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(i)a material adverse change in Employee’s title, duties or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities);
(ii)a material reduction in Employee’s Base Salary;
(iii)a relocation of Employee’s primary work location to a distance of more than 50 miles from the Houston, Texas metropolitan area; or
(iv)a material breach by the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement.
The Company and Employee agree that Good Reason shall not exist unless and until Employee provides the Company with written notice of the acts alleged to constitute Good Reason within ninety (90) days of Employee’s knowledge of the occurrence of such event, and Company fails to cure such acts within thirty (30) days of receipt of such notice. Employee must terminate employment within sixty (60) days following the expiration of such cure period for the termination to be on account of Good Reason.
(d)Death or Disability. Upon the death or Disability of Employee, Employee’s employment with the Company shall automatically terminate and the Company shall pay to Employee or Employee’s estate, as applicable, (i) the Accrued Benefits, (ii) any earned and unpaid Annual Bonus for the calendar year preceding the year in which such termination of employment occurs (the “Prior Year Bonus”) (which amount shall be paid within sixty (60) days following the date of such termination of employment but in no event later than March 15 of the year following the Bonus Year to which such Annual Bonus relates), (iii) an amount equal to the Target Bonus for the year in which such termination of employment occurs, prorated for the period of days beginning on January 1 and ending on the date of such termination of employment relative to the number of days in the applicable Bonus Year (the “Prorated Target Bonus”); provided that the Prorated Target Bonus described in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, if any, shall be paid in a lump sum in cash on the Company’s first regularly scheduled pay date that is on or after the date that is sixty (60) days after the date on which Employee’s employment terminates (the “Termination Date”), and (iv) subject to Employee’s timely election of continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), continued participation (pursuant to COBRA) in the Company’s group health plan (to the extent permitted under applicable law and the terms of such plan) covering Employee and Employee’s eligible dependents for a period of thirty-six (36) months at Employee’s (or Employee’s estate’s, in the case of Employee’s death) sole expense, provided, that the Company may modify the continuation coverage contemplated by this Section 7(d) to the extent reasonably necessary to avoid the imposition of any excise taxes on the Company for failure to comply with the nondiscrimination requirements of Section 105(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended; and/or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, as amended, and in each case, the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (to the extent applicable) (the “COBRA Continuation”). For purposes of this Agreement, a “Disability” shall exist if, as determined in the reasonable opinion of a licensed physician, Employee is unable to perform the essential functions of Employee’s position (after accounting for reasonable accommodation, if applicable and required by applicable law), due to physical or mental impairment, that continues for a period in excess of ninety (90) consecutive days or one hundred-eighty (180) days, whether or not consecutive (or for any longer period as may be required by applicable law), in any twelve (12)-month period.
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(e)Employee’s Right to Terminate for Convenience or Non-Renewal of Term. In addition to Employee’s right to terminate Employee’s employment for Good Reason, Employee shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment with the Company for convenience at any time and for any other reason, or no reason at all, upon sixty (60) days’ advance written notice to the Company (or ninety (90) days’, in the event of a non-renewal of the Term or any extension thereof); provided, however, that if Employee has provided notice to the Company of Employee’s termination of employment, the Company may determine, in its sole discretion, that such termination shall be effective on any date prior to the effective date of termination provided in such notice (and, if such earlier date is so required, then it shall not change the basis for Employee’s termination of employment nor be construed or interpreted as a termination of employment pursuant to Section 7(b)). Upon the termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to this Section 7(e), (i) the Company shall pay to Employee the Accrued Benefits and (ii) if Employee provides at least ninety (90) days’ written notice of termination and such termination occurs at or following the end of the initial Term, Employee shall be eligible for the COBRA Continuation, subject to the same terms, conditions and eligibility requirements set forth in Section 7(d). Additionally, if Employee (a) provides at least ninety (90) days’ written notice of termination related to a non-renewal of term (including any renewal terms following the initial Term), (b) executes on or before the Release Expiration Date (as defined below), and does not revoke within any time provided by the Company to do so, a release of all claims in a form acceptable to the Company and generally used by the Company with respect to similarly situated employees (the “Release”), which Release shall release each member of the Company Group and their respective affiliates, and the foregoing entities’ respective shareholders, members, partners, officers, managers, directors, fiduciaries, employees, representatives, agents and benefit plans (and fiduciaries of such plans) from any and all claims, including any and all causes of action arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company and any other member of the Company Group or the termination of such employment, but excluding all claims to severance payments, upon such termination, and (c) abides by the terms of each of Sections 8 through 13, Employee shall receive the Prior Year Bonus, if any (which amount shall be paid within sixty (60) days following the date of such termination of employment but in no event later than March 15 of the year following the Bonus Year to which such Annual Bonus relates).
(f)Effect of Termination of Employment without Cause, for Good Reason, or for the Company’s Non-Renewal of the Term.
(i)Termination Outside a Change in Control Period. If Employee’s employment hereunder is terminated (A) by the Company without Cause (including as a result of a non-renewal of the Term or any extension thereof) pursuant to Section 7(b) or is terminated by Employee for Good Reason pursuant to Section 7(c), and (B) the Termination Date is not on or within eighteen (18) months following a Change in Control (as defined in the LTIP, and such period, the “Change in Control Period”), then the Company shall pay Employee the Accrued Benefits and any Prior Year Bonus (which amount shall be paid within sixty (60) days following the date of such termination of employment but in no event later than March 15 of the year following the Bonus Year to which such Annual Bonus relates) and, so long as (and only if) Employee: (x) executes on or before the Release Expiration Date (as defined below), and does not revoke within any time provided by the Company to do so, the Release, which Release shall release each member of the Company Group and their respective affiliates, and the foregoing entities’ respective shareholders, members, partners, officers, managers, directors, fiduciaries, employees, representatives, agents and benefit plans (and fiduciaries of
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such plans) from any and all claims, including any and all causes of action arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company and any other member of the Company Group or the termination of such employment, but excluding all claims to severance payments Employee may have under this Section7(f)(i); and (y) abides by the terms of each of Sections 8 through 13 then:
(A)The Company shall make severance payments to Employee in a total amount equal to (i) twenty-four (24) months’ worth of Employee’s Base Salary and (ii) two (2) times the target Annual Bonus, where each are determined as of the year in which such termination occurs (such total severance payments being referred to as the “Non-CIC Severance Payment”). The Non-CIC Severance Payment will be divided into substantially equal installments paid over the twenty-four (24)-month period following the Termination Date. On the Company’s first regularly scheduled pay date that is on or after the date that is sixty (60) days after the Termination Date (the “First Payment Date”), the Company shall pay to Employee, without interest, a number of such installments equal to the number of such installments that would have been paid during the period beginning on the Termination Date and ending on the First Payment Date had the installments been paid on the Company’s regularly scheduled pay dates on or following the Termination Date, and each of the remaining installments shall be paid on the Company’s regularly scheduled pay dates during the remainder of such twenty-four (24)-month period; provided, however, that to the extent, if any, that the aggregate amount of the installments of the Non-CIC Severance Payment that would otherwise be paid pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Section 7(f)(i)(A) after March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs (the “Applicable March 15”) exceeds the maximum exemption amount under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A), then such excess shall be paid to Employee in a lump sum on the Applicable March 15 (or the first Business Day (as defined below) preceding the Applicable March 15 if the Applicable March 15 is not a Business Day) and the installments of the Non-CIC Severance Payment payable after the Applicable March 15 shall be reduced by such excess (beginning with the installment first payable after the Applicable March 15 and continuing with the next succeeding installment until the aggregate reduction equals such excess). “Business Day” shall mean any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Houston, Texas, are authorized or required by law to be closed.
(B)The Company shall pay to Employee the Prorated Target Bonus, payable in a lump sum on the Company’s first regularly scheduled pay date that is on or after the date that is sixty (60) days after the Termination Date.
(C)Employee shall be eligible for the COBRA Continuation, subject to the same terms, conditions and eligibility requirements set forth in Section 7(d).
The payments and benefits described in clauses (A), (B), and (C) above are collectively referred to herein as the “Non-CIC Termination Benefits.”
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(ii)Termination Within a Change in Control Period. If Employee’s employment hereunder is terminated (A) by the Company without Cause (including as a result of a non-renewal of the Term or any extension thereof) pursuant to Section 7(b), or is terminated by Employee for Good Reason pursuant to Section 7(c) and (B) the Termination Date is within the Change in Control Period, then the Company shall pay Employee the Accrued Benefits and any Prior Year Bonus (which amount shall be paid within sixty (60) days following the date of such termination of employment but in no event later than March 15 of the year following the Bonus Year to which such Annual Bonus relates) and, so long as (and only if) Employee: (x) executes on or before the Release Expiration Date, and does not revoke within any time provided by the Company to do so, the Release, which Release shall release each member of the Company Group and their respective affiliates, and the foregoing entities’ respective shareholders, members, partners, officers, managers, directors, fiduciaries, employees, representatives, agents and benefit plans (and fiduciaries of such plans) from any and all claims, including any and all causes of action arising out of Employee’s employment with the Company and any other member of the Company Group or the termination of such employment, but excluding all claims to severance payments, Employee may have under this Section 7(f)(ii); and (y) abides by the terms of each of Sections 8 through 13 then:
(A)The Company shall make a lump sum payment to Employee equal to the product of two and ninety-nine hundredths (2.99) times the sum of (I) twelve (12) months’ of Employee’s Base Salary and (II) the target Annual Bonus, where each are determined as of the year in which such termination occurs, with such lump sum payable on the Company’s first regularly scheduled pay date that is on or after the date that is sixty (60) days after the Termination Date.
(B)The Company shall pay to Employee the Prorated Target Bonus, payable in a lump sum on the Company’s first regularly scheduled pay date that is on or after the date that is sixty (60) days after the Termination Date.
(C)Employee shall be eligible for the COBRA Continuation, subject to the same terms, conditions and eligibility requirements set forth in Section 7(d); provided, that such COBRA Continuation will be provided at a monthly rate that is no greater than the monthly premium payable by Employee for coverage under the Company’s group health plan covering Employee and Employee’s eligible dependents as of immediately prior to the Termination Date, with any cost in excess of such amount being paid or reimbursed by the Company.
The payments and benefits described in clauses (A), (B), and (C) above are collectively referred to herein as the “CIC Termination Benefits” (and together with the Non-CIC Termination Benefits, as applicable, the “Termination Benefits”).
(iii)If the Release is not executed and returned to the Company on or before the Release Expiration Date, and the required revocation period has not fully expired without revocation of the Release by Employee, then Employee shall not be entitled to any portion of the applicable Termination Benefits. As used
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herein, the “Release Expiration Date” is that date that is twenty-one (21) days following the date upon which the Company delivers the Release to Employee (which shall occur no later than seven (7) days after the Termination Date) or, in the event that such termination of employment is “in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program” (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967), the date that is forty-five (45) days following such delivery date.
(g)After-Acquired Evidence. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company determines, in good faith, that Employee is eligible to receive Termination Benefits pursuant to Section 7(f) but, after such determination, the Company subsequently acquires evidence or determines that: (i) Employee has failed to abide by the terms of any of Sections 8 through 13; or (ii) a Cause condition existed prior to the Termination Date that, had the Company been fully aware of such condition, would have given the Company the right to terminate Employee’s employment pursuant to Section 7(a), then the Company shall have the right to cease the payment of any future installments of the Termination Benefits and Employee shall promptly return to the Company all installments of the Termination Benefits received by Employee prior to the date that the Company determines that the conditions of this Section 7(g) have been satisfied. In addition, the provisions of the last sentence of Section 7(a) shall apply, and, subject to any limitation under applicable law, previously paid compensation pursuant to Sections 3(b) and 3(c) shall be subject to clawback or forfeiture and cancellation at the discretion of the Compensation Committee in the event Employee fails to abide by the terms of any of Sections 8 through 13.
8.Disclosures. Promptly (and in any event, within three (3) Business Days) upon becoming aware of (a) any actual or potential Conflict of Interest or (b) any lawsuit, claim or arbitration filed against or involving Employee or any trust or vehicle owned or controlled by Employee, in each case, Employee shall disclose such actual or potential Conflict of Interest or such lawsuit, claim or arbitration to the Board. A “Conflict of Interest” shall exist when Employee engages in, or plans to engage in, any activities, associations, or interests that conflict with, or create an appearance of a conflict with, Employee’s duties, responsibilities, authorities, or obligations for or to any member of the Company Group.
9.Confidentiality. In the course of Employee’s employment with the Company and the performance of Employee’s duties on behalf of the Company Group hereunder, Employee will be provided with, and will have access to, Confidential Information (as defined below). As a condition of Employee’s receipt and access to such Confidential Information and in exchange for other valuable consideration provided hereunder, and as a condition of Employee’s employment hereunder, Employee shall comply with this Section 9.
(a)Subject to Section 9(e), both during the Employment Period and thereafter, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement or by directive of the Board, for the benefit of the Company Group, or while acting in the course and scope of his employment, Employee shall not disclose any Confidential Information to any person or entity and shall not use any Confidential Information. Employee shall follow all Company policies and protocols regarding the security of all documents and other materials containing Confidential Information to the extent such policies have been clearly communicated in writing or made available to Employee (regardless of the medium on which Confidential Information is stored). The covenants of this Section 9(a) shall apply to
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all Confidential Information, whether now known or later to become known to Employee during the period that Employee is employed by or affiliated with or providing services to the Company or any other member of the Company Group.
(b)Notwithstanding any provision of Section 9(a) to the contrary, Employee may make the following disclosures and uses of Confidential Information:
(i)disclosures to other employees of a member of the Company Group who have a need to know the information in connection with the businesses of the Company Group;
(ii)disclosures to third parties when, in the reasonable and good faith belief of Employee, such disclosure is in connection with Employee’s performance of Employee’s duties under this Agreement and in the best interest of the Company Group;
(iii)disclosures and uses that are approved in writing by the Board; or
(iv)disclosures to a person or entity that has been retained by a member of the Company Group to provide services to one or more members of the Company Group and agreed in writing to abide by the terms of a confidentiality agreement.
(c)Upon the expiration of the Employment Period, and at any other time upon request of the Company, Employee shall promptly surrender and deliver to the Company all documents (including electronically stored information) and all copies thereof and all other materials of any nature containing or pertaining to all Confidential Information and any other Company Group property (including any Company Group-issued computer, mobile device or other equipment) in Employee’s possession, custody or control and Employee shall not retain any such documents or other materials or property of the Company Group. Within five (5) days of any such request, Employee shall certify to the Company in writing that all such documents, materials and property have been returned to the Company.
(d)All trade secrets, non-public information, designs, ideas, concepts, improvements, product developments, discoveries and inventions, whether patentable or not, that are conceived, made, developed or acquired by or disclosed to Employee, individually or in conjunction with others, during the period that Employee is employed by the Company or any other member of the Company Group (whether during business hours or otherwise and whether on the Company’s premises or otherwise), that relate to any member of the Company Group’s businesses or properties, products or services (including all such information relating to corporate opportunities, operations, future plans, methods of doing business, business plans, strategies for developing business and market share, research, financial and sales data, pricing terms, evaluations, opinions, interpretations, acquisition prospects, the identity of customers or acquisition targets or their requirements, the identity of key contacts within customers’ organizations or within the organization of acquisition prospects, or marketing and merchandising techniques, prospective names and marks) is defined as “Confidential Information.” Moreover, all documents, videotapes, written presentations, brochures, drawings, memoranda, notes, records, files, correspondence, manuals, models, specifications, computer programs, e-mail, voice mail, electronic databases, maps, drawings, architectural renditions,
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models and all other writings or materials of any type including or embodying any of such information, ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, inventions and other similar forms of expression are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company or other applicable member of the Company Group and be subject to the same restrictions on disclosure applicable to all Confidential Information pursuant to this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, Confidential Information shall not include any information that (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or wrongful act of Employee or any of Employee’s agents; (ii) was available to Employee on a non-confidential basis before its disclosure by a member of the Company Group; or (iii) becomes available to Employee on a non-confidential basis from a source other than a member of the Company Group; provided, however, that such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement with, or other obligation with respect to confidentiality to, a member of the Company Group.
(e)Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict Employee from lawfully: (i) initiating communications directly with, cooperating with, providing information to, causing information to be provided to, or otherwise assisting in an investigation by, any governmental or regulatory agency, entity, official or authority regarding a possible violation of any law; (ii) responding to any inquiry or legal process directed to Employee from any such governmental authority; (iii) testifying, participating or otherwise assisting in any action or proceeding by any such governmental authority relating to a possible violation of law; or (iv) making any other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any applicable law. Nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted to prohibit or restrict Employee to disclose an act of sexual abuse or facts related to an act of sexual abuse. Additionally, pursuant to the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (A) is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney and (2) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; (B) is made to the individual’s attorney in relation to a lawsuit for retaliation against the individual for reporting a suspected violation of law; or (C) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Nothing in this Agreement requires Employee to obtain prior authorization before engaging in any conduct described in this paragraph, or to notify the Company that Employee has engaged in any such conduct.
10.Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation. Employee acknowledges that (i) Employee performs services of a unique nature for the Company Group that are irreplaceable, and that Employee’s performance of such services to a competing business will result in irreparable harm to the Company Group, (ii) Employee has had and will continue to have access to Confidential Information which, if disclosed, would unfairly and inappropriately assist in competition against the Company Group, (iii) in the course of Employee’s employment by a competitor, Employee would inevitably use or disclose such Confidential Information, (iv) the Company Group has substantial relationships with their Customers and Employee has had and will continue to have access to these Customers, (v) Employee has received and will receive specialized training from the Company Group, and (vi) Employee has generated and will continue to generate goodwill for the Company Group in the course of Employee’s employment. Accordingly, Employee agrees that for the duration of Employee’s employment and for one (1) year thereafter, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly:
(a)own, manage, operate, control, be employed by (whether as an employee, consultant, independent contractor or otherwise, and whether or not for compensation) or render services to any person, firm, corporation or other entity, in
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whatever form, engaged in competition with the Company Group on the Termination Date, which includes the business of merchant power production, including nuclear power generation, or any business material to the Company Group which the Company Group has taken substantial steps to engage in on or prior to such date in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection region (as determined by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), Montana or any other geographic region in the United States where the Company Group conducts or has taken substantial steps to conduct business prior to the Termination Date and in which Employee had material responsibilities or made actual contact (whether in person, virtual, or by email, text, or phone) between Employee and a customer or prospective customer with whom Employee dealt on behalf of the Company Group or whose dealings with the Company Group were coordinated or supervised by Employee, or who received any product or service from the Company Group that resulted in payment of compensation to Employee, or about whom Employee obtained Confidential Information as a result of Employee’s employment with or service to the Company Group. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit Employee from being a passive owner of not more than three percent (3%) of the equity securities of a publicly traded corporation engaged in a business that is in competition with the Company Group, so long as Employee has no active participation in the business of such corporation. Nothing in this Section 10(a) shall prohibit Employee from being employed or engaged by any Person where such work would not involve any level of strategic, advisory, technical, creative, sales, or other activity similar to that which Employee provided to the Company Group (acknowledging that Employee’s role requires Employee to engage in strategic, managerial, and business development activity), or is in connection with an independent business line of such Person that is wholly unrelated to the business of the Company Group and Confidential Information (subject to protocols to prevent Employee from disclosing Confidential Information). In addition, the provisions of this Section 10(a) shall not be violated by Employee commencing employment with a subsidiary, division or unit of any entity that engages in a business in competition with the Company Group so long as Employee and such subsidiary, division or unit does not engage in a business in competition with the Company Group.
(b)solicit, induce or attempt to induce any person who was, as of the Termination Date, an employee, agent or individual retained as an independent contractor of the Company or any member of the Company Group and with whom Employee had contact during the Employee’s employment with or service to the Company Group or who otherwise worked in the same department as the Employee (“Covered Individuals”), to terminate his or her employment or contracting relationship with the Company Group, or to become an employee or independent contractor of any other Person or hire or retain any such employee, agent or individual, or take any action to materially assist or aid any other Person in identifying, hiring or soliciting any such employee, agent or individual (any employee, agent or individual retained as an independent contractor of the Company Group shall be deemed covered by this Section 10(b) while so employed or retained and for a period of six (6) months thereafter); notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, general employment solicitations through advertisements for candidates in publicly available media for potential employment do not violate this provision; so long as such advertisements are not specifically targeted at any Covered Individuals;
(c)solicit, induce or attempt to induce any Customer (as defined below) or any supplier or other business relation of the Company Group who was working with any member of the Company Group as of the Termination Date, to cease doing or reduce the amount of its business with such entity or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such Customer, supplier or other business relation and the Company Group; or
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(d)interfere, or aid or induce any other person or entity in interfering, with the relationship between the Company Group and any of their respective vendors, joint venturers or licensors.
(e)Definitions. For the purposes of this Section 10, the following definitions shall apply:
(i)“Customer” means any Person who or which: (a) purchased products or services from the Company Group prior to or during Employee’s period of employment and who or which Employee was aware of or about whom or which Employee had received Confidential Information; or (b) was called upon or solicited by the Company or any member of the Company Group or any of their predecessors prior to or during the twelve (12) month period prior to the Termination Date, if Employee had direct or indirect contact with such Person as an employee or service provider of the Company Group or learned or became aware of such Person during Employee’s employment with or service to the Company Group.
(ii)“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.
11.Ownership of Intellectual Property.
(a)Employee agrees that the Company shall own, and Employee shall (and hereby does) assign, all right, title and interest (including patent rights, copyrights, trade secret rights, mask work rights, trademark rights, and all other intellectual and industrial property rights of any sort throughout the world) relating to any and all inventions (whether or not patentable), discoveries, developments, improvements, innovations, works of authorship, mask works, designs, know-how, ideas, formulae, processes, techniques, data and information authored, created, contributed to, made or conceived or reduced to practice, in whole or in part, by Employee during the period in which Employee is or has been employed by or affiliated with the Company or any other member of the Company Group, whether or not registerable under U.S. law or the laws of other jurisdictions, that either (i) relate, at the time of conception, reduction to practice, creation, derivation or development, to any member of the Company Group’s businesses or actual or anticipated research or development; or (ii) were developed on any amount of the Company’s or any other member of the Company Group’s time or with the use of any member of the Company Group’s equipment, supplies, facilities or Confidential Information (all of the foregoing collectively referred to herein as “Company Intellectual Property”), and Employee shall promptly disclose all Company Intellectual Property to the Company in writing. To support Employee’s disclosure obligation herein, Employee shall keep and maintain adequate and current written records of all Company Intellectual Property made by Employee (solely or jointly with others) during the period in which Employee is or has been employed by or affiliated with the Company or any other member of the Company Group in such form as may be specified from time to time by the Company. These records shall be available to, and remain the sole property of, the Company at all times.
(b)All of Employee’s works of authorship and associated copyrights created during the period in which Employee is employed by or affiliated with the Company or any other member of the Company Group and in the scope of Employee’s
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employment or engagement shall be deemed to be “works made for hire” within the meaning of the Copyright Act. To the extent any right, title and interest in and to Company Intellectual Property cannot be assigned by Employee to the Company, Employee shall grant, and does hereby grant, to the Company Group an exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, transferable, irrevocable, worldwide license (with rights to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees) to make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale, import, export, reproduce, practice and otherwise commercialize such rights, title and interest.
(c)Employee recognizes that this Agreement will not be deemed to require assignment of any invention or intellectual property that Employee developed entirely on Employee’s own time without using the equipment, supplies, facilities, trade secrets, or Confidential Information of any member of the Company Group. In addition, this Agreement does not apply to any invention that qualifies fully for protection from assignment to the Company under any specifically applicable state law or regulation.
(d)To the extent allowed by law, this Section applies to all rights that may be known as or referred to as “moral rights,” “artist’s rights,” “droit moral,” or the like, including without limitation those rights set forth in 17 U.S.C. §106A (collectively, “Moral Rights”). To the extent Employee retains any Moral Rights under applicable law, Employee hereby ratifies and consents to any action that may be taken with respect to such Moral Rights by or authorized by the Company or any member of the Company Group, and Employee hereby waives and agrees not to assert any Moral Rights with respect to such Moral Rights. Employee shall confirm any such ratifications, consents, waivers, and agreements from time to time as requested by the Company.
(e)Employee hereby represents and warrants that there are no inventions (whether or not patentable), original works of authorship, designs, know-how, mask works, ideas, information, developments, improvements, or trade secrets of which Employee is the sole or joint author, creator, contributor, or inventor that were made or developed by Employee prior to Employee’s employment with or affiliation with the Company or any other member of the Company Group, or in which Employee asserts any intellectual property right, and which are applicable to or relate in any way to the business, products, services, or demonstrably anticipated research and development or business of any member of the Company Group (“Prior Inventions”), and Employee shall make no claim of any rights to any Prior Inventions. If, in the course of Employee’s employment with or affiliation with the Company or any other member of the Company Group, Employee incorporates into the product, process, or device of any member of the Company Group a Prior Invention, the Company Group is hereby granted and will have a nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license to make, have made, modify, use, import, export, offer for sale, sell and otherwise commercialize such Prior Invention as part of or in connection with such product, process, or device of any member of the Company Group.
(f)Employee shall perform, during and after the period in which Employee is or has been employed by or affiliated with the Company or any other member of the Company Group, all acts deemed necessary or desirable by the Company to permit and assist each member of the Company Group, at the Company’s expense, in obtaining and enforcing the full benefits, enjoyment, rights and title throughout the world in the Company Intellectual Property and Confidential Information assigned, to be assigned, or licensed to the Company under this Agreement. Such acts may include execution of documents and assistance or cooperation (i) in the filing, prosecution, registration, and memorialization of assignment of any applicable patents, copyrights, mask work, or other
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applications; (ii) in the enforcement of any applicable patents, copyrights, mask work, moral rights, trade secrets, or other proprietary rights; and (iii) in other legal proceedings related to the Company Intellectual Property or Confidential Information.
(g)In the event that after reasonable and diligent effort to communicate with Employee, the Company (or, as applicable, a member of the Company Group) is unable to secure Employee’s signature to any document required to file, prosecute, register, or memorialize the assignment of any patent, copyright, mask work or other applications or to enforce any patent, copyright, mask work, moral right, trade secret or other proprietary right under any Confidential Information or Company Intellectual Property (including derivative works, improvements, renewals, extensions, continuations, divisionals, continuations in part, continuing patent applications, reissues, and reexaminations of such Company Intellectual Property), Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and each of the Company’s duly authorized officers and agents as Employee’s agents and attorneys-in-fact to act for and on Employee’s behalf and instead of Employee, (i) to execute, file, prosecute, register and memorialize the assignment of any such application; (ii) to execute and file any documentation required for such enforcement; and (iii) to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the filing, prosecution, registration, memorialization of assignment, issuance, and enforcement of patents, copyrights, mask works, moral rights, trade secrets or other rights under the Confidential Information or Company Intellectual Property, all with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Employee.
(h)In the event that Employee enters into, on behalf of any member of the Company Group, any contracts or agreements relating to any Confidential Information or Company Intellectual Property, Employee shall assign such contracts or agreements to the Company (or the applicable member of the Company Group) promptly, and in any event, prior to Employee’s termination of employment. In the event that after reasonable and diligent effort to coordinate with Employee, the Company (or the applicable member of the Company Group) is unable to secure Employee’s signature to any document required to assign said contracts or agreements, or if Employee does not assign said contracts or agreements to the Company (or the applicable member of the Company Group) prior to Employee’s termination of employment, Employee hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company (or the applicable member of the Company Group) and each of the Company’s duly authorized officers and agents as Employee’s agents and attorneys-in-fact to act for and on Employee’s behalf and instead of Employee to execute said assignments and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the execution of said documents.
12.Defense of Claims. During the Employment Period and for a period of one (1) year following the Termination Date, upon request from the Company, Employee shall reasonably cooperate with the Company Group, at times and locations agreeable to Employee, to assist (a) in the prosecution of any claims that may be made by the Company Group, to the extent that such claims may relate to Employee’s employment with the Company and about which Employee has substantial knowledge and (b) in the defense of any claims that may be made by or against any member of the Company Group that relate to Employee’s actual or prior areas of responsibility (collectively, (a) and (b) of this sentence, the “Claims”). Subject to Section 9(e), Employee agrees to promptly inform the Company if Employee becomes aware of any lawsuits involving Claims that may be filed or threatened against the Company Group. Subject to Section 9(e), Employee also agrees to promptly inform the Company (to the extent that Employee is legally permitted to do so) if Employee is asked to assist in any investigation of the Company Group (or their actions) or another party attempts to obtain information or documents from Employee (other than in connection with any litigation or other proceeding in which Employee is a party-in-
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opposition) with respect to matters Employee believes in good faith to relate to any investigation of the Company Group, in each case, regardless of whether a lawsuit or other proceeding has then been filed against the Company Group with respect to such investigation, and shall not do so unless legally required. Subject to Section 9(e), during the pendency of any litigation or other proceeding involving Claims, Employee shall not communicate with anyone (other than Employee’s attorneys and tax and/or financial advisors and except to the extent that Employee determines in good faith is necessary in connection with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder) with respect to the facts or subject matter of any pending or potential litigation or regulatory or administrative proceeding involving the Company Group without giving prior written notice to the Company or the Company’s counsel.
13.Non-Disparagement. During the Employment Period and thereafter, except to the extent compelled or required by applicable law and subject to Section 9(e), Employee agrees Employee shall not disparage the Company Group or its respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders or successors or their respective products or services, in any manner (including but not limited to, verbally or via hard copy, websites, blogs, social media forums or any other medium); provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent Employee from: engaging in concerted activity relative to the terms and conditions of Employee’s employment and in communications protected under the National Labor Relations Act, filing a charge or providing information to any governmental agency; and provided, further, that nothing in this Section shall prevent Employee from providing information in response to a subpoena or other enforceable legal process or as otherwise required by law.
14.Reasonableness of Covenants. In signing this Agreement, Employee has carefully read and considered all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the restraints imposed under Sections 8 through 13. Employee agrees that these restraints are necessary for the reasonable and proper protection of the Company Group and their trade secrets and Confidential Information and that such restraints are reasonable in respect to subject matter, length of time and geographic area. Employee acknowledges that each of these covenants has a unique, very substantial and immeasurable value to the Company Group.
15.Tolling. In the event of any violation of the provisions of Section 10 hereto, Employee acknowledges and agrees that the post-termination restrictions contained in Section 10 shall be extended by a period of time equal to the period of such violation, as determined by a court of law, it being the intention of the parties hereto that the running of the applicable post-termination restriction period shall be tolled during any period of such violation.
16.Withholdings; Deductions. The Company may withhold and deduct from any benefits and payments made or to be made pursuant to this Agreement (a) all federal, state, local and other taxes as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and (b) any deductions consented to in writing by Employee.
17.Title and Headings; Construction. Titles and headings to Sections hereof are for the purpose of reference only and shall in no way limit, define or otherwise affect the provisions hereof. Any and all Exhibits or Attachments referred to in this Agreement are, by such reference, incorporated herein and made a part hereof for all purposes. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to laws, regulations, contracts, documents, agreements and instruments refer to such laws, regulations, contracts, documents,
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agreements and instruments as they may be amended from time to time, and references to particular provisions of laws or regulations include a reference to the corresponding provisions of any succeeding law or regulation. All references to “dollars” or “$” in this Agreement refer to United States dollars. The words “herein”, “hereof”, “hereunder” and other compounds of the word “here” shall refer to the entire Agreement, including all Exhibits attached hereto, and not to any particular provision hereof. The word “or” is not exclusive. Wherever the context so requires, the masculine gender includes the feminine or neuter, and the singular number includes the plural and conversely. All references to “including” shall be construed as meaning “including without limitation.” Neither this Agreement nor any uncertainty or ambiguity herein shall be construed or resolved against any party hereto, whether under any rule of construction or otherwise. On the contrary, this Agreement has been reviewed by each of the parties hereto and shall be construed and interpreted according to the ordinary meaning of the words used so as to fairly accomplish the purposes and intentions of the parties hereto.
18.Applicable Law. This Agreement shall in all respects be construed according to the laws of the State of Texas without regard to its conflict of laws principles that would result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. With respect to any claim or dispute related to or arising under this Agreement, the parties hereto consent to the exclusive jurisdiction, forum and venue of the state and federal courts (as applicable) located in Houston, Texas.
19.Entire Agreement and Amendment. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the matters covered herein and, as of the Effective Date, supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, oral or written, between the parties hereto concerning the subject matter hereof (including, without limitation, the Prior Agreement), other than (x) that certain Indemnification Agreement, dated July 10, 2023, between the Company and the Employee or any other indemnification rights of the Employee that are in effect or outstanding as of the Effective Date, (y) equity award agreements that are in effect or outstanding as of the Effective Date, or (z) the terms of Employee’s Annual Bonus for the calendar year 2026. This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument executed by both parties hereto.
20.Enforcement. The parties hereto acknowledge that an award of damages for failure to comply with Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 of this Agreement may not be an adequate remedy for the Company attempting to enforce or prevent the breach of such provisions, and accordingly the parties hereto authorize the Company to (in addition to any other remedies or relief to which it may be entitled) bring an action against Employee for a permanent or temporary injunction, to compel the specific performance or any other equitable remedy by Employee of their obligations to comply with, or prevent the breach of or remedy the breach of, such provisions without proof of actual damages.
21.Waiver of Breach. Any waiver of this Agreement must be executed by the party to be bound by such waiver. No waiver by either party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other party, or of compliance with any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party, will operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by such other party or any similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any subsequent time. The failure of either party hereto to take any action by reason of any breach will not deprive such party of the right to take action at any time.
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22.Assignment. This Agreement is personal to Employee, and neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder shall be assignable or otherwise transferred by Employee. The Company may assign this Agreement without Employee’s consent, including to any member of the Company Group and to any successor (whether by merger, purchase or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the equity, assets or businesses of the Company.
23.Notices. Notices provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly received (a) when delivered in person; (b) on the first Business Day after such notice is sent by express overnight courier service; or (c) on the second Business Day following deposit with a nationally-recognized second-day courier service with proof of receipt maintained, in each case, to the following address, as applicable:
If to the Company, addressed to:
Talen Energy Corporation
2929 Allen Parkway, 22nd Floor
Houston, Texas 77019
Attention: Board of Directors
If to Employee, addressed to:
Terry L. Nutt
13927 Myrtle Drive
Houston, Texas 77079
(Or, if different, the latest address on file with the Company)
24.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, including by electronic mail or facsimile, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Each counterpart may consist of a copy hereof containing multiple signature pages, each signed by one party, but together signed by both parties hereto.
25.Deemed Resignations. Except as otherwise determined by the Board or as otherwise agreed to in writing by Employee and any member of the Company Group prior to the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company or any member of the Company Group, any termination of Employee’s employment shall constitute, as applicable, an automatic resignation of Employee: (a) as an officer of the Company and each member of the Company Group; (b) from the Board; and (c) from the board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) of any member of the Company Group and from the board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) of any corporation, limited liability entity, unlimited liability entity or other entity in which any member of the Company Group holds an equity interest and with respect to which board of directors or board of managers (or similar governing body) Employee serves as such Company Group member’s designee or other representative.
26.Section 409A.
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(a)Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all provisions of this Agreement are intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and the applicable Treasury regulations and administrative guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “Section 409A”) or an exemption therefrom and shall be construed and administered in accordance with such intent. Any payments under this Agreement that may be excluded from Section 409A either as separation pay due to an involuntary separation from service or as a short-term deferral shall be excluded from Section 409A to the maximum extent possible. For purposes of Section 409A, each installment payment provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. Any payments to be made under this Agreement upon a termination of Employee’s employment shall only be made if such termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” under Section 409A.
(b)To the extent that any right to reimbursement of expenses or payment of any benefit in-kind under this Agreement constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A), (i) any such expense reimbursement shall be made by the Company no later than the last day of Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which such expense was incurred by Employee, (ii) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, and (iii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits to be provided in any other taxable year; provided, that the foregoing clause shall not be violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period in which the arrangement is in effect.
(c)Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or benefit provided for herein would be subject to additional taxes and interest under Section 409A if Employee’s receipt of such payment or benefit is not delayed until the earlier of the date of Employee’s death or the date that is six (6) months after the Termination Date (such date, the “Section 409A Payment Date”), then such payment or benefit shall not be provided to Employee (or Employee’s estate, if applicable) until the Section 409A Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement are exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A and in no event shall any member of the Company Group be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by Employee on account of non-compliance with Section 409A.
27.Effect of Termination. The provisions of Sections 7(a), 8-15, 20, 25, and 26 and those provisions necessary to interpret and enforce them, shall survive any termination of this Agreement and any termination of the employment relationship between Employee and the Company.
28.Third-Party Beneficiaries. Each member of the Company Group that is not a signatory to this Agreement shall be a third-party beneficiary of Employee’s obligations under Sections 7-15, 20, and 25 and shall be entitled to enforce such obligations as if a party hereto.
29.Certain Excise Taxes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Employee is a “disqualified individual” (as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code), and the benefits provided for in this Agreement, together with any other payments and benefits which Employee has the right to receive from the Company and its affiliates,
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would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), then the benefits provided for in this Agreement (beginning with any benefit to be paid in cash hereunder) shall be either (a) reduced (but not below zero) so that the present value of such total amounts and benefits received by Employee from the Company will be one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Employee’s “base amount” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) and so that no portion of such amounts and benefits received by Employee shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or (b) paid in full, whichever produces the better net after-tax position to Employee (taking into account any applicable excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code and any other applicable taxes). The determination as to whether any such reduction in the amount of the benefits provided hereunder is necessary shall be made by the Compensation Committee in good faith and in consultation with tax and legal advisors of the Company. If a reduced payment or benefit is made and through error or otherwise that payment or benefit, when aggregated with other payments and benefits from the Company (or its affiliates) used in determining if a “parachute payment” exists, exceeds one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Employee’s base amount, then Employee shall immediately repay such excess to the Company upon notification that an overpayment has been made. Nothing in this Section 29 shall require the Company to be responsible for, or have any liability or obligation with respect to, Employee’s excise tax liabilities under Section 4999 of the Code.
30.Severability. If an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement (or portion thereof) is invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity or unenforceability of that provision (or portion thereof) shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, and all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank;
Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employee and the Company each have caused this Agreement to be executed and effective as of the Effective Date.
EMPLOYEE
/s/ Terry L. Nutt
Terry L. Nutt
Dated: September 28, 2026
COMPANY
TALEN ENERGY CORPORATION
By: /s/ Andrew Wright
Name: Andrew Wright
Title: Chief Administrative Officer
SIGNATURE PAGE
TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EX-10.2
EX-10.2
Filename: ex102transitionandretireme.htm · Sequence: 3
Document
Exhibit 10.2
September 28, 2026
Mark McFarland
via e-mail
Re: Transition and Retirement Agreement and Release of Claims
Dear Mac:
This letter agreement (this “Letter Agreement”) confirms our agreement regarding the transition of your duties and retirement from employment with Talen Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Group”).
Reference is made herein to (a) the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, by and between you and the Company, dated as of December 12, 2025 (the “Employment Agreement”); (b) the Talen Energy Corporation 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time, the “Plan”); (c) the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, by and between you and the Company, dated as of February 28, 2025 (the “2025 RSU Award”); (d) the Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, by and between you and the Company, dated as of February 28, 2025 (together with the 2025 RSU Award, the “2025 Awards”), (e) the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, by and between you and the Company, dated as of February 26, 2026 (the “2026 Standard RSU Award”), (f) the Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, by and between you and the Company, dated as of February 26, 2026 (the “2026 Standard PSU Award” and, collectively with the 2026 Standard RSU Award, the “2026 Standard Awards”), (g) the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, by and between you and the Company, dated as of February 26, 2025 (the “2026 True Up RSU Award”), and (h) the Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, by and between you and the Company, dated as of February 26, 2026 (the “2026 True Up RSU Award” and together with the 2026 True Up RSU Award, the “2026 True Up Awards,” and collectively, with the 2025 Awards, and the 2026 Standard Awards, the “Award Agreements”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Employment Agreement will continue to govern your employment with the Company until the Transition Date (as defined below).
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein will have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Plan.
1.Transition Period.
(a)Effective as of the date of this Agreement, you and the Company acknowledge and agree that you will no longer be eligible to receive any new grants of equity awards under the Plan.
(b)Effective as of January 1, 2027 (the “Transition Date”), you will transition from your roles as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) to the role of Senior Advisor to the Company, reporting
to the Chairman of the Board. Except as expressly permitted by the Chairman of the Board, effective as of the Transition Date, you will no longer have any authority to represent or bind the Company Group and will not hold yourself out as having any such authority. Except for your role as Senior Advisor to the Company or as described in Section 1(c), as of the Transition Date, you will be deemed to have resigned from any positions with the Company Group (whether as a director, officer or otherwise).
(c)During the period commencing on the Transition Date and ending on March 1, 2027 (the “Separation Date,” and such period, the “Transition Period”), you will provide services reasonably requested by the Company, including transitioning your former duties, responsibilities and external relationships (the “Transition Services”). During the Transition Period, the Company may direct you to work from home or from the Company’s office, depending on the Company’s needs (and subject to any applicable laws or policies).
(d)During the Transition Period, the Company will provide you with the same employee benefits (including, without limitation, health plan coverage and those business expenses provided under Section 5 of the Employment Agreement) as in effect immediately prior to the Transition Date. Your outstanding equity awards will continue to vest in accordance with their terms during the Transition Period. Following the Transition Period, the Company will pay you a lump sum equal to $100,000 (in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll practices, but in no event later than 30 days following the Separation Date) for your services as a Senior Advisor (such payment, the “SA Payment”).
(e)As consideration for the rights and benefits offered pursuant to this Agreement (including, but not limited to, Sections 1(d), 2(c), and 3 herein), you expressly and irrevocably waive and release any and all claims you may have to terminate your employment for Good Reason under the Employment Agreement and receive payments and benefits or otherwise be entitled to any other rights under any plan, program, agreement or other arrangement sponsored by the Company Group, as the result of your role change from Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board to Senior Advisor or any other changes to your duties, authorities, responsibilities or compensation under this Agreement.
2.Separation.
(a)Following the Separation Date, you will no longer be an employee or service provider of (or hold any other positions with) the Company Group, and you will not hold yourself out as a partner, member, director, officer or employee of, or as otherwise affiliated with, the Company Group (including on social media). You will promptly execute any documents as may be requested by the Company to evidence your termination of employment with the Company. Additionally, on or following the Separation Date, you will execute the General Release attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “General Release”) such that the General Release becomes effective and irrevocable no later than 30 days following the Separation Date.
(b)The Company shall pay any accrued but unpaid wages in a lump sum, less all applicable deductions and withholdings, within thirty (30) days following the Separation Date, or such earlier date as may be required by applicable law. For the sake of clarity, no payment will be owed to you in lieu of any accrued but unused paid time off as of the Separation Date, and any such accrued but unused paid time off will be forfeited for no consideration on the Separation Date.
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(c)Subject to your execution and non-revocation of the General Release, the Company shall pay you the amount of your Annual Bonus that you would earn for 2026, based on actual performance, payable on the same date as other similarly situated Talen employees but in no case later than sixty (60) days following the Separation Date (but in no event prior to the Release Effective Date (as defined below)) (the “2026 Bonus”).
3.COBRA. As consideration for, and subject to, your compliance with this Letter Agreement, including Sections 5 and 6, and with the General Release, subject to your timely election of continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), you and your eligible dependents as of the Separation Date will be entitled to continued participation (pursuant to COBRA) in the Company’s group health plan (to the extent permitted under applicable law and the terms of such plan) covering you and your eligible dependents for a period of thirty-six (36) months following the Separation Date at your sole expense, provided that the Company may modify the continuation coverage contemplated by this Section 3 to the extent reasonably necessary to avoid the imposition of any excise taxes on the Company for failure to comply with the nondiscrimination requirements of Section 105(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended, and/or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, as amended, and in each case, the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (to the extent applicable) (the “COBRA Benefit”).
4.Incentive Equity Treatment. You and the Company acknowledge and agree that, as of the Separation Date, all of your outstanding unvested restricted stock units and performance-based stock units will be automatically cancelled for no consideration without any further action by you or the Company Group in accordance with the applicable Award Agreements. For the avoidance of doubt, all provisions in the Award Agreements relating to accelerated vesting upon a termination due to death or Disability will continue to apply during the Transition Period.
5.General Release Conditions; Forfeiture.
(a)Release; Voluntary Execution. The 2026 Bonus described in Section 2(c) and the COBRA Benefit contemplated by Section 3 will only be provided to or retained by you (as applicable) if, within twenty-one (21) days following the Separation Date (but in any event no earlier than the Separation Date), you deliver to the Company the executed General Release attached as Exhibit A hereto, and the General Release becomes effective and non-revocable in accordance with its terms (with the date on which the General Release first becomes effective and non-revocable, the “Release Effective Date”). You understand that you may execute the General Release less than twenty-one (21) days after you receive it from the Company (but not before the Separation Date), but you agree that any such execution will represent your knowing waiver of any consideration period required by applicable law.
(b)Forfeiture. If the Company discovers that grounds for a cause termination existed prior to the Separation Date, if you breach any Restrictive Covenants (as defined in Section 6) or if you do not reasonably provide the Transition Services, your eligibility to receive any unearned portion of the SA Payment described in Section 1(d), the 2026 Bonus described in Section 2(c), and the COBRA Benefit pursuant to Section 3 will immediately cease and be forfeited.
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6.Restrictive Covenants. You hereby acknowledge and agree that you will continue to be bound by, and you reaffirm your obligations under, the restrictive covenants set forth in the Employment Agreement and any other written agreement by and between you, on the one hand, and the Company Group, on the other (collectively, the “Restrictive Covenants”).
7.Whistleblower Protection. You understand that nothing contained in this Letter Agreement or the General Release limits your ability to file a charge or complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal, state or local governmental agency or commission (collectively, “Government Agencies”); provided, that you may not receive any relief (including, without limitation, compensation, reinstatement, back pay, front pay, damages, attorneys’ or experts’ fees, costs, and/or disbursements) as a consequence of any such charge and/or any litigation arising out of any such charge to the fullest extent permitted by law. You further understand that neither this Letter Agreement nor the General Release limits your ability to (a) communicate with any Government Agencies or otherwise participate in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any Government Agency, including providing documents or other information, without notice to the Company, or (b) make any other disclosures required by applicable law or legal process or other disclosures under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation. This Letter Agreement does not limit your right to seek or receive an award for information provided to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including pursuant to Section 922 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
8.Defend Trade Secrets Act. 18 U.S.C. §1833(b) provides: “An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (i) in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.” Nothing in this Letter Agreement is intended to conflict with 18 U.S.C. §1833(b) or create liability for disclosures of trade secrets that are expressly allowed by 18 U.S.C. §1833(b). Accordingly, the parties to this Letter Agreement have the right to disclose in confidence trade secrets to federal, state and local government officials, or to an attorney, for the sole purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law. The parties also have the right to disclose trade secrets in a document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, but only if the filing is made under seal and protected from public disclosure.
9.Return of Company Property. On or prior to the Separation Date, you will return to the Company any originals or copies of any and all materials, documents, notes, manuals or lists containing or embodying confidential information, or relating directly or indirectly to the business of the Company Group then in your possession or control.
10.Governing Law. This Letter Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties hereto and any claims or disputes relating thereto will be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to the choice of law provisions thereof; provided that, any claims or disputes relating to Section 4 will be governed by the Plan (and the Award Agreements thereunder), as applicable.
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11.Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among you and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings among you and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral; provided that, except as otherwise modified hereby, the Employment Agreement, the Award Agreements, and the Indemnification Agreement between you and the Company dated May 17, 2023, will remain in full force and effect. All other agreements between you and the Company, which are not specifically superseded by this Letter Agreement, will remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms. For the avoidance of doubt, except as explicitly set forth herein, none of the Restrictive Covenants are superseded or otherwise amended, modified or affected by this Letter Agreement. This Letter Agreement will bind the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of you and the Company Group and inure to the benefit of you and the Company Group and your and their respective heirs, successors and assigns (as applicable); provided that, you may not assign your rights or obligations hereunder. This Letter Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument executed by you and the Company.
12.Counterparts & Signatures. This Letter Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, and together any counterparts will constitute one and the same instrument. Additionally, the parties agree that electronic reproductions of signatures (i.e., scanned PDF versions of original signatures, facsimile transmissions and the like) will be treated as original signatures for purposes of execution of this Letter Agreement.
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
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If this Letter Agreement accurately reflects your understanding as to the terms and conditions set forth herein, please sign one copy of this Letter Agreement in the space provided below and return the same for the records of the Company.
Very truly yours,
TALEN ENERGY CORPORATION
By: /s/ Andrew Wright _______________________
Name: Andrew Wright
Title: Chief Administrative Officer
EMPLOYEE
/s/ Mark McFarland
Mark McFarland
[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
GENERAL RELEASE
I, Mark McFarland, in consideration of and subject to the performance by Talen Energy Corporation (the “Company”) of its obligations under the Letter Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2026 (the “Letter Agreement”), am entering into this general release of claims (this “General Release”) in connection with my separation from employment with the Company, and I hereby agree as follows:
1.I understand that the 2026 Bonus and the COBRA Benefit (each, as defined in the Letter Agreement) (collectively, the “Termination Benefits”) represent, in part, consideration for signing this General Release and are not salary, wages or other payments or benefits to which I was already entitled. I understand and agree that I will receive or retain the Termination Benefits provided that I: (i) execute this General Release and do not revoke this General Release within the time period permitted hereafter and (ii) comply with the Letter Agreement, this General Release and the Restrictive Covenants at all times. Such consideration provided to me under the Letter Agreement will not be considered compensation for purposes of any employee benefit plan, program, policy or arrangement maintained or hereafter established by the Company Group (as defined in the Letter Agreement). I also acknowledge and represent that I have received all payments and benefits that I am entitled to receive (as of the date hereof) by virtue of any employment by the Company.
2.Except as provided in paragraph 4 and 12 below and except for the provisions of the Letter Agreement that expressly survive the termination of my employment with the Company, I knowingly and voluntarily (for myself and my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns) release and forever discharge the Company Group (as defined in the Letter Agreement) and all present and former managers, directors, officers, agents, representatives, employees, successors and assigns of the Company Group and their direct and indirect owners (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, suits, controversies, actions, causes of action, cross-claims, counter-claims, demands, debts, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive or exemplary damages, other damages, claims for costs and attorneys’ fees or liabilities of any nature whatsoever in law and in equity, both past and present (through the date I execute this General Release), and whether known or unknown, suspected or claimed against the Company or any of the Released Parties (collectively, “Claims”), that I, my spouse or any of my heirs, executors, administrators or assigns may have, including, without limitation, any Claims (i) that arise out of or are connected with any matter, including my employment with, or my separation or termination from, the Company; (ii) that arise under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act) (“ADEA”); the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; any applicable Executive Orders; the Fair Labor Standards Act; or their state or local counterparts; or under any other federal, state or local civil or human rights law, or under any other local, state or federal law, regulation or ordinance; or under any public policy, contract or tort or under common law, including any Claim for wrongful discharge, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress or defamation; (iii) that arise under any policies, practices or procedures of the Company; or (iv) for costs, fees or other expenses, including attorneys’ fees incurred in these matters.
A-1
3.I represent that I have made no assignment or transfer of any Claim covered by paragraph 2 above.
4.I agree that this General Release does not waive or release any rights or Claims that I may have under the ADEA that arise after the date I execute this General Release. I acknowledge and agree that my separation from employment with the Company is in compliance with the terms of the Letter Agreement and company policy and shall not serve as the basis for any Claim (including, without limitation, any Claim under the ADEA).
5.In signing this General Release, I acknowledge and intend that it shall be effective as a bar to each and every one of the Claims hereinabove mentioned or implied. I expressly consent that this General Release shall be given full force and effect according to each and all of its express terms and provisions, including those relating to unknown and unsuspected Claims (notwithstanding any state statute that expressly limits the effectiveness of a general release of unknown, unsuspected and unanticipated Claims), if any, as well as those relating to any other Claims hereinabove mentioned or implied. I acknowledge and agree that this waiver is an essential and material term of this General Release and that without such waiver the Company would not have agreed to the terms of the Letter Agreement. I further agree that in the event I should bring a Claim seeking damages against the Company, or in the event I should seek to recover against the Company in any Claim brought by a governmental agency on my behalf, this General Release shall serve as a complete defense to such Claims to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.
6.I represent that I am not aware of any pending charge or complaint of the type described in paragraph 2 above as of the execution of this General Release. I represent that I am not aware of any Claim by me other than the Claims that are released by this General Release. I acknowledge that I may hereafter discover Claims or facts in addition to or different than those which I now know or believe to exist with respect to the subject matter of the release set forth in paragraph 2 above and which, if known or suspected at the time of entering into this General Release, may have materially affected this General Release and my decision to enter into it. Nevertheless, I hereby waive any Claim that might arise as a result of such different or additional Claims or facts.
7.I agree that neither this General Release, nor the furnishing of the consideration for this General Release, shall be deemed or construed at any time to be an admission by the Company, any Released Party or myself of any improper or unlawful conduct.
8.I agree that I will forfeit all unpaid or unprovided amounts and/or benefits payable or provided by the Company pursuant to the Letter Agreement if I challenge the validity of this General Release. I also agree that if I violate this General Release by suing the Company or the other Released Parties, I will pay all costs and expenses of defending against the suit incurred by the Released Parties, including attorneys’ fees, and upon the Company’s request, I will be required to return all amounts theretofore received by me pursuant to the Letter Agreement (other than the Cash Settlement (as defined in the Letter Agreement)).
A-2
9.Nothing in this General Release prohibits or restricts me (or my attorney) from responding to any inquiry about this General Release or its underlying facts and circumstances by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD), any other self- regulatory organization or governmental entity.
10.I agree that, as of the date hereof, I have returned to the Company any and all property, tangible or intangible, relating to its business, that I possessed or had control over at any time (including, but not limited to, Company-provided credit cards, building or office access cards, keys, computer equipment, manuals, files, documents, records, software, customer data base and other data) and that I shall not retain any copies, compilations, extracts, excerpts, summaries or other notes of any such manuals, files, documents, records, software, customer data base or other data.
11.Notwithstanding anything in this General Release to the contrary, this General Release shall not relinquish, diminish or in any way affect (a) any rights or Claims arising out of any breach by the Company or by any Released Party of the Letter Agreement after the date hereof; (b) any rights or Claims that cannot be waived by law; (c) any Claims I may have to workers’ compensation or unemployment benefits; (d) any vested 401(k) benefits under the Company’s 401(k) benefit plan; or (e) any rights I may have to indemnification pursuant to applicable D&O policies (including those in the Company’s governing documents or under the Indemnification Agreement between you and the Company dated May 17, 2023) in accordance with their terms or as a stockholder of the Company.
12.Whenever possible, each provision of this General Release shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this General Release is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction such invalidity, illegality and unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or its validity and enforceability in any other jurisdiction, but this General Release shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
BY SIGNING THIS GENERAL RELEASE, I REPRESENT AND AGREE THAT:
(a)I HAVE READ IT CAREFULLY;
(b)I UNDERSTAND ALL OF ITS TERMS AND KNOW THAT I AM GIVING UP IMPORTANT RIGHTS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RIGHTS UNDER THE ADEA; TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, AS AMENDED; THE EQUAL PAY ACT OF 1963; THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990; AND THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED;
(c)I AM ENTERING INTO THIS GENERAL RELEASE KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND IN EXCHANGE FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION TO WHICH I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ENTITLED IN THE ABSENCE OF EXECUTING AND NOT REVOKING THIS GENERAL RELEASE (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE TERMINATION BENEFITS);
A-3
(d)I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE EXECUTING IT AND I HAVE DONE SO OR, AFTER CAREFUL READING AND CONSIDERATION, I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO DO SO OF MY OWN VOLITION;
(e)I HAVE HAD AT LEAST TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF MY RECEIPT OF THIS GENERAL RELEASE TO CONSIDER IT AND THE CHANGES MADE SINCE MY RECEIPT OF THIS GENERAL RELEASE ARE NOT MATERIAL OR WERE MADE AT MY REQUEST AND WILL NOT RESTART THE REQUIRED TWENTY-ONE (21)-DAY PERIOD;
(f)I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE SEVEN (7) DAYS AFTER THE EXECUTION OF THIS GENERAL RELEASE TO REVOKE IT. SUCH REVOCATION MUST BE IN WRITING AND SENT VIA EMAIL TO ANDREW WRIGHT AT ANDREW.WRIGHT@TALENENERGY.COM. THIS GENERAL RELEASE SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE AND ENFORCEABLE ON THE EIGHT (8TH) CALENDAR DAY AFTER I EXECUTE IT; AND
(g)I AGREE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS GENERAL RELEASE MAY NOT BE AMENDED, WAIVED, CHANGED OR MODIFIED EXCEPT BY AN INSTRUMENT IN WRITING SIGNED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY AND BY ME.
[DO NOT SIGN BEFORE THE SEPARATION DATE.]
SIGNED: DATED:
Mark McFarland
A-4
EX-99.1
EX-99.1
Filename: a20260929pressreleasecapac.htm · Sequence: 4
Document
Exhibit 99.1
Talen Names Terry Nutt Chief Executive Officer and Announces $1.5 Billion Accelerated Share Repurchase
Mac McFarland to retire as CEO at year-end and serve as senior advisor through March 2027
Upsizes share repurchase program to a total of $3.0 billion through 2028
HOUSTON, Sept. 29, 2026 – Talen Energy Corporation (“Talen,” the “Company,” “we,” or “our”) (NASDAQ: TLN), a leading independent power producer, today announced a planned CEO succession, $1.5 billion accelerated share repurchase transactions (“ASRs”) and an upsized $3.0 billion share repurchase program (“SRP”).
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) has named Terry Nutt as Talen’s next Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), effective January 1, 2027. Mr. Nutt, currently Talen’s President, will also join the Board upon his appointment as CEO. Mac McFarland will remain CEO and a member of the Board through December 31, 2026, and will then serve as a senior advisor until his retirement in March 2027. The transition period is intended to support an orderly handoff and continuity in the Company’s strategy, operations and capital allocation priorities.
“Terry is the right leader to be Talen’s next CEO,” said Stephen Schaefer, Chairman of the Board. “He combines broad industry experience with deep knowledge of Talen’s assets, people and strategy. As President and previously as Chief Financial Officer, he has helped lead the Company’s operations, commercial activities and capital allocation. The Board has worked closely with Terry over the past three-plus years and has complete confidence in his ability to build on Talen’s strong performance and continue its focus on shareholder value.”
“I am honored to succeed Mac and grateful for his leadership and mentorship,” said Mr. Nutt. “As I prepare to lead Talen, my priorities are clear: maintain safe and reliable operations, execute Talen’s flywheel strategy and allocate capital with discipline. Today’s ASRs reflect that approach by reducing our share count at what we believe is an attractive free cash flow yield, while preserving liquidity and strategic flexibility.”
“It has been a privilege to work alongside Talen’s employees to build a company grounded in operational excellence and a relentless focus on creating value for our shareholders,” said Mr. McFarland. “What we have accomplished has been a true team effort — across our leadership and throughout Talen. Terry knows our company, our people, our markets and our opportunities, and he is the right person to lead this team forward. I look forward to supporting him and the entire team through the transition, and I am confident Talen is well positioned for continued success under his leadership.”
Mr. Schaefer added, “Mac’s vision, discipline and focus on results have had a lasting impact on Talen. Under his leadership, the Company strengthened its operations, expanded its growth opportunities and delivered substantial value for shareholders. On behalf of the Board, I thank Mac for his leadership and contributions.”
Jonathan Krautmann, Partner at Rubric Capital Management, added, “During Mac’s tenure, Talen built an exceptional record of disciplined execution and value creation, and we thank him for the foundation he has laid. As Talen’s largest actively managed shareholder, we are deeply invested in this management team and Board, and we have seen firsthand how integral Terry has been to that success — across the balance sheet, capital allocation and commercial strategy. We congratulate Terry on his appointment as CEO. We have full confidence in his leadership and strongly support him and the entire Talen team as they build on the Company’s momentum and continue to create value for all shareholders.”
“As a significant shareholder of Talen, Energy Capital Partners is proud of what the Company has accomplished and excited about its future,” said Andrew Gilbert, Partner at Energy Capital Partners. “We thank Mac for his leadership and the significant value he and the Talen team have created. Talen is well positioned, with an exceptional team and meaningful opportunities ahead. We congratulate Terry on his appointment and are confident he is the right leader to build on this foundation and guide Talen through its next phase of growth and value creation.”
About Terry Nutt
Mr. Nutt has more than 25 years of experience in the deregulated energy industry. He has served as Talen’s President since December 2025, overseeing the Company’s operations, commercial activities, administrative functions and external affairs. He previously served as Talen’s Chief Financial Officer from July 2023 through December 2025.
Before joining Talen, Mr. Nutt was Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director of EDF Trading North America from 2018 to 2023. Earlier, he held senior finance and risk management roles at Vistra Corporation and its predecessor entities. He earned an M.S. in Accounting and a B.B.A., summa cum laude, from Texas A&M University.
Mr. Nutt has entered into a new employment agreement reflecting his responsibilities as CEO. The agreement has an initial term through February 28, 2028, followed by automatic one-year renewals unless either party provides 90 days’ written notice of nonrenewal.
1
SRP and ASRs
The Board also increased the remaining capacity under Talen’s SRP to $3.0 billion through December 31, 2028. The authorization includes the $1.5 billion ASR agreements announced today, leaving $1.5 billion available for further repurchases through 2028, in addition to the ASRs and repurchases completed before today. Talen has repurchased 600,000 shares quarter-to-date in the third quarter of 2026.
The uncollared ASRs are expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2027 and, at the current stock price, would repurchase more than 10% of Talen’s shares outstanding. The final number of shares repurchased pursuant to the ASRs will be based on the arithmetic average of the daily volume-weighted average prices of Talen’s common stock during the ASRs’ terms, less an agreed discount and subject to customary adjustments. The ASRs are expected to be accretive to free cash flow per share.
Talen expects to fund the ASRs principally through the monetization of approximately $1.5 billion of cleared capacity revenues associated with the PJM 2027/2028 and 2028/2029 delivery years. The capacity monetization was executed with Citi at a rate of SOFR + 200 basis points. The transaction brings forward a portion of contracted future cash flows while maintaining Talen’s liquidity position, consistent with its targeted net leverage ratio of 3.5x. Talen expects to meet the targeted net leverage level during the second half of 2027, and that level is expected to decline further as the associated capacity revenues are generated and the remaining obligation is reduced.
Talen forecasts approximately $4 billion of adjusted free cash flow from 2H 2026 through year-end 2028, supported by locked-in and highly visible cash flows. After giving effect to the monetized capacity revenues, the Company expects approximately $2.8 billion of adjusted free cash flow during that period, preserving capacity for additional repurchases, strategic investments and other value-enhancing opportunities.
“Talen’s strong balance sheet, durable cash flow outlook and disciplined capital allocation framework provide us with the flexibility to return substantial capital to shareholders while maintaining our financial strength,” said Cole Muller, Talen’s Chief Financial Officer. “This accelerated repurchase reflects our confidence in Talen and the strength of our future cash flows and allows us to acquire a meaningful number of shares at what we believe are highly attractive free cash flow yields. After executing this transaction, Talen will have bought back approximately one-third of the shares outstanding at emergence three years ago. We continue to have a direct line of sight to achieving our targeted net leverage ratio of 3.5x by the second half of 2027.”
Under the ASR agreements with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Banco Santander, S.A., Talen will pay an aggregate of $1.5 billion and will initially receive approximately 4.0 million shares, or about 80% of the expected number of shares to be repurchased assuming the share price at market close on September 28, 2026. At final settlement, depending on the average of the daily volume-weighted average price of Talen’s common stock over the terms of the ASRs (less an agreed discount and subject to customary adjustments), Talen may receive additional shares or, in certain circumstances, be required to make a settlement payment in cash or shares at the Company’s election and subject to the terms of the agreements.
The timing and amount of any repurchases under the remaining $1.5 billion of SRP capacity will depend on market conditions, the Company’s capital needs and other factors. The Board’s approval of the $3.0 billion SRP capacity does not obligate Talen to repurchase any particular amount of common stock beyond the ASRs, and the SRP may be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time.
About Talen
Talen Energy (NASDAQ: TLN) is a leading independent power producer and energy infrastructure company dedicated to powering the future. We own and operate approximately 15.5 gigawatts of power infrastructure in the United States, including 2.2 gigawatts of nuclear power and a significant dispatchable fossil fleet. We produce and sell electricity, capacity, and ancillary services into wholesale U.S. power markets, with generation in the Mid-Atlantic, Ohio, Indiana, and Montana. Our team is committed to generating power safely and reliably while delivering the most value per megawatt produced. Talen is also powering the digital infrastructure revolution. We are well positioned to serve this growing industry, as artificial intelligence data centers increasingly demand more reliable power. Talen is headquartered in Houston, Texas. For more information, visit https://www.talenenergy.com/.
Investor Relations
Bill Appicelli
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
InvestorRelations@talenenergy.com
Media
Taryne Williams
Director, Corporate Communications
Taryne.Williams@talenenergy.com
2
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this communication, or incorporated by reference into this communication, are forward-looking statements. Throughout this communication, we have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecasts,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” or other forms of these words or similar words or expressions or the negative thereof, although not all forward-looking statements contain these terms. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions concerning, among other things, the leadership transition, the timing, size, completion, and impacts of the capacity monetization, ASR, and remaining SRP, capital expenditures, earnings, litigation, regulatory matters, hedging, liquidity and capital resources, accounting matters, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, shareholder returns and underlying assumptions.
Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our future business, financial condition, results of operations or performance to differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement contained in this communication. All of our forward-looking statements include assumptions underlying or relating to such statements that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and are subject to numerous factors that present considerable risks and uncertainties.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release refers to adjusted free cash flow, which is not a financial measure prepared under GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures do not have definitions under GAAP and may be defined and calculated differently by, and not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies. Non-GAAP measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analyzing our results as reported under GAAP. Please see our August 5, 2026 earnings presentation for a definition of adjusted free cash flow, additional information regarding its uses and limitations, and a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
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na
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X
- Definition
Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details
Name:
dei_TradingSymbol
Namespace Prefix:
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Data Type:
dei:tradingSymbolItemType
Balance Type:
na
Period Type:
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- Definition
Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Securities Act
-Number 230
-Section 425
+ Details
Name:
dei_WrittenCommunications
Namespace Prefix:
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