1
EXHIBIT 10.1
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of
the ___ day of ________, by and among ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") and _______________________, a director and/or
officer of the Company (the "Indemnitee").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the interpretation of ambiguous statutes, regulations,
certificates of incorporation and bylaws regarding indemnification of directors
and officers may be too uncertain to provide such directors and officers with
adequate notice of the legal, financial and other risks to which they may be
exposed by virtue of their service as such; and
WHEREAS, damages sought against directors and officers in shareholder or
similar litigation by class action plaintiffs may be substantial, and the costs
of defending such actions and of judgments in favor of plaintiffs or of
settlement therewith may be prohibitive for individual directors and officers,
without regard to the merits of a particular action and without regard to the
culpability of, or the receipt of improper personal benefit by, any named
director or officer to the detriment of the corporation; and
WHEREAS, the issues in controversy in such litigation usually relate to the
knowledge, motives and intent of the director or officer, who may be the only
person with firsthand knowledge of essential facts or exculpating circumstances
who is qualified to testify in his defense regarding matters of such a
subjective nature, and the long period of time which may elapse before final
disposition of such litigation may impose undue hardship and burden on a
director or officer or his estate in launching and maintaining a proper and
adequate defense of himself or his estate against claims for damages; and
WHEREAS, the Company is organized under the Delaware General Corporate Law
(the "DGCL") and Section 145 of the DGCL empowers corporations to indemnify and
advance expenses of litigation to a person serving as a director, officer,
employee or agent of a corporation and to persons serving at the request of the
corporation, while a director of a corporation, as a director, officer, partner,
trustee, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or employee benefit plan,
and further provides that the indemnification and advancement of expenses set
forth in said section, subject to certain limitations are not "exclusive of any
other rights, by indemnification or otherwise, to which a director may be
entitled under the charter, the bylaws, a resolution of stockholders or
directors, an agreement or otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity
and as to action in another capacity while holding such office"; and
- 1 -
2
WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as they may be
amended or amended and restated from time to time (the "Charter"), provide that
the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless directors, advisors, or
affiliates, as such terms are defined in the Charter; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has concluded
that it is reasonable and prudent for the Company contractually to obligate
itself to indemnify in a reasonable and adequate manner the Indemnitee and to
assume for itself maximum liability for expenses and damages in connection with
claims lodged against him for his decisions and actions as a director and/or
officer of the Company; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the parties agree as
follows:
I
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings
set forth below:
A. "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
B. "Change in Control" shall mean a change in the ownership or power to
direct a majority of the Voting Securities of the Company or the acquisition by
a person not affiliated with the Company of the ability to direct the management
of the Company.
C. "Corporate Status" shall mean the status of a person who is or was a
director or officer of the Company, or a member of any committee of the Board,
and the status of a person who, while a director or officer of the Company, is
or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner
(including service as a general partner of any limited partnership), trustee,
employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, other incorporated or unincorporated entity or enterprise
or employee benefit plan.
D. "Disinterested Director" shall mean a director of the Company who
neither is nor was a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification
is being sought by the Indemnitee.
E. "Expenses" shall mean expenses of Proceedings, including without
limitation all attorneys' fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees
of experts, investigation fees and expenses, accounting and 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 or being or preparing to be a witness in a
Proceeding.
- 2 -
3
F. "Good Faith Act or Omission" shall mean an act or omission taken by the
Indemnitee in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed by the Indemnitee
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and other than (i)
one that was material to the loss or liability and that was committed in bad
faith or that was the result of active or deliberate dishonesty; (ii) one from
which the Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money,
property or services; or (iii) in the case of a criminal Proceeding, one as to
which the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
G. "Liabilities" shall mean liabilities of any type whatsoever (including
without limitation Expenses), including, without limitation, any judgments,
fines, excise taxes and penalties under the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all
interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in
respect of such judgments, fines, penalties or amounts paid in settlement) in
connection with the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of any
Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein.
H. "Proceeding" shall mean any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation,
administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, or any appeal
therefrom.
I. "Voting Securities" shall mean any securities of the Company that are
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
II
TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall continue until, and terminate upon, the later to occur
of (i) the death of the Indemnitee; or (ii) the final termination of all
Proceedings (including possible Proceedings) in respect of which the Indemnitee
is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of
any proceeding commenced by the Indemnitee regarding the interpretation or
enforcement of this Agreement.
III
SERVICE BY INDEMNITEE, NOTICE OF
PROCEEDINGS, DEFENSE OF CLAIMS
A. Notice of Proceedings. The Indemnitee agrees to notify the Company
promptly 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 or advancement of Expenses
covered hereunder, but
- 3 -
4
the Indemnitee's omission to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company
from any liability which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement,
except to the extent that the Company is actually disadvantaged thereby.
B. Defense of Claims. The Company will be entitled to participate, at its
own expense, in any Proceeding of which it has notice. The Company jointly with
any other indemnifying party similarly notified of any Proceeding will be
entitled to assume the defense of the Indemnitee therein, with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee; provided, that the Company shall not
be entitled to assume the defense of the Indemnitee in any Proceeding if there
has been a Change in Control or if the Indemnitee has reasonably concluded that
there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and the Indemnitee with
respect to such Proceeding. The Company will not be liable to the Indemnitee
under this Agreement for any Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection
with the defense of any Proceeding, other than reasonable costs of investigation
or as otherwise provided below, after notice from the Company to the Indemnitee
of its election to assume the defense of the Indemnitee therein. The Indemnitee
shall have the right to employ his own counsel in any such Proceeding, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its
assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense of the Indemnitee
unless (i) the employment of counsel by the Indemnitee has been authorized by
the Company; (ii) the Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that counsel
employed by the Company may not adequately represent the Indemnitee and shall
have so informed the Company; or (iii) the Company shall not in fact have
employed counsel to assume the defense of the Indemnitee in such Proceeding or
such counsel shall not, in fact, have assumed such defense or such counsel shall
not be acting, in connection therewith, with reasonable diligence; and in each
such case the fees and expenses of the Indemnitee's counsel shall be advanced by
the Company in accordance with this Agreement.
C. Settlement of Claims. The Company shall not settle any Proceeding in any
manner which would impose any liability, penalty or limitation on the Indemnitee
without the written consent of the Indemnitee; provided, however, that the
Indemnitee will not unreasonably withhold or delay consent to any proposed
settlement. The Company shall not be liable to indemnify the Indemnitee under
this Agreement or otherwise for any amounts paid in settlement of any Proceeding
effected by the Indemnitee without the Company's written consent, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
IV
INDEMNIFICATION
A. In General. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
this Agreement, the Company shall hold harmless and indemnify the Indemnitee
against any and all Liabilities actually incurred by or for him in connection
with any Proceeding (whether the Indemnitee is or becomes a party, a witness or
otherwise is a participant in any role) to the fullest extent required or
permitted by the Charter and by applicable law
- 4 -
5
in effect on the date hereof and to such greater extent as applicable law may
hereafter from time to time permit. For all matters for which the Indemnitee is
entitled to indemnification under this Article IV, the Indemnitee shall be
entitled to advancement of Expenses in accordance with Article V hereof.
B. Proceeding Other Than a Proceeding by or in the Right of the Company. If
the Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
Proceeding (whether the Indemnitee is or becomes a party, a witness or otherwise
is a participant in any role) (other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the
Company) by reason of his Corporate Status, or by reason of alleged action or
inaction by him in any such capacity, the Company shall, subject to the
limitations set forth in Section IV.F. below, hold harmless and indemnify him
against any and all Expenses and Liabilities actually and reasonably incurred by
or for the Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding if the act(s) or
omission(s) of the Indemnitee giving rise thereto were Good Faith Act(s) or
Omission(s).
C. Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. If the Indemnitee was or
is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (whether the
Indemnitee is or becomes a party, a witness or otherwise is a participant in any
role) by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by
reason of his Corporate Status, or by reason of any action or inaction by him in
any such capacity, the Company shall, subject to the limitations set forth in
Section IV.F. below, hold harmless and indemnify him against any and all
Expenses actually incurred by or for him in connection with the investigation,
defense, settlement or appeal of such Proceeding if the act(s) or omission(s) of
the Indemnitee giving rise to the Proceeding were Good Faith Act(s) or
Omission(s); except that no indemnification under this Section IV.C. shall be
made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the Indemnitee shall
have been finally adjudged to be liable to the Company, unless a court of
appropriate jurisdiction (including, but not limited to, the court in which such
Proceeding was brought) shall determine upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case,
regardless of whether the Indemnitee's act(s) or omission(s) were found to be a
Good Faith Act(s) or Omission(s), the Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnification for such Expenses which such court shall deem
proper.
D. Indemnification of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that the
Indemnitee is, by reason of the Indemnitee's Corporate Status, a party to and is
successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, the Indemnitee shall
be indemnified by the Company to the maximum extent consistent with applicable
law, against all Expenses and Liabilities actually incurred by or for him in
connection therewith. If the 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
hold harmless and indemnify the Indemnitee to the maximum extent consistent with
applicable law, against all Expenses and Liabilities actually and reasonably
incurred by or for him in connection with each successfully resolved claim,
issue or matter in such Proceeding. Resolution of a claim, issue or matter by
dismissal,
- 5 -
6
with or without prejudice, except as provided in subsection F hereof,
shall be deemed a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter, so long
as there has been no finding (either adjudicated or pursuant to Article VI
hereof) that the act(s) or omission(s) of the Indemnitee giving rise thereto
were not a Good Faith Act(s) or Omission(s).
E. Indemnification for Expenses of Witness. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, to the extent that the Indemnitee, by reason of the
Indemnitee's Corporate Status, has prepared to serve or has served as a witness
in any Proceeding, or has participated in discovery proceedings or other trial
preparation, the Indemnitee shall be held harmless and indemnified against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or for him in connection therewith.
F. Specific Limitations on Indemnification. In addition to the other
limitations set forth in this Article IV, and notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated under this
Agreement to make any payment to the Indemnitee for indemnification with respect
to any Proceeding:
1. To the extent that payment is actually made to the Indemnitee under
any insurance policy or is made on behalf of the Indemnitee by or on behalf of
the Company otherwise than pursuant to this Agreement;
2. If a court in such Proceeding has entered a judgment or other
adjudication which is final and has become nonappealable and establishes that a
claim of the Indemnitee for such indemnification arose from: (i) a breach by the
Indemnitee of the Indemnitee's duty of loyalty to the Company or its
shareholders; (ii) acts or omissions of the Indemnitee that are not Good Faith
Acts or Omissions or which are the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;
(iii) acts or omissions of the Indemnitee which the Indemnitee had reasonable
cause to believe were unlawful; or (iv) a transaction in which the Indemnitee
actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or service; or
3. If there has been no Change in Control, for Liabilities in
connection with Proceedings settled without the consent of the Company which
consent, however, shall not be unreasonably withheld.
V
ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Article VI hereof, the
Company shall advance to the Indemnitee all Expenses which, by reason of the
Indemnitee's Corporate Status, were incurred by or for him in connection with
any Proceeding for which the Indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification
pursuant to Article IV hereof, in advance of the final disposition of such
Proceeding, provided that all of the following are satisfied: (i) the Indemnitee
was made a party to the proceeding by reason of his service as a director or
officer of the Company, (ii) the Indemnitee provides the Company with
- 6 -
7
written affirmation of his good faith belief that he has met the standard of
conduct necessary for indemnification by the Company pursuant to Article IV
hereof, (iii) the Indemnitee provides the Company with a written agreement (the
"Undertaking") to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Company, together
with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, if it is ultimately
determined that the Indemnitee did not comply with the requisite standard of
conduct, and (iv) the legal proceeding was initiated by a third party who is not
a stockholder of the Company or, if by a stockholder of the Company acting in
his or her capacity as such, a court of competent jurisdiction approves such
advancement. The Indemnitee shall be required to execute and submit the
Undertaking to repay Expenses advanced in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto
or in such form as may be required under applicable law as in effect at the time
of execution thereof. The Undertaking shall reasonably evidence the Expenses
incurred by or for the Indemnitee and shall contain the written affirmation by
the Indemnitee, described above, of his good faith belief that the standard of
conduct necessary for indemnification has been met. The Company shall advance
such expenses within five (5) business days after the receipt by the Company of
the Undertaking, and thereafter within five (5) business days after the receipt
by the Company of a periodic account of interim expenses. The Indemnitee hereby
agrees to repay any Expenses advanced hereunder if it shall ultimately be
determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such
Expenses. Any advances and the undertaking to repay pursuant to this Article V
shall be unsecured.
VI
PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT OF LIABILITIES;
DETERMINATION OF RIGHT TO INDEMNIFICATION
A. Procedure for Payment. To obtain indemnification for Liabilities under
this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request for
payment, including with such request such documentation as is reasonably
available to the Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to determine whether, and
to what extent, the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and payment
hereunder. The Secretary of the Company, or such other person as shall be
designated by the Board of Directors, promptly upon receipt of a request for
indemnification shall advise the Board of Directors, in writing, of such
request. Any indemnification payment due hereunder shall be paid by the Company
no later than five (5) business days following the determination, pursuant to
this Article VI, that such indemnification payment is proper hereunder.
B. No Determination Necessary when the Indemnitee was Successful. To the
extent the Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in
defense of any Proceeding referred to in Sections IV.B. or IV.C. above or in the
defense of any claim, issue or matter described therein, the Company shall
indemnify the Indemnitee against Liabilities actually and reasonably incurred by
or for him, in connection with the investigation, defense or appeal of such
Proceeding.
C. Determination of Good Faith Act or Omission. In the event that Section
VI.B. is inapplicable, the Company also shall hold harmless and indemnify the
Indemnitee unless the Company shall prove by clear and convincing evidence to a
forum listed in
- 7 -
8
Section VI.D. below that the act(s) or omission(s) of the Indemnitee giving rise
to the Proceeding were not Good Faith Act(s) or Omission(s).
D. Forum for Determination. The Indemnitee shall be entitled to select from
among the following the forums, in which the validity of the Company's claim
under Section VI.C., above, that the Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification will be heard:
1. A quorum of the Board consisting of Disinterested Directors;
2. The shareholders of the Company;
3. Legal counsel selected by the Indemnitee, subject to the approval
of the Board, which approval shall not be unreasonably delayed or denied, which
counsel shall make such determination in a written opinion; or
4. A panel of three arbitrators, one of whom is selected by the
Company, another of whom is selected by the Indemnitee and the last of whom is
selected jointly by the first two arbitrators so selected. As soon as
practicable, and in no event later than thirty (30) days after written notice of
the Indemnitee's choice of forum pursuant to this Section VI.D., the Company
shall, at its own expense, submit to the selected forum in such manner as the
Indemnitee or the Indemnitee's counsel may reasonably request, its claim that
the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, and the Company shall act in
the utmost good faith to assure the Indemnitee a complete opportunity to defend
against such claim. The fees and expenses of the selected forum in connection
with making the determination contemplated hereunder shall be paid by the
Company. If the Company shall fail to submit the matter to the selected forum
within thirty (30) days after the Indemnitee's written notice or if the forum so
empowered to make the determination shall have failed to make the requested
determination within thirty (30) days after the matter has been submitted to it
by the Company, the requisite determination that the Indemnitee has the right to
indemnification shall be deemed to have been made.
E. Right to Appeal. Notwithstanding a determination by any forum listed in
Section VI.D. above that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification with
respect to a specific Proceeding, the Indemnitee shall have the right to apply
to the court in which that Proceeding is or was pending, or to any other court
of competent jurisdiction, for the purpose of enforcing the Indemnitee's right
to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement. Such enforcement action shall
consider the Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification de novo, and the
Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of a prior determination that the
Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification. The Company shall be precluded
from asserting that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not
valid, binding and enforceable. The Company further agrees to stipulate in any
such judicial proceeding that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this
Agreement and is precluded from making any assertion to the contrary.
F. Right to Seek Judicial Determination. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, at any time after sixty (60) days
after a request for
- 8 -
9
indemnification has been made to the Company (or upon earlier receipt of written
notice that a request for indemnification has been rejected) and before the
third (3rd) anniversary of the making of such indemnification request, the
Indemnitee may, unless he has appealed previously under Section VI.E above,
petition a court of competent jurisdiction, whether or not the court has
jurisdiction over, or is the forum in which is pending, the Proceeding, to
determine whether the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, and
such court thereupon shall have the exclusive authority to make such
determination, unless and until such court dismisses or otherwise terminates the
Indemnitee's action without having made such determination. The court, as
petitioned, shall make an independent determination of whether the Indemnitee is
entitled to indemnification hereunder, without regard to any prior determination
in any other forum as provided hereby.
G. Expenses under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision in
this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee
against all Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any hearing
or proceeding under this Section VI involving the Indemnitee and against all
Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any other action between
the Company and the Indemnitee involving the interpretation or enforcement of
the rights of the Indemnitee under this Agreement, even if it is finally
determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification in whole or in
part hereunder.
VII
PRESUMPTIONS AND EFFECT
OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS
A. Burden of Proof. In making a determination with respect to entitlement
to indemnification hereunder, the person, persons, entity or entities making
such determination shall presume that the Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of
proof to overcome that presumption.
B. Effect of Other Proceedings. The termination of any Proceeding or of any
claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order or settlement shall not
create a presumption that the act(s) or omission(s) giving rise to the
Proceeding were not Good Faith Act(s) or Omission(s). 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, shall create a
rebuttable presumption that the act(s) or omission(s) of the Indemnitee giving
rise to the Proceeding were not Good Faith Act(s) or Omission(s).
C. Reliance as Safe Harbor. For purposes of any determination of whether
any act or omission of the Indemnitee was a Good Faith Act or Omission, each act
of the Indemnitee shall be deemed to be a Good Faith Act or Omission if the
Indemnitee's action is based on the records or books of accounts of the Company,
including financial statements, or on information supplied to the Indemnitee by
the officers of the Company
- 9 -
10
in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company
or on information or records given or reports made to the Company by an
independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert
selected with reasonable care by the Company. The provisions of this Section
VII.C. 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 this Agreement or under applicable law.
D. Actions of Others. The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of
any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company shall not be imputed to
the Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under
this Agreement.
VIII
INSURANCE
In the event that the Company maintains officers' and directors' or similar
liability insurance to protect itself and any director or officer of the Company
against any expense, liability or loss, such insurance shall cover the
Indemnitee to at least the same degree as each other director and/or officer of
the Company.
IX
OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY
UPON A CHANGE IN CONTROL
In the event of a Change in Control, upon written request of the Indemnitee
the Company shall establish a trust for the benefit of the Indemnitee hereunder
(a "Trust") and from time to time, upon written request from the Indemnitee,
shall fund the Trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy all amounts actually
paid hereunder as indemnification for Liabilities or Expenses (including those
paid in advance) or which the Indemnitee reasonably determines and demonstrates,
from time to time, may be payable by the Company hereunder. The amount or
amounts to be deposited in the Trust shall be determined by legal counsel
selected by the Indemnitee and approved by the Company, which approval shall not
be unreasonably withheld. The terms of the Trust shall provide that (i) the
Trust shall not be dissolved or the principal thereof invaded without the
written consent of the Indemnitee; (ii) the trustee of the Trust (the "Trustee")
shall be selected by the Indemnitee; (iii) the Trustee shall make advances to
the Indemnitee for Expenses within ten (10) business days following receipt of a
written request therefor (and the Indemnitee hereby agrees to reimburse the
Trust under the circumstances under which the Indemnitee would be required to
reimburse the Company under Article V hereof); (iv) the Company shall continue
to fund the Trust from time to time in accordance with its funding obligations
hereunder; (v) the Trustee promptly shall pay to the Indemnitee all amounts as
to which indemnification is due under this Agreement; (vi) unless the Indemnitee
agrees otherwise in writing, the Trust for the Indemnitee shall be
- 10 -
11
kept separate from any other trust established for any other person to whom
indemnification might be due by the Company; and (vii) all unexpended funds in
the Trust shall revert to the Company upon final, nonappealable determination by
a court of competent jurisdiction that the Indemnitee has been indemnified to
the full extent required under this Agreement.
X
NON-EXCLUSIVITY,
SUBROGATION AND MISCELLANEOUS
A. Non-Exclusivity. The rights of the Indemnitee hereunder shall not be
deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the Indemnitee may at any time be
entitled under any provision of law, the Charter, the Bylaws of the Company, as
the same may be in effect from time to time, any agreement, a vote of
shareholders of the Company or a resolution of directors of the Company or
otherwise, and to the extent that during the term of this Agreement the rights
of the then-existing directors and officers of the Company are more favorable to
such directors or officers than the rights currently provided to the Indemnitee
under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to the full benefits of
such more favorable rights. No amendment, alteration, rescission or replacement
of this Agreement or any provision hereof which would in any way limit the
benefits and protections afforded to an Indemnitee hereby shall be effective as
to such Indemnitee with respect to any action or inaction by such Indemnitee in
the Indemnitee's Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration,
rescission or replacement.
B. Subrogation. 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 the Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents 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.
C. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) if
delivered by hand, by courier or by telegram and receipted for by the party to
whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed at the time
indicated on such receipt; (ii) if by facsimile at the time shown on the
confirmation of such facsimile transmission; or (iii) if by U.S. certified or
registered mail, with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date
on which it is so mailed:
- 11 -
12
If to the Indemnitee, as shown with the Indemnitee's signature below.
If to the Company to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: President
Facsimile No. (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
or to such other address as may have been furnished to the Indemnitee by the
Company or to the Company by the Indemnitee, as the case may be.
D. Governing Law. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed
by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the substantive laws of the
State of Delaware, without application of the conflict of laws principles
thereof.
E. Binding Effect. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives
and permitted assigns. The Company shall require any successor or assignee
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to
all or substantially all of its respective assets or business, by written
agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee,
expressly to assume and agree to be bound by and to perform this Agreement in
the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be required to
perform absent such succession or assignment.
F. Waiver. No termination, cancellation, modification, amendment, deletion,
addition or other change in this Agreement, or any provision hereof, or waiver
of any right or remedy herein, shall be effective for any purpose unless
specifically set forth in a writing signed by the party or parties to be bound
thereby. The waiver of any right or remedy with respect to any occurrence on one
occasion shall not be deemed a waiver of such right or remedy with respect to
such occurrence on any other occasion.
G. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement and
understanding among the parties hereto in reference to the subject matter
hereof; provided, however, that the parties acknowledge and agree that Charter
of the Company, as amended, contains provisions on the subject matter hereof and
that this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, limit the rights or
obligations of the parties hereto pursuant to such instruments.
H. Titles. The titles to the articles and sections of this Agreement are
inserted for convenience of reference only and should not be deemed a part
hereof or affect the construction or interpretation of any provisions hereof.
- 12 -
13
I. Invalidity of Provisions. Every provision of this Agreement is
severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision shall
not effect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement.
J. Pronouns and Plurals. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun used
in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter
forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the
plural and vice versa.
K. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together constitute one agreement binding on all the parties hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ INC.
----------------------------------
Name:
--------------------------------
Title:
-------------------------------
, as INDEMNITEE
------------------------
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
--------------------------------
Title:
-------------------------------
Address:
-----------------------------
Facsimile No.:
------------------------
- 13 -
14
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF UNDERTAKING TO REPAY EXPENSES ADVANCED
The Board of Directors of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ Inc.
Re: Undertaking to Repay Expenses Advanced
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This undertaking is being provided pursuant to that certain Indemnification
Agreement dated the ____ day of _________, 1999, by and among ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
Inc. and the undersigned Indemnitee (the "Indemnification Agreement"), pursuant
to which I am entitled to advancement of expenses in connection with
[Description of Proceeding] (the "Proceeding"). Terms used herein and not
otherwise defined shall have the meanings specified in the Indemnification
Agreement.
I am subject to the Proceeding by reason of my Corporate Status or by
reason of alleged actions or omissions by me in such capacity. During the period
of time to which the Proceeding relates I was _____________________ [name of
office(s) held] of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ Inc. Pursuant to Article V of the
Indemnification Agreement, the Company is obligated to reimburse me for Expenses
that are actually and reasonably incurred by or for me in connection with the
Proceeding, provided that I execute and submit to the Company an Undertaking in
which I (i) undertake to repay any Expenses paid by the Company on my behalf,
together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, if it shall be
ultimately determined that I am not entitled to be indemnified thereby against
such Expenses; (ii) affirm my good faith belief that I have met the standard of
conduct necessary for indemnification; and (iii) reasonably evidence the
Expenses incurred by or for me.
[Description of expenses incurred by or for Indemnitee]
This letter shall constitute my undertaking to repay to the Company any
Expenses paid by it on my behalf, together with the applicable legal rate of
interest thereon, in connection with the Proceeding if it is ultimately
determined that I am not entitled to be indemnified with respect to such
Expenses as set forth above. I hereby affirm my good faith belief that I have
met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification and that I am entitled
to such indemnification.
-------------------------------
Signature
-------------------------------
Print Name
-------------------------------
Date
- 14 -