Exhibit 10.7
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement ("Agreement") is effective as of
_________ ___, _______ by and between Inforte Corp., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and _____________ ("Indemnitee").
Recitals
A. The Company desires to attract and retain the services of highly
qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve the Company.
B. To induce Indemnitee to provide services to the Company, the
Company wishes to provide for the indemnification of, and the advancement of
expenses to, Indemnitee to the maximum extent permitted by law.
C. The Company and Indemnitee further recognize the increase in
corporate litigation in general, subjecting directors, officers, employees,
agents and fiduciaries to expensive litigation risks.
D. The Company and Indemnitee desire to have in place the protection
provided by an indemnification agreement, to provide indemnification and
advancement of expenses to the Indemnitee to the maximum extent permitted by
Delaware law.
WHEREAS, in view of the considerations set forth above, the Company
desires that Indemnitee shall be indemnified and advanced expenses by the
Company as set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as set forth
below.
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
a. "Change in Control" shall mean, and shall be deemed to have occurred if, on
or after the date of this Agreement: (i) any "person" (as such term is used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended),
other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee
benefit plan of the Company acting in such capacity or a corporation owned
directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the
same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the total
voting power represented by the Company's then outstanding Voting Securities;
(ii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the
beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company and
any new director whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two
thirds (2/3) of
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the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of
the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so
approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof, (iii) the
stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company
with any other corporation other than a merger or consolidation which would
result in the Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior
thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 50% of the
total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company or such
surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or
(iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of
the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of (in
one transaction or a series of related transactions) all or substantially all of
the Company's assets.
b. "Claim" shall mean, with respect to a Covered Event, any threatened, pending
or completed action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution
mechanism, or any hearing, inquiry or investigation that Indemnitee in good
faith believes might lead to the institution of any such action, suit,
proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, investigative or other.
c. References to the "Company" shall include, in addition to Inforte Corp., any
constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in
a consolidation or merger to which Inforte Corp. (or any wholly owned subsidiary
of Inforte Corp.) is a party which, if its separate existence had continued,
would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers,
employees, agents or fiduciaries, so that if Indemnitee is or was a director,
officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of such constituent corporation, or is or
was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director,
officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise, Indemnitee shall
stand in the same position under the provisions of this Agreement with respect
to the resulting or surviving corporation as Indemnitee would have with respect
to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
d. "Covered Event" shall mean any event or occurrence related to the fact that
Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the
Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, or is or was serving at the request
of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason
of any action or inaction on the part of Indemnitee while serving in such
capacity.
e. "Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees and
all other costs, expenses and obligations) incurred in connection with
investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on
appeal), or preparing to defend, to be a witness in or to participate in, any
action, suit, proceeding, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, hearing,
inquiry or investigation), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in
settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the Company, which
approval shall not be unreasonably
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withheld) of any Claim and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on
the Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under
this Agreement.
f. "Expense Advance" shall mean a payment to Indemnitee pursuant to Section 3
of Expenses in advance of the settlement of or final judgment in any action,
suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, hearing, inquiry
or investigation which constitutes a Claim.
g. "Independent Legal Counsel" shall mean an attorney or firm of attorneys,
selected in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(d) hereof, who shall not
have otherwise performed services for the Company or Indemnitee within the last
three (3) years (other than with respect to matters concerning the rights of
Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other Indemnitees under similar indemnity
agreements).
h. References to "other enterprises" shall include employee benefit plans;
references to "fines" shall include any excise taxes assessed on Indemnitee with
respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request
of the Company" shall include any service as a director, officer, employee,
agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services
by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an
employee benefit plan, its participants or its beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee
acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the
interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan,
Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not opposed to the bests
interests of the Company" as referred to in this Agreement.
i. "Reviewing Party" shall mean, subject to the provisions of Section 2(d), any
person or body appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with applicable
law to review the Company's obligations hereunder and under applicable law,
which may include a member or members of the Company's Board of Directors,
Independent Legal Counsel or any other person or body not a party to the
particular Claim for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification.
j. "Section" refers to a section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.
k. "Voting Securities" shall mean any securities of the Company that vote
generally in the election of directors.
2. INDEMNIFICATION.
a. INDEMNIFICATION OF EXPENSES. Subject to the provisions of Section 2(b)
below, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses to the fullest extent
permitted by law if Indemnitee was or is or becomes a party to or witness or
other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or other
participant in, any Claim (whether by reason of or arising in part out of a
Covered Event), including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or
payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses.
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b. REVIEW OF INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
the event any Reviewing Party shall have determined (in a written opinion, in
any case in which Independent Legal Counsel is the Reviewing Party) that
Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law: (i)
the Company shall have no further obligation under Section 2(a) to make any
payments to Indemnitee not made prior to such determination by such Reviewing
Party; and (ii) the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by Indemnitee
(who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all Expenses theretofore paid
to Indemnitee to which Indemnitee is not entitled hereunder under applicable
law; provided, however, that if Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter commences
legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination
that Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law,
any determination made by any Reviewing Party that Indemnitee is not entitled to
be indemnified hereunder under applicable law shall not be binding and
Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any Expenses
theretofore paid in indemnifying Indemnitee until a final judicial determination
is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have
been exhausted or lapsed). Indemnitee's obligation to reimburse the Company for
any Expenses shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon.
c. INDEMNITEE RIGHTS ON UNFAVORABLE DETERMINATION; BINDING EFFECT. If any
Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee substantively is not entitled to be
indemnified hereunder in whole or in part under applicable law, Indemnitee shall
have the right to commence litigation seeking an initial determination by the
court or challenging any such determination by such Reviewing Party or any
aspect thereof, including the legal or factual bases therefor, and, subject to
the provisions of Section 16, the Company hereby consents to service of process
and to appear in any such proceeding. Absent such litigation, any determination
by any Reviewing Party shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and
Indemnitee.
d. SELECTION OF REVIEWING PARTY; CHANGE IN CONTROL. If there has not been a
Change in Control, any Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board of
Directors, and if there has been such a Change in Control (other than a Change
in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Company's Board of
Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control), any
Reviewing Party with respect to all matters thereafter arising concerning the
rights of Indemnitee to indemnification of Expenses under this Agreement or any
other agreement or under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws as
now or hereafter in effect, or under any other applicable law, if desired by
Indemnitee, shall be Independent Legal Counsel selected by Indemnitee and
approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld).
Such counsel, among other things, shall render its written opinion to the
Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent Indemnitee would be
entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law and the Company agrees
to abide by such opinion. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the
Independent Legal Counsel referred to above and to indemnify fully such counsel
against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees), claims, liabilities
and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement
pursuant hereto. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Company shall not be required to pay Expenses of more than
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one Independent Legal Counsel in connection with all matters concerning a single
Indemnitee, and such Independent Legal Counsel shall be the Independent Legal
Counsel for any or all other Indemnitees unless: (i) the employment of separate
counsel by one or more Indemnitees has been previously authorized by the Company
in writing; or (ii) an Indemnitee shall have provided to the Company a written
statement that such Indemnitee has reasonably concluded that there may be a
conflict of interest between such Indemnitee and the other Indemnitees with
respect to the matters arising under this Agreement.
e. MANDATORY PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement other than Section 10 hereof, to the extent that Indemnitee has been
successful on the merits or otherwise, including, without limitation, the
dismissal of an action without prejudice, in defense of any Claim, Indemnitee
shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection
therewith.
3. EXPENSE ADVANCES.
a. OBLIGATION TO MAKE EXPENSE ADVANCES. Upon receipt of a written undertaking
by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amounts if it shall ultimately
be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified therefor by
the Company hereunder under applicable law, the Company shall make Expense
Advances to Indemnitee.
b. FORM OF UNDERTAKING. Any obligation to repay any Expense Advances hereunder
pursuant to a written undertaking by the Indemnitee shall be unsecured and no
interest shall be charged thereon.
c. DETERMINATION OF REASONABLE EXPENSE ADVANCES. The parties agree that for
the purposes of any Expense Advance for which Indemnitee has made written demand
to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such
Expense Advance that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee's counsel as being
reasonable shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.
4. PROCEDURES FOR INDEMNIFICATION AND EXPENSE ADVANCES.
a. TIMING OF PAYMENTS. All payments of Expenses (including, without
limitation, Expense Advances) by the Company to the Indemnitee pursuant to this
Agreement shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law as soon as
practicable after written demand by Indemnitee therefor is presented to the
Company, but in no event later than thirty (30) days after such written demand
by Indemnitee is presented to the Company, except in the case of Expense
Advances, which shall be made no later than fifteen (15) days after such written
demand by Indemnitee is presented to the Company.
b. NOTICE/COOPERATION BY INDEMNITEE. Indemnitee shall, as a condition
precedent to Indemnitee's right to be indemnified or Indemnitee's right to
receive Expense Advances under this Agreement, give the Company notice in
writing, as soon as practicable, of any Claim made against Indemnitee for which
indemnification will or could be sought under this Agreement. Notice to the
Company shall be directed to the Chief Executive Officer of the
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Company at the address shown on the signature page of this Agreement (or such
other address as the Company shall designate in writing to Indemnitee). In
addition, Indemnitee shall give the Company such information and cooperation as
it may reasonably require and as shall be within Indemnitee's power.
c. NO PRESUMPTIONS; BURDEN OF PROOF. For purposes of this Agreement, the
termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without
court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its
equivalent, shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any
particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has
determined that indemnification is not permitted by this Agreement or applicable
law. In addition, neither the failure of any Reviewing Party to have made a
determination as to whether Indemnitee has met any particular standard of
conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual determination by any
Reviewing Party that Indemnitee has not met such standard of conduct or did not
have such belief, prior to the commencement of legal proceedings by Indemnitee
to secure a judicial determination that Indemnitee should be indemnified under
this Agreement under applicable law, shall be a defense to Indemnitee's claim or
create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of
conduct or did not have any particular belief. In connection with any
determination by any Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether the Indemnitee
is entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law, the burden of
proof shall be on the Company to establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled.
d. NOTICE TO INSURERS. If, at the time of the receipt by the Company of a
notice of a Claim pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, the Company has liability
insurance in effect which may cover such Claim, the Company shall give prompt
notice of the commencement of such Claim to the insurers in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter
take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf
of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Claim in accordance
with the terms of such policies.
e. SELECTION OF COUNSEL. In the event the Company shall be obligated hereunder
to provide indemnification for or make any Expense Advances with respect to the
Expenses of any Claim, the Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume
the defense of such Claim with counsel approved by Indemnitee (which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld) upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written
notice of the Company's election to do so. After delivery of such notice,
approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the
Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for
any fees or expenses of separate counsel subsequently retained by or on behalf
of Indemnitee with respect to the same Claim; provided, however, that: (i)
Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitee's separate counsel in any
such Claim at Indemnitee's expense; and (ii) if (A) the employment of separate
counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the Company, (B)
Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of
interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense,
or (C) the Company shall not continue to retain such counsel to defend such
Claim, then the
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fees and expenses of Indemnitee's separate counsel shall be Expenses for which
Indemnitee may receive indemnification or Expense Advances hereunder.
5. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION RIGHTS; NONEXCLUSIVITY.
a. SCOPE. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify the Indemnitee to the fullest
extent permitted by law, notwithstanding that such indemnification is not
specifically authorized by the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's Bylaws or by statute. In the event
of any change after the date of this Agreement in any applicable law, statute or
rule which expands the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of
its board of directors or an officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, it is the
intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the
greater benefits afforded by such change. In the event of any change in any
applicable law, statute or rule which narrows the right of a Delaware
corporation to indemnify a member of its board of directors or an officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary, such change, to the extent not otherwise required
by such law, statute or rule to be applied to this Agreement, shall have no
effect on this Agreement or the parties' rights and obligations hereunder except
as set forth in Section 10(a) hereof.
b. NONEXCLUSIVITY. The indemnification and the payment of Expense Advances
provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to any rights to which
Indemnitee may be entitled under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, its
Bylaws, any other agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested
directors, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or otherwise.
The indemnification and the payment of Expense Advances provided under this
Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action taken or not taken
while serving in an indemnified capacity even though subsequent thereto
Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in such capacity.
6. NO DUPLICATION OF PAYMENTS. The Company shall not be liable under this
Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made against
Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment
(under any insurance policy, provision of the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, Bylaws or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise payable hereunder.
7. PARTIAL INDEMNIFICATION. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of
this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of
Expenses incurred in connection with any Claim, but not, however, for all of the
total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for
the portion of such Expenses to which Indemnitee is entitled.
8. MUTUAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that in
certain instances, federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit the
Company from indemnifying its directors, officers, employees, agents or
fiduciaries under this Agreement or otherwise. Indemnitee understands and
acknowledges that the Company has undertaken or may be required in the future to
undertake with the Securities and Exchange Commission to
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submit the question of indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a
determination of the Company's right under public policy to indemnify Indemnitee
9. LIABILITY INSURANCE. To the extent the Company maintains liability
insurance applicable to directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries,
Indemnitee shall be covered by such policies in such a manner as to provide
Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are provided to the most favorably
insured of the Company's directors, if Indemnitee is a director; or of the
Company's officers, if Indemnitee is not a director of the Company but is an
officer; or of the Company's key employees, agents or fiduciaries, if Indemnitee
is not an officer or director but is a key employee, agent or fiduciary.
10. EXCEPTIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:
a. EXCLUDED ACTIONS OR OMISSIONS. To indemnify or make Expense Advances to
Indemnitee with respect to Claims arising out of acts, omissions or transactions
for which Indemnitee is prohibited from receiving indemnification under
applicable law.
b. CLAIMS INITIATED BY INDEMNITEE. To indemnify or make Expense Advances to
Indemnitee with respect to Claims initiated or brought voluntarily by Indemnitee
and not by way of defense, counterclaim or crossclaim, except: (i) with respect
to actions or proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to
indemnification under this Agreement or any other agreement or insurance policy
or under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws now or hereafter
in effect relating to Claims for Covered Events; (ii) in specific cases if the
Board of Directors has approved the initiation or bringing of such Claim, or
(iii) as otherwise required under Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be
entitled to such indemnification, Expense Advances, or insurance recovery, as
the case may be.
c. LACK OF GOOD FAITH. To indemnify Indemnitee for any Expenses incurred by
the Indemnitee with respect to any action instituted: (i) by Indemnitee to
enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court having jurisdiction over such
action determines as provided in Section 13 that each of the material assertions
made by the Indemnitee as a basis for such action was not made in good faith or
was frivolous; or (ii) by or in the name of the Company to enforce or interpret
this Agreement, if a court having jurisdiction over such action determines as
provided in Section 13 that each of the material defenses asserted by Indemnitee
in such action was made in bad faith or was frivolous.
d. CLAIMS UNDER SECTION 16(b). To indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses and the
payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of
securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, or any similar successor statute.
11. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which shall constitute an original.
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12. BINDING EFFECT; SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and
their respective successors, assigns (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), spouses, heirs and personal and legal
representatives. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether
direct or indirect, and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise)
to all, substantially all, or a substantial part, of the business or assets of
the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to
Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if
no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall continue in effect
regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as a director, officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary (as applicable) of the Company or of any other
enterprise at the Company's request.
13. EXPENSES INCURRED IN ACTION RELATING TO ENFORCEMENT OR INTERPRETATION. In
the event that any action is instituted by Indemnitee under this Agreement or
under any liability insurance policies maintained by the Company to enforce or
interpret any of the terms hereof or thereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be
indemnified for all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee with respect to such action
(including, without limitation, attorneys' fees), regardless of whether
Indemnitee is ultimately successful in such action, unless as a part of such
action a court having jurisdiction over such action makes a final judicial
determination (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for
such action was not made in good faith or was frivolous; provided, however, that
until such final judicial determination is made, Indemnitee shall be entitled
under Section 3 to receive payment of Expense Advances hereunder with respect to
such action. In the event of an action instituted by or in the name of the
Company under this Agreement to enforce or interpret any of the terms of this
Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be indemnified for all Expenses
incurred by Indemnitee in defense of such action (including, without limitation,
costs and expenses incurred with respect to Indemnitee's counterclaims and
cross-claims made in such action), unless as a part of such action a court
having jurisdiction over such action makes a final judicial determination (as to
which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that each of
the material defenses asserted by Indemnitee in such action was made in bad
faith or was frivolous; provided, however, that until such final judicial
determination is made, Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section 3 to receive
payment of Expense Advances hereunder with respect to such action.
14. PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of
action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee,
Indemnitee's estate, spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal
representatives after the expiration of two (2) years from the date of accrual
of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall
be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a
legal action within such two (2) year period; provided, however, that if any
shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of
action, such shorter period shall govern.
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15. NOTICE. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given: (i) if delivered
by hand and signed for by the party addressed, on the date of such delivery; or
(ii) if mailed by domestic certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on
the third (3rd) business day after the date postmarked. Addresses for notice to
either party are as shown on the signature page of this Agreement, or as
subsequently modified by written notice.
16. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby
irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware
for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which arises out of
or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action instituted under this
Agreement shall be commenced, prosecuted and continued only in the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County, which shall be
the exclusive and only proper forum for adjudicating such a claim.
17. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the
event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a single
section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of competent jurisdiction to
be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining provisions shall
remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Furthermore, to the
fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without
limitation, each portion of this Agreement containing any provision held to be
invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, void or
unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested
by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
18. CHOICE OF LAW. This Agreement, and all rights, remedies, liabilities,
powers and duties of the parties to this Agreement, shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware as applied to
contracts between Delaware residents entered into and to be performed entirely
in the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.
19. SUBROGATION. In the event of 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 documents required and shall do
all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company
effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
20. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. No amendment, modification, termination or
cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing signed
by both the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this
Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other
provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a
continuing waiver.
21. INTEGRATION AND ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement sets forth the entire
understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes and merges all previous
written and oral negotiations, commitments, understandings and agreements
relating to the subject matter hereof between the parties hereto.
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22. NO CONSTRUCTION AS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained in
the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliated entities.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Indemnification Agreement as of the date first above written.
INFORTE CORP.
By:________________________
Its:_______________________
INDEMNITEE
___________________________
___________________________
Name Printed
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