05/04/2023 - Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc.: 2023 Proxy Statement

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Proxy

Statement

2023

Notice of Annual Meeting of

Shareholders to be held

May 17, 2023

April 5, 2023

Dear Shareholder:

You are cordially invited to join us for our 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. at Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.'s corporate office, 3505 West Sam Houston Parkway North, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77043.

The materials following this letter include the formal Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the proxy statement. The proxy statement describes the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting, including the election of three Class III directors, the ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2023 fiscal year, an advisory vote on the approval of the 2022 compensation of our named executive officers, and an advisory vote on the frequency of holding the advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers.

We have elected to furnish proxy materials to our shareholders on the Internet pursuant to rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. We believe that this election enables us to provide you with the information you need, while making delivery more efficient, more cost effective and friendlier to the environment. In accordance with these rules, we have sent a Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials to each of our shareholders.

Whether you own a few or many shares of our stock, we want your shares to be represented. Regardless of whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please take a moment to vote your proxy over the Internet, by telephone, or if this proxy statement was mailed to you, by completing and signing the enclosed proxy card and promptly returning it in the envelope provided. The Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders of this proxy statement includes instructions on how to vote your shares.

Helix's officers and directors appreciate and encourage shareholder participation. We look forward to your participation in the Annual Meeting.

Sincerely,

Owen Kratz

President and Chief Executive Officer

Important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 17, 2023

The Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. 2023 Proxy Statement and Annual Report to Shareholders (including our Annual Report on Form 10-K) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 are available electronically at www.helixesg.com/annualmeeting

Table of Contents

Notice of 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

ii

Proxy Summary

1

General Information

5

Proposal 1: Election of Directors

11

Corporate Governance

18

Composition of the Board

18

Role of the Board

18

Board of Directors Independence and Determinations

18

Selection of Director Candidates

18

Board of Directors Qualifications, Skills and Experience

19

Board of Directors Matrix

19

Board Leadership Structure

21

Communications with the Board

21

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

21

Attendance at the Annual Meeting

21

Mandatory Retirement Policy

21

Directors' Continuing Education

21

Risk Oversight

22

Corporate Sustainability

23

Meetings of the Board and Committees

24

Board Attendance

25

Executive Sessions of Directors

25

Audit Committee

25

Compensation Committee

26

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

26

Director Nomination Process

28

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider

Participation

29

Director Compensation

30

2022 Director Compensation Table

30

Summary of Director Compensation and Procedures

32

Certain Relationships

33

Related Party Transactions

33

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

33

Report of the Audit Committee

34

Proposal 2: Ratification of Independent Registered Public

Accounting Firm

35

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

36

Executive Summary and Recommendation

36

Company Highlights

37

Executive Compensation Process

43

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

46

2022 Executive Compensation Components

49

Compensation Committee Report

55

Executive Officers

56

Executive Compensation

58

Summary Compensation Table

58

Grant of Plan-Based Awards

60

Outstanding Equity Awards as of December 31, 2022

62

Option Exercises and Stock Vested for Fiscal

Year 2022

63

All Other Compensation

63

Employment Agreements and Change in Control

Provisions

64

Chief Executive Officer Pay Ratio

68

Pay Versus Performance

69

Proposal 3: Advisory Vote on the Approval of the 2022 Compensation

of Our Named Executive Officers

73

Proposal 4: Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Holding the Advisory Vote

to Approve the Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers

75

Share Ownership Information

76

Five Percent Owners

76

Management Shareholdings

77

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

78

Equity Compensation Plan Information

79

Other Information

80

Costs of Solicitation

80

Proposals and Director Nominations for the 2024

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

80

Other

81

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.

2023 Proxy Statement

i

HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS GROUP, INC. 3505 West Sam Houston Parkway North, Suite 400 Houston, Texas 77043

Notice of 2023 Annual

Meeting of Shareholders

Items of Business

1

To elect three Class III directors to serve a three-year term expiring at the

Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2026 or, if at a later date, until their

successors are duly elected and qualified.

2

To ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public

accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023.

Date

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Time

8:30 a.m., Central Daylight Time (Houston Time)

Place

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.'s corporate office, 3505 West Sam Houston Parkway North, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77043

3

Advisory vote on the approval of the 2022 compensation of our named

executive officers.

4

Advisory vote on the frequency of holding the advisory vote to approve the

compensation of our named executive officers.

5

To consider any other business that may properly be considered at the

Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Kenneth E. Neikirk

Executive Vice President,

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Houston, Texas

April 5, 2023

Record Date

You may vote at the Annual Meeting if you were a holder of record of our common stock at the close of business on March 21, 2023.

Voting By Proxy

Please vote your proxy as soon as possible, even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. Shareholders of record can vote by one of the following methods:

1.  CALL 800.690.6903 to vote by telephone; OR

2.  GO TO THE WEBSITE www.proxyvote.comto vote over the Internet; OR

3.  IF PRINTED PROXY MATERIALS WERE MAILED TO YOU, MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN your proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. If you are voting by telephone or the Internet, please do not mail your proxy card.

Important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 17, 2023:

The proxy statement and Annual Report to Shareholders (including our Annual Report on Form 10-K) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 are also available at

www.helixesg.com/annualmeeting.

Your Vote

is Important

ii

2023 Proxy Statement

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.

Disclaimer

Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc. published this content on 05 April 2023 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 05 April 2023 21:45:39 UTC.

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