Contract
Exhibit
10.2
THIS
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and
entered into as of November 8, 2010, between Sajan, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the “Company”), and
______________________ (“Indemnitee”).
RECITALS
A.
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The
Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and
retaining directors and officers is detrimental to the best interests of
the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such
persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the
future;
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B.
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It
is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to
obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of,
directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the By-laws or
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
(collectively, the “Charter Documents”) and
applicable law as in effect on the date of Agreement, or to such greater
extent as such may be amended in the future so that they will serve or
continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not
be so indemnified;
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C.
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This
Agreement is intended to clarify Indemnitee’s entitlement to the maximum
indemnity afforded directors and officers under the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) and is a
supplement to and in furtherance of the provision calling for
indemnification of directors and officers contained in the Charter
Documents and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be
deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of
Indemnitee thereunder; and
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D.
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Indemnitee
does not regard the protection available under the Company’s Charter
Documents and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and
Indemnitee is not willing to serve as a director and/or an officer without
adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such
capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and
to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the
condition that Indemnitee be so
indemnified.
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AGREEMENT
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee’s agreement to serve as a director
and/or officer from and after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. Indemnity of
Indemnitee. The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless and
indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the Charter Documents
and applicable law as in effect on the date of Agreement, or to such greater
extent as such may be amended in the future. In furtherance of the
foregoing indemnification, and without limiting the generality
thereof:
(a) Proceedings Other Than
Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee
shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section l(a) if, by
reason of his or her Corporate Status (as hereinafter defined), the Indemnitee
is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (as
hereinafter defined) other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the
Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(a),
Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses (as hereinafter defined),
judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by Indemnitee, or on his or her behalf, in connection with
such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if the Indemnitee acted
in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal
Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the Indemnitee’s conduct was
unlawful.
(b) Proceedings by or in the
Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the
rights of indemnification provided in this Section 1(b) if, by
reason of his or her Corporate Status, the Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be
made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of
the Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(b),
Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by the Indemnitee, or on the Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with
such Proceeding if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the
Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the Company; provided, however, if applicable law so provides, no
indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim,
issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and to the extent that the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware shall determine that such indemnification may
be made.
(c) Indemnification for Expenses
of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by
reason of his or her Corporate Status, a party to and is successful, on the
merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the
maximum extent permitted by law, as such may be amended from time to time,
against 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 against all Expenses actually
and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection
with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes
of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or
matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be
deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
2. Additional
Indemnity. In addition to, and without regard to any
limitations on, the indemnification provided for in Section 1 of this
Agreement, the Company shall and hereby does indemnify and hold harmless
Indemnitee against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s
behalf if, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is
threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (including a
Proceeding by or in the right of the Company), including, without limitation,
all liability arising out of the negligence or active or passive wrongdoing of
Indemnitee. The only limitation that shall exist upon the Company’s
obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be that the Company shall not be
obligated to make any payment to Indemnitee that is finally determined (under
the procedures, and subject to the presumptions, set forth in Sections 6 and 7 hereof) to be
unlawful.
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3. Contribution.
(a) Whether
or not the indemnification provided in Sections 1 and 2 hereof is
available, in respect of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be
if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), the Company shall pay, in the
first instance, the entire amount of any judgment or settlement of such action,
suit or proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment
and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may
have against Indemnitee. The Company shall not enter into any
settlement of any action, suit or proceeding in which the Company is jointly
liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all
claims asserted against Indemnitee.
(b) Without
diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Company set forth in the
preceding subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee shall elect or be
required to pay all or any portion of any judgment or settlement in any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which the Company
is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), the Company shall contribute to the amount of Expenses, judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred and paid
or payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits received by the
Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than
Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in
such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other
hand, from the transaction from which such action, suit or proceeding arose;
provided, however, that the proportion determined on the basis of relative
benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to law, be further adjusted by
reference to the relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors or
employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with
Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the
one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the events that
resulted in such expenses, judgments, fines or settlement amounts, as well as
any other equitable considerations which the Law may require to be
considered. The relative fault of the Company and all officers,
directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly
liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which their
actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the
degree to which their liability is primary or secondary and the degree to which
their conduct is active or passive.
(c) The
Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless from any
claims of contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees
of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who may be jointly liable with
Indemnitee.
(d) To
the fullest extent permitted by the Charter Documents and applicable law as in
effect on the date of Agreement, or to such greater extent as such may be
amended in the future, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is
unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of
indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee,
whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be
paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to
an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed
fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in
order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and
Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to
such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its
directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with
such event(s) and/or transaction(s).
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4. Indemnification for Expenses
of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate
Status, a witness, or is made (or asked to) respond to discovery requests, in
any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be
indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee
or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.
5. Advancement of
Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, the Company shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of
Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate
Status within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement
or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to
time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such
Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence
the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or
accompanied by a written undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any
Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not
entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Any advances and
undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 5 shall be
unsecured and interest free.
6. Procedures and Presumptions
for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. It is the
intent of this Agreement to secure for Indemnitee rights of indemnity that are
as favorable as may be permitted under the DGCL and public policy of the State
of Delaware. Accordingly, the parties agree that the following
procedures and presumptions shall apply in the event of any question as to
whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement:
(a) To
obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the
Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and
information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary
to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon
receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in
writing that Indemnitee has requested
indemnification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any failure of
Indemnitee to provide such a request to the Company, or to provide such a
request in a timely fashion, shall not relieve the Company of any liability that
it may have to Indemnitee unless, and to the extent that, such failure actually
and materially prejudices the interests of the Company.
(b) Upon
written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence
of Section 6(a)
hereof, a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall
be made in the specific case by one of the following four methods, which shall
be at the election of the board: (1) by a majority vote of the
disinterested directors, even though less than a quorum, (2) by a committee of
disinterested directors designated by a majority vote of the disinterested
directors, even though less than a quorum, (3) if there are no disinterested
directors or if the disinterested directors so direct or if there is a Change in
Control (as hereinafter defined), by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to the
Indemnitee, or (4) if so directed by the Board of Directors, by the stockholders
of the Company. For purposes hereof, disinterested directors are
those members of the board of directors of the Company who are not parties to
the action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by
Indemnitee. In addition, a “Change in Control” shall be
deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of
any of the following events:
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(i) Acquisition of Stock by
Third Party. Any Person (as hereinafter defined) is or becomes
the Beneficial Owner (as hereinafter defined), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing at least a majority of the combined
voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;
(ii) Change in Board of
Directors. During any period of one (1) year (not including
any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the
beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than
a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the
Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 6(b)(i), 6(b)(ii) or
6(b)(iii)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the
Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of 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 least a majority of the members of the
Board; or
(iii) Corporate
Transactions. The effective date of a merger or consolidation
of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which
would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately
prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by
remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the
surviving entity) at least a majority of the combined voting power of the voting
securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of
directors or other governing body of such surviving entity.
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(c) If
the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent
Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof,
the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section
6(c). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board
of Directors and Indemnitee shall be promptly notified of such
selection. Indemnitee may, within 10 days after such written notice
of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company a written objection
to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only
on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the
requirements of “Independent
Counsel” as defined in Section 13 of this
Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual
basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the
person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written
objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not
serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a
court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within
20 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification
pursuant to Section
6(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not
objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery
of the State of Delaware or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution
of any objection which shall have been made by the Indemnitee to the Company’s
selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent
Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court
shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so
resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 6(b)
hereof. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and
expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in
connection with acting pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof,
and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the
procedures of this Section 6(c),
regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or
appointed.
(d) In
making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder,
the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the
burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing
evidence. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its
directors or independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to
the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification
is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable
standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by
its directors or independent legal counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such
applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a
presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of
conduct.
(e) Indemnitee
shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on
the records or books of account of the Enterprise (as defined below), including
financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers
of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal
counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to
the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser
or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise. In
addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director,
officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee
for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this
Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(e) are
satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times
acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the Company. Anyone seeking to
overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of
persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.
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(f) If
the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 6 to
determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made
a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the
request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification
shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such
indemnification absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or
an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not
materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or
(ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided,
however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to
exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making
such determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith
requires such additional time to obtain or evaluate documentation and/or
information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing
provisions of this Section 6(f) shall
not apply if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made
by the stockholders pursuant to Section 6(b) of this
Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of
the request for such determination, the Board of Directors or the Disinterested
Directors, if appropriate, resolve to submit such determination to the
stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held
within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made
thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15)
days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such
meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so
called and such determination is made thereat.
(g) Indemnitee
shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination
with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing
to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any
documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from
disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably
necessary to such determination. Any Independent Counsel, member of
the Board of Directors or stockholder of the Company shall act reasonably and in
good faith in making a determination regarding the Indemnitee’s entitlement to
indemnification under this Agreement. Any costs or expenses
(including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so
cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall
be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s
entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to
hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(h) The
Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final
judgment may be successful if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay,
distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the event that any
action, claim or proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any
manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without
limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with or without
payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that Indemnitee
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such action, suit or
proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have
the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing
evidence.
(i) The
termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by
judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or
its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification
or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a
manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that
Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was
unlawful.
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7. Remedies of
Indemnitee.
(a) In
the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 6 of this
Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this
Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 5 of this
Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification is made
pursuant to Section
6(b) of this Agreement within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the
request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made
pursuant to this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of
a written request therefor or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within
ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to
Section 6 of
this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an
appropriate court of the State of Delaware, or in any other court of competent
jurisdiction, of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such
indemnification. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an
adjudication within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has
the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section
7(a). The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek
any such adjudication.
(b) In
the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this
Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial
proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 shall be
conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits, and Indemnitee shall
not be prejudiced by reason of the adverse determination under Section
6(b).
(c) If
a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this
Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be
bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to
this Section 7,
absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a
material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s misstatement not materially
misleading in connection with the application for indemnification, or (ii) a
prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(d) In
the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 7, seeks a
judicial adjudication of Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for
breach of, this Agreement, or to recover under any directors’ and officers’
liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, the Company shall pay on
Indemnitee’s behalf, in advance, any and all expenses (of the types described in
the definition of Expenses in Section 13 of this
Agreement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in such judicial
adjudication, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be
entitled to such indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance
recovery.
(e) The
Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced
pursuant to this Section 7 that the
procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and
enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by
all the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall indemnify
Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall
(within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request
therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such expenses to
Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action
brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advance of Expenses from the
Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee
ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of
Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be.
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(f) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement
to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to
the final disposition of the Proceeding.
8. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of
Rights; Insurance; Primacy of Indemnification; Subrogation.
(a) The
rights of indemnification as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled
under applicable law, the Charter Documents, any agreement, a vote of
stockholders, a resolution of directors or otherwise, of the Company, including
without limitation the right to seek specific performance. No
amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof
shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect
of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status
prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a
change in the DGCL, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater
indemnification than would be afforded currently under the Certificate of
Incorporation, By-laws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties
hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so
afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is
intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and
remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given
hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or
otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy
hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or
employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) To
the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing
liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents or fiduciaries
of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person serves at the request
of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in
accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage
available for any director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary under such
policy or policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a
claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer
liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the
commencement of such proceeding 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 proceeding
in accordance with the terms of such policies.
(c) [Reserved]
(d) 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.
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(e) The
Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts
otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has
otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract,
agreement or otherwise.
(f)
The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance
Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the
Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise
shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as
indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise.
9. Exception to Right of
Indemnification. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the
Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in
connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:
(a) for
which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any
insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess
beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision,
provided, that the foregoing shall not affect the rights of Indemnitee;
or
(b) for
an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase)
by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provisions of state
statutory law or common law; or
(c) except
with respect to a Proceeding relating to enforcement of, or to indemnity under
this Agreement, or under the Charter Documents, the DGCL, or any insurance
policy relating to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in connection with any
Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including
any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against
the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless
(i) the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Proceeding (or any part
of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the
indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the
Company under applicable law.
10. Duration of
Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company
contained herein shall commence upon the execution of this Agreement, and shall
continue thereafter so long as Indemnitee could be subject to any Proceeding (or
any proceeding commenced under Section 7 hereof) by reason of Indemnitee’s
Corporate Status, whether or not Indemnitee is acting or serving in any such
capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which
indemnification can be provided under this Agreement and regardless of any
subsequent amendment to the Charter Documents, the DGCL or any other agreement
relating to indemnification of Indemnitee. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties
hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect
successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or
substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses,
heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives.
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11. Security. To
the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board of Directors of the
Company, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to
Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank
line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security,
once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior
written consent of the Indemnitee.
12. Enforcement.
(a) The
Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement
and assumes the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee
to serve as an officer or director of the Company, and the Company acknowledges
that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as an officer or
director of the Company.
(b) This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof.
13. Definitions. For
purposes of this Agreement:
(a) “Beneficial Owner” shall have
the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided,
however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a
Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger
of the Company with another entity.
(b) “Corporate Status” describes
the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, agent or fiduciary of
the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving at
the express written request of the Company.
(c) “Disinterested Director” means
a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in
respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
(d) “Enterprise” shall mean the
Company and any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise that Indemnitee is or was serving at the
express written request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent
or fiduciary.
(e) “Exchange Act” shall mean the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(f)
“Expenses” shall include all
reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of
experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding
costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and all other
disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with
prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating,
participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding, or
responding to, or objecting to, a request to provide discovery in any
Proceeding. Expenses also shall include Expenses incurred in
connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding 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, including without
limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond,
supersede as bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses,
however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the
amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.
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(g) “Independent Counsel” means a
law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of
corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been,
retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter
material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning
Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar
indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving
rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who,
under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would
have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in
an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The
Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel referred to
above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims,
liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its
engagement pursuant hereto.
(h) “Person” shall have the meaning
as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however,
that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary
holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any
corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the
Company.
(i)
“Proceeding” includes any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the
right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or
otherwise, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an officer or
director of the Company, by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee or of any
inaction on Indemnitee’s part while acting as an officer or director of the
Company, or by reason of the fact that Indemnitee 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; in
each case whether or not Indemnitee is acting or serving in any such capacity at
the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be
provided under this Agreement; including one pending on or before the date of
this Agreement, but excluding one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 7 of this
Agreement to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.
14. Severability. The
invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect
the validity or enforceability of any other provision. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement is intended to confer
upon Indemnitee indemnification rights to the to the fullest extent permitted by
the Charter Documents and applicable law as in effect on the date of Agreement,
or to such greater extent as such may be amended in the future. In
the event any provision hereof conflicts with any applicable law, such provision
shall be deemed modified, consistent with the aforementioned intent, to the
extent necessary to resolve such conflict.
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15. Modification and
Waiver. No supplement, modification, termination or amendment
of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the
parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof
(whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing
waiver.
16. Notice By
Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company
in writing upon being served with or otherwise receiving any summons, citation,
subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any
Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification covered
hereunder. The failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the
Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement
or otherwise unless and only to the extent that such failure or delay materially
prejudices the Company.
17. Notices. All
notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon
personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed
electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the
recipient, and if not so confirmed, then on the next business day, (c) five (5)
days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally
recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written
verification of receipt. All communications shall be
sent:
(a) To
Indemnitee at the address set forth below Indemnitee’s signature
hereto.
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(b)
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To
the Company at:
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000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx.
Xxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
or to
such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company or to
the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
18. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by
facsimile signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
19. Headings. The
headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only
and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the
construction thereof.
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20. Governing Law and Consent to
Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the
parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the
laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws
rules. The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of
the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in
any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in
any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the
Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue
of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and
agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding
brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient
forum.
SIGNATURE
PAGE TO FOLLOW
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto
have executed this Agreement on and as of the day and year first above
written.
COMPANY
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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INDEMNITEE
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Name:
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Address:
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