Document:

EX-10.1

 Exhibit 10.1 

EXECUTION VERSION 

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 

This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of this 16th day of August 2015, by and between
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Anthony Esparza (the “Executive”). 

W I T N E S S E T H : 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive and to enter into this Agreement embodying the terms of such employment, and Executive
desires to enter into this Agreement and to be employed by the Company, subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement. 
 NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are mutually acknowledged, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows: 

Section 1. Definitions. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning set forth on Appendix
A, attached hereto. 
 Section 2. Acceptance and Term of Employment. 

(a) The Company agrees to employ Executive, and Executive agrees to serve the Company, on the terms and conditions set forth herein. The Term
of Employment shall commence on September 8, 2015 (the “Commencement Date”) and continue until the third anniversary of the Commencement Date, unless earlier terminated as provided in Section 7 hereof (the “Term of
Employment”). 
 (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing and for the avoidance of doubt, if the Executive continues employment with the
Company following the expiration of the Term of Employment, (i) such employment shall constitute “at will” employment and may be terminated at any time by either party upon written notice and, notwithstanding Section 22 hereof,
(ii) the provisions of Section 7 shall not apply to such “at-will” employment and no longer be of further force or effect, and (iii) Executive shall become a participant in the Company’s Key Employee Severance Plan (or
a successor plan) and be subject to terms and conditions of such plan. 
 Section 3. Position, Duties, and Responsibilities; Place
of Performance. 
 (a) Position, Duties, and Responsibilities. During the Term of Employment, Executive shall be employed and
serve as the Chief Creative Officer of the Company (together with such other position or positions consistent with Executive’s title as the Chief Executive Officer shall specify from time to time) and shall have such duties and responsibilities
commensurate with such title and as the Chief Executive Officer may designate from time to time. If requested by the Company, Executive also agrees to serve as an officer and/or director of any other member of the Company Group, in each case without
additional compensation. The Executive shall be based at the Company’s corporate headquarters in Orlando, Florida. 

 (b) Performance. Executive shall devote his full business time, attention, skill, and best
efforts to the performance of his duties under this Agreement and shall not engage in any other business or occupation during the Term of Employment, including, without limitation, any activity that (x) conflicts with the interests of the
Company or any other member of the Company Group, (y) interferes with the proper and efficient performance of Executive’s duties for the Company, or (z) interferes with Executive’s exercise of judgment in the Company’s best
interests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall preclude Executive from (i) serving as a member of the boards of directors or advisory boards (or their equivalents in the case of a non-corporate entity) of charitable
organizations or, with the prior written consent of the Board following a recommendation from the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board, of noncompeting businesses, (ii) engaging in charitable activities and community affairs, and
(iii) managing his personal investments and affairs; provided, however, that the activities set out in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) shall be limited by Executive so as not to materially interfere, individually or in the
aggregate, with the performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder. 
 Section 4. Compensation. 

During the Term of Employment, Executive shall be entitled to the following compensation: 

(a) Base Salary. Executive shall initially be paid an annualized Base Salary, payable in accordance with the regular payroll practices
of the Company, of $325,000. No less frequently than annually, the Executive’s Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Compensation Committee who may (but is not obligated to) adjust such Base Salary in its sole discretion; provided that
Base Salary shall not be decreased. Any such increased Base Salary shall be the Executive’s “Base Salary” for all purposes under this Agreement. 

(b) Annual Bonus. During the Term of Employment, Executive shall be eligible to participate in the annual bonus plan adopted by the
Company from time to time (the “Annual Bonus Plan”), pursuant to which Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual incentive bonus award for the current fiscal year, and for each subsequent year during the Term of Employment
(the “Annual Bonus”). The target Annual Bonus for each such fiscal year (the “Target Annual Bonus”) shall be not less than 100% of Base Salary, with the actual Annual Bonus payable under the Annual Bonus Plan
being based upon the level of achievement of Company and/or individual performance objectives for such fiscal year, as established by the Compensation Committee and communicated to Executive; provided that for fiscal year 2015, the target bonus
opportunity will be pro-rated based on the Commencement Date and portion of the fiscal year Executive is employed with the Company. The Annual Bonus shall otherwise be subject to the terms and conditions of the Annual Bonus Plan. Any earned Annual
Bonus for a fiscal year shall be paid to the Executive at the same time as annual bonuses are generally payable to other senior executives of the Company, subject to Executive’s continuous employment through the applicable performance period,
but in no event later than the 15th day of the third month following the close of such fiscal year, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus pursuant to an arrangement that meets the requirements of
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). 

  
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 (c) Annual Equity Awards. During the Term of Employment, (i) Executive will be
eligible to participate in the long-term equity incentive plan(s) adopted by the Company from time to time, including without limitation, under the Company’s 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (as applicable, the “Equity Plan”) and
(ii) commencing with fiscal year 2016 and for each fiscal year thereafter, the Executive shall be a participant in the Company’s long term equity compensation program with a long term equity award target value equal to $325,000 (based on
grant date fair market value of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”) underlying such awards) subject to such vesting and other terms and conditions as the Compensation Committee shall determine and otherwise, in all
respects, subject to the Compensation Committee’s annual compensation review discretion and in accordance with the Company’s Equity Award Grant Policy, in effect from time to time. 

(d) Sign-On Restricted Stock Grant. As soon as practicable following the Commencement Date, Executive shall receive a one-time grant
(the “Sign-On Restricted Stock Grant”) of restricted shares of Common Stock with a value on the Commencement Date equal to $2,250,000. The Sign-On Restricted Stock Grant shall vest in four equal annual (25%) installments over
the first four anniversaries of the date of grant so long as the Executive remains employed by the Company through such dates. 
 (e)
Sign-On Option Grant. As soon as practicable following the Commencement Date, Executive shall receive a one-time grant (the “Sign-On Option Grant”) of options to acquire shares of Common Stock at an exercise price per share
equal to the fair market value of such shares on the date of grant and calculated in accordance with the applicable Equity Plan. The Sign-On Option Grant shall cover a number of shares of Common Stock resulting in a grant date fair value equal to
$1,000,000 based on a Black-Scholes calculation. The Sign-On Option Grant shall vest in four equal annual (25%) installments over the first four anniversaries of the date of grant so long as the Executive remains employed by the Company through
such dates. 
 (f) Sign-On Cash Bonus. Executive shall receive a one-time cash bonus in an amount equal to $10,000 payable on the
Company’s first regularly scheduled payroll date following the Commencement Date. 
 (g) Supplemental Bonus. Subject to
Executive’s continued employment with the Company through March 15, 2016, Executive shall receive a one-time cash bonus in an amount equal to $275,000 payable on the Company’s regularly scheduled payroll date on March 15, 2016.

 Section 5. Employee Benefits; Vacation. 

(a) During the Term of Employment, Executive shall be entitled to participate in health, insurance, retirement, annual leave and time-off, and
other benefits provided generally to similarly situated executive officers of the Company. Executive shall also be entitled to the same number of holidays, vacation days, and sick days, as well as any other benefits, in each case as are generally
allowed to similarly situated executive officers of the Company in accordance with the Company policy as in effect from time to time. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the Company’s ability to amend, suspend, or terminate any
employee benefit plan or policy at any time without providing Executive notice, and the right to do so is expressly reserved. 

  
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 (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 5(a), during the Term of Employment,
Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of annual paid vacation days, which shall accrue and be usable in accordance with Company policy, as in effect from time to time; provided that for fiscal year 2015, Executive’s annual
paid vacation shall be prorated based on the Commencement Date and portion of the fiscal year Executive is employed with the Company. 

Section 6. Reimbursement of Expenses. 

(a) Business Expenses. Executive is authorized to incur reasonable business expenses in carrying out his duties and responsibilities
under this Agreement, and the Company shall promptly reimburse him for all such reasonable business expenses, subject to documentation in accordance with the Company’s policies, as in effect from time to time. 

(b) Relocation Expenses. The Company will reimburse Executive for reasonable and documented travel expenses for Executive in accordance
with the Company’s executive relocation policy, in effect from time to time (the “Relocation Policy”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Relocation Policy, the Company will (i) extend the home sale/purchase
program under the Relocation Policy beyond the one-year period described in the Relocation Policy, as necessary, to the extent Executive permanently relocates to Orlando, Florida subsequent to such one-year period and (ii) will reimburse
Executive for the cost of reasonable, documented and temporary housing accommodations in the Orlando, Florida metropolitan area that are provided in accordance with the Relocation Policy and for the period from the Commencement Date through
April 30, 2016. 
 Section 7. Termination of Employment. 

(a) General. The Term of Employment shall terminate earlier than as provided in Section 2 hereof upon the earliest to occur of
(i) Executive’s death, (ii) a termination by reason of a Disability, (iii) a termination by the Company with or without Cause, and (iv) a termination by Executive with or without Good Reason. Upon any termination of
Executive’s employment for any reason, except as may otherwise be requested by the Company in writing and agreed upon in writing by Executive, Executive shall resign from any and all directorships, committee memberships, and any other positions
Executive holds with the Company or any other member of the Company Group. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, other than the requirements of Section 13 hereof, the payment (or commencement of a series of payments) hereunder of any
nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) upon a termination of employment shall be delayed until such time as Executive has also undergone a “separation from service” as defined in Treas.
Reg. 1.409A-1(h), at which time such nonqualified deferred compensation (calculated as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment hereunder) shall be paid (or commence to be paid) to Executive on the schedule set forth in this
Section 7 as if Executive had undergone such termination of employment (under the same circumstances) on the date of his ultimate “separation from service.” 

  
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 (b) Termination Due to Death or Disability. Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon
his death. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment immediately upon the occurrence of a Disability, such termination to be effective upon Executive’s receipt of written notice of such termination. Upon Executive’s death or in
the event that Executive’s employment is terminated due to his Disability, Executive or his estate or his beneficiaries, as the case may be, shall be entitled to the Accrued Obligations. Following Executive’s death or a termination of
Executive’s employment by reason of a Disability, except as set forth in this Section 7(b), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement. 

(c) Termination by the Company for Cause. 

(i) The Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time for Cause, effective upon Executive’s receipt of
written notice of such termination; provided, however, that with respect to any Cause termination relying on clauses (i), (ii), (vi) or (vii) of the definition of Cause, to the extent that such act or acts or failure or
failures to act are curable, Executive shall be given not less than fifteen (15) days’ written notice by the Board of the Company’s intention to terminate him for Cause, such notice to state in detail the particular act or acts or
failure or failures to act that constitute the grounds on which the proposed termination for Cause is based, and such termination shall be effective at the expiration of such fifteen (15) day notice period unless Executive has fully cured such
act or acts or failure or failures to act that give rise to Cause during such period. 
 (ii) In the event that the Company
terminates Executive’s employment for Cause, he shall be entitled only to the Accrued Obligations. Following such termination of Executive’s employment for Cause, except as set forth in this Section 7(c)(ii), Executive shall have no
further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement. 
 (d) Termination by the Company without Cause. The
Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time without Cause, effective upon Executive’s receipt of written notice of such termination. In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause
(other than due to death or Disability), Executive shall be entitled to: 
 (i) The Accrued Obligations; 

(ii) An amount equal to the Severance Factor multiplied by the sum of (x) Base Salary and (y) the Target Annual
Bonus, such amount to be paid in a lump sum within 15 days following the date of termination; 
 (iii) Full accelerated
vesting and immediately lapse of restrictions on each of the Sign-On Restricted Stock Grant and Sign-On Option Grant; and 

(iv) Subject to Executive’s election of COBRA continuation coverage under the Company’s group health plan, payment,
on the first regularly scheduled payroll date of each month during the Severance Term, of an amount equal to the difference 

  
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between the monthly COBRA premium cost and the monthly contribution paid by active employees for the same coverage; provided, that the payments described in this clause (iv) shall
cease earlier than the expiration of the Severance Term in the event that Executive becomes eligible to receive any health benefits as a result of subsequent employment or service during the Severance Term. 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the payments and benefits described in clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) above shall immediately terminate, and the
Company shall have no further obligations to Executive with respect thereto, in the event that Executive breaches any provision of the Restrictive Covenants contained in Appendix B attached hereto. Following such termination of
Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause, except as set forth in this Section 7(d), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt,
Executive’s sole and exclusive remedy upon a termination of employment by the Company without Cause shall be receipt of the Severance Benefits. 

(e) Termination by Executive with Good Reason. Executive may terminate his employment with Good Reason by providing the Company fifteen
(15) days’ written notice setting forth in reasonable specificity the event that constitutes Good Reason, which written notice, to be effective, must be provided to the Company within sixty (60) days of the Executive’s knowledge
(whether actual or constructive, including, without limitation, knowledge that Executive would have reasonably obtained after making due and appropriate inquiry) of such event. During such fifteen (15) day notice period, the Company shall have
a cure right (if curable), and if not cured within such period, Executive’s termination will be effective upon the expiration of such cure period, and Executive shall be entitled to the same payments and benefits as provided in
Section 7(d) hereof for a termination by the Company without Cause, subject to the same conditions on payment and benefits as described in Section 7(d) hereof. Following such termination of Executive’s employment by Executive with
Good Reason, except as set forth in this Section 7(e) and Section 15, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive’s sole and exclusive
remedy upon a termination of employment with Good Reason shall be receipt of the Severance Benefits. 
 (f) Termination by Executive
without Good Reason. Executive may terminate his employment without Good Reason by providing the Company thirty (30) days’ written notice of such termination. In the event of a termination of employment by Executive under this
Section 7(f), Executive shall be entitled only to the Accrued Obligations. In the event of termination of Executive’s employment under this Section 7(f), the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, by written notice
accelerate such date of termination without changing the characterization of such termination as a termination by Executive without Good Reason. Following such termination of Executive’s employment by Executive without Good Reason, except as
set forth in this Section 7(f), Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement. 

(g) Release. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the payment of any amount or provision of any benefit pursuant to
subsection (d) or (e) of this Section 7 (other than the Accrued Obligations) (collectively, the “Severance Benefits”) shall be 

  
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conditioned upon Executive’s execution, delivery to the Company, and non-revocation of the Release of Claims (and the expiration of any revocation period contained in such Release of Claims)
within sixty (60) days following the date of Executive’s termination of employment hereunder. If Executive fails to execute the Release of Claims in such a timely manner so as to permit any revocation period to expire prior to the end of
such sixty (60) day period, or timely revokes his acceptance of such release following its execution, Executive shall not be entitled to any of the Severance Benefits. Further, to the extent that any of the Severance Benefits constitutes
“nonqualified deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, any payment of any amount or provision of any benefit otherwise scheduled to occur prior to the sixtieth
(60th) day following the date of Executive’s termination of employment hereunder, but for the condition on executing the Release of Claims as set forth herein, shall not be made until
the first regularly scheduled payroll date following such sixtieth (60th) day, after which any remaining Severance Benefits shall thereafter be provided to Executive according to the
applicable schedule set forth herein. 
 (h) Notice of Termination. Any written notice of termination given under Section 7 of
this Agreement shall be provided to the other party in accordance with Section 19 of this Agreement. In addition, any written notice pertaining to a termination by the Company for Cause or by Executive for Good Reason shall meet the
requirements of a Notice of Termination (as defined in this paragraph). For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement
relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) the Date of
Termination (as defined below). 
 (i) Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” means (i) if the
Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, the date of expiration of the cure period set forth in Section 7(c), (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive for Good Reason, the date of
expiration of the cure period specified in Section 7(e), (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination or
such later date specified by the Company, (iv) if the Executive voluntarily resigns without Good Reason, the date at least thirty (30) days after the Executive notifies the Company, subject to the Company’s right to accelerate such
date of termination without changing the characterization of such termination as a termination by the Executive without Good Reason as provided in Section 7(f), (v) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of death, the
date of death of the Executive, or (vi) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company due to Disability, the date specified by the Company. 

Section 8. Certain Payments. 

(a) In the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by the Executive pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise
(“Payments”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and (ii) but for this section, be
subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, any successor provisions, or any comparable federal, state, local or foreign excise tax (“Excise Tax”), then, subject to the provisions of this Section 8, such

  
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Payments shall be either (A) provided in full pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other applicable agreement, or (B) provided as to such lesser extent which would result in
no portion of such Payments being subject to the Excise Tax (“Reduced Amount”), whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state, local and foreign income, employment and other taxes and the
Excise Tax (including, without limitation, any interest or penalties on such taxes), results in the receipt by the Executive, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of payments and benefits provided for hereunder or otherwise, notwithstanding
that all or some portion of such Payments may be subject to the Excise Tax. 
 (b) Unless the Company and the Executive otherwise agree in
writing, any determination required under this Section 8 shall be made by an independent advisor designated by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Executive (“Independent Advisor”), whose determination shall be
conclusive and binding upon the Executive and the Company for all purposes. For purposes of making the calculations required under this Section, Independent Advisor may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and
may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code; provided that Independent Advisor shall assume that the Executive pays all taxes at the highest marginal rate. The Company and the
Executive shall furnish to Independent Advisor such information and documents as Independent Advisor may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section. The Company shall bear all costs that Independent Advisor may incur in
connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section. The reduction of the Payments payable hereunder, if applicable, shall be made by first reducing the cash payments under Section 7(d)(ii) and then by reducing any other Payments in a
manner determined by the Company, in consultation with the Executive. 
 (c) If, notwithstanding any reduction described in Section 8
(or in the absence of any such reduction), the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) determines that the Executive is liable for the Excise Tax as a result of the receipt of one or more Payments, then the Executive shall be obligated to
surrender or pay back to the Company, within 120 days after a final IRS determination, an amount of such payments or benefits equal to the “Repayment Amount.” The Repayment Amount with respect to such Payments shall be the smallest
such amount, if any, as shall be required to be surrendered or paid to the Company so that the Executive’s net proceeds with respect to such Payments (after taking into account the payment of the excise tax imposed on such Payments) shall be
maximized. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Repayment Amount with respect to such Payments shall be zero if a Repayment Amount of more than zero would not eliminate the Excise Tax imposed on such Payments or if a Repayment Amount of more than zero
would not maximize the net amount received by the Executive from the Payments. If the Excise Tax is not eliminated pursuant to this Section 8, the Executive shall pay the Excise Tax. 

Section 9. Restrictive Covenants. 

Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of the Company Group and accordingly agrees, as a
condition of Executive’s continued employment with the Company, to be bound by and comply with the Restrictive Covenants contained in Appendix B attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein. Executive acknowledges and agrees that
the Company’s remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Section 1 of Appendix B (or a material breach or 

  
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material threatened breach of any of the provisions of Section 2 of Appendix B of this Agreement) would be inadequate and the Company would suffer irreparable damages as a result of
such breach or threatened breach. In recognition of this fact, Executive agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, in addition to any remedies at law and in addition to cessation of payments described in the last paragraph of
Section 7(d), the Company, without posting any bond, shall be entitled to obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then
be available. Any action for by the Company for equitable relief shall be brought exclusively in the courts of the State of Florida, and the parties hereto irrevocably agree to submit to the jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of
Florida for any such action or proceeding. For the avoidance of doubt, the Restrictive Covenants contained in Appendix B shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other similar restrictive covenants contained in any other agreement
between Executive and any member of the Company Group. 
 Section 10. Representations and Warranties of Executive. 

Executive represents and warrants to the Company that: 

(a) Executive has had the opportunity to consult with, and is represented by, his own tax and legal advisor(s) in connection with the
negotiation and preparation of this Agreement; 
 (b) Executive is entering into this Agreement voluntarily and that his employment hereunder
and compliance with the terms and conditions hereof will not conflict with or result in the breach by him of any agreement to which he is a party or by which he may be bound; 

(c) Executive has not violated, and in connection with his employment with the Company will not violate, any non-solicitation, non-competition,
or other similar covenant or agreement of a prior employer by which he is or may be bound; and 
 (d) in connection with his employment with
the Company, Executive will not use any confidential or proprietary information he may have obtained in connection with employment with any prior employer. 

Section 11. Taxes.  

The Company may withhold from any payments made under this Agreement all applicable taxes, including but not limited to income, employment,
and social insurance taxes, as shall be required by law. Executive acknowledges and represents that the Company has not provided any tax advice to him in connection with this Agreement and that he has been advised by the Company to seek tax advice
from his own tax advisors regarding this Agreement and payments that may be made to him pursuant to this Agreement, including specifically, the application of the provisions of Section 409A of the Code to such payments. 

  
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 Section 12. Set Off; Mitigation. 

The Company’s obligation to pay Executive the amounts provided and to make the arrangements provided hereunder shall not be subject to
set-off, counterclaim, or recoupment of amounts owed by Executive to the Company or its affiliates. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided pursuant to this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise,
and except as provided in Section 7(d)(iv) hereof, the amount of any payment provided for pursuant to this Agreement shall not be reduced by any compensation earned as a result of Executive’s other employment or otherwise. 

Section 13. Additional Section 409A Provisions. 

Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary: 

(a) Any payment otherwise required to be made hereunder to Executive at any date as a result of the termination of Executive’s employment
shall be delayed for such period of time as may be necessary to meet the requirements of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code (the “Delay Period”). On the first business day following the expiration of the Delay Period,
Executive shall be paid, in a single cash lump sum, an amount equal to the aggregate amount of all payments delayed pursuant to the preceding sentence, and any remaining payments not so delayed shall continue to be paid pursuant to the payment
schedule set forth herein. 
 (b) Each payment in a series of payments hereunder shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of
Section 409A of the Code. 
 (c) 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 of the Code), (i) any such expense reimbursement shall be made by the Company no later than the last day of the taxable year following the taxable
year in which such expense was incurred by Executive, (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 the arrangement is in effect. 

(d) While the payments and benefits provided hereunder are intended to be structured in a manner to avoid the implication of any penalty taxes
under Section 409A of the Code, in no event whatsoever shall any member of the Company Group be liable for any additional tax, interest, or penalties that may be imposed on Executive as a result of Section 409A of the Code or any damages
for failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code (other than for withholding obligations or other obligations applicable to employers, if any, under Section 409A of the Code). If any provision of this Agreement (or of any award of
compensation, including equity compensation or benefits) would cause Executive to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A of the Code, the Company shall, after consulting with and receiving the approval of Executive, reform such
provision in a manner intended to avoid the incurrence by Executive of any such additional tax or interest. 

  
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 Section 14. Successors and Assigns; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. 

(a) The Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and its respective successors and assigns. Neither this
Agreement nor any of the rights, obligations, or interests arising hereunder may be assigned by the Company to a Person (other than another member of the Company Group, or its or their respective successors) without Executive’s prior written
consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned); provided, however, that in the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or any direct or indirect division or subsidiary
thereof to which Executive’s employment primarily relates, the Company may provide that this Agreement will be assigned to, and assumed by, the acquiror of such assets, division or subsidiary, as applicable, without Executive’s consent.

 (b) Executive. Executive’s rights and obligations under this Agreement shall not be transferable by Executive by assignment
or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Company; provided, however, that if Executive shall die, all amounts then payable to Executive hereunder shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to
Executive’s devisee, legatee, or other designee, or if there be no such designee, to Executive’s estate. 
 (c) No Third-Party
Beneficiaries. Except as otherwise set forth in Section 7(b) or Section 14(b) hereof, nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will be construed to give any Person other than the Company, the other members of the Company
Group, and Executive any legal or equitable right, remedy, or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement. 

Section 15. Disputes; Arbitration. 

Subject to the Company’s right to seek equitable relief for any violations of the Restrictive Covenants contained in Appendix B (as set
forth in Section 9), any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement or Executive’s employment with the Company shall be settled exclusively through the Company’s Dispute Resolution Program that is in
effect from time to time and which includes final and binding arbitration of covered claims. 
 Section 16. Waiver and
Amendments. 
 Any waiver, alteration, amendment, or modification of any of the terms of this Agreement shall be valid only if made in
writing and signed by each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that any such waiver, alteration, amendment, or modification must be consented to on the Company’s behalf by the Compensation Committee and the Board. No waiver
by either of the parties hereto of their rights hereunder shall be deemed to constitute a waiver with respect to any subsequent occurrences or transactions hereunder unless such waiver specifically states that it is to be construed as a continuing
waiver. 

  
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 Section 17. Severability. 

If any covenants or such other provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid or unenforceable by a final determination of a court of
competent jurisdiction, (a) the remaining terms and provisions hereof shall be unimpaired, and (b) the invalid or unenforceable term or provision hereof shall be deemed replaced by a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that
comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision hereof. 
 Section 18. Governing Law;
Waiver of Jury Trial. 
 THIS AGREEMENT IS GOVERNED BY AND IS TO BE CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITHOUT GIVING
EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION CLAUSE. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT ALSO HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUIT, ACTION, OR PROCEEDING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION
WITH THIS AGREEMENT. 
 Section 19. Notices. 

(a) Place of Delivery. Every notice or other communication relating to this Agreement shall be in writing, and shall be mailed to or
delivered to the party for whom or which it is intended at such address as may from time to time be designated by it in a notice mailed or delivered to the other party as herein provided; provided, that unless and until some other address be
so designated, all notices and communications by Executive to the Company shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at its principal executive office to the attention of the General Counsel, and all notices and communications by the Company to
Executive may be given to Executive personally or may be mailed to Executive at Executive’s last known address, as reflected in the Company’s records. 

(b) Date of Delivery. Any notice so addressed shall be deemed to be given (i) if delivered by hand, on the date of such delivery,
(ii) if mailed by courier or by overnight mail, on the first business day following the date of such mailing, and (iii) if mailed by registered or certified mail, on the third business day after the date of such mailing. 

Section 20. Section Headings. 

The headings of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part
thereof or affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or of any term or provision hereof. 
 Section 21. Entire
Agreement. 
 This Agreement, together with any exhibits and appendices attached hereto and any equity award grants referenced herein to
be made by the Company to the Executive, constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto regarding the employment of Executive. This Agreement supersedes all prior negotiations, discussions, correspondence, communications,
understandings, and agreements between the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. 

  
 -12- 

 Section 22. Survival of Operative Sections. 

Upon any termination of Executive’s employment, the provisions of Section 7 through Section 22 of this Agreement (together with
any related definitions set forth in Section 1 hereof) shall survive to the extent necessary to give effect to the provisions thereof. 

Section 23. Counterparts. 

This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument. The execution of this Agreement may be by actual or facsimile signature. 
 Section 24.
Background Check. 
 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Executive shall not become employed by the Company if
Executive fails the Company’s background check of the Executive or the pre-employment substance test and this Agreement shall be terminated. 

*            *           
 * 
 [Signatures to appear on the following page.] 

  
 -13- 

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first above
written. 
  

	
	SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
	
	/s/ David Hammer
	 By: David Hammer
 Title: Chief Human Resources
Officer

	
	EXECUTIVE
	
	/s/ Anthony Esparza
	ANTHONY ESPARZA

 APPENDIX A 

Definitions 
 (a)
“Accrued Obligations” shall mean (i) all accrued but unpaid Base Salary through the date of termination of Executive’s employment, (ii) any accrued but unpaid Annual Bonus that is required to be paid in accordance
with the terms of the Annual Bonus Plan, (iii) any unpaid or unreimbursed expenses incurred in accordance with Section 6 hereof, and (iv) any benefits provided under the Company’s employee benefit plans or any incentive plans
upon a termination of employment, including rights with respect to Company equity (or equity derivatives), in accordance with the terms contained therein. 

(b) “Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto. 

(c) “Annual Bonus” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(b) hereof. 

(d) “Base Salary” shall mean the salary provided for in Section 4(a) hereof. 

(e) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. 

(f) “Cause” shall mean (i) Executive’s act(s) of gross negligence or willful misconduct in the course of
Executive’s employment hereunder, (ii) willful failure or refusal by Executive (or Executive’s inability, as a result of circumstances described in clause (v) of this definition) to perform in any material respect his duties or
responsibilities, (iii) misappropriation (or attempted misappropriation) by Executive of any assets or business opportunities of the Company or any other member of the Company Group, (iv) embezzlement or fraud committed (or attempted) by
Executive, or at his direction, (v) Executive’s conviction of, indictment for, or pleading “guilty” or “no contest” to, (x) a felony or (y) any other criminal charge involving moral turpitude or financial
dishonesty that has, or could be reasonably expected to have, an adverse impact on the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company or any other member of the Company Group or otherwise result in injury to the reputation or business of the
Company or any other member of the Company Group, (vi) any violation by Executive of the policies of the Company, including but not limited to those relating to sexual harassment or business conduct, and those otherwise set forth in the manuals
or statements of policy of the Company, which causes material harm to the Company, or (vii) Executive’s material breach of this Agreement or breach of the Restrictive Covenants contained in Appendix B or any other similar
restrictive covenants contained in any other agreement between Executive and any member of the Company Group; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the adverse performance of the Company alone (other than as a result of, arising out of
or in connection with circumstances described in clauses (i) through (vii), inclusive, of this definition) shall not constitute grounds for a termination of Executive’s employment for Cause. 

 For purposes of this Section (f), no act or failure to act by the Executive shall be considered
“willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, in bad faith and without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any action or inaction of the Executive taken in reliance
on the advice of the Company’s legal counsel shall be considered to have been taken or not taken in good faith, and not in bad faith. 

(g) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 (h) “Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto. 

(i) “Company Group” shall mean the Company together with any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries. 

(j) “Compensation Committee” shall mean the committee of the Board designated to make compensation decisions relating to
senior executive officers of the Company Group. 
 (k) “Delay Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13
hereof. 
 (l) “Disability” shall mean any physical or mental disability or infirmity of Executive that prevents, with
reasonable accommodation to the extent required by applicable law, the performance of Executive’s duties for a period of (i) one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days or (ii) one hundred eighty (180) non-consecutive days
during any twelve (12) month period. Any question as to the existence, extent, or potentiality of Executive’s Disability upon which Executive and the Company cannot agree shall be determined by a qualified, independent physician selected
by the Company and approved by Executive (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld). If Executive is unable to make such approval, then such approval shall be made by Executive’s legal representative, or if there is no legal
representative, then by an adult member of Executive’s immediate family. The determination of any such physician shall be final and conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement. 

(m) “Executive” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto. 

(n) “Excise Tax” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8 hereto. 

(o) “Good Reason” shall mean, without Executive’s consent, (i) a material diminution in Executive’s title,
duties, or responsibilities as set forth in Section 3 hereof or having to report to any person other than the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, (ii) a material reduction in Base Salary set forth in Section 4(a) hereof or Target
Annual Bonus opportunity set forth in Section 4(b) hereof (other than pursuant to an across-the-board reduction applicable to all similarly situated executives), (iii) the relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment by
more than fifty (50) miles from the Company’s headquarters in Orlando, Florida, or (iv) any other material breach of a provision of this Agreement by the Company (other than a provision that is covered by clause (i), (ii), or
(iii) above). Executive acknowledges and agrees that his exclusive remedy in the event of any breach of this Agreement shall be to assert Good Reason pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 7(e) hereof. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, during the Term of Employment, in the event that the Board reasonably believes 

  
 -2- 

 
that Executive may have engaged in conduct that could constitute Cause hereunder, the Board may, in its sole and absolute discretion, suspend Executive from performing his duties hereunder, and
in no event shall any such suspension constitute an event pursuant to which Executive may terminate employment with Good Reason or otherwise constitute a breach hereunder; provided, that no such suspension shall alter the Company’s
obligations under this Agreement during such period of suspension. 
 (p) “Independent Advisor” shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 8 hereto. 
 (q) “IRS” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8 hereto. 

(r) “Notice of Termination” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(h) hereto. 

(s) “Payments” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8 hereto. 

(t) “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust (charitable or non-charitable), unincorporated organization, or other form of business entity. 

(u) “Reduced Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8 hereto. 

(v) “Release of Claims” shall mean the Release of Claims in substantially the same form attached hereto as
Exhibit A (as the same may be revised from time to time by the Company upon the advice of counsel). 
 (w) “Repayment
Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8 hereto. 
 (x) “Restrictive Covenants” shall mean the
restrictive covenants contained in Appendix B attached hereto. 
 (y) “Severance Benefits” shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 7(g) hereof. 
 (z) “Severance Factor” shall mean, during the Term of Employment, 2.0. 

(aa) “Severance Term” shall mean the number of months following Executive’s termination by the Company without Cause
(other than by reason of death or Disability) or by Executive for Good Reason equal to the product of (i) the Severance Factor multiplied by (ii) twelve (12) months. 

(bb) “Target Annual Bonus” shall have the meaning set forth in 4(b) hereof. 

(cc) “Term of Employment” shall mean the period specified in Section 2 hereof. 

  
 -3- 

 APPENDIX B 

Restrictive Covenants 
 1.
Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation. 
 (a) Executive acknowledges and recognizes the highly competitive nature of the businesses of
the Company and its affiliates and accordingly agrees as follows: 
 (i) During Executive’s employment with the Company
or its subsidiaries (the “Employment Term”) and for a period of the greater of (x) one year following the date Executive ceases to be employed by the Company or its subsidiaries and (y) the Severance Term (the
“Restricted Period”), Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any person, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation or other business organization, entity or
enterprise whatsoever (“Person”), directly or indirectly solicit or assist in soliciting in competition with the Restricted Group in the Business, the business of any then current or prospective client or customer with whom
Executive (or his direct reports) had personal contact or dealings on behalf of the Company during the one-year period preceding Executive’s termination of employment. 

(ii) During the Restricted Period, Executive will not directly or indirectly: 

(A) engage in the Business in any geographical area that is within 100 miles of any geographical area where the Restricted
Group engages in the Business, including the greater metropolitan areas of Orlando, Florida, San Diego, California, San Antonio, Texas, Williamsburg, Virginia and Philadelphia/Langhorne, Pennsylvania; 

(B) enter the employ of, or render any services to, a Core Competitor, except where such employment or services do not relate
in any manner to the Business; 
 (C) acquire a financial interest in, or otherwise become actively involved with, any Person
engaged in the Business, directly or indirectly, as an individual, partner, shareholder, officer, director, principal, agent, trustee or consultant; or 

(D) intentionally and adversely interfere with, or attempt to adversely interfere with, business relationships between the
members of the Restricted Group and any of their clients, customers, suppliers, partners, members, or investors. 
 (iii)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Appendix B, Executive may, directly or indirectly own, solely as an investment, securities of any Person engaged in a Business (including, without limitation, a Core Competitor) which are publicly
traded on a national or regional stock exchange or on the over-the-counter market if Executive (i) is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such person and (ii) does not, directly or indirectly, own 2% or more
of any class of securities of such Person. 

 (iv) During the Employment Term and for a period of the greater of (x) two
years from the date Executive ceases to be employed by the Company or its subsidiaries and (y) the Severance Term, Executive will not, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of or in conjunction with any Person, directly or
indirectly: 
 (A) solicit or encourage any employee of the Restricted Group to leave the employment of the Restricted Group;

 (B) hire any Senior Employee who was employed by the Restricted Group as of the date of Executive’s termination of
employment with the Company or who left the employment of the Restricted Group coincident with, or within one year prior to or after, the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company; or 

(C) encourage any material consultant of the Restricted Group to cease working with the Restricted Group. 

(v) For purposes of this Appendix B: 

(A) “Restricted Group” shall mean, collectively, the Company and its subsidiaries and, to the extent engaged
in the Business, their respective affiliates. 
 (B) “Business” shall mean the entertainment and theme park
business. 
 (C) “Core Competitor” shall mean Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Universal Studios, Six Flags,
Inc., Cedar Fair Entertainment Company and Merlin Entertainments Group Ltd., Herschend Family Entertainment and each of their respective affiliates. 

(D) “Senior Employee” shall mean any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries with the title of Vice
President or above. 
 (b) Non-Disparagement. Executive will not at any time (whether during or after
Executive’s Employment Term) make public statements or public comments intended to be (or having the effect of being) of defamatory or disparaging nature regarding (including, without limitation, any statements or comments, whether in person,
radio, television, film, social media or otherwise, that are (i) likely to be harmful to the business, business reputation or personal reputation of and (ii) for, on behalf of or in association with any trade, industry, activist or other
advocacy group that has, at any time, made adverse or critical statements in relation to) the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or any of their respective businesses, shareholders, members, partners, employees, agents, officers,
directors or contractors (it being understood that comments made in Executive’s good faith performance of his duties hereunder shall not be deemed disparaging or defamatory for purposes of this paragraph). The Company (via any official
statement) shall not, and shall instruct its officers and directors to not, at any time make any public statements or public release which is intended to be (or having the effect of being) of defamatory or disparaging nature regarding
Executive’s reputation in the business 

  
 -2- 

 
community (it being understood that comments made by the Company in the good faith and in ordinary course of business shall not be deemed disparaging or defamatory for purposes of this
paragraph). Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1(b), either the Executive or the Company (including its officers and directors) shall be permitted to (x) provide a reasonable and truthful response to or statement to defend itself or
him/herself against any public statement made by the Company or the Executive, as applicable, that is incorrect or disparages such person, to the extent necessary to correct or refute such public statement and (y) provide truthful testimony in
any legal proceeding or process. 
 (c) It is expressly understood and agreed that although Executive and the Company consider the
restrictions contained in this Section 1 to be reasonable, if a final judicial determination is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the time or territory or any other restriction contained in this Appendix B is an unenforceable
restriction against Executive, the provisions of this Appendix B shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to apply as to such maximum time and territory and to such maximum extent as such court may judicially determine or indicate to
be enforceable. Alternatively, if any court of competent jurisdiction finds that any restriction contained in this Appendix B is unenforceable, and such restriction cannot be amended so as to make it enforceable, such finding shall not affect the
enforceability of any of the other restrictions contained herein. 
 (d) The period of time during which the provisions of this
Section 1 shall be in effect shall be extended by the length of time during which Executive is in breach of the terms hereof as determined by any court of competent jurisdiction on the Company’s application for injunctive relief. 

(e) The provisions of Section 1 hereof shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, including but not
limited to, any termination other than for Cause (except as otherwise set forth in Section 1 hereof). 
 2. Confidentiality;
Intellectual Property. 
 (a) Confidentiality. 

(i) Executive will not at any time (whether during or after Executive’s Employment Term) (x) retain or use for the
benefit, purposes or account of Executive or any other Person; or (y) disclose, divulge, reveal, communicate, share, transfer or provide access to any Person outside the Company (other than its professional advisers who are bound by
confidentiality obligations or otherwise in performance of Executive’s duties under Executive’s employment and pursuant to customary industry practice), any non-public, proprietary or confidential information — including without
limitation trade secrets, know-how, research and development, software, databases, inventions, processes, formulae, technology, designs and other intellectual property, information concerning finances, investments, profits, pricing, costs, products,
services, vendors, customers, clients, partners, investors, personnel, compensation, recruiting, training, advertising, sales, marketing, promotions, government and regulatory activities and approvals, safety, zoological and/or animal training or
care practices, protocols, policies or procedures — concerning the past, current or future business, activities and operations of the Company, 

  
 -3- 

 
its subsidiaries or affiliates and/or any third party that has disclosed or provided any of same to the Company on a confidential basis (“Confidential Information”) without the
prior written authorization of the Board. Executive understands and acknowledges that nothing contained in this Appendix B is intended to or should in fact prevent Executive from (x) reporting possible violations of federal or state law or
regulation to any government agency or entity, including but not limited to the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Congress, any agency Inspector General, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or the National Labor
Relations Board, or (y) making other disclosures that are protected under state or federal whistleblower laws or regulations. 

(ii) “Confidential Information” shall not include any information that is (a) generally known to the
industry or the public other than as a result of Executive’s breach of this covenant; (b) made legitimately available to Executive by a third party without breach of any confidentiality obligation of which Executive has knowledge; or
(c) required by law to be disclosed; provided, that with respect to subsection (c) Executive shall give prompt written notice to the Company of such requirement, disclose no more information than is so required, and reasonably
cooperate with any attempts by the Company to obtain a protective order or similar treatment. 
 (iii) Except as required by
law, Executive will not disclose to anyone, other than Executive’s family (it being understood that, in this Agreement, the term “family” refers to Executive, Executive’s spouse, children, parents and spouse’s parents) and
advisors, the existence or contents of this Agreement; provided that Executive may disclose to any prospective future employer the provisions of this Appendix B. This Section 2(a)(iii) shall terminate if the Company publicly discloses a copy of
this Agreement (or, if the Company publicly discloses summaries or excerpts of this Agreement, to the extent so disclosed). 

(iv) Upon termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, Executive shall (x) cease and not
thereafter commence use of any Confidential Information or intellectual property (including without limitation, any patent, invention, copyright, trade secret, trademark, trade name, logo, domain name or other source indicator) owned or used by the
Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates; and (y) immediately destroy, delete, or return to the Company, at the Company’s option, all originals and copies in any form or medium (including memoranda, books, papers, plans, computer files,
letters and other data) in Executive’s possession or control (including any of the foregoing stored or located in Executive’s office, home, laptop or other computer, whether or not Company property) that contain Confidential Information,
except that Executive may retain only those portions of any personal notes, notebooks and diaries that do not contain any Confidential Information. 

(b) Intellectual Property. 

(i) If Executive has created, invented, designed, developed, contributed to or improved any works of authorship, inventions,
intellectual property, materials, documents, or other work product (including without limitation, research, reports, 

  
 -4- 

 
software, databases, systems, applications, presentations, textual works, content, or audiovisual materials) (“Works”), either alone or with third parties, prior to
Executive’s employment by the Company, that are relevant to or implicated by such employment (“Prior Works”), Executive hereby grants the Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, assignable, sublicensable
license under all rights and intellectual property rights (including rights under patent, industrial property, copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition and related laws) therein for all purposes in connection with the Company’s
current and future business. 
 (ii) If Executive creates, invents, designs, develops, contributes to or improves any Works,
either alone or with third parties, at any time during Executive’s employment by the Company and within the scope of such employment and with the use of any the Company resources (“Company Works”), Executive shall promptly and
fully disclose same to the Company and hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, all rights and intellectual property rights therein (including rights under patent, industrial property,
copyright, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition and related laws) to the Company to the extent ownership of any such rights does not vest originally in the Company. 

(iii) Executive shall take all reasonably requested actions and execute all reasonably requested documents (including any
licenses or assignments required by a government contract) at the Company’s expense (but without further remuneration) to assist the Company in validating, maintaining, protecting, enforcing, perfecting, recording, patenting or registering any
of the Company’s rights in the Prior Works and Company Works. If the Company is unable for any other reason, after reasonable attempt, to secure Executive’s signature on any document for this purpose, then Executive hereby irrevocably
designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as Executive’s agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in Executive’s behalf and stead to execute any documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts
required in connection with the foregoing. 
 (iv) Executive shall not improperly use for the benefit of, bring to any
premises of, divulge, disclose, communicate, reveal, transfer or provide access to, or share with the Company any confidential, proprietary or non-public information or intellectual property relating to a former employer or other third party without
the prior written permission of such third party. Executive shall comply with all relevant policies and guidelines of the Company that are from time to time previously disclosed to Executive, including regarding the protection of Confidential
Information and intellectual property and potential conflicts of interest. Executive acknowledges that the Company may amend any such policies and guidelines from time to time, and that Executive remains at all times bound by their most current
version from time to time previously disclosed to Executive. 
 (v) The provisions of Section 2 hereof shall survive
the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason (except as otherwise set forth in Section 2(a)(iii) hereof). 

  
 -5- 

 RELEASE OF CLAIMS 

As used in this Release of Claims (this “Release”), the term “claims” will include all claims, covenants,
warranties, promises, undertakings, actions, suits, causes of action, obligations, debts, accounts, attorneys’ fees, judgments, losses, and liabilities, of whatsoever kind or nature, in law, in equity, or otherwise. 

For and in consideration of the Severance Benefits (as defined in my Employment Agreement, dated ___ August, 2015, with SeaWorld
Entertainment, Inc. (the “Employment Agreement”)), and other good and valuable consideration, I, Anthony Esparza for and on behalf of myself and my heirs, administrators, executors, and assigns, effective the date on which this
release becomes effective pursuant to its terms, do fully and forever release, remise, and discharge each of the Company and each of its direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates, together with their respective past and present officers,
directors, partners, shareholders, employees, and agents (collectively, the “Group”) from any and all claims whatsoever up to the date hereof that I had, may have had, or now have against the Group, for or by reason of any matter,
cause, or thing whatsoever, including any claim arising out of or attributable to my employment or the termination of my employment with the Company, whether for tort, breach of express or implied employment contract, intentional infliction of
emotional distress, wrongful termination, unjust dismissal, defamation, libel, or slander, or under any federal, state, or local law dealing with discrimination based on age, race, sex, national origin, handicap, religion, disability, or sexual
orientation. This release of claims includes, but is not limited to, all claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Civil
Rights Act of 1991, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the Equal Pay Act, each as may be amended from time to time, and all other federal, state, and local laws, the common law, and any other purported restriction on an employer’s right to
terminate the employment of employees. The release contained herein is intended to be a general release of any and all claims to the fullest extent permissible by law. 

I acknowledge and agree that as of the date I execute this Release, I have no knowledge of any facts or circumstances that give rise or could
give rise to any claims under any of the laws listed in the preceding paragraph. 
 By executing this Release, I specifically release all
claims relating to my employment and its termination under ADEA, a United States federal statute that, among other things, prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in employment and employee benefit plans. 

Notwithstanding any provision of this Release to the contrary, by executing this Release, I am not releasing (i) any claims relating to
my rights under Section 7 of the Employment Agreement, (ii) any claims that cannot be waived by law, (iii) my right of indemnification as provided by, and in accordance with the terms of, the Company’s by-laws or a Company
insurance policy providing such coverage, as any of such may be amended from time to time, or (iv) my accrued and vested benefits, rights or payments under any employee benefit, incentive or equity plan or program of the Company. 

I expressly acknowledge and agree that I — 

• Am able to read the language, and understand the meaning and effect, of this Release; 

• Have no physical or mental impairment of any kind that has interfered with my ability to read and understand the
meaning of this Release or its terms, and that I am not acting under the influence of any medication, drug, or chemical of any type in entering into this Release; 

 • Am specifically agreeing to the terms of the release contained in this
Release because the Company has agreed to pay me the Severance Benefits in consideration for my agreement to accept it in full settlement of all possible claims I might have or ever had, and because of my execution of this Release; 

• Acknowledge that, but for my execution of this Release, I would not be entitled to the Severance Benefits; 

• Understand that, by entering into this Release, I do not waive rights or claims under ADEA that may arise after the
date I execute this Release; 
 • Had or could have [twenty-one (21)][forty-five (45)]1 days from the date of my termination of employment (the “Release Expiration Date”) in which to review and consider this Release, and that if I execute this Release prior to the
Release Expiration Date, I have voluntarily and knowingly waived the remainder of the review period; 
 • Have not
relied upon any representation or statement not set forth in this Release or my Employment Agreement made by the Company or any of its representatives; 

• Was advised to consult with my attorney regarding the terms and effect of this Release; and 

• Have signed this Release knowingly and voluntarily. 

I represent and warrant that I have not previously filed, and to the maximum extent permitted by law agree that I will not file, a complaint,
charge, or lawsuit against any member of the Group regarding any of the claims released herein. I acknowledge and agree that nothing in this Release is intended to or shall limit, restrict, or interfere with my right under federal, state and local
laws to file an administrative charge or to participate in any governmental investigation. Notwithstanding, if a federal, state or local administrative agency were to pursue any claims relating to my employment with Company, I agree that I shall not
be entitled to recover any monetary damages or any other remedies or benefits as a result and that this Release and the Severance Benefits will control as the exclusive remedy and full settlement of all such claims by me. 

I hereby agree to waive any and all claims to re-employment with the Company or any other member of the Company Group (as defined in my
Employment Agreement) affirmatively agree not to seek further employment with the Company or any other member of the Company Group. 

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Release will not become effective or enforceable prior to the expiration of
the period of seven (7) calendar days following the date of its execution by me (the “Revocation Period”), during which time I may revoke my acceptance of this Release by notifying the Company and the Board of Directors of the
Company, in writing, delivered to the Company at its principal executive office, marked for the attention of its General Counsel. To be effective, such revocation must be received by the Company no later than 11:59 p.m. on the seventh (7th) calendar day following the execution of this Release. Provided that the Release is executed and I do not revoke it during the Revocation Period, the eighth (8th) day following the date on which this Release is 
  

	1	 To be selected based on whether applicable termination was “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). 

 
executed shall be its effective date. I acknowledge and agree that if I revoke this Release during the Revocation Period, this Release will be null and void and of no effect, and neither the
Company nor any other member of the Company will have any obligations to pay me the Severance Benefits. 
 To the extent reasonably
requested by the Board, I shall cooperate with the Company in connection with matters arising out of or related to my employment with the Company. 

The provisions of this Release shall be binding upon my heirs, executors, administrators, legal personal representatives, and assigns. If any
provision of this Release shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void, or unenforceable, such provision shall be of no force or effect. The illegality or unenforceability of such provision, however, shall have no effect
upon and shall not impair the enforceability of any other provision of this Release. 
 EXCEPT WHERE PREEMPTED BY FEDERAL LAW, THIS RELEASE
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW AND THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN THAT STATE WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. I HEREBY WAIVE ANY
RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUIT, ACTION, OR PROCEEDING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS RELEASE. 
 Capitalized terms
used, but not defined herein, shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in my Employment Agreement. 
  

	
	
	   

	 Anthony Esparza
 Date:Exhibit 1033 Executive Agreement KSK

		

			 

		

		

			Exhibit 10.33

		

		
			EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
		

		
			THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this  “Agreement”) is made effective as of the 14th day of September, 2015 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Kenneth Scott Kim (“Executive”) and Bankrate, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). 
		

		
			RECITALS:
		

		
			A.The Company desires to employ Executive to perform certain services for the Company, and Executive desires to accept said engagement from the Company.
		

		
			B.The Company and Executive have agreed upon the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment by the Company and the parties desire to express the terms and conditions in this Agreement.
		

		
			C.The Company and Executive intend for this Agreement to supersede all agreements between Executive and the Company as it relates to Executive’s employment.
		

		
			NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and accepted, the parties hereby agree as follows:
		

			
	
			
				 1.
			Employment of Executive; Term. The Company hereby employs Executive initially as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company’s division called Bankrate.com, and Executive hereby accepts such employment by the Company, under the terms of this Agreement.    The term of employment hereunder (the “Term”) shall commence as of the Effective Date and shall terminate pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement.

			
	
			
				 2.
			Duties and Location.

		
			Executive’s duties will consist of duties normally associated with the position identified in Section 1.  Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or his designee.  Executive shall devote his full business time to the Company’s business and shall not render to others any service of any kind for compensation or engage in any activity which conflicts or interferes with the performance of his obligations under this Agreement as determined in the discretion of the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) without the express written consent of the Committee;  provided,  however, that Executive may engage in non-profit or charitable activities which do not involve substantial time and which do not materially interfere with his employment under this Agreement and which activities are not in competition with the Company and its affiliates as determined in the discretion of the Committee.
		

		
			Executive agrees that he shall at all times faithfully and to the best of his ability and experience perform all of the duties that may be required of him pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
		

		

		

		 

		

			

		

		

			 

		

 

		Executive will perform his services from any location within thirty (30) miles of New York, NY at the Company’s discretion.  On or prior to October 1, 2015, Executive and his family will relocate from the San Francisco, California metropolitan area to the New York City metropolitan area. The Company shall reimburse Executive for reasonable out-of-pocket relocation expenses (as determined by the Company in consultation with Executive) for the relocation of Executive and his family for such relocation, including $10,000 with respect to expenses incurred prior to the date hereof.  To the extent any reimbursements under this Section 2(C) are taxable to Executive, the Company shall pay Executive an additional amount such that the net after-tax proceeds to Executive of such reimbursements and such additional amount are equal to such reimbursements, provided that such payment will not exceed $15,000.
		

			
	
			
				 3.
			Base Salary. Executive shall receive a base salary during the Term of $400,000 per annum (the “Base Salary”), which amount may be increased annually at the discretion of the Committee.  The Base Salary shall be paid to Executive by the Company in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practice as in effect from time to time.

			
	
			
				 4.
			Annual Bonus. Executive will be eligible to participate in an annual bonus program generally available to executive officers of the Company as approved at the discretion of the Committee, with a target bonus equal to 75% of Base Salary.  The target bonus for 2015 will be $300,000, prorated for 2015 based on Executive’s start date.  For the 2015 bonus year, Executive shall, subject to Section 8, be guaranteed an annual bonus for such year that is no less than $89,589.  The annual bonus payable pursuant to this Section 4 shall be paid to Executive at the same time as payment of annual bonuses is made to other similarly situated executives of the Company.

			
	
			
				 5.
			Executive Benefits. 

		
			Executive shall be entitled to participate in the employee benefit plans as shall be in effect for similarly situated executives of the Company generally from time to time, subject to the terms and conditions of each such plan. Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation each year in accordance with Company policy. All vacation times shall be subject to the approval of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
		

		
			Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Company's stock option, stock purchase, or other stock incentive plans which are generally available to executive officers of the Company and shall be eligible for the grant of stock options, restricted stock or other awards there under in accordance with the terms and provisions of such plans.  On October 1, 2015, Executive shall be granted 66,986 restricted shares (the “Restricted Shares”).  The Restricted Shares will vest, subject to Executive’s continued employment, in three equal annual installments on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant and will otherwise have the same terms as the restricted stock granted to other senior officers of the Company in February 2015 (provided that the Restricted Shares will be granted under, and subject to the terms of, the Bankrate, Inc. 2015 Equity Compensation Plan).  For 2016, Executive shall, so long as he remains employed by the Company on the date that 2016 equity compensation awards are made to Company executives generally, be granted equity incentive awards having an aggregate grant date value (as determined by the Company in accordance 
		

		 

		

			2

		

 

		with its general methodology for valuing equity compensation awards) equal to $1.50 million, which awards shall (1) be granted at the time that annual grants for senior executives of the Company generally are made, (2) consist of the same types and allocations of awards as applicable to senior executives of the Company generally, and (3) be subject to the terms and conditions applicable to awards made to senior executives of the Company generally.
		

			
	
			
				 6.
			Expenses. 

		
			Executive shall be reimbursed by the Company monthly for the ordinary and necessary reasonable business expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties for the Company, including travel and lodging expenses, meals, client entertainment, and cell phone expense, all in accordance with Company policy; provided that Executive shall first document said business expenses in the manner generally required by the Company under its policies and procedures, and in any event, in the manner required to meet applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue Service relating to the deductibility of such expenses.
		

		
			With respect to any amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement that is required to be included in Executive’s gross income for federal income tax purposes, such expenses shall be reimbursed to Executive no later than December 31 of the year following the year in which Executive incurs the related expenses.  In no event shall the amount of expenses (or in-kind benefits) eligible for reimbursement in one taxable year affect the amount of expenses (or in-kind benefits) eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year (except for those medical reimbursements referred to in Section 105(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), nor shall Executive’s right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.  
		

			
	
			
				 7.
			Termination.  

		
			The Term and Executive’s employment may be terminated upon the occurrence of any of the following events: 
		

		
			Death of Executive;
		

		
			Mental or physical disability of Executive which prevents him from performing substantially all of his duties hereunder for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days or one hundred twenty (120) days during any one year (“Disability”).
		

		
			For Cause, as defined below:
		

		
			Executive’s material breach of this Agreement which is not cured within ten (10) days of receipt of written notice to Executive specifying the breach;
		

		
			Executive’s dishonesty, fraud, malfeasance, gross negligence or misconduct which, in the reasonable judgment of the Board,  has resulted, or is likely to result, in material injury to the Company or the business reputation of the Company;
		

		

		

		 

		

			3

		

 

		Executive’s willful failure to comply with the lawful direction (consistent with Executive’s duties) of the Board or to follow the lawful policies, procedures, and rules of the Company which is not cured within ten (10) days of receipt of written notice;
		

		
			Executive’s negligent failure to comply with the lawful direction (consistent with Executive’s duties) of the Board or to follow the lawful policies, procedures, and rules of the Company which is not cured within thirty (30) days of receipt of written notice; or
		

		
			Executive’s conviction of, or Executive’s entry of a plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or crime involving moral turpitude.
		

		
			By either party, upon two weeks written notice in their sole discretion other than pursuant to sub-section A, B or C above; however, the Company may elect upon such notice to require Executive to immediately cease coming to work and return any and all Company property.
		

		
			By Executive if the Company materially breaches any provisions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 2(A), 3, 4, 5, or 6, and fails to cure such breach within thirty (30) days of receipt of written notice to the Company specifying the breach; provided that Executive provides such notice within thirty (30) days of becoming aware of such breach and terminates his employment within thirty (30) days following the expiration of such cure period.
		

		
			“Without Cause” means any termination of employment by Company which is not defined in sub-section C above.
		

			
	
			
				 8.
			Post Termination Payment Obligations.

		
			If the Term and Executive’s employment is terminated for any of the reasons stated in sub-sections A, B or C of Section 7 of this Agreement or is terminated by Executive pursuant to sub-section D of Section 7 of this Agreement, then Executive shall be entitled to receive (i) his Base Salary at the then current rate, payable within fifteen (15) days of the effective termination date, and (ii) only in the case of a termination for any of the reasons stated in sub-sections A or B of Section 7 of this Agreement, the Bonus Payment (as defined below). Thereafter the Company shall have no further payment obligations under this Agreement, but Executive shall continue to be bound by Sections 11, 12, and 13 and all other post-termination obligations contained in this Agreement and provisions of this Agreement that specifically survive termination of the Term.
		

		
			If the Term and Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company pursuant to subsection D of Section 7 of this Agreement or is terminated by Executive pursuant to subsection E of Section 7 of this Agreement, then Company shall pay Executive (i) his Base Salary at the then current rate through the effective date of the termination, payable within fifteen (15) days of the termination date, (ii) a separation payment in the amount of his Base Salary at the then current rate for twelve (12) months (the “Separation Payment”) and (iii) the actual annual bonus in respect of the calendar year in which the effective date of the termination occurs (the “Termination Year”) that the Executive would have earned (based on 
		

		 

		

			4

		

 

		actual performance) had the Executive remained employed with the Company through the time such bonuses are paid, prorated for the number of days in the Termination Year that Executive was employed by the Company, payable at the same time annual bonuses are paid to similarly situated executives of the Company (the “Bonus Payment”).  Subject to Executive’s compliance with Section 8(C) hereof, the Separation Payment shall be paid in three installments as follows:
		

		
			One-Third of the Separation Payment shall be payable on the four (4) month anniversary of the effective date of the termination;
		

		
			One-Third of the Separation Payment shall be payable on the six  (6) month anniversary of the effective date of the termination; and
		

		
			One-Third of the Separation Payment shall be payable on the twelve  (12) month anniversary of the effective date of the termination.
		

		
			Thereafter, the Company shall have no further payment obligations under this Agreement, but Executive shall continue to be bound by Sections 11, 12, and 13 and all other post-termination obligations contained in this Agreement and provisions of this Agreement that specifically survive termination of this Agreement.
		

		
			The post-termination obligations under this sub-section B shall be binding upon the Company regardless of Executive’s subsequent employment with any other person, firm, partnership, association, business organization, corporation or other entity which is not affiliated with the Company.  
		

		
			As a condition to the Company’s obligation to pay the Separation Payment or the Bonus Payment, Executive shall:
		

		
			Within 60 days following Executive’s termination of employment, execute (and not revoke) a Separation and Release Agreement in a form prepared by and acceptable to the Company (which form shall include customary exclusions for any directors’ and officers’ indemnification and insurance arrangements and vested rights under any employee benefit plan of the Company) whereby Executive releases the Company and its affiliates and their respective officers, directors and employees from any and all liability and settles all claims of any kind.  Benefits shall be deemed forfeited if the release is not executed and delivered to the Company within the time specified herein; and
		

		
			Comply with the restrictive covenants (Sections 11 and 12 of this Agreement) and all other post-termination obligations contained in this Agreement.
		

		
			The parties agree that regardless of whether Executive complies with the provisions of Section 8(C)(1) and whether the Company pays Executive the Separation Payment or Bonus Payment,  Executive shall continue to be bound by Sections 11, 12 and 13 and all other post-termination obligations contained in this Agreement and provisions of this Agreement that survive termination of the Term and Executive’s employment.
		

		 

		

			5

		

 

			
	
			
				 9.
			Work Product. All Work Product (defined below) shall be work made for hire by Executive and owned by the Company. If any of the Work Product may not, by operation of law or otherwise, be considered work made for hire by Executive for the Company, or if ownership of all right, title, and interest to the legal rights therein shall not otherwise vest exclusively in the Company, Executive hereby assigns to the Company, and upon the future creation thereof automatically assigns to the Company, without further consideration, the ownership of all Work Product. The Company shall have the right to obtain and hold in its own name copyrights, patents, registrations, and any other protection available in the Work Product.  Executive agrees to perform, during or after termination of Executive’s employment by the Company, such further acts as may be necessary or desirable to transfer, perfect and defend the Company’s ownership of the Work Product as requested by the Company. “Work Product” means the data, materials, formulas, research, documentation, computer programs, communication systems, audio systems, system designs, inventions (whether or not patentable), and all works of authorship, including all worldwide rights therein under patent, copyright, trade secret, confidential information, moral rights and other property rights, created or developed in whole or in part by Executive, while employed by the Company and its affiliates, within the scope of Executive’s employment or which otherwise relates in any manner to the business or projected business of the Company and its affiliates.  

			
	
			
				 10.
			Set-Off. If at the time of termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive has any outstanding obligations to the Company, Executive acknowledges that the Company is authorized to deduct from Executive’s final paycheck, the Bonus Payment and the Separation Payment any then documented amounts owed to the Company.

			
	
			
				 11.
			Trade Secrets and Confidential Information. 

		
			During the course of Executive’s employment with the Company, the Company and its affiliates may disclose to Executive Trade Secrets and Confidential Information (each as defined below). The Trade Secrets and the Confidential Information of the Company and its affiliates are the sole and exclusive property of the Company and its affiliates (or a third party providing such information to the Company or its applicable affiliate). The disclosure of the Trade Secrets and the Confidential Information of the Company and its affiliates to Executive does not give Executive any license, interest or rights of any kind in the Trade Secrets or Confidential Information.  
		

		
			Executive may use the Trade Secrets and Confidential Information solely for the benefit of the Company and its affiliates while Executive is an employee of the Company. Executive shall hold in confidence the Trade Secrets and Confidential Information of the Company. Except in the performance of services for the Company and its affiliates, Executive shall not reproduce, distribute, transmit, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or transfer the Trade Secrets or the Confidential Information of the Company and its affiliates or any portion thereof. 
		

		
			The obligations under this Agreement with regard to the Trade Secrets of the Company and its affiliates remain in effect as long as the information constitutes a trade secret under applicable law. The obligations with regard to the Confidential Information of the 
		

		 

		

			6

		

 

		Company shall remain in effect while Executive is employed by the Company and its affiliates and thereafter. 
		

		
			Executive agrees to return to the Company, upon Executive’s resignation, termination, or upon request by the Company, the Trade Secrets and Confidential Information of the Company and all materials relating thereto. 
		

		
			As used herein, “Trade Secrets” means information of the Company and its affiliates, and their respective licensors, suppliers, clients and customers, including, but not limited to, technical or non-technical data, formulas, patterns, compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques, drawings, processes, financial data, financial plans, product plans, or a list of actual or potential customers or suppliers, which is not commonly known or available to the public and which information (i) derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
		

		
			As used herein, “Confidential Information” means information, other than Trade Secrets, that is treated as confidential, and that would potentially damage or interfere with, in any manner, the business of the Company and its affiliates if disclosed. Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, information concerning the Company’s (and its affiliates’) financial structure, pricing, revenue sharing, partner agreements, customer agreements, marketing plans, methods of operation, and internal operating procedures. 
		

		
			Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 11 do not apply to (i) information which is general knowledge in the Company’s industry, (ii) information that has been disclosed to Executive by third parties who are unrelated to the Company and who are not bound by agreements of confidentiality with respect thereto, and (iii) as Executive may be required to disclose by law but only to the extent required by law. 
		

			
	
			
				 12.
			Restrictive Covenants.

		
			Non-competition.  Executive agrees that for so long as Executive is employed by the Company or any of its affiliates and for a period of one (1) year thereafter, Executive will not, individually or on behalf of any person, firm, partnership, association, business organization, corporation or other entity engaged in the Business of the Company or its affiliates, engage in or perform, anywhere within the United States, Canada and any other such region in which the Company or its affiliates operates, which shall constitute the territory, any activities which are competitive with the Business of the Company or its affiliates.  Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit Executive from acquiring shares of capital stock of any public corporation, provided that such investment does not exceed 5% of the stock of such public corporation.
		

		
			Non-Solicitation; Non-Disparagement.  Executive agrees that for so long as Executive is employed  by the Company or any of its affiliates and for a period thereafter equal to twelve (12) months from the date Executive ceases to be employed by the Company and its affiliates for any reason, neither Executive nor any company or other entity controlled by 
		

		 

		

			7

		

 

		Executive (whether currently existing or hereafter acquired or formed) shall, directly or indirectly, in any capacity, (i) solicit or induce, or attempt to solicit or induce, any person who accepts employment with the Company and its affiliates to leave the employ of the Company or any of its affiliates for any reason whatsoever, (ii) hire or employ any person who accepts employment with  the Company and its affiliates, (iii) solicit or induce, or attempt to solicit or induce, any customer of the Company and its affiliates not to purchase any goods or products with respect to the Company and its affiliates or (iv) otherwise impede or interfere in any way with any customer relationship of the Company or any of its affiliates with respect to the Company and its affiliates. Executive agrees not to disparage the Company or its affiliates in any way, other than as part of the judicial, arbitration or other dispute resolution process in connection with any litigation, mediation, arbitration or other judicial proceeding arising under any claim brought in connection with this Agreement, or other than when compelled to testify under oath by subpoena, regulation or court order.
		

		
			For purposes of this Section 12, the term “Business” shall mean the business of the delivery of editorial content and product research related to consumer financial services delivered in print or over the Internet.
		

			
	
			
				 13.
			Injunctive Relief.

		
			Executive acknowledges that breach of the provisions of Sections 11 and/or 12 of this Agreement would result in irreparable injury and permanent damage to the Company and its affiliates, which prohibitions or restrictions Executive acknowledges are both reasonable and necessary under the circumstances, singularly and in the aggregate, to protect the interests of the Company and its affiliates. Executive recognizes and agrees that the ascertainment of damages in the event of a breach of Sections 11 and/or 12 of this Agreement would be difficult, and that money damages alone would be an inadequate remedy for the injuries and damages which would be suffered by the Company and its affiliates from breach by Executive. 
		

		
			Executive therefore agrees: (i) that, in the event of a breach of Sections 11 and/or 12 of this Agreement, the Company, in addition to and without limiting any of the remedies or rights which it may have at law or in equity or pursuant to this Agreement, shall have the right to injunctive relief or other similar remedy in order to specifically enforce the provisions hereof; and (ii) to waive and not to (A) assert any defense to the effect that the Company has an adequate remedy at law with respect to any such breach, (B) require that the Company submit proof of the economic value of any Trade Secret, or (C) require that the Company post a bond or any other security. Nothing contained herein shall preclude the Company from seeking monetary damages of any kind, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and other expenses, in a court of law. 
		

			
	
			
				 14.
			Survival. The provisions of Sections  8 through 32 shall survive termination of the Term and of Executive’s employment.

			
	
			
				 15.
			Invalidity of Any Provision. It is the intention of the parties hereto that Sections 11 through 13 of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies of each state and jurisdiction in which such enforcement is sought, but that the unenforceability (or the modification to conform with such laws or public 
		

		 

		

			8

		

 

			policies) of any provision hereof shall not render unenforceable or impair the remainder of this Agreement which shall be deemed amended to delete or modify, as necessary, the invalid or unenforceable provisions. The parties further agree to alter the balance of this Agreement in order to render the same valid and enforceable.

			
	
			
				 16.
			Waiver of Breach. The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.

			
	
			
				 17.
			Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns, and the Company shall require any successors and assigns to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession or assignment had taken place. Neither this Agreement nor any right or interest hereunder shall be assignable or transferable by Executive, his beneficiaries or legal representatives, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

			
	
			
				 18.
			License. To the extent that any pre-existing materials are contained in the materials Executive delivers to the Company or the Company’s customers, and such preexisting materials are not Work Product, Executive grants to the Company an irrevocable, nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to: (i) use and distribute (internally or externally) copies of, and prepare derivative works based upon, such pre-existing materials and derivative works thereof and (ii) authorize others to do any of the foregoing. Executive shall notify Company in writing of any and all pre-existing materials delivered to the Company by Executive.

			
	
			
				 19.
			Release. Executive acknowledges that Executive may provide the image, likeness, voice, or other characteristics of Executive in the services, materials, computer programs and other deliverables that Executive provides as a part of this Agreement.  Executive hereby consents to the use of such characteristics of Executive by the Company in the products or services of the Company and its affiliates and releases the Company and its affiliates and their respective agents, contractors, licensees and assigns from any claims which Executive has or may have for invasion of privacy, right of publicity, copyright infringement, or any other causes of action arising out of the use, adaptation, reproduction, distribution, broadcast, or exhibition of such characteristics.

			
	
			
				 20.
			Severability. If any provision or part of a provision of this Agreement shall be determined to be void and unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain valid and enforceable.

			
	
			
				 21.
			Costs of Enforcement. In the event either party breaches this Agreement, the breaching party shall be liable to the non-breaching party for all costs of enforcement, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs, in addition to all other damages and redress available in equity or at law.

			
	
			
				 22.
			No Prior Agreements. Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that the execution of this Agreement by Executive and Executive’s employment by 
		

		 

		

			9

		

 

			the Company and the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder shall not violate or be a breach of any agreement with a former employer, client or any other person or entity.

			
	
			
				 23.
			Modification. This Agreement may be modified only by agreement in writing signed by both the Company and Executive.

			
	
			
				 24.
			Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all aspects by the laws of the State of Florida without regard to its rules governing conflicts of law.

			
	
			
				 25.
			Section Headings. The section headings are included for convenience and are not intended to limit or affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

			
	
			
				 26.
			Notice. Whenever any notice is required, it shall be given in writing addressed as follows:

		
			To Company:
		

		
			Bankrate, Inc.
		

		
			477 Madison Avenue, Suite 430
		

		
			New York, NY  10022
		

		
			Attention: General Counsel
		

		
			Telecopy: 917-368-8611
		

		
			To Executive:
		

		
			Kenneth Scott Kim
		

		
			At the address on file with the Company
		

		
			Notice shall be deemed given and effective three (3) days after the deposit in the U.S. mail of a writing addressed as above and sent first class mail, certified, return receipt requested, or when actually received. Either party may change the address for notice by notifying the other party of such change in accordance with this Section. 
		

			
	
			
				 27.
			 “Key Employee” Insurance.  The Company shall have the option, but not the obligation, to obtain on the life of Executive, pay all premium amounts related to, and maintain, “key employee” insurance naming the Company as beneficiary.  Selection of such insurance policy shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the Company's Board of Directors.  Executive shall cooperate fully with the Company, the Board, and the insurer in applying for, obtaining and maintaining such life insurance, by executing and delivering such further and other documents as the Company, the Board and/or the insurer may request from time to time, and doing all matters and things which may be convenient or necessary to obtain such insurance, including, without limitation, submitting to any physical examinations and providing any medical information required by the insurer.

			
	
			
				 28.
			Indemnification.  The Company agrees, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Executive against any and all loss, damage, liability and expense, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, disbursements court costs, and any amounts paid in settlement and the costs and expenses of enforcing this section of the Agreement, which may be suffered or incurred by Executive in connection with the provision of his services hereunder, including, 
		

		 

		

			10

		

 

			without limitation, any claims, litigations, disputes, actions, investigations or other matters, provided that such loss, damage, liability and expense (i) arises out of or in connection with the performance by Executive of his obligations under this Agreement and (ii) is not the result of any material breach by Executive of his obligations hereunder, and provided further that Company shall be under no obligation to defend, indemnify or hold harmless Executive if Executive has acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct.

In addition to the foregoing, Company agrees to provide Executive with coverage under a Directors & Officers insurance policy to the same extent as the Company currently provides its executive officers.

			
	
			
				 29.
			Jurisdiction and Venue.  Any civil action or legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be brought in the courts of record of the State of Florida in Palm Beach County or the United States District Court, for the Southern District of Florida located in Palm Beach County.  Each party consents to the jurisdiction of such Florida court in any such civil action or legal proceeding and waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such civil action or legal proceeding in such Florida court.  Service of any court paper may be effected on such party by mail, as provided in this Agreement, or in such other manner as may be provided under applicable laws, rules of procedure or local rules.

			
	
			
				 30.
			Specified Employee.   Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if an obligation under this Agreement arises on account of Executive’s separation from service while Executive is a specified employee, within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code that is a payment of “deferred compensation” (as defined under treasury regulation section 1.409A-1(b)(1), after giving effect to the exemptions in treasury regulation sections 1.409A-1(b)(3) through (b)(12)) and is scheduled to be paid within six (6) months after such separation from service, the applicable amount be accumulated and deferred without interest, and shall be paid on the first day of the seventh month following the date of such separation from service or, if earlier, within 15 days after the appointment of the personal representative or executor of the Executive’s estate following his death.

			
	
			
				 31.
			Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire understanding of the parties concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior communications, agreements and understandings, whether oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. The language contained herein shall be deemed to be that negotiated and approved by both parties and no rule of strict construction shall be applied.

		
			[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
		

			
	
			
				 

		

		 

		

			11

		

 

			JURY WAIVER.  IN ANY CIVIL ACTION, COUNTERCLAIM, OR PROCEEDING, WHETHER AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, WHICH ARISES OUT OF, CONCERNS, OR RELATES TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY AND ALL TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE RELATIONSHIP CREATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE, TRIAL SHALL BE TO A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION AND NOT TO A JURY.  EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY.  ANY PARTY MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT, AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT OF THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.  NEITHER PARTY HAS MADE OR RELIED UPON ANY ORAL REPRESENTATIONS TO OR BY ANY OTHER PARTY REGARDING THE ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS PROVISION.  EACH PARTY HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THE EFFECT OF THIS JURY WAIVER PROVISION.  EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN ADVISED BY ITS OWN COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTION GOVERNED BY THIS AGREEMENT AND SPECIFICALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE TERMS OF THIS SECTION.

		
			IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.
		

		
			EXECUTIVE:COMPANY:
		

		
			BANKRATE, INC.
		

		
			/s/ Kenneth Scott KimBy:/s/ Kenneth S. Esterow
		

		
			Name: Kenneth Scott Kim      Kenneth S. Esterow
		

		
			      President and CEO
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		 

		

			12

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