FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT, effective as of ________________, 2000
between Empire Financial Holding Company, a Florida corporation (the "Company"),
and ______________ (the "Indemnitee").
Recitals
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A. The Company desires to continue to retain the services of the
Indemnitee as a director and/or executive officer of the Company.
B. As a condition to the Indemnitee's agreement to continue to serve as
a director and/or executive officer of the Company, the Indemnitee requires that
he be indemnified from liability to the fullest extent permitted by law.
C. The Company is willing to indemnify the Indemnitee to the fullest
extent permitted by law in order to retain the services of the Indemnitee.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual premises and
covenants contained herein, the Company and the Indemnitee agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Mandatory Indemnification In Actions, Suits Or Proceedings
Other Than Those By Or In The Right Of The Company. Subject to Section 4 hereof,
the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnitee from and against
any and all claims, damages, expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,
fines (including excise taxes assessed with respect to an employee benefit
plan), amounts paid in settlement and all other liabilities actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with the investigation, defense,
prosecution, settlement or appeal of any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) and to
which the Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party by
reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was an officer, director, employee
or agent of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or is or was serving at the
request of the Company as an officer, director, partner, trustee, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan, or other enterprise, or by reason of anything done or not done by
the Indemnitee in any such capacity or capacities, provided that the Indemnitee
acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful.
SECTION 2. Mandatory Indemnification In Actions Or Suits By Or In The
Right Of The Company. Subject to Section 4 hereof, the Company shall indemnify
and hold harmless the Indemnitee from and against any and all expenses
(including attorneys' fees) and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with the
investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of any threatened, pending or
completed action or suit by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment
in its favor and to which the Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to
be made a party by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was an officer,
director, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request
of the Company as an officer, director, partner, trustee, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise, or by reason of anything done or not done by the Indemnitee in
such capacity or capacities, provided that (i) the Indemnitee acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Company, (ii) indemnification for amounts paid in settlement
shall not exceed, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, the estimated
expense of litigating the proceeding to conclusion, and (iii) no indemnification
shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the
Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable for misconduct in the
performance of his duty to the Company unless and only to the extent that the
court in which such action or suit was brought (or any other court of competent
jurisdiction) shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Indemnitee is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court
shall deem proper.
SECTION 3. Reimbursement Of Expenses Following Adjudication Of
Negligence. The Company shall reimburse the Indemnitee for any expenses
(including attorney's fees) and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with the investigation, defense,
settlement or appeal of any action or suit described in Section 2 hereof that
results in an adjudication that the Indemnitee was liable for negligence (but
not willful misconduct) in the performance of his duty to the Company; provided,
however, that the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he believed to
be in the best interests of the Company.
SECTION 4. Authorization Of Indemnification. Any indemnification under
Sections l and 2 hereof (unless ordered by a court) and any reimbursement made
under Section 3 hereof shall be made by the Company only as authorized in the
specific case upon a determination (the "Determination") that indemnification or
reimbursement of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the
Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 1, 2
or 3 hereof, as the case may be. Subject to Sections 5.6, 5.7 and 8 of this
Agreement, the Determination shall be made in the following order of preference:
(1) first, by the Company's Board of Directors (the
"Board") by majority vote or consent of a quorum consisting of directors
("Disinterested Directors") who are not, at the time of the Determination, named
parties to such action, suit or proceeding; or
(2) next, if such a quorum of Disinterested Directors
cannot be obtained, by majority vote or consent of a committee duly designated
by the Board (in which designation all directors, whether or not Disinterested
Directors, may participate) consisting solely of two or more Disinterested
Directors; or
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(3) next, if such a committee cannot be designated, by any
independent legal counsel (who may be the outside counsel regularly employed by
the Company) selected pursuant to Section 5.6 hereof; or
(4) next, if such legal counsel determination cannot be
obtained, by vote or consent of the holders of a majority of the Company's
shares of common stock ("Disinterested Shareholders") that are represented in
person or by proxy and entitled to vote at a meeting called for such purpose,
excluding the Indemnitee and shareholders who are at the time of the
Determination named parties to such action, suit or proceeding.
4.1 No Presumptions. The termination of any action, suit or
proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that
the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner that he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe
that his conduct was unlawful.
4.2 Benefit Plan Conduct. The Indemnitee's conduct with
respect to an employee benefit plan for a purpose he reasonably believed to be
in the interests of the participants in and beneficiaries of the plan shall be
deemed to be conduct that the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be not opposed
to the best interests of the Company.
4.3 Reliance as Safe Harbor. For purposes of any Determination
hereunder, the Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the Company, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had
no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, if his action is based
on (i) the records or books of account of the Company or another enterprise,
including financial statements, (ii) information supplied to him by the officers
of the Company or another enterprise in the course of their duties, (iii) the
advice of legal counsel for the Company or another enterprise, or (iv)
information or records given or reports made to the Company or another
enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or
other expert selected with reasonable care by the Company or another enterprise.
The term "another enterprise" as used in this Section 4.3 shall mean any other
corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise of which the Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the
Company as an officer, director, partner, trustee, employee or agent. The
provisions of this Section 4.3 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit
in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have
met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections l, 2 or 3 hereof,
as the case may be.
4.4 Success on Merits or Otherwise. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, to the extent that the Indemnitee has been
successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or
proceeding described in Section 1 or 2 hereof, or in defense of any claim, issue
or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the
investigation, defense,
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settlement or appeal thereof. For purposes of this Section 4.4, the term
"successful on the merits or otherwise" shall include, but not be limited to,
(i) any termination, withdrawal, or dismissal (with or without prejudice) of any
claim, action, suit or proceeding against the Indemnitee without any express
finding of liability or guilt against him, (ii) the expiration of 120 days after
the making of any claim or threat of an action, suit or proceeding without the
institution of the same and without any promise or payment made to induce a
settlement, or (iii) the settlement of any action, suit or proceeding under
Section 1, 2 or 3 hereof pursuant to which the Indemnitee pays less than
$10,000.
4.5 Partial Indemnification or Reimbursement. If the
Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification
and/or reimbursement by the Company for some or a portion of the claims,
damages, expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines or amounts paid
in settlement by the Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense,
settlement or appeal of any action specified in Section 1, 2 or 3 hereof, but
not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless
indemnify and/or reimburse the Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which the
Indemnitee is entitled. The party or parties making the Determination shall
determine the portion (if less than all) of such claims, damages, expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement for
which the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and/or reimbursement under
this Agreement.
4.6 Limitations on Indemnification. No indemnification
pursuant to Sections 1 and 2 hereof shall be paid by the Company if a judgment
(after exhaustion of all appeals) or other final adjudication determines that
the Indemnitee's actions, or omissions to act, were material to the cause of
action so adjudicated and constitute:
(a) a violation of criminal law, unless the Indemnitee had
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was unlawful;
(b) a transaction from which the Indemnitee received an
improper personal benefit within the meaning of Section 607.0850(7) of the
Florida Business Corporation Act;
(c) a circumstance under which the liability provisions of
Section 607.0834 of the Florida Business Corporation Act are applicable; or
(d) willful misconduct or conscious disregard for the best
interests of the Company in a proceeding by or in the right of the Company to
procure a judgment in its favor or in a proceeding by or in the right of a
shareholder of the Company.
SECTION 5. Procedures For Determination Of Whether Standards Have Been
Satisfied.
5.1 Costs. All costs of making the Determination required by
Section 4 hereof shall be borne solely by the Company, including, but not
limited to, the costs of legal counsel, proxy solicitations and judicial
determinations. The Company shall also be solely responsible
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for paying (i) all reasonable expenses incurred by the Indemnitee to enforce
this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the costs incurred by the
Indemnitee to obtain court-ordered indemnification pursuant to Section 8 hereof,
regardless of the outcome of any such application or proceeding, and (ii) all
costs of defending any suits or proceedings challenging payments to the
Indemnitee under this Agreement.
5.2 Timing of the Determination. The Company shall use its
best efforts to make the Determination contemplated by Section 4 hereof
promptly. In addition, the Company agrees:
(a) if the Determination is to be made by the Board or a
committee thereof, such Determination shall be made not later than 15 days after
a written request for a Determination (a "Request") is delivered to the Company
by the Indemnitee;
(b) if the Determination is to be made by independent
legal counsel, such Determination shall be made not later than 30 days after a
Request is delivered to the Company by the Indemnitee; and
(c) if the Determination is to be made by the shareholders
of the Company, such Determination shall be made not later than 120 days after a
Request is delivered to the Company by the Indemnitee.
The failure to make a Determination within the above-specified time period shall
constitute a Determination approving full indemnification or reimbursement of
the Indemnitee. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a Determination
may be made in advance of (i) the Indemnitee's payment (or incurring) of
expenses with respect to which indemnification or reimbursement is sought,
and/or (ii) final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding with respect to
which indemnification or reimbursement is sought.
5.3 Reasonableness of Expenses. The evaluation and finding as
to the reasonableness of expenses incurred by the Indemnitee for purposes of
this Agreement shall be made (in the following order of preference) within 15
days of the Indemnitee's delivery to the Company of a Request that includes a
reasonable accounting of expenses incurred:
(a) first, by the Board by a majority vote of a quorum
consisting of Disinterested Directors; or
(b) next, if a quorum cannot be obtained under subdivision
(a), by majority vote or consent of a committee duly designated by the Board (in
which designation all directors, whether or not Disinterested Directors, may
participate), consisting solely of two or more Disinterested Directors; or
(c) next, if a finding cannot be obtained under either
subdivision (a) or (b), by vote or consent of the holders of a majority of the
Disinterested Shareholders' Common Stock that are represented in person or by
proxy at a meeting called for such purpose.
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All expenses shall be considered reasonable for purposes of this Agreement if
the finding contemplated by this Section 5.3 is not made within the prescribed
time. The finding required by this Section 5.3 may be made in advance of the
payment (or incurring) of the expenses for which indemnification or
reimbursement is sought.
5.4 Payment of Indemnified Amount. Immediately following a
Determination that the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in Sections 1, 2 or 3 hereof, as the case may be, and the finding of
reasonableness of expenses contemplated by Section 5.3 hereof, or the passage of
time prescribed for making such Determination(s), the Company shall pay to the
Indemnitee in cash the amount to which the Indemnitee is entitled to be
indemnified and/or reimbursed, as the case may be, without further authorization
or action by the Board; provided, however, that the expenses for which
indemnification or reimbursement is sought have actually been incurred by the
Indemnitee.
5.5 Selection of Independent Legal Counsel. If the
Determination required under Section 4 is to be made by independent legal
counsel, such counsel shall be selected by the Board (pursuant to the procedure
set forth in Sections 4(1) and (2) hereof) with the approval of the Indemnitee,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. The fees and expenses
incurred by counsel in making any Determination (including Determinations
pursuant to Section 5.6 hereof) shall be borne solely by the Company regardless
of the results of any Determination and, if requested by counsel, the Company
shall give such counsel an appropriate written agreement with respect to the
payment of their fees and expenses and such other matters as may be reasonably
requested by counsel.
5.6 Right of Indemnitee To Select Forum For Determination. If,
at any time subsequent to the date of this Agreement, "Continuing Directors" do
not constitute a majority of the members of the Board, or there is otherwise a
change in control of the Company (as contemplated by Item 403(c) of Regulation
S-K), then upon the request of the Indemnitee, the Company shall cause the
Determination required by Section 4 hereof to be made by independent legal
counsel selected by the Indemnitee and approved by the Board (which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld), which counsel shall be deemed to satisfy
the requirements of clause (3) of Section 4 hereof. If none of the legal counsel
selected by the Indemnitee are willing and/or able to make the Determination,
then the Company shall cause the Determination to be made by a majority vote or
consent of a Board committee consisting solely of Continuing Directors. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Continuing Director" means either a member of the
Board at the date of this Agreement or a person nominated to serve as a member
of the Board by a majority of the then Continuing Directors.
5.7 Access by Indemnitee to Determination. The Company shall
afford to the Indemnitee and his representatives ample opportunity to present
evidence of the facts upon which the Indemnitee relies for indemnification or
reimbursement, together with other information relating to any requested
Determination. The Company shall also afford the Indemnitee the reasonable
opportunity to include such evidence and information in any Company proxy
statement relating to a shareholder Determination.
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5.8 Judicial Determinations in Derivative Suits. In each
action or suit described in Section 2 hereof, the Company shall cause its
counsel to use its best efforts to obtain from the Court in which such action or
suit was brought (i) an express adjudication whether the Indemnitee is liable
for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the Company, and,
if the Indemnitee is so liable, (ii) a determination whether and to what extent,
despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of
the case (including this Agreement), the Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnification.
SECTION 6. Scope Of Indemnity. The actions, suits and proceedings
described in Sections 1 and 2 hereof shall include, for purposes of this
Agreement, any actions that involve, directly or indirectly, activities of the
Indemnitee both in his official capacities as a Company director or officer and
actions taken in another capacity while serving as director or officer,
including, but not limited to, actions or proceedings involving (i) compensation
paid to the Indemnitee by the Company, (ii) activities by the Indemnitee on
behalf of the Company, including actions in which the Indemnitee is plaintiff,
(iii) actions alleging a misappropriation of a "corporate opportunity," (iv)
responses to a takeover attempt or threatened takeover attempt of the Company,
and (v) the Indemnitee's preparation for and appearance (or potential
appearance) as a witness in any proceeding relating, directly or indirectly, to
the Company. In addition, the Company agrees that, for purposes of this
Agreement, all services performed by the Indemnitee on behalf of, in connection
with or related to any subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan
established for the benefit of employees of the Company or any subsidiary, any
corporation or partnership or other entity in which the Company or any
subsidiary has a 5% ownership interest, or any other affiliate of the Company,
shall be deemed to be at the request of the Company.
SECTION 7. Advance For Expenses.
7.1 Mandatory Advance. Expenses (including attorneys' fees, court
costs, judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and other payments) incurred
by the Indemnitee in investigating, defending, settling or appealing any action,
suit or proceeding described in Section 1 or 2 hereof shall be paid by the
Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding.
The Company shall promptly pay the amount of such expenses to the Indemnitee,
but in no event later than 10 days following the Indemnitee's delivery to the
Company of a written request for an advance pursuant to this Section 7, together
with a reasonable accounting of such expenses.
7.2 Undertaking to Repay. The Indemnitee hereby undertakes and
agrees to repay to the Company any advances made pursuant to this Section 7 if
and to the extent that it shall ultimately be found that the Indemnitee is not
entitled to be indemnified by the Company for such amounts.
7.3 Miscellaneous. The Company shall make the advances
contemplated by this Section 7 regardless of the Indemnitee's financial ability
to make repayment, and regardless whether indemnification of the Indemnitee by
the Company will ultimately be required. Any
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advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 7 shall be unsecured
and interest-free.
SECTION 8. Court-Ordered Indemnification. Regardless whether the
Indemnitee has met the standard of conduct set forth in Sections 1, 2 or 3
hereof, as the case may be, and notwithstanding the presence or absence of any
Determination whether such standards have been satisfied, the Indemnitee may
apply for indemnification (and/or reimbursement pursuant to Section 3 hereof) to
the court conducting any proceeding to which the Indemnitee is a party or to any
other court of competent jurisdiction. On receipt of an application, the court,
after giving any notice the court considers necessary, may order indemnification
(and/or reimbursement) if it determines the Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnification (and/or reimbursement) in view of all the relevant
circumstances (including this Agreement).
SECTION 9. Nondisclosure Of Payments. Except as expressly required by
Federal securities laws, neither party shall disclose any payments under this
Agreement unless prior approval of the other party is obtained. Any payments to
the Indemnitee that must be disclosed shall, unless otherwise required by law,
be described only in Company proxy or information statements relating to special
and/or annual meetings of the Company's shareholders, and the Company shall
afford the Indemnitee the reasonable opportunity to review all such disclosures
and, if requested, to explain in such statement any mitigating circumstances
regarding the events reported.
SECTION 10. Covenant Not To ▇▇▇, Limitation Of Actions And Release Of
Claims. No legal action that if brought would give rise to a claim for
indemnification hereunder shall be brought during the term of this agreement or
asserted by or on behalf of the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) against the
Indemnitee, his spouse, heirs, executors, personal representatives or
administrators more than two years after the date the Indemnitee ceases (for any
reason) to serve as either director or an executive officer of the Company, and
any such claim or cause of action of the Company (or any of its subsidiaries)
shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by filing of a legal
action within such two-year period.
SECTION 11. Indemnification Of Indemnitee's Estate. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, and regardless whether indemnification of the
Indemnitee would be permitted and/or required under this Agreement, if the
Indemnitee is deceased, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Indemnitee's estate, spouse, heirs, administrators, personal representatives and
executors (collectively the "Indemnitee's Estate") against, and the Company
shall assume, any and all claims, damages, expenses (including attorneys' fees),
penalties, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually incurred by
the Indemnitee or the Indemnitee's Estate in connection with the investigation,
defense, settlement or appeal of any action described in Section 1 or 2 hereof.
Indemnification of the Indemnitee's Estate pursuant to this Section 11 shall be
mandatory and not require a Determination or any other finding that the
Indemnitee's conduct satisfied a particular standard of conduct.
SECTION 12. Miscellaneous.
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12.1 Notice Provision. Any notice, payment, demand or
communication required or permitted to be delivered or given by the provisions
of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been effectively delivered or given
and received on the date personally delivered to the respective party to whom it
is directed, or when deposited by registered or certified mail, with postage and
charges prepaid and addressed to the parties at the addresses set forth by their
signatures to this Agreement.
12.2 Entire Agreement. Except for the Company's Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws, this Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of
the parties and supersedes all prior understandings, whether written or oral,
between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
12.3 Severability of Provisions. If any provision of this
Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable under present or
future laws effective during the term of this Agreement, such provision shall be
fully severable; this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such
illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part of this
Agreement; and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid, or
unenforceable provision or by its severance from this Agreement. Furthermore, in
lieu of each such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision there shall be
added automatically as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms
to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be
legal, valid, and enforceable.
12.4 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed under the laws of the State of Florida.
12.5 Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement and any
amendment may be executed simultaneously or in two or more counterparts, each of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
12.6 Cooperation and Intent. The Company shall cooperate in
good faith with the Indemnitee and use its best efforts to ensure that the
Indemnitee is indemnified and/or reimbursed for liabilities described herein to
the fullest extent permitted by law.
12.7 Amendment. No amendment, modification or alteration of
the terms of this Agreement shall be binding unless in writing, dated subsequent
to the date of this Agreement, and executed by the parties.
12.8 Binding Effect. The obligations of the Company to the
Indemnitee hereunder shall survive and continue as to the Indemnitee even if the
Indemnitee ceases to be a director, officer, employee and/or agent of the
Company. Each and all of the covenants, terms and provisions of this Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors to the Company
and, upon the death of the Indemnitee, to the benefit of the estate, heirs,
executors, administrators and personal representatives of the Indemnitee.
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12.9 Gender and Number. Wherever the context shall so require,
all words herein in the male gender shall be deemed to include the female or
neuter gender, all singular words shall include the plural and all plural words
shall include the singular.
12.10 Nonexclusivity. The rights of indemnification and
reimbursement provided in this Agreement shall be in addition to any rights to
which the Indemnitee may otherwise be entitled by statute, bylaw, agreement,
vote of shareholders or otherwise.
12.11 Effective Date. The provisions of this Agreement shall
cover claims, actions, suits and proceedings whether now pending or hereafter
commenced and shall be retroactive to cover acts or omissions or alleged acts or
omissions which heretofore have taken place.
EMPIRE FINANCIAL HOLDING
COMPANY
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By:
Its:
Address:
INDEMNITEE:
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Name:
Address:
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