EXHIBIT 10.73 AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT This AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT (the "Amendment") is --------- executed effective as of January 20, 1999, by and between Triton Energy Limited, a Cayman Islands company (the "Company"), and HM4 Triton, L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (the "Purchaser"), to amend that certain Shareholders Agreement, dated as of September 30, 1998 (the "Shareholders ------------ Agreement"), by and between the Company and Purchaser. - --------- 1. DEFINITIONS. Unless the context indicates otherwise, capitalized ----------- terms used but not defined in this Amendment and defined in the Shareholders Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement. 2. SECTION 4.1.7. Section 4.1.7 is hereby amended to read in its -------------- entirety as follow: 4.1.7 Fees; Costs and Expenses. Except as provided in the following --------------------------- sentence, Holder Designees shall not receive an annual retainer, meeting fees or other consideration for serving on the Board (or committees thereof) or any Board of Directors of any Subsidiary of the Company. The Company will pay or reimburse each Holder Designee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Holder Designee in connection with its participation in meetings of the Board (and committees thereof) and the Boards of Directors (and committees thereof) of the Subsidiaries of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Holder Designee who is not an employee, principal or director of the Purchaser or Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Incorporated shall be entitled to receive any annual retainer, meeting fees or other consideration for serving on the Board (or committees thereof) or any Board of Directors of any Subsidiary of the Company as are provided to any director of the Company who is not also an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. 3. REMAINING PROVISIONS IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT. As hereby amended, ----------------------------------------------- the Purchase Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. [BALANCE OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK] IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Amendment to be executed by its duly authorized officer effective as of January 20, 1999. TRITON ENERGY LIMITED By:______________________________ James C. Musselman, President and Chief Executive Officer HM4 TRITON, L.P. By: HM4/GP Partners Cayman, L.P., its General Partner By: HM GP Partners IV Cayman, L.P., its General Partner By: HM Triton G.P., LLC, its General Partner By:____________________ Daniel S. Dross Senior Vice President