CB RICHARD ELLIS REALTY TRUST INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.17
CB ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ REALTY TRUST
This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) made and entered into this first day of , , by and between CB ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Realty Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Trust”), and [ ] (the “Indemnitee”).
WHEREAS, it is essential that the Trust be able to retain and attract as trustees and officers the most capable persons available;
WHEREAS, the Trust’s Bylaws permit it to enter into indemnification arrangements and agreements;
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to provide the Indemnitee with specific contractual assurances of the Indemnitee’s rights to full indemnification against litigation risks and expenses (regardless, among other things, of any amendment to or revocation of the Trust’s Bylaws or any change in the ownership of the Trust or the composition of its Board of Trustees) and, to the extent insurance is available, the coverage of the Indemnitee under the Trust’s trustees and officers liability insurance policies; and
WHEREAS, the Indemnitee is relying upon the rights afforded under this Agreement in accepting Indemnitee’s position as a trustee or officer of the Trust.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, the Trust and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
(a) “Entity” shall mean any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, foundation, association, organization or other legal entity and any group or division of the Trust or any of its subsidiaries.
(b) “Expenses” shall mean all fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (as defined below), including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, disbursements and retainers (including, without limitation, any such fees, disbursements and retainers incurred by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement), fees and disbursements of expert witnesses, private investigators and professional advisors (including, without limitation, accountants), court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, travel expenses, duplicating, printing and binding costs, telephone and fax transmission charges, postage, delivery services, secretarial services, and other disbursements and expenses.
(c) “Indemnifiable Expenses,” “Indemnifiable Liabilities” and “Indemnifiable Amounts” shall have the meanings ascribed to those terms in Section 4 below.
(d) “Liabilities” shall mean judgments, damages, liabilities, losses, penalties, excise taxes, fines and amounts paid in settlement.
(e) “Proceeding” shall mean any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution process, investigation, administrative hearing, appeal, or any other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, whether formal or informal, including a proceeding initiated by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement to enforce Indemnitee’s rights hereunder.
(f) “Trust Status” describes the status of a person who is serving or has served (i) as a trustee, officer or employee of the Trust, (ii) in any capacity with respect to any employee benefit plan of the Trust, or (iii) as a director, partner, member, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of any other Entity at the request of the Trust.
2. Services of Indemnitee. In consideration of the Trust’s covenants and commitments hereunder, Indemnitee agrees to serve as a trustee or officer of the Trust. However, this Agreement shall not impose any obligation on Indemnitee or the Trust to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Trust beyond any period otherwise required by law or by other agreements or commitments of the parties, if any.
3. Agreement to Indemnify
The Trust shall indemnify Indemnitee, and advance Indemnifiable Expenses to, Indemnitee (a) as specifically provided in this Agreement and (b) otherwise to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law in effect on the date hereof and as amended from time to time; provided, however, that no change in Maryland law shall have the effect of reducing the benefits available to Indemnitee hereunder based on Maryland law as in effect on the date hereof. The rights of Indemnitee provided in this Section shall include, but shall not be limited to, the rights set forth in the other Sections of this Agreement, including any additional indemnification permitted by Section 2-418(g) of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”).
4. Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Trust. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 4 if, by reason of his Trust Status, he is, or is threatened to be, made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Trust. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified by the Trust against all Expenses and Liabilities incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with a Proceeding by reason of his Trust Status (referred to herein as “Indemnifiable Expenses” and “Indemnifiable Liabilities,” respectively, and collectively as “Indemnifiable Amounts”) unless it is established that (i) the act or omission of the Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (ii) the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services, or (iii) in the case of any criminal Proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
5. Proceedings by or in the Right of the Trust. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 5 if, by reason of his Trust Status, he is made a party to any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Trust to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 5, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all amounts paid in settlement and all Indemnifiable Expenses incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding unless it is established that (i) the act or omission of the Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to such a Proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty or (ii) the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; provided, however, that no indemnification against such Indemnifiable Expenses shall be made in respect of any Proceeding in which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Trust.
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6. Court-Ordered Indemnification. A court of appropriate jurisdiction, upon application of a trustee or officer and such notice as the court shall require, may order indemnification in the following circumstances:
(a) if it determines a trustee or officer is entitled to Indemnifiable Amounts under Section 2-418(d)(1) of the MGCL, the court shall order indemnification, in which case the trustee or officer shall be entitled to recover the expenses of securing such Indemnifiable Amounts; or
(b) if it determines that the trustee or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not the trustee or officer (i) has met the standards of conduct set forth in Section 2-418(b) of the MGCL or (ii) has been adjudged liable for receipt of an improper personal benefit under Section 2-148(c) of the MGCL, the court may order such indemnification as the court shall deem proper. However, indemnification with respect to any Proceeding by or in the right of the Trust or in which liability shall have been adjudged in the circumstances described in Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL shall be limited to Indemnifiable Expenses.
7. Procedure for Payment of Indemnifiable Amounts. Indemnitee shall submit to the Trust a written request specifying the applicable Indemnifiable Amounts for which Indemnitee seeks payment under this Agreement and the basis for the claim. Subject to the exceptions set forth in Sections 4 and 5, the Trust shall pay such applicable Indemnifiable Amounts to Indemnitee within twenty (20) calendar days of receipt of the request. At the request of the Trust, Indemnitee shall furnish such documentation and information as are reasonably available to Indemnitee and necessary to establish that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder.
8. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and without limiting any such provision to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Trust Status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, Indemnitee shall be indemnified for all Indemnifiable Expenses incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith. Without limiting any other rights of Indemnitee in this Agreement, if Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Trust shall indemnify Indemnitee for all Indemnifiable Expenses incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
9. Effect of Certain Resolutions. Neither the settlement nor termination of any Proceeding nor the failure of the Trust to award indemnification or to determine that indemnification is payable shall create an adverse presumption that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder. In addition, the termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order or settlement shall not create a presumption that the act or omission of the Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty or the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s action was unlawful. The termination of any Proceeding by conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or an entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, does not create a rebuttable presumption that the Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct. In addition, the termination of or resignation by Indemnitee shall not create an adverse presumption that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder.
10. Agreement to Advance Interim Expenses. The Trust shall pay to Indemnitee all Indemnifiable Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Trust, in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding, if Indemnitee furnishes the Trust with a written affirmation by the Indemnitee of the Indemnitee’s good
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faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Trust has been met and a written undertaking by or on behalf of the lndemnitee to repay the amount of such Indemnifiable Expenses advanced to Indemnitee if it is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that Indemnitee is not entitled under this Agreement to indemnification with respect to such Indemnifiable Expenses. The terms and conditions of such undertaking shall be determined by a quorum of the disinterested members of the Board of Trustees, if any, acting in good faith and as required by the proper exercise of their duties or, if not available, then by the written opinion of independent legal counsel or by the Trust’s shareholders.
11. Procedure for Payment of Interim Expenses. Indemnitee shall submit to the Trust a written request specifying the Indemnifiable Expenses for which Indemnitee seeks an advancement under Section 10 of this Agreement, together with documentation evidencing that Indemnitee has incurred such Indemnifiable Expenses. Payment of Indenmifiable Expenses under Section 10 shall be made no later than twenty (20) calendar days after the Trust’s receipt of such request and the affirmation and undertaking required by Section 10.
12. Remedies of Indemnitee.
(a) Right to Petition Court. In the event that Indemnitee makes a request for payment of Indemnifiable Amounts under Sections 3, 4 and 5 above or a request for an advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses under Sections 10 and 11 above and the Trust fails to make such payment or advancement in a timely manner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee may petition the appropriate judicial authority to enforce the Trust’s obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Burden of Proof. In any judicial proceeding brought under Section 12(a) above, the Trust shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts hereunder.
(c) Expenses. The Trust agrees to reimburse Indemnitee in full for any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with investigating, preparing for, litigating, defending or settling any action brought by Indemnitee under Section 12(a) above, or in connection with any claim or counterclaim brought by the Trust in connection therewith.
(d) Validity of Agreement. The Trust shall be precluded from asserting in any Proceeding, including, without limitation, an action under Section 12(a) above, that the provisions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable or that there is insufficient consideration for this Agreement and shall stipulate in court that the Trust is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) Failure to Act Not a Defense. The failure of the Trust (including its Board of Trustees or any committee thereof, independent legal counsel, or shareholders) to make a determination concerning the permissibility of the payment of Indemnifiable Amounts or the advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses under this Agreement shall not be a defense in any action brought under Section 12(a) above, and shall not create a presumption that such payment or advancement is not permissible.
13. Representations and Warranties of the Trust. The Trust hereby represents and warrants to Indemnitee as follows:
(a) Authority. The Trust has all necessary trust power and authority to enter into, and be bound by the terms of, this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance of the undertakings contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by the Trust.
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(b) Enforceability. This Agreement, when executed and delivered by the Trust in accordance with the provisions hereof, shall be a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable against the Trust in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or general equitable principles, and to the extent limited by applicable federal or state securities laws.
14. Insurance. The Trust will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain a policy or policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies providing the members of the Board of Trustees with coverage for losses from wrongful acts, and to ensure the Trust’s performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. In all policies of trustee and officer liability insurance, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee at least the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Trust’s officers and trustees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Trust, after employing commercially reasonable efforts as provided in this Section, determines in good faith that such insurance is not reasonably available, if the premium costs for such insurance are disproportionate to the amount of coverage provided, or if the coverage provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so as to provide an insufficient benefit, the Trust shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain a policy or policies of insurance with coverage having features as similar as practicable to those described above.
15. Fees and Expenses. During the term of the Indemnitee’s service as a trustee or officer, the Trust shall promptly reimburse the Indemnitee for all expenses incurred by him in connection with his service as a trustee or officer or member of any board committee or otherwise in connection with the Trust’s business.
16. Contract Rights Not Exclusive. The rights to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts and advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to, but not exclusive of, any other rights which Indemnitee may have at any time under applicable law, the Trust’s Bylaws, as amended, Declaration of Trust, or any other agreement, vote of shareholders or trustees, or otherwise, both as to action in Indemnitee’s official capacity and as to action in any other capacity as a result of Indemnitees’s serving as a trustee or officer of the Trust.
17. Successors. This Agreement shall be (a) binding upon all successors and assigns of the Trust (including any transferee of all or a substantial portion of the business, shares and/or assets of the Trust and any direct or indirect successor by merger or consolidation or otherwise by operation of law) and (b) binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators of Indemnitee. This Agreement shall continue for the benefit of Indemnitee and such heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators after Indemnitee has ceased to have Trust Status.
18. Subrogation. In the event of any payment of Indemnifable Amounts under this Agreement, the Trust shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of contribution or recovery of Indemnitee against other persons, and Indemnitee shall take, at the request of the Trust, all reasonable action necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Trust to bring suit to enforce such rights.
19. Change in Law. To the extent that a change in applicable law (whether by statute or judicial decision) shall permit broader indemnification than is provided under the terms of the Declaration of Trust, as amended, or Bylaws of the Trust and this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to such broader indemnification and this Agreement shall be deemed to be amended to such extent.
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20. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement, or any clause thereof, shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, such provision or clause shall be limited or modified in its application to the minimum extent necessary to make such provision or clause valid, legal and enforceable, and the remaining provisions and clauses of this Agreement shall remain fully enforceable and binding on the parties.
21. Indemnitee as Plaintiff. Except as provided in Section 12 of this Agreement and in the next sentence, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to payment of Indemnifiable Amounts or advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses with respect to any Proceeding brought by Indemnitee against the Trust, any Entity which it controls, any trustee or officer thereof, or any third party, unless (a) the Proceeding is brought to enforce indemnification under this Agreement or otherwise or (b) the Trust’s Bylaws, the Declaration of Trust, as amended, a resolution of the Board of Trustees or an agreement approved by the Board of Trustees to which the Trust is party expressly provide otherwise. This Section shall not apply to affirmative defenses asserted by Indemnitee in an action brought against Indemnitee.
22. Modifications and Waiver. Except as provided in Section 19 above with respect to changes in applicable law which broaden the right of Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Trust, no supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by each of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
23. General Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when delivered by hand, (b) when transmitted by facsimile and receipt is acknowledged, or (c) if mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed:
| (i) If to Indemnitee, to: |
[ ] | |
| c/o CB ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Realty Trust ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Phone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ | ||
| (ii) If to the Trust, to: |
CB ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Realty Trust ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Phone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ Attn: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ | |
or to such other address as may have been furnished in the same manner by any party to the others.
24. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced under the laws of Maryland without giving effect to the provisions thereof relating to conflicts of law.
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25. Agreement Governs. This Agreement is to be deemed consistent wherever possible with relevant provisions of the Trust’s Bylaws and the Declaration of Trust, as amended; however, in the event of a conflict between this Agreement and such provisions, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.
26. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Each party shall become bound by this Agreement immediately upon affixing its signature hereto.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Indemnification Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
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| CB ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ REALTY TRUST | ||||
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| Name: |
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| Title: |
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| INDEMNITEE: | ||||
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