EXHIBIT 10.1
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
-------------------------
THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
____________________ between ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("the
Company"), and ______________________ (the "Indemnitee").
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, the individual signatory hereto performs a valuable service for
the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has adopted Bylaws (the
"Bylaws") providing for the indemnification of the officers and directors of the
Company to the maximum extent authorized by Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, as amended ("Law"); and
WHEREAS, the Bylaws and the Law, by their nonexclusive nature, permit
contracts between the Company and the officers or directors of the Company with
respect to indemnification of such officers or directors; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the authorization as provided by the Law, the
Company may purchase and maintain a policy or policies of directors' and
officers' liability insurance ("D & O Insurance"), covering certain liabilities
which may be incurred by its officers or directors in the performance of their
obligations to the Company; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of past services and in order to induce the
individual signatory hereto to continue to serve as an officer or director of
the Company, the Company has determined and agreed to enter into this contract
with such individual;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of such individual's service as an officer
or director after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Indemnity of Indemnitee. The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless
-----------------------
and indemnify Indemnitee (as defined in Section 13(e) below) to the full extent
authorized or permitted by the provisions of the Law, as such may be amended
from time to time, and Article VII, Section 7.6 of the Bylaws, as such may be
amended. In furtherance of the foregoing indemnification, and without limiting
the generality thereof:
(a) Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the
------------------------------------------------------------
Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided
-------
in this Section l(a) if, by reason of his Corporate Status (as defined in
Section 13(a) below), he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or
participant in any Proceeding (as defined in Section 13(g) below) other than a
Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(a),
Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses (as defined in
Section 13(d) below), judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually
and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such
Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if he 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 Proceeding, had no reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
(b) Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall
---------------------------------------------
be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 1(b) if,
by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party
to or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company.
Pursuant to this Section 1(b), Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
with such Proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; provided,
however, that, if applicable law so provides, no indemnification against such
Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such
Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the
Company unless and to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of
Delaware shall determine that such indemnification may be made.
(c) Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly
---------------------------------------------------------------
Successful. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent
----------
that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to and is
successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he shall be
indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by law against all Expenses actually
and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. 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 Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this
Section and without limitation, 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.
2. Additional Indemnity. In addition to, and without regard to any
--------------------
limitations on, the indemnification provided for in Section 1, the Company shall
and hereby does indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses,
judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf if, by reason of his Corporate
Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any
Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company),
including, without limitation, all liability arising out of the negligence or
active or passive wrongdoing of Indemnitee. The only limitation that shall exist
upon the Company's obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be that the
Company shall not be obligated to make any payment to Indemnitee that is finally
determined (under the procedures, and subject to the presumptions, set forth in
Sections 6 and 7 hereof) to be unlawful to be made to the individual signatory
hereto under Delaware law.
3. Contribution in the Event of Joint Liability.
--------------------------------------------
-2-
(a) Whether or not the indemnification provided in Sections 1 and 2
hereof is available, in respect of any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding in which Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would
be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), Company shall pay, in the
first instance, the entire amount of any judgment or settlement of such action,
suit or proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment
and Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have
against Indemnitee. Company shall not enter into any settlement of any action,
suit or proceeding in which Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would
be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding) unless such settlement provides
for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.
(b) Without diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Company
set forth in the preceding subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee shall
elect or be required to pay all or any portion of any judgment or settlement in
any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which Company
is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), Company shall contribute to the amount of expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred and paid or payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the
relative benefits received by the Company and all officers, directors or
employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with
Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the
one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which
such action, suit or proceeding arose; provided, however, that the proportion
determined on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to
conform to law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of
Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company other than
Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such
action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand,
in connection with the events that resulted in such expenses, judgments, fines
or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations which the
law may require to be considered. The relative fault of Company and all
officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are
jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which their
actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the
degree to which their liability is primary or secondary, and the degree to which
their conduct is active or passive.
(c) Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee
harmless from any claims of contribution which may be brought by officers,
directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly
liable with Indemnitee.
4. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other
-----------------------------------------
provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his
Corporate
-3-
Status, a witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall
be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or
on his behalf in connection therewith.
5. Advancement of Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
-----------------------
Agreement, the Company shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of
Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee's Corporate
Status within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or
statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to
time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such
statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred
Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an undertaking by
or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately
be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such
Expenses. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 5
shall be unsecured and interest free. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
obligation of the Company to advance Expenses pursuant to this Section 5 shall
be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that the Company
determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under
applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed, within thirty
(30) days of such determination, by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse
the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid; provided, however, that if
Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court of
competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee should be
indemnified under applicable law, any determination made by the Company that
Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law shall
not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for
any advance of Expenses until a final judicial determination is made with
respect thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted
or lapsed).
6. Procedures and Presumptions for Determination of Entitlement to
---------------------------------------------------------------
Indemnification. It is the intent of this Agreement to secure for Indemnitee
---------------
rights of indemnity that are as favorable as may be permitted under the law and
public policy of the State of Delaware. Accordingly, the parties agree that the
following procedures and presumptions shall apply in the event of any question
as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement:
(a) To obtain indemnification (including, but not limited to, the
advancement of Expenses and contribution by the Company) under this Agreement,
Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or
therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to
Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall,
promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of
Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
-4-
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant
to the first sentence of Section 6(a) hereof, a determination, if required by
applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement thereto shall be made
in the specific case by one of the following three methods, which shall be at
the election of Indemnitee: (1) by a majority vote of the disinterested
directors, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders.
(c) If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be
made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, the Independent
Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 6(c). The Independent
Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that
such selection be made by the Board of Directors). Indemnitee or the Company, as
the case may be, may, within 10 days after such written notice of selection
shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may
be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such
objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so
selected does not meet the requirements of "Independent Counsel" as defined in
Section 13 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with
particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely
objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written
objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not
serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a
court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days
after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant
to Section 6(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not
objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery
of the State of Delaware or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution
of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the
other's selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as
Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as
the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections
are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel
under Section 6(b) hereof. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and
expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in
connection with acting pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, and the Company shall
pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section
6(c), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or
appointed.
(d) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to
indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such
determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under
this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in
accordance with Section 6(a) of this Agreement. Anyone seeking to overcome this
presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion, by
clear and convincing evidence.
(e) Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if
Indemnitee's action is based on the records or books of account of the
Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to
Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or
on the advice of legal counsel for the
-5-
Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise
by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert
selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise. In addition, the knowledge
and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee
of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining
the right to indemnification under this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing
provisions of this Section 6(e) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed
that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Company. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of
proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence.
If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 6 to
determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made
a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of the
request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification
shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such
indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or
an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee's statement not
materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or
(ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided,
however, that such 30 day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to
exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or entity making
the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith
requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating documentation
and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing
provisions of this Section 6(g) shall not apply if the determination of
entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to
Section 6(b) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt
by the Company of the request for such determination the Board of Directors or
the Disinterested Directors, if appropriate, resolve to submit such
determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting
thereof to be held within seventy five (75) days after such receipt and such
determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is
called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making
such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days
after having been so called and such determination is made thereat.
(f) Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity
making such determination with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement to
indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon
reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not
privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably
available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any
Independent Counsel, member of the Board of Directors, or stockholder of the
Company shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a determination under
the Agreement of the Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification. Any costs or
expenses (including attorneys' fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in
so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination
shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to
-6-
Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies
and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(g) The Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition
short of final judgment may be successful if it permits a party to avoid
expense, delay, distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the event that any
action, claim or proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any
manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without
limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with or without
payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that Indemnitee
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such action, suit or
proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of
proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence.
7. Remedies of Indemnitee.
----------------------
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to
Section 6 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification
under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant
to Section 5 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to
indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement
within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification,
(iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to this Agreement within
ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v)
payment of indemnification is not made within ten (10) days after a
determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or
such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6 of this
Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate
court of the State of Delaware, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction,
of his entitlement to such indemnification. Indemnitee shall commence such
proceeding seeking an adjudication within 180 days following the date on which
Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this
Section 7(a). The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee's right to seek any such
adjudication.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant
to Section 6(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7
shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, on the merits and
Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination under
Section 6(b).
(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b)
of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company
shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced
pursuant to this Section 7, absent a prohibition of such indemnification under
applicable law.
(d) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 7, seeks a
judicial adjudication of his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of,
this Agreement, or to recover under any directors' and officers' liability
insurance policies
-7-
maintained by the Company the Company shall pay on his behalf, in advance, any
and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of Expenses in
Section 13 of this Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred by him in such
judicial adjudication, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined
to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance
recovery.
(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial
proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 that the procedures and
presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall
stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of
this Agreement.
8. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.
-----------------------------------------------------------
(a) The rights of indemnification as provided by this Agreement shall
not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time
be entitled under applicable law, the certificate of incorporation of the
Company, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of
directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or
of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under
this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in
his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the
extent that a change in the Law, whether by statute or judicial decision,
permits greater indemnification than would be afforded currently under the
Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that
Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by
such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of
any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative
and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or
hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment
of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent
assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or
policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or
agents or fiduciaries of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such
person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such
policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent
of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent
under such policy or policies.
(c) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company
shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of
recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all
action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as
are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
(d) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any
payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that
-8-
Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance
policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
9. Exception to Right of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other
-------------------------------------
provision of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification
under this Agreement with respect to any Proceeding brought by Indemnitee, or
any claim therein, unless (a) the bringing of such Proceeding or making of such
claim shall have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or (b)
such Proceeding is being brought by the Indemnitee to assert, interpret or
enforce his rights under this Agreement.
10. Duration of Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company
---------------------
contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is an officer or
director of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise) and shall continue thereafter so long as
Indemnitee shall be subject to any Proceeding (or any proceeding commenced under
Section 7 hereof) by reason of his Corporate Status, whether or not he is acting
or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred
for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement. This Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
parties hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect
successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or
substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses,
heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. This Agreement shall
continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as an
officer or director of the Company or any other Enterprise at the Company's
request.
11. Security. To the extent requested by the Indemnitee and approved by
--------
the Board of Directors of the Company, the Company may at any time and from time
to time provide security to the Indemnitee for the Company's obligations
hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other
collateral. Any such security, once provided to the Indemnitee, may not be
revoked or released without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee.
12. Enforcement.
-----------
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered
into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to
induce Indemnitee to serve as an officer or director of the Company, and the
Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving
as an officer or director of the Company.
(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
-9-
13. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
-----------
(a) "Corporate Status" describes the status of a person who is or was
----------------
a director, officer, employee or agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any
other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the express written
request of the Company.
(b) "Disinterested Director" means a director of the Company who is
----------------------
not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is
sought by Indemnitee.
(c) "Enterprise" shall mean the Company and any other corporation,
----------
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of
which Indemnitee is or was serving at the express written request of the Company
as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.
(d) "Expenses" shall include all reasonable attorneys' fees,
--------
retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel
expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges,
postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the
types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing
to prosecute or defend, investigating, participating, or being or preparing to
be a witness in a Proceeding.
(e) "Indemnitee" includes the individual signatory hereto, each
----------
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, entity or other
organization on whose behalf such individual renders service by serving in the
capacity he serves on the Company's behalf (an "Affiliate Organization"), each
director, officer, general and limited partner, managing and limited member,
employee, or other affiliate of such Affiliate Organization, and each lineal
ancestor and descendant of such individual.
(f) "Independent Counsel" means a law firm, or a member of a law
-------------------
firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently
is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company
or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with
respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other
indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party
to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Independent Counsel" shall not include
any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then
prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company
or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee's rights under this
Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent
Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and
all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
-10-
(g) "Proceeding" includes any threatened, pending or completed
----------
action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism,
investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened
or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or
otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which
Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the
fact that Indemnitee is or was a director of the Company, by reason of any
action taken by him or of any inaction on his part while acting as an officer or
director of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at
the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other Enterprise; in each case
whether or not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any
liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under
this Agreement; including one pending on or before the date of this Agreement;
and excluding one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 7 of this
Agreement to enforce his rights under this Agreement.
14. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall
------------
be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void, illegal or
otherwise unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality
and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including
without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any
such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself
invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; and
(b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any
such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself
invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to
the intent manifested thereby.
15. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification, termination or
-----------------------
amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both
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 hereof
(whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
16. Notice By Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company
--------------------
in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint,
indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter
which may be subject to indemnification covered hereunder. The failure to so
notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may
have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise unless and only to the
extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.
17. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
-------
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i)
delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other
communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by certified or
registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date
on which it is so mailed:
-11-
(a) If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth below Indemnitee's
signature hereto.
(b) If to the Company, to:
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: President
or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company
or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
18. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
----------------------
counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original
but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one
such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs
to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
19. Headings. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are
--------
inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this
Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
20. Governing Law. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed
-------------
by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of
Delaware without application of the conflict of laws principles thereof.
21. Gender. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage
------
of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.
[Signature Page Follows]
-12-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on and
as of the day and year first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, INC.
By: ___________________________
Name:
Title:
INDEMNITEE
_______________________________
Name:
Address:
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________