2- were directors as of the Effective Date or whose election for nomination for election was previously so approved. (c) “Corporate Status” means the status of a person as a present or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a...
Exhibit 10.4
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as
of the , by and between Realty Finance Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
“Company”), and (the “Indemnitee”).
WHEREAS, at the request of the Company, Indemnitee currently serves as a director,
officer or service provider of the Company and may, therefore, be subjected to claims, suits or
proceedings arising as a result of his or her service; and
WHEREAS, as an inducement to Indemnitee to continue to serve as such director, officer
or service provider, the Company has agreed to indemnify and to advance expenses and costs
incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any such claims, suits or proceedings; and
WHEREAS, the parties by this Agreement desire to set forth their agreement regarding
indemnification and advance of expenses;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained
herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) “Applicable Legal Rate” means a fixed rate of interest equal to the
applicable federal rate for mid-term debt instruments as of the day that it is determined that
Indemnitee must repay any advanced expenses.
(b) “Change in Control” means a change in control of the Company occurring
after the Effective Date of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item
6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar
schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement;
provided, however, that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have
occurred if, after the Effective Date (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 15% or more
of the combined voting power of all of the Company’s then-outstanding securities entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the
members of the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such person’s attaining such
percentage interest; (ii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, plan of
liquidation or other reorganization not approved by at least two-thirds of the members of the
Board of Directors then in office, as a consequence of which members of the Board of Directors
in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the
Board of Directors thereafter; or (iii) at any time, a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors are not individuals (A) who were directors as of the Effective Date or (B) whose
election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders
was approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then in office who
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were directors as of the Effective Date or whose election for nomination for election was
previously so approved.
(c) “Corporate Status” means the status of a person as a present or former
director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner,
manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the
Company. As a clarification and without limiting the circumstances in which Indemnitee may be
serving at the request of the Company, service by Indemnitee shall be deemed to be at the
request of the Company if Indemnitee serves or served as a director, trustee, officer, partner,
manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (i) of
which a majority of the voting power or equity interest is owned directly or indirectly by the
Company or (ii) the management of which is controlled directly or indirectly by the Company.
(d) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and
was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification and/or advance of
Expenses is sought by Indemnitee.
(e) “Effective Date” means the date set forth in the first paragraph of this
Agreement.
(f) “Expenses” means any and all reasonable and out-of-pocket attorneys’
fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel
expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery
service fees, federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual
or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and
any other disbursements or expenses incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending,
preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in or otherwise
participating in a Proceeding. Expenses shall also include Expenses incurred in connection with
any appeal resulting from any Proceeding including, without limitation, the premium for,
security for and other costs relating to any cost bond supersedeas bond or other appeal bond or
its equivalent.
(g) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that
is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither 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 Indemnitee under this Agreement or of other
indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to or participant or
witness in the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification or advance of Expenses
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.
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(h) “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit,
arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing
or any other proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and
whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or
investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, except one pending or
completed on or before the Effective Date, unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing by the
Company and Indemnitee. If Indemnitee reasonably believes that a given situation may lead to
or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, such situation shall also be considered a
Proceeding.
Section 2. Services by Indemnitee. Indemnitee will serve as a director, officer or
service provider of the Company. However, this Agreement shall not impose any independent
obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Company.
This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any
other entity) and Indemnitee.
Section 3. General. Subject to the limitations in Section 5, the Company shall
indemnify, and advance Expenses to, Indemnitee (a) as provided in this Agreement and (b) as
otherwise permitted by Maryland law in effect on the Effective Date and as amended from time
to time; provided, however, that no change in Maryland law shall have the effect of reducing the
benefits available to Indemnitee hereunder based on Maryland law as in effect on the Effective
Date. Subject to the limitations in Section 5, the rights of Indemnitee provided in this Section 3
shall include, without limitation, the rights set forth in the other sections of this Agreement,
including any additional indemnification permitted by Section 2-418(g) of the Maryland General
Corporation Law (the “MGCL”).
Section 4. Standard for Indemnification. Subject to the limitations in Section 5, if,
by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to
any Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all judgments, penalties, fines
and amounts paid in settlement and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee
or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any such Proceeding unless it is established by
clear and convincing evidence that (a) the act or omission of Indemnitee was material to the
matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of
active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit
in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal Proceeding, Indemnitee had
reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
Section 5. Certain Limits on Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement (other than Section 6), Indemnitee shall not be entitled to:
(a) indemnification for any loss or liability unless all of the following
conditions are met: (i) Indemnitee has determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct that
caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the Company; (ii) Indemnitee was acting
on behalf of or performing services for the Company; (iii) such loss or liability was not the result
of (A) gross negligence or willful misconduct, in the case that the Indemnitee is an independent
director of the Company or (B) negligence or misconduct, in the case that the Indemnitee is not
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an independent director of the Company; and (iv) such indemnification is recoverable only out of
the Company’s net assets and not from the Company’s stockholders;
(b) indemnification for any loss or liability arising from an alleged violation
of federal or state securities laws unless one or more of the following conditions are met: (i)
there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged material
securities law violations as to Indemnitee; (ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on
the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to Indemnitee; or (iii) a court of competent
jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against Indemnitee and finds that indemnification
of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for
indemnification has been advised of the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission
and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which securities of
the Company were offered or sold as to indemnification for violations of securities laws;
(c) indemnification hereunder if the Proceeding was one by or in the right of
the Company and Indemnitee is adjudged to be liable to the Company;
(d) indemnification hereunder if Indemnitee is adjudged to be liable on the
basis that personal benefit was improperly received in any Proceeding charging improper
personal benefit to Indemnitee, whether or not involving action in the Indemnitee’s Corporate
Status; or
(e) indemnification or advance of Expenses hereunder if the Proceeding was
brought by Indemnitee, unless: (i) the Proceeding was brought to enforce indemnification under
this Agreement, and then only to the extent in accordance with and as authorized by Section 12
of this Agreement, or (ii) the Company’s charter or Bylaws, a resolution of the stockholders
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the Board of Directors or an agreement
approved by the Board of Directors to which the Company is a party expressly provide
otherwise.
Section 6. Court-Ordered Indemnification. Subject to the limitations in Section 5(a)
and (b), a court of appropriate jurisdiction, upon application of Indemnitee and such notice as the
court shall require, may order indemnification of Indemnitee by the Company in the following
circumstances:
(a) if such determines that Indemnitee is entitled to reimbursement under
Section 2-418(d)(1) of the MGCL, the court shall order indemnification, in which case
Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover the Expenses of securing such reimbursement; or
(b) if such court determines that Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled
to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not Indemnitee (i) has
met the standards of conduct set forth in Section 2-418(b) of the MGCL or (ii) has been adjudged
liable for receipt of an improper personal benefit under Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL, the court
may order such indemnification as the court shall deem proper. However, indemnification with
respect to any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company or in which liability shall have been
adjudged in the circumstances described in Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL shall be limited to
Expenses.
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Section 7. Indemnification for Expenses of an Indemnitee Who is Wholly or Partly
Successful. Subject to the limitations in Section 5, to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by
reason of his or her Corporate Status, made a party to (or otherwise becomes a participant in) any
Proceeding and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of such Proceeding,
Indemnitee shall be indemnified for all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee
or on Indemnitee’s 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 under this
Section 7 for all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s
behalf in connection with each such claim, issue or matter, allocated on a reasonable and
proportionate basis. For purposes of this Section 7, 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.
Section 8. Advance of Expenses for an Indemnitee. If, by reason of Indemnitee’s
Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to any Proceeding, the
Company shall, without requiring a preliminary determination of Indemnitee’s ultimate
entitlement to indemnification hereunder, advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by or on
behalf of Indemnitee in connection with (a) such Proceeding which is initiated by a third party
who is not a stockholder of the Company, or (b) such Proceeding which is initiated by a
stockholder of the Company acting in his or her capacity as such and for which a court of
competent jurisdiction specifically approves such advancement, and which relates to acts or
omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Company, within
ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements 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 by Indemnitee and
shall include or be preceded or accompanied by a written affirmation by Indemnitee of
Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the
Company as authorized by law and by this Agreement has been met and a written undertaking by
or on behalf of Indemnitee, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A or in such form
as may be required under applicable law as in effect at the time of the execution thereof, to
reimburse the portion of any Expenses advanced to Indemnitee, together with the Applicable
Legal Rate of interest thereon, relating to claims, issues or matters in the Proceeding as to which
it shall ultimately be established, by clear and convincing evidence, that the standard of conduct
has not been met by Indemnitee and which have not been successfully resolved as described in
Section 7 of this Agreement. To the extent that Expenses advanced to Indemnitee do not relate
to a specific claim, issue or matter in the Proceeding, such Expenses shall be allocated on a
reasonable and proportionate basis. The undertaking required by this Section 8 shall be an
unlimited general obligation by or on behalf of Indemnitee and shall be accepted without
reference to Indemnitee’s financial ability to repay such advanced Expenses and without any
requirement to post security therefor.
Section 9. Indemnification and Advance of Expenses as a Witness or Other
Participant. Subject to the limitations in Section 5, to the extent that Indemnitee is or may be, by
reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, made a witness or otherwise asked to participate in any
Proceeding, whether instituted by the Company or any other party, and to which Indemnitee is
not a party, Indemnitee shall be advanced all reasonable Expenses and indemnified against all
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Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in
connection therewith within ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or
statements requesting any such advance or indemnification from time to time, whether prior to or
after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably
evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee.
Section 10. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.
(a) To obtain indemnification 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. Indemnitee may submit
one or more such requests from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate
in Indemnitee’s sole discretion. The officer of the Company receiving any such request from
Indemnitee shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board
of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to
Section 10(a) above, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s
entitlement thereto shall promptly be made in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall
have occurred, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of
which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, which Independent Counsel shall be selected by
Indemnitee and approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of
the MGCL, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld; or (ii) if a Change in Control
shall not have occurred, (A) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting
of Disinterested Directors or, if such a quorum cannot be obtained, then by a majority vote of a
duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors consisting solely of one or more
Disinterested Directors, (B) if Independent Counsel has been selected by the Board of Directors
in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of the MGCL and approved by Indemnitee, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion to the
Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (C) if so directed by a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors, by the stockholders of the Company. If it is
so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be
made within ten days after such determination. 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 in the discretion of the Board of Directors or Independent Counsel if retained
pursuant to clause (ii)(B) of this Section 10(b). Any Expenses 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 Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification)
and the Company shall indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(c) The Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent
Counsel, if one is appointed.
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Section 11. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.
(a) In making any 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 10(a) of this Agreement, and
the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with
the making of any determination contrary to that presumption.
(b) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein,
by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or
entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, does not create a presumption that Indemnitee
did not meet the requisite standard of conduct described herein for indemnification.
(c) The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director,
officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other director, trustee, officer, partner,
manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining any other right to
indemnification under this Agreement.
Section 12. Remedies of Indemnitee.
(a) If (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement
that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advance of Expenses
is not timely made pursuant to Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of
entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement
within 60 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of
indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 7 or 9 of this Agreement within ten days after
receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification pursuant
to any other section of this Agreement or the charter or Bylaws of the Company is not made
within ten days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court located in
the State of Maryland, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of Indemnitee’s
entitlement to such indemnification or advance of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at
Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator
pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.
Indemnitee shall commence a proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration
within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such
proceeding pursuant to this Section 12(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not
apply to a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights under Section 7 of this
Agreement. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Maryland law (without regard to its
conflicts of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose
Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.
(b) In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this
Section 12, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification or advance of
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Expenses, as the case may be, under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of
proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advance of Expenses, as the case
may be. If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this
Section 12, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances
pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement until a final determination is made with respect to
Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted
or lapsed). The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from
asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 that the
procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall
stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all of the
provisions of this Agreement.
(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this
Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such
determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12,
absent 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.
(d) In the event that Indemnitee is successful in seeking, pursuant to this
Section 12, a judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce Indemnitee’s rights
under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to
recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company for, any and all Expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in such judicial adjudication or arbitration. If it
shall be determined in such judicial adjudication or arbitration that Indemnitee is entitled to
receive part but not all of the indemnification or advance of Expenses sought, the Expenses
incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be
appropriately prorated.
(e) Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the maximum rate
allowed to be charged for judgments under the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article of the
Annotated Code of Maryland for amounts which the Company pays or is obligated to pay for the
period (i) commencing with either the tenth day after the date on which the Company was
requested to advance Expenses in accordance with Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement or the 60th
day after the date on which the Company was requested to make the determination of entitlement
to indemnification under Section 10(b) of this Agreement, as applicable, and (ii) and ending on
the date such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.
Section 13. Defense of the Underlying Proceeding.
(a) Indemnitee shall notify the Company promptly in writing upon being
served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, request or other document
relating to any Proceeding which may result in the right to indemnification or the advance of
Expenses hereunder and shall include with such notice a description of the nature of the
Proceeding and a summary of the facts underlying the Proceeding. The failure to give any such
notice shall not disqualify Indemnitee from the right, or otherwise affect in any manner any right
of Indemnitee, to indemnification or the advance of Expenses under this Agreement unless the
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Company’s ability to defend in such Proceeding or to obtain proceeds under any insurance policy
is materially and adversely prejudiced thereby, and then only to the extent the Company is
thereby actually so prejudiced.
(b) Subject to the provisions of the last sentence of this Section 13(b) and of
Section 13(c) below, the Company shall have the right to defend Indemnitee in any Proceeding
which may give rise to indemnification hereunder; provided, however, that the Company shall
notify Indemnitee of any such decision to defend within 15 calendar days following receipt of
notice of any such Proceeding under Section 13(a) above. The Company shall not, without the
prior written consent of Indemnitee, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed,
consent to the entry of any judgment against Indemnitee or enter into any settlement or
compromise which (i) includes an admission of fault of Indemnitee, (ii) does not include, as an
unconditional term thereof, the full release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such
Proceeding, which release shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee,
or (iii) would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee. This
Section 13(b) shall not apply to a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee under Section 12 of this
Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13(b) above, if in a Proceeding
to which Indemnitee is a party by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, (i) Indemnitee
reasonably concludes, based upon an opinion of counsel approved by the Company, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, that Indemnitee may have separate defenses or
counterclaims to assert with respect to any issue which may not be consistent with other
defendants in such Proceeding, (ii) Indemnitee reasonably concludes, based upon an opinion of
counsel approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, that an
actual or apparent conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest exists between Indemnitee
and the Company, or (iii) if the Company fails to assume the defense of such Proceeding in a
timely manner, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be represented by separate legal counsel of
Indemnitee’s choice, subject to the prior approval of the Company, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld, at the expense of the Company. In addition, if the Company fails to
comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement or in the event that the Company or any
other person takes any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any
Proceeding to deny or to recover from Indemnitee the benefits intended to be provided to
Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall have the right to retain counsel of Indemnitee’s choice,
subject to the prior approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld, at the expense of the Company (subject to Section 12(d) of this Agreement), to
represent Indemnitee in connection with any such matter.
Section 14. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Subrogation.
(a) The rights of indemnification and advance of Expenses 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 charter or Bylaws of the Company, any agreement or a
resolution of the stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the
Board of Directors, or otherwise. Unless consented to in writing by Indemnitee, 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
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in his or her Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, regardless of
whether a claim with respect to such action or inaction is raised prior or subsequent to such
amendment, alteration or repeal. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive
of any other right or remedy, and every other right or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition
to every other right or remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or
otherwise. The assertion of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prohibit the
concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) 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.
Section 15. Insurance. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to acquire
directors and officers liability insurance, on terms and conditions deemed appropriate by the
Board of Directors, with the advice of counsel, covering Indemnitee or any claim made against
Indemnitee by reason of his or her Corporate Status and covering the Company for any
indemnification or advance of Expenses made by the Company to Indemnitee for any claims
made against Indemnitee by reason of his or her Corporate Status. Without in any way limiting
any other obligation under this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for any
payment by Indemnitee arising out of the amount of any deductible or retention and the amount
of any excess of the aggregate of all judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and Expenses
incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding over the coverage of any insurance
referred to in the previous sentence. The purchase, establishment and maintenance of any such
insurance shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or obligations of the Company or
Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect
the rights or obligations of the Company under any such insurance policies. If, at the time the
Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party or a
participant (as a witness or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance
in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance
with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.
Section 16. Coordination of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this
Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable or payable or reimbursable
as Expenses hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such
payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
Section 17. Reports to Stockholders. To the extent required by the MGCL, the
Company shall report in writing to its stockholders the payment of any amounts for
indemnification of, or advance of Expenses to, Indemnitee under this Agreement arising out of a
Proceeding by or in the right of the Company with the notice of the meeting of stockholders of
the Company next following the date of the payment of any such indemnification or advance of
Expenses or prior to such meeting.
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Section 18. Duration of Agreement; Binding Effect.
(a) This Agreement shall continue until and terminate on the later of
(i) the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary,
employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, real estate investment trust,
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company and
(ii) the date that Indemnitee is no longer subject to any actual or possible Proceeding (including
any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section
12 of this Agreement).
(b) The indemnification and advance of Expenses provided by, or granted
pursuant to, this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and
their respective successors and 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), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee
or agent of the Company or a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member,
fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person
is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company, and shall inure to the benefit of
Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and
other legal representatives.
(c) The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or
indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial
part, of the business and/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.
(d) The Company and Indemnitee agree that a monetary remedy for breach of
this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and
further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties
hereto agree that Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or
specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable
harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be
precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which Indemnitee may be entitled.
Indemnitee shall further be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including
temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the
necessity of posting bonds or other undertakings in connection therewith. The Company
acknowledges that, in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of
Indemnitee by a court, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or
undertaking.
Section 19. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be
held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality
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and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation,
each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence 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; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed
to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent
of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement
(including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence 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.
Section 20. 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. One such counterpart signed by the party
against whom enforceability is sought shall be sufficient to evidence the existence of this
Agreement.
Section 21. 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.
Section 22. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification 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.
Section 23. 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, on the day of such delivery, 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:
(a) If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth on the signature page hereto.
(b) If to the Company, to:
Realty Finance Trust, Inc.
0 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, #0000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Chief
Executive Officer and President
or to such other address as may have been furnished in writing to Indemnitee by the Company or
to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
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Section 24. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and
enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflicts of
laws rules.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day
and year first above written.
REALTY FINANCE TRUST, INC.
By: _________________________
INDEMNITEE
_________________________
Exhibit 10.4
EXHIBIT A
AFFIRMATION AND UNDERTAKING TO REPAY EXPENSES ADVANCED
To: The Board of Directors of Realty Finance Trust, Inc.
Re: Affirmation and Undertaking
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Affirmation and Undertaking is being provided pursuant to that certain
Indemnification Agreement, dated the [ ] day of [ ] 20[ ], by and between Realty Finance
Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned Indemnitee (the
“Indemnification Agreement”), pursuant to which I am entitled to advance 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. I hereby affirm my good faith belief that at all
times, insofar as I was involved as a director of the Company, in any of the facts or events giving
rise to the Proceeding, I (1) did not act with bad faith or active or deliberate dishonesty, (2) did
not receive any improper personal benefit in money, property or services and (3) in the case of
any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that any act or omission by me was
unlawful.
In consideration of the advance of Expenses by the Company for reasonable attorneys’
fees and related Expenses incurred by me in connection with the Proceeding (the “Advanced
Expenses”), I hereby agree that if, in connection with the Proceeding, it is established that (1) an
act or omission by me was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (a) was
committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty or (2) I actually
received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (3) in the case of any
criminal proceeding, I had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful,
then I shall promptly reimburse the portion of the Advanced Expenses, together with the
Applicable Legal Rate of interest thereon, relating to the claims, issues or matters in the
Proceeding as to which the foregoing findings have been established.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Affirmation and Undertaking on this
_____ day of _______________, 20____.
_____________________________
Name: